Hello Lindsay, Goodbye Alex!

When a serial killer dubbed the "Bride and Groom" killer strikes hard and fast the city of San Francisco is left reeling as well as Lindsay Boxer the lead policewoman on the case. James Patterson introduces his new series with Lindsay Boxer in 1st to Die as his main character and three of her friends, who from various professions, collaborate to catch this brutal killer.

Characters:

*Lindsay Boxer - Young and lonely she has just been diagnosed with the possible fatal disease called Negli's. While undergoing treatments of blood transfusions she fixates on this case. Lindsay is deeply disturbed by brutality of the killer who strikes at newly married couples. Lindsay's character is the most fully developed and the book revolves around her. Half way through you feel you know her: lonely, sick and a woman in a man's profession she lives in her apartment with her border collie Sweet Martha. She avoids relationships since her painful breakup with her husband. She is an exception cop with good instincts.

*Claire Washburn - Claire works as a medical examiner and although not the head of the department she is clearly the most gifted and respected. Claire also has fought her way up the ladder not only as a woman but as an Afro-American. She is in a happy marriage.

*Cindy Thomas - Working as a reporter at the Chronicle she starts out a novice on the homicide beat when she has the "good luck" to be in the right place at the right time with the "B&G" killer. At first, she just wants a story from Lindsay but soon they become friends and work toward the common goal of capturing a killer.

*Jill Bernhardt - the last of the foursome to be introduced Claire is and Assistant District Attorney known for handling and winning high profile cases. Unless she has hard evidence enough to convict she is unwilling to take the change of prosecuting the madman. So, she joins the other 3 woman in informal meetings to discuss, analyze and solve the case.

*Nick Jenks - A famous writer and terrible abuser of woman including his past and present wives. Through a series of investigations, he is arrested as the Bride and Groom killer. Will the four woman have combined enough evidence to send him to prison?

*Chris Raleigh - A policeman brought in to be Lindsay's partner on this case, Chris is into "containing" high profile cases like this. He is in charge of damage control and helping Lindsay investigate. Naturally, an attraction and romance develop between the two and Lindsay struggles with the knowledge she could die and holds back at first. But, of course, nature takes its course.

**Chessy Jenks - The abused and controlled present Mrs. Jenks.

There are other characters involved in this book but Lindsay is the one you get caught up with. You root for her to beat this fatal disease, catch a killer and live happily ever after with Chris. She is truly a well-developed and likable character.

When Lindsay is called to the scene of the first murdered couple the plot of figuring out who is the killer of these happy couples just starting out in life and the motive behind them begins. The murder scenes and some of the actual chapters on the killings is a bit graphic. The killer instantly kills the men while defiling the young brides.

When the suspected killer, Jenks is identified, the process of getting the proof on him and being able to make it stick at trial comes into play. The surprise ending will leave you guessing and gives you a jolt.

Having just finished the latest in the Alex Cross novels this book was a nice surprise as I feel Patterson has gone almost as far as he can with Cross' character. Whereas Roses are Red was good I feel the character has stagnated and Lindsay Boxer is a fresh new character with many avenues to follow.