DARK PARADISE [Paperback]

Tami Hoag (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Orion Books Ltd; Re-issue edition (2000)
• ASIN: B002O6D8EI
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Tami Hoag is the #1 international bestselling author of more than thirty books published in more than thirty languages worldwide, including her latest thrillers--Deeper Than The Dead, and Secrets To The Grave. Set in the late '80's, this series explores crime fighting in the early days of modern forensic science and criminal profiling. Renowned for combining thrilling plots with character-driven suspense, Hoag first hit the New York Times Bestseller list with Night Sins, and each of her books since has best a bestseller. She leads a double life in Palm Beach County, Florida where she is also known as a top competitive equestrian in the Olympic discipline of dressage.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CLASSIC ROMANTIC SUSPENSE, November 26, 2001

By 

Nicole Miale - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Paradise: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

I've been a fan of Tami Hoag's since her Loveswept romance days, and have read nearly everything she has written. Still Waters (a personal favorite of mine) was Ms. Hoag's first foray into romantic suspense. Dark Paradise followed, and with each successive novel, she stepped further away from romance and further into the pschological thrillers she is most known for today. This is important to know if you're considering buying a book by Tami Hoag for the first time. It's easy to be disappointed by making a book selection that isn't your cup of tea, b/c she has written the gamut.

Dark Paradise is primarily a romance with elements of suspense and a mystery at the heart of it. It is, in my opinion, a terrific book. I have recommended it to friends who read romance, mysteries and horror -- all have liked it without exception.

Marilee, the heroine has arrived in Montana to visit a friend on vacation and take stock of her life. She arrives to find the friend dead, under mysterious circumstances that no one besides her seems to care about. This is the mystery: who really killed Lucy and was it truly an accident? Marilee is a great heroine, smart and plucky and creative without being the slightest bit perfect. You can imagine knowing someone just like her. Her run-ins with the reluctant rancher hero JD (who knew Lucy and doesn't care what happened to her as long as it doesn't affect his ranch or way of life) are classic romance-type exchanges, but they're never pat. That's one hallmark of Ms. Hoag's, no matter what genre she's writing for - the characters rarely take the easy way out. They're too real for that.

If you enjoy Ms. Hoag's more edgy and psychological-horror books (ie. Ashes to Ashes), then you may still enjoy Dark Paradise as a precursor, stylistically. If you were a fan of books like Magic and Sarah's Sin, this one will take you down a darker path moving away from romance.

I highly recommend this book to most anyone who asks me. It's one of my all-time favorites. Give it a try.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romance Novel Masquerading As A Mystery, September 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dark Paradise: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

"Dark Paradise" is the first Tami Hoag book I ever read. I bought it because of the attractive, moody front cover, plus the synopsis on the back didn't sound too bad. Basically, it said Marilee Jennings, an ex-court reporter, left California for New Eden, Montana, to visit her friend (Lucy MacAdam) and remained to uncover the truth of her friend's death. But you wouldn't have guessed that was the plot after reading the book. However, before I start criticizing, let me introduce the main characters.

Marilee is the protagonist in "Dark Paradise"; J. D. Rafferty is the rugged cowboy who had shared the late Lucy MacAdam's bed before jumping to Marilee's. It's a common formula Tami Hoag uses in her books: outwardly strong leading lady falls for tough, macho guy. Although I'm not much into romance novels, I'm sure a lot of Hoag's fans enjoy her books for this common thread.

Then there's J. D.'s brother Will who's constantly having problems with monogamy, which compels his wife to associate with the Hollywood crowd that has invaded Montana. Among this group is Evan Bryce, a well-to-do man who's interested in Lucy's land and has one unusual relationship with his female cousin (who I kept expecting to be a man because of the repeated references to her manly looks). There are several other nonexistent characters--such as J. D.'s crazy uncle who is a suspect in Lucy's death--, but most of them are easily forgotten and insignificant in the end.

"Dark Paradise" is more of a romance book than a mystery. It's almost pointless to try and guess the killer because there's hardly any real suspense. Also, Lucy barely seems important to the story since she's rarely brought up. Several times I forgot why Marilee was remaining in Montana (besides J. D., of course). However, it is well-written and pretty entertaining.

Only attempt this book if you like Tami Hoag's romantic suspense and verbosity (500+ pages). If you're looking for a good scare, you might try her other mystery books (Night Sins, Ashes to Ashes).

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romance and Murder together again in another Hoag, September 26, 2000

By 

Marcia L. Hopkins - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Paradise: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

Tami Hoag has written another thriller, murder mystery that I couldn't put down. The story begins as the main character, Marilee Jennings, is driving to Montana after she has quit her job as a court stenographer and decided to go to Montana where her friend Lucy MacAdam moved the year before. When she arrives, she discovers Lucy's cabin torn apart and that Lucy has been dead for over a week, the apparent victim of an accidental shooting.

Marilee decides to stay so she might learn what really happened to her friend Lucy. J.D. Rafferty, Lucy's neighbor makes her feel most unwelcome in the town and there seems to be a division in the town about the many rich California people who are buying property in New Eden. Marilee finds out that she is Lucy's heir and that she has inherited her small farm. Tami Hoag has, once again, created a rich story set in an attractive town. The tension and developing relationship between Marilee and J.D. Rafferty is intriguing and adds to the mystery of the book.