After trying two books this morning and nothing kicking in, I went for a nice quick novella read, and the perfect one for me as I knew I would enjoy it was James Patterson and Maxine Paetro's latest in the Women's Murder Club series. This is one of my favorite crime series as I have seen them develop through the books, marry, and have children. After reading 20+ books in this series for almost 20 years it's a comfort series. In 23 1/2 Lies, Lindsay's crazy morning with her daughter knocking over the two fish in the fish bowl should have been her pre-warning that today was going to be a "bad day'. A person has been shot near the court house and that person happens to be none other than Marty Boxer aka Lindsay's father or so she thought the strange thing was according to sources and what she was told, he died years ago so how can his fresh corpse be right in front of her eyes? As Lindsay puts on her big girl cop pants to help solve the murder, she will also have some dark family secrets revealed that could change her life forever. This novella was the perfect quick read for any fan of the Women's Murder Club and now I can't wait for Book #24 to arrive. This particular book also contained a couple of other quick reads from James Patterson, but I didn't bother with them as only wanted to read 23 1/2 Lies.

I have been reading the Women’s Murder Club series as long as Ms. Paetro (with Patterson) has been writing them. I don’t much care for Patterson’s other series and was disappointed at the brevity of the novella. I also missed the Women’s Murder Club interactions with Lindsay. It was still a good, if short, read and am looking forward to #24.

23 ½ Lies is actually three novellas: 23 ½ Lies which is part of Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series; Fallen Ranger which is part of his Texas Ranger series; and Watch Your Back which I believe is not part of any series. When I requested this title, I didn’t realize that it was an anthology. I thought it was the next book in the Women’s Murder Club series of which I am a huge fan. I have read every one of his books in this series and have loved each one! I am an avid reader of some of his other series (especially Michael Bennett and Alex Cross), but I do not read the Texas Ranger series. I must admit that of the three novellas, I only read 23 ½ Lies.

In 23 ½ Lies, a murder takes place close to the police station. Lindsay is bowled over to learn that the victim is actually her estranged father, whom she thought had died years earlier. As Lindsay investigates the murder, she discovers long-buried secrets about her father. This was a fast-paced read. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I highly recommend this novella.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Women's Murder Club books and this book has 3 novellas in it, the first is a womens murder club book and the second is a texas ranger and they are superb. I love the fast paced writing style of James Patterson and I have been a big fan of his books for years. This was a 5 star read.
I just reviewed 23 1/2 Lies by James Patterson. #NetGalley
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🌟🌟🌟 "23 1/2 Lies" serves up a trio of intriguing short stories that make for a quick and engaging read. While they may not have completely bowled me over, they certainly provide a dose of suspense and mystery that's perfect for a casual reading session. Each story has its moments of intrigue, and the collection as a whole offers a variety of suspenseful scenarios. If you're in the mood for a trio of quick thrillers, this book might just hit the spot. 📚🕵️‍♂️ #BookReview #ThrillerCollection #ShortStories #QuickReads

What a great short story from the Women's Murder club. Lindsay founds out her past isn't what it seems

Three books in one! My favorite being the novella of the Women’s Murder club. Lindsey Boxer heads in to work only to be called to the scene of a homicide of her father. But, her father died years ago. How could this happen. In a rather predictable storyline, we uncover some shady habits that he had and discovered a deathbed confession as to whom the culprit was. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

23 1/2 Lies is compiled of 3 short stories.

The first is 23 1/2 Lies featuring the famous Women's Murder Club. Lindsey's father has been found murdered, but Lindsey thought he had died years ago. The premise of this short story surprised me because her father's murder, in my mind, should have been a full story instead of rushing it into a short story. It felt rushed, emotionless, and easy to solve.

Fallen Ranger was my favourite of the 3 short stories. It felt more thought out and kept a fast pace without feeling rushed. The ending caught me off guard and was a great addition to this collection.

Watch Your Back was unfortunately forgettable.

Overall short stories aren't usually my favourite because they are missing too many details. The only one of the three that is truly worth reading is Fallen Ranger in my opinion.

For a short read, these three novellas are good, with the first definitely being the best. The first has a woman detective investigating the murder of her estranged father. There are a lot of twists and turns to the plot that keep the reader guessing. The second, about a Texas Ranger, seemed a bit farfetched. Stolen money is donated in cash to charities, but no one can deposit millions of dollars in cash without undergoing some serious scrutiny; the serial numbers on the bills would have been checked against known heists. So this one fell a little flat. The third was enjoyable, with a non-detective hired by a millionaire to follow his wife. Nothing really compelling or overly sensational, but sometimes amusing, and a good bedtime read. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. .All opinions are my own.

23 1/2 Lies is 3 separate stories in one book. The first story 23 1/2 Lies is a murder mystery staring Lindsey Boxer and her gang of friends/coworkers. It is a quick read with a couple of twists but nothing out of the ordinary. The second story Fallen Ranger follows the Texas Ranger Rory Yates through a case that has him looking at everyone as possible suspects and a brief look at his romantic life. A few twists and turns but it mainly goes down as you expect. Watch Your Back was the third story and this one was a bit of a meandering mess for me. I just couldn't get into the characters and didn't find that I cared about them in any way. So I would say I thoroughly liked 2/3 of this book and was just ok on the last part. If you like James Patterson novels/short stories you will like this book for the most part.

Excited to see one of my fave series has a 1/2 version so I don't have to wait for 24! Love these characters and appreciate another great story that hits particularly close to home for one of them!

This collection is a departure from the typical full-length novels we associate with James Patterson. Instead, he collaborates with three talented authors to craft three distinct novellas, each with its own intriguing twist.

The first novella, '23 1/2 Lies,' thrusts us into the world of Lindsay Boxer, a dedicated member of the Women's Murder Club. When a murder occurs right outside the police station, the shock is compounded when the victim turns out to be Lindsay's long-dead father. What follows is a riveting journey as Lindsay and her fellow club members join forces to unravel this perplexing murder.

In 'Fallen Ranger,' we follow Texas Ranger Rory Yates as he investigates a string of armed robberies that may implicate a retired Ranger, someone Rory deeply respects. As he delves deeper, he uncovers layers of deception, and the case takes a darker turn with the murder of a San Antonio police officer.

The final novella, 'Watch Your Back,' introduces us to an unemployed artist hired to tail his boss' wife, only to find himself ensnared in a web of intrigue and temptation. Matters become more complicated as he falls in love with the very person he's meant to investigate.

While these novellas offer a swift read, they serve as tantalizing appetizers for those craving James Patterson's signature style. What's truly fascinating is how each collaborator brings their unique voice to the narratives, infusing the stories with fresh perspectives and unexpected twists.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this copy.

I only read the Women's Murder Club story - not the other two - because I haven't read any of the Texas Ranger books and the last story didn't sound very interesting. I liked that Lindsay got some closure about her father, and that they were able to put a long time criminal away. I only read the Women's Murder Club story - not the other two - because I haven't read any of the Texas Ranger books and the last story didn't sound very interesting. I liked that Lindsay got some closure about her father, and that they were able to put a long time criminal away.

This is a book with 3 novellas in it. The first book has the women’s murder club characters featured, it’s a side pace with interesting aspects that relate to the ongoing stories of these characters. The other two stories I have never read before, but were very good and make me interested to explore other books in the series.

Three stories in one book. This is not the typical James Patterson book but it has a very nice variety. The first story is about a character from the Women's Murder Club thrillers, Lindsay Boxer. She receives news that will change her perception of much of her life. Fortunately, she has her sister to help her gain perspective on the news. Does the news Lindsay receives affect her performance in solving the latest murder she is assigned? Lindsay is a fascinating, relatable character, and following her as she solves this murder is a reader's delight.

The second story follows a Texas Ranger, Rory, as he solves an armored truck robbery and tries to untangle his complicated personal life. As the case develops, Rory finds that many aspects of the robbery remind him of a former Texas Ranger he has worked with. The issue is that there are three people working the robbery and he can't identify who else would work with this ex-Ranger. Is he right or could he be off base on his hunch? The tangled romantic life seems to be resolved more easily than expected but since it is not the main story, the simplicity is understood.

The third story involves a rich multimedia mogul who suspects his wife of cheating. He asks an artist to follow her as she goes on a trip across the country and document her interactions with any man along the way. With all of his money, Mr. Plevin decides to use an artist as an investigator? This makes no sense. Many of the other elements of the story are also very unusual and difficult to believe. I never felt fully engaged in this story.

The first two stories were great - well-written and entertaining. Sadly the third story needs more development to measure up to the strength of the first two.

This book is misleading. It is three novellas written by three separate authors, packaged as a book with the Patterson name front and center. Only the first is a very bland Women’s Murder Club story.

I’m not sure if this is a shame on James Patterson or a shame on me for not reading the blurb more closely, but either way, I am not going to fall for another “Patterson” bait and switch.

Oh, and by the way, I only read the first and didn’t bother with the others.

Name of Book: 23 ½ Lies
Author: James Patterson & Maxine Paetro]
Series: Women’s Murder Club #23.5 plus 2 more short stories
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date was: September 12, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Pages: 448


I have to admit I not a fan of short stories but I am a big fan of the “The Women’s Murder Club’.
I do love several Patterson’s series and these ladies are my favorite.

The first story is - “23 ½ Lies” and is part of the Women's Murder Club series with author Maxine Paetro. Lindsay's estranged father is gunned down execution style and her investigation leads to life-altering truths.
As I mentioned the Women’s Murder Club is my favorite JP series. I believe Maxine Paetro adds the perfect touch to these characters. My favorite is Lindsay Boxer.
I typically listen to the audio as I so love January LaVoy’s performance – to me she is Lindsay Boxer!!

The second short story is-“Fallen Ranger” with author Andrew Bourelle. A Texas Ranger named Rory Yates is loyal to the badge.
Third story is - “Watch Your Back” and is written with author Loren D. Estleman. An artist is paid to expose his client's cheating wife. He is tasked with painting the picture to save his own life.

Although these short stories are good – my favorite (no surprise is “23 ½ Lies’) and my 4 star rating is really based on that!

BTW: This is similar to back when Patterson was doing the Bookshot novellas – they typically were ‘between the series’ teasers.


Want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing Books for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date was for September 12, 2023.

I am a huge James Patterson fan and thoroughly some of his series more than others. This particular book is a set of three novellas. The first one is from the Women’s Murder Club. And I always love spending time with Lindsay Boxer and her three friends who makes up the “murder club.” Great murder mystery with lots of twists and turns and you will feel a connection with the characters.

The second novella is from the Texas Ranger series. I love the primary character, Rory Yates. This one was an edge-of-your-seat page turning quick read. And hang on, because there are a couple of shocking things at the end.

And the final novella was a unique story line. But it definitely had lots of the typical twists and turns that Patterson is known for. The characters were well developed and the story line pulled you in and held on tight until the final page.

All in all, I enjoyed the three separate stories and would enjoy reading additional books in a similar format.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I have to start by saying I love The Women's Murder Club, I've been reading these books for well over a decade and have loved each one more than the last, and the first part of this book is no different, the second and third part of this collection are where it fell a little short for me.

I will admit I was hoping for some kind of connection between the stories, and maybe I should have known better from the description, but I wanted something linking the three stories, I needed there to be some reason for the three stories to be together in this book.

In part one, we have our favorite group of women that get stuff done and the men that support them, and yet again it was magical storytelling, seriously with these characters I will read every single book, novella, collection... well I'll read all of it.

The second story was about a Texas ranger, and while it was an interesting story about a bank heist it just didn't grab me the way the WMC books do.

By the time I got to the third story I had just started to get into the story it was over and I was starting the third.

I'm going to be honest here, if I rate just the first story it's a 5/5 all day long, part two was 3.5/5, and part three was 4/5 so overall this one will be a 4/5 for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Three stories are combined in one book by James Patterson and his co-authors. The first story involves Patterson's Women's Murder Club characters, primarily Lindsay Boxer. The second story is about a Texas Ranger who tries to solve a cold case involving a retired Ranger. The third story describes an artist who agrees to follow a client's wife to see what she is up to. The plots are OK, but I am not a big fan of short stories, preferring to read full-length novels. Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an ARC.