What do you think?
Rate this book
Bayou #3
Kiss Them Goodbye
When Vivian Patin inherits Rosebanks, a family estate that has seen better days, she's determined to turn it into a successful hotel. When her lawyer tells her he has great news--news that will give Vivian and her mother financial security--she awaits his arrival in expectation. What she discovers is his body, with a lipstick mark and to recover the information her lawyer was delivering to her. But someone else is searching for the files--someone who will not stop at just one murder.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
6 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Stella Cameron
106 books420 followersStella Cameron is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. With over fourteen million copies of her books in print, Cameron is now turning her pen to mysteries and independently publishing COLD, Introducing Alex Duggins. She draws on her English background for this new, already critically acclaimed mystery series. Atmospheric, deeply character and relationship driven, COLD reveals the power of old secrets to twist the present. Cameron’s reputation for using her backgrounds to add tension and allure to her stories is heightened again.
Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.
Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 17, 2012
Warning: Some spoilers.
I’ve read three books in this series now and so far they’ve featured pretty much the same plot and pretty much the same characters over and over: Someone is murdered, Hero and Heroine are thrown together to investigate. Random nasty/evil couple are present to serve as red herrings and also have nasty/hot sex together and with other people. Hero and Heroine have conversations that are ostensibly about the murder, but also contain disjointed references to how much they would like to have sex with each other. Eventually, the murderer tips his/her hand by going all crazy and trying to kill the heroine. It turns out to be a character who the reader would not expect at all because there were absolutely no clues that this person might not be what they seem. The hero is a strong, straight-forward person who speaks his mind. Two of the three have young daughters they dote on. Two of the three are rich. These are not the same two. All three call the heroine “Cher” . A lot. The heroines are all “strong, independent” women, which means that they are likely to run headlong into dangerous situations even though there is an unidentified killer who seems to totally want to murder them. They are also unlikely to appreciate the hero telling them to be careful and let law enforcement handle the investigations. This is not about feminism or “alpha” heroes, it’s about not being a damn fool. Even though the “action” of the book only takes place over a week or two, the hero and heroine are absolutely in love and definitely getting married and have a lasting relationship built on trust and intimacy. Because they’ve been together a week. A WEEK. This happens a lot in romantic suspense and it annoys me every time.
They are all also connected to Father Cyrus who is a super-sexy priest who is totally attracted to his assistant, Madge, but even though he’s a really Good Man is struggling with his celibacy vows and his feelings for Madge. I assume they will eventually get together. This is a subplot that irritates me. Cyrus and Madge are the most well-developed and interesting characters in this series, mostly because they’ve been in all three books and the reader has been given time to get to know them and their particular foibles and characteristics. However, most readers would be likely as conflicted as I am, both rooting for the priest to maintain his vows and also for he and Madge to be happy and together. It is frustrating.
In addition, there are confusing and superfluous interactions between minor characters, myriad grammatical mistakes, and just plain crap writing.
There are 10 books in this series. I purchased all of them, having read another series by Stella Cameron that I remember enjoying, but I am giving up on this now. I just cannot waste any more of my time reading these books.
I’ve read three books in this series now and so far they’ve featured pretty much the same plot and pretty much the same characters over and over: Someone is murdered, Hero and Heroine are thrown together to investigate. Random nasty/evil couple are present to serve as red herrings and also have nasty/hot sex together and with other people. Hero and Heroine have conversations that are ostensibly about the murder, but also contain disjointed references to how much they would like to have sex with each other. Eventually, the murderer tips his/her hand by going all crazy and trying to kill the heroine. It turns out to be a character who the reader would not expect at all because there were absolutely no clues that this person might not be what they seem. The hero is a strong, straight-forward person who speaks his mind. Two of the three have young daughters they dote on. Two of the three are rich. These are not the same two. All three call the heroine “Cher” . A lot. The heroines are all “strong, independent” women, which means that they are likely to run headlong into dangerous situations even though there is an unidentified killer who seems to totally want to murder them. They are also unlikely to appreciate the hero telling them to be careful and let law enforcement handle the investigations. This is not about feminism or “alpha” heroes, it’s about not being a damn fool. Even though the “action” of the book only takes place over a week or two, the hero and heroine are absolutely in love and definitely getting married and have a lasting relationship built on trust and intimacy. Because they’ve been together a week. A WEEK. This happens a lot in romantic suspense and it annoys me every time.
They are all also connected to Father Cyrus who is a super-sexy priest who is totally attracted to his assistant, Madge, but even though he’s a really Good Man is struggling with his celibacy vows and his feelings for Madge. I assume they will eventually get together. This is a subplot that irritates me. Cyrus and Madge are the most well-developed and interesting characters in this series, mostly because they’ve been in all three books and the reader has been given time to get to know them and their particular foibles and characteristics. However, most readers would be likely as conflicted as I am, both rooting for the priest to maintain his vows and also for he and Madge to be happy and together. It is frustrating.
In addition, there are confusing and superfluous interactions between minor characters, myriad grammatical mistakes, and just plain crap writing.
There are 10 books in this series. I purchased all of them, having read another series by Stella Cameron that I remember enjoying, but I am giving up on this now. I just cannot waste any more of my time reading these books.
September 6, 2020
I was looking forward to reading this one. Sorry that the characters and story just didn't work for me.
September 28, 2014
I thought this book would have been better without the romance parts of it, it had the makings of a good thriller/mystery but the couple and there relationship were neither interesting or engaging.
January 18, 2019
Vivian Patin and her mother are doing their best to renovate an old plantation home in the Louisiana Bayou on a very slim budget, so when their lawyer, Louis, tells them he's bringing good news, possibly in the form of a treasure map for their property, they are hopeful that things will turn around for them...until someone else has plans of their own, people start getting murdered and there is no sign of a treasure map anywhere. Sheriff Spike Devol is determined to help Vivian and her mother and to keep them safe. He also wouldn't mind if things got a whole lot closer between himself and Vivian in the process, if they could just stop their constant bickering and arguing with one another.
October 6, 2019
This book was hard to follow and lots of unnecessary sex scenes. Living in Louisiana myself the past fifteen years, there were also inaccuracies. If you like romance novels, maybe, but as a mystery, it wasn’t that great. It is rated way higher overall than I thought it should be.
May 13, 2024
First time reader of Stella Cameron. Romantic suspense is the genre. Toussaint, Louisiana is the location. Her writing style was a little confusing but I did enjoy the story. There is a serial killer among the folks of this small town. Who to trust?
February 9, 2018
Kind of a weird plot with three mysterious guys whose relationship and motivation was murky.
Read
May 14, 2021I didn't finish this one, I read about 150 pages and couldn't get into the story or even care what happens to the characters. Passing on this book thru Bookcrossing.
March 18, 2025
I finished it because that's what I do, but I tossed it in the recycle rather than subject someone else to it. Disappointed with the shallow characters and unnecessary sex scenes
June 27, 2012
I love romance thrillers and I was really looking forward to enjoying a good read set in Louisiana…I love all those small towns, the bayous and the different mix of characters so when I picked up Stella Cameron’s Kiss them Goodbye I thought I was in for a fabulous and suspenseful romance. '
Well, nothing could be so different from what I had expected!!!! I almost gave up half way but I was determined to discover who the serial killer was!!!! I might as well have not plodded onto the last page because I still don’t know who the killer or killers were….where and who is Ulysses??? Who cares? Certainly not me!!!! Really I was so disappointed.
The main characters Spike Dovel (geez what a name!!!)the local sheriff who dreams of Vivian Patin, owner of Rosebank, a fabulous run down mansion and a Chihuahua named Boa are just so not credible. The dialogue and banter between the two is at times so laughable and unbelievable. Where is the romance??? The first time they do it is in his car that he has parked next to a bayou in the middle of a storm…romantic!!!!!! And the thing they say to each other….I was so bamboozled as I continued reading…. I have to say that their love scenes were quite hot..in fact there are some steamy and sizzling scenes and I felt that the scene that bordered on incest a bit of overkill…..was it necessary to include that scene that had no bearing whatsoever on the plot??
There were so many characters that had my head spinning trying to keep up with who was who and what was what!!!!! And so many subplots that made it even more difficult to keep up with….the priest…was he feeling that not allowed love feeling for his housekeeper???? And is Homer, Spike’s father getting to like Vivian??? And Wooza…the names!!!!!!!!
No, I can’t continue saying anything else about this book....it will pain and hurt me if I do!!!
I feel really bad writing a bad review but sometimes I just find myself having to say.... ………..Read this book at your own peril!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, nothing could be so different from what I had expected!!!! I almost gave up half way but I was determined to discover who the serial killer was!!!! I might as well have not plodded onto the last page because I still don’t know who the killer or killers were….where and who is Ulysses??? Who cares? Certainly not me!!!! Really I was so disappointed.
The main characters Spike Dovel (geez what a name!!!)the local sheriff who dreams of Vivian Patin, owner of Rosebank, a fabulous run down mansion and a Chihuahua named Boa are just so not credible. The dialogue and banter between the two is at times so laughable and unbelievable. Where is the romance??? The first time they do it is in his car that he has parked next to a bayou in the middle of a storm…romantic!!!!!! And the thing they say to each other….I was so bamboozled as I continued reading…. I have to say that their love scenes were quite hot..in fact there are some steamy and sizzling scenes and I felt that the scene that bordered on incest a bit of overkill…..was it necessary to include that scene that had no bearing whatsoever on the plot??
There were so many characters that had my head spinning trying to keep up with who was who and what was what!!!!! And so many subplots that made it even more difficult to keep up with….the priest…was he feeling that not allowed love feeling for his housekeeper???? And is Homer, Spike’s father getting to like Vivian??? And Wooza…the names!!!!!!!!
No, I can’t continue saying anything else about this book....it will pain and hurt me if I do!!!
I feel really bad writing a bad review but sometimes I just find myself having to say.... ………..Read this book at your own peril!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 28, 2014
Gorgeous, sexy female lead? Check.
Studly, sexy male lead? Check.
Instant attraction between the two? Check.
Dialog laced with sexual innuendo? Check.
Overwhelming desire to get it on with each other? Check.
Things keep that from happening? Check.
Slightly oddball characters? Check.
Characters trying to backstab each other? Check.
Yep, all the romantic suspense conventions are in place.
One thing this book has that is not a romantic suspense convention is too much talk and not enough action – and I don’t mean between-the-sheets action. Much of the talk had nothing to do with the main plotline, just added pages and slowed what could be a fast moving story down to a crawl.
A somewhat distant omniscient POV throughout the book never let me really connect with any of the characters. I felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. Several short scenes in the killer’s point of view did nothing to enhance the story.
Several subplots ran through the story – like why the female lead’s neighbors wanted her out of her home – but Cameron never fully explained how they tied into the main story, just tied each one off in a single sentence that felt incomplete. She also threw several things into this story that seemed might be related to the main plotline but never were developed beyond a single passing mention.
Another book that should be rated 1½ stars because it did nothing for me.
Studly, sexy male lead? Check.
Instant attraction between the two? Check.
Dialog laced with sexual innuendo? Check.
Overwhelming desire to get it on with each other? Check.
Things keep that from happening? Check.
Slightly oddball characters? Check.
Characters trying to backstab each other? Check.
Yep, all the romantic suspense conventions are in place.
One thing this book has that is not a romantic suspense convention is too much talk and not enough action – and I don’t mean between-the-sheets action. Much of the talk had nothing to do with the main plotline, just added pages and slowed what could be a fast moving story down to a crawl.
A somewhat distant omniscient POV throughout the book never let me really connect with any of the characters. I felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. Several short scenes in the killer’s point of view did nothing to enhance the story.
Several subplots ran through the story – like why the female lead’s neighbors wanted her out of her home – but Cameron never fully explained how they tied into the main story, just tied each one off in a single sentence that felt incomplete. She also threw several things into this story that seemed might be related to the main plotline but never were developed beyond a single passing mention.
Another book that should be rated 1½ stars because it did nothing for me.
January 6, 2010
at first i was enjoying this book, but then it seemed ponderous--461 pages. there are a LOT of characters to keep straight, and the incestuous subplot didn't seem to have much to do with the main story. one of the characters jabbered on in creole, which got old fast; "i did it myself, me," sort of thing. why is it that the heroine always seems to end up with the handsome fellow? does he this time, or not?
March 2, 2008
This was the first book that I've read by this author...and I will readmore of her books since this one was very good. It took me a wee bit longer to read it due to the holidays, but when I did read, I didn't want to put it down! =)
March 24, 2015
In my entire adult life, I have given up on only a handful of books. This is one of them. The dialog is unbearable, the relationships unbelievable, and the plot line isn't strong enough to overcome any of that.
July 25, 2013
Romance? Mystery? Porn? Not sure what the author intended, but as romance/mystery, she was unsuccessful. As far as porn goes, I skipped those pages (and there were a lot of them) so I don't know how successful she was there. Ugh. Did not like this book!!!
March 9, 2017
the action started right away. it was a low key murder mystery book but it was page turner. just when you think you have everything figured out, it gets all twisted on you.
April 16, 2008
This is a great read in the Bayou series that had recurring characters in other books in the series. It had drama, intrigue and lots of thrills.
September 8, 2008
Stella has created such a great series -- I totally love all of these characters in Louisiana!!! Strong men who meet strong women and a little romance and murder = wonderful reads!!!
January 28, 2010
A little steamy, set in a modern time than I usually read; but enjoyed the mystery part.
April 4, 2010
This book has strong language and sexual situations. Not recommended for anyone who is opposed to these.
August 20, 2010
Started out a bit slow but suppense is really building.The farther I got into this book the worse it got could not get through it.
July 20, 2010
Another great one by Cameron. Characters are all over the place making it a great read for me. Still edgy and fast.
July 23, 2011
it reminded me of a harlequin with a murder mystery thrown in
May 23, 2012
Toussaint, LA sounds like a dangerous small town in which to live. but the good people are really good.
June 3, 2012
The bayou books are GREAT!! Once you read one you want to read them all. this series is a love/mystery/paranormal all in ONE. I love IT.
January 15, 2013
I read the first eleven chapters and quit. I didn't like the writing style or the subject material.
April 23, 2013
it was a cute romantic thriller, not my normal read, but the plot twists kept me hanging on until the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews