"New York Times" bestselling author Tami Hoag returns with a thriller that begins with a shocking crime scene you'll never forget and follows two r...
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Mar 11, 2010
karen
rated it: 
do you know how long it takes to listen to audio books?? this one is eleven hours and thirty-nine minutes! and i am not one of you cyborg kids who have all manner of machines strapped to you and dangling off of your tool belts like a williamsburg batman. i can only listen to this in my house, doing the dishes or cooking etc. but - jesus - eleven hours!! of this guy's voice!! as he raises the pitch to make lady-voices or baby-talks through a five-year-old character or slaps this comical minnesota
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Jul 02, 2011
Angela
rated it: 
Last time I read a Tami Hoag novel, I remember feeling a bit flat; the book in question, Kill the Messenger, hadn't done much for me. Now, though, I've finally gotten around to reading her paperback from last year--Prior Bad Acts--and I'm pleased to report that Ms. Hoag definitely still has it in her.
This book goes back to revisit a couple of characters she's written about before: Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, the cops previously appearing in Dust to Dust. I've seen the formula of a pai More...
This book goes back to revisit a couple of characters she's written about before: Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, the cops previously appearing in Dust to Dust. I've seen the formula of a pai More...
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Dec 17, 2009
LJ
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PRIOR BAD ACTS (Police Proc-Minneapolis, MN-Cont) – VG
Hoag, Tami – 3rd in series
Bantam, 2006- Amer Hardcover
*** When Judge Carey Moore refuses to allow the prior bad acts of Karl Dahl, accused of committing the brutal murder of a mother and two young children, she is vilified by the police and newspapers as being soft on killers. But someone is even more angry and severely beats her and later threatens her. Detective Sam Kovac is assigned to the case along with his partner Ni More...
Hoag, Tami – 3rd in series
Bantam, 2006- Amer Hardcover
*** When Judge Carey Moore refuses to allow the prior bad acts of Karl Dahl, accused of committing the brutal murder of a mother and two young children, she is vilified by the police and newspapers as being soft on killers. But someone is even more angry and severely beats her and later threatens her. Detective Sam Kovac is assigned to the case along with his partner Ni More...
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Jun 03, 2009
Mrs. Foley
rated it: 
I listened to the abridged version (six hours) of this book on a trip. It is a thrilling murder-mystery.
Review from Publishers Weekly (January 30, 2006)
A simple court hearing explodes into a multifaceted case at the start of this stunning meld of thriller and police procedural from bestseller Hoag. Shortly after Minneapolis judge Carey Moore decides that the many "prior bad acts" of accused serial killer Karl Dahl can't be used in his trial, Dahl escapes from jail an More...
Review from Publishers Weekly (January 30, 2006)
A simple court hearing explodes into a multifaceted case at the start of this stunning meld of thriller and police procedural from bestseller Hoag. Shortly after Minneapolis judge Carey Moore decides that the many "prior bad acts" of accused serial killer Karl Dahl can't be used in his trial, Dahl escapes from jail an More...
Dec 20, 2011
Angela
rated it:
Even though I rarely read Hoag........for what reason, I do not know.........she never fails to deliver when I do pick something of hers up. Prior Bad Acts is a fast paced story. I read it relatively quickly (for me, anyway), because I was always anxious to turn each page to find out what happens next. The anger, the helplessness, the unstoppable feelings of guilt and anxiousness the characters go through are all very believable. The story just draws you in. I would recommend this book to anyone
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Sep 23, 2011
Linda
rated it:
Carey Moore, former prosecuting attorney, has achieved her goal and is now a judge, like her father before her. As a judge, objectivity is essential, and Judge Moore is able, with effort, to abandon her former biases and consider each case on its merits. Now she bites the bullet to make a highly unpopular ruling in the case of an accused mass murderer, deciding that his record of "prior bad acts" is not admissible, on the grounds that they have no bearing on the current matter. And all
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Aug 13, 2009
Bob
rated it:
Karl Dahl is in court for arraignment and the judge denies the use of any prior convictions by the prosecutor, which makes her hated by most of the town even though she is following the law as written. Dhal’s supposed crime is the brutal murder of a woman and her two foster children and the town is out for blood. One old time detective is now on desk duty because he could not handle the scene of the murder, after the judge’s ruling she is attacked getting into her car and only her car alarm s
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Feb 08, 2010
Sharal
rated it: 
Wow! What can you say about a book that rips the rug out from under you and leaves you speechless with the shock of not having seen it coming? Once again, Tami Hoag delivers a story so well written that not only can you relate to the characters but she creates them in such a way that it feels like you know them personally. I hope to see more of Kovac and Judge Moore in future books. This high energy, intense suspense and high speed thriller leaves me only wanting more from this author. As more l
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Aug 04, 2011
Hoag, as always, writes an excellent thriller with so many twists and turns that it is difficult to predict. Judge Carey Moore has to make some difficult decisions. To top it off, her marriage is on the rocks. Moore is attacked in the parking garage after being hard-nosed about admissible evidence for an upcoming trial for a man that everyone believes committed a heinous triple murder. Enter Detective Sam Kovak. Sam is a tough guy with a soft spot for women in distress. Read this book to see if
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Aug 17, 2011
Benjamin
rated it:
I've completed another audio book, Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag. As usual, I selected this one from the library because it was by an author whose name I had seen time and again and yet had never read. My research indicates Tami Hoag got her start in romance novels but later turned to thriller novels and has since had 13 best sellers. Thriller novels are usually a good choice for my audio book habit because their very nature makes the plot easy to get back into each and every time I start it up
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Jul 12, 2010
Barbara
rated it:
In typical Tami Hoag fashion, this twists and turns with surprise after surprise. The cops think they have the triple murderer in custody until the unthinkable happens and he escapes. Then it's a race to find him and protect the ones in the most danger from him. I haven't read the first two books in this series (Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust) but I really liked the dynamics between the partners. They use humor and sexual innuendos to get past the horror of their jobs. The banter between all
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May 31, 2010
Linda
rated it:
Took a break from serious reading for a couple fluff paperbacks I picked up at the local thrift store. Over the years I've read almost all Tami Hoag's books. They are formulaic but page-turners, all similar to each other, but significantly elevated by the fact that they all manage to keep you guessing until the end. She is not beyond killing off major characters, or making someone good turn bad, which heightens the suspense and keeps you from getting too comfortable in your expectations. Tempor
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Sep 30, 2011
Marca
rated it:
Crud, I forgot that Tami Hoag weaves romance into her mysteries – not my thing. However, the mystery was good and I wanted to see how the book ended so I kept reading. The good: good mystery, generally good writing and characters. The bleh: unrealistic romance (grizzled detective lusting after young, beautiful judge); a weird 1940’s gangster dialog with said grizzled detective – I began to envision James Cagney in a fedora; and a police force that goes up in flames, enraged by a judicial ruli
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Mar 09, 2009
Shannan
rated it:
I haven't read Tami Hoag in several years, but I picked this book up on a whim from the used book store and it reminded me of why I like her. I figured out whodunnit pretty quickly, but it in no way spoiled the tension of the book, as the original "whodunnit" was more of a catalyst than a mystery in and of itself.
Characterization was sharp; plotting, tight. I'm looking forward to going back and reading the others in this series.
Characterization was sharp; plotting, tight. I'm looking forward to going back and reading the others in this series.
Oct 17, 2008
Ellen
rated it:
This is the first Tami Hoag book I've read. I previously associated this author with the romance genre as opposed to mysteries.
I took Prior Bad Acts on a recent trip. For any book to hold my attention when I am reading it sporadically is a challenge, and this rose to the occasion. Though it didn't deviate from the standard mystery format, it was well paced and, well, mysterious.
As a fan of Linda Fairstein, Jonathan Kellerman and Jeffrey Deaver, I was delighted to disco More...
I took Prior Bad Acts on a recent trip. For any book to hold my attention when I am reading it sporadically is a challenge, and this rose to the occasion. Though it didn't deviate from the standard mystery format, it was well paced and, well, mysterious.
As a fan of Linda Fairstein, Jonathan Kellerman and Jeffrey Deaver, I was delighted to disco More...
Dec 22, 2011
Donna
rated it:
When a family is brutally murdered, Judge Carey Moore rules that the accused murdered's prior record is inadmissable. This starts a chain of actions against the judge. Detectives Sam Kovak and Nikki Liska are assigned to solve the case and to keep the judge from further harm. There is no lack os suspects as the case becomes more and more complicated. Tami Hoag weaves a good tale and this one does not disappoint.
Feb 02, 2009
Bob
rated it:
This is the first time I've read a book by Tami Hoag. It was a pleasant experience. This mystery is well written and has a very tight plot. Frequently I would realize that what seemed like an innocuous piece of information, chapters later is a significant clue. The story may take place on the streets of Mineapolis, but it has more twists and turns than a back road in the Rocky Mountains.
May 24, 2011
Donna
rated it:
I liked the characters a TON, but the story was only ok. I figured out the true killer pretty early on. Then there was so much reference to the horrible crime - I am glad I didn't have to ever read about the details of it, but it got a little annoying that it was so mysteriously horrible. I would give it 2 1/2, but, alas, that is not allowed.
Mar 15, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
I had a lot of hope for this book because I loved the Kovak/Liska team but the story didn't have it's usual spice. It's as though someone else wrote the book based on the two characters. As a result I found it difficult to get through the first half, but luckily it picked up towards the end.
Mar 03, 2011
Joy
rated it:
After a horendous murder of a woman and her 2 foster children rocks the community Detective Kovac finds himself protecting a judge who was attacked after ruling for the killer. He subsequently escapes from jail and goes looking for the judge to voice his "appreciation".
May 18, 2011
Darren
rated it:
Lots of characters, but they each had their own personality. A few too many cop characters for my liking, but that was a minor aspect to the story. Wasn't sure who the main culprit was, and there were a few candidates that could easily fit the bill. Good read!
Apr 14, 2010
MJ
rated it:
This was a well written book with a great plot. I can usually see the end coming a mile away but not with this one. I would have rated it better had it not been so crude in a few parts. I find that with audiobook narrators I either really like them or their voices grate on my nerves. I really like Holter Graham.
Oct 04, 2009
Kesha
rated it:
Fun enough. It's something I'd recommend to anyone looking for a run of the mill mystery/suspense novel. Didn't change the world or anything, but was a good, fun read. Good at what it intended to be, I guess, but not the same caliber as books I rated 4 or 5.
Jul 25, 2011
Galen
rated it:
For some reason, I have been reading a lot of these mindless mystery books on the commute to and from work. Are they deep, soul-searching novels? No. But, they're enjoyable and interesting. Saw the ending for this one coming from a mile away, though!
Mar 19, 2010
Dean
rated it:
This author is moving up into my list of authors to recommend. Her books are well planned, and the mystery always involves lots of character building. Her murders are a bit on the gruesome side, but that just makes catching the bad guys more satisfying.
Apr 19, 2011
Deborah
rated it:
Lovely story with lots of bodies. If you like the killer books, this is a good one. The only disappointment is that Hoag gives too many clues early in the book that enables you to figure out who the killer is too early in the story.
Aug 31, 2011
Janet
rated it: 
Really just listened to this on CD. Glad I didn't spend my time actually reading. There was lots of cursing, gratuitous violence, convoluted plot, inane police, and of course, romance. Can't really recommend.
Jun 29, 2009
Leigh Ann
rated it:
Another book I read on vacation and another murder suspense I could not put down!! This one had a lot of twists and turns that kept make me change my mind on what the ending would be and there were plenty of suprises!!
Aug 29, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Finished it in three trips to West Bend. Yet another super crime thriller by Tami Hoag. I did however, not notice it was also part of a series and this was book #3 but who cares, it was fantastic. Loved it.
Nov 22, 2011
William
rated it:
forward moving narrative, and a formidable talent for maintaining tension. a few too many incidents toward the ending making it lapse into the cliche of thriller finales.
