Actually, I lie. Do you really expect me to remember what happened in "Until It's Over" and "8th Confession" nearly a month after I read them? Especially since neither were particularly good? With "8th Confession" it's all my own fault, really, because James Patterson hasn't put out anything resembling decent in years and years. And yet I keep on getting the next installment of his Women's Murder Club and Alex Cross series. I even get a few of the stand-alones, although I thought "The Quickie" and "Sail" were at least trashily entertaining.
I seriously need to overcome the temptation to get the Women's Murder Club books. They are so lazily written that they typically combine about three or four storylines that have nothing to do with each other. Well, they've followed that path since about part 5. It really shits me because that's one of the reasons I turn my nose at the CSI franchise on TV: they always have two separate storylines, as if they don't trust the audience has enough intelligence or patience to follow just one story. That, and CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS DO NOT QUESTION SUSPECTS OR SOLVE THE CRIMES!!!!!! They collect the samples, give the results, then go home for coffee. It annoys me so much that I always change the channel in disgust and try to find something else to watch. Except it's always one of those 1207 different "Animal Rescue" or "Crash Investigation" shows. So I just turn the television off and....read a book. Which brings me back to....
"8th Confession" was so by-the-numbers that I can't remember one storyline, much less three. "Until It's Over", written by Nicci French, was undoubtedly a much better written book, but hindered by a device that simply didn't work for me. The storyline involved bike messenger Astrid having the unlucky distinction of being present at numerous murder scenes, making her one of the suspects. Could the culprit be one of her six (six???) housemates, who are all about to be kicked out their current stomping grounds? The situation does generate suspense and interest....until halfway through when the culprit is revealed, and the remainder of the book is events seen through their eyes. It was much like reading the same book twice, without much new information to make it worthwhile. Although the fact I actually remembers what happens should probably be a recommendation.
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I gave up on James Patterson ages ago for all the reasons you give here. He makes me want to scream, and the fact that someone with so little talent can continue to be a best-selling author says more about the reading public than I care to think about. Until It's Over isn't one of Nicci French's best. She (or they, as you know) is still one of my favourite authors though.
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