RS Review: Silenced [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Silenced" the 4th book in her Lucy Kincaid series by Allison Brennan.

Product Description

Lucy Kincaid is back -- with a vengeance.

A Washington Sex Scandal

It has been seven years since Lucy was attacked -- and almost killed -- by an online predator. Today, she is well on her way toward a new life. While waiting to begin her training at the FBI Academy, Lucy's is tireless in her fight against cyber sex crime. Her current mission: to find out who killed a high-priced call girl linked to a powerful Congressman.

A Cold-Blooded Killer

A number of known prostitutes -- with scores of high profile clients -- are turning up dead all over D.C. Is this the work of a depraved killer? Or the result of an inside job? Lucy's investigation will take her into an underground network of prostitutes, the chambers of the country's most powerful players, and her own dark past to confront an unknown enemy who's always one step ahead of her. With the help of her P.I. boyfriend Sean Rogan, Lucy must find and protect the only witness who can identify the killer and end the conspiracy, but can the witness be trusted? Lucy will risk everything to expose the truth and ensure justice is served, even if that means putting herself in the line of fire ...

About Author

Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romantic suspense and thrillers. She's a five-time RITA award nominee for Best Romantic Suspense, and the Daphne du Maurier winner for Best Suspense for FEAR NO EVIL. A former consultant in the California State Legislature, Allison lives in northern California with her husband and five kids. She's currently writing, reading ... or attending her kids sporting events.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; Original edition (April 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250005957
ISBN-13: 978-1250005953

My Review:

Storyline:  It has been seven years since Lucy Kincaid met an online predator who seemed nice.  When they finally met he turned out to be a sadistic psychopath who enjoyed raping and killing women live for money (see Fear No Evil).  He savagely attacked her but she lived and killed him.  Since they attack she is determined to become an FBI agent and never letting that happen to another women.  She has been accepted to the FBI Academy.

While she is waiting Noah Armstrong her mentor asks her to help him investigate the murder of a high-priced call girl Wendy James linked to Congressman Crowley.  Noah's boss Supervisory Special Agent Matt Slater is angered when Lucy voices her findings about the murder scene and he doesn't want an untrained FBI wannable in the field.  She is reassigned to another case the murders of several call girls and a social worker and she figures out they are linked to the Wendy James murder.  With the help of her private investigator boyfriend Sean Rogan Lucy must figure out the connection between Ivy before the killers murder the both of them.

Characters:  This book is a thrilling action packed mystery which is non stop from beginning to end.  Lucy has grown a lot since her attack by sharpening her strong instincts but lacks confidence in her abilities and skills.

I really loved how Lucy was more vocal about her opinions in this book and didn't let anyone bring her down.  She was spot on about her findings and how each case were linked together.  Really enjoyed her rapport with Ivy and how she could relate to her.

Romance:  I also love how her relationship with Sean is moving ahead to the next step and how they support each other.  I love how Sean is very protective and jealous of Noah (we get his POV) - I'm waiting for them to have a knock out match!

Villain(s):  The villain(s) were very sadistic in their kills and had no remorse (it was all a game to them and they had no emotion).  It didn't matter who they killed as long as it showed Ivy that they can find you anywhere and what would happen to her once they found her.

4/5

Other books in series:

0.  Fear No Evil
1.  Love Me to Death
2.  Kiss Me Kill Me
3.  If I Should Die
4.  Stalked - Oct 30, 2012
5.  Stolen  - 2013

Thanks St. Martin's Press for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

RS Review: If I Should Die (with bonus novella Love Is Murder): A Novel of Suspense [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "If I Should Die" the 3rd book in her Lucy Kincaid series by Allison Brennan.

Product Description

If I Should Die includes Allison Brennan’s chilling novella Love Is Murder, formerly available exclusively as an eBook!

A TRIP TO THE DARK SIDE

Aspiring FBI agent Lucy Kincaid and her P.I. boyfriend, Sean Rogan, are heading to the Adirondack Mountains for a pleasant romantic getaway when they detour to help troubled friends, owners of a new resort who are battling malicious vandals. After Lucy and Sean pursue an arsonist into an abandoned mine shaft, Lucy stumbles upon an even more heinous crime — and the perfectly preserved remains of its victim.

The only thing more disturbing than the discovery of the corpse is its sudden disappearance. While the local police remain skeptical, Lucy is dead certain that there’s a connection between the sabotage at the resort and the murder — one that the less-than-neighborly citizens of Spruce Lake seem to have a stake in keeping hidden. Then, when a cold-blooded sniper targets Sean and Lucy, FBI agent Noah Armstrong enters the fray to ensure that more bodies don’t hit the ground. Now three outsiders race to untangle a violent conspiracy before they end up like the rest of Spruce Lake’s secrets: dead and buried.

About the Author

Allison Brennan is the New York Times bestselling author of many romantic thrillers, including Kiss Me, Kill Me; Love Me to Death; Sudden Death and Killing Fear. A five-time RITA finalist and Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Brennan enjoys spending her free time reading, playing games, watching high school sports, and researching her novels. A member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers, Allison Brennan lives in Northern California with her husband, Dan, and their five children.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; Original edition (November 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345520416
ISBN-13: 978-0345520418

My Review:

FBI agent Lucy Kincaid and her boyfriend P.I. boyfriend Sean Rogan go on a pretend romantic vacation at the Adirondacks.  Sean promised his friend that he would investigate to find out who is sabotaging his property. One day after enjoying a hot and steamy night and a delicious breakfast they smell smoke.  When they go to investigate they find the nearby Spuce Lake Inn on fire with the arsonist fleeing on an ATV.  Sean goes in pursuit and falls into an abandoned mine shaft.

Lucy manages rescue Sean but also finds a dead young women's corpse in the shaft.  The sherriff's deputy scoffs at her when the body disappears.  As Lucy and Sean investigate further they uncover secrets the small town of Spuce Lake don't want getting out.

We also see through the eyes of the psychotic killer who happens to be a women this time (man she is really messed up) and the whole town is involved.    There were alot of twists and turns which would pinpoint to a certain person - but are they really the killer?  There are some people who want revenge and would do anything to achieve their goals.

We see Lucy overcome her fears and anxieties and finally admit that she loves Sean.  She has always felt lonely until Sean came into her life but she's afraid to love again after what happened in her past.

Noah Lucy's boss is called in and he plays a bigger role in this book.  I love his interactions with Lucy and Sean.   I loved the way Sean had to deal with Noah being an important part of Lucy's life and working with him.

4/5

Other books in series:

1.  Love Me to Death
2.  Kiss Me, Kill Me
3.  Silenced - Apr 24, 2012