Product Description

When a lone gunman goes on a shooting spree aboard a packed San Francisco ferry, Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is called in to investigate. At the scene she finds three people dead and fellow Women’s Murder Club member Claire Washburn fighting for her life. Lindsay promises to find whoever did this. But it’s a promise she may not be able to keep.

As the investigation makes its way to court, news of a child abduction comes through. Lindsay discovers that more children have been taken. But with no ransom demands the abductions don’t seem to make sense – unless the kidnappers aren’t planning on returning their hostages...

The clock is ticking as Lindsay tries to fit all the pieces together. She knows that if she doesn’t find the children quickly it will be too late...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25635 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

About the Author
James Patterson is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. He is the author of some of the most popular series of the past decade: the Women's Murder Club, the Alex Cross novels and Maximum Ride, and he has written many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand-alone thrillers. He has won an Edgar Award, the mystery world's highest honour. He lives in Florida with his wife and son.

Customer Reviews

One of Patterson's worst
'The 6th Target' is the sixth entry in the Women's Muder Club series by James Patterson, with returning detective Lindsey Boxer on the case after a shoot-out on a ferry leaves several people dead and one woman, Women's Murder Club member Claire Washburn, fighting for her life.
Also, Boxer is faced with a series of kidnappings of children and their nannies from wealthy families. The kidnappers do not demand a ransom, making the parents fear the worst.

These seemingly random, unlinked cases are not quite action-packed as you'd expect from this series but does keep you turning the pages mainly because of Patterson's usual short chapters and the also the hope that something important is going to happen soon. The book loses a lot of the tension of the whole story halfway through as one case suddenly stops and the other begins - a stupid and quite unprofessional move by Patterson, making me believe that it may be a rookie mistake from co-writer . This also triggered my thoughts with his decision of Lindsey all of a sudden not wanting to be with her boyfriend anymore, with no real outcome of the whole situation.

This is by far the weakest of all of the Women's Murder Club books and probably one of the worst Patterson has ever written, feeling like a debut novel that hasn't quite worked. The story is predictable and unexciting with disappointing twists and the characters have also become very unlikeable and dull, making you not really care about what happens to them. I just hope this is a one-off bad novel as the rest of the series is very good, and that Patterson's other (and better) series, Alex Cross, does not ever suffer like this.

It is a book that can be read quickly, so if you are a fan of the series it's probably worth a go if only for the ongoing character storylines, but you will most likely be disappointed with the whole book. I wouldn't worry too much if you happen to miss it.

Not one of his best!
I agree with other reviewers. I used to long for the next James Patterson book to come out, but lately they have not been up to his usual standard. A case of trying to produce too many books too quickly, I fear; and this book is one that has suffered. He needs to focus more on the writing and stop racing to be the most prolific author (or co author) in the world. If he were one of my students, his report would read 'James needs to slow down a little and think more carefully about the content and style of his work rather than focussing purely on the quantity.' or words to that extent!

If you have enjoyed the series, you will probably want to read this as the next one - but take my advice. Wait until the book is on the open paperback market. At £3.99, it would make a pleasing, light read. At this sort of price, it is just not worth the hype!

shouldnt have bothered
I have always loved Patterson, but for me the 6th target may have been one womens murder club book too many. The book started off well and had some good ideas, but they seem to be strung together very poorly and in some places not at all. The book went off at tangents with meaningless subplots. All in all a VERY forgettable book that im sure i wont be retuning to. I advise read to 5th horseman then leave it at that unless he comes good with the 7th....
im just glad the book was so short, it was finished in 2 sittings, but very putdownable.