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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
To Die For (Version 2.0),
By
This review is from: To Die For (Harlequin Intrigue, Book 595) (Paperback)
Sharon Green returns to Intrigue after a seven year absence with the line's second "To Die For." When Tanda Grail's brother is murdered, he's only the first victim of a serial killer who murders five victims in a week. Tanda hires a private investigator to work on the case when the police get nowhere, only to see the P.I. become the killer's latest victim. Lieutenant Mike Gerard has been assigned to the case. As the bodies continue to pile up, can they hope to unmask the killer before it's too late?I changed my mind about this book's rating several times while reading it, from three stars to four to five to four and finally back to five. "To Die For" left me too stunned and excited not to give it the highest rating I can. It's not flawless (more on that later), but it packs a wallop most Intrigues these days can't come close to delivering. Green delivers a mystery of such complexity and stunning twists most Intrigue authors today could never dream of inventing. It's so daring I kept checking the cover to make sure this WAS an Intrigue. The back cover even goes so far as to try to make this sound like another generic cop story. It's not. This is a wonderfully original read. "To Die For" is a book that will satisfy readers more interested in the "suspense" portion than the "romance." Those who prefer the love story to be the priority in their romantic suspense will likely be disappointed. The romance in "To Die For" is forced and unconvincing; the character development nonexistent. But the mystery is thrilling. It reminded me so much of the Intrigues that used to be published back when Green started writing for the line (The love story often got the short end then too. To Green's credit this one is more credible than the one she delivered in "Haunted House.") The first hundred pages are rather slow, full of setup that comes in useful later but isn't terribly compelling when presented. It's around page 100 that the book takes off and never stops. The mystery begins twisting and turning, with a scenario so unique and fresh I found myself grinning gleefully as I read. This was when I started to believe I had a five star book on my hands, an impression only diminished when the forced "romance" made an appearance before thankfully handing the rest of the story over to the mystery. This is simply the best mystery an Intrigue book has told since "Same Place, Same Time" a year ago, so well constructed and expertly plotted. It was a pleasure to be in the hands of a writer who wasn't telling her story because this type of book is supposedly popular (i.e. babies/cowboys/amnesia victims), but one who had a special vision all her own for this tale. So much about this story is just so wonderfully different. The heroine's occupation, which is used to wonderful effect. The richness of the details (although the Connecticut setting is so vague the story could have taken place anywhere. A shame. When was the last time a Harlequin novel took place in Connecticut???) The mystery also brings out the best in the characters. Through most of the beginning, they seem pretty cardboard. Though they don't exactly pop into three-dimensions later on, their actions in dealing with the mystery as the story goes along make them easy to root for (LOVED Tanda's comeback starting on page 172. Brilliant.) Romance readers may (justifiably) have quibbles. This book is a mystery reader's dream. I do find it ironic though that a book that brings back an old author and comes closest to the spirit of what this series used to be also shows the current Harlequin regime's lack of regard for this line's history. The title "To Die For" was already used for an Intrigue, Number 214 by M.J. Rodgers, a book even more imaginative and full of twists than this one (It also had an actual romance). In a battle of the two "To Die For"s, the first is still the best, though both are must-reads. Books like this are why I continue to read Harlequin Intrigues month after month, enduring recycled plots, uninspired writing and unimaginative stories in hopes that I'll find a book that knocks me off my feet. In "To Die For" (Version 2), I found one.
4.0 out of 5 stars
To Die For #595,
By Carmen Ryan (New Jersy (USA)) - See all my reviews
This review is from: To Die For (Harlequin Intrigue, Book 595) (Paperback)
This book I could not put down. Read it in two days. Good mystery. Felt like I was watching a movie, whereas you had to keep attention or else you would get lost in the plot. Only thing in this book, not much Romance, but very good mystery. Highly recommend for the mystery reader.
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