7th Heaven
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Published by Little, Brown and Company (February)
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Reviewed by Harold N. Walters
America’s mega-millionaires live in Seventh Heaven. In 7th Heaven they are consumed by fire.
The title reminds readers this novel is the seventh in the series featuring the self-proclaimed Women’s Murder Club. In The Prologue, the first victims, the wealthy Jablonskys, are bound and burned to death in their palatial home. Since this book is a thriller, not a whodunit murder mystery, the authors even reveal the identities of the killers, a pair of preppy young men nicknamed Hawk and Pidge who leave one of their signature Latin quotations in a book found at the crime scene.
Two parallel stories unfold in 7th Heaven. Sergeant Lindsay Boxer of the SFPD and her partner Rich Conklin are tracking the murderous perpetrators of the recent spate of fatal fires in the San Francisco area. Simultaneously, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano—like Lindsay, a member of the Woman’s Murder Club—is prosecuting Junie Moon, the young prostitute charged in connection with the disappearance of an unhealthy rich boy, Michael Campion.
Frustrated by the lack of helpful clues evident at the crime scenes, Lindsay is on the brink of despair. Further complicating matters is the uncertainty of her relationship with her lover Joe, who has already proposed marriage, and the sexual chemistry she shares with Rich Conklin. Then the proverbial final straw is stacked on Lindsay’s shoulders—apparently the arsonists/killers make their attacks personal.
In court, Yuki is facing off with legendary Defense Attorney L. Diana Davis. Outside court, she is involved with the questionably charming Jason Twilly, a journalist writing a book about Michael Campion.
Structurally, 7th Heaven is composed of Patterson’s trademark brief chapters, a characteristic readers love. What might annoy some readers are the unannounced shifts in point of view. Without any indication, such as titled chapters, point of view switches from Lindsay’s first person narration to third person. Sometimes you may be a paragraph or more into the new chapter before becoming aware of this shift.
Likely, I am being needlessly pedantic. 7th Heaven is a fast-paced thriller, a swift and pleasurable read whether one is ensconced in a Lay-Z-Boy or flying coach in a fully booked aircraft.
Armchair Interviews says: Patterson fans will be most happy.
Author’s Web site: http://www.JamesPatterson.com