Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag
I don't mind traditional murder mysteries. I've read Agatha Christie and watched Murder She Wrote, plus many other who-done-it stories. I enjoy the genre just fine.
My passion, however, is crime novels. Full of gritty details of police work, crimes are solved by forensic evidence not claver hunches. I was brought up on reruns of Dragnet. "Just the facts" as Joe Friday always said. Both Chris and I are obsessive about Law & Order.
Tami Hoag is a crime writer who always delivers.
Ashes to Ashes
was the first Hoag I ever read. Mom sent it to us when we still lived in New York. Chris, a very picky reader, was impressed enough that he has read it multiple time in the last few years. Browsing the bookshelf recently, I decided it was time to reread it myself. I remembered the basic plot, or in this case, the crime. The book is about the investigation to stop a serial killer. The press has dubbed the killer the Cremator. His gruesome m.o. is distinguished by lighting his mutilated victims on fire in public parks.
What I had forgotten was how perfectly the book shows the pressure of police work. Not only does each member of the team have a personal drive to catch the killer, when the third victim turns out the be the daughter of a billionaire, the pressure from up the chain of command becomes intense.
It surprised me that even though I'd read the book once before, I had no hint as to who was the killer. I am not a reader who tries to "figure it out" but on a second read I was disturbed and pleased to be as baffled by the evidence.
For those readers who strive to figure it out, I bet you'll never guess who is the killer the detectives call "Smokey Joe."
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2/7/2008 11:31 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ... -
2/8/2008 10:41 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ... -
2/8/2008 11:39 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ... -
2/5/2008 4:23 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ... -
2/5/2008 4:14 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ... -
2/4/2008 12:46 AM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ... -
2/3/2008 8:38 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ... -
2/13/2008 4:44 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ... -
2/8/2008 10:42 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
I love reading. I love books. I love sharing my thoughts on what I have read. It should come was no surprise to anyone who knows me that the most populated category of posts for this blog is "Books." My goal for 2008 is to blog every book I read. In an effort not to miss a book, I am also starting a list. For what interest it may hold for readers and for my own use, I humbly present my reading list for the year to be updated as I read and subsequently blog many, many booksHappy Reading, Friends: ...
I love these types of books. I'm definitely going to have to check this one out.
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You are going to be hooked. She puts most of the male crime writers to shame.
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My husband is always waiting with bated breath for the next Tami Hoag novel!
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My only regret after reading her early book, Lucky's Lady, is that she moved away from romance and into crime. That is one amazing book. But she has never disappointed yet.
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