Dust to Dust: A Novel (Kovac and Liska #2) by Tami Hoag

Dust to Dust: A Novel (Kovac and Liska #2) by Tami Hoag

This is an adult mystery/crime/thriller novel (Rated R)

♥♥♥♥

(Four Sam Hearts)

Book Summary

Sorry. The single word is written on a mirror. In front of it hangs a Minneapolis Internal Affairs cop. Was it suicide? Or a kinky act turned tragic?

Either way, it wasn’t murder. At least not according to the powers that be. But veteran homicide detective Sam Kovac and his wisecracking, ambitious partner, Nikki Liska, think differently. Together they begin to dig at the too-neat edges of the young cop’s death, uncovering one motive—and one suspect—after another. The cloud of suspicion falls not only on the city’s elite, but over the very heart of the police department. Someone wants the case closed—quickly and forever. But even with their careers and their lives on the line, neither Kovac nor Liska will give up. As they unearth a connection between a two-month-old murder case and one that has been closed for twenty years, they find themselves chasing a killer who will stop at nothing to keep a dark and shattering secret.

My Review

I’m fast becoming a fan of Tami Hoag. I’d like to read more about these two cops. They are really well fleshed out. And after checking a few reviews, the first book in this series really didn’t focus much on them. So I’m not missing much.

This was a tough subject. I think the author could have done without several pop culture references that dated the book unnecessarily, like the mention of Rene Russo, who isn’t a big actress nowadays. There were several others. Without that, I wouldn’t have put it together this book was written so long ago.

Even though this book is about gay bashing and slightly about keeping in the closet, it still happens today. Thankfully, more and more people don’t feel the need to hide who they are.

There were several times in the story I wish the author had made different choices for certain characters because I felt bad for them. And this is a good thing because these are fictional people not human.

However, early on I decided the whos and the whats and was right. It was a little too obvious for me. I hope that future novels I read by this author aren’t so easily figured out.

I’m enmeshed in the lives of these two cops. I want them to have a HEA, so I’ll be reading on.

Audio Review

David Colacci did a good job at narration. The female narration wasn’t bad either. I didn’t have a hard trouble following all the different characters.

My book boyfriend Sam.

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

A Thin Dark Line (Doucet #4) by Tami Hoag

A Thin Dark Line (Doucet #4)

 This is an adult crime, police procedural, thriller (Rated R)

 ♥♥♥♥1/2
(Four and a Half Then Red Hearts)

Book Summary

Terror stalks the streets of Bayou Breaux, Louisiana. A suspected murderer is free on a technicality, and the cop accused of planting evidence against him is ordered off the case. But Detective Nick Fourcade refuses to walk away. He’s stepped over the line before. This case threatens to push him over the edge.

He’s not the only one. Deputy Annie Broussard found the woman’s mutilated body. She still hears the phantom echoes of dying screams. She wants justice. But pursuing the investigation will mean forming an alliance with a man she doesn’t trust and making enemies of the men she works with. It will mean being drawn into the confidence of a killer. For Annie Broussard, finding justice will mean risking everything—including her life.

The search for the truth has begun—one that will lead down a twisted trail through the steamy bayous of Louisiana, and deep into the darkest reaches of the human heart


My Review

I’m so happy that audible has this book as a daily deal. I’ll be honest, I’ve seen this author’s name several times. But I didn’t know her. So I past her books over. When the daily came up, I’m like why not give her a try for $4. You can pay that much for an e-book and this is an audio. And after reading, she’s found a new fan.

One other thing to note, while reading I had no idea this was the fourth book in a series. It read like a standalone book. My guess is that the series represents a theme not following a set of characters. So don't shy away from picking this one up without reading the others.

I’m a who done it kind of girl and this book had that in spades. She wrote a complex crime novel that went in so many directions, she had me guessing at who did it in the end. I will admit I was wrong, but I was close. I won’t say more for spoilers.

But what made me like the author more than anything was the writing. Talk about a wordsmith. She writes like a woman painting a picture with words. She uses adjectives, adverbs and metaphors like a professional.

Anyway, if you like authors like Patricia Cornwell, Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, etc., you should give this author a try.

Audio Review

Karen Peakes did a wonderful job with the narrations. The voices she used captured the characters spirit, the dialect of each, and she kept them all pretty much separate. Great job.

My book boyfriend is Nick.

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.