James Patterson, Andrew Gross, 3rd Degree

3rd Degree

James Patterson, Andrew Gross

Little, Brown, 2004, $26.95, 341 pp.

ISBN: 0316603570

San Francisco Homicide lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is jogging with assistant DA Jill Barnhardt when the cop sees bruises on the shoulder of her companion. Before she asks about the injury, an explosion occurs in a nearby townhouse. Lindsay rushes inside rescuing a child, but three are dead at the scene.

Apparently the terrorist group August Spies successfully targeted a CEO and his family and killed them. Lindsay's investigation of the crime coincides with the inquiries of Joe Molinari of the Office of Homeland Security. Joe and Lindsay are attracted to one another while Jill's spouse has turned abusive towards her. Then there are her other two pals that make up the club, medical examiner Claire Washburn and Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas who help with the case not realizing the danger as they get too close to the killers.

The latest "Women's Murder Club" thriller is an action-packed tale that never lets up until the final moment. The story line is apropos as the "third world war" against terrorism has come home to San Francisco. Though the spousal abuse subplot seems off based on Jill's strength of character (from the previous books), somehow the authors pull it off with realism and bring it back into the main plot. The budding romance between Joe and Jill (at least it's not Jack) further humanizes the heroine. Fans of exhilarating thrillers with real people including villains who believe in their cause will enjoy the latest work of these powerful females.

Harriet Klausner