4th of July (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | May 2, 2005 |
| Founder | James Patterson, Maxine Paetro |
| Products | Mystery and legal thriller novel |
| Parent | Little, Brown & Co. |
4th of July is a mystery and legal thriller authored by James Patterson in collaboration with Maxine Paetro.
Plot introduction
Following a wrongful death lawsuit after a shooting incident, Police Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer takes a leave of absence. While staying at her sister’s residence in Half Moon Bay, she delves into a series of murders that bear striking resemblance to a case from ten years prior, all while preparing for her upcoming trial.
Plot summary
Lindsay Boxer pursues a tip regarding the double homicide of two teenagers and teams up with Inspector Warren Jacobi for surveillance. Their pursuit culminates in a high-speed collision; the teenagers draw firearms and open fire on the officers. Boxer returns fire, resulting in the death of the female suspect and leaving the male suspect paralyzed. Medical staff confirm the shooting was justified as self-defense.
Subsequently, Boxer faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the father of the teenagers. During her stay in Half Moon Bay, she becomes aware of recent killings characterized by victims having their throats slashed and bodies whipped, mirroring an unresolved case from years ago. Despite initial reluctance from local law enforcement, Boxer collaborates with her friends to investigate as her trial date approaches.
After being acquitted, Boxer heads back to Half Moon Bay to continue unraveling the murder mystery. The perpetrators retaliate by attacking her home with gunfire. Her investigation reveals connections between victims’ families and pornography. Confronting Keith Howard leads to his admission of guilt in the killings. However, with assistance from Alison Brown, Boxer uncovers two additional assailants—Carolee Brown and Bob Hinton—who form a vigilante group composed of former sexual abuse survivors administering their own form of justice. Following their capture, Boxer returns to San Francisco, recognized for both her legal victory and case resolution.
Members of the Women's Murder Club
- Lindsay Boxer – Lieutenant in the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Homicide Division
- Yuki Castellano – Defense lawyer representing Boxer; newly inducted member of the WMC replacing the late Jill Bernhardt
- Claire Washburn – Medical Examiner based in San Francisco
- Cindy Thomas – Journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle
Additional characters
- Warren Jacobi – Inspector with SFPD
- Sam Cabot – Shooter who wounded Jacobi; paralyzed by Boxer’s gunfire and subsequently apprehended
- Sara Cabot – Sam’s sister involved in the murders; killed by Boxer during self-defense (father Andrew Cabot initiates lawsuit against Boxer)
- Dr. Carolee Brown – Boxer’s acquaintance who operates Bayside School for runaways while covertly executing those she judges morally corrupt
- Joe Molinari – Boxer’s partner employed by the Department of Homeland Security
- Keith Howard – Gas station worker assisting Carolee Brown
- Bob Hinton – Attorney affiliated with Carolee Brown; responsible for discovering Boxer’s home address
Release details
- 2005, United States, Little, Brown & Co., Hardcover edition, ISBN 0-316-71060-1, Published 2 May 2005
- 2005, United States, Little, Brown & Co., Large Print Hardcover, ISBN 0-316-05885-8, Published 2 May 2005
- 2006, United States, Warner Vision (Hachette Book Group USA), Paperback edition, ISBN 0-446-61336-3, Published 1 June 2006
- 2005, United States, Time Warner Audiobooks, Audiobook on CD format, ISBN 1-59483-033-9, Released 1 May 2005
- 2005, United States, Time Warner Audiobooks, Audiobook cassette format, ISBN 1-59483-032-0, Released 1 May 2005
- 2006, United Kingdom, Headline Book Publishing, Paperback edition, ISBN 0-7553-0583-3, Released 24 April 2006
External links
- Analysis of 4th of July available at mostlyfiction.com