📖 Overview
Linda Howard is a bestselling American author who has been writing romance and romantic suspense novels since 1982. Writing under this pseudonym, Linda S. Howington has published numerous successful novels that blend romance with elements of suspense and thriller genres.
Howard began writing at age nine and spent two decades writing for personal enjoyment before pursuing publication. Her first novel was published by Silhouette Books in 1982, launching a prolific career that has spanned over four decades.
A charter member of Romance Writers of America since 1981, Howard served as Region 3 Director and has become known for crafting emotionally intense romantic suspense stories. Her work frequently features strong character development and intricate plots that balance romance with danger and mystery.
Based in Alabama, Howard continues to write while traveling with her husband, a professional bass tournament fisherman. She lives on a cattle farm where she balances her writing career with rural life.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently point to Howard's skill at blending romance with suspense elements. Many highlight the chemistry between her protagonists and the balance of action with emotional development.
What readers liked:
- Strong character development, especially alpha male leads
- Fast-paced plotting that maintains tension
- Steamy romance scenes that advance the relationships
- Authentic dialogue and interactions
- Humor mixed with serious themes
What readers disliked:
- Some older titles contain dated attitudes and consent issues
- Occasional weak endings that feel rushed
- Uneven quality across her extensive bibliography
- Some find the alpha males too domineering
Ratings across platforms:
- Goodreads: Average 4.0/5 across all titles
- Amazon: 4.3/5 average rating
- Most popular titles: "Mr. Perfect" (4.2/5), "Open Season" (4.3/5), "Dream Man" (4.1/5)
One reader noted: "Howard excels at creating tension - both romantic and suspenseful - that keeps you turning pages." Another criticized: "The power dynamics between characters can be problematic by today's standards."
📚 Books by Linda Howard
To Die For follows a fitness instructor who becomes entangled in a murder investigation after her husband is found dead, forcing her to work with a skeptical detective while dodging attempts on her own life.
Mr. Perfect centers on four female friends who create a list of qualities for the perfect man, only to find themselves targeted by a killer when their joke goes viral.
Open Season tells the story of a small-town librarian who decides to transform her life, but her makeover leads to unexpected danger when she uncovers criminal activity.
Kill and Tell follows a nurse who inherits a mysterious package from her father, drawing her into a deadly conspiracy and forcing her to trust a New Orleans detective.
Dream Man features a psychic who sees murders through the killer's eyes and must work with a detective who doubts her abilities to stop the next crime.
After the Night chronicles the return of a woman to her hometown, where she confronts her family's painful past and the man who once betrayed her.
Death Angel follows a mob assassin and the woman who betrays him, setting off a chain of events that leads to redemption and revenge.
Cry No More tells the story of a mother's decade-long search for her kidnapped infant son, leading her into the dangerous world of human trafficking.
Son of the Morning combines time travel and suspense as a scholar discovers ancient documents that connect her to a medieval Highland warrior.
All the Queen's Men focuses on a CIA operative and an electronics expert who must work together to infiltrate an arms dealer's organization.
Mr. Perfect centers on four female friends who create a list of qualities for the perfect man, only to find themselves targeted by a killer when their joke goes viral.
Open Season tells the story of a small-town librarian who decides to transform her life, but her makeover leads to unexpected danger when she uncovers criminal activity.
Kill and Tell follows a nurse who inherits a mysterious package from her father, drawing her into a deadly conspiracy and forcing her to trust a New Orleans detective.
Dream Man features a psychic who sees murders through the killer's eyes and must work with a detective who doubts her abilities to stop the next crime.
After the Night chronicles the return of a woman to her hometown, where she confronts her family's painful past and the man who once betrayed her.
Death Angel follows a mob assassin and the woman who betrays him, setting off a chain of events that leads to redemption and revenge.
Cry No More tells the story of a mother's decade-long search for her kidnapped infant son, leading her into the dangerous world of human trafficking.
Son of the Morning combines time travel and suspense as a scholar discovers ancient documents that connect her to a medieval Highland warrior.
All the Queen's Men focuses on a CIA operative and an electronics expert who must work together to infiltrate an arms dealer's organization.
👥 Similar authors
Nora Roberts writes romantic suspense with similar elements of danger and complex relationships. Her extensive bibliography includes both standalone thrillers and interconnected series that combine romance with murder mysteries and supernatural elements.
Sandra Brown creates romantic suspense novels with strong plot twists and high-stakes situations. Her writing style features similar elements to Howard's work, with dangerous situations bringing couples together while they solve crimes or escape threats.
Karen Robards focuses on romantic suspense featuring law enforcement and criminal investigations. Her books contain comparable levels of tension between romance and danger, often incorporating murder mysteries and professional investigators as main characters.
Elizabeth Lowell writes contemporary romantic suspense with detailed research and complex plots. Her work shares Howard's emphasis on character development and the integration of professional backgrounds into the storylines, particularly in areas like art theft, gem trading, and law enforcement.
Jayne Ann Krentz combines romance with suspense in contemporary settings, similar to Howard's approach. She develops intricate mysteries while building relationships between her characters, often incorporating elements of family dynamics and small-town connections.
Sandra Brown creates romantic suspense novels with strong plot twists and high-stakes situations. Her writing style features similar elements to Howard's work, with dangerous situations bringing couples together while they solve crimes or escape threats.
Karen Robards focuses on romantic suspense featuring law enforcement and criminal investigations. Her books contain comparable levels of tension between romance and danger, often incorporating murder mysteries and professional investigators as main characters.
Elizabeth Lowell writes contemporary romantic suspense with detailed research and complex plots. Her work shares Howard's emphasis on character development and the integration of professional backgrounds into the storylines, particularly in areas like art theft, gem trading, and law enforcement.
Jayne Ann Krentz combines romance with suspense in contemporary settings, similar to Howard's approach. She develops intricate mysteries while building relationships between her characters, often incorporating elements of family dynamics and small-town connections.