One of my least favorite Linda Howard's. It just felt a little contrived to me and the characterizations were not as good as usual in her books. ( )

I enjoyed this book--listened to the audio version and for the most part it was intriguing. At the end, though, I was left thinking that I'd missed something in the plot...a few things didn't seem clear to me. This could, however, be a result of listening rather than reading; it's the one downside to audiobooks that you can sometimes miss something important and not even realize it's happened.

Overall a very good foray into the extremely-tricky-to-get-right world of time travel, with many nice SF ideas. ( )

I was a little worried at the beginning when it involved time travel, but ended up being a pretty good little mystery with a future slant. A little romance of course, but not bad. ( )

Killing Time
3.5 Stars

Nothing ever happens in the small town of Pekesville, Kentucky. That is until a series of strange events occur including strange flashing lights, an unearthed time capsule and the murder of a local lawyer. County Investigator Knox Davis has his hands full, but the sudden appearance of FBI Nikita Stover does little to ease his mind as the mysterious agent is keeping secrets that will shake the foundations of Knox's orderly world.

Science fiction and time travel are not favorite tropes of mine, yet Howard somehow manages to weave the complex futuristic threads with the more recognizable romantic suspense themes to form a coherent and enjoyable story.

Howard's explanation of time travel is quite plausible and she manages to mostly avoid the annoying causal loop paradoxes that often plague this sub-genre. Moreover, her descriptions of life in the future are logical and realistic, especially considering that some of the devices (or rather primitive versions of them) have already come to pass (the book was originally published in 2005).

The romance is engaging as both Knox and Nikita are likable characters. Knox's unquenchable curiosity and Nikita's social and verbal slips are very endearing, and they have a sweet if rather lukewarm chemistry. The main conflict revolving around whether or not they can be together in the long term is resolved in a believable if rather simplistic manner.

The suspense plot is the weakest aspect of the story as the villain's motivation is obscure and the question of a wider conspiracy at work remains unresolved.

In sum, a pleasantly surprising read despite its issues, but Howard's more conventional romantic suspense books are better. ( )

A series of unusual murders in a small Kentucky town arouses the professional and personal interest of chief county investigator Knox Davis. They also attract the attention of FBI agent Nikita Stover - who is not what she seems and has an agenda of her own. Despite their initial distrust, Knox believes Nikita when she is forced to confess her big secret. The two of them work together while fighting their growing physical attraction, to foil a far-reaching plot that could have a profound impact on the present and the future.

The neglect of details, and the passiveness of the female who was supposed to be this "super-cop" brought her off to me as unassertive and borderline incompetent. She should have been in control of the investigation, not following the lead of the local constabulary. After all, what was she there for, to make the coffee? ( )