Better Off Dead [Mass Market Paperback]

Meryl Sawyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2005

She'd better run. . .

Devon's used to a life on the run--when she entered the Witness Protection program, she had to give up her friends, her family. . .even her name. But now someone's cracked her FBI file and sent a hired killer after her, and Devon can't count on the Feds to protect her.

She'd better hide. . .

Now Devon's fighting to stay one step ahead of the crime lord who's after her, but she can't do it alone. Her neighbor, a security expert, is willing to help her. . .but is he her guardian angel, or working with the assassins chasing her? Devon has to decide, and soon. . .

because someone thinks she'd be better off dead.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Too many coincidences mar Sawyer’s newest romantic suspense novel (after Lady Killer). Samantha Robbins, the former assistant to the CFO at the military supply company PowerTec, has gone into the federal witness protection program after exposing business irregularities at her company. But PowerTec is the least of her worries; a nasty operative for Obelisk, a shadowy organization that steals military technology, has sent a hired gun after her, believing she discovered something dangerous that could destroy Obelisk. When the Feds relocate Samantha from Sante Fe to Hawaii as "Devon," she meets Chad, a handsome but secretive Delta Force officer doing underwater forensics as well as weapons testing (off the record) for his old Defense Department boss. His suspicious nature and top-secret work with a next-generation infrared device, along with her evasiveness and own fears, play well off of each other. Is she after the device, and if not, what is she hiding? Is he after her? If he isn’t, will he be killed by association? The protagonists are believably attracted to each other despite their fears, but the story begins to crumble around them as disjointed elements start coalescing in increasingly unbelievable ways. Worst of all, Devon’s moment of truth, when she finally reveals all to Chad, is remarkably anticlimactic. In the end, this book offers readers plenty of buildup, but very little payoff.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373770243
• ISBN-13: 978-0373770243
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,071,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it despite..., January 11, 2005

By 

E. N. Ling "Ithaca" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Better Off Dead (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoed Sawyer's previous title, Ladykiller, and snapped up her latest, Better Off Dead, as soon as I read the blurb that it was set in Hawaii. I found this an exciting, fast-paced read. Lots of exhilarating moments and the dialogue made me turn page after page with anticipation.

I loved that Devon (or Samantha) had no TSTL moments unlike many romantic suspense heroines and there were no long, tedious struggles over whether she should sleep with Chad or not. Her hesitation was natural and to be expected and I found her romance developing nicely despite the tension of being on a WITSEC program.

That said, I do have a few quibbles - the editing in Sawyer's books leave room for much improvement! The grammer was terrible in some places and there were almost word-for-word repetition of phrases. This is not the first time I've noticed it in Sawyer's books. I've, in the past, come across incorrect names for things she describes - for example, she calls the wrap a "pashima" instead of "pashmina" several times in one of her previous books. The ending was so rushed and neatly tied up that it became not only unbelievable but an anti-climax. The way the redhead secret agent's part was written in was also unconvincing. She may be getting her own book but I felt she still ought to have been given more time and attention to make her role in the plot less incredible seeing as she played a major, albeit short, part in the ending.

I'll definitely read the next Sawyer book - I love these action romantic suspense plots and Sawyer is one of my auto-buys. I find her improving over the last few years and the only title I did not like was the soap opera-ish Every Waking Moment. I'm slso keeping my fingers crossed that the editing will improve and that Sawyer will not have to rush the ending after giving us such a great read from the start.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, January 10, 2005

By 

A Reader - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Better Off Dead (Mass Market Paperback)

Meryl Sawyer never disappoints, and this book is no exception.

The only problem I had with the book was that the ending seemed to be slapped together quickly. The story took over 300 pages to tell, and then the ending, which wasn't very suspensful, was wrapped up in about three pages.

Also, Ms. Sawyer should probably find herself a new editor. There were a lot of errors in this book...spelling, grammar and consistency (i.e. on one page the man is named Nate Albert, and on the next he's Nate Albertson).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Her Best, January 7, 2005

By 

Nicole Breazeal "Nicole" (Sun City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Better Off Dead (Mass Market Paperback)

Usually, I enjoy Meryl Sawyer's books, but this time it feels like she tried too hard. Especially at the end. It just felt like she ran out of time on her deadline and had to think up a quick ending. I gave it 3 stars because it does feel like a classic Meryl Sawyer read, but it just didn't have that extra oomph that she usually has.