Table Of ContentDear Reader,
People often ask how I got my start as a writer.
My first books were romance novels
for Bantam’s Loveswept line. Although the romance
genre might seem quite different from the
suspense I write now, I’ve found that the two
genres actually have many similarities.
For me, every good story has two important
ingredients: characters to root for and a mystery
to unravel—whether it’s an unsolved crime or
that bewildering emotion that perplexes us most
of all—love. Even the most intricate murder plot
can’t compare to the complex inner workings of
the human heart.
One of my very first books was McKnight in
Shining Armor. Heroine Kelsie Connors is
struggling to keep it all together. She has two
“high-energy” kids, a house filled with animals,
and several jobs as she tries to provide for
everyone. One day, there’s an embarrassing (I
don’t want to give it away!) mix-up at her
meeting with advertising executive Alec
McKnight. He can barely keep the smirk off his
exceedingly handsome face, flustering Kelsie. Just
when she’s sure she’s lost both the account and a
chance for a date with Alex, he shows up on her
doorstep, hoping to help this woman who’s
obviously in need of assistance. Kelsie’s already
smitten with his deep blue eyes and chivalrous
demeanor, but can she possibly add one more
complication to her already chaotic life?
I loved writing about Kelsie and Alec all those
years ago, and I hope that you’ll find them as
enjoyable now as I did at the start of my writing
career.
All my best,
Tami Hoag
Praise for the Bestsellers of Tami Hoag
THE ALIBI MAN
“Captivating thriller… [Elena] is a heroine readers will want to see more
of.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Hard to put down.”
—The Washington Post
“A superbly taut thriller. Written in a staccato style that will have readers
racing through the pages… Will leave readers breathless and satisfied.”
—Booklist
“A suspenseful tale, with a surprising ending; the author once again has
constructed a hard-hitting story with interesting characters and a thrilling
plot.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Elena Estes [is] one of Hoag’s most complicated, difficult and intriguing
characters…. Hoag enhances a tight mystery plot with an over-the-
shoulder view of the Palm Beach polo scene, giving her readers an up-
close-and-personal look at the rich and famous…. The Alibi Man is her best
work to date.”
—BookReporter.com
“An engrossing story and a cast of well-drawn characters.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“[Hoag] gets better with every book. One of the tautest thrillers I have
read for a long while.”
—Bookseller (U.K.)
“Hoag certainly knows how to build a plot and her skill has deservedly
landed her on bestseller lists numerous times.”
—South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Hoag has a winner in this novel where she brings back Elena Estes….
Hoag is the consummate storyteller and creator of suspense.”
—Mystery News
“Tami Hoag weaves an intricate tale of murder and deception…. A very
well-written and thought-out murder/mystery. Hoag is able to keep you
guessing and you’ll be left breathless until all the threads are unwoven and
the killer is revealed.”
—FreshFiction.com
PRIOR BAD ACTS
“A snappy, scary thriller.”
—Entertainment Weekly
“Stunning… Here [Hoag] stands above the competition, creating complex
characters who evolve more than those in most thrillers. The breathtaking
plot twists are perfectly paced in this compulsive page-turner.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A chilling thriller with a romantic chaser.”
—New York Daily News
“A first-rate thriller with an ending that will knock your socks off.”
—Booklist
“An engrossing thriller with plenty of plot twists and a surprise ending.”
—OK! magazine
“A chilling tale of murder and mayhem.”
—BookPage
“The in-depth characterization and the unrelenting suspense are what
makes Prior Bad Acts an outstanding read. Gritty and brutal at times, Prior
Bad Acts delivers a stunning novel of murder, vengeance and retribution….
Riveting and chilling suspense.”
—Romance Reviews Today
KILL THE MESSENGER
“Excellent pacing and an energetic plot heighten the suspense….
Enjoyable.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Everything rings true, from the zippy cop-shop banter, to the rebellious
bike messenger subculture, to the ultimate, heady collision of Hollywood
money, politics, and power.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Hoag’s usual crisp, uncluttered storytelling and her ability to make us
care about her characters triumph in Kill the Messenger.”
—Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“A perfect book. It is well written, and it has everything a reader could
hope for…. It cannot be put down…. Please don’t miss this one.”
—Kingston Observer
“[A] brisk read… it demonstrates once again why [Hoag’s] so good at
what she does.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“Action-filled ride… a colorful, fast-paced novel that will keep you
guessing.”
—Commercial Appeal
“High-octane suspense… Nonstop action moves the story forward at a
breath-stealing pace, and the tension remains high from beginning to
end…. Suspense at its very best.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Hoag’s loyal readers and fans of police procedural suspense novels will
definitely love it.”
—Booklist
“Kill the Messenger will add to [Hoag’s] list of winners…. This is a fast-
moving thriller with a great plot and wonderful characters. The identity of
the killer is a real surprise.”
—Daily American
“Engaging… the triumph of substance over style… character-driven,
solidly constructed thriller.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Hoag upholds her reputation as one of the hottest writers in the suspense
genre with this book, which not only has a highly complex mystery,
multilayered suspense and serpentine plot, but also great characterizations
… an entertaining and expertly crafted novel not to be missed.”
—CurledUp.com
DARK HORSE
“A thriller as tightly wound as its heroine… Hoag has created a winning
central figure in Elena…. Bottom line: Great ride.”
—People
“This is her best to date…. [A] tautly told thriller.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Hoag proves once again why she is considered a queen of the crime
thriller.”
—Charleston Post and Courier
“A tangled web of deceit and double-dealing makes for a fascinating look
into the wealthy world of horses juxtaposed with the realistic introspection
of one very troubled ex-cop. A definite winner.”
—Booklist
“Anyone who reads suspense novels regularly is acquainted with Hoag’s
work—or certainly should be. She’s one of the most consistently superior
suspense and romantic suspense writers on today’s bestseller lists. A word
of warning to readers: don’t think you know whodunit ’til the very end.”
—Clute Facts
“Suspense, shocking violence, and a rip-roaring conclusion—this novel has
all the pulse-racing touches that put Tami Hoag books on bestseller lists
and crime fans’ reading lists.”
—Baton Rouge Advocate Magazine
“Full of intrigue, glitter, and skullduggery… [Hoag] is a master of
suspense.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Her best to date, an enjoyable read, and a portent of even better things to
come.”
—Grand Rapids Press
“A complex cerebral puzzle that will keep readers on the edge until all the
answers are revealed.”
—Midwest Book Review
“To say that Tami Hoag is the absolute best at what she does is a bit easy
since she is really the only person who does what she does…. It is a
testament to Hoag’s skill that she is able to go beyond being skillful and
find the battered hearts in her characters, and capture their beating on the
page…. A superb read.”
—Detroit Free Press
BANTAM TITLES BY TAMI HOAG
The Alibi Man Prior Bad Acts Kill the Messenger Dark Horse
Dust to Dust Ashes to Ashes A Thin Dark Line Guilty as Sin Night Sins
Dark Paradise Cry Wolf
Still Waters Lucky’s Lady The Last White Knight Straight from the Heart
Tempestuous/The Restless Heart Taken by Storm Heart of Dixie Mismatch
Man of Her Dreams
