Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1)

Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1)
Always Time to Die - St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1
Author: Elizabeth Lowell
ISBN-13: 9780060504199
ISBN-10: 0060504196
Publication Date: 6/1/2006
Pages: 480
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 180

3.8 stars, based on 180 ratings
Publisher: Avon
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

46 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

writrchick1985 avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This is the first book I've read by this author. The imagery is vivid, especially in the opening murder scene. The characters are likeable--even the bad guy seems human and fallible but not really all that bad until the end. Also, I have to say, as an avid reader and a writer myself, I did not expect the big reveal in the epilogue which is unusual for me. It's a pretty good twist.
However, throughout the story the bad guy is kind of obvioustheres no real mystery, unless you count his motive. The last chapter just kind of ends abruptly and leaves you a little off kilter before it launches you into the epilogue, which takes place two months after the rest of the story. One minute the hero and heroine are sitting around talking about DNA testing and then all of a sudden the book jumps two months forward in time as if the author was suddenly sick of writing and decided to end the book. That was a little annoying, especially when you're expecting some sort of stand-off.
For the most part it was a good enough read that if I happen upon another of Lowell's books, I'll probably pick it up.
familiagarduno avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 164 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Not quite the novel I expected after reading the Donovan series and Rarities Unlimited - those novels seemed to be an even mix of romance, suspense and drama. Although this was a good, hedging on great, suspense novel there wasn't the romance aspect I expected from Lowell. However, I do have to compliment her for building in the romance and not being clumsy about it - it flowed appropriately with the novel. I guess if you'd read the Donovan series, this would disappoint a little. If you read this first, the Donovan's would knock you out of your seat. A great suspense read, but not an enthralling romance/suspense drama.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 99 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I love Elizabeth Lowell, but I could NOT get into this book.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This book was a shocker. I have read so many books where I knew what the end-game was immediately...this is not one of them. The book was written very well, and I stayed up until the wee hours to finish it..and I still can't stop thinking about the plot. Really enjoyed this one.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 34 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Fast-paced romantic suspens novel. This was one of my favorite Lowell books. You'll see reoccurring characters from other books, but it is not necessary to have read something else before this. It stands nicely on its own.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 579 more book reviews
the powerful cantrell family has spent decades in the public eye. now the recent death of the clane patriarch , a former u.s. senator has placed his son in the lime light of murder
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 16 more book reviews
former US Senator Quintrell is dead. His son, New Mexico`s governor, is prepariing his run for the highest political office in the land.
And dark family secrets are about to explode with the devastating force of a Southwestern earthquake.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 31 more book reviews
Lowell is one of the best!!!!! Great Plot
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 373 more book reviews
Former U.S. Senator Quntrell is dead. His son, New Mexico's governor, is preparing his run for the highest political office in the land. And dark family secrets are about to explode with the devastating force of a Southwestern earthquake.

An eccentric Quintrell aunt has invited genealogist Carolina "Carly" May to their Taos compoung to compile a record of the illustrious family. But digging into the past is raising troubling questions about a would-be president's private life...and the grisly street crime that left his drug-addicted sister dead. As a dark world of twisted passions and depravity slowly opens up before Carly, there is no one whom she dares trust - perhaps least of all Dan Duran, a dangerous, haunted enigma who's tied to the Quintrells' history. But she will need an ally to survive the terrible mysteries a father carried to the grave - because following the bloodlines of the powerful can be a bloody business. And some dead secrets can kill.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 22 more book reviews
A Mystery of family betrayal in New Mexico. Elizabeth Lowell is a top mystery writer Once you read one of her books you'll want to read them all
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Typical Lowell reading. Will keep you interested.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 26 more book reviews
A good mystery about geneology searches.
xtyannS avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 26 more book reviews
Fairly good, not one of her better ones. A lot of I didn't understand why she left things the way she did.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 26 more book reviews
I could not put this book down, edge of your seat suspense. Attention Genealogists: This book is right up your alley, combines genealogy with great suspense mystery. Don't miss this Lowell book, I think it is her best to date.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 14 more book reviews
An eccentric Quintrell aunt has invited genealogist Carolina May to their Taos compound to compile a record of the illustrious family.But digging into the past is raising troubling questions about a would-be president's private life.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
I always enjoy a good mystery. This book also includes genealogy, which is another interest of mine. Very entertaining.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on
Lowell rarely disappoints. Well researched, good plot twists, pretty good surprise at the end. Admittedly not my absolute favorite Lowell, but a good read.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 475 more book reviews
An eccentric Quintrell aunt has invited genealogist Carolina "Carly" May to their Taos compound to compile a record of the illutrious family. But digging nto the past is raising troubling questions about a would-be president's private life...and the grisly street crime that left his drug-addicted sister dead. As a dark world of twisted passions and depravity slowly opens up before Carly, there is no one whom she dares trust - perhaps least of all Dan Duran, a dangerous, haunted enigma who's tied to the Quintrells' history. But she will need an ally to survive the terrible mysteries a father carried to his grave - because folowing the bloodlines of the powerful can be a bloody business. And some dead secrets can kill.

I enjoyed this book although I thought it was a bit slow in some areas but overall a good read!
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
I think this is not one of Elizabeth Lowell's better books but it was still a good read. I enjoyed her other books more than this one.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
An eccentric Quintrell aunts has invited genealogist Carolina "Carly" May to their Taos compound to compile a record of the illustrious family. But digging into the past is raising troubling questions about a would-be president's private life...and the grisly street crime that left his drug addicted sister dead. As a dark world of twisted passions and depravity slowly opens up before Carly, there is no one whom she dares trust- perhaps least of all Dan Duran, a dangerous,haunted enigma who's tied to the quintrell's history. But she will need an ally to survive the terrible mysteries a father carried to the grave-because following the bloodlines of the powerful can be a bloody business. And some dead secrets can kill.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 18 more book reviews
Well written suspenseful book. I didn't realize it was essentially the first of 2.
catbookmom avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 52 more book reviews
Enjoyable, interesting plot and characters. Another of Ms Lowell's well-written adventures with twists and turns and danger. Wish there was more information about the St. Kilda group. Well worth a read.
SwampCatNana avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 58 more book reviews
Former U.S. Senator Quintrell is dead.
His son, New Mexico's governor, is preparing his run for the highest political office in the land.
And dark family secrets are about to explode with the devastating force of a Southwestern earthquake.
An eccentric Quintrell aunt has invited genealogist Carolina "Carly" May to their Taos compound to compile a record of the illutrious family. But digging nto the past is raising troubling questions about a would-be president's private life...and the grisly street crime that left his drug-addicted sister dead. As a dark world of twisted passions and depravity slowly opens up before Carly, there is no one whom she dares trust - perhaps least of all Dan Duran, a dangerous, haunted enigma who's tied to the Quintrells' history. But she will need an ally to survive the terrible mysteries a father carried to his grave - because folowing the bloodlines of the powerful can be a bloody business. And some dead secrets can kill.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 13 more book reviews
Very good murder mystery.
SUMARI avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 99 more book reviews
Classic Lowell. Good Read
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 11 more book reviews
took a while to get started but the main characters are well written and it had a lot of twists and turns.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 14 more book reviews
I have yet to read a Lowell that I have been disappointed in.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 256 more book reviews
good plot;interesting characters;
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 192 more book reviews
A love her books and this one was a blockbuster.
Great story, taut mystery, characters you remember.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 34 more book reviews
Carly has been hired to research the Quintrell family geneology. What she finds puts more than the immediate family in danger.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 61 more book reviews
I have read all of Elizabeth Lowell's books, never disappointed.
This has a lot of twists, a great mystery.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
ok, but slow in places
FriscoOBX avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 601 more book reviews
Good book with great characters worth the read
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 47 more book reviews
Suspense-mystery with Romance Quite good
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 26 more book reviews
Genealogist Carly May goes to Taos to compile a record of her illustrious family. Digging up the past has raised questions about a presidential candidate's private life. With a sometime ally Dan Duran, she is discovering following the bloodlines of the powerful can be bloody business..
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
This was a very interesting, quick read. I enjoyed it!
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 70 more book reviews
A great new Elizabeth Lowell book! It grasps your attention from the beginning and doesn't let go! The characters are easy to fall in love with and hard to forget!
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Former U.S. Senator Quintrell is dead. His son, New Mexico's Governor, is preparing his run for the highest political office in the land.

And dark family secrets are about to explode with the devastating force of a southwest earthquake.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 86 more book reviews
It took a chapter or two to get into this book, but once I did, I really enjoyed it.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 85 more book reviews
Liked it so much have requested other books by Author.
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 11 more book reviews
Great book by a great author!
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 56 more book reviews
riveting
robinmy avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 2048 more book reviews
An elderly Aunt to the current Governor of New Mexico has asked Genealogist Carly May to compile a family history for her. As soon as Carly starts digging through photos and interviewing the locals about the family, a dead rat shows up on her pillow along with a threatening phone call. Someone doesn't want her uncovering the secrets of the past. But Dan Duran is in town on vacation and decides to help her out. He won't tell Carly what his connection is to the family, but he wants to uncover secrets as much as she does.

The first book in Elizabeth Lowell's St. Kilda Consulting series is an intricately plotted mystery with murder, blackmail, poisoning, secret babies and false identities. Just when I thought I had a portion of it figured out, another twist would blow all of my theories. I've read other books by this author and really wasn't impressed. I'm glad I gave her another try. I'll definitely be continuing with this series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
vmachapy avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 215 more book reviews
very enjoyable....
reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 265 more book reviews
Really good thriller...with DNA as the clue to many of the mysteries things can get pretty complicated!
daylilylover avatar reviewed Always Time to Die (St. Kilda Consulting, Bk 1) on + 768 more book reviews
Carolina May is hired to write a family history of the Quintrell family in New Mexico. Unfortunately, only the woman who hired her wants her to write the book. Too many secrets and scandals from the past.