Open Season

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Deborah Hazlett

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

She's hunting for a mate and there's no more playing it safe.

Daisy Minor is bored. Worse than that, she's boring. A plain, small-town librarian, she's got a wardrobe as sexy as a dictionary and hasn't been on a date in years. She's never even had a lukewarm love affair, let alone a hot one. So when she wakes up on her 34th birthday and wonders how it is that she still lives with her widowed mom and spinster aunt while her friends have all gotten married and started families, she decides it's time to get a life - and a sex life. And as far as she can tell, good girls don't attract nearly as many men as bad ones.

One makeover later, Daisy has transformed herself into a party girl extraordinaire. She's dancing the night away at clubs, and laughing and flirting with men for the first time in, well, forever. With a new lease on her own place, it's open season for manhunting.

But on her way home late one night, Daisy sees something she's not supposed to see. Suddenly the target of a killer, she's forced to put her manhunt on hold. But the very moment she stops looking might be the moment she finds what she's wanted all along.

©2001 Linda Howington (P)2001 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"A thriller... with deftness and charm." ( The Orlando Sentinel)

great book

great read by this author. the way she has it all come together and a little bit of love thrown in is awesome.

A suspenseful read

I really enjoyed this story, it was so much more than the overview said it was. It was gloomy, suspenseful, gripping, nail biting. Get this story, you will not be disappointed.

Open Season

One of her best stories with mystery and romance with a good amount of humor. Would like to read more like it.

All around well done

Would you listen to Open Season again? Why?

Absolutely! The narration was great! So was the story! There was some "who done it", some intimacy, and some parts made me laugh out loud.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Open Season?

When a kiss happened in the middle of a sentence - Deborah Hazlett handled it perfectly!

What does Deborah Hazlett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The variations in her voice for the different characters - was just enough. It really made a difference.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I can't pinpoint one. There were several. Some were intimate, and some were cute and funny.

Any additional comments?

I listened every moment I could.

Great story and great narration

I already like Linda Howard, but with this book, there are some down right LOL moments (literally)--wait til the condom box scene. Hee! Yes, there is the romance aspect, but it's also a thriller and suspense. It will keep you on your toes and you'll fall in love with the main characters (including the main woman's aunt and mom). You won't regret getting this book. I listened to it on audio (I like audiobooks while I run or do weights) and the narrator is wonderful. You won't regret giving this book a chance. If you like this one, check out her Medina series.

I guess I can also relate since I grew up in a small town. You'll love Daisy, Jack, Ev, aunt Jo, Todd, etc.

Engaging story, great narrator

This is an older book, but still really enjoyable. Some unintentional funny moments when that crazy new technology is mentioned like those computers showing up everywhere...but lots more very funny intentional moments with some sexy ones too. Excellent job by the narrator brought the story and characters too life. This is romantic suspense but it's mostly a love story.

I forgot

I read this a long time ago and forgot how fun it was. Listening to it this time guarantees that I won’t forget again. The story, the characters and the magic that was used to weave everything together made for a wonderful time listening to and imagining all. I definitely recommend this one.

I've heard so many books I'm probably too picky

STORY (romance/suspense) - The book takes place in a small town in Alabama. Daisy awakens on her 34th birthday and decides to make a change. Her clock is ticking and she wants a husband. So...new hair, new makeup, new clothes and, voila, it's time to go dancing. She gets the attention of sexy police chief Russo but, unfortunately, the attention of others as she witnesses a murder at a nightclub.

This is one of my favorite genres, romance combined with suspense. Another book from this author, Mr. Perfect, is one of my favorites. I've heard 312 books to date and have loved, liked and hated many, and I can honestly say that this is a very good book. Daisy (main character) is a hoot, and there's nothing wrong with Chief Russo either. The suspense element was good. I really can't say what my problem is with this book except that I've heard better, especially from this author.

PERFORMANCE - The reader has an age-appropriate female voice and does a pretty good job, but she reads a little too slow IMHO. I listened at 1.5X, partially because she was reading slow and partially because the book was kind of slow-moving. Occasionally, however, I would rewind or listen to good parts at 1.25 speed.

OVERALL - Good romance/suspense but not great. There are a few F-words but not many. There are, I believe, two sex scenes which are very short and moderately explicit. The violence is not explicit either. I think most women who like the genre would enjoy this book. I'm just probably too picky, as I said in my title.

Almost thought I had the wrong audio

When I started listening to this unabridged version, I thought I'd downloaded the wrong book. Then I realized that the abridged version didn't have the prologue, which is very dark. What a relief when the story went to Daisy. I enjoy all of Linda Howard's novels, and I'm glad to see that audible now has the unabridged versions of all her books that they carry. Thanks, audible!

Different...

Any additional comments?

The biggest problem that I have with rereleases is that the social norms, technology, and dress tend to be a bit distracting and glaringly obvious.