And this beat just keeps going right on. I even pre-ordered this book a few months ago.  I thought they’d tell me when it was available but no –  I lucked into it anyway.  This is #24 in The Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.  I’ve read other Patterson books and it’s the Paetro part I love and keep going back for even if there is somewhat more romance and silliness.  

The 24th Hour
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro 
2024
Read by January LaVoy, 7h 34m
Rating: A+ / crime thriller 

This is a triple-threader by which I mean there are three main plot lines – 3 threads.  

1 –  Yuki Castellano, the lawyer, is trying a a case in which the victim, her client, was violently raped but the the twist is that she’s mentally very unstable having what we used to call split personalty but now is called “Dissociative identity disorder” or “multiple personality disorder.”   Cindy, the crime reporter, is involved due to digging into the story.  This is a good legal mystery with some nice court room drama.  

2. Lindsay Boxer, the police officer, is investigating what has gone from a homicide to multiple homicide – the victim was a very rich man with all the toys and there are several suspects.  This feels like a good old cozy who-done-it.  

3. Lindsay’s husband, Joe, in national law enforcement has a case where foreign computer hackers got into and are holding a hospital’s computers for a huge ransom – this means lives are at stake.. (No more on that one due to spoilers.)  This is the stuff of suspense thrillers – 

Like I said it’s a triple-thriller and it seems three genres of “mystery/crime” novels are also included.  

Another thing about this addition to the series is that people’s mothers are hanging out.  Yuki’s mother is deceased as of a few books ago, but she apparently still gives directions to Yuki, who replies.  It’s rather sweet if you know the background.  Cindy’s mother joins the “club” for drinks and to discuss wedding dresses for Cindy. Joe talks ton a deceased comrade, but I can’t remember who that was. . 

There are 3 plots so the chapters and plots are “braided” rather than simply alternated.  Parts of the Lindsay and Joe at home with little Julie are a bit too sweet for me but for awhile the books were a bit heavier on the romance for me but that’s mostly gone now. The woman and their hubbies aged a few years. It is so nice to pick up a book and know who all the characters are even if they don’t appear in this volume. Yes, I think this may be the end of the series but who knows? I hope not.