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Midnight Run
Don’t miss this classic tale of suspense from
New York Times
bestselling author Linda Castillo!
Lean, edgy former police detective Jack LaCroix had forty-eight hours to clear his name and keep his freedom. To do it, the escaped prisoner needed attorney Landis McAllister, the woman he’d once thought would share his life. The woman who thought he’d betrayed her.
Landis had just pulled her life together. Now Jack was back, compelling her to believe in him despite the damning evidence, proving with a touch that the ashes of their fiery past still smoldered. With the law on their heels and bullets flying at their backs, could they rekindle their trust in each other and find the proof Jack needed before time ran out?
Originally published in 2003
Lean, edgy former police detective Jack LaCroix had forty-eight hours to clear his name and keep his freedom. To do it, the escaped prisoner needed attorney Landis McAllister, the woman he’d once thought would share his life. The woman who thought he’d betrayed her.
Landis had just pulled her life together. Now Jack was back, compelling her to believe in him despite the damning evidence, proving with a touch that the ashes of their fiery past still smoldered. With the law on their heels and bullets flying at their backs, could they rekindle their trust in each other and find the proof Jack needed before time ran out?
Originally published in 2003
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2003
About the author
Linda Castillo
93 books6,807 followersLinda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and a nomination for an “Audie Award” for best mystery audiobook. Her work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and earned a spot on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel.
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 7, 2018
Linda Castillo ist vor allem für ihre Kate Burkholder bekannt, welche ich selbst noch nicht gelesen habe. Für 2018 hatte ich mir vorgenommen die Reihe zu starten, zunächst jedoch ist mir dieser Einzelband der Autorin aufgefallen.
„Kalt wie dein Verrat“ erzählt die Geschichte von Jack, der aus dem Gefängnis ausbricht, da er anders keine Möglichkeit sieht seine Unschuld zu beweisen. Er wurde für den Mord an seinem Polizei Partner Evan verurteilt, beharrt jedoch darauf, dass ihm die Tat untergeschoben wurde. Völlig überraschend steht er nun vor der Tür von Landis, mit der er einst zusammen war und die außerdem die Schwester von Evan ist. Kann Jack Landis von seiner Unschuld überzeugen und mit ihrer Hilfe rechnen?
Zunächst finde ich die Zuordnung als „Roman“ ganz gut, denn einen Thriller haben wir hier bei weitem nicht. Der Plot ist etwas dünn gesät, denn aufgrund des Klappentextes kann man sich eigentlich schon die ganze Geschichte zusammenreimen. Die Story des Buches besteht letztlich darin, dass beide Charaktere entweder gerade verzweifelt diskutieren, sich in brenzlige Situationen begeben oder gegenseitig ihre sexy Körper anschmachten.
Passend zum dünnen Plot sind auch die Charaktere gestaltet, denn beide kratzen nur an der Oberfläche. Das Buch ist mit 300 Seiten natürlich nicht sehr dick, aber etwas mehr Nähe zu den Charakteren hätte durchaus aufgebaut werden können.
Immerhin konnte ich nun den Schreibstil von Linda Castillo kennen lernen, und der hat mir wirklich sehr gut gefallen. Die Sprache ist sehr leicht zugänglich und ich bin zügig durch das Buch gekommen. Was ehrlich gesagt auch ein wenig von Nöten war, denn die Story selbst hat mich nicht überzeugen können. Man muss aber auch hinzufügen, dass „Kalt wie dein Verrat“ bereits 2003 im Original erschienen ist und für heutige Verhältnisse vielleicht einfach nicht mehr zeitgemäß ist. Ihre hochgelobte Kate Burkholder Reihe ist 2009 erschienen, so dass ich vermute, dass sich in den Zwischenjahren bei Linda Castillo einiges getan hat.
Insgesamt fand ich „Kalt wie dein Verrat“ recht platt, wenngleich ich das Buch schnell weggelesen hatte. Mir hat es einfach ein wenig an Spannung gefehlt und die Charaktere haben mich einfach zu oft zum Augenrollen gebracht.
„Kalt wie dein Verrat“ erzählt die Geschichte von Jack, der aus dem Gefängnis ausbricht, da er anders keine Möglichkeit sieht seine Unschuld zu beweisen. Er wurde für den Mord an seinem Polizei Partner Evan verurteilt, beharrt jedoch darauf, dass ihm die Tat untergeschoben wurde. Völlig überraschend steht er nun vor der Tür von Landis, mit der er einst zusammen war und die außerdem die Schwester von Evan ist. Kann Jack Landis von seiner Unschuld überzeugen und mit ihrer Hilfe rechnen?
Zunächst finde ich die Zuordnung als „Roman“ ganz gut, denn einen Thriller haben wir hier bei weitem nicht. Der Plot ist etwas dünn gesät, denn aufgrund des Klappentextes kann man sich eigentlich schon die ganze Geschichte zusammenreimen. Die Story des Buches besteht letztlich darin, dass beide Charaktere entweder gerade verzweifelt diskutieren, sich in brenzlige Situationen begeben oder gegenseitig ihre sexy Körper anschmachten.
Passend zum dünnen Plot sind auch die Charaktere gestaltet, denn beide kratzen nur an der Oberfläche. Das Buch ist mit 300 Seiten natürlich nicht sehr dick, aber etwas mehr Nähe zu den Charakteren hätte durchaus aufgebaut werden können.
Immerhin konnte ich nun den Schreibstil von Linda Castillo kennen lernen, und der hat mir wirklich sehr gut gefallen. Die Sprache ist sehr leicht zugänglich und ich bin zügig durch das Buch gekommen. Was ehrlich gesagt auch ein wenig von Nöten war, denn die Story selbst hat mich nicht überzeugen können. Man muss aber auch hinzufügen, dass „Kalt wie dein Verrat“ bereits 2003 im Original erschienen ist und für heutige Verhältnisse vielleicht einfach nicht mehr zeitgemäß ist. Ihre hochgelobte Kate Burkholder Reihe ist 2009 erschienen, so dass ich vermute, dass sich in den Zwischenjahren bei Linda Castillo einiges getan hat.
Insgesamt fand ich „Kalt wie dein Verrat“ recht platt, wenngleich ich das Buch schnell weggelesen hatte. Mir hat es einfach ein wenig an Spannung gefehlt und die Charaktere haben mich einfach zu oft zum Augenrollen gebracht.
July 30, 2017
Jack LaCroix breaks out of prison to prove he is innocent and was set-up by known criminal Cyrus Duke for the murder of his cop partner Evan McAllister. He heads straight to the house of Landis McAllister, Evan's sister, and the woman Jack once loved, insisting that she help him.
Oh, this was just terrible! Like many in this genre, the plotting is very thin. Very, very, very thin! I know the romance is supposed to be the focus, but I also like for there to be something actually going on, especially if the book is going to label itself as romantic suspense! Or at least for the emotional tension between H and h to make just a little bit of sense!
Not so here. Jack shows up at Landis' house demanding she help him clear his name and she's all "No, you killed my brother!" and he's all, "You're the only one who can help me." After 100 pages or so, this changes to him being all, "I can't put you at risk. You have to leave me alone," and she's all like, "No, I must help you! Don't shut me out!" Jack continues to come up with new plans in her presence, and when she insists on helping, he refuses. Rinse and repeat! By this stage, I was thinking - if you don't want her involved, Jack, why the everloving fuck did you go straight to her house when you broke out of prison?!? And if you don't want her to take part in your plans, why do you keep on telling them to her?!?
It just gets better. Realising she's nearing the end of her word count, Linda Castillo has Jack handily reveal he was pals with Duke's IT guy on the inside, and this guy told Jack all of the master passwords and codes for Duke's home systems.
Really, Jack? REEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYY? You've had that knowledge with you THIS WHOLE TIME??? Landis even asks him about this, but he doesn't reply, presumably because Linda Castillo can't conceive of a believable way to make this plot contrivance not sound as utterly fucking stupid as it actually is!
So there you have it. I don't mind a slow-burn romantic suspense story. But when the character's actions make no sense and the plot is riddled with giant, stupid plot holes, I tend to get distracted by all the negatives.
It's hard to believe from this junk that Linda Castillo went on to write the Kate Burkholder crime books.
Oh, this was just terrible! Like many in this genre, the plotting is very thin. Very, very, very thin! I know the romance is supposed to be the focus, but I also like for there to be something actually going on, especially if the book is going to label itself as romantic suspense! Or at least for the emotional tension between H and h to make just a little bit of sense!
Not so here. Jack shows up at Landis' house demanding she help him clear his name and she's all "No, you killed my brother!" and he's all, "You're the only one who can help me." After 100 pages or so, this changes to him being all, "I can't put you at risk. You have to leave me alone," and she's all like, "No, I must help you! Don't shut me out!" Jack continues to come up with new plans in her presence, and when she insists on helping, he refuses. Rinse and repeat! By this stage, I was thinking - if you don't want her involved, Jack, why the everloving fuck did you go straight to her house when you broke out of prison?!? And if you don't want her to take part in your plans, why do you keep on telling them to her?!?
It just gets better. Realising she's nearing the end of her word count, Linda Castillo has Jack handily reveal he was pals with Duke's IT guy on the inside, and this guy told Jack all of the master passwords and codes for Duke's home systems.
Really, Jack? REEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYY? You've had that knowledge with you THIS WHOLE TIME??? Landis even asks him about this, but he doesn't reply, presumably because Linda Castillo can't conceive of a believable way to make this plot contrivance not sound as utterly fucking stupid as it actually is!
So there you have it. I don't mind a slow-burn romantic suspense story. But when the character's actions make no sense and the plot is riddled with giant, stupid plot holes, I tend to get distracted by all the negatives.
It's hard to believe from this junk that Linda Castillo went on to write the Kate Burkholder crime books.
November 27, 2017
"Midnight Run" is an exciting conspiracy thriller.
Betrayal plays a central role here. He comes in the form of a crime, but also by loss of control and the fear of loss in the emotional field.
The emotional dynamics between Ladis and Jack was believable and led to interesting and snappy verbal combats. ... At times almost like an 'old couple'; in the most untimely moments (I say only `files providing ... They also changed their opposing character traits on each other during their coping with the past. This role reversal was interesting to follow.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Kalt wie dein Verrat" ist ein spannender Verschwörungsthriller.
Verrat spielt hierbei eine zentrale Rolle. Er kommt in Form eines Verbrechens, aber auch durch Kontrollverlust und des allein gelassen werdens im persönlich emotionalen Bereich.
Die emotionale Dynamik zwischen Ladis und Jack war glaubhaft und führte zu interessanten und bissigen Wortgefechten. ... Zeitweise fast wie ein `altes Ehepaar`; in den unpassendsten Momenten (Ich sage nur `Akten Beschaffung`...
Auch übertrugen sich im Laufe der Geschichte ihre gegensätzlichen Charaktereigenschaften auf den jeweils anderen. Dieser Rollentausch war interessant nachzuvollziehen.
Ich erhielt ein Leseexemplar vom Verlag über NetGalley im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension.
Betrayal plays a central role here. He comes in the form of a crime, but also by loss of control and the fear of loss in the emotional field.
The emotional dynamics between Ladis and Jack was believable and led to interesting and snappy verbal combats. ... At times almost like an 'old couple'; in the most untimely moments (I say only `files providing ... They also changed their opposing character traits on each other during their coping with the past. This role reversal was interesting to follow.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Kalt wie dein Verrat" ist ein spannender Verschwörungsthriller.
Verrat spielt hierbei eine zentrale Rolle. Er kommt in Form eines Verbrechens, aber auch durch Kontrollverlust und des allein gelassen werdens im persönlich emotionalen Bereich.
Die emotionale Dynamik zwischen Ladis und Jack war glaubhaft und führte zu interessanten und bissigen Wortgefechten. ... Zeitweise fast wie ein `altes Ehepaar`; in den unpassendsten Momenten (Ich sage nur `Akten Beschaffung`...
Auch übertrugen sich im Laufe der Geschichte ihre gegensätzlichen Charaktereigenschaften auf den jeweils anderen. Dieser Rollentausch war interessant nachzuvollziehen.
Ich erhielt ein Leseexemplar vom Verlag über NetGalley im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension.
May 23, 2020
No. Just no. I love Linda Castillo's other books (the Amish series). Believable, fleshed-out characters who you end up liking (most of them!) and solid plots that are fun reads. This is ... not that. Plot isn't horrible - or had a lot of potential, at least - but the way it ended up playing out in the book just didn't work. The characters were not developed, superficially created, etc. She should stick to the other stuff that she's so good at. Leave the pseudo-bodice-rippers under the guise of suspense to someone else (or maybe all of these types of books read like this. It's not my thing which is maybe why I didn't like it).
July 16, 2022
While I enjoyed the book very much at the beginning, it soon became very unrealistic. An attorney is so upset yet completely enamored of this person that they break the law for them and in the end she isn’t disbarred? And always a gratuitous sexual encounter that’s told in more detail than necessary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2019
Originally published 2003. Definitely not Kate Burkholder quality 😟
September 8, 2021
A good story . love her books.
July 4, 2023
very different from her amish series. i liked this book ok
October 24, 2014
I love Linda Castillo's books. She is a fantastic writer and this was a great story with a twist at the end. You end up liking her characters and cheer for them. This book was too sappy for me though.
May 31, 2012
A bit above the average Silhouette in terms of character development. Not many surprises for me, but a pleasant way to pass an hour or two.
July 31, 2016
riveting drama.
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January 17, 2018Love does conquer all.
My husband was worried because I couldn't put your book down. I have dark circles under my eyes and haven't eaten much since I started reading this wonderful , exciting book. Thank you so much. I have read all of your books I can find. You are terrific.
My husband was worried because I couldn't put your book down. I have dark circles under my eyes and haven't eaten much since I started reading this wonderful , exciting book. Thank you so much. I have read all of your books I can find. You are terrific.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews