Skip to main content

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown – A thrilling ride or a formulaic repeat?

A suspense-filled thriller that intertwines obsession, regret, and second chances, Tough Customer follows Dodge Hanley, a private investigator forced to reckon with his past when his estranged daughter is targeted by a dangerous stalker. Sandra Brown delivers high stakes and emotional depth, but does this novel truly stand out, or does it tread familiar ground?


Is Tough Customer Sandra Brown at her best—or is it just another thriller?

Some books grab you by the throat from page one. Others take their time, weaving suspense through slow-burning tension. Tough Customer tries to do both. It is part crime thriller, part emotional reckoning, with Sandra Brown’s signature mix of romance and danger. But does it deliver a truly unforgettable read, or does it feel like a rehash of her past bestsellers?

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown – A thrilling ride or a formulaic repeat?

Imagine getting a call from someone you haven’t seen in three decades. Now, imagine that call is from an old lover who needs you to save the daughter you’ve never met—from a psychotic stalker. That is the crisis facing Dodge Hanley, a grizzled private investigator, in Sandra Brown’s Tough Customer.

Also read: The Girl on Fire by Devashish Sardana: Does the crime thriller live up to the hype?

Published by Simon & Schuster in 2010, this 486-page thriller blends murder, obsession, and long-lost love into a fast-paced, emotionally charged narrative. Brown is no stranger to crafting bestsellers, and here she delivers a high-octane blend of suspense and human drama. But does the novel live up to its premise? Let us break it down.


Who are the key characters, and do they work?

A thriller is only as strong as its characters, and Tough Customer presents an interesting—if somewhat familiar—cast.

Dodge Hanley: The classic Anti-Hero

  • A hard-boiled detective with a lifetime of regrets.He’s cynical, self-destructive, and carries enough regret to fill the Grand Canyon. 

  • But underneath the rough exterior, he’s a man haunted by the choices he’s made.

  • He’s seen too much, done worse, and isn’t big on apologies.

  • His sarcasm is sharp, but his inner turmoil is sharper.

  • Is he likable? That depends on your tolerance for grumpy, chain-smoking men with commitment issues.

Caroline King: Strong-willed but underutilized

  • She left Dodge years ago, choosing stability over chaos.

  • Now a successful real estate mogul, she’s capable but overshadowed by Dodge’s larger-than-life presence.

  • Does she get enough depth? Not really. While she is the reason Dodge is in this mess, her role in the present timeline feels secondary.

Berry Malone: The self obsessed damsel who tries not to be one

  • Smart, independent, but constantly in danger.

  •  Oren Starks, an unstable former colleague, has developed a terrifying obsession with her, and his violent outbursts make it clear that he’s willing to kill for her attention.

  • Her relationship with her stalker, Oren, is tense, but her romantic subplot with Sheriff Ski Nyland feels underdeveloped.

  • Does she break the mold? Not exactly. She’s a standard capable but vulnerable female lead.

Oren Starks: The unhinged Stalker who is more creepy than clever

  • A former coworker with a disturbing obsession.

  • Oren isn’t just any stalker—he’s delusional, intelligent, and methodical, which makes him all the more dangerous.

  • Sandra Brown excels at writing menacing villains, but Oren isn’t as complex as he could be.

  • Is he terrifying? Yes. Memorable? Less so.

Ski Nyland: The lawman who needed more page time

  • The ex-army lawman with a soft spot is a solid, duty-bound sheriff.

  • His chemistry with Berry lacks spark, making their romance feel obligatory rather than organic.Well, romance isn’t easy when bullets are flying.


Does the thriller element hold up?

Sandra Brown is a master at pacing, and Tough Customer has its share of white-knuckle moments. However:

The tension is effective. Oren’s unpredictability keeps things gripping.
The mystery unfolds at a steady pace. There’s always a reason to turn the next page.
Some plot points are predictable. If you’ve read a few thrillers, you’ll likely see some twists coming.
The ending feels rushed. After 400+ pages of buildup, the climax wraps up too quickly.


What is the best quote from the book?

“Gazing into her calm, sherry-colored eyes, he felt little cracks forming in his mean ol' heart.”

It’s a moment that encapsulates Dodge—tough on the outside, fractured on the inside.


Where does Tough Customer struggle?

📉 Dodge Hanley is polarizing. Some will love his no-nonsense attitude, others will find him exhausting.Especially in the flashback scenes.
📉 The romance feels like an afterthought. Unlike Brown’s other books where romance and suspense are equally gripping, here, the love stories feel secondary.
📉 The villain isn’t groundbreaking. Oren Starks is terrifying, but not particularly unique in the genre.


FAQs about Tough Customer

1. Is Tough Customer a standalone novel or part of a series?

It’s a loose follow-up to Smash Cut, where Dodge Hanley also appears, but it can be read as a standalone thriller.

2. How does Tough Customer compare to Sandra Brown’s best books?

It’s not as strong as Chill Factor or Envy in terms of plot originality and emotional depth, but it is still a solid read.

3. Is there a strong romance element in this book?

Not really. The romantic elements feel underdeveloped compared to Brown’s other works. The book leans more into family drama and crime investigation.

4. Is the ending satisfying?

Yes and no. The final confrontation is intense, but the resolution feels a bit rushed.

5. Should I read Tough Customer if I’m new to Sandra Brown?

You could, but I’d recommend starting with her more gripping novels like Chill Factor or Smoke Screen first.


Is Tough Customer worth your time?

3.8/5 – A solid thriller, but not Brown’s best.

Good for readers who love a mix of romance and crime.
Dodge Hanley is an interesting anti-hero.
The romance feels underdeveloped.
The ending doesn’t quite deliver on the buildup.

Is it a bad book? No. Is it one of Sandra Brown’s best? Not quite.


Let us discuss!

📚 What’s your favorite Sandra Brown book? Drop a comment!
🔥 Reading a thriller right now? Tell us about it!

📍 For the full review and more book insights, visit: www.TusharMangl.com

✍️ Tushar Mangl writes on books, investments, business, mental health, food, Vastu, leisure, and a greener, better society. Speaker, author of Ardika and I Will Do It.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Summary Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In...

Does India need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed was cr...

Some Information Related to Guest Blogging

Many of us don't know about guest blogging. So, what is guest blogging?   When one blogger posts his content to another blogger's site it is termed as guest post/guest blog. This method can be used to increase traffic on our sites. Mainly new bloggers use this technique of blogging so that their blogs get promoted and they can build-up the relationship with the audience and this technique also helps them increase the traffic on their site.  If you have started a new blog, your blog might have trouble in reaching up with a wide range of audience, even if you have strong content to post. So, you can publish that content to someone else’s blog whose blog is already reputed so that people can read out your content and if they like your post than bingo!!! You grab audience attention and this lead to increase the number of audiences on your site. But make sure that the concept is simple, and you are writing the content according to the blogger’s requirement. The...