Right now, I am in the middle of James Patterson’s latest release, 26 Beauties—the twenty-sixth installment in the Women’s Murder Club series—and I am really enjoying it. The trademark pacing makes it incredibly difficult to set aside.

For those who have followed the series, reuniting with Lindsay, Claire, Cindy, and Yuki feels as engaging as ever. The narrative begins on an unusually high note, with medical examiner Claire Washburn being honored as Medical Examiner of the Year. Naturally, in true Patterson fashion, the celebration is short-lived.

The event is interrupted by a distraught father begging investigative reporter Cindy Thomas to help find his missing daughter. Meanwhile, SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer is entrenched in her own grim investigations involving a Jane Doe who washed ashore and another young woman discovered in Golden Gate Park. Before long, a chilling pattern emerges across San Francisco as young women begin disappearing by the dozen.

I will hold off on any spoilers since I am still reading it myself, but the narrative dives into dark, emotional territory and is handled well. The book maintains a solid balance between the gritty police-procedural elements and the core dynamic among the four women that grounds the series.

The short chapters work perfectly here, continuously escalating the suspense. Every time I plan to stop for the day, I end up reading several more chapters. If you appreciate high-octane thrillers or have followed the Women’s Murder Club series from its inception, this is well worth adding to your reading list.