Cry Wolf

Laurel Chandler is a disturbed prosecutor coming home from Georgia for some R&R after her own "cry wolf" incident. She needs some emotional healing, but gets caught up in a serial killer drama instead. The killer is playing games with her, singling her out by slipping her trophies from the dead girls found in the swamp. First - if you are a Tami Hoag fan, be sure to read this book BEFORE reading "A Thin Dark Line" - she reveals both who the killer is and who his victims were. All in all, if you can take the drippy romance with a grain of salt, this is one terrific read you won't want to miss.

A page turner. Tami Hoag describes Louisiana bayou country so vividly you can feel the humidity and smell the swamp. Attorney Laurel Chandler, burnt out attorney, returns to her home rural parish to lick her wounds and restore her soul. Returning home isn't the sanctuary she desires as old issues still test her. Hoag creates a tangled web of deceit, characters who are not as they seem to be, images of violence so horrifying to make you stop and make sure your doors are locked.

I was told I need to read more outside of my favorite genres, so I went to the library and picked the first title that caught my eye.

THE LONG AND SHORT:
I don't read thrillers. Especially ones that are romance heavy. I was under the impression that this would be some mix of Criminal Minds + Law and Order. Instead I got something that you would find on the Lifetime network. In my opinion, that is not a good thing. In my head, Lifetime = melodramatic romance mixed with some violence for spice demonstrated by the washed up refugees of Hollywood.

THE LONG
I like southern settings, they are both familiar and exotically strange. Hoag is great at making the setting come to life, and to be honest, that was the only thing that kept me reading. show more While some of her characters had promise (Savannah, Jack, the Delahoussayes) I hated pretty much everyone else, ESPECIALLY Laurel. The real thriller-y part doesn't even begin until about page 300. The "perverse game" isn't much of the disturbing brain teaser it could have been either. The killer is pretty obvious once they show up and the mighty Laurel only figures it out when the killer gives themself away intentionally. There's no cat and mouse game, no matching of wits, just Laurel shaking in her boots and 'bravely not crying'. Everything before pg 300 is an incredibly over-dramatic angst fest by every character you meet. There was an over-repetition of phrases that drove me crazy and they didn't go away, even up to the very last page. Phrases like:

"If she had a brain in her head, she would walk away...."
"Jack took in the rigid set of her shoulders-so slim, so delicate, too often carrying a burden that would have crushed a lesser person."

by the 14th time I've read similar lines, I very much wanted both Laurel and Jack to be done in by the fell Killer. Something is very wrong when, as a reader, you're cheering on a serial killer.

I hear tell that her later books are much better, and this book is nearly 20 years old, so I'm striving to be fair and not write Hoag of as a terrible experiment gone wrong. show less

Very enjoyable. The romance was totally unrealistic, but I enjoyed it as escapism. Well-written, engaging characters, not the most believable plot in the world but a fun fast-paced read nonetheless.

As shared when I read "Lucky's Lady" (Doucet #2) by Tami Hoag, this novel also reminded me of my own visits to Louisiana...From previous review "When I lived in Houston, TX for a short time, we would sometimes go over to Louisiana and in various small towns, one could hear the sharing of conversation in Cajun French. Conversations always seemed a little more heartfelt as one would listen. For anyone that is familiar, this book will strike a beautiful chord. For anyone not familiar, one will find an introduction to a rich heritage...You will not be disappointed."

The story combines many layers of family relationships and family secrets and a poignant view of the suffering of children of abuse long after their childhood years end. (less)

Overall, this book is entertaining to listen to and has "aged" well (published 1993, recorded 2012). It is suspenseful, but sometimes a bit predictable as to victims and events about to occur. The storyline is imaginative and filled with storyline off-shoots. Just wished a couple of those had been tied up or revealed by the book's end. Oh, well - still worth listening to (or reading!).

Overall Rating: 3.50
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 3.00

Audio Rating (Not part of the overall Rating): 3.50

Quick Thoughts: Tami Hoag is an excellent thriller writer and Cry Wolf definitely delivered on story. It was a twisty, turny, nail-biter that kept you guessing for a very long time. I didn't really connect with any of the characters so that is really the only drawback. That is often personal between the reader and the book so please keep that in mind. The setting and atmosphere were awesome. Overall this was a pretty darn good read!

Audio Thoughts: Narrated by Joyce Bean, I thought she did a good job on pacing and delivering a solid performance. I didn't connect with her male voices at all but I think that might have been due to show more the characters (somewhat). I have heard other books by Joyce and enjoyed them. She is a good narrator.

Final Thought: Fans of Tami Hoag will not want to miss Cry Wolf! show less