mystery

I have been a fan of Tami Hoag since "Lucky's Lady," and I must say that her last three books have been a disappointment to me.
"Kill the Messenger" is a good story, with a viable plot, however the character development I have come to expect from Ms. Hoag is severely lacking. I cannot go into detail because that would give away the ending. I feel that you never really got to know detective Kev Parker - if this had been one of her earlier efforts, she would have developed his character more on the line of her Jack Boudreaux or Nick Fourcade characters. None of the characters, except perhaps Jace, are developed enough so you can really connect with them, and for me, personally, that is what drives a good story. She should have spent more time on the characters and a little less time on describing L.A. over and over.
I feel in Ms. Hoag's last few efforts she is rushing through the stories and letting the fact that she has a few solid novels behind her lead her to less-than-her-best efforts.
I should have waited for the paperback version. Buying this book in hardcover was a waste of the $25.00 in today's tough economic times.

I had hoped for a little more romance in this Tami Hoag novel. In DARK HORSE we had to use our imaginations alittle. But there were sparks between Estes and Landry. In this one, it didn't end right.

This is a great thriller/suspense adventure. But the romance, what little there is, leaves you unsettled. As I have said I like books that leave me with a cozy warm feeling. This one does not. It feels as though Hoag writes without any trust in men. Her women characters seem to feel that there are few, if any, good men out there.

The plot and characters are crisp and well defined. I liked Parker and the secondary characters were very motivated. The only thing left out was a good romance. With a happy ending.

The ending is totally unexpected and left me with a vague sense of dissatisfaction.

However no one does suspense like Hoag and that remains so in this novel.

Bike messenger Jace Damon has one last pick-up for the night, unfortunately it may be the last pick-up of his life.

Jace has to deliver a package for Lenny Lowell, a sleazy defense attorney in the middle of a high-profile murder case involving a Hollywood star. But, en route to delivering the package, he is almost run down by a car, chased through alleyways and shot at. Jace realizes there is something worth killing for in this package so he decides to return to Lenny's office only to find the office ransacked and Lenny dead.

Now on the run, Jace must fight for his life as the police believe he's a suspect and a killer wants him dead.

'Kill the Messenger' is an exciting read, while different from previous novels by Tami Hoag; the novel is suspenseful and the ending packs a nice surprise, but the usual dark tone is missing. This novel is a lighter thriller that entertains from first page to last, but might disappoint long-time fans. However, 'Kill the Messenger' is a much better novel than Ms. Hoag's last novel and based on the strength of her name alone the book should fly up the bestseller lists.

An entertaining summer read.

Nick Gonnella