James Patterson's 3rd Degree continues the Women’s Murder Club saga with the usual short, punchy chapters that keep the plot moving at a steady clip. His writing style, as always, makes it easy to read a chapter or two and then pick right back up after a break, even if it's just a quick phone call. The pacing is generally effective in that it doesn’t let the story drag, but honestly, I didn’t find myself as hooked this time around. For some reason, the intensity of the first two books in the series just wasn’t there for me.
Lindsay Boxer and the other women of the club—Claire, Cindy, and Jill—remain as relatable as ever. What I love about these characters is that they’re successful, yes, but they’re also real. They have their flaws, moments of doubt, and personal struggles. They feel like people you could sit down with for a cup of coffee. The dynamics between them are great, and that balance of strength and vulnerability keeps the series grounded. That said, I felt a bit let down by the development in this book. There was something about the way the characters were handled in 3rd Degree that didn’t hit as strongly as in the earlier books. Maybe it’s because of the loss of one of the women—I’ll get to that in a second.
The central mystery in 3rd Degree is classic Patterson: a twisted, unpredictable crime with enough twists to keep you guessing. However, even with the occasional peek into the killer's mind, I just didn’t get as sucked in as I did with the previous stories. It wasn’t a predictable case, but I wasn’t on the edge of my seat either. At times, it felt like the plot wasn’t quite as intricate or gripping as it could have been, and I found myself more detached than invested.
What Patterson does well is build suspense, particularly with the baby kidnapping scene. That moment had me gripping the pages, praying for a happy ending. The tension between Boxer and Molinari was also a nice touch—watching Boxer move on with her life and navigate that relationship added a personal layer to the story. But while there were moments of tension, they didn’t sustain that heart-pounding pace I usually expect from Patterson.
In terms of comparison to other Patterson novels, 3rd Degree didn’t hit the high bar I’ve come to expect. I wasn’t completely hooked by the story, and I found myself questioning the narrative choices. When Patterson made the shocking decision to kill off Jill, one of the core characters, I was disappointed. Sure, it fit with the idea that the killer could strike anywhere, anytime, but honestly? I felt robbed. Jill had just started to reclaim her life from an abusive marriage, and then—just like that—she was gone. The impact of that loss hit me hard, but not in the way I think Patterson intended. The Women’s Murder Club was built on the dynamic of these four women, and now we’re down to three. How will the next book work with that shift? I’m curious, but also hesitant.
In short, 3rd Degree didn’t live up to the excitement of the first two books for me. It’s still a solid read, with good moments of suspense and the usual camaraderie between the club members. But overall, it didn’t leave me feeling like I just had to keep turning the pages. I’m hoping the next installment pulls things together a little more.
