The ONLY reason I didn't DNF this one is because I do collect books that feature midwives - fiction and non. So, it's staying on my shelves purely for that reason.

It was the first James Patterson novel I have ever read, and it will be the last. He is not for me.

Every single character feels like a token character. I knew whodunnit from the first time I met him (it's the OB/gyn). The protagonist is... something. She makes no sense as a human being. She's a shrill banshee of a woman, shallow, selfish, and totally NOT representative of midwifery. And not in the cool, badass kind of way. She's immature, one-dimensional, and boring.

As a midwife, I was sorely disappointed in the complete and utter mishandling of midwifery and what it means. Patterson apparently consulted with a couple of midwives, but I am 99% sure he dismissed 99% of what they said and sacrificed realism for a bad narrative. A narrative held together by paper clips and spitballs, probably. It's that untenable.

I do NOT expect 100% accuracy in fiction, but I do expect something that those who aren't familiar with midwifery can find believable. This is not that.

Some say these kinds of books are palate cleansers. But can't a palate cleanser still be pretty good? Like lime sherbet?