Half Past Dead

by Meryl Sawyer

Kat doesn't want any trouble...but the body count's rising faster than the Mississippi.

No one in Twin Oaks knows about the risky deal Kaitlin Wells cut with the Feds for her release. But everyone remembers her scandalous arrest for stealing money from the Mercury Bank. Now, three years later, Kat has come home to catch the real thieves and prove her innocence. Trouble is, some powerful folks don't want her digging up the past...or getting friendly with new sheriff Justin Radner. But some laws can't be ignored, like white-hot attraction. And soon, determined Kat and her handsome, daring lawman are risking love and life to expose the lies that will bring down a murderer...before the killer strikes again.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Audiobook, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

370 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 28, 2006

Reviews

[KathyB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, great small town romantic suspense.

Definitely recommend the audio version, fantastic narration.

4.5 Stars

[Allie Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was alright! Wasn’t my favorite read but definitely had me hooked, I went through many loops thinking a couple different people were the killer. I loved Kat and Justin’s little relationship and I think they both saved one another from themselves in different ways in the end which is super sweet.

[Rogetwhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many things needed to be cleared up for me to rate this one any higher!!!

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the worst book I’ve ever read, but not my style.

[jenjn79 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's definitely an interesting story with lots of twists and turns, but that is a bit of the problem. There are just way too many pieces. There's just so much going on that it's a bit much. There's murders, poisonings, money laundering, drugs, people being framed, vendetta's, assaults, etc. And the author doesn't do quite a good enough job tying everything together at the end. She doesn't give a clear enough picture as to what exactly was going on. You still understand it, but clearer lines connecting all the dots would have helped the story.

One of the things that really pushed the story into the "too much" range was that there were 4 people trying to kill Kat, all for different reasons. I mean, come on. One or two people out for her is fine, but four? That's just way, way too much and pushes the story into unbelievable range. Just kinda makes you shake your head and think "yeah, sure, whatever". I also had a problem with Kat not quite standing up for herself to her family. They were horrible to her. And though she didn't welcome them with open arms, she was unreasonably accepting of them. True, family is family, but there comes a point where lines are crossed and they did. As for Kat and Justin's romance, it was nice, but underdeveloped. The author didn't give it the attention it needed and didn't build the emotional ties enough so that when they say "I Love You" at then end, it worked.

So in the end, it was an okay book. I didn't hate it and I didn't love it.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaitlin Wells served several years in prison for stealing from a bank, although she is innocent. She has agreed to help the feds figure out who really took the money in return for her early release. She's working for the local newspaper but even Sheriff Justin Radner is not aware of her undercover status. She must confront her dying mother and hostile sister as well as getting in the crosshairs of the person who has no intention of going down for the crime.

I found this 2006 paperback at a garage sale and it's a good romantic suspense. The guy I figured was behind all the money laundering and drug dealing in town was not the real crook after all. This is my first time reading a book by Meryl Sawyer but I will be looking for others.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, Sawyer does an excellent job of making you guess the identity of the suspect. Her stories always include dogs, murder, a mob, and lots of motives; I believe this shapes the trademark of what is fine-tuned talent for writing a good romantic suspense from Sawyer. The characters are likable and the story is just as quick to absorb as it unravels. I didn't like this book as well as her others, maybe because of the predictability factor. 3/5 stars.

[~Megan~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Meryl Sawyer book, and I really enjoyed it! A lot of suspense in this one...everyone and their grandma is out to get Kat, who is completely innocent nit did get a bit unbelievable at times, but I loved the small town feel of it. Justin Radnor was a super hot hero, too!

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave it a 3. The glaring problem in the plot is the sheriff getting involved with an excon on parole. Hard to believe such a straight arrow law officer would have done so. Otherwise, a very fun read.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book from one of my fave authors!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical Harlequin romance, but the back story wasn't too bad. A few racy scenes.

[Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. This girl keeps getting her but kicked and still comes back for more!

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT WAS GOOD. KAT WAS A GOOD CHARACTER. EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE REASON TO WANT HER DEAD OR GONE.

[Lisa Currier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, not always believable. Everyone is out to get Kat, the sheriff and news paper editor come to her rescue. Guessed the bad guy early on. Still a good read.

[Robynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great romantic suspense with what I would say is very little romance. I would recommend this book to men and women who like suspense. Keeps you guessing to the end.

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good suspense. Good narrator.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable story about a woman convicted of a crime she didn't commit. She is pressured into working for the FBI and returning to the town she grew up in to find the real people involved in a much larger drug & money laundering ring. It is a romance and she meets the new sheriff who was the high school quarterback when she was young. The book also details the divide between "old money", the poor who are looked at as "white trash" and the illegal immigrants who are being used by the crime syndicate.