''2nd Chance'' is the second novel in the Women's Murder Club series written by

James Patterson James Brendan Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is an American author. Among his works are the ''Alex Cross'', '' Michael Bennett'', '' Women's Murder Club'', ''Maximum Ride'', '' Daniel X'', '' NYPD Red'', '' Witch & Wizard'', and ''Private'' se ...

with

Andrew Gross Andrew Gross (born 1952) is an American author of thriller novels including four ''New York Times'' bestsellers. He is best known for his collaborations with suspense writer James Patterson. Gross's books feature close family bonds, relationships ...

. It is the sequel to ''

1st to Die ''1st to Die'' is a 2001 crime novel by American author James Patterson that is the first book in the '' Women's Murder Club'' series. The series is about four friends who pool their skills together to crack San Francisco's toughest murder cases ...

''.

Plot summary

Homicide Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is still recovering from the recent loss of her partner and is just returning to the force when she is called in to investigate a series of murders that include an 11-year-old girl and an elderly woman. Through her investigations she discovers a connection to a jail-hate gang called Chimera. After another police officer is killed by a sniper and then her boss is murdered, the trail leads to the ex-cop Frank Coombs. To further complicate all of the Women's Murder Club ladies, Jill is pregnant and Claire becomes a target for the Chimera killer. Cindy starts dating the murdered girl's pastor, Aaron Winslow, and Lindsay's father shows up, pretending he misses his daughter, but actually following Chimera, too, as he was present the day the killer slaughtered a 14-year-old boy. Finally, after chasing the trail of Frank Coombs, Lindsay trails the real killer, Rusty Coombs - Frank's son - to a tower on a college campus where he has opened fire and killed several students. Rusty is getting revenge for what has happened to his father and no longer cares if he lives or dies. Lindsay kills Rusty at the college tower. As an epilogue, Lindsay receives a postcard from her father in Mexico saying sorry for lying to her about his crooked past and telling her he has bought a boat and named it Buttercup, his pet name for her.

Reception

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

'' said ''2nd Chance'' was Patterson's most interesting book since '' When the Wind Blows''.

References

2003 American novels Women's Murder Club (novel series) Little, Brown and Company books Collaborative novels {{2000s-crime-novel-stub