I devoured this book in just two sittings – it’s that addictive! The short chapters make it perfect for sneaking in a few pages during my commute or while waiting at the doctor’s office. Patterson and Paetro really nailed the pacing here.

What surprised me most was how much fun this thriller was. Yes, there’s murder and suspense (it wouldn’t be Women’s Murder Club without those!), but there’s also this delightful humor running through it. The morgue scenes with Claire had me chuckling unexpectedly – not something I usually do while reading about autopsies!

The compact size (both in length and physical dimensions) makes it ideal for travel reading. I took mine to the beach and finished it between sunscreen applications. It’s substantial enough to satisfy but won’t weigh down your beach bag.

For longtime fans of the series, you’ll enjoy seeing the whole gang working together rather than just Lindsay carrying the story. The character interactions feel fresh, and Cindy gets herself into one particularly nail-biting situation that had me turning pages faster than usual.

Is it high literature? No. But is it an immensely entertaining way to spend a few hours? Absolutely. It reminded me why I fell in love with this series in the first place – smart women solving crimes with equal parts brains and humor.