Books › 2nd Chance
2nd Chance
First published 2002 · 520 pages
A breakneck, high-stakes thriller where the only thing stronger than the killer's malice is the unbreakable bond between four women seeking justice.
What it feels like
Reading this thriller feels like riding a runaway train through the foggy, shadow-drenched streets of San Francisco. The narrative is relentlessly propulsive, driven by punchy, ultra-short chapters that make it nearly impossible to put down. Beneath the gritty, dread-soaked atmosphere of a city under siege by a ruthless killer, the story is anchored by a warm, earnest core of female friendship. The camaraderie between a detective, a medical examiner, a prosecutor, and a reporter provides a necessary emotional grounding against the stark, cinematic violence of the crimes they investigate. It is a perfect fit for readers who want their adrenaline spiked by a fast-paced procedural, but who stay for the fierce loyalty and professional grit of women fighting for justice.
- Mood
- tense
- dread-soaked
- shadowy
- anxious
- Tone
- urgent
- gritty
- suspenseful
- earnest
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- female friendship · justice versus vengeance · professional dedication · overcoming trauma · urban terror
- The writing
- Punchy, cinematic, and stripped-down, relying on ultra-short chapters to keep the pages turning at breakneck speed.
- The arc
- Moves from shocking tragedy through a tense, desperate hunt, culminating in a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled resolution.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave fast-paced, plot-driven thrillers anchored by strong, supportive female friendships and procedural elements.
Content notes
- gun violence
- racially motivated violence
- murder of children
- hanging
- graphic violence
About the book
A brutal madman sprays bullets into a crowd of children leaving a San Francisco church. Miraculously-or was it intentionally?-only one person dies. Then an elderly black woman is hung. Police homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer senses a connection and together with medical examiner Claire, assistant D. A. Jill, and Chronicle reporter Cindy, finds a link that sends a chill through the entire nation. This killer's motives are unspeakable.A Main Selection of The Literary Guild®, of Book-of-the-Month Club®, of Doubleday Book Club®, and of The Mystery Guild®
Description from Open Library.
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