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Vacations can be deadly…
FBI Supervisory Special Agent Lucy Guardino is ready for a well-deserved break from chasing the worst of the worst. She’s hunted serial killers, violent child predators, and vicious psychopaths but nothing has prepared her for spring break alone with her teenaged daughter in a secluded beach resort in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

When Megan befriends a local boy who is accused of a brutal crime, it’s up to Lucy to soothe the ruffled egos of the well intentioned but ill equipped local police, prevent Megan from playing amateur sleuth, and track a cunning killer before Megan or her friend become the next victim.

BAD BREAK is the sixth novel in the Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers series.

119 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2015

474 people are currently reading
208 people want to read

About the author

C.J. Lyons

80 books895 followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels, former pediatric ER doctor CJ Lyons has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge Thrillers with Heart.

Two times winner of the International Thriller Writers coveted Thriller Award, CJ has been called a "master within the genre" (Pittsburgh Magazine) and her work has been praised as "breathtakingly fast-paced" and "riveting" (Publishers Weekly) with "characters with beating hearts and three dimensions" (Newsday).

Learn more about CJ's Thrillers with Heart at www.CJLyons.net

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5 stars
351 (53%)
4 stars
202 (30%)
3 stars
83 (12%)
2 stars
19 (2%)
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5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Pam.
479 reviews14 followers
April 10, 2024
Lucy takes her daughter, Megan on a vacation for a mother daughter bonding experience. Megan meets a local young man who becomes involved with a burglary which turns into kidnapping. Lucy realizes the evidence doesn’t add up. Now she and Megan are stuck on a barrier island without backup.
Profile Image for Jo Ann Reinhold.
424 reviews44 followers
December 17, 2015
I read Bad Break as part of the box set for Diabetes Research (which I reviewed as a box set) but wanted to write an individual for this book. I love the Character Lucy Guardion! Yes, she is a tough lady but mostly she is filled with a determination to make the world, at least the part she can touch, a better place for her family. She has a strong sense of right and wrong and is willing to bend rules in order to make things right. In Bad Break Lucy and her daughter are on a vacation together in order to reconnect after the the hell they have faced in the past year. But a relaxing vacation the water seems to be out of their reach as fate has other plans for them. In this fast paced book we watch Lucy once give her all to set a wrong right and to keep her child safe at the same time
Profile Image for Diane.
677 reviews30 followers
September 29, 2015
Not a bad read, part of the Lucy Guardino series - a novella. A bit too much teenage angst in places, but the story line was good. Where exactly do your donations go to?

2 thumbs up and 4 solid stars!
Profile Image for Barbara McGrath.
108 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2019
Bad Break

Another great thriller.
I have read all the Lucy's FBI stories and enjoyed all very much.
The plots and characters are so very real!!!
And none of the conclusion 's are similar as many series I've read.
Please continue writing , I'm sure I 'ok enjoy anything written by C J Lyons.
41 reviews
November 29, 2016
Very enjoyable

This book seems to be a bridge for our heroine Lucy--between the FBI series and her later career. I enjoyed it, especially the parts that showed her daughter's viewpoint.

Not so dark as some of CJ Leon's other books--definitely a "lighter" read.
Profile Image for E Sano.
158 reviews
June 21, 2018
This is much more of a standard thriller/detective novel than any of the previous Lucy novels, and it is better for it. It is also the segue novel to transition Lucy from the FBI to her next adventures, with a more involved daughter and husband. Good story, recommended.
Profile Image for Dick Ulmer.
566 reviews
February 3, 2020
For a novella, Bad Break is great. Lucy can't even have a quiet vacation at the seashore with her daughter without getting involved in murder and mayhem. Her daughter is a budding detective in the mold of her mother, and manages to get both of them hip deep in danger. I liked it very much.
62 reviews
August 17, 2020
Outstanding

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I like her style of writing and her diverse characters. It was neat to see her daughter growing up and with a lot of skills similar to her mom.
4,416 reviews28 followers
May 31, 2017
Bad Break review

Bad Break is the sixth book in the Lucy Guardino F. B. I. Thriller series written by author C. J. Lyons. Wonderful series.
Profile Image for Maz Tucker.
298 reviews7 followers
April 30, 2018
Lucy Guardino at her best

A really good Lucy Guardino shortish story. As usual plenty of action and adventure. C J Lyons writes yet another good book.
146 reviews1 follower
September 19, 2019
The guilty party was not very well developed in this one but I like the FBI agent and the story was interesting.
274 reviews3 followers
February 14, 2020
Vacation?

No rest for the weary or the broken down. Lucy can't get a break. But she does know how to use her time wisely
Profile Image for Neena Christianson Martin.
1,185 reviews11 followers
May 3, 2020
Vacations can be deadly.

Megan and Lucy are on vacation on a South Carolina island when they stumble upon a crime scene and Megan's new friend is missing.
15 reviews
December 17, 2021
Nothing special

Was an ok book. The plot was kind of simplistic and amateurish. I wouldn't rate this as a "thriller" or "edge of seat"
3 reviews
February 17, 2024
Easy flow

Keeps you a bit on edge with the shifting character personalities. When 14 wants to be an adult, you're always in for a ride.
Profile Image for Laurie Dohmen.
60 reviews
October 23, 2025
This one is great because it's personal for Lucy, it involves her daughter. Also, she is basically without her team so it's all her and Meghan.
89 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2016
As much as I've loved the other books of this series, I found this novella rather disappointing. The plot is not very interesting and the suspense is nearly non-existent as we globally know what happened quite early in the book. I was somehow waiting for a twist but it never came.
Besides, Megan, who is a major character in this story, is really annoying. Her angst and insistence to find the boy were in my opinion not very consistent since she had just met him. But you could think from her reaction that he was a good and long time friend of her.
So in the end, this story was ok to read though rather pointless. Which won't prevent me from immediately beginning the next book of the series. ;)
Profile Image for Michelle.
546 reviews
August 16, 2015
Lucy Guardino and her daughter Megan go on a vacation to try to bring their relationship closer again. Megan, the typical teenager, meets a cute guy, and starts hanging out with him. When he asks her to meet him at one of his job sites, he doesn't show. She goes inside and finds a lot of blood, so she calls her Mom, Lucy. As Lucy tries to be the one on vacation instead of on the job, things just don't add up with the investigation. Megan wants her to help save her new friend. If she does, will it help get their relationship back on track, and will she be able to help her friend, or is it too late? Another great Lucy Guardino thriller!
Profile Image for Carol.
166 reviews
August 10, 2016
Quick read - Action

Lucy has taken some much needed R&R with her teenage daughter. Can she restore their relationship, will she actually relax and stay away from work related things? What could possibly happen in a small sea coast town away from the fancy resorts? Will the boy that Meagan is attracted to prove to be trouble for them? I can't tell you. You'll just have to read it.
As always. JS Schneider writes an action packed story intertwined with family drama and without the trash. You can feel good about letting your kids read these books
Profile Image for Sue Plant.
2,324 reviews33 followers
May 31, 2016
another brilliant short story by cj lyons....this is how short stories should be full of actions and not disappointed half finished storylines

saying that though megan lucys teenage daughter is getting on my nerves...acting like she is a super hero when its her mom that is the fbi detective here

this is a story about mother and daughter time and what can happen when murder and mayhem abound....again a brilliant story line by cj lyons
Profile Image for Gina Basham.
592 reviews4 followers
August 23, 2016
I love Lucy, but...

I do love the Lucy books but this was a short story and kinda a repeat. There was an eye roll moment with Meagan where you feel like yelling at the screen, "don't go down to the unlit basement!" Not literally so no giveaway. It's hard to stay fresh with so many books. Ill take a break from Lucy and go back to the medical thrillers. I would recommend. Gbash
Profile Image for Dave.
747 reviews7 followers
March 24, 2016
I love Lucy,...and her family and friends. CJ Lyons brings a gritty reality to the bad guys and an honest caring to the good guys. Another great story that I didn't put down until I finished it.
Every time I finish a CJ Lyons book, I anxiously wait for the next one to be released.
Profile Image for Lorraine Bennett.
88 reviews2 followers
July 18, 2015
Lucy does it again!

Good to see all of the characters back again. Great story, a little lighter than normal, but it was good to see Lucy and Megan get back on track. The book stands alone but it does set up for the next book and what Lucy may be doing.
Profile Image for Gail.
13 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2015
Lucy

I think I was going into Lucy withdrawal, this was just what I needed only wish it could have been a full length book, can't wait for the next Lucy adventure.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,172 reviews44 followers
August 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this novella that just focused on Lucy & Megan. And one again, we find out how bad a$$ Lucy can be! This should hold me over until the next installment.
Profile Image for Louisa.
8,843 reviews99 followers
April 25, 2016
This was such a great book! I loved seeing her almost exclusively with Megan, her daughter is a big part of her life, and yeah, this book had a great mystery, and I loved reading it!
Profile Image for Jen.
Author 11 books434 followers
July 11, 2016
Read as part of Sweet Dreams anthology
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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