Helpful Score: 5
Another good one from Tami Hoag! Although I thought I had parts of it figured out early it was a page turner I couldn't put down!
Helpful Score: 3
This is top notch. I could not figure out who did it until the last few pages. A quick read, but a little deeper than most mystery books.
Helpful Score: 3
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 the cops on the task force provide a much needed comic relief from the horrific murders they are investigating. Though I will say that thankfully the details were sparse on the triple murder which involved kids and rape. Ms Hoag very nicely left that to our imagination which can (or possibly not) be a blessing.
I particularly liked Kovac's surprising attachment to the victim and her daughter. It was refreshing to see a twice divorced cop trying again to find THE one. I own both of the previous series book and will be reading them as soon as I can. I would love to get more details on Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska. They make an amazing team and like all cops, have personal issues involving kids and marriage. I've read many of Tami Hoag's novels and am never disappointed. They are fast reads and you get input from both sides of the law - the police and the lawyers.
I particularly liked Kovac's surprising attachment to the victim and her daughter. It was refreshing to see a twice divorced cop trying again to find THE one. I own both of the previous series book and will be reading them as soon as I can. I would love to get more details on Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska. They make an amazing team and like all cops, have personal issues involving kids and marriage. I've read many of Tami Hoag's novels and am never disappointed. They are fast reads and you get input from both sides of the law - the police and the lawyers.
Helpful Score: 2
Great book. Moved right along...
Helpful Score: 2
A good book, good characters. I wouldn't say a great book, since midway through you end up with a pretty good idea of what's happening. Still, Hoag did a good job of keeping my interest.
Helpful Score: 2
I really like this author. She has a style that keeps the stories going. More than one character at a time. They seem to come alive.
Helpful Score: 2
Awesome book! Fast moving with lots of twists and turns!
Helpful Score: 1
A first rate thriller
This particular novel was not one of Tami's best. For me, the killer was obvious and the tension of a good "whodunnit" was lost. However, it was good to see Sam and Nikki in action again.
Helpful Score: 1
One of Tami Hoag's better books. Fast read. Mystery/Thriller.
Helpful Score: 1
1st one of her books I ever read. I really enjoyed it. I did not figure it out at all. Lots of twists and turns
Helpful Score: 1
Great read. Fast paced, keeps you guessing.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a really good crime novel. A fast-paced story, some twists and turns, and pretty good characters throughout pushed the story and made it a very enjoyable read. I didn't realize that it was part of a series (the Kovac/Liska series) but plan to read more by this author.
Helpful Score: 1
Super thriller. I could not stop reading this.
Helpful Score: 1
Very good read! Can't put down!
Helpful Score: 1
THis is a terrific book...a real page turner and we couldn't wait to finish it. Definitely hard to put down. Tami Hoag at her best.
Don't read this one late at night...alone. Really creepy bad guys. Judge Carey Moore has made a lot of enemies by making a ruling that seems to come down on the side of the man accused of a brutal torture and slaying of a woman and her two children, when it would have been universally more popular to hang the man. Suddenly her life is in danger from several directions, which makes it a very good thing that police detective Sam Kovac is so determined to keep her - and her young daughter - safe, although the Judge's husband takes a dim view of Kovac's too-present presence.
this book was an excellent crime book and kept me guessing. I really enjoyed prior bad acts.
great suspense! will keep you on the edge of your seat!!!!
Excellent Book! Tami Hoag does it again.
Very very good! well written, good storyline, just enough characters to keep track of with nothing to make your mind wander, short chapters to make it easier to read and keep on track. Highly recommend!
This book grab you and makes you keep reading. I have enjoyed read her books a lot
Great book! Tami Hoag keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire book. Even if you think you have it all figured out there's just enough question to second guess yourself. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys this genre.
This is one of Hoag's more exciting books, and even the least is excellent, as far as I'm concerned. She is not one of those who has 20 books a year coming out with her name on them. She really write 'em and they're good. Don't wnat to give much away -- but just want to say she knows how to keep the interest level high.
This is a very good thriller that holds the suspence up until the end.A judge has made a dicision about a crime that turns her world around and no one knows how her life will end up with so much not going right with her little girl and her family.It was very fast moving,an exciting read.
I loved this book. I'd never read this author before and definitely plan to look for more by her!
Should a person with 'prior bad acts' be held accountable for them when on trial for another crime? That's what Judge Carey Moore has to decide, and her decision is not popular with a lot of people. And it leads to her being attacked and beaten, several murders, kidnaping and a surpise ending!! Tami Hoag really knows how to keep you turning the pages until the very last one.
A very good read. Story flowed easily and I loved the ending.
I normally like mysteries with a love story and while this one had a slight love twist, it wasn't much of a love story, yet i really enjoyed the book.
A great read. Keeps you guessing and completely involved with the characters and story.
Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked up this book at a library sale. Now when I added it to do my review, I find out that it is the third in a series, and I hate to read books out of order, but I think I can manage this one.
I have read a few Tami Hoag books before and I have always enjoyed the way she writes and how she spins a story.
This was amazing, it was a well written story with lots of twists and turns that kept you guessing the whole time. The murders were intense and might be hard to handle for some, but the details and well written and give you just enough information to understand the crime without being overly gory or too intense.
The emotions of the people in the story are so easy to relate to you, and you find yourself understanding and feeling for all the people in the story, not just the good guys. Even the emotions or lack of emotions in the bad guys are understandable.
This is a hard book to review in that you don't want to tell to much about the story for fear of giving awsay too many things and spoiling the book for the next person, but at the same time you want to get enough information to spur someone into reading it.
The story follows two main detectives and other minor detectives as they try to make a case in the brutal murder or a woman and her two children. Everyone in the case, including the town, blames a drifter. The story opens with the judge in the case having to make a hard decision about the drifters past, weather it is admissable in court or not. The thing is the writer really dealves into the judges mind in making the decision, you understand her conflict and her reasoning for making the ruling, even though it makes her unpopular in a minute in town, she does what she feels she has to based on the laws.
The story goes from there and tells what happens after the ruling, how it effects certain people in the case and the unhinging of minds.
I would encourage anyone who loves a mystery to read this. It will keep you guessing and make you respect and understand the work of the police, the lawyers and the judges more too.
View all my reviews
I thought this was really good. As a thriller writer myself, I don't believe she went into enough depth, but I found it very entertaining. There are different types of writing and not every reader wants all the psyhological ins and outs to the 3rd degree.
Good read
A thriller that begins with a shocking crime scene you'll never forget, and follows two relentless detectives on a manhunt that ends in a chilling confrontation with the essence of human evil.
Excellent story, I didn't want it to end!
Loved this mystery/murder who done it book
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the community nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises public outcry---and puts the judge in grave danger. Then the judge gets attacked in the parking garage. Karl Dahl escapes from the hospital and everything get out of control. Suspects include the stepson of a murder victim, a husband with a secret life and a cop looking for revenge where the justice system failed (Judge Carey gets kidnapped). With no time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of Prior Bad Acts.
not hoag's best work - but still a pageturner, read it in two days!
Another excellent book by Tami Hoag.
I really like all of her books, this one was great too!
Good mystery.
Great reading,loved it!
This book was great from the very first page! I couldn't put it down. I never guessed the ending and changed my answer multiple times until the end. Very good Book!
A mystery/thriller novel. It begins with a shocking crime scene & follows two relentless detectives on a manhunt that ends in a chilling confrontation with the essence of human evil.
It'll keep you guessing right till the end.
Another good Hoag police thriller. This has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.
Love Tami Hoag. This will not disappoint.
The best book I have read by Tami Hoag! Very exiting!
"It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the community nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry - and puts the judge in grave danger."
This is the first Tami Hoag book I've read and I can't wait to read more!! I couldn't put it down - lots of twists and turns.
This is the first Tami Hoag book I've read and I can't wait to read more!! I couldn't put it down - lots of twists and turns.
excellent
My two favorite detectives. I have nothing bad to say here!
This started out a little slow but picked up speed and ended up being a good book.
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened cops. Everyone agrees that Karl Dahl is the killer. Only Judge Moore seems to be standing in the way of keeping him in custody. Her ruling that Kahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry - and makes the judge a target for revenge...
Good book.
This was a really good book. I couldn't put it down.
A thriller, a page turner! I bought it just after noon on Monday and finished it by 8pm! WOW -
Well written mystery. Hard to put down!
One of the best Tami Hoag books yet.
Yet another page-turner from Tami Hoag. Fans will not be disappointed.
A twist in the end... :)
It was a crime so brutal, its changed the lives of even the most hardened cops. Everyone agrees that Karl Dahl is the killer. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way of keeping him in custody. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry-and makes the judge a target for revenge. Two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to keep her from harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything cartwheels out of control. The Judge has been kidnapped and with time already running out Kovak and Liska are drawn into a maze of smoke and mirrors to find a killer who could be hiding inside any of us.
Pretty good who-dun-it - more than one crime and more than one suspect with overlap. Minor romance storyline. Read quickly.
Great book!
A really good, compelling book about the kidnapping of a female jusdge who makes a ruling against letting into evidence prior bad acts. And of the cop who trys to save her life.
Mary P. (riverratreader) - , reviewed Prior Bad Acts (Kovac & Liska, Bk 3) on + 164 more book reviews
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the must hardened cops. Everyone agrees that Karl Dahl is the killer. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way of keeping him in custody. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry-and makes the judge a target for revenge. Two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to keep her from harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything cartwheels out of control. The judge has been kidnapped, and with time running out, Kovac and Liska are drawn into a maze of smoke and mirrors to find a killer who could be hiding inside any of us.
Connie B. (ColoradoSweetheart) reviewed Prior Bad Acts (Kovac & Liska, Bk 3) on + 33 more book reviews
OMG I could NOT put this book down .... I read it in one day ... it is a page turner and one of her best yet. READ IT ... you will love it.
Great book
Another great book by Tami Hoag. Her books are hard to put down!
Judge Carey Moore makes an unpopular decision when she rules that Karl Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible during his current trial. Dahl is accused of torturing and murdering Marlene Haas and her two foster children. Everyone believes Dahl is guilty and they are not happy with Judge Moore's decision. Soon after the ruling, the Judge is beaten in a parking garage. Detectives Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska are assigned to her case. As they hunt for the attacker, they hear that Karl Dahl has escaped from custody and is at large. Now a task force is assigned to bring Dahl back to prison and protect the Judge from the people who want her dead.
This is a well written suspense thriller with many suspects. Not only do the cops have to find the escaped prisoner, they have to figure out who tried to kill the judge. There is a long list of suspects including people the Judge sent to prison, her estranged husband, a troubled homicide cop, and the Haas family. I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next in the series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
This is a well written suspense thriller with many suspects. Not only do the cops have to find the escaped prisoner, they have to figure out who tried to kill the judge. There is a long list of suspects including people the Judge sent to prison, her estranged husband, a troubled homicide cop, and the Haas family. I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next in the series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
Tami Hoag is, without a doubt, one of the best mystery writers out there, and this book is one of her best!
Wow!! Very suspenseful! A must-read book!
This was a really good book, it kept me on the edge of my seat all the wat through!
Once again, Tami Hoag, has written a thriller that keeps you guessing. I really enjoyed reading this book and never guessed the outcome. Boy was I surprised!!!!!
Another great book! Had trouble putting it down!
This is a good book, but I wanted to know more about Nikki Liska, one of the side characters of the book. Hope that Tami Hoag writes a story with her as the central character.
Excellent police procedural/story.
Pretty good read but I had it figured out from the beginning.
A tangled web of deceit and double-dealing makes for a fascinating look into the wealthy world of horses juxtaposed with the realistic introspection of one very troubled ex-cop. A definite winner. - Review by Booklist
Typical Tami Hoag high intensity page turner! Hard to put down and everyone seems to be suspect! If you're a Hoag fan you may still be wondering about Detectives Kovacs and Liska, from another of her novels, here they are again.
"It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened cops....Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way of keeping [Karl Dahl] in custody. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry--and makes the judge a target for revenge.
Two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to keep her from harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither wants to be ont his case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything cart-wheels out of control......."
"It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened cops....Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way of keeping [Karl Dahl] in custody. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry--and makes the judge a target for revenge.
Two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to keep her from harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither wants to be ont his case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything cart-wheels out of control......."
Great as always.
Good Book. Enjoyed it from start to finish.
A great book by Tami Hoag I had never read her books before but many great areas entwinted togethor to make one terrific story.
It was a little slow in the beginning but after I got into the book, I couldn't put it down!
Kovac and Liska have their hands full with a cop who's lost his faith in the justice system after a brutal murder of a woman and her two children. I could not put this book down, read it straight through. I've read Tami Hoag before and will continue to read her in the future.
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the communitity nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal recor is inadmissiable rasies a public outcry-and puts the judge in grave danger.
When an unknown assailiant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecraking partner, Nikki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything changes, and a seemingly straight-forward case cartwheels out of control.
The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnapped-snatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house. Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the step-son of a murder victim, a husband wih a secret life, and a rouge cop looking for revenge where the justice systm failed.
With nio time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of prior bad acts.
When an unknown assailiant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecraking partner, Nikki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything changes, and a seemingly straight-forward case cartwheels out of control.
The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnapped-snatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house. Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the step-son of a murder victim, a husband wih a secret life, and a rouge cop looking for revenge where the justice systm failed.
With nio time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of prior bad acts.
It was a crime so butal that it changed the lives of even the most harhen homicide cops. The crime cannot be erased, but covicting the killer will be a start. judge Cary Moore seems to be standing in the way.Her ruling that the killers prior bad act are inadmissable raises a pblic outcry, and puys life in gave danger.
She is very capable of weaving a story full of suspense and arriving at unbelievable endings.
good book
Awesome read!!!!!!!
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the community nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry--and puts the judge in grave danger. When an unknown assailant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything changes, and a seemingly straight-forward case cartwheels out of control.
The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnapped--snatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house. Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the stepson of a murder victim, a husband with a secret life, and a rogue cop looking for revenge where the justice system failed.
With no time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of Prior Bad Acts.
The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnapped--snatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house. Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the stepson of a murder victim, a husband with a secret life, and a rogue cop looking for revenge where the justice system failed.
With no time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of Prior Bad Acts.
anyone can reach the breaking point, not just the criminals!
exciting mystery.
Hoag never dissapoints, another great beach read!
Vintage Tami Hoag - great reading!!!!
loved it!
One of my favs from Tami Hoag. I couldn't put it down. Lots of twists and turns.
slow starting but when you get reading you can not put it down. alot of turns in the book
This was a great book, I coulnd't put it down! Tami Hoag is great!
IT WAS A CRIME SO BRUTAL, IT CHANGED THE LIVES OF EVEN THE MOST HARDENED COPS. EVERYONE AGREES THAT KARL DAHL IS THE KILLER. ONLY JUDGE CAREY MOORE SEEMS TO BE STANDING IN THE WAY OF KEEPING HIM CUSTODY. HER RULING RAISES A PUBLIC OUTCRY, AND MAKES THE JUDGE A TARGET FOR REVENGE. THE TOP COPS ARE ON THE CASE--THE BAD GUY ESCAPES--THE JUDGE HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT! ANOTHER GOOD TAMI HOAG READ.
great book
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened cops.
really great read
great
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened coops. Great mystery, scary thriller.
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened cops. Everyone agrees that Karl Dahl is the killer. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way of keeping him in custody. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry-and makes the judge a target for revenge.
Two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to keep her from harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Likki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything cartwheels out of control. The judge has been kidnapped, and with time already running out, Kovac and Liska are drawn into a maze of smoke and mirrors to find a killer who could be hiding inside any of us.
Two of Minneapolis's top cops are called upon to keep her from harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Likki Liska, isn't far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything cartwheels out of control. The judge has been kidnapped, and with time already running out, Kovac and Liska are drawn into a maze of smoke and mirrors to find a killer who could be hiding inside any of us.
hardcover
It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened homicide cops. The Haas family murders left a scar on the community nothing can erase, but everyone agrees that convicting the killer, Karl Dahl, is a start. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way. Her ruling that Dahls prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcryand puts the judge in grave danger.
When an unknown assailant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapoliss top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isnt far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything changes, and a seemingly straightforward case cartwheels out of control.
The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnappedsnatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house. Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the stepson of a murder victim, a husband with a secret life, and a rogue cop looking for revenge where the justice system failed.
With no time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of Prior Bad Acts.
When an unknown assailant attacks Judge Moore in a parking garage, two of Minneapoliss top cops are called upon to solve the crime and keep the judge from further harm. Detective Sam Kovac is as hard-boiled as they come, and his wisecracking partner, Nikki Liska, isnt far behind. Neither one wants to be on this case, but when Karl Dahl escapes from custody, everything changes, and a seemingly straightforward case cartwheels out of control.
The stakes go even higher when the judge is kidnappedsnatched out of her own bed even as the police sit outside, watching her house. Now Kovac and Liska must navigate through a maze of suspects that includes the stepson of a murder victim, a husband with a secret life, and a rogue cop looking for revenge where the justice system failed.
With no time to spare, the detectives are pulled down a strange dark trail of smoke and mirrors, where no one is who they seem and everyone is guilty of Prior Bad Acts.
"It was a crime so brutal, it changed the lives of even the most hardened cops. Everyone agrees that Karl Dahl is the killer. Only Judge Carey Moore seems to be standing in the way of keeping him in custody. Her ruling that Dahl's prior criminal record is inadmissible raises a public outcry-and makes the judge a target for revenge."
