Rating: 
Summary: Formulaic writing at its most unimaginative
Review: A beautiful protagonist flees a love affair and finds herself subordinate to a sycophantic boss, surrounded by selfish political-minded colleagues and a rising body count. Then her ex-lover comes to town...Although this adequately describes Ashes to Ashes, it also covers the only other Tami Hoag book I've read (and am ever likely to read) - 'Guilty as Sin.' I am certain that if I put both books side by side, I'd find similar events occurring within pages of each other. Consequently, I feel nothing less than cheated by Ms Hoag's cynical treatment of the public. For all that though, the book isn't without redeeming characteristics: it is competently written, at least; and the philosophy behind it permits shoppers to move to other, more interesting and dedicated writers without the necessity of sampling any other of her works. The final insult comes in the latter pages of the book, when Kovac's car changes from a Lumina to a Caprice, after he parks it for a while!
Rating: 
Summary: Rough, difficult-to-read suspense.
Review: I've read Ms. Hoag before. She is an excellent writer, and she has picked a genre which is often the territory of male writers, and tends less to be fictionalized but "true crime" mode. Her stories have a basis in fact, and it is very apparent that she reads FBI profiling/reports on serial murderers. I've yet to read an answer to my inquiry by either her type of writer or someone like John Douglas, the noted/original profiler for the FBI, why this type of criminal seems to be more prevalent in our time period. This is a good story, with good characterization. I have to admit I couldn't figure out who the serial murderer was, even though I had my suspicions. This is typical for Hoag's books...she leaves you totally oblivious to the truth until the end. However, a word of caution. For the many readers of suspense and mystery out there who pick up Hoag's books...be aware she writes hard, like a cop or military man. The language is foul, the story lurid in both sex and violence. This is not your typical light mystery read. It gets to the point for me where I just do not want to read this type of stuff anymore or fill my mind with its horrors. I feel that way about a few authors including especially when they deal with more realistic crimes, and especially those who target women and children.... Hoag is an excellent writer. I'd like to see her try her hand at some serious history, even if on the criminal side. For those who enjoy this stuff, this is a great book. I do not think I personally will be reading her books of this genre again. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh
Rating: 
Summary: Ashes to Ashes
Review: Wow! As a huge fan of the serial killer/mystery/suspense genre, I LOVED this book. I found myself unable to wait to see what happens next and peeking ahead. This is a great story with a twist and the underlying relationship between Kate and John Quinn really speaks to the author's history in romance writing -- very realistic and compelling to follow. I only wish the other books included these characters (a la Kay Scarpetta) and we could get more familiar with Kate Conlan. Thos book is a must-read for any fan of John Sandford, Patricia Cornwell, or Thomas Harris -- truly spine-tingling!
Rating:
Summary: Fast-Paced Crime Thriller!
Review: Although the first few chapters seemed to drag, when the pace picked up, it never stopped! Whew! This was my first Tami Hoag book, and it was more than I expected. Her characters seemed to jump off the pages; the interactions between cops Kovac, Liska, and the others were so authentic and hilarious! The ending left me shaken, and it took me a few days to recover. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone who enjoys a good crime novel!
Rating:
Summary: SUPER!
Review: THIS BOOK ROCKS!!!!!!! Translation for old, non-hip people: ITS GREAT!!!!!! This book takes you into the life and mind of a serial killer and the people that are working so desperately hard to find him. grotesque for some, fascinating for others. strangely, i fall into the latter category. ive never had a stomach for extreme violence (or graphic details of it, for that matter) but i LOVED this book. Packed full of action, love, lust, hate and cop humor this book really gets your adrenaline pumping! this is definitely one that i will recomend to other people! (and buy a hardcover copy of so i can loan out the paperback!)
Rating: 
Summary: Where's the cat?
Review: Ms. Hoag's writing is studious at best - smacking of a college trained writing background. She will never stack up against the Brits for suspense, having to use violent measures and human degradation to get reader attention. Only five of us missed the cat Thor, but to me the whole last quarter of the book left much to be desired in finalizing characters. Additionally, why do writers of this genre assume all police-persons have to make "cop humor" to get through their jobs? It is a device too often used and best left alone. I could not resolve Thor's disappearance after I finished this book and decided that he in his cat "wisdom" had decided to opt out of a rather plodding book, one which absolutely dissolved into "get me out of this".
Rating:
Summary: Very Suspenseful but watch out for graphic sex and language!
Review: This is the first Tami Hoag book I have read. I found her listed as an author that writes in the same style and genre as Iris Johansen (who is wonderful!). I enjoyed the book, seemed a little slow getting started but buyer beware if you are offended by graphic violence, sexual fantasies and language. I can stomach a lot but this was pushing it even for me. If the book was movie I would rate it VERY "R". However, the characters relationships were masterfully built and the clues subtle but plentiful! I can't deny it kept me on the edge of my seat!
Rating:
Summary: What happened?
Review: Tami Hoag is one of my favourite writers. I discovered her books months ago, and loved all the earlier ones before Ashes to Ashes. However, this one is not a romance suspense novel! Her love scenes and the torment of her hero and heroines, as in "Cry Wolf" are very dramatic and that's what I like. And the villain is a VILLAIN. The combination of the characters in all their glory can only be done by Tami Hoag. But alas, I find Ashes to Ashes disappointing. But then that's my taste. I wonder if any novel writer can write everything to satisfy all of us. She still writes the best, even if it's not my favourite book.
Rating:
Summary: One of her best
Review: As a history major with certain regretable airs about mass market fiction, I rarely buy suspense novels. However, Tami Hoag is the one author that I find myself drawn to again and again. She takes the fundamental suspense novel and makes it into something more substantial . . . at the end of her books, you're happy to finally know who the killer is, but you are apprehensive to leave the rich characters she has drawn. Ashes to Ashes is one of her best novels. Though the storyline follows a little of the formula that she always employs in her novels, the way she tells the story makes the book seem entirely original. Kate and Quinn are real characters, people who could exist in real life. Hoag doesn't manipulate them to behave a certain way just for the plot, and she lets you in on who these characters are inside. None of the main players in this book are perfect, but they almost all are admirable. Sometimes it takes me a while to get drawn into a Tami Hoag novel, but this one grabbed me and I couldn't stop reading it. My only complaint is the treatment of Annie, the child witness. I felt that the climax of the novel sort of cheapened her, and was the one part of the book that seems contrived, although Hoag builds up to it in the earlier pages of the book. However, the rest of the novel is so well-written that it's definitely worth buying.
Rating:
Summary: a page turner
Review: this was not my first tami hoag book, and the one thing that surprised me is that it took a lot longer to read than all her others, and i wish i could pinpoint why that is. it was filled with suspense, twists and turns, red herrings, etc. and i really enjoyed it. it's just that it moved slowly. the main characters took way too long to get together (i miss the romance from her earlier books) and you were kept hanging just enough to want to get to the end. "dust to dust" which follows this book with a few of the lesser characters in the main storyline, flows even more slowly. if this is going to be your first tami hoag book, i'd have to suggest you read "night sins" followed by "guilty as sin" before this. if not, and you are a tami hoag fan, it's a good read. just not quite as suspenseful as some of her other books.
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