Book Review: To Die For

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

To Die For     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Linda Howard
Class/Genre:   Romance
Series: Blair Mallory # 1
Ballantine; Jan 2005, $7.99, 378 pp.

When Blair Mallory refuses to renew Nicole Goodwin’s membership in her fitness center Great Bods, the latter throws a temper tantrum. After closing for the evening, Blair heads to her car only to see Nikki there. A shot rings out; Blair believes Nikki is shooting at her. She calls the police who find Nikki dead with a bullet in her.

Lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth heads the investigation though he dated Blaire a few times before dropping her like a hot potato. During his inquiries he makes it very clear that he wants a serious relationship with Blaire and even gets her to move into his home when someone tries to shoot her. When Nikki’s killer is caught, everyone breaths a sigh of relief until someone cuts the brake lines of Blaire’s car. Nikki’s killer has an airtight alibi while someone else apparently wants the fitness guru dead.

After numerous well written romantic suspense thrillers, Linda Howard employs the first person narrative for the first time and makes it work as readers know everything the beleaguered heroine thinks and feels. This means the audience knows that Blair finds her protective champion hot, which makes their time out of bed quite an amusing battle of the sexes. There is no apparent suspect except the jailed killer so Blair and readers ponder who and why. TO DIE FOR is an excellent romantic suspense as expected from Ms. Howard, who always provides a fabulous read.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner