Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable But Should Have Been Longer
Review: It's probably surprising to suggest that this very long book should have been longer, but the ending seemed a bit rushed.I actually came at this book backwards, I picked up a friend's copy of Dust to Dust and was really taken by Kovac and Tink. I thought from the titles that they might be series characters. They are, of course, but in this book their characters are not as clearly defined as in the later book. The action in this book focuses on Kate, a former FBI agent, now a victim advocate, and John Quinn, a special agent from the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit. Kate and John have history, but that was five years ago, five years during which Kate has tried to rebuild her life and John has concentrated on his career. Now, due to the activities of a serial killer called the Creamator (or Smokey Joe to the cops) they are brought together again in the course of the investigation. I could have gone another 150 to 200 pages. After the build up the ending seemed rushed. The initial suspense is good, the characters are riveting. Nothing is terribly orginal but Hoag uses her palet with a sure hand and I had a hard time putting the book down until the very last page was turned but still I just the least bit dissatisfied with the conclusion. Authors and publishers should realize that a book on adrenalin like this one needs a big pay off and that was what was missing in this case.
Rating: 
Summary: A tense, thrilling, chilling, and overall very original book
Review: Tami Hoag is one of my favourite authors. And this is my second favourite of hers, after Cry Wolf. Tami Hoag excells in creating details, well developed characters who are interesting, realistic, and have really compelling relationships with one another, so much so that you could go on reading about them almost for ever. Here, she comes up trumps yet again. Kate is another great character, and this time she is less of the typical Hoag heroine, and Quinn is less the typical Hoag hero, whcih i found really refreshing. I sometimes get tired of her similar all her lead two characters are, but with this vbook she really breaks away from that mould. The relationship between Kate and Quin develops very well, and very nicely. And the relationship between Angie and Kate is truly compelling, and a joy to read about. at times your heart breaks for the poor girl. She's a great character, and you invest yourself with many many hopes for her...hopes you won't know whether are fulfilled or not. because, unfortunately, this book has to end somewhere. This is a really gripping novel. It is rare to find a completely original serial killer novel. But this is definitely one. Hoag makes it original by adding twist after twist on top of an unsual method of murder, and her great and realistic, all-too-human characters. The ending comes as a real surprise, too. Bottom line, this is a really original serial killer novel, with some great characters, a chilling villain, and a great plot.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I bought this book over a year ago,read this book around eight times and really liked it. This is the first book I ever read by Tami. Since then I have five of her other books, but by far this book is my favorite by her, but a few things still bother me. I really felt for Angie in this book, the contact that Kate had with her was fantastic Angie really fell hard for Kate. At the end of the book I was shocked when she almost might have killed her but she did not, the trust and the love that had kept it from happening. But, I also felt that Angie was reduced to being one that was considered part of the plot. I wish that Tami would write a sequel about Angie.
Rating: 
Summary: ashes to ashes
Review: Interesting book. I read the whole thing even though it read like a made for tv movie, real predictable, but still kept my attention. The ending seemed to come from nowhere though. I felt cheated with the ending, I expected more from a 600 page book. I'm from minnesota and I'am familliar with minneapolis, and found the references distracting. I would of been happier not knowing which town it took place in.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Suspense Novel
Review: Wow! This book does NOT disappoint! It defintely keeps you on your toes wanting more and more! I thought I would know the who-dunnit-aspect of the novel but I was wrong! It really kept me reading. The only thing that bothered me is that there weren't enough encounters with "The Cremator" (the killer). I didn't exactly get 'inside' the killers' mind which would have made it more scarier. But the suspense of not knowing who the killer was made it worthwhile! I recommend this book to everyone who thinks that suspense novels are predictable because you will be wrong about this one!
Rating:
Summary: she's still one of the tops
Review: I just plain love Tami Hoag.
I've read all of her writingd, and I'm still looking forward for
some more.
No doubt John Quinn and Kate Conlan bear a certain resemblance to some of John Sandford (Lucas Davenport and the delicious Weather Karkinnen...boy, I hope these two make it for good, one of these...) or David Wiltse (John Becker and Karen Crist) .
Yet. the Quinn-Conlan team bears its own very specifics, characters to whom you get attached to.
Good thriller ( I just love those serial-criminal subjects), good psychology insights, plus Mrs. Hoag demonstrating a undeniable knowledge of the police-FBI-forensic-investigation complex domain.
Many cheers.
Pierre G.
Rating:
Summary: One of Tami Hoag's Best Thrillers
Review: Kate Conlan is a divorced victim/witness advocate in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She had been an FBI agent five years ago, but that career ended when she had an affair with Special Agent John Quinn, who is now back in her life to help track down a serial killer. The sparks between the two don't rekindle until about halfway into the book, which was a relief and disappointment. It was nice to be able to read a couple hundred pages without the predictable Tami Hoag romance getting in the way. When the inevitable does happen, I kept wondering why--after five years of no contact--would they want to hook up again? They do try to forget about their pasts together, but it's a pretty [poor] attempt. At the beginning of "Ashes to Ashes", the Cremator (aka Smokey Joe) has just killed his third victim, who might possibly be the daughter of billionaire Peter Bondurant. The only person who saw the killer was Angie DiMarco, a foul-mouthed, homeless teenager, who is the only key witness in the investigation and Kate's new responsibility. To say the least, Kate is reluctant to get involved with a minor, particularly this kid. However, when Angie vanishes from a safe house, Kate fears her young witness may be the Cremator's fourth victim. The beginning of "Ashes to Ashes" is a little slow and tedious with the introduction of the crime and characters, but by the middle it definitely picks up the pace. The ending, however, is a little disappointing. Or rather, the killer is disappointing--and pathetic. S/he's not what I expected or imagined the Cremator to be like. At least you won't be able to guess who s/he is until close to the end. Overall, "Ashes to Ashes" is the most exciting book by Tami Hoag I've read so far. ("Night Sins" is almost a match, but it's not as gruesome as this one. "Dark Paradise" doesn't even come close in the scare department.) "Ashes to Ashes" is also pretty humorous. The jokes can be crude (depending on your comfort level), but they're a welcome after some of the serious scenes. Dislikes: Too many characters and details. The result: almost 600 pages, a record for Tami Hoag. Generally, her books average 500 pages. Offensive material: explicit language, sex, incest, murder, self-mutalation... Well, just about everything. If you're easily offended or squeamish, try something else by Tami Hoag, like "Dark Paradise". For those you enjoyed "Ashes to Ashes", you should continue with the follow-up novel, "Dust to Dust".
Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: This was a great book, once I read it I could not wait for the sequal to it (Dust to Dust) to arrive. I was guessing up until the very end, never quite sure of who really was the killer or not. Let me tell you, I was SHOCKED when I found out who it was. I never expected it! This was by far the best Tami Hoag book I have ever read (and I've read a lot of them). I recommend it to anyone that likes Tami Hoag novels... It will not dissapoint you!
Rating: 
Summary: good but too long
Review: this book could have been better if it was 100 page less
Rating:
Summary: My first Tami Hoag
Review: I love a good mystery/suspense novel. In reading this one, although I did enjoy it, I could tell that she had formerly written romance novels. I would have preferred a little less of the mushy stuff & more of what you read a thriller for. I absolutly love Tami Hoag now & have gone on to read 5 more of her books. She is great!
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