sydyoungberg's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Average read in the series, I wanted this one to be a little more fast paced
cwhalen1988's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I love these books and this one was good but not as good as the other 4 - looking forward to #6.
weaselweader's review against another edition
3.0
Very enjoyable and entirely forgettable!
Patterson and Paetro gave it away on the dust jacket blurb, "The Women's Murder Club faces an unspeakable horror in an irresistible hospital and courtroom thriller ...". The problem is, they weren't talking about one novel being two things at once. They were talking about two separate novellas that had nothing to do with one another being tossed into a blender and combined into a single novel.
The bad news first! The first story is a typical and seriously overused hospital plot - a series of inexplicable hospital deaths that ultimately and not particularly surprisingly come down to the runaway serial murderer roaming the halls of a creepy hospital. The other is an uninspired police procedural about the apprehension of a kinky serial killer who liked to kill young girls and dress them up a little after they were already dead.
The good news is that, unlike You've Been Warned which was a complete waste of even the energy needed to turn the pages, the writing in The 5th Horseman manages to be snappy, entertaining and actually quite compelling. The novel is diverting and enjoyable despite its obvious shortcomings. At the same time as I was aware of the weaknesses in the plot's originality, I was definitely hooked and unwilling to put the book down and let it go. I can't help but admit that's a good thing!
Despite the fact that Patterson's reputation as a novelist is hanging by the thinnest of threads, I recommend The 5th Horseman as a thoroughly enjoyable, if entirely forgettable piece of literary brain candy. Take it on the plane or to the beach by all means.
Paul Weiss
Patterson and Paetro gave it away on the dust jacket blurb, "The Women's Murder Club faces an unspeakable horror in an irresistible hospital and courtroom thriller ...". The problem is, they weren't talking about one novel being two things at once. They were talking about two separate novellas that had nothing to do with one another being tossed into a blender and combined into a single novel.
The bad news first! The first story is a typical and seriously overused hospital plot - a series of inexplicable hospital deaths that ultimately and not particularly surprisingly come down to the runaway serial murderer roaming the halls of a creepy hospital. The other is an uninspired police procedural about the apprehension of a kinky serial killer who liked to kill young girls and dress them up a little after they were already dead.
The good news is that, unlike You've Been Warned which was a complete waste of even the energy needed to turn the pages, the writing in The 5th Horseman manages to be snappy, entertaining and actually quite compelling. The novel is diverting and enjoyable despite its obvious shortcomings. At the same time as I was aware of the weaknesses in the plot's originality, I was definitely hooked and unwilling to put the book down and let it go. I can't help but admit that's a good thing!
Despite the fact that Patterson's reputation as a novelist is hanging by the thinnest of threads, I recommend The 5th Horseman as a thoroughly enjoyable, if entirely forgettable piece of literary brain candy. Take it on the plane or to the beach by all means.
Paul Weiss
annesmart's review against another edition
4.0
Oh wow, heart racing, blood pumping, changing reading positions, brushing my teeth whilst reading, refusing to make breakfast so I don’t get distracted, e.t.c these were my various emotions as I read this book.
I enjoyed this book and wished the ending was more detailed, I feel that was rushed. I really wanted to enjoy the unfolding story of the Culprit.
I still have a question though e.g why that lawsuit from the Doctor, was there like a background story or it was purely greed?
Sweetly recommended,
Now let me go eat.
I enjoyed this book and wished the ending was more detailed, I feel that was rushed. I really wanted to enjoy the unfolding story of the Culprit.
I still have a question though e.g why that lawsuit from the Doctor, was there like a background story or it was purely greed?
Sweetly recommended,
Now let me go eat.
kimberleyh's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
addi_the_baddie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
I found this book to be very hard to follow because of how it
Spoiler
bounced between two different cases and murders. And threw in all the information about the two at the same timevicky_wessels's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Never disappointed by James.
Just when I’ve figured out the next twist, it comes *but* it brings an unforeseen twist. Kept me on my toes. Loved it.
Just when I’ve figured out the next twist, it comes *but* it brings an unforeseen twist. Kept me on my toes. Loved it.
mrsjkamp's review against another edition
4.0
Very entertaining and fast-paced. You can tell there is a different writer collaborating with Patterson. It's not all about saying the killer's nickname 1000 times. The points-of-view are really neat, too. I like seeing it from different people, with only Lindsay in the first person. Definitely a different way of writing and telling the story. This one also had a trial, and I knew that one person involved from the beginning (not the obvious one, either). But I like following Lindsay's story, and I like the girls in the club. They are like my girls now.