THE BRIDES ALL WORE BLOOD RED

A person’s wedding day is suppose to be the happiest day of their life. The time after, referred to as the “Honeymoon” is intended to be a time of togetherness, fun and romance. In “1ST TO DIE”., a brilliant thriller by James Patterson, three couples find their wedding day and their honeymoon’s to be a time of death. Three different and grotesque murders, in three locations, San Francisco, Napa and Cleveland all involve the deaths of the newly married bride and groom.

Who is killing these newlyweds and why? Homicide Inspector Lindsay Boxer with the San Francisco Police Department vows at the first crime scene to find the answer to these murders. However there is one big problem. Lindsay has just been diagnosed with Negli's Aplastic Anemia, a blood disease that is very serious and can also be very fatal. Having to take blood transfusions twice a week as well as fight off the effects of the disease leave Lindsay very troubled.

Although I love Alex Cross, Patterson's primary "hero", this book is a nice change of pace.

Lindsay is use to being alone, but she finds it hard to do her job and fight this disease, so she inlists the help of her longtime friend, Claire, a medical examiner with the city of San Francisco and two unlikely allies. The assistant D.A., Jill Bernhardt, and am ambitious young crime reporter, Cindy Thomas working for the San Francisco Chronical. The four of them meet regularly to share their knowledge and look for leads in these triple murders. Lindsay has told Claire about her disease, but is still having trouble letting the other two in, altho she is sensing their concern for her.

To make things a little more interesting, Lindsay finds herself falling for her new partner, Chris Raleigh. She isn’t ready yet to trust him with her findings, or her life, but he is a good cop and seems to be there for her when she needs him.

I find these thrillers by James Patterson fascinating. Just when you think you know where the story is leading, it takes off in a completely different direction. Lindsay and her group finally uncover the murderer, or is he the murderer, or who is the murderer. This book keeps you gripped until the very, very end. I read this 471 page book in less than three days.

I recommend this book to all James Patterson fans as well as anyone who enjoys these mystery thrillers.

OTHER BOOKS BY JAMES PATTERSON

Roses are Red
Cradle and All
Black Friday
Pop goes the Weasel
When the Wind Blows
Cat & Mouse
Jack & Jill
Hide & Seek
Kiss the Girls
Along Came a Spider
The Midnight Club
See How They Run