Dust to Dust [Mass Market Paperback]

Tami Hoag (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 2002

Sorry. The single word was written on a mirror. In front of it hung the Minneapolis Internal Affairs cop. Was it suicide? Or a kinky act turned tragic?

Either way, it wasn’t murder. At least not according to the powers that be. But veteran homicide detective Sam Kovac and his wisecracking, ambitious partner Nikki Liska think differently. Together they begin to dig at the too-neat edges of the young cop’s death, uncovering one motive and one suspect after another. The shadows of suspicion fall not only on the city’s elite, but into the very heart of the police department.

Someone wants the case closed–quickly and forever. But neither Kovac nor Liska will give up. Now both their careers and their lives are on the line. From a murder case two months old to another case closed for twenty years, Kovac and Liska must unearth a connection the killer wants dead and buried. A killer who will stop at absolutely nothing to keep a dark and shattering secret . . .

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Minneapolis has more than its share of interesting cops (Lucas Davenport of the John Sandford thrillers, for one), and Tami Hoag's homicide dicks, Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, join the club in this thoughtful and surprisingly moving novel of dirty cops and cover-ups. Internal Affairs investigator Andy Fallon is a suicide--or is he? The word around the department is that Andy, son of Iron Mike Fallon, an old hero of Sam's, killed himself because Mike turned his back on him when Andy told him he was gay. Or maybe it was because a lover dumped him, or even (snicker, snicker) a perverted sexual practice gone wrong. That's the gossip, but Sam feels he owes it to Mike to investigate.

Sam is a familiar type in this genre, and his self-awareness is almost painful at times. "You're a stereotype. The tragic hero," he's told by Amanda Savard, the strong-but-vulnerable Internal Affairs lieutenant whose determination to keep the Fallon case closed foreshadows her personal history. "The twice-divorced, smoking, drinking workaholic," Sam agrees. "I don't know what's heroic about that. It reeks of failure to me, but maybe I have unrealistic standards." But Sam's droll sense of humor is matched by his deeply ingrained crap detector. When Iron Mike apparently kills himself too, you can almost feel its needle vibrate. Then Sam and Nikki open another closed case, this one almost two decades old, and find the connections that threaten to unravel past crimes and future promises. Hoag is a writer very much in command of her craft: the pacing excels, the characters are complex and interesting, and the details well worked out. Readers will look forward to another Kovac and Liska adventure. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Tami Hoag is the queen of the crime story.”—New York Post

“[Tami Hoag] demonstrates just why she has become one of the hottest names in the suspense game....Bottom line: Leaves competition in the dust.”—People

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (March 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553582526
• ISBN-13: 978-0553582529
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (103 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

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

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Won't Be Able To Put It Down, August 20, 2000

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dust to Dust (Hardcover)

Tami Hoag is back and better than ever with her new suspense thriller, Dust to Dust. Andy Fallon, Internal Affairs cop and son of police legend, Iron Mike Fallon, is found hanging nude in his bedroom, facing a mirror with the word "sorry" printed on it. Suicide...accident...murder? Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, two of Minneapolis' toughest detectives are told to expedite the case, call it an accident and move on. But Kovac isn't convinced and when Iron Mike is found a few days later, another apparent suicide, Kovac and Liska stop listening to the brass, put their careers on the line and start their own investigation. As they begin to dig, they uncover dirty cops, cover ups, a connection to a twenty year old case and a killer who wants to keep the secrets of the past dead and buried. This is one fast paced, page turner that will keep you up reading, all night. Dust to Dust has it all. Great characters with strong voices. Tight plot with vivid, riveting scenes and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing to the terrifying climax and very satisfying end of the book. A must read for all mystery fans!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT POLICE THRILLER, August 1, 2000

By 

Nick G - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dust to Dust (Hardcover)

A single word is scrawled on a mirror..."SORRY", in front of the mirror hangs the naked body of homosexual, Internal Affairs cop, Andy Fallon.

Homicide detective, Sam Kovac, and his partner Nikki Liska are called to the scene. Upon first viewing the body, it is clearly a suicide, but as the two detectives begin questioning the friends and family of Andy, it becomes clear that Andy would not have taken his own life. This leaves the detectives to wonder, who wanted him dead and why?

As the two detectives dig deeper, they see connections to a recent case Andy was working on, and a case that has been closed for twenty years, the case that left Andy's father, Mike, in a wheelchair.

Kovac and Liska will not stop until they have every piece of the puzzle in place, even at the risk of their own lives.

"Dust To Dust" is another "up all night read" from master storyteller, Tami Hoag. The pages turn fast to uncover the answers to all questions that arise as the story unfolds.

Tami Hoag is at the top of her craft; she keeps the plot moving, throwing in shocking twists, while balancing everything with believable characters.

Fans of Hoag, as well as fans of police procedurals, will enjoy this one.

A MUST read!

Nick Gonnella

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Minnesota--Vikings or Viscious Mischief Country?, August 1, 2000

By 

"goldcoastreviews" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dust to Dust (Hardcover)

Recently reading "Winter Prey" by John Sanford, I was geographically comfortable returning to Minnesota for Tami Hoag's break-neck paced new thriller, "Dust To Dust". And am curious, do these authors know something we should be aware of? Is there something up there besides the Vikings to evoke such horrifically fascinating plots?

"Intense" is an understatement for this perfect blend of crime, mystery, judicial proceedure, and serial killer genres. Solid as ice Detective Sam Kovac and partner, sassy wise-cracking Nikki Liska, from "Ashes To Ashes" are back.

This time, these two hard-edged cops put their lives and careers on the line while involved in a potential suicide of an officer from Internal Affairs, Andy Fallon. Andy was gay. Andy told his infamous father "Iron Mike Fallon" he was gay. And Andy was found hanging in front of a mirror smeared with two words--I'm Sorry.

Super sleuthing divulges secret cases from the past, Police Department hush-hush cover-ups, a retiring Captain Ace Wyatt who just might be more than Hollywood bound, another recent murder of a gay police officer, and deep delving into family issues. This suspenseful serpentine of a novel is chillingly compelling.

Ms. Hoag has reached a high plateau of delivering her readers elborately characterized, finely crafted , "dab-your-thumb-to-your-tongue" page turning blood-curdlers.

other reading suggestions: "The Devils Teardrop" by Jeffrey Deaver and "The Woman Who Rode To The Moon: A Cordelia Morgan Mystery" by Bett Reece Johnson

I appreciate your interest & comments--CDS