1st to Die

In this section, the novel transitions from the relatively slow pace of the murder investigation to a more action-packed plot that signals the coming denouement. The detectives move from interrogations and research into an active stakeout of Joanna’s home. Meanwhile, Nicholas gets an action set piece straight out of a movie when he escapes his prison transport during an earthquake and after a pole rips open the van and kills one of the guards. While we have seen Nicholas use his body for violence, his ability to think fast on his feet and perform feats of physical prowess is unprecedented with what we know of him. It is clear that because he knows that many of his novels get optioned for movie adaptations, Patterson is writing with an eye towards the eventual film version of this story.

As Joanna emerges as a new and quite convincing suspect, savvy mystery novel readers may start questioning whether she too is a red herring, since there is still time for a final twist. Nicholas insists that Joanna loves him and would never set him up, but Lindsay struggles to believe that Joanna isn’t angry enough with Nicholas to plan a complex revenge. The lead that Joanna worked at the bridal department at Saks where Melanie and Becky bought their dresses causes even the level-headed Jill to suspect Joanna of being the killer. Meanwhile, Lindsay’s steadfast determination that Joanna set up Nicholas inspires Claire to test urine found at the scene, identifying the killer as a woman. Although this is not enough evidence to clear Nicholas, it does seem to confirm Lindsay’s hunch.