Customer Reviews

In the Night of the Heat: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel (Tennyson Hardwick Novels)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Blair Underwood, Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due are back with their exciting second installment of the Tennyson Hardwick series. If you thought the first book, CASENGRA, was hot with many twist and turns, then put your seat belts on for IN THE NIGHT OF THE HEAT. This one is filled with steamy action and so many twist and turns that you won't even know what hit you. Tennyson Hardwick sets out to find the killer of famous athlete, T.D. Jackson, and during his investigation he comes in the face of danger himself. Will he dig things back up that should remain buried in the past? Will his quest to find the truth cause him to lose his own life and endanger his family's life as well? I guarantee you that you will not be able to put this book down.

These three, Due, Underwood and Barnes are the best murder mystery writing team of our time. I have a feeling they are just getting started. Once again, buckle up for the adventurous ride!

Ten is back, and his return is even better than his very good debut in Casanegra. This time around Ten is investigating the death of an O.J. Simpson type, who before his untimely demise, may have offed his ex and her fiancee. Juicy. Juicy. Anyway, Ten's dad, a wheel-chair bound, stroke-impaired ex-cop, rolls in to help his son. This story line is perfect, far superior to the pages of exhausting, unfulfilling sex that held Casanegra back. The characters are fully drawn and intriguing. The story is tight and sooo satisfying. A must read. Aww Sookie Sookie: Omar's Revenge

The character in this book, Tennyson, is half believable and somewhat far-fetched. His ability as a detective is interesting fodder. The story line in this book is also good, although reminiscent of O.J. Simpson. His past life and his live-in ward -- I don't like those two parts of the character. I think he should def get rid of the ward for the next story. It's just not right and if it continues, it's uncomfortable. Overall, the book is a solid read. The ending is a little weird and unexpected, but still good.

Tennyson Hardwick is a great character.

"In the Night of the Heat" takes off where "Casanegra" left off. Things are going well for Hardwick. He's got a small continuing part on a hit TV series and is in love (maybe for the first time in his life) with his girlfriend April. All is good until he turns down the sexual advances of woman that is definitely a big player in Hollywood. Suddenly Tennyson is out of work, his girlfriend is taking a teaching position in Africa and his unofficially adopted "daughter" Chela has started up an e-mail relationship with a pedophile. When $5000 is set in front of him by the father of former football great and recent suicide T.D. Jackson, Hardwick leaps at the chance to investigate the death.

Jackson recently acquitted of the violent murders of his ex-wife and her fiancé was facing the civil portion of his trial and things weren't looking good; his suicide seems open and shut, but is it really? The character of T.D. Jackson is so obviously a thinly disguised doppelganger of O.J. Simpson that it makes for real fun and effortlessly pulls the reader into the story. Hardwick is in for a rough time and the death of the football star and apparent murderer is a maze of twisting corridors leading back to another football game many years before Jackson's birth.

I've read all of husband and wife team Steven Barnes and Tannanarive Due's stand alone novels and while I see a little of their continuing themes within the novel, I can't for the life of me see where one writer begins and the other finishes. Their styles are seamlessly woven together which makes for a great read.

If you like hardboiled detective novels in the Robert B. Parker or John D. McDonald genre or if you just like your romance raw and steamy, you'll love "In the Night of the Heat".

I absolutely loved Casanegra and just when I thought it couldn't get any better, along comes another wonderful read! In the Night of the Heat is an excellent thrill-ride that will leave you breathless, panting for more adventures from the ever-appealing Tennyson Hardwick. I love this series and its flawed hero. Please keep 'em coming!

Fast paced, love the relationship between the characters, I could not put it down!
The authors make Tennyson so human and real.

I enjoyed this book even though I felt the authors could have shortened the book by 50-100 pgs and still made a great impact with the plot's revelation. However, I will definitely continue to read this series. Two thumbs up to the authors for developing such a complex main character, he is the Af-Am version of James Bond.

The last time we saw Tennyson "Ten" Hardwick, he was up to his neck in trouble (Casanegra). Still reeling from his friend's death, this ex-male escort turned bodyguard/actor finds himself in the middle of another high-profile investigation when an old friend asks him to look into her cousin's suicide and potential murder. To complicate matters, the dead cousin is a fallen football star who once stood trial for killing his wife and her lover (reminiscent of OJ). As Ten struggles to uncover the truth, he finds a dark secret from the past. It would appear that something that happened almost 30 years ago has shaped the events that are unfolding now. Meanwhile between investigating a crime that is proving to be a little more complicated than he thought, Ten is struggling to keep his past in the past; make a name for himself in the movie industry; recover from a break-up; take care of and build a relationship with his invalid father (an ex-Hollywood detective recovering from a stroke); and raise an teenager (ex-prostitute) as his daughter. There simply isn't a dull moment in his life.

"In the Night of the Heat" was a brilliantly written tale of betrayal, revenger and rage that results in a satisfying conclusion. Underwood, Due and Barnes had just the right amounts of suspense, plot twists and turns that made this a "more than decent read".

Dayum Ten!! I was ready for your second round and you were ready for me. I loved this book. Stayed up til 3am on a work night to finish it. I am an avid reader and not easily impressed (but a true fan of all Due's work). The three authors keep everything that I loved about Tennyson in this new book and threw in a few surprises as well. JUST READ IT!!! My only question is - why didn't the pot smoking teen who heard thought he heard two shots know who Ten was???? If you read the book you know why I ask. Otherwise it was flawless.

Underwood, Due and Barnes...Keep it coming y'all!!!! I am completely hooked on your Tennyson Hardwick series.

I loved how you expanded each character and allowed us to witness the evolution of their relationships with one another in this installment. I keep trying to figure out which of Ten's relationships I enjoy the most, but it's tough considering they're all important, so I'll stop. But I will say that it was great to hear Lauren refer to Tennyson as her dad!

Now we're off to Cape Town, where I am sure he and April will provide us with plenty of excitement in novel 3. And thanks for reminding me that a dream deferred explodes. How profound!