2nd Chance
James Patterson; Andrew Gross
Book - 2
Mar-2002
3rd Degree
James Patterson; Andrew Gross
Book - 3
Mar-2004
4th of July
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 4
May-2005
The 5th Horseman
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 5
Feb-2006
The 6th Target
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 6
May-2007
7th Heaven
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 7
Jan-2008
The 8th Confession
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 8
May-2009
The 9th Judgment
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 9
May-2010
10th Anniversary
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 10
May-2011
11th Hour
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 11
May-2012
12th of Never
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 12
May-2013
Unlucky 13
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 13
May-2014
14th Deadly Sin
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 14
May-2015
15th Affair
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 15
May-2016
The Trial
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 15.5
Jul-2016
16th Seduction
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 16
Jan-2017
The Medical Examiner
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 16.5
Aug-2017
The 17th Suspect
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 17
May-2018
The 18th Abduction
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 18
Apr-2019
The 19th Christmas
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 19
Oct-2019
The 20th Victim
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 20
May-2020
21st Birthday
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 21
May-2021
22 Seconds
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 22
May-2022
The 23rd Midnight
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 23
May-2023
23 1/2 Lies
James Patterson
Book - 23.5
Sep-2023
The 24th Hour
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 24
Jan-2024
25 Alive
James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Book - 25
May-2025
26 Beauties
James Patterson
Book - 26
Apr-2026
Series Premise
The Women's Murder Club series follows four friends who form an unofficial crime-solving group. Each book features a new high-stakes murder investigation, with the four women contributing their specialized skills to track down killers while dealing with personal challenges and the demands of their professions.
Women's Murder Club Series Reading Order
🔄 Best Read in Order · Start with Book 1: 1st to Die
Standalone stories, but characters and relationships develop across the series.
Publication order gives the best experience for the Women's Murder Club series. Each book has a complete central mystery with its own resolution, while character relationships and ongoing personal developments carry across the volumes. Readers who jump ahead miss the evolution of the four friends’ bond, key life events, and references to prior cases that add emotional depth to later stories.
The core group consists of Lindsay Boxer (homicide inspector), Claire Washburn (chief medical examiner), Yuki Castellano (assistant district attorney), and Cindy Thomas (crime reporter). The series focuses on their friendship and professional collaboration as they tackle complex crimes.
Setting of the Women's Murder Club Series
The stories are primarily set in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. Investigations often involve the city’s police department, medical examiner’s office, courts, and newsrooms, with occasional scenes in nearby locations.
Tone & Themes of the Women's Murder Club Series
The tone is fast-paced and suspenseful with strong female friendships. Core themes include teamwork across professions, justice, the challenges faced by women in high-pressure careers, and balancing personal life with dangerous work.
Is the Women's Murder Club Series Worth Reading?
This series appeals to readers who enjoy character-driven crime thrillers with strong female protagonists, procedural detail, and a focus on friendship and teamwork in law enforcement.
Content Warnings and Heat Level
This is a crime thriller series with moderate to high violence, descriptions of murder scenes, and occasional strong language. Sexual content is generally mild.
The Women's Murder Club series follows four San Francisco women who unite to solve murders. With its blend of self-contained investigations and continuing personal arcs, it rewards readers who follow the books in sequence. The multi-author format brings varied perspectives while maintaining the core group’s dynamic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
There are 29 books in the Women's Murder Club series.
The series includes 26 novels and 3 short stories/novellas.
The Women's Murder Club series does not have a new book coming out soon. The latest book, 26 Beauties (Book 26), was published in April 2026.
The first book in the Women's Murder Club series, 1st to Die, was published in March 2001.
The Women's Murder Club series primarily falls into the Law Enforcement genre.