When To Die For, Linda Howard’s first book featuring the smart and sassy Blair Mallory, was published, it was like a breath of fresh air. From the first-person narration to Blair’s sexy yet serious counterpart, detective Wyatt Bloodsworth, it was a fun and original romp that I was sad to see end. Thankfully, Howard brings back more of Blair’s insights and playful (and occasionally manipulative) ways in Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Now engaged, Blair’s witticisms are still snappy and her logic can (mostly) be understood by those with two X chromosomes. The biggest threat to her happiness? A deadline of 30 days to get her wedding planned, or Wyatt will get them hitched his way (the courthouse, Vegas, or an unknown worse fate).
Blair has her hands full with her family and arguing with Wyatt, but her plans are suddenly interrupted when she’s nearly run over in the parking lot of her gym. Is it an accident or something far more deadly? As in the first book, the threats to Blair’s well-being and the reasons behind them are not as interesting as how Blair reacts. What is fun is seeing how Blair deals with everything, as she’s not afraid to wield weapons and put her skills as a former cheerleader to work.
One’s enjoyment of this book is very much dependent on whether or not one likes Blair. I liked all the time spent inside Blair’s head, but I did start to get impatient as the plot really doesn’t get rolling until the second half when the threats become too serious to overlook and Blair and Wyatt face bigger issues with their relationship. It’s this combination of heightened suspense and personal conflict that brings the novel to a meatier, more enjoyable level, comparable to its predecessor.
Still, though, the mystery was never the strength of the first novel, and the sequel follows suit. The identity of the villain is not the most compelling, or satisfying, part of the book, and it’s more than a little hard to believe that Blair would become a target for the second time in a row. But these situations do provide a lot of over-the-top entertainment from Blair, as Howard really lets her loose in this one. How else would you get references to Davy Crockett, Nancy Pelosi, and Britney Spears?
The book’s weakest subplot consists of Blair’s attempts to reunite a married couple who have squabbled and split. While her stream-of-consciousness thoughts are hilarious, they are occasionally overwhelming, and I think it would be difficult to understand her many references to the previous attempt on her life without having actually read the first book.
However, part of the fun is that this is not a traditional romance novel. Linda Howard seems to be playing with the TSTL heroine and the alpha male hero stereotypes so frequently used in romance novels. Blair may occasionally appear to act clueless, but unlike the real idiot heroines, she always does so deliberately and with an ulterior motive. Wyatt, on the other hand, is so overflowing with masculinity and testosterone that he could have stepped straight out from the pages of a Western or a Medieval. He’s previously seemed almost too good to be true, but in this one Howard shows that he is capable of doing some incredibly stupid things. It’s impossible to get insight into his mind due to the format of the book, but at the very least, I thought a bit of conflict between him and Blair did the book a world of good. It made them both a bit more human.
While Drop Dead Gorgeous, doesn’t equal the first in terms of originality, it is still fun, refreshing, and delightful. Blair hasn’t worn out her welcome with me.
Sensuality: Warm
Publication Date: 2006
Recent Comments …
Yes, sorry, I meant e-books – I don’t read anything else these days. My library is county-wide, too, but I…
You’re welcome. If you want to know more, I can add some information to the spoiler, just let me know.
Thanks for sharing that insight, Caz. I haven’t read *spoiler* but it’s helpful to read your thoughts as I assess…
Is that true for ebooks as well? Because my library (bless it!) is part of a county-wide system for ebooks,…
I loved their interchanges. It is a lovely romance. I so wish there would be a second season!
I’m glad you liked it! One of my favorite exchanges: Jack (to Belle): Would you like to perform a dangerous…