Recommend Me - Tell Me No Lies by Elizabeth Lowell

Recommend Me is a meme that Kate at The Neverending Shelf is hosting. Each Friday, participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that your read yesterday or years ago.

To play along, grab a favorite read and tell us about it. You can include your thoughts about the novel, its summary, your favorite memory related to the novel... the possibilities are limitless. If you are up for a challenge, you can also include:

• Your review of the novel
• Links to others' reviews of the novel
• Recommending to a general group of readers or if you want to be extra daring, to specific reader friends

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This week I am recommending one of my all-time favorite romance novels. I have two paperback editions of this book and just bought a copy of the hardcover edition. I have a serious fear of ever being without this book.

Tell Me No Lies
Author: Elizabeth Lowell
Publication: November 1st 1986 by Worldwide Library (first published 1983)

PUPPETS ON A STRING

China's most priceless artifacts are being smuggled into the U.S. An international crisis is about to explode -- unless a desperate trap to catch a thief succeeds. And one woman is the key . . .

Lindsay Danner. Her worldwide reputation as an expert in ancient bronzes and her love for China make her the perfect pawn in a deadly game. But she needs protection.

Jacob MacArthur Catlin. The Dragon. A renegade ex-CIA agent whose name is still whispered in tones of hatred and admiration throughout Southeast Asia. Now it is his job to make sure Lindsay Danner succeeds . . . and lives.

Two puppets on a string. In a maze of intrigue where each deadly twist and turn leads deeper into deception and forbidden desire, friends can be enemies. Truth may be lies. Trust is a dirty word. And the only chance of getting out alive is to cut the strings . . . and grasp the only truth that remains . . .


Why I think everyone should read this book: I do not really know why this book resonated so with me but I read it first in 1983 and haven't ever been able to forget it. I have read it again many times over the years.

The characters - Lindsay and Jacob -- were so real for me. I love Lindsay's sense of honesty and courage and her love for the Chinese culture. I love Jacob's toughness and determination to live by his own code of honor. I loved learning about Chinese art and culture and history. The romance was sizzling hot. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat.

Lowell's style and voice made me feel as though I were right in the story with the characters.

You can only find used copies now but Amazon had some available for $4.00 ($.01 and $3.99 shipping) on Feb. 5. PaperBackSwap has 89 copies available too. I think it would be well worth your search to find this excellent book.

Recommended for lovers of romantic suspense.