Nothing says ‘adulting’ like ignoring responsibilities for fictional crime.
I went into 18th Abduction thinking I’d read a few chapters and be a responsible adult. That did not happen. Instead, I read the entire book in one day, because apparently I make excellent life choices when a Women’s Murder Club novel is involved.
This one starts off with two separate cases that feel like they shouldn’t even be in the same universe. Lindsay is working a deeply unsettling case involving three missing teachers. It's high stakes, emotional, and the kind that immediately pulls you in. Meanwhile, Joe is dealing with a Serbian criminal who has somehow landed in San Francisco, living like a king and basically daring law enforcement to do something about it.
Naturally, I assumed these were just parallel storylines. And naturally, I was wrong. Because when those two cases connect it’s the kind of connection that makes you stop and say, “Ooooh noooo.” And suddenly everything feels bigger, darker, and a whole lot more personal.
My favorite part of this book, though, isn’t even the twist. It’s Joe and Lindsay. In this one, they’re not just passing each other in the kitchen and exchanging dramatic one-liners about their cases. They are fully invested in their own investigations and in each other. They come home, they talk things through, they respect each other’s instincts, and instead of creating tension, it actually strengthens their relationship. There’s this quiet shift where it’s not about ego or who cracks the case first. It’s about trust. Real trust. The kind that makes you believe they’re better together than they are apart, both personally and professionally. (Mr. Patterson and Ms. Paetro, it's about time!)
Don’t get me wrong. The pacing is classic Patterson (fast, addictive, and very bad for your productivity), and the stakes are high from start to finish. But it’s that combination of a gripping plot and a stronger, more grounded partnership between Joe and Lindsay that really made this one stand out for me. Five stars. No hesitation.
Just maybe don’t start it on a day when you have things to do… unless you’re okay not doing any of them.
