As Lindsay Boxer, Claire Washburn, and Cindy Thomas work tirelessly to unravel the mystery behind the attack, they discover a sinister plot with far-reaching consequences.

I think that one of the keys to enjoying Patterson is not to think too hard about his book when you’re reading it. If you like this series, or are interested in a quick easy read for relaxation, then you may enjoy this latest addition.I *know* that it's the literary equivalent of fast food, but sometimes you just want a little mindless entertainment.

Not only was it totally rushed after a certain point (don’t want to have any spoilers ) but it had such ridiculous things going on that I am not even fully sure what happened. There's a major monkey wrench thrown in and the investigation into the alternative is fraught with gaping holes. This year’s outing - “21st Birthday”- starts off with Cindy Thomas (reporter) and Lindsey Boxer (detective) being contacted by a frantic and out-of-control woman whose daughter and baby granddaughter have gone missing. Usually with this series, I complain about the characters having plotlines that rarely if ever intersect.When Tara’s mother arrives at the San Francisco Chronicle to follow-up, Cindy cannot shake the distraught woman’s pleas for help. And, even with some shake-ups in the department, it's comforting to tag along with the SFPD Homicide Squad.