Killing Time: A Novel (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "THERE WAS A SMALL TURNOUT, ABOUT FIFTY PEOPLE, TO watch the time capsule being buried next to the flagpole in front of the county courthouse..." (more)
Key Phrases: Taylor Allen, Ruth Lacey, Jesse Bingham (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Linda Howard meshes hot sex, emotional impact, and gripping tension.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 'Linda Howard is a superbly original storyteller.' Iris Johansesn 'You can't read just one Linda Howard.' Catherine Coutler 'Linda Howard's sensual stories will make your heart beat a little faster...' LITERARY TIMES --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Returning to the entrancing supernatural territory of her popular novels Dream Man and Son of the Morning, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard has written a sizzling new novel that is her most daring, exciting, and original yet.

In 1985, with much fanfare, a time capsule was buried under the front lawn of a small-town county courthouse, to be reopened in 2085. But just twenty years later, in the dead of night, the capsule is dug up, its contents stolen. That same night, one of the contributors to the capsule is brutally slain in his home–with no sign of forced entry or indication of a struggle. One by one, others who had placed items in the time capsule are murdered.

Besides his suspicions about the sudden, mysterious appearance of Nikita Stover, the chief investigator, Knox Davis, has absolutely no leads. And while Nikita’s no murderer, she seems to be hiding plenty of secrets. With more at stake than anyone else realizes, the smart-talking Nikita is determined to catch this cunning killer–while at the same time battling her own deepening feelings for a man and for a world in which she doesn’t belong.

When readers crave a seductive novel of unrelenting suspense with a paranormal twist, Linda Howard delivers time and again . . . make that Killing Time–a captivating, character-rich story that races along on a breathless plot full of action and intimacy, romance and danger, thrills and intrigue.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Stated First edition (June 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034545345X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345453457
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (133 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #668,185 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Gets better toward the end, November 1, 2005

By	Salty Girl (Salt Lake City) - See all my reviews

I almost gave up on this book, but forced myself to finish because, after all, it IS a Linda Howard book. However, the qualities I usually love in Howard's work were absent until near the end of the book. I usually love her heroines.... she has the ability to create strong, yet vulnerable heroines you can really identify with (see After the Night, Dream Man, and MacKenzie's Mountain for the best such heroines.) The reader is closed off from Nikita's history for most of the stoy, so it was like watching a manniquin in action. Just not very engaging.

The book was very plot intensive, to the exclusion of the romance between the H&H, which almost seemed like an afterthought. Change Nikita's gender to a male, take out the obligatory sex scene, and the story doesn't suffer. Hmmmm..... that's a clue that the romance aspect was almost non-existant.

About 80% of the way into the book it got much better. The insight into Nikita's situation was actually quite interesting and pulled me back into the story.

I don't want to slam the book too much, because I appreciate the fact that Linda Howard is obviously trying to keep her writing fresh by trying her hand at other subgenres. I really enjoyed Son of the Morning and To Die For, both of which were quite different from standard Linda Howard fare but still worked because of great leading characters whose unstoppable attraction for each other drives the plot. When you write as much she does, maybe it is inevitable that sometimes you will strike out.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Loyal readers?, December 30, 2005

By	Susan (Ohio) - See all my reviews

I have spent hours reading and rereading Linda Howard's earlier books. This one had only a few whiffs of classic Howard. For new readers, go for Kill and Tell, Mr. Perfect, Now You See Her, Son of the Morning, Dying to Please, etc.

For loyal readers, I have gotten so much pleasure from Howard's novels over the years that I don't begrudge the bucks I paid for the the HB of this one. Give her a break. She has earned it.

For Linda. You're too good for this. Get a new editor.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Killing my adoration of Linda Howard..., July 27, 2005

By	Kim H. (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

A series of unusual murders in a small Kentucky town arouses the professional and personal interest of chief county investigator Knox Davis. They also attract the attention of FBI agent Nikita Stover - who is not what she seems and has an agenda of her own. Despite their initial distrust, Knox believes Nikita when she is forced to confess her big secret. The two of them work together while fighting their growing physical attraction, to foil a far-reaching plot that could have a profound impact on the present and the future.

While this time-travel/suspense/romance is well-paced, the central characters - especially Nikita - are hard to connect with. I found I just wasn't emotionally invested in the relationship between Knox and Nikita, which is a big hurdle to overcome in a romance novel! There were also some holes in the plot and obvious questions left unanswered that made it hard to stay focused on the story at hand.

Once apon a time, Linda Howard, crafted the best mix of romance, suspense and mystery that you could find on the shelves. But her last few novels, including Killing Time, just aren't on a par with her earlier work. If this was your first LH novel, go back and read anything published before Cry No More (Dream Man, After the Night, Shades of Twilight, Mr. Perfect, Dying to Please, etc. etc.) - they are all 5-star-plus efforts and will really show you what LH can do when she's at her best.

While Killing Time is a better read than many other books of this genre, wait for the paperback or borrow it from the library and save yourself some money. I wish I had!