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Buchanan-Renard #4
Murder List
There are few authors who can weave nail-biting thrills, edge-of-your-seat drama, and romantic suspense as masterfully as Julie Garwood. Now she ratchets up the tension with Murder List, in which evil is on the hunt– and proves to be methodically organized and chillingly successful.
When Chicago detective Alec Buchanan is offered a prime position with the FBI, it is the perfect opportunity to leave the Windy City and follow in his brothers’ footsteps to the top echelons of law enforcement. But first he must complete one last assignment (and one that he is not too happy about): acting as a glorified bodyguard to hotel heiress Regan Hamilton Madison. The gorgeous exec has become entangled in some potentially deadly business. Someone has e-mailed her a graphic crime-scene photo–and the victim is no stranger.
Regan suspects that the trouble started when she agreed to help a journalist friend expose a shady self-help guru who preys on lonely, vulnerable women. In fact, the smooth-as-an-oil-slick Dr. Lawrence Shields may be responsible for the death of one of his devotees, which was ruled a suicide. Hoping to find some damning evidence, Regan attends a Shields seminar.
At the gathering, the doctor persuades his guests to partake in an innocent little “cleansing” exercise. He asks them to make a list of the people who have hurt or deceived them over the years, posing the question: Would your world be a better place if these people ceased to exist? Treating the exercise as a game, Regan plays along. After ten minutes, Shields instructs the participants to bring their sheets of paper to the fireplace and throw them into the flames. But Regan misses this part of the program when she exits the room to take a call–and barely escapes a menacing individual in the parking lot.
The experience is all but forgotten–until the first person on Regan’s list turns up dead. Shock turns to horror when other bodies from the list start to surface, as a harrowing tango of desire and death is set into motion. Now brutal murders seem to stalk her every move–and a growing attraction to Alec may compromise her safety, while stirring up tender emotions she thought she could no longer feel. Yet as the danger intensifies and a serial killer circles ever closer, Regan must discover who has turned her private revenge fantasies into grisly reality.
When Chicago detective Alec Buchanan is offered a prime position with the FBI, it is the perfect opportunity to leave the Windy City and follow in his brothers’ footsteps to the top echelons of law enforcement. But first he must complete one last assignment (and one that he is not too happy about): acting as a glorified bodyguard to hotel heiress Regan Hamilton Madison. The gorgeous exec has become entangled in some potentially deadly business. Someone has e-mailed her a graphic crime-scene photo–and the victim is no stranger.
Regan suspects that the trouble started when she agreed to help a journalist friend expose a shady self-help guru who preys on lonely, vulnerable women. In fact, the smooth-as-an-oil-slick Dr. Lawrence Shields may be responsible for the death of one of his devotees, which was ruled a suicide. Hoping to find some damning evidence, Regan attends a Shields seminar.
At the gathering, the doctor persuades his guests to partake in an innocent little “cleansing” exercise. He asks them to make a list of the people who have hurt or deceived them over the years, posing the question: Would your world be a better place if these people ceased to exist? Treating the exercise as a game, Regan plays along. After ten minutes, Shields instructs the participants to bring their sheets of paper to the fireplace and throw them into the flames. But Regan misses this part of the program when she exits the room to take a call–and barely escapes a menacing individual in the parking lot.
The experience is all but forgotten–until the first person on Regan’s list turns up dead. Shock turns to horror when other bodies from the list start to surface, as a harrowing tango of desire and death is set into motion. Now brutal murders seem to stalk her every move–and a growing attraction to Alec may compromise her safety, while stirring up tender emotions she thought she could no longer feel. Yet as the danger intensifies and a serial killer circles ever closer, Regan must discover who has turned her private revenge fantasies into grisly reality.
425 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 31, 2004
1209 people are currently reading
4313 people want to read
About the author
Julie Garwood
151 books12.5k followersWith more than 35 million books in print and 26 NEW YORK TIMES bestsellers, Julie Garwood has earned a position among America's favorite fiction writers.
Born and raised in Kansas City, MO, Ms. Garwood attributes much of her success to growing up in a large family of Irish heritage. "The Irish are great storytellers who relish getting all of the details and nuances of every situation. Add in the fact that I was the sixth of seven children. Early in life, I learned that self expression had to be forceful, imaginative, and quick," says Ms. Garwood.
She began her writing career when the youngest of her three children entered school. After the publications of two young-adult books, she turned her talents to historical fiction. Her first novel, GENTLE WARRIOR, was published by Pocket Books in 1985. Since then, she has branched into other genres including contemporary romantic suspense. Today, her name appears regularly on the bestseller lists of every major publication in the country, and her books are translated into dozens of languages around the world. Her bestselling novel FOR THE ROSES was adapted for the HALLMARK HALL OF FAME television movie ROSE HILL.
Ms. Garwood lives in Leawood, KS and is currently working on her next novel.
Born and raised in Kansas City, MO, Ms. Garwood attributes much of her success to growing up in a large family of Irish heritage. "The Irish are great storytellers who relish getting all of the details and nuances of every situation. Add in the fact that I was the sixth of seven children. Early in life, I learned that self expression had to be forceful, imaginative, and quick," says Ms. Garwood.
She began her writing career when the youngest of her three children entered school. After the publications of two young-adult books, she turned her talents to historical fiction. Her first novel, GENTLE WARRIOR, was published by Pocket Books in 1985. Since then, she has branched into other genres including contemporary romantic suspense. Today, her name appears regularly on the bestseller lists of every major publication in the country, and her books are translated into dozens of languages around the world. Her bestselling novel FOR THE ROSES was adapted for the HALLMARK HALL OF FAME television movie ROSE HILL.
Ms. Garwood lives in Leawood, KS and is currently working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 734 reviews
February 17, 2020
* October 2017 Series Reread and Review
Another great reread. This one is a bit slower placed but still a great read.
Reagan Madison has attracted the attention of a madman and it's up to Det. Alac Buchanan to keep her safe. Alac and Reagan's attraction was a slow burn but it definitely burned bright.
I love the relationship between Regan and her two BFF's Cordie and Sophie. The three have been inseparable since Kindergarten. They’re very close and fiercely loyal to one another. We’re introduced to Reagan's brothers Adain and Spencer both have prominent roles in Reagan's life, I’m definitely Looking forward to more of this series!
*Narrated by the very talented Joyce Bean.
* Originally read June 2011
Another great reread. This one is a bit slower placed but still a great read.
Reagan Madison has attracted the attention of a madman and it's up to Det. Alac Buchanan to keep her safe. Alac and Reagan's attraction was a slow burn but it definitely burned bright.
I love the relationship between Regan and her two BFF's Cordie and Sophie. The three have been inseparable since Kindergarten. They’re very close and fiercely loyal to one another. We’re introduced to Reagan's brothers Adain and Spencer both have prominent roles in Reagan's life, I’m definitely Looking forward to more of this series!
*Narrated by the very talented Joyce Bean.
* Originally read June 2011
May 1, 2023
Regan Madison's friends talk her into attending a seminar given by Dr. Lawrence Sheilds, a well-known psychologist. They are determined to prove that he caused the suicide of a woman after conning her out of her savings. While at the seminar, Regan participates in an exercise where she writes down every person she wants out of her life. She jokingly titles it "Murder List". While leaving the seminar during a rainstorm, Regan is attacked by a man who chases her. She loses her folder containing the list but makes it to the safety of her car. Days later, Regan's office receives a photo of a murdered man...someone who was on her list.
Detective Alec Buchanan has plans to join the FBI; but his boss has assigned him to protect Regan until his time with the department is up. This assignment is a punishment for talking back to his boss. But as far as punishments go, Alec is enjoying his time with the beautiful Regan.
This is the fourth romantic suspense book from Garwood's Buchanan-Renard series. The author takes her time setting up the suspense story in this one. But this gives us time to get to know Regan and her pals. When it becomes apparent that the killer is sending Renard the photos of his victims, the suspense ramps up. Alec's only role is to act as Regan's bodyguard, but he is actively working on the investigation in order to protect her. The romance between the two develops slowly. Once they finally give into temptation, it's worth the wait.
I would have liked if the author had given us enough information to figure out the identity of the killer. Unfortunately, we are not told who was behind the murders or the reason Regan is the target until the final pages. Otherwise, this is a solid romantic suspense novel. My rating: 4 Stars.
Detective Alec Buchanan has plans to join the FBI; but his boss has assigned him to protect Regan until his time with the department is up. This assignment is a punishment for talking back to his boss. But as far as punishments go, Alec is enjoying his time with the beautiful Regan.
This is the fourth romantic suspense book from Garwood's Buchanan-Renard series. The author takes her time setting up the suspense story in this one. But this gives us time to get to know Regan and her pals. When it becomes apparent that the killer is sending Renard the photos of his victims, the suspense ramps up. Alec's only role is to act as Regan's bodyguard, but he is actively working on the investigation in order to protect her. The romance between the two develops slowly. Once they finally give into temptation, it's worth the wait.
I would have liked if the author had given us enough information to figure out the identity of the killer. Unfortunately, we are not told who was behind the murders or the reason Regan is the target until the final pages. Otherwise, this is a solid romantic suspense novel. My rating: 4 Stars.
April 23, 2023
There is so much to like about this book and a few things I could have done without. The plot was slow to develop, and it took some time for the characters to jell for me. The romance seemed to take forever to develop, and I was beginning to wonder if it would ever take off. The motive for making Regan a target was hidden until the very end. When Regan and Alec finally got together is was very hot and worth the wait.
Regan Hamilton Madison is heiress to a hotel dynasty that her older brothers are only making grow by the week. Regan's interest in the family fortune is how much she can give away to worthy causes with the foundation she has established. She is happy in her life and when her friends convince her to attend a seminar given by the slick pseudo-psychologist, Dr, Lawrence Shields, she doesn't want to go, at first. But Sophie is convinced that Dr. Shields drove a poor woman to suicide, and she is determined to unmask him as a fraud. At the seminar as a cleansing exercise, they are instructed to write down the names of those people who if removed from their lives would make the world a better place. In other words, a Murder List. Regan misses tossing her list on the fire and when she leaves, she is confronted by a nasty looking dude and drops her folder. Soon after one of the names on her list turns up dead and she is scared for the others on the list.
After a busted sting operation Detective Alec Buchanan has one foot out the door of the Chicago Police Department. He has an offer from the FBI and is ready to take it. Three weeks and he is gone. When he informs his superiors, he is put on glorified babysitting duty. When Regan receives a graphic e-mail, it is no longer a case to be taken lightly and even though Alec has been told to stand down from the investigation, he just won't do that. But guarding the lovely Regan has its perks and Alec soon finds himself more than a little interested in Regan and she in him.
As the days tick by, Regan knows that the time for Alec to leave is coming close and she just doesn't want to let this opportunity go without exploring the thing that is between them, if only for one night. But a killer is waiting for the perfect opportunity, and he won't let this one go to waste.
Regan Hamilton Madison is heiress to a hotel dynasty that her older brothers are only making grow by the week. Regan's interest in the family fortune is how much she can give away to worthy causes with the foundation she has established. She is happy in her life and when her friends convince her to attend a seminar given by the slick pseudo-psychologist, Dr, Lawrence Shields, she doesn't want to go, at first. But Sophie is convinced that Dr. Shields drove a poor woman to suicide, and she is determined to unmask him as a fraud. At the seminar as a cleansing exercise, they are instructed to write down the names of those people who if removed from their lives would make the world a better place. In other words, a Murder List. Regan misses tossing her list on the fire and when she leaves, she is confronted by a nasty looking dude and drops her folder. Soon after one of the names on her list turns up dead and she is scared for the others on the list.
After a busted sting operation Detective Alec Buchanan has one foot out the door of the Chicago Police Department. He has an offer from the FBI and is ready to take it. Three weeks and he is gone. When he informs his superiors, he is put on glorified babysitting duty. When Regan receives a graphic e-mail, it is no longer a case to be taken lightly and even though Alec has been told to stand down from the investigation, he just won't do that. But guarding the lovely Regan has its perks and Alec soon finds himself more than a little interested in Regan and she in him.
As the days tick by, Regan knows that the time for Alec to leave is coming close and she just doesn't want to let this opportunity go without exploring the thing that is between them, if only for one night. But a killer is waiting for the perfect opportunity, and he won't let this one go to waste.
July 15, 2017
Ok, I love Julie Garwood, but this book was not among my favorites. The alpha male was a bit over the top. There were so many times I would have kicked him to the curb. Of course I wouldn't reach my Happily Ever After, but I can live with that.
As for our Mary Sue, I mean Regan, she never quite developed. This utterly beautiful, rich, smart woman can't figure out why the handsome cop would choose her? Please!
Anyway, regardless of the two of them it is a good murder mystery with a bit of a twist at the end.
As for our Mary Sue, I mean Regan, she never quite developed. This utterly beautiful, rich, smart woman can't figure out why the handsome cop would choose her? Please!
Anyway, regardless of the two of them it is a good murder mystery with a bit of a twist at the end.
March 3, 2019
Reread.
This was good the second time but realizing not a 5 star.
It was balance between mystery and romance.
Almost felt like the romance was secondary.
Liked the hero and heroine.
But a lot of dialogue and detail about the murder and that was a little over the top.
This was good the second time but realizing not a 5 star.
It was balance between mystery and romance.
Almost felt like the romance was secondary.
Liked the hero and heroine.
But a lot of dialogue and detail about the murder and that was a little over the top.
March 29, 2024
2 ⭐
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2024/...
Muy descafeinado y algo aburrido y, si una novela de este estilo, aburre. mal vamos.
quizás he sido yo, pero después de leer a Sandra Brown, a esta novela le ha faltado un poco de todo (sé que las comparaciones son odiosas) pero, a veces, inevidable
La pareja sosa: típica niña rica pero buenísima que, además es guapísima, y que tan solo sus piernas y físico conquistan a un policía rudo pero encantador y honesto. dos personajes muy clichés
A la trama le falta de todo, se coge con un par de escenas porque todo lo demás es babeo por parte de los protagonistas... con un romance que no tiene nada, ni evolución y química y nada....
Y el final, pues muy esperado, la verdad. La investigación, muy de estar por casa
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2024/...
Muy descafeinado y algo aburrido y, si una novela de este estilo, aburre. mal vamos.
quizás he sido yo, pero después de leer a Sandra Brown, a esta novela le ha faltado un poco de todo (sé que las comparaciones son odiosas) pero, a veces, inevidable
La pareja sosa: típica niña rica pero buenísima que, además es guapísima, y que tan solo sus piernas y físico conquistan a un policía rudo pero encantador y honesto. dos personajes muy clichés
A la trama le falta de todo, se coge con un par de escenas porque todo lo demás es babeo por parte de los protagonistas... con un romance que no tiene nada, ni evolución y química y nada....
Y el final, pues muy esperado, la verdad. La investigación, muy de estar por casa
September 7, 2022
The series continues with another compelling story with this fourth book. There is a perfect pitch between the romantic and suspense elements and it moves quickly. I also liked the added "girlfriends" component of the storyline, providing the main character, Regan Madison, with realistic dimensions. Alec Buchanan is nicely defined as her love interest along with others from the Chicago Police Department to flesh out his role. Regan's brothers could be better developed but overall, this is a good story, one I highly recommend.
May 7, 2024
Dnf @ page 235
I couldn't stand Regan at all , she was such a spineless and annoying 🤦♀️
This was also so boring ...
I couldn't stand Regan at all , she was such a spineless and annoying 🤦♀️
This was also so boring ...
May 20, 2013
Let me begin by saying that I did not take note that this was a "#4" in a series and have not read numbers 1, 2 & 3. And I never will. I listened to this on audiobook while traveling which would explain why I actually finished it: I had no other options. I found myself wondering if perhaps the slow, unappealing reading by the voice actor was the source of my hatred of this book, but after further thought I came to the conclusion that the dialogue and plot description really were JUST THAT AWFUL.
This murder mystery reads very similarly to a "Made for TV Movie". The characters are all one-dimensional, beautiful, exaggerated and do not compel you to care at all whether they live or die. The heroine is so ridiculously flawless that the grotesque violence that goes on sporadically in the subplot seems arcane and unrealistic.
I cannot even bring myself to comment on the predictable romance between the main characters, particularly in light of the bizarre soft-porn sequence. Nope. Not going to go there. Just really, really bad.
I do believe there is an audience for this type of...stuff...but it will never again be me. Ugh.
This murder mystery reads very similarly to a "Made for TV Movie". The characters are all one-dimensional, beautiful, exaggerated and do not compel you to care at all whether they live or die. The heroine is so ridiculously flawless that the grotesque violence that goes on sporadically in the subplot seems arcane and unrealistic.
I cannot even bring myself to comment on the predictable romance between the main characters, particularly in light of the bizarre soft-porn sequence. Nope. Not going to go there. Just really, really bad.
I do believe there is an audience for this type of...stuff...but it will never again be me. Ugh.
November 3, 2011
Reviewed for THC Reviews
It's been a really long time since I've read one of Julie Garwood's romantic suspense novels, since before I started writing reviews to be exact. Murder List was a pretty good read, and about on par with what I remembered of the other books in the Buchanan series, but not quite up to the caliber of some other romantic suspense authors I've read more recently. Having a killer on the loose, who seems to be obsessing on the heroine, worked reasonably well from a suspense/thriller perspective, but the mystery surrounding this part of the story was a little weak in my opinion. I'd be quite surprised if readers figure it out before the reveal, as the breadcrumb trail leading to the culprit was pretty sparse. I really prefer when the author can engage me in actively trying to solve the mystery rather then being a passive bystander. The romance needed a little more pizazz too. Other than a mutual attraction, not much happens between Alec and Regan for more than half the book. They don't even kiss. Then about ¾ of the way in, things finally get moving, but it all kind of happens at once. There is only one moderately descriptive love scene which I did find romantic, but then things cooled down as Alec prepares to move and Regan believes it was just a one-night stand. I could tell that they really liked one another, but I wasn't entirely convinced that it was enough to build a lifetime commitment on.
Alec and Regan were pretty typical of Julie Garwood's heroes and heroines. Alec is what I like to call the alpha with a heart. He's attractive in a messy, un-put-together sort of way. He's a cop who's good at what he does and knows it, but is about to make a move to the FBI. His lieutenant gave him the job of bodyguard to Regan for his last few weeks in town as retaliation for him leaving the force and for making the guy look bad during a confrontation. Once Alec gets to know Regan, he seems rather amused and endeared by her quirks and intensely possessive and protective of her. I thought it was very sweet that he didn't want to spend the night at her hotel suite after they made love, because he was concerned about her reputation. Regan is a hotel heiress ala Paris Hilton, but much, much nicer and more intelligent. While her two older brothers run the family business, she runs the family's philanthropic efforts. Being so much younger than her brothers and not having involved parents, Regan has kind of gotten lost in her brothers' shadows, so it was rather funny when she started fighting back against their overbearing natures. Regan is not unlike most of Julie Garwood's other heroines in that she can by turns be a little too emotional, a little too nosy, and a little clumsy, while still being kind-hearted, and underneath it all, she's strong when she needs to be. She's also quite attractive, but mostly unaware of her physical beauty. Alec and Regan are both very likable characters, but I wouldn't exactly call them stand-outs. There just wasn't enough character development for that.
There were a number of secondary characters in the story. I enjoyed the breezy interactions between Regan and her two best friends, Sophie and Cordie. Sophie is an outgoing journalist who is trying to get an investigative beat. I thought it was rather interesting that she was the daughter of an infamous con-man, and it looks like she gets her own book, Fire and Ice, later in the series. The most intriguing of the three to me though was Cordie. I think this was because of her dichotomy, or perhaps trichotomy as the case may be. She's a girlie girl, who as a science teacher is a bit of a geek, but she also does auto mechanic work on the side as something of a hobby. As I mentioned earlier, Regan's two oldest brothers, Aiden and Spencer can be pretty overbearing and overprotective, and tend to try Regan's patience. The youngest of the brothers, Walker, is a jet-setting race-car driver who we don't see much of in the story, but he still factors into it. I think any of these three might make good hero material, and in fact, it seemed like something might be brewing between Aiden and Cordie, but nothing ever came of their seeming attraction. It might be interesting for these two to get together, but as of yet, it doesn't look like Ms. Garwood as written any books for them or the other Madison brothers. Since Alec is part of the large Buchanan clan, I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more of them. In fact, his brothers and sisters are really only mentioned in passing, but friend of the family, Noah Clayborne who has his own book, Shadow Dance, does get to have a couple of phone conversations with Alec.
Murder List has a rather leisurely beginning as the author introduces the reader to the hero, heroine and killer separately. At the time, they seemed to all be doing completely unrelated things, but gradually, their lives begin to intertwine. At that point, it became more involving, although at times the pacing was still a little slow for a mystery/suspense novel, in my opinion. Overall the story was pretty good and the writing itself fairly solid. Even with its flaws, Murder List still held my attention which is probably why I consider Julie Garwood to be a good author. Even when she's not at the top of her game, her books are still quite readable. Murder List is the fourth book in her Buchanan series, and I'll be looking forward to meeting and getting to know more of the Buchanan family in future books.
It's been a really long time since I've read one of Julie Garwood's romantic suspense novels, since before I started writing reviews to be exact. Murder List was a pretty good read, and about on par with what I remembered of the other books in the Buchanan series, but not quite up to the caliber of some other romantic suspense authors I've read more recently. Having a killer on the loose, who seems to be obsessing on the heroine, worked reasonably well from a suspense/thriller perspective, but the mystery surrounding this part of the story was a little weak in my opinion. I'd be quite surprised if readers figure it out before the reveal, as the breadcrumb trail leading to the culprit was pretty sparse. I really prefer when the author can engage me in actively trying to solve the mystery rather then being a passive bystander. The romance needed a little more pizazz too. Other than a mutual attraction, not much happens between Alec and Regan for more than half the book. They don't even kiss. Then about ¾ of the way in, things finally get moving, but it all kind of happens at once. There is only one moderately descriptive love scene which I did find romantic, but then things cooled down as Alec prepares to move and Regan believes it was just a one-night stand. I could tell that they really liked one another, but I wasn't entirely convinced that it was enough to build a lifetime commitment on.
Alec and Regan were pretty typical of Julie Garwood's heroes and heroines. Alec is what I like to call the alpha with a heart. He's attractive in a messy, un-put-together sort of way. He's a cop who's good at what he does and knows it, but is about to make a move to the FBI. His lieutenant gave him the job of bodyguard to Regan for his last few weeks in town as retaliation for him leaving the force and for making the guy look bad during a confrontation. Once Alec gets to know Regan, he seems rather amused and endeared by her quirks and intensely possessive and protective of her. I thought it was very sweet that he didn't want to spend the night at her hotel suite after they made love, because he was concerned about her reputation. Regan is a hotel heiress ala Paris Hilton, but much, much nicer and more intelligent. While her two older brothers run the family business, she runs the family's philanthropic efforts. Being so much younger than her brothers and not having involved parents, Regan has kind of gotten lost in her brothers' shadows, so it was rather funny when she started fighting back against their overbearing natures. Regan is not unlike most of Julie Garwood's other heroines in that she can by turns be a little too emotional, a little too nosy, and a little clumsy, while still being kind-hearted, and underneath it all, she's strong when she needs to be. She's also quite attractive, but mostly unaware of her physical beauty. Alec and Regan are both very likable characters, but I wouldn't exactly call them stand-outs. There just wasn't enough character development for that.
There were a number of secondary characters in the story. I enjoyed the breezy interactions between Regan and her two best friends, Sophie and Cordie. Sophie is an outgoing journalist who is trying to get an investigative beat. I thought it was rather interesting that she was the daughter of an infamous con-man, and it looks like she gets her own book, Fire and Ice, later in the series. The most intriguing of the three to me though was Cordie. I think this was because of her dichotomy, or perhaps trichotomy as the case may be. She's a girlie girl, who as a science teacher is a bit of a geek, but she also does auto mechanic work on the side as something of a hobby. As I mentioned earlier, Regan's two oldest brothers, Aiden and Spencer can be pretty overbearing and overprotective, and tend to try Regan's patience. The youngest of the brothers, Walker, is a jet-setting race-car driver who we don't see much of in the story, but he still factors into it. I think any of these three might make good hero material, and in fact, it seemed like something might be brewing between Aiden and Cordie, but nothing ever came of their seeming attraction. It might be interesting for these two to get together, but as of yet, it doesn't look like Ms. Garwood as written any books for them or the other Madison brothers. Since Alec is part of the large Buchanan clan, I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more of them. In fact, his brothers and sisters are really only mentioned in passing, but friend of the family, Noah Clayborne who has his own book, Shadow Dance, does get to have a couple of phone conversations with Alec.
Murder List has a rather leisurely beginning as the author introduces the reader to the hero, heroine and killer separately. At the time, they seemed to all be doing completely unrelated things, but gradually, their lives begin to intertwine. At that point, it became more involving, although at times the pacing was still a little slow for a mystery/suspense novel, in my opinion. Overall the story was pretty good and the writing itself fairly solid. Even with its flaws, Murder List still held my attention which is probably why I consider Julie Garwood to be a good author. Even when she's not at the top of her game, her books are still quite readable. Murder List is the fourth book in her Buchanan series, and I'll be looking forward to meeting and getting to know more of the Buchanan family in future books.
November 28, 2016
This series keeps getting better and better ^^
- The couple in here didn't have any appearance in the previous book but they certainly had their presence in here. The couple also reminded me of the Regency Romance books, her all polite and elegant, him with his messy appearance and rakish attitude, which I liked it was a cute combination.
- Also I noticed that the difference in here was that even though as usual we get to know the villains thoughts throughout the story and still get surprised at the end, was the fact that this time we or the couple didn't know the identity of the villain and there wasn't any connection to them.
- I liked how comfortable the hero got and how everyone around the heroine took to him naturally.
- I liked the relationship the heroine had with the people around her especially the teenagers and part-timers, it was so sweet their loyalty to her.
- I liked also the grumpy tech women, and how the heroine could get to her and pulled her in, there showed the true depths of her positive and good attitude toward people.
- I liked the mystery story how intriguing it was, in no way was it predictable, which kept me enthralled wanting to know what will happen next. I'm still not very much used to Julie Garwood's contemporary writing, but so far I'm loving it, the stories keep getting better, the intrigue and mystery pulls you right in.
Overall, *thumbs up*
- The couple in here didn't have any appearance in the previous book but they certainly had their presence in here. The couple also reminded me of the Regency Romance books, her all polite and elegant, him with his messy appearance and rakish attitude, which I liked it was a cute combination.
- Also I noticed that the difference in here was that even though as usual we get to know the villains thoughts throughout the story and still get surprised at the end, was the fact that this time we or the couple didn't know the identity of the villain and there wasn't any connection to them.
- I liked how comfortable the hero got and how everyone around the heroine took to him naturally.
- I liked the relationship the heroine had with the people around her especially the teenagers and part-timers, it was so sweet their loyalty to her.
- I liked also the grumpy tech women, and how the heroine could get to her and pulled her in, there showed the true depths of her positive and good attitude toward people.
- I liked the mystery story how intriguing it was, in no way was it predictable, which kept me enthralled wanting to know what will happen next. I'm still not very much used to Julie Garwood's contemporary writing, but so far I'm loving it, the stories keep getting better, the intrigue and mystery pulls you right in.
Overall, *thumbs up*
March 11, 2022
4 stars… another really good addition to this series. I enjoyed this story, and especially liked that the twist at the end wasn’t obvious. I never felt bored by this story or thought that it was too predictable.
My biggest complaint was the hero. He took too long realizing his feelings for the heroine and was basically planning to leave her behind until nearly the end. I liked that the heroes in the first three books were much more self-aware. However, I know they can’t all be the same.
Safe; no om/ow drama, no scenes with om/ow, no cheating, no virgins. Heroine celibate, but it’s unclear how long. Hero wasn’t a total manwhore but he was clearly a lot more experienced than the heroine. There were some parts that made me think he was a total manwhore but then other parts made me believe he wasn’t. So idk what his deal was.
My biggest complaint was the hero. He took too long realizing his feelings for the heroine and was basically planning to leave her behind until nearly the end. I liked that the heroes in the first three books were much more self-aware. However, I know they can’t all be the same.
Safe; no om/ow drama, no scenes with om/ow, no cheating, no virgins. Heroine celibate, but it’s unclear how long. Hero wasn’t a total manwhore but he was clearly a lot more experienced than the heroine. There were some parts that made me think he was a total manwhore but then other parts made me believe he wasn’t. So idk what his deal was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2019
2.75 stars
April 13, 2025
I think this is my favourite one in the series. I like it more than the first, which I didn't expect (though the bar was really low). The set up for the premise dragged a lot, but once you get in the groove of the real plot, the whole bodyguard-bodygee one, heck, this was quite entertaining. At least I didn't want to bash my head in from the boredom.
Plus, I love the Madisons/Hamiltons tribe. They're my kind of tribe.
So, yes. The ranking is as follows: Murder List, Heartbreaker, Mercy, Slow Burn, and finally, Killjoy.
Plus, I love the Madisons/Hamiltons tribe. They're my kind of tribe.
So, yes. The ranking is as follows: Murder List, Heartbreaker, Mercy, Slow Burn, and finally, Killjoy.
July 24, 2022
Re-reading
May 28, 2019
The story of Regan, a hotel heiress who finds herself the target of a madman, and Alec, a detective tasked to be her bodyguard as his last assignment before leaving the department to join the FBI.
Neither of them is happy about their situation at first, but they know it's necessary. They like each other, so spending time together isn't as bad as they feared, and they get to know each other pretty well after some time passes and while the investigation is in progress.
Regan is a genuinely nice person, and Alec is sweet and charming, and their initial attraction becomes something more substantial, but .
All's well that ends well, and Alec and Regan start building a life together, happily ever after.
Engaging story with likable characters and an interesting mystery. I am looking forward to reading some of the side character's stories, especially Aiden's, but that won't be for a few books yet. Next comes another Buchanan brother's story in Slow Burn.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Killjoy (Buchanan-Renard #3)
✦ Mercy (Buchanan-Renard #2)
✦ Heartbreaker (Buchanan-Renard #1)
Neither of them is happy about their situation at first, but they know it's necessary. They like each other, so spending time together isn't as bad as they feared, and they get to know each other pretty well after some time passes and while the investigation is in progress.
Regan is a genuinely nice person, and Alec is sweet and charming, and their initial attraction becomes something more substantial, but .
All's well that ends well, and Alec and Regan start building a life together, happily ever after.
Engaging story with likable characters and an interesting mystery. I am looking forward to reading some of the side character's stories, especially Aiden's, but that won't be for a few books yet. Next comes another Buchanan brother's story in Slow Burn.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Killjoy (Buchanan-Renard #3)
✦ Mercy (Buchanan-Renard #2)
✦ Heartbreaker (Buchanan-Renard #1)
September 2, 2012
I enjoy Julie Garwood's contemporary romantic suspense. The Murder List was no exception, although it wasn't her best effort.
The plot has something in common with Linda Howard's Mr. Perfect, although without the humor of Howard's book. In both books several female friends end up making lists, and the list puts people in danger. In The Murder Room, the danger centers on Regan Madison, a hotel heiress who made the Murder List as part of a self-help guru's "cleansing" exercise. The list is suppose to be destroyed to "release the anger" but Regan loses hers before that happens. Someone is now using the list to kill people.
Alec Buchanan is a Chicago detective who ends up playing bodyguard to Regan after his boss gets angry at him. Being a bodyguard is obviously not a choice job for detectives. The inevitable happens: Alec is attracted to Regan and ends up making the case personal as he tries to protect her.
The Murder List is a decent concept that fails to deliver because it's diluted by too many side plots. Besides the killer after Regan, we have Regan's friends going after the self-help guru who they think is defrauding women of money, and the romance between Regan and Alec. Added to that are various secondary story lines, including Buchanan's future plans, Regan's family interactions, and obvious set ups for future books. This adds up to a book that is unfocused, and one that left too little time for good character development.
The Murder List isn't a bad book, it's just not as good as it could have been.
The plot has something in common with Linda Howard's Mr. Perfect, although without the humor of Howard's book. In both books several female friends end up making lists, and the list puts people in danger. In The Murder Room, the danger centers on Regan Madison, a hotel heiress who made the Murder List as part of a self-help guru's "cleansing" exercise. The list is suppose to be destroyed to "release the anger" but Regan loses hers before that happens. Someone is now using the list to kill people.
Alec Buchanan is a Chicago detective who ends up playing bodyguard to Regan after his boss gets angry at him. Being a bodyguard is obviously not a choice job for detectives. The inevitable happens: Alec is attracted to Regan and ends up making the case personal as he tries to protect her.
The Murder List is a decent concept that fails to deliver because it's diluted by too many side plots. Besides the killer after Regan, we have Regan's friends going after the self-help guru who they think is defrauding women of money, and the romance between Regan and Alec. Added to that are various secondary story lines, including Buchanan's future plans, Regan's family interactions, and obvious set ups for future books. This adds up to a book that is unfocused, and one that left too little time for good character development.
The Murder List isn't a bad book, it's just not as good as it could have been.
March 26, 2018
Pues me animé con esta autora porque no había leído nada suyo y hacía un montón de tiempo que no leía nada de suspense romántico y la verdad ya me apetecía.
Regan, es la pequeña de tres hermanos sobreprotectores, Aiden, Spencer y Walker, junto a ellos es la heredera del imperio hotelero Hamilton. Aiden y Spencer se ocupan de los negocios de la familia, y Walker es un famoso piloto de carreras, aunque ella también está presente en el negocio hotelero prefiere hacerse cargo de la fundación benéfica que fundó su abuela y ayudar a aquellos que lo necesitan. Sus mejores amigas, desde niñas, son Cordelia, Sophie.
Sophie es periodista y un día le pide ayuda a Regan, pues está investigando a un gurú de la autoayuda que se dedica a estafar y robar a mujeres solitarias y al que Sophie cree implicado en la muerte de una de ellas. Por lo que las tres acuden a una de las conferencias que da este hombre con el fin de obtener pruebas que ayuden a desenmascararlo. Durante esa conferencia uno de los ejercicios será hacer una lista con personas que desearían que desaparecieran de este mundo, obviamente ninguna se toma el ejercicio en serio y ponen cualquier cosa, salvo Regan que ha tenido muy mal día y aprovecha para poner en su lista el nombre de las personas que han sido desagradables con ella ese mismo día. Una serie de circunstancias hace que la lista, que debía haber sido quemada como parte del ejercicio, acabe en la carpeta de Regan la cual perderá tras un encuentro traumático con un desconocido en el aparcamiento.
Poco después, las personas que había en la lista de asesinatos de Regan comienzan a morir y alguien empieza a mandarle fotos de esos crímenes. Ahí entrará en acción el detective Alec Buchanan, que será asignado a la protección de Regan hasta que se capture al asesino.
Desde su primer encuentro ambos se sienten atraídos uno por el otro, pero ninguno quiere sobrepasar la barrera y mezclar lo profesional con lo personal, tanto por ética, como por inseguridad de como serán recibidos sus avances por la parte contraria. Además para Alec este será su último trabajo en la ciudad, pues va a trasladarse en unas cuantas semanas, y no quiere empezar una relación que no va a poder llegar a ninguna parte.
Regan es la pequeña de la familia, con una gran diferencia de edad con sus hermanos mayores los cuales la protegen en exceso. Es una chica sensible, de carácter dulce y conciliador, que prefiere callarse ante los desplantes de los demás a tener un enfrentamiento, esto incluye a sus hermanos, los que pasan por encima de ella hasta el punto de intentar controlar su vida. En Regan veremos una gran evolución, como gana en seguridad en sí misma, sobre todo en su relación con sus hermanos, a los que llegará un punto que tendrá que ponerles un límite para que empiecen a tratarla como la adulta que es.
Alec es un hombre con un estricto código moral y de valores, acaba de renunciar a su puesto en la policía de Chicago para unirse al FBI, por lo que su asignación a Regan será su último trabajo, pronto se trasladará a Boston para ingresar en la academia del FBI. Desde su primer encuentro se fija en Regan, poco a poco y al ir conociéndose irá descubriendo que Regan es mucho más de la imagen de ella que él tenía al comienzo.
El libro está estructurado en cincuenta y un capítulos con un prólogo y un epílogo y está narrado en tercera persona por un narrador omnisciente. Aunque la novela pertenece a una serie, os puedo decir que es totalmente independiente y se puede leer sin necesidad de haber leído los anteriores libros, que creo que van sobre los hermanos de Alec. El comienzo del libro me ha resultado un poco lioso y denso, pues hay un capítulo sobre Regan de niña, luego sobre el asesino, Regan, asesino, Regan, y Alec Buchanan, y así todo el tiempo y claro te cuesta un poco ir entendiendo que pinta cada personaje en la historia, pero después, una vez que los tienes a todos ubicados, la lectura va siendo más fluida. El tema del asesino, me ha mantenido en vilo, pues al comienzo su motivación para perseguir a Regan parece algo arbitrario y no se sabe muy bien qué quiere de ella, cosa que conforme avance la trama se irá poniendo en claro.
Aunque me ha costado algo leerlo debido a lo pequeñita que era la letra, la trama me ha gustado, aunque no es nada sorprendente ni con grandes giros argumentales, sí entretiene y te mantiene en suspense hasta el final.
Reseña en: https://bibliotecariarecomienda.blogs...
Regan, es la pequeña de tres hermanos sobreprotectores, Aiden, Spencer y Walker, junto a ellos es la heredera del imperio hotelero Hamilton. Aiden y Spencer se ocupan de los negocios de la familia, y Walker es un famoso piloto de carreras, aunque ella también está presente en el negocio hotelero prefiere hacerse cargo de la fundación benéfica que fundó su abuela y ayudar a aquellos que lo necesitan. Sus mejores amigas, desde niñas, son Cordelia, Sophie.
Sophie es periodista y un día le pide ayuda a Regan, pues está investigando a un gurú de la autoayuda que se dedica a estafar y robar a mujeres solitarias y al que Sophie cree implicado en la muerte de una de ellas. Por lo que las tres acuden a una de las conferencias que da este hombre con el fin de obtener pruebas que ayuden a desenmascararlo. Durante esa conferencia uno de los ejercicios será hacer una lista con personas que desearían que desaparecieran de este mundo, obviamente ninguna se toma el ejercicio en serio y ponen cualquier cosa, salvo Regan que ha tenido muy mal día y aprovecha para poner en su lista el nombre de las personas que han sido desagradables con ella ese mismo día. Una serie de circunstancias hace que la lista, que debía haber sido quemada como parte del ejercicio, acabe en la carpeta de Regan la cual perderá tras un encuentro traumático con un desconocido en el aparcamiento.
Poco después, las personas que había en la lista de asesinatos de Regan comienzan a morir y alguien empieza a mandarle fotos de esos crímenes. Ahí entrará en acción el detective Alec Buchanan, que será asignado a la protección de Regan hasta que se capture al asesino.
Desde su primer encuentro ambos se sienten atraídos uno por el otro, pero ninguno quiere sobrepasar la barrera y mezclar lo profesional con lo personal, tanto por ética, como por inseguridad de como serán recibidos sus avances por la parte contraria. Además para Alec este será su último trabajo en la ciudad, pues va a trasladarse en unas cuantas semanas, y no quiere empezar una relación que no va a poder llegar a ninguna parte.
Regan es la pequeña de la familia, con una gran diferencia de edad con sus hermanos mayores los cuales la protegen en exceso. Es una chica sensible, de carácter dulce y conciliador, que prefiere callarse ante los desplantes de los demás a tener un enfrentamiento, esto incluye a sus hermanos, los que pasan por encima de ella hasta el punto de intentar controlar su vida. En Regan veremos una gran evolución, como gana en seguridad en sí misma, sobre todo en su relación con sus hermanos, a los que llegará un punto que tendrá que ponerles un límite para que empiecen a tratarla como la adulta que es.
Alec es un hombre con un estricto código moral y de valores, acaba de renunciar a su puesto en la policía de Chicago para unirse al FBI, por lo que su asignación a Regan será su último trabajo, pronto se trasladará a Boston para ingresar en la academia del FBI. Desde su primer encuentro se fija en Regan, poco a poco y al ir conociéndose irá descubriendo que Regan es mucho más de la imagen de ella que él tenía al comienzo.
El libro está estructurado en cincuenta y un capítulos con un prólogo y un epílogo y está narrado en tercera persona por un narrador omnisciente. Aunque la novela pertenece a una serie, os puedo decir que es totalmente independiente y se puede leer sin necesidad de haber leído los anteriores libros, que creo que van sobre los hermanos de Alec. El comienzo del libro me ha resultado un poco lioso y denso, pues hay un capítulo sobre Regan de niña, luego sobre el asesino, Regan, asesino, Regan, y Alec Buchanan, y así todo el tiempo y claro te cuesta un poco ir entendiendo que pinta cada personaje en la historia, pero después, una vez que los tienes a todos ubicados, la lectura va siendo más fluida. El tema del asesino, me ha mantenido en vilo, pues al comienzo su motivación para perseguir a Regan parece algo arbitrario y no se sabe muy bien qué quiere de ella, cosa que conforme avance la trama se irá poniendo en claro.
Aunque me ha costado algo leerlo debido a lo pequeñita que era la letra, la trama me ha gustado, aunque no es nada sorprendente ni con grandes giros argumentales, sí entretiene y te mantiene en suspense hasta el final.
Reseña en: https://bibliotecariarecomienda.blogs...
July 10, 2020
In Chicago, 2004, Regan Madison's family owns a string of hotels and she runs the charitable side of the business. Regan's childhood best friends Cordie and Sophie rope her into attending a self-help seminar where she created a list of people she wished were dead during one of the group exercises. Someone got ahold of the list, and guess what, the people on it are being killed.
Even with the title of the Murder List, the book is mostly family drama and romance with a few murders mixed in. The unknown killer narrates a few chapters and he's obviously unhinged. The murder scenes are not too graphic.
I know there 's a huge market for this type of story. When I was younger I read many books by Garwood but I now prefer less romance and more mystery. I have so many great current books from the library right now that it's hard to make myself follow my 2020 goal of reading these older books. Anyway, another one off the bookshelves.
Even with the title of the Murder List, the book is mostly family drama and romance with a few murders mixed in. The unknown killer narrates a few chapters and he's obviously unhinged. The murder scenes are not too graphic.
I know there 's a huge market for this type of story. When I was younger I read many books by Garwood but I now prefer less romance and more mystery. I have so many great current books from the library right now that it's hard to make myself follow my 2020 goal of reading these older books. Anyway, another one off the bookshelves.
July 1, 2018
Дотук най-слабата история за мен и като трилър, и като любовна история, и като герои... Много клишета на едно място, много повторения, беше ми от книгите, в които все се надяваш че ще се случи нещо УАУ да пораздвижи нещата, ама не се случи.
November 24, 2018
In The Murder List, Regan Hamilton Madison is a rich, beautiful, selfless woman who in no way shape or form resembles an actual human being. This poorly drawn character is the first in a long list of what makes this an awful novel. She comes across a guru who asks her to draw up a murder list, a list of people that she would like to see dead. Mysteriously, these people start to die. Enter the second horribly drawn character, smart and equally attractive detective Alec Buchanen.
The plot in this novel is laughably bad. There is nothing remotely believable about it. The story goes on far too long, and by the end, I just wanted it to mercifully end. There’s nothing suspenseful about the novel, and the writing is poor. Avoid this book unless you want to read a bad novel.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
The plot in this novel is laughably bad. There is nothing remotely believable about it. The story goes on far too long, and by the end, I just wanted it to mercifully end. There’s nothing suspenseful about the novel, and the writing is poor. Avoid this book unless you want to read a bad novel.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
January 31, 2015
What a difference it makes when you read a series in order. I initially read this book not realizing it was part of a series and was just meh about it.
Now, having read it in the order it was written, I absolutely loved it. It was suspenseful, I knew the characters and have come to love them and enjoyed spending time with Regan and Alec. Being able to see the progression of the story made this a much better read for me. I knew how it was going to end, but still thought it was a really good book.
5 stars
Now, having read it in the order it was written, I absolutely loved it. It was suspenseful, I knew the characters and have come to love them and enjoyed spending time with Regan and Alec. Being able to see the progression of the story made this a much better read for me. I knew how it was going to end, but still thought it was a really good book.
5 stars
September 2, 2015
Been on a Julie Garwood streak of late. Her new contemporaries are very good. But then her historicals always were as well.
This is part of a larger series and part of the subset involving the three friends Cordie, Regan, and Sophie. This is Regan's story.
An engaging romance with a very solid mystery-suspense plot. I will probably have to read this again some time. It's that enjoyable.
This is part of a larger series and part of the subset involving the three friends Cordie, Regan, and Sophie. This is Regan's story.
An engaging romance with a very solid mystery-suspense plot. I will probably have to read this again some time. It's that enjoyable.
September 10, 2024
Reread.
Romance with some mystery and suspense.
Really like the heroine. She was sweet and intelligent.
Hero, I loved him. My kind of hero and swoon worthy guy.
I do wish that the romance developed a little bit sooner, but appreciated their buildup.
Romance with some mystery and suspense.
Really like the heroine. She was sweet and intelligent.
Hero, I loved him. My kind of hero and swoon worthy guy.
I do wish that the romance developed a little bit sooner, but appreciated their buildup.
December 11, 2025
Cuarta de la serie Buchanan-Renard. suspense ligero. Ello no quita que me resulte un poco perturbador el asesinato que sale, de una chica que hace jogging.
Regan Hamilton Madison trabaja en la fundación de la empresa familiar. Cuando está en una situación de peligro, le pondrán como guardaespaldas a Alec Buchanan, policía de Chicago, justo cuando está a punto de largarse para trabajar en el FBI. No es el momento de que ninguno de ellos se empareje, pero se sienten atraídos el uno por el otro, aunque no parece que la cosa tenga futuro.
Lo que más me gusta de Garwood son los diálogos, ágiles, con su toque de humor muchas veces.
El suspense no es que sea de los retorcidos, y… se lleva, simplemente. Esto es, ante todo, una historia de amor y el suspense anda por ahí detrás, sin especial cuidado.
Para mi es una novela que está bien, cumple su labor de distraerte y a otra cosa, mariposa. Que ya es bastante, digo yo, cuando de ficción comercial se trata.
Regan Hamilton Madison trabaja en la fundación de la empresa familiar. Cuando está en una situación de peligro, le pondrán como guardaespaldas a Alec Buchanan, policía de Chicago, justo cuando está a punto de largarse para trabajar en el FBI. No es el momento de que ninguno de ellos se empareje, pero se sienten atraídos el uno por el otro, aunque no parece que la cosa tenga futuro.
Lo que más me gusta de Garwood son los diálogos, ágiles, con su toque de humor muchas veces.
El suspense no es que sea de los retorcidos, y… se lleva, simplemente. Esto es, ante todo, una historia de amor y el suspense anda por ahí detrás, sin especial cuidado.
Para mi es una novela que está bien, cumple su labor de distraerte y a otra cosa, mariposa. Que ya es bastante, digo yo, cuando de ficción comercial se trata.
January 31, 2021
Книгата е 4-та част от поредицата Бюканън-Ренард. Доколкото разбрах, те са свързани, но аз ги чета разхвърляно. Сюжетът е романтично-криминален и се върти около Регън Мадисън и Алек Бюканън.
Някой иска да убие Регън и я преследва, а Алек става неин бодигард и се опитва да хване убиецът. Двамата се влюбват един в друг. В общи линии историята не е много интригуваща, не усетих любовта им и всичко сякаш беше нахвърляно без задълбочаване.
Ако сте почитатели на всички братя, сестри и приятели от тази поредица, сигурно ще ви бъде интересно да я четете. Чела съм поне още две книги от нея, но не помня за какво се разказваха. Лично моята оценка на тази книга е средна и е по-скоро заради романтиката. Фаворит са ми историческите любовни романи на авторката.
Някой иска да убие Регън и я преследва, а Алек става неин бодигард и се опитва да хване убиецът. Двамата се влюбват един в друг. В общи линии историята не е много интригуваща, не усетих любовта им и всичко сякаш беше нахвърляно без задълбочаване.
Ако сте почитатели на всички братя, сестри и приятели от тази поредица, сигурно ще ви бъде интересно да я четете. Чела съм поне още две книги от нея, но не помня за какво се разказваха. Лично моята оценка на тази книга е средна и е по-скоро заради романтиката. Фаворит са ми историческите любовни романи на авторката.
September 28, 2018
Ni 24 horas me ha durado. Simplemente espectacular.
May 27, 2025
I read this book 20ish years ago but really didn’t remember it. This is my favorite so far in the series! A good mystery, a wonderful friendship and a romance that wasn’t over-the-top.
February 7, 2022
Relectura.
Subo de una estrella a tres. Impresionantes mis cambios de opinión.
No es un libro que vaya a marcarme, eso está claro, pero es entretenido y, como muchas veces escribo porque para mí es importante, no me dan ganas de matar a ninguno de los protagonistas. Superpunto a su favor. Sí que tiene algo en su contra bastante importante: la obsesión de esta escritora por las dietas y por mencionar cuando un personaje femenino, sobre todo, tiene unos "kilos de más". Lo achaco a la época en que están escritos los libros, este está publicado en el año 2004, pero habría que leer algo más actual de esta escritora para saber si es gordofobia por su parte o ya lo ha superado. Llegaré, llegaré...
La edición que tengo es la de Penguin Random House de bolsillo publicada en el año 2020. Que no está mal pero, sinceramente, prefiero esta saga en las ediciones de Zeta porque son un pelín más grandes y más cómodas. La letra es enana. La traducción es de Juan Soler Chic. No apunté que me parecía mientras leía el libro y ahora no lo recuerdo 😅
Sigo releyendo esta saga.
Subo de una estrella a tres. Impresionantes mis cambios de opinión.
No es un libro que vaya a marcarme, eso está claro, pero es entretenido y, como muchas veces escribo porque para mí es importante, no me dan ganas de matar a ninguno de los protagonistas. Superpunto a su favor. Sí que tiene algo en su contra bastante importante: la obsesión de esta escritora por las dietas y por mencionar cuando un personaje femenino, sobre todo, tiene unos "kilos de más". Lo achaco a la época en que están escritos los libros, este está publicado en el año 2004, pero habría que leer algo más actual de esta escritora para saber si es gordofobia por su parte o ya lo ha superado. Llegaré, llegaré...
La edición que tengo es la de Penguin Random House de bolsillo publicada en el año 2020. Que no está mal pero, sinceramente, prefiero esta saga en las ediciones de Zeta porque son un pelín más grandes y más cómodas. La letra es enana. La traducción es de Juan Soler Chic. No apunté que me parecía mientras leía el libro y ahora no lo recuerdo 😅
Sigo releyendo esta saga.
August 5, 2008
Hotel heiress Regan Madison life turns for the worst when she agrees to join her two best friends in a scheme to nail a self-named help guru that schemes lonely, depressed women in giving him their life savings. The three join his seminar in hopes of collecting proof against him, but things are never that simple.
The seminar‘s first exercise is to compile a so-called murder list, a list of people you want erased from your radar. Regan, thinking it might be fun, compiles the list.
What started as a joke, soon turns into grim reality as people on Regan‘s appear at the morgue, and she starts receiving disturbing photos and e-mails. It turns out Regan Madison has a stalker.
Her protection detail is assigned to Alec Buchanan, a Chicago cop about to switch to the FBI. It‘s his last operation for the Chicago P.D. and though he‘s not overly enthused about the bodyguard duty, his resentment doesn‘t last long.
I was disappointed with this book. The plot was all over the place as if Ms. Garwood couldn‘t decide whether she wanted to write a thriller, a romance, or something else entirely.
Don‘t get me wrong, the beginning was great and the general premise of a deranged man with a blood-thirsty demon inside him had lots of potential, but by the first few chapters the interlocking subplots turned the story into gumbo, and the deranged killer was forgotten as last year‘s snow.
By the middle of the book the plot took a head dive into an average romance between the two leads and the suspense disappeared entirely. And yes, the romance was average, because the two seemed more like good buddies than potential lovers, but for the one (and only) love scene spanning a few pages toward the end of the book.
In short, the main plot, of the deranged serial killer / stalker, was too far fetched to be believable with a huge deus ex machina at the end that just plain made me laugh. The romance was completely out there, and the subplots remained unexplored and unfinished.
The seminar‘s first exercise is to compile a so-called murder list, a list of people you want erased from your radar. Regan, thinking it might be fun, compiles the list.
What started as a joke, soon turns into grim reality as people on Regan‘s appear at the morgue, and she starts receiving disturbing photos and e-mails. It turns out Regan Madison has a stalker.
Her protection detail is assigned to Alec Buchanan, a Chicago cop about to switch to the FBI. It‘s his last operation for the Chicago P.D. and though he‘s not overly enthused about the bodyguard duty, his resentment doesn‘t last long.
I was disappointed with this book. The plot was all over the place as if Ms. Garwood couldn‘t decide whether she wanted to write a thriller, a romance, or something else entirely.
Don‘t get me wrong, the beginning was great and the general premise of a deranged man with a blood-thirsty demon inside him had lots of potential, but by the first few chapters the interlocking subplots turned the story into gumbo, and the deranged killer was forgotten as last year‘s snow.
By the middle of the book the plot took a head dive into an average romance between the two leads and the suspense disappeared entirely. And yes, the romance was average, because the two seemed more like good buddies than potential lovers, but for the one (and only) love scene spanning a few pages toward the end of the book.
In short, the main plot, of the deranged serial killer / stalker, was too far fetched to be believable with a huge deus ex machina at the end that just plain made me laugh. The romance was completely out there, and the subplots remained unexplored and unfinished.
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