Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
301 global ratings
5 star
67%
4 star
19%
3 star
9%
2 star
2%
1 star
3%
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Sheilah
3.0 out of 5 stars First look at Elena
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2019
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I’m a fan of Tami Hoag. She’s one of the great mystery writers. After I read one book, I wanted the next immediately, but it wasn’t ready for distribution. She is skilled at character development and seemingly understands the darkness of some people. Dark Horse introduced Elena Estes in Book One. I gave the rating of three stars because the story is not of the same caliber of most of her fast paced and enjoyable books. Yet even so, I did appreciate the story. There were some thrilling episodes that kept me reading.
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Kindle Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Had a Really Hard time with this book
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2020
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If you aren't into animal abuse, I don't recommend it. I have a hard time with any animal abuse and the things described in the book at least in the first few chapters made me sick. I couldn't finish the book as it was just too intense for me and very dark (no pun intended). I had to stop reading it to be honest after the first few chapters.
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Kay Bartel
5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps you guessing til the end!
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2020
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This book is very well done, hard to put down until you reach the end. I enjoyed the characters and getting to know them in this first book. The location it takes place and the world it invites you into is intriguing. Loved the book, Tami Hoag at her best. If you are already a fan you will want to read this and if you haven't read her yet, you will want to start.
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B. Stubbs
5.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book by Tami Hoag
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2015
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I really enjoyed this book by Tami Hoag. Loved the main character. Elena. Loved the "horse world". One of the things I noticed with this book - that Elena did re-live the part of her life as a police officer that brought about her accident and her having to leave the police force, but it did not seem as labor some as other characters, in other books. Other characters have gone over and over and over the same thoughts, rehashing the same scene to the point I become weary of reading it - yet again. I am now reading the 2nd in this series and so far enjoying that as well. I have read other Tami Hoag's and I do enjoy her writing - enjoy the characters she has created. Look forward to more of her books.
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Joan Zawacki
4.0 out of 5 stars one--novels vs. series
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2016
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I think I prefer her one-novel mysteries to her series. The plot continuations seem to be dragging because personalities and new twists are not adequately rationalized and some parts are over described. A suspense novel relies more on plot and twists than on the personality of the investigators. Too much character development results in dashed expectations in the reader and conclusions that, while tragic and usually amazing, do not grow naturally out of the events. I still prefer Agatha Christie somehow. But I love Hoag's Heroines.
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ElinRW
3.0 out of 5 stars I am a great fan of Ms
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2016
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I am a great fan of Ms. Hoag's works, although there is some unevenness in her writing. This is probably my least favorite read of hers. One problem for me was the details of the horse breeding world. Ho hum. Worse yet, the characters were one dimensional and the plot not very engaging. If I hadn't wanted to find out the romance alluded to at the beginning was consummated, I would have bugged out around the middle.
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HSP
5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020
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I love Tami Hoag. Her background as an equestrian and how she weaves her mystery in the world of high-dollar, high-stakes horse showing is fascinating. Great plot, great characters.
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G. Battcock
5.0 out of 5 stars The behind the scene of the Equestrian world.
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020
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I always love stories about horses, especially about equestrian horses. I like the way the story played out. With the murders and the different characters. I always like Tami Hoag books.
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Top reviews from other countries

Juliette
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic - You'll read this again and again
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2005
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This is one of the best thriller books I have read in a long, long time. I don't know a fetlock from a foot locker, but it really isn't important if you are into the horse world or not. It just makes a fascinating background to what is superb storytelling. The plot is wonderful and the ending completely unpredictable, I doubt if anyone could work it out in advance. However, apart from the great plot, what I really loved about the book was the development of the central characters. The girl, Molly, a pivotal character, really tugged on the heart strings, but it was the initially reluctant heroine and hero, who just leap off the page. I wished they could have had more scenes together, but it was really refreshing not to have everything revealed at once. I think the romance angle was perfectly pitched. It developed over the book through a growing respect for each other's professional abilities, humanity and guts, and you just knew at the end of the book they would be good for each other because it wasn't based on the surface stuff as you find in so many other books. The relationship was much more realistic than books where they fall into each other's arms, or bed, within a few chapters. I borrowed this book from a friend and it was so good I had to go out and buy my own copy because I wanted to read it all over again, and I have, twice, in the space of a month. It was so good I never wanted it to end and would love to see the two central characters continuing in another book. The subliminal messages of not judging a person by the attitudes of others, rebuilding one's life, that one error of judgement doesn't make you a bad person, that you don't have to look perfect to be valued, and above all of hope in the future was uplifting. I also like Sue Grafton's books, some of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich (but not the absolutely dire rubbish Metro Girl) and the later works of Sandra Brown, but this book knocked them all into a cocked hat. It was simply the best novel I have read for years - an absolute classic.
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Juliette
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic - One to read again and again
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2005
Verified Purchase
This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time. I don't know a fetlock from a foot locker, but it really isn't important if you are into the horse world or not. It just makes a very interesting background to what is superb storytelling. The plot is wonderful and the ending completely unpredictable, I doubt if anyone could work it out in advance. However, apart from the great plot, what I really loved about the book was the development of the central characters. The girl, Molly, a pivotal character, really tugged on the heart strings, but it was the initially reluctant heroine and hero, who just leap off the page. I wished they could have had more scenes together, but it was really refreshing not to have everything revealed at once. I think the romance angle was perfectly pitched. It developed over the book through a growing respect for each other's professional abilities, humanity and guts, and you just knew at the end of the book they would be good for each other because it wasn't based on the surface stuff as you find in so many other books. The relationship was much more realistic than books where they fall into each other's arms, or bed, within a few chapters. I borrowed this book from a friend and it was so good I had to go out and buy my own copy because I wanted to read it all over again, and I have, twice, in the space of a month. It was so good I never wanted it to end and would love to see the two central characters continuing in another book. The subliminal messages of not judging a person by the attitudes of others, rebuilding one's life, that one error of judgement doesn't make you a bad person, that you don't have to look perfect to be valued, and above all of hope in the future was uplifting. I also like Sue Grafton's books, some of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich (but not the absolutely dire rubbish Metro Girl) and the later works of Sandra Brown, but this book knocked them all into a cocked hat. It was simply the best novel I have read for years - an absolute classic.
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Juliette
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic - A must read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2005
Verified Purchase
This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time. I don't know a fetlock from a foot locker, but it really isn't important if you are into the horse world or not. It just makes a very interesting background to what is superb storytelling. The plot is wonderful and the ending completely unpredictable, I doubt if anyone could work it out in advance. However, apart from the great plot, what I really loved about the book was the development of the central characters. The girl, Molly, a pivotal character, really tugged on the heart strings, but it was the initially reluctant heroine and hero, who just leap off the page. I wished they could have had more scenes together, but it was really refreshing not to have everything revealed at once. I think the romance angle was perfectly pitched. It developed over the book through a growing respect for each other's professional abilities, humanity and guts, and you just knew at the end of the book they would be good for each other because it wasn't based on the surface stuff as you find in so many other books. The relationship was much more realistic than books where they fall into each other's arms, or bed, within a few chapters. I borrowed this book from a friend and it was so good I had to go out and buy my own copy because I wanted to read it all over again, and I have, twice, in the space of a month. It was so good I never wanted it to end and would love to see the two central characters continuing in another book. The subliminal messages of not judging a person by the attitudes of others, rebuilding one's life, that one error of judgement doesn't make you a bad person, that you don't have to look perfect to be valued, and above all of hope in the future was uplifting. I also like Sue Grafton's books, some of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich (but not the absolutely dire rubbish Metro Girl) and the later works of Sandra Brown, but this book knocked them all into a cocked hat. It was simply the best novel I have read for years - an absolute classic.
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Juliette
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic - one to read time and again
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2005
Verified Purchase
This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time. I don't know a fetlock from a foot locker, but it really isn't important if you are into the horse world or not. It just makes a very interesting background to what is superb storytelling. The plot is wonderful and the ending completely unpredictable, I doubt if anyone could work it out in advance. However, apart from the great plot, what I really loved about the book was the development of the central characters. The girl, Molly, a pivotal character, really tugged on the heart strings, but it was the initially reluctant heroine and hero, who just leap off the page. I wished they could have had more scenes together, but it was really refreshing not to have everything revealed at once. I think the romance angle was perfectly pitched. It developed over the book through a growing respect for each other's professional abilities, humanity and guts, and you just knew at the end of the book they would be good for each other because it wasn't based on the surface stuff as you find in so many other books. The relationship was much more realistic than books where they fall into each other's arms, or bed, within a few chapters. I borrowed this book from a friend and it was so good I had to go out and buy my own copy because I wanted to read it all over again, and I have, twice, in the space of a month. It was so good I never wanted it to end and would love to see the two central characters continuing in another book. The subliminal messages of not judging a person by the attitudes of others, rebuilding one's life, that one error of judgement doesn't make you a bad person, that you don't have to look perfect to be valued, and above all of hope in the future was uplifting. I also like Sue Grafton's books, some of the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich (but not the absolutely dire rubbish Metro Girl) and the later works of Sandra Brown, but this book knocked them all into a cocked hat. It was simply the best novel I have read for years - an absolute classic.
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sue stevenson
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2018
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brill
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