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FBI Trilogy #1
Sudden Death
Heroic Justice
When a homeless veteran is found dead in a squalid Sacramento alley, FBI special agent Megan Elliott vows to find the murdered hero’s killer. Her investigation gets complicated fast, for the victim, a former Delta Force soldier, is just one link in a nationwide spree of torture and murder.
Straight off a job rescuing medical missionaries, soldier-for-fire Jack Kincaid returns to his home base in the Texas border town of Hidalgo only to receive the news that one of his closest colleagues–also ex-military–has been brutally murdered. Faced with an inept local police force, Jack takes matters into his own hands.
Now, as part of a national task force to stop the sadistic killings, by-the-book Megan and burn-the-book Jack form a tense alliance, sparked with conflict and temptation. But they struggle against more than passion, for a vicious pair of killers has only just begun a rampage of evil . . . and the primary target is much closer than Megan suspects.
When a homeless veteran is found dead in a squalid Sacramento alley, FBI special agent Megan Elliott vows to find the murdered hero’s killer. Her investigation gets complicated fast, for the victim, a former Delta Force soldier, is just one link in a nationwide spree of torture and murder.
Straight off a job rescuing medical missionaries, soldier-for-fire Jack Kincaid returns to his home base in the Texas border town of Hidalgo only to receive the news that one of his closest colleagues–also ex-military–has been brutally murdered. Faced with an inept local police force, Jack takes matters into his own hands.
Now, as part of a national task force to stop the sadistic killings, by-the-book Megan and burn-the-book Jack form a tense alliance, sparked with conflict and temptation. But they struggle against more than passion, for a vicious pair of killers has only just begun a rampage of evil . . . and the primary target is much closer than Megan suspects.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2009
638 people are currently reading
3211 people want to read
About the author
Allison Brennan
110 books5,309 followersNew 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.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through Goodreads or her website.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through Goodreads or her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
February 16, 2020
FBI Special Agent Megan Elliott is called in to the scene of a brutal murder by the Sacramento Police Detective John Black when he determines that it fits the pattern of three previous murders on an FBI hot sheet. Megan finds a dog tag on the victim identifying him as a veteran, an important lead that eventually takes her to Hildago, Texas, the site of the next similar murder. That victim was the best friend and teammate of Jack Kincaid, a former Army Ranger now heading a small mercenary group focused on rescue missions and foreign hostage situations. Jack joins Megan and her other team members to investigate the murders and stop what appears to be the work of a pair of serial killers.
We get the points of view of the killers early on but only see them in action with limited information as to their motives and true identities. This worked well for me as I had to rely on the investigation to provide the clues to deduce the answers. I was never ahead of the investigators despite having the additional insight, which made this an even more intriguing story. It was often frustrating, in a good way, because I couldn’t figure things out for quite some time. It’s a great example of how to provide the dual narratives without giving away the mystery.
I enjoyed this story, a lot, and am so glad I was able to listen to the story. The narrator delivered a strong performance, pacing the story perfectly, though there wasn’t much in terms of character distinction. That didn’t matter as I was never confused as to who was talking or delivering the point of view. Megan and Jack made a good team, even though their romance seemed to come out of nowhere. As with her earlier books, the romance is the weak part of the story but it didn’t detract from my engagement. I was pleased to finally learn why Jack was estranged from his family and get updates about the rest of the Kincaids and there’s a marvelous twist to cap it off. It’s an excellent start to the trilogy.
We get the points of view of the killers early on but only see them in action with limited information as to their motives and true identities. This worked well for me as I had to rely on the investigation to provide the clues to deduce the answers. I was never ahead of the investigators despite having the additional insight, which made this an even more intriguing story. It was often frustrating, in a good way, because I couldn’t figure things out for quite some time. It’s a great example of how to provide the dual narratives without giving away the mystery.
I enjoyed this story, a lot, and am so glad I was able to listen to the story. The narrator delivered a strong performance, pacing the story perfectly, though there wasn’t much in terms of character distinction. That didn’t matter as I was never confused as to who was talking or delivering the point of view. Megan and Jack made a good team, even though their romance seemed to come out of nowhere. As with her earlier books, the romance is the weak part of the story but it didn’t detract from my engagement. I was pleased to finally learn why Jack was estranged from his family and get updates about the rest of the Kincaids and there’s a marvelous twist to cap it off. It’s an excellent start to the trilogy.
March 11, 2013
This was a lot less romantic and a lot less suspense than I was wanting. Honestly, I'd say around ninety percent of this book was a crime thriller. The romantic leads don't even meet until about forty five percent into the book, which in turn leads to a very quick courtship and a fairly unbelievable Happy Ever After. I would have been good with a "Happy For Now" type of ending, but for some reason the author chose to go all the way with these two, and it really didn't work for me.
The psycho crazies that are the perpetrators of some really brutal torture for a group of ex soldiers take up a lot of face time. If you're okay with some medium descriptions of torture, I think you should at least be prepared. Nothing over the top, but it's hard to feel bad for a man who loses his mind after being tortured endlessly for months. Now, the chick who does the killing with him, she is really crazy! A certifiable sociopath who deserves a worse fate than what she got, in my opinion.
Megan, the heroine, and Jack, our hero, are really great together once they finally do meet up. Megan is a touch as nails FBI agent, but she's not an uber bitch feminist either. She's very intuitive and smart. Her biggest holdup is her unfailing sense of right and wrong, no shades of gray. Jack is an ex Special Ops soldier, now a soldier for hire, so his duties lie nearly opposite of Megan's. Yet somehow, these two come together and click in all the right places, both romantically and professionally.
If you can make it through the first half full of plot setup and killer head games, the rest was really enjoyable. Just don't be prepared for a mystery...the whodunnit is a given. And the romance is very much in the background. I also have a feeling that even though this is the first in this series, quite a few of the secondary characters have been in previous series. This is my first by this author, so I can't say that with any authority, but I got the feeling that some of these boys had been around for a bit.
The psycho crazies that are the perpetrators of some really brutal torture for a group of ex soldiers take up a lot of face time. If you're okay with some medium descriptions of torture, I think you should at least be prepared. Nothing over the top, but it's hard to feel bad for a man who loses his mind after being tortured endlessly for months. Now, the chick who does the killing with him, she is really crazy! A certifiable sociopath who deserves a worse fate than what she got, in my opinion.
Megan, the heroine, and Jack, our hero, are really great together once they finally do meet up. Megan is a touch as nails FBI agent, but she's not an uber bitch feminist either. She's very intuitive and smart. Her biggest holdup is her unfailing sense of right and wrong, no shades of gray. Jack is an ex Special Ops soldier, now a soldier for hire, so his duties lie nearly opposite of Megan's. Yet somehow, these two come together and click in all the right places, both romantically and professionally.
If you can make it through the first half full of plot setup and killer head games, the rest was really enjoyable. Just don't be prepared for a mystery...the whodunnit is a given. And the romance is very much in the background. I also have a feeling that even though this is the first in this series, quite a few of the secondary characters have been in previous series. This is my first by this author, so I can't say that with any authority, but I got the feeling that some of these boys had been around for a bit.
February 18, 2020
FBI Supervisory Special Agent Megan Elliott is sent to look into the murder of a homeless man in Sacremento. This murder is similar to two other unsolved murders the FBI is investigating. When a fourth murder leads her to Texas, she meets Jack Kincaid. Jack's best friend has just been killed and he wants the person responsible. He knows the local police will do nothing, so he has brought in the FBI. Megan, Jack, and a whole team of Federal Agents work to find who is behind the murders and where the killer will show up next.
This is the first book in Allison Brennan's FBI trilogy. It has some characters from previous books. This story drew me in right away. We were told who was responsible for the murders up front, but we had to figure out the motive for the murders.
The story was well-paced with an intricate plot. There were lots and lots of characters. I thought I would have to start writing them down to keep track of them. I liked the main characters. Megan was a by-the-book FBI agent. Jack threw the book out long ago. They worked well together. This book was billed as romantic suspense, but it was more a mystery thriller with a little romance thrown in. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is the first book in Allison Brennan's FBI trilogy. It has some characters from previous books. This story drew me in right away. We were told who was responsible for the murders up front, but we had to figure out the motive for the murders.
The story was well-paced with an intricate plot. There were lots and lots of characters. I thought I would have to start writing them down to keep track of them. I liked the main characters. Megan was a by-the-book FBI agent. Jack threw the book out long ago. They worked well together. This book was billed as romantic suspense, but it was more a mystery thriller with a little romance thrown in. My rating: 4 Stars.
June 3, 2014
At first I thought there was way too many characters being introduced to follow, but that thought was quickly dispelled. A good read - lots of action, twists and turns, and a red herring thrown in to boot. A surprise towards the end - one of those I didn't see that coming.
All in all, I enjoyed this book - Allison Brennan is a terrific writer - one of those authors who just has what it takes to keep the audience wanting more.
Oh and Kjen - you would really like this book ;)
So 2 thumbs up and a solid 4 starts for this first book in her FBI Trilogy series.
All in all, I enjoyed this book - Allison Brennan is a terrific writer - one of those authors who just has what it takes to keep the audience wanting more.
Oh and Kjen - you would really like this book ;)
So 2 thumbs up and a solid 4 starts for this first book in her FBI Trilogy series.
February 11, 2020
Three former Delta Force members are murdered and FBI special agent Megan Elliott is determined to find their killer. Jack Kincaid is also determined to find the killers. What she doesn’t know is that one of the killers has another victim in mind once the Delta Force members are gone.
Finally, a book that gives up more background on Jack Kincaid. He has been a great supporting character in some of the other books and it's good to see him get his own story. The story line is great and the characters better. Jack's whole crew are interesting and fiercely loyal to each other. Hans Vigo is back and him and Megan, along with Jack, make a great team. The romance part was expected, but it didn't overpower the story.
The torture technique used in the story was truly gut wrenching. I found myself cringing during it. I can see why Ethan's mind was so frazzled. His partner, Karin, is even more dangerous than him. It's scary how sociopaths can blend in with everyone else and no one knows any difference.
The ending is expected, but still a bit shocking. There are some things you just don't see coming. I'm looking forward to seeing where Megan and Jack go from here.
Finally, a book that gives up more background on Jack Kincaid. He has been a great supporting character in some of the other books and it's good to see him get his own story. The story line is great and the characters better. Jack's whole crew are interesting and fiercely loyal to each other. Hans Vigo is back and him and Megan, along with Jack, make a great team. The romance part was expected, but it didn't overpower the story.
The torture technique used in the story was truly gut wrenching. I found myself cringing during it. I can see why Ethan's mind was so frazzled. His partner, Karin, is even more dangerous than him. It's scary how sociopaths can blend in with everyone else and no one knows any difference.
The ending is expected, but still a bit shocking. There are some things you just don't see coming. I'm looking forward to seeing where Megan and Jack go from here.
July 22, 2022
Sudden Death
4 Stars
FBI agent Megan Elliot is called in to investigate the sadistic murder of a homeless man, whose death is quickly linked to a serial killer targeting army veterans. The case takes a compelling turn when Jack Kincaid, a soldier-for-hire, returns home to discover that his comrade in arms is the latest victim. Despite their different approaches, Megan and Jack must join forces to locate the killer before they strike even closer to home.
Series note: This book is linked to both the No Evil and Prison Break trilogies. The hero, Jack Kincaid, appears in Fear No Evil as the twin of Dillon and older brother to Lucy and Patrick. The heroine, Megan Elliot, is the ex-wife of Mitch Bianchi, the hero in Playing Dead. Despite these links, the plot is unrelated and can be read as a standalone.
Allison Brennan's skill lies more in her suspense plots than in her romances, and this book is no exception. The serial killer storyline is gripping as Brennan expertly weaves the various POVs within the narrative. The inclusion of the killers' perspectives ratchets up the tension as one is a truly vicious sociopath while the other is a disturbed psychopath rapidly losing their grip on reality. In fact, there are moments in which I actually . The twist at the end is excellent, especially as Brennan provides the necessary clues but still manages to surprise the reader.
Megan and Jack's opposites attract romance is one of Brennan's better attempts, yet it is difficult to believe that two such diverse personalities; Megan is smart and intuitive but follows the rules while Jack is a rule-breaker and risk-taker, would get together so quickly and effortlessly. Nevertheless, they do have a strong attraction that works.
Overall, an entertaining read and I look forward to the next installments.
4 Stars
FBI agent Megan Elliot is called in to investigate the sadistic murder of a homeless man, whose death is quickly linked to a serial killer targeting army veterans. The case takes a compelling turn when Jack Kincaid, a soldier-for-hire, returns home to discover that his comrade in arms is the latest victim. Despite their different approaches, Megan and Jack must join forces to locate the killer before they strike even closer to home.
Series note: This book is linked to both the No Evil and Prison Break trilogies. The hero, Jack Kincaid, appears in Fear No Evil as the twin of Dillon and older brother to Lucy and Patrick. The heroine, Megan Elliot, is the ex-wife of Mitch Bianchi, the hero in Playing Dead. Despite these links, the plot is unrelated and can be read as a standalone.
Allison Brennan's skill lies more in her suspense plots than in her romances, and this book is no exception. The serial killer storyline is gripping as Brennan expertly weaves the various POVs within the narrative. The inclusion of the killers' perspectives ratchets up the tension as one is a truly vicious sociopath while the other is a disturbed psychopath rapidly losing their grip on reality. In fact, there are moments in which I actually . The twist at the end is excellent, especially as Brennan provides the necessary clues but still manages to surprise the reader.
Megan and Jack's opposites attract romance is one of Brennan's better attempts, yet it is difficult to believe that two such diverse personalities; Megan is smart and intuitive but follows the rules while Jack is a rule-breaker and risk-taker, would get together so quickly and effortlessly. Nevertheless, they do have a strong attraction that works.
Overall, an entertaining read and I look forward to the next installments.
February 6, 2020
Great mystery and suspense book. The plot was a wonderful maze that had you guessing all the way through. The why was a slow revel. Allison Brennan does a creditable romance, but her books are all about the mystery.
FBI Agent Megan Elliott is called to the scene of a murdered homeless victim. But things are not what they seem. This case is tied to a string of gruesome murders of Delta Force soldiers from across the country. Is there a specific reason or is the perp just after the Delta Force vets?
Soon after returning from a mission Jack Kincaid, a security specialist, is faced with the murder of one of his men, a former Delta Force soldier. Since he knows the law in Hidalgo, TX hates the very existence of Jack and his men, he sets out to find Scouts killer on his own.
Megan and Jack cross paths and by the book Megan is not happy when she needs to work with break the rules Jack, even if he isn't hard on the eyes. As they dig deeper, they uncover more murders tied to a specific Delta Force unit and the one of the ruthless killers are just getting started.
FBI Agent Megan Elliott is called to the scene of a murdered homeless victim. But things are not what they seem. This case is tied to a string of gruesome murders of Delta Force soldiers from across the country. Is there a specific reason or is the perp just after the Delta Force vets?
Soon after returning from a mission Jack Kincaid, a security specialist, is faced with the murder of one of his men, a former Delta Force soldier. Since he knows the law in Hidalgo, TX hates the very existence of Jack and his men, he sets out to find Scouts killer on his own.
Megan and Jack cross paths and by the book Megan is not happy when she needs to work with break the rules Jack, even if he isn't hard on the eyes. As they dig deeper, they uncover more murders tied to a specific Delta Force unit and the one of the ruthless killers are just getting started.
September 25, 2010
This was labeled romance but there was less romance than I expected. It was ok as mystery suspense (warning: a lot of torture).
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was labeled as romantic suspense, and the mislabeling is what bothers me the most. In my opinion, it does not have enough romance or development of a relationship to qualify for that genre. This is mostly mystery suspense with a lot of uncomfortable torture scenes. 95% of the story is about the authorities finding clues and slowly unraveling the mystery about serial killings. The small amount of romance consists of a couple meeting, working together on the case, and getting together at the end. I didn’t get the feelings of anticipation or enjoyment that I normally expect from “romance” novels. Once in a while I will enjoy a straight mystery because the characters pull me in, or the dialogue is interesting, or I feel good while reading it. But this book didn’t have those effects on me. I think mystery lovers will like this more than I did.
I had a minor problem with the smart good guys doing a couple of stupid or illogical things. Megan was stupid and careless toward the end which caused a major problem. Hans was angry at Megan for reasons I felt did not make sense or fit with his character.
STORY BRIEF:
Megan is a by-the-book FBI agent investigating veterans who had been tortured and killed. Jack is a former veteran and now a soldier-for-hire. He joins with Megan to find the killers after his best friend is killed (one of the victims). We learn early in the story who the killers are (Ethan and Karin) so I’m not giving anything away. Ethan was with a group of soldiers in Afghanistan. He was captured and tortured for three months by the Taliban before being rescued. He is suicidal and loaded with mental problems. Karin wants to learn torture techniques, but Ethan won’t teach her. Therefore she convinces Ethan that he needs to capture and torture the veterans who were with him at the time, saying they abandoned him. She plans and helps him capture the vets, and then learns by watching Ethan stick needles into them. The main mystery is finding the killers, but a second mystery is why Karin wants to learn to torture.
DATA:
Story length: 424 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 12. Setting: California, Texas, Colorado and Arizona. Copyright: 2009. Genre: mystery suspense.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was labeled as romantic suspense, and the mislabeling is what bothers me the most. In my opinion, it does not have enough romance or development of a relationship to qualify for that genre. This is mostly mystery suspense with a lot of uncomfortable torture scenes. 95% of the story is about the authorities finding clues and slowly unraveling the mystery about serial killings. The small amount of romance consists of a couple meeting, working together on the case, and getting together at the end. I didn’t get the feelings of anticipation or enjoyment that I normally expect from “romance” novels. Once in a while I will enjoy a straight mystery because the characters pull me in, or the dialogue is interesting, or I feel good while reading it. But this book didn’t have those effects on me. I think mystery lovers will like this more than I did.
I had a minor problem with the smart good guys doing a couple of stupid or illogical things. Megan was stupid and careless toward the end which caused a major problem. Hans was angry at Megan for reasons I felt did not make sense or fit with his character.
STORY BRIEF:
Megan is a by-the-book FBI agent investigating veterans who had been tortured and killed. Jack is a former veteran and now a soldier-for-hire. He joins with Megan to find the killers after his best friend is killed (one of the victims). We learn early in the story who the killers are (Ethan and Karin) so I’m not giving anything away. Ethan was with a group of soldiers in Afghanistan. He was captured and tortured for three months by the Taliban before being rescued. He is suicidal and loaded with mental problems. Karin wants to learn torture techniques, but Ethan won’t teach her. Therefore she convinces Ethan that he needs to capture and torture the veterans who were with him at the time, saying they abandoned him. She plans and helps him capture the vets, and then learns by watching Ethan stick needles into them. The main mystery is finding the killers, but a second mystery is why Karin wants to learn to torture.
DATA:
Story length: 424 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 12. Setting: California, Texas, Colorado and Arizona. Copyright: 2009. Genre: mystery suspense.
October 11, 2011
This was one of those romantic crime mystery suspense books. I've never read this author before but the synopsis sounded interesting and the reviews by readers were decent so I bought it for my Nook. My verdict: Eh. I have to say the book is weighed down by so much uninteresting crime detail in the first ten pages or so that I was tempted to skim (but I didn't). I found the characters (all of them) not interesting at all. I can't even remember the main characters' names and I just finished the book a few days ago so it left no impression in my mind except a general sense of dislike. The writing was okay, but I found the characters so unappealing and the plot generally boring that I had a hard time with it. If you're gonna write a book that's supposed to have a strong romance overtone (as this book was supposed to), then your romantic counterparts should meet sooner rather than later. I had to wade thru many, many pages before those two people met, and then it was anti-climatic and really rather amusing, sort of typical (bad) romance fare: Her thoughts: "Oh, my, look at this big strong man. He's so big and strong!" Him: "She's hot. Look at her tits." I mean, really? And of course the story ends with the required marriage. It's the 21st century. Can't we just have a heroine who likes to sleep with hot guys but is married to her job? Blech. The crime story was borderline okay but the love story was seriously lacking in heat and excitement. I may give the Lucy Kincaid series a shot and see if it's any better, but I may also not.
September 27, 2010
Listened to the audiobook read by Ann Marie Lee.
I managed to make it all the way through this book but it was a struggle. This is the only book by Allison Brennan I've read and since this was book one of the FBI Trilogy I thought it was a safe book to start with. The story has us following Meg, the FBI agent, and her team trying to track down killers of ex-Army men. Then, it jumps to Jack Kincaid, ex-military (spec. forces) and his mercenary team and delves into Jack's issues with his family. Then we get a glimpse at the killers. The story continues this way until the principals meet and their stories merge. I never felt I really got to know the hero/heroine in this story.
The dialog and prose felt clunky and awkward to me. I never really cared much about any of the characters and was only mildly interested in finding out the why of the killings. There's a little romance in the book that isn't very romantic and felt very rushed to me. I didn't buy into the HEA for them at the end.
I managed to make it all the way through this book but it was a struggle. This is the only book by Allison Brennan I've read and since this was book one of the FBI Trilogy I thought it was a safe book to start with. The story has us following Meg, the FBI agent, and her team trying to track down killers of ex-Army men. Then, it jumps to Jack Kincaid, ex-military (spec. forces) and his mercenary team and delves into Jack's issues with his family. Then we get a glimpse at the killers. The story continues this way until the principals meet and their stories merge. I never felt I really got to know the hero/heroine in this story.
The dialog and prose felt clunky and awkward to me. I never really cared much about any of the characters and was only mildly interested in finding out the why of the killings. There's a little romance in the book that isn't very romantic and felt very rushed to me. I didn't buy into the HEA for them at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2018
Megan is an FBI profiler who has been called in when some soldiers begin turning up dead, and the circumstances are looking strikingly similar. With little evidence to go by, Megan gets sent some dog tags that might lead her to the killers.
The first in a set of books regarding Megan, Sudden Death is a crime thriller which changes between the killers point of view and the profilers.
Megan runs into an ex military man in Texas when she is investigating these crimes, and due to the local police not being very co-operative, Jack Kincaid takes matters into his own hands as he tries to solve the crimes of his military buddies.
When their paths cross, Megan and Jack get more than they bargained for.
The book is quite good at building suspense, and the POV changes are managed quite seamlessly. It's not a groundbreaking thriller book but it's quite enjoyable.
The first in a set of books regarding Megan, Sudden Death is a crime thriller which changes between the killers point of view and the profilers.
Megan runs into an ex military man in Texas when she is investigating these crimes, and due to the local police not being very co-operative, Jack Kincaid takes matters into his own hands as he tries to solve the crimes of his military buddies.
When their paths cross, Megan and Jack get more than they bargained for.
The book is quite good at building suspense, and the POV changes are managed quite seamlessly. It's not a groundbreaking thriller book but it's quite enjoyable.
March 3, 2013
This was a first time read for this author and sub-genre for me and I can honestly say that I really enjoyed it. I won't hesitate to pick up another book from Allison Brennan nor will I hesitate to read another cozy romantic mystery!
I listened to the audio version and at first thought that it was a little awkward listening to the narrator, Ann Marie Lee, for the character that she was playing. However, once I got into listening to the story, it didn't seem to bother me, it just struck me as odd at first. I think the narrator did the story great justice.
As for the characters, I felt like they were in depth and to the core. I was interested in reading about them and learning more about them as the story progressed. I felt like all the characters blended together nicely to create a great story.
I thought that the storyline ran smoothly without any delay. I really enjoyed the romance with a serious mystery. The romance part was not overdone, but a perfect fit with the story just to give it that extra spice. I do think that it would have been nice to have received a little more background on the characters, but for the most part, the story was easy to follow.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this story, and will certainly continue reading with Allison Brennan in mind.
I listened to the audio version and at first thought that it was a little awkward listening to the narrator, Ann Marie Lee, for the character that she was playing. However, once I got into listening to the story, it didn't seem to bother me, it just struck me as odd at first. I think the narrator did the story great justice.
As for the characters, I felt like they were in depth and to the core. I was interested in reading about them and learning more about them as the story progressed. I felt like all the characters blended together nicely to create a great story.
I thought that the storyline ran smoothly without any delay. I really enjoyed the romance with a serious mystery. The romance part was not overdone, but a perfect fit with the story just to give it that extra spice. I do think that it would have been nice to have received a little more background on the characters, but for the most part, the story was easy to follow.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this story, and will certainly continue reading with Allison Brennan in mind.
March 27, 2020
I read this because I wanted Jack's story. Turns out his backstory is not interesting, pretty mild really. Meghan's was a much bigger deal.
I've figured out what bugs me about Brennan's writing. Her characters are inconsistent; I don't mean inconsistent because people are inconsistent, but she writes them in an inconsistent manner. Well, her sentences can be choppy and her dialogue plodding, but the characterization is the major issue. The narrative voice will explain about a character, but then the character doesn't act that way, even allowing for extreme circumstances. And that's the crux: the show fails to match the tell enough to be noticeable even on the occasions you can't out your finger on the specifics. But there are plenty of specifics, too. For example, Hans is supposed to be a big shot profiler, but in this book, even allowing for later-revealed circumstances, he's terrible at it. Even Jack is better. So's Meghan.
Meghan is an FBI SSA with 15 years experience, but she has considerable confidence issues-but most act and talk the opposite concerning her. Until friend and mentor Hans treats her like a bumbling rookie who's dumb as dirt--and again, the circumstances don't make it play.
I may read this author again if I have nothing else because there were good parts, but I'm not in any hurry. Brennan is no Karen Rose.
I've figured out what bugs me about Brennan's writing. Her characters are inconsistent; I don't mean inconsistent because people are inconsistent, but she writes them in an inconsistent manner. Well, her sentences can be choppy and her dialogue plodding, but the characterization is the major issue. The narrative voice will explain about a character, but then the character doesn't act that way, even allowing for extreme circumstances. And that's the crux: the show fails to match the tell enough to be noticeable even on the occasions you can't out your finger on the specifics. But there are plenty of specifics, too. For example, Hans is supposed to be a big shot profiler, but in this book, even allowing for later-revealed circumstances, he's terrible at it. Even Jack is better. So's Meghan.
Meghan is an FBI SSA with 15 years experience, but she has considerable confidence issues-but most act and talk the opposite concerning her. Until friend and mentor Hans treats her like a bumbling rookie who's dumb as dirt--and again, the circumstances don't make it play.
I may read this author again if I have nothing else because there were good parts, but I'm not in any hurry. Brennan is no Karen Rose.
May 27, 2009
A tantalizing story to start off Allison Brennan’s FBI trilogy. The suspense
begins almost immediately and the reader is caught up in the hunt for a
couple of sadistic killers. As the plot moves, the reader is left with a knowing
sense of “why” the killings are occurring and that is where the unknown factor
comes in and turns the motive completely around. That factor is
what made the story in my eyes. Characterization is complete, story lines all
balance out; the overall effect is an adventure that has a mystery hidden
inside.
The only drawback in this book was that their was quite a number of
supporting characters and sometimes it was difficult to keep them straight;
but the curiosity of Megan Elliott; her job, her personality and of course, the
search for justice makes this quite a good read.
Anyone who has a penchant for FBI and police force books should enjoy this
story and although Allison Brennan has a style all her own, if you enjoy
authors like Catherine Coulter or Linda Fairstein to name a few, you
will enjoy Allison Brennan.
begins almost immediately and the reader is caught up in the hunt for a
couple of sadistic killers. As the plot moves, the reader is left with a knowing
sense of “why” the killings are occurring and that is where the unknown factor
comes in and turns the motive completely around. That factor is
what made the story in my eyes. Characterization is complete, story lines all
balance out; the overall effect is an adventure that has a mystery hidden
inside.
The only drawback in this book was that their was quite a number of
supporting characters and sometimes it was difficult to keep them straight;
but the curiosity of Megan Elliott; her job, her personality and of course, the
search for justice makes this quite a good read.
Anyone who has a penchant for FBI and police force books should enjoy this
story and although Allison Brennan has a style all her own, if you enjoy
authors like Catherine Coulter or Linda Fairstein to name a few, you
will enjoy Allison Brennan.
November 18, 2011
It really shocks me sometimes that I can enjoy books with such twisted plots and characters. But even more than that, I worry about the authors that come up with these characters. Hopefully they won't turn into pathological liers and cold-blooded killers like their characters.
Brennan should just stick to writing these suspence novels and remove the whole romantic aspect out of it. Those areas, while they do provide some relief from all the killing and plotting, are just not in keeping with the mood of the book.
And while the relief is nice, it is not needed.
Brennan should just stick to writing these suspence novels and remove the whole romantic aspect out of it. Those areas, while they do provide some relief from all the killing and plotting, are just not in keeping with the mood of the book.
And while the relief is nice, it is not needed.
January 4, 2012
For Megan Elliott her Sacramento investigation gets complicated when 3 deaths from different cities gets killed, are they related? Why send her a souvenir? She did nothing wrong, after all the FBI and police have one thing in common justice for the bad guys,
Then when they hit Texas Jack Kincaid returns from a job rescuing medical missionaries, how does he fit in the problem solving will he ever make peace with his parents. Find out in Allison Brennan's Sudden Death
Then when they hit Texas Jack Kincaid returns from a job rescuing medical missionaries, how does he fit in the problem solving will he ever make peace with his parents. Find out in Allison Brennan's Sudden Death
December 7, 2009
An ok book. Storyline dragged in some parts and was a pageturner in others. I will give this author another try though.
July 18, 2020
It is no secret that I am an avid reader and fan of Allison Brennan's mystery series. It still surprises me that after all of this time there are books of hers that I have yet to explore. Sitting on my shelf is her entire FBI trilogy, and upon diving into it these past few days, I've come to realize that it takes place before many of her other Kincaid-based books.
Book one in Brennan's FBI Trilogy, Sudden Death follows Jack Kincaid, a soldier for hire - a mercenary - living on the border of Mexico and Texas in Hidalgo. I've read about Jack Kincaid in other series by Brennan, as he's Lucy Kincaid's older brother. That being said, it's clear that this trilogy marks the beginning of Jack's specific storyline.
Throughout this first book, Karin and Ethan are moving through the motions to take out veterans who have wronged Ethan in the past, but no one knows why. No one understands who is systematically taking out each of these former army soldiers or why. But when Scout, a friend of Jack's, is killed, Jack cannot help but get involved to seek answers for his friend of nearly two decades.
Despite his preference to work alone, or only with his own team, Jack jumps in with Dr. Hans Vigo and SSA Megan Elliott of the FBI. Unsure of one another, Megan calls her friends at Rogan-Caruso, a private detective agency, to look into Jack's background, but before she can get answers about the unknown, Megan begins to fall for the mercenary.
As soldiers continue to die brutally - hamstrung and tortured with needles before being executed - Megan tries to figure out how they are all connected. It isn't until the solders' dog tags begin showing up that she realizes their army connection, but it takes longer to figure out who might be murdering them all. Beyond that, Megan seems to be a target, but none of them - Hans, Jack, Father Cardenas - recognize the weight of it until it's too late.
Ethan, having been tortured for months, struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, and remains untreated while working with Karin. Because of this, he continues to inch closer and closer to the tipping point of losing his sanity, and Karin only seems to be egging him on for her own benefits.
It isn't until the end of the novel that readers are able to deduce Karin's true motives, and when it's discovered, Brennan becomes one of the most talented writers in her field, yet again. Managing to weave together such complex characters seamlessly, Brennan lives up to her reputation of being able to write incredible characterization.
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I'm sure I'll be recommending the rest of the series soon enough. Part of me does wish that I had read all of these series in order, though.
Book one in Brennan's FBI Trilogy, Sudden Death follows Jack Kincaid, a soldier for hire - a mercenary - living on the border of Mexico and Texas in Hidalgo. I've read about Jack Kincaid in other series by Brennan, as he's Lucy Kincaid's older brother. That being said, it's clear that this trilogy marks the beginning of Jack's specific storyline.
Throughout this first book, Karin and Ethan are moving through the motions to take out veterans who have wronged Ethan in the past, but no one knows why. No one understands who is systematically taking out each of these former army soldiers or why. But when Scout, a friend of Jack's, is killed, Jack cannot help but get involved to seek answers for his friend of nearly two decades.
Despite his preference to work alone, or only with his own team, Jack jumps in with Dr. Hans Vigo and SSA Megan Elliott of the FBI. Unsure of one another, Megan calls her friends at Rogan-Caruso, a private detective agency, to look into Jack's background, but before she can get answers about the unknown, Megan begins to fall for the mercenary.
As soldiers continue to die brutally - hamstrung and tortured with needles before being executed - Megan tries to figure out how they are all connected. It isn't until the solders' dog tags begin showing up that she realizes their army connection, but it takes longer to figure out who might be murdering them all. Beyond that, Megan seems to be a target, but none of them - Hans, Jack, Father Cardenas - recognize the weight of it until it's too late.
Ethan, having been tortured for months, struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, and remains untreated while working with Karin. Because of this, he continues to inch closer and closer to the tipping point of losing his sanity, and Karin only seems to be egging him on for her own benefits.
It isn't until the end of the novel that readers are able to deduce Karin's true motives, and when it's discovered, Brennan becomes one of the most talented writers in her field, yet again. Managing to weave together such complex characters seamlessly, Brennan lives up to her reputation of being able to write incredible characterization.
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I'm sure I'll be recommending the rest of the series soon enough. Part of me does wish that I had read all of these series in order, though.
March 18, 2019
In the beginning there's a download of tons of characters and it's hard to tell who's important to the plot and who's not. Basically it was just the author parading characters from prior novels and for the most part, none of them are relevant. Jack's family issues gets barely any page time except to parade the family. It didn't add to the plot and really even with it his character fell flat.
I didn't feel the insta lust/love between Jack and Megan. And the inclusion of Jack felt a little contrived but what really felt contrived was how Megan was thrown together with Jack. He's calling her Blondie which was ugh and eye rolling. Hans is ticked at Megan for absolutely no sane reason. All of this felt contrived and pulled the plot down.
The plot itself was much more interesting so I skimmed over the sex on day 2 or whenever and rolled my eyes at the I love you at the end as I didn't feel it.
Megan was a solid character and her investigation was good but would have felt better with Hans, not Jack.
I didn't feel the insta lust/love between Jack and Megan. And the inclusion of Jack felt a little contrived but what really felt contrived was how Megan was thrown together with Jack. He's calling her Blondie which was ugh and eye rolling. Hans is ticked at Megan for absolutely no sane reason. All of this felt contrived and pulled the plot down.
The plot itself was much more interesting so I skimmed over the sex on day 2 or whenever and rolled my eyes at the I love you at the end as I didn't feel it.
Megan was a solid character and her investigation was good but would have felt better with Hans, not Jack.
April 13, 2024
It always seems to take a bit of concentration to figure out who all the characters are in the first book of a series, but the following books are always a little easier to read because the characters are more familiar. I am looking forward to the next couple of books in this series. I could do without quite so many pages covering the "love" scenes.
October 21, 2023
Megan Elliott, FBI is our heroine-hard working and methodical, meets 2 crazy ex-military members carrying out brutal acupuncture torture, with some romance from Delta Force, Jack Kincaid. Interesting.
dropped
February 26, 2022DNF @2%, yeah, no. I'll pass, on torture 🙅♀️🤢😵
August 24, 2020
A little bit absurd
August 25, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
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. This FBI trilogy , I was happy to go back to audiobooks.
Sudden Death has Jack Kincaid as one of the romantic couple along with Megan Elliott, an FBI agent. The family is mentioned as Jack comes back to town. Vigo is the one who trained Megan so he has joined the case.
A serial killer is tracking down military men from a team. Megan gets an early one in her home area and then follows it around the country. She ends up working with Jack as one of his men was a victim.
To me the romance was really a background thread here. It was too fast to me. They are both strong, independent players and the support and comfort they gave each other was good to see.
I love the police procedural and investigative parts and there was some action. I enjoyed seeing the Kincaids and some other law enforcement like Vigo, and John Black in Sacramento. There were some real twists here with an exciting conclusion to the case.
Narration:
The primary narrator is female. Each book has a couple, and there tend to be more male characters so it's interesting. The main and recurring characters have distinct voices and the regional accents seem authentic. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
COYER Buddy read with Berls who rated it 4
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. This FBI trilogy , I was happy to go back to audiobooks.
Sudden Death has Jack Kincaid as one of the romantic couple along with Megan Elliott, an FBI agent. The family is mentioned as Jack comes back to town. Vigo is the one who trained Megan so he has joined the case.
A serial killer is tracking down military men from a team. Megan gets an early one in her home area and then follows it around the country. She ends up working with Jack as one of his men was a victim.
To me the romance was really a background thread here. It was too fast to me. They are both strong, independent players and the support and comfort they gave each other was good to see.
I love the police procedural and investigative parts and there was some action. I enjoyed seeing the Kincaids and some other law enforcement like Vigo, and John Black in Sacramento. There were some real twists here with an exciting conclusion to the case.
Narration:
The primary narrator is female. Each book has a couple, and there tend to be more male characters so it's interesting. The main and recurring characters have distinct voices and the regional accents seem authentic. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
COYER Buddy read with Berls who rated it 4
April 5, 2025
The storyline was great lots of twists and turns, but the killers were particularly gruesome.
April 5, 2014
Hmmmmm.....I think this was a solid 3 star read, But might wrestle with 2.5 & 3.5 were they options? The reason for the wide gulf in rating? Well, to me this was almost a schizophrenic read, in that parts were totally absorbig and engrossing, while others were tedious and outright boring/monotonous.
The book starts fast right out of the gate, and gave some of the most real and horrific torture scenerios and serial killing scenes that I have encountered. But about a 1/4 of the way in, the investigation seemed a little tedious to me. I wasn't really connecting with any of the characters, and only the diabolical mastermind behind the killings was of major interest to me. Then....Uuuugggghhhh....some of the least (personally) fulfilling steamy romance scenes I have ever encountered. For me Brennan delivered the most tedious, unrealistic love scenes in that I have ever encountered. I woud say they were as uninteresting as Lee Childs romance scenes, except brennan's extended well past the laughabe, into the mundane...when will this garbage end. I say garbage not out of a prudish (although I think may books would be better of in their absence!) desire, but just in how mushy, unmasculine as well as how long they lasted (to the point that I wanted to skip ahead and get back to the real story), and how urealistic they portrayed IMHO what a guy is thnking during those moments of falling in love/lust and actually lovemaking.....I was like come on, you have to be kidding me numerous times! And my my my they lasted seemingly forever? Perhaps I am not cut out for romatic suspense, if that is what ths was (Linda Howard at least makes it realistic and interesting, even if I would prefer its exclusion)...oh well enough of my rant...the final 1/4 of the book picks up some steam, and while I found the outcome not as desirable as I would have liked...the gruesomeness again, was on par with anything I have read.
Brennan crafts a gruesome serial killer team, and an itriguing motive for their murders (well at least 1 of them the other was just a sociopath), and crafts some of the ost detailed torture/murder scenes you would wat to encouter....but the dialouge, romance, and unfoldig of the case were not what I would call topnotch....Hence my diversity in how to rate this read.
I would recommend it to fans of seriel killer hunts/FBI investigations.
The book starts fast right out of the gate, and gave some of the most real and horrific torture scenerios and serial killing scenes that I have encountered. But about a 1/4 of the way in, the investigation seemed a little tedious to me. I wasn't really connecting with any of the characters, and only the diabolical mastermind behind the killings was of major interest to me. Then....Uuuugggghhhh....some of the least (personally) fulfilling steamy romance scenes I have ever encountered. For me Brennan delivered the most tedious, unrealistic love scenes in that I have ever encountered. I woud say they were as uninteresting as Lee Childs romance scenes, except brennan's extended well past the laughabe, into the mundane...when will this garbage end. I say garbage not out of a prudish (although I think may books would be better of in their absence!) desire, but just in how mushy, unmasculine as well as how long they lasted (to the point that I wanted to skip ahead and get back to the real story), and how urealistic they portrayed IMHO what a guy is thnking during those moments of falling in love/lust and actually lovemaking.....I was like come on, you have to be kidding me numerous times! And my my my they lasted seemingly forever? Perhaps I am not cut out for romatic suspense, if that is what ths was (Linda Howard at least makes it realistic and interesting, even if I would prefer its exclusion)...oh well enough of my rant...the final 1/4 of the book picks up some steam, and while I found the outcome not as desirable as I would have liked...the gruesomeness again, was on par with anything I have read.
Brennan crafts a gruesome serial killer team, and an itriguing motive for their murders (well at least 1 of them the other was just a sociopath), and crafts some of the ost detailed torture/murder scenes you would wat to encouter....but the dialouge, romance, and unfoldig of the case were not what I would call topnotch....Hence my diversity in how to rate this read.
I would recommend it to fans of seriel killer hunts/FBI investigations.
December 16, 2022
Allison Brennan was an author recommended to me by a friend and I decided to check her out. Sudden Death was listed as a romance, which really almost put me off of it. I’m not a Harlequin romance kind of girl. Actually, it’s more of a mystery thriller with a little bit of romance thrown in.
Megan Elliott is an FBI special agent who’s called in to investigate the ritualistic murder of an apparent homeless veteran in Sacramento. After identifying him by the dog tag on the body, Megan learns he was a former Delta Force soldier and connects him to several other murders across the country.
Meanwhile, Jack Kincaid is another former soldier who leads a group of mercenaries in Hidalgo, Texas. When one of his men is murdered and the connection is made to the murders Megan is investigating, he joins the investigation, helping Megan with the resources at his disposal. The two form a connection almost instantly and are drawn to each other, but their romance will have to wait while they hunt a pair of killers.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
Megan Elliott is an FBI special agent who’s called in to investigate the ritualistic murder of an apparent homeless veteran in Sacramento. After identifying him by the dog tag on the body, Megan learns he was a former Delta Force soldier and connects him to several other murders across the country.
Meanwhile, Jack Kincaid is another former soldier who leads a group of mercenaries in Hidalgo, Texas. When one of his men is murdered and the connection is made to the murders Megan is investigating, he joins the investigation, helping Megan with the resources at his disposal. The two form a connection almost instantly and are drawn to each other, but their romance will have to wait while they hunt a pair of killers.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
Read
July 28, 2011Allison Brennan ties this up with a huge, gorgeous bow! Sudden Death takes you on a roller coaster ride, filled with suspense, drama and loads of action. Protagonists Megan and Jack are well rounded characters who come out strong and victorious over situations that have weighed them down for years. The supporting cast is well etched and you long to know them better.
As for the villains, they have a back story too. That just makes the entire read simply un-putdown-able!
The book comes together in the last couple of chapters and considering the length of the book, it's amazing how Brennan has put in so much info in that many pages.
This is definitely not a romantic read; it's more down the crime/action/suspense genre. Those who love the latter kind simply must read it for its compelling characters, intriguing plot and a Eureka moment when you realize how the story connects!
As for the villains, they have a back story too. That just makes the entire read simply un-putdown-able!
The book comes together in the last couple of chapters and considering the length of the book, it's amazing how Brennan has put in so much info in that many pages.
This is definitely not a romantic read; it's more down the crime/action/suspense genre. Those who love the latter kind simply must read it for its compelling characters, intriguing plot and a Eureka moment when you realize how the story connects!
August 6, 2014
When a homeless veteran is murdered, FBI special agent Megan Elliott becomes involved in a national task force investigating a series of sadistic killings, and she enters into a reluctant alliance with soldier-for-hire Jack Kincaid.
The first book in the FBI Trilogy by Allison Brennan. I normally prefer there to be a better balance of romance and suspense but the story really grabs you and I didn't really miss the lack of romance in it. There is romance but it's more of a minor side story. There are also glimpses of characters from previous books. I am enjoying this series.
The first book in the FBI Trilogy by Allison Brennan. I normally prefer there to be a better balance of romance and suspense but the story really grabs you and I didn't really miss the lack of romance in it. There is romance but it's more of a minor side story. There are also glimpses of characters from previous books. I am enjoying this series.
February 1, 2013
I just finished Sudden Death. I "discovered" Allison Brennan last year and she has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I have read several of her books but this is the first in this series that I have read. FBI Agent Megan Elliott is on the case of veterans that have been murdered and tortured. It becomes quite involved. Along the way she meets Jack (which ties it into the other books/series). Good story, disturbing torture techniqes. Why oh why do I like this stuff? Surprise ending. ★★★★★'s.
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