James Patterson and Andrew Gross. 2nd Chance (2002) 390 pp.
After solving a particularly gruesome homicide investigation, Detective Lindsay Boxer is promoted to Lieutenant. Although she is grateful for the promotion, she knows she would never have solved it without the help of her three good friends: Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas, medical examiner Claire Washburn, and Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt. This informal group, known as the Women’s Murder Club, still meets from time to time as a support cell for each other. When Lindsay starts another high profile homicide investigation, being a member of the club becomes very dangerous because the perpetrator marks some of them as his victims. He also kills a young black girl in front of a church, an older black woman in a laundry basement, and a black police officer. The two dead black females are related to police on the force. Lindsay and her superiors conclude that the killer has a grudge against the force. The only problem is they don’t have a clue as to his identity.

H.K.