Still Waters [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Tami Hoag (Author), Joyce Bean (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2003

When the body of a murdered man literally falls at Elizabeth Stuart's feet, she's able to wash away the blood - but not the terror. Unwelcome newcomers to Still Creek, Minnesota, she and her troubled teenage son are treated with suspicion by the locals, including the sheriff. Yet nothing will stop her from digging beneath the town's placid surface for the truth - except the killer. Running from a messy divorce, Elizabeth believed buying a small-town newspaper offered a fresh start for herself and her son. But idyllic Still Creek, nestled in the heart of lush Amish farmlands, hides secrets dangerous enough to push someone to commit murder. Now Elizabeth must risk everything to save herself and her son, and to unmask the killer . . . Before the current of evil flowing through Still Creek drags her under.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After a messy and very public divorce from her magnate husband, Elizabeth Stuart is persuaded by her old college chum to move from Atlanta to Still Creek, Minn. When car trouble strikes, Elizabeth hoofs it to a construction site--and finds the developer, Jarrold Jarvis, in his car with his throat cut. Sheriff Dane Jantzen figures the deed was done by a transient: Jarrold's wallet was stolen and his glove compartment rifled. Elizabeth, who now owns the local newspaper, suspects most everyone in town: Jarvis had kept a secret list of names of people who owed him money. Dane and Elizabeth start off their eventual romance by treating each other like dirt--exchanging what passes for snappy repartee. Dane insists on escorting Elizabeth to a press conference because "I want to know where your mouth is." She retorts, "it won't be kissing your ass." The characters are no more agreeable than the plot is focused on finding the murderer. Perhaps that's why the effect of Hoag's ( Lucky's Lady ) story is less "still" than static.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Review

"Patricia Cornwell, eat your heart out! Tami Hoag . . . sets a standard in suspense."
-- The Atlanta Journal (Atlanta Constitution-Journal ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio Paperback Audiobooks; Abridged edition (September 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587886308
• ISBN-13: 978-1587886300
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,126,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are We Reading the Same Book?, August 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Still Waters: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm truly surprised by all the negative comments, as this book, which I read years ago, remains my all-time favorite Tami Hoag book. I'm a very picky reader, and don't give praise easily, so I'm puzzled as to why so many readers absolutely hated this book. Was it rewritten prior to its re-release? Or are most readers looking for straight suspense (which is what Hoag writes now) and disappointed to discover that this book is a romantic suspense?

I'll admit that I wasn't crazy about the hero. He was a little flat. But I have to disagree with some people's estimation of the heroine. Anybody who believes that Elizabeth Stuart is a typical romance heroine hasn't read much romance. As a matter of fact, I think the heroine is why I liked the book so much. She was flawed, in-your-face bold, and not afraid to call a spade a spade. She might have been beautiful, but she was far from pristine. Elizabeth was all raw edges and false bravado that covered an inner vulnerability, and she was what kept me reading.

My two cents worth. Just wanted to point out that not everybody hated this book...some of us loved it.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great romance, fun story, snappy dialogue---, August 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Still Waters: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

Remember that this book was written before Tami Hoag reinvented herself as a premiere thriller writer. If you love her new books (ASHES TO ASHES, A THIN DARK LINE), this may not be your cup of tea. It's clearly from her "past life", with more romance than suspense and none of her trademark chills-n-thrills. It's totally fun--and funny--and sexy--and smart. If you read it looking for a hard-hitting, world-class thriller (like ASHES), you'll be confused; but enjoy it for what it IS, and then buy her next new book for bigger thrills and chills.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not As Bad As Previously Reviewed, October 6, 2002

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Still Waters: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

People should really keep in mind that this is a re-print of an earlier title by Ms. Hoag and as the saying goes practice makes perfect. Although it does not measure up to her later titles (Ashes to Ashes for example) it is still not a waste of time to pick this book up and read it.

Yes, there is romance involved and personally I feel that it was an added benefit to the story. It by no means overshadowed the storyline of murder in a small town where the Amish live together with the English.

This is really a multi-layer story about the main characters Dane and Elizabeth, the secondary characters, and changes that happen when the worst is seen in a town where everyone knows everyons business.

Murder is unheard of in the last thirty-three years in Still Water. Now one of the leaders of this small community is found dead in his car. The reasons behind this murder are many and the finger points at several people and at no one. Elizabeth who just moved from Atlanta with her good looks, southern accent,troubled son, and has purchases the local news paper finds the body of the local money man and finds herself in the center of the investigatation.

Dane the local sheriff is a ex-football player turned law officer. He is carrying around some old hurts from his past that color the way he looks at women like Elizabeth but he still can't avoid the attraction that he feels for her. To make matters worse she is a suspect to the murder or at the very least a unsuspected witness. Dane needs to solve the murder and at the same time protect his heart and the woman that threatnes his peacful existance.

Don't pick up this book thinking that it is only a suspense, but at the same time don't avoid it because of the romance involved. At times it is slow going but it is still a well written story by an author that I feel has proven herself in later works.