The 20th Victim by James Patterson

Book Review: The 20th Victim by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Three victims. Three bullets. Three cities. The 20th Victim is a rollercoaster of precision strikes and suspenseful pursuits, with Detective Lindsay Boxer at the helm. As the bodies pile up, so do the questions: are the shooters heroes or villains? With the usual fast pace and edge-of-your-seat moments, this installment adds another layer to the Women’s Murder Club series.

Let’s be honest, The 20th Victim stands out as one of the better entries in the series, especially when compared to some of its predecessors. However, there’s a lingering feeling that something’s missing—perhaps it’s the natural age progression of our beloved characters, which seems to have taken a backseat. It’s a bit bothersome, but hey, this is fiction, and we’re here for the escapism, right?

And escapism is where this series shines. If you’re looking for deep character development or groundbreaking plots, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you need a book that lets you shut off your brain and dive into a world of suspense, The 20th Victim does the job nicely. It’s a solid choice for a lazy Saturday afternoon when all you want to do is relax and let the story carry you away.

All in all, The 20th Victim isn’t going to blow your mind, but it’s a decent read that keeps the Women’s Murder Club saga alive. Not bad at all—just don’t expect too much more.