Kill and Tell

Karen Whitlaw receives a package from her recently deceased father - a Vietnam veteran who abandoned his family years ago. Inside are his personal effects from the war, including a diary that could expose dangerous secrets from the past. Detective Marc Chastain investigates a murder in New Orleans that connects to Karen's father and his time in Vietnam. As more bodies surface, Marc must protect Karen while untangling a web of military conspiracies and long-buried truths that powerful people want to keep hidden. The chemistry between Karen and Marc intensifies as they work together to solve the mystery, forcing them to confront their own vulnerabilities while staying ahead of ruthless killers who will stop at nothing to retrieve the diary. This romantic suspense novel explores themes of family secrets, military trauma, and how the shadows of war can reach across decades to impact the present. The story examines the cost of truth and the price of silence in both personal relationships and matters of national security.

Readers describe this romantic suspense novel as a fast-paced mix of romance and mystery, with strong chemistry between the main characters. What readers liked: - The build-up of tension between Karen and Marc - Well-researched details about New Orleans setting - Balance of suspense and romance elements - Unpredictable plot twists - Authentic police procedure details What readers disliked: - Some found the middle section slow - Romance develops too quickly for some readers - Several note the dated feel (published 1998) - A few found the villain predictable - Some wanted more resolution to family subplot Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (14,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (450+ ratings) BookBub: 4.3/5 (2,100+ ratings) Reader quote: "The chemistry between Marc and Karen sizzles from their first meeting, but the mystery kept me guessing until the end." - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 Linda Howard wrote Kill and Tell during a time when romantic suspense was experiencing a surge in popularity in the 1990s, helping establish this genre as a mainstream category. 🔹 The book is the first in a trilogy centered around different members of the CIA, though each book can be read as a standalone novel. 🔹 The story incorporates authentic details about New Orleans cuisine and culture, as the author conducted extensive research about the city's unique culinary heritage. 🔹 The protagonist Karen Whitlaw's profession as a nurse reflects Linda Howard's personal experience - she worked as a transportation office manager at a trucking company and often wrote about characters in practical, real-world professions. 🔹 The novel's exploration of PTSD in Vietnam veterans was groundbreaking for its time in romantic fiction, addressing serious social issues within the framework of a romantic thriller.