“15th Affair” by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro – The Husband's Baggage
Short Summary
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro have developed a partnership rarely seen in the literary world, having penned over two dozen books together in their Women's Murder Club Thriller series, and still going strong. In the fifteenth entry, titled 15th Affair, we follow Lindsay Boxer as she searches for her missing husband while also trying to uncover the truth behind his ties to a mysterious blonde woman who disappeared from a brutal murder scene.
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro Sabotage Lindsay's Life
More often than not, when people marry each other, they know about as much as they can about their partners, both about their past and present. From time to time, people hide the truth about themselves well enough to pass any form of detection... but in the end, it always comes crawling back to the surface with a vengeance. That's a lesson some learn the hard way, as does Lindsay Boxer in James Patterson and Maxine Paetro's 15th Affair.
While this might indeed be the fifteenth novel in A Women's Murder Club Thriller series, the truth is that they're established in an episodic format and can be consumed in any order you so choose. Though I do recommend you have a look at the previous novels as well for what they have to offer, it's certainly not necessary for enjoying or understanding this one.
This time around, the story begins with a series of four brutal murders at a luxury hotel in downtown San Francisco. One of those victims happens to be a well-known married man named Michael Chan, as well as two younger people who were apparently spying on him. There were also reports of a gorgeous blonde woman on the scene, but she managed to vanish before the police arrived.
Naturally, Lindsay Boxer is the one who gets pulled into this whole mess, and before she has the chance to make any sense of the situation, her husband Joe mysteriously disappears. What's worse, the hotel's security camera reveals Joe entering the premises just before the murders took place, making Lindsay question just how well she really knows her husband, the work he does for the government, and his past history.
On top of everything, a passenger plane with four hundred people explodes right before landing at the San Francisco Airport. Adding a layer of mystery to it all, on the passenger list she finds a curious name: Michael Chan. Understanding this to be much more than coincidence, Lindsay plunges herself into the sordid world of international intrigue and espionage, hoping to, above all else, find her husband and bring him home, no matter the cost.
Inside Lindsay's Head in 15th Affair
Looking at what books of the Women's Murder Club Thriller series have generally been offering up until now, there has been a healthy amount of dialogue and interaction between the various main characters making up the group, even if some have been more absent than others. This time around, however, things are a little different, as Lindsay Boxer takes much more of a centre stage than she usually does.
For starters, there is a lot less dialogue in this book than what we've grown accustomed to over the course of the series' existence. Instead, we spend a lot more time inside Lindsay's head, being privy to not only her thoughts and methods of reasoning, but also the inner turmoil she experiences in regards to her husband.
I found it quite interesting to follow the inner thoughts and reactions of someone dealing with the potential of an ultimate betrayal. Few of us, thankfully, will ever have to contend with the idea our significant other is part of an international espionage ring, but from what I can imagine, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro tackled the subject with tact and understanding in 15th Affair.
There is, of course, a flip side to the coin here, and it's the fact that we don't get to see much of the other characters. Yuki, Cindy and Claire act more like stepping stones this time around, vehicles to deliver us the critical information which will move the investigation forward; otherwise, they very much take a back seat to the book's events. As someone who enjoys their presence, I was a little disappointed not to see more of them.
Additionally, it should be noted that the decision to spend a lot of time in Lindsay's head also means the plot doesn't develop as quickly as we expect it to, at least in regards to this particular series. Events generally take a bit of time to materialize, and I do think that some of her introspective reflections could have been cut a little shorter for the sake of better pacing. Nevertheless, because Lindsay herself is an excellent character, I found the detour in terms of the authors' approach to have been worth it.
A Whirlwind of Intrigue
Just because the book moves along at a slower pace than previous novels, don't take it to mean that it moves slowly in a general sense. We're still talking about James Patterson and Maxine Paetro here, with short and sweet chapters being their bread and butter. The pace of the plot is still well within what's considered a thriller, and I think the intrigue they've cooked up in 15th Affair is definitely one of their better ones.
From the start we're already given plenty of moving parts to play around with in our heads. They pile on up until we end up with a mysterious blonde, a missing husband, a twice-dead man, and some form of international espionage intrigue which, to Lindsay, might hit much closer to home than she could have ever anticipated.
In many cases, authors paint themselves into a corner when they come up convoluted plots of this nature, but Patterson and Paetro are definitely experienced enough to make it all work together coherently. The developments are always clear and easy to follow, with enough clues strewn about to encourage readers to try and get ahead of the investigation.
I'd also like to mention that the secondary characters, especially the many suspicious people we come across over the course of the investigation, are perfectly written for this sort of book. They have just enough depth and mystery to them to ensure the reader will always have some questions. At the same time, we never spend too long learning about their backstories, ensuring the pace remains thriller-like from start to finish.
While I don't want to give away any spoilers, it would be remiss of me not to mention the fact that it ends on a cliffhanger, at least in regards to one major plot point. While, as a fan of the series, I'll surely keep on reading and see it resolved, I find it to be in bad taste, and feel like anyone going into this book ought to be warned of the fact.
The Final Verdict
15th Affair by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is, despite the cliffhanger of an ending and somewhat different approach to storytelling, remains a fantastically-entertaining novel and a worthy addition to the Women's Murder Club Thriller series. We get a greater insight into Lindsay Boxer's mind, an interesting cast of secondary characters, and a monumental intrigue to unravel; what more could one want?
Whether you're a fan of the series and are wondering if you should keep reading further, or are in search of a novel to scratch that espionage thriller itch you've been feeling, I do recommend you give this novel a read.
 | James B. PattersonPersonal site James Patterson is an American writer who has dedicated a large part of his literary career to writing murder-related thrillers, inventing in the process two memorable character-based series in Alex Cross and Michael Bennett. His most prominent works include Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. |
 | Maxine PaetroShe has remained an active author, writing numerous novels since then, including Manshare, Windfall and Woman of God. Additionally, she is known for collaborating with James Patterson on numerous entries in the Women's Murder Club series. |
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