I needed to figure out a way to start reading series where I am not current or the series is finished but haven’t read them yet. So it’s a way to commit myself to read my backlist, particularly series.
I love the books by Allison Brennan. I decided to start at the beginning and read all the early books leading up to the Lucy Kincaid series. So I look for the Kincaids and connections to them. Some books, like this trilogy, I had to read in ebook format because audio is not available.
Killing Fear by Allison Brennan Series: Prison Break Trilogy #1
Published by Ballantine on January 29, 2008
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 450
Format: eBook
Source: Library
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Fear never dies Theodore Glenn loves to inflict pain . . . both on his victims and on those who later find the mutilated corpses. At his trial seven years ago, Glenn vowed vengeance on Detective Will Hooper, the cop who nabbed him, and beautiful Robin McKenna, the stripper whose testimony put him behind bars. When a catastrophic disaster sets Glenn free, he blazes a freshly bloodied path across San Diego County. But the death he craves most is Robin McKenna’s. Putting aside their past troubled relationship, Will rushes to protect Robin, now a savvy businesswoman operating an upscale club. As the killings mount and Glenn proves a master manipulator, Robin and Will become snared in a twisted web of horror. But the shocking truth is even The evil they are to face is even deadlier than they fear.
Killing Fear has mentions of Carina, Dillon and Patrick Kincaid. The main characters though are Carina’s partner Will and a woman named Robin.
A serial killer escapes and he definitely wants to kill Will and Robin. He’s stone cold and unfortunately smart and has money. Will and an FBI provided assist, Vigo, work the leads as the bodies pile up. I really wanted to keep reading. It was frustrating to see them have to react to the continuing problems and worrisome about the killer. I really enjoyed the solving of the case though.
Tempting Evil by Allison Brennan Series: Prison Break Trilogy #2
Published by Ballantine on May 20, 2008
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 434
Format: eBook
Source: Library
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Joanna Sutton can cope with the fierce winter storm bearing down on the small rural community of Centennial Valley, Montana; the popular romance writer has survived much worse in life. Haunted by the loss of her husband and child, Jo has found refuge at her family’s secluded lodge, but her haven soon becomes a hell. During the ferocious blizzard, a local Boy Scout troop is stranded in the wilderness, compelling Jo to spearhead a desperate rescue mission, aided by a newly arrived stranger with an unknown agenda.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Tyler McBride hears that three escaped convicts are fast approaching Big Sky Country. Hoping to warn Jo, he faxes over the men’s mug shots. But they never reach their intended recipient. Then Tyler makes a shocking discovery: Two people are dead, and a killer is among the group, along with the woman Tyler loves, searching for his lost son.
More than one innocent life is at stake. For the sake of those Jo cares about most, and for her own survival, she’ll need all the cunning, courage, and passion she can muster to survive the mounting terror.
Tempting Evil features some more escaped convicts from the prison break in Killing Fear. I couldn’t really get a Kincaid connection unless the new sheriff in Montana, Tyler McBride, took over for Carina’s beau, Nick?
Also from the first book, an FBI agent Vigo joins the man hunt for the killers. One of them, Aaron, builds up a fantasy that a woman loves him and when she disappoints him, he kills her. Now he has a fantasy about Jo Sutton who is a romance writer. Her husband and son were murdered four years ago and she is struggling to let go of them enough to embrace her new relationship with the sheriff, also a widower with a son. Jo and her family run a lodge in Montana. Initially, she is more worried about a bad storm, than escaped convicts.
A Boy Scout troop is out camping and now has injuries. The troop is lead by Tyler’s brother and includes his son. Jo prepares to go for them once the storm dies down. Tyler is on his way to the lodge to help. Unfortunately, the convicts are in their midst and starting a new killing spree. Jo and Tyler have to use their best skills to save and protect everyone, including themselves.
I liked Jo and Tyler. It will be interesting to see if they figure into future series with the Kincaids. Fast paced action drove this romantic suspense story.
Playing Dead by Allison Brennan Series: Prison Break Trilogy #3
Published by Ballantine on September 23, 2008
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 482
Format: eBook
Source: Library
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Sentenced to death for crimes he didn’t commit, ex-cop Tom O’Brien is now a hunted fugitive. After fifteen years in prison, he’s determined to prove his innocence–but first he must convince his daughter, whose testimony helped put him behind bars, that he has damning evidence of a plot to frame him.
Claire is no longer the naïve teenager who arrived home to find her mother and her mother’s lover shot dead and her father holding the murder weapon. She’s a successful fraud investigator who assumes everyone lies. Though Claire is convinced of her father’s guilt, curiosity propels her to look into the disappearance of a law student who claimed to have proof of Tom’s innocence. But seeking answers only leads to more questions, reinforcing Claire’s belief that there’s no one left to trust.
Obsessed with the O’Brien case, FBI agent Mitch Bianchi befriends Claire under false pretenses, certain that Tom is not only innocent but in grave danger–and not just from the cops. As the three race toward the truth, a murderous conspiracy tightens its noose–and Claire becomes the target of an ice-cold psychopath who will kill to protect his secrets.
I enjoyed Playing Dead more than I expected. The last of the prison break escapees, Tom O’Brien, is still out there. The FBI team is still looking and we know Mitch and Hans from the previous book. Mitch is watching his daughter, Claire to see if he contacts her. Tom saved Mitch’s life and helped catch the other escapees. Tom was a cop until he was convicted of murdering his wife.
Claire has always believed her father killed her mother. She ends up with another cop, Bill whose son Dave, also ends up a cop. Bill keep in touch with her dad, but Tom doesn’t want him to bring Claire to the prison. Claire hears from a law student who believes he has evidence her dad is innocent but she doesn’t take him too seriously.
Claire and Mitch start falling for each other. Mitch misleads her about his job which is stupid, but they really are good together. Tom comes to see Claire about the law student and she starts to wonder about some things she didn’t realize during the case when she was 14. Claire starts investigating and the law student turns up dead.
Mitch and his partner are on the law student murder also. Claire refuses to stop investigating but more people with connections and information are dying. The investigation is exciting, fast-paced and dangerous. I thought the killer was someone different than it was. It was a very fun read.
About Allison Brennan
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year. Allison recently relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her husband and two youngest children.
Allison has penned more than three dozen thrillers and many short stories. COLD SNAP was a finalist for Best Thriller in the Thriller Awards (ITW) and FEAR NO EVIL (2007) and COMPULSION (2015) won the Daphne du Maurier award. Allison has been nominated multiple times for RWA’s Best Romantic Suspense award, and the Kiss of Death’s Daphne award. She currently writes the Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan thriller series, and is launching the Mobile Response Team series in February 2020.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
Yay! So glad to see you starting this journey. I loved it. Great reviews and I can’t remember if I ever gave you the link to the reading order of all things related to Lucy Kincaid. I’ll send you a link via Goodreads private message if I didn’t. We put a lot of work into getting it right, especially when spinoff series crisscrossed.
Thank you. Yes I have the reading order link. It does feel good to keep working on these. In August I am reading another trilogy for #SIAM.
Fun that you’re going back to the beginning. There is something extra when getting it all in order, I think.
yes I’m working forward in order. These older ones may include the Kincaid family all leading up to the Lucy Kinkaid series. This trilogy had almost no Kincaids though.
I read the first one a while back. I need to read the next two! As you know, I love Allison Brennan’s mysteries, too!
yes. I love them. This trilogy was hard because there aren’t audio books and very little of the Kincaids.
Nice! Love a good mystery and these sound interesting
Allison Brennan wrote a series of trilogies with intros to the Kincaid family. They all lead up to a long and successful Lucy Kincaid series. This trilogy though had very little Kincaid connection.