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Prison Break Trilogy #3
Playing Dead
DEAD MAN RUNNING
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.
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.
462 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 30, 2008
135 people are currently reading
1873 people want to read
About the author
Allison Brennan
110 books5,321 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 144 reviews
January 14, 2020
Tom O’Brien was convicted of murdering his wife and her lover 15 years ago. His daughter, Claire, was the principal witness at his trial as she walked in on the murder scene shortly after he discovered them. Tom was one of the San Quentin prisoners who escaped following the earthquake but he covertly helped law enforcement capture all of the others. Now he’s singularly focused on convincing Claire of his innocence, even if it means his recapture. In the meantime, FBI Special Agent Matt Bianchi has gotten close to her, posing as a writer, trying to get information regarding her father’s whereabouts. He’s now conflicted because not only is he convinced that Tom was framed but his duplicity will ultimately end his relationship with Claire who he’s come to love.
This was a gnarly, complex case that had so many tentacles and moving parts and it was tough trying to thread them together. But that’s a good thing because it kept me in the story and highly intrigued. Matt’s duplicity with Claire was a disaster in the waiting and that added a high level of tension because these two really needed to work together and I knew the impending explosion would threaten everything. It took me most of the story to assemble it all and yet there were still twists I never envisioned.
There are lots of characters but it’s not hard to keep up with them. The identity of the “assassin” was another poser that had me going back and forth with who he might be. The ending was as climactic as I’d anticipated and it delivered. I loved Claire who was skilled, fearless and street smart. While I was disgusted with Matt’s lie to her, it was mitigated somewhat by his absolute devotion to her so the romance worked. This story stands alone fairly well but I’m glad I read the first two as they really created a great foundation. It’s really good and brings a satisfying conclusion to the original prison break.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
This was a gnarly, complex case that had so many tentacles and moving parts and it was tough trying to thread them together. But that’s a good thing because it kept me in the story and highly intrigued. Matt’s duplicity with Claire was a disaster in the waiting and that added a high level of tension because these two really needed to work together and I knew the impending explosion would threaten everything. It took me most of the story to assemble it all and yet there were still twists I never envisioned.
There are lots of characters but it’s not hard to keep up with them. The identity of the “assassin” was another poser that had me going back and forth with who he might be. The ending was as climactic as I’d anticipated and it delivered. I loved Claire who was skilled, fearless and street smart. While I was disgusted with Matt’s lie to her, it was mitigated somewhat by his absolute devotion to her so the romance worked. This story stands alone fairly well but I’m glad I read the first two as they really created a great foundation. It’s really good and brings a satisfying conclusion to the original prison break.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
May 2, 2015
For fifteen years, Claire O'Brien has believed that calling her dad to tell him about an indiscretion she witnessed caused her father to murder her mother and a lover. Now, Tom O'Brien has escaped from prison after an earthquake and has been on the run for several months. When he contacts her and tries to plead his innocence, Claire begins to start looking at all that happened, as well as current events that seem to have a connection to her family's past, and wondering if her father is really guilty.
Mitch Bianchi, who has been dating Claire and really cares for her, is living a lie. Claire believes he is a writer, while he is truly an FBI agent looking for her escaped father. Although Mitch knows his time with Claire is going to end very badly, he can't keep from falling even deeper for her. Mitch has been reviewing Tom O'Brien's case due to assistance Tom provided after the earthquake in capturing some of the very dangerous inmates who escaped. Mitch has begun to believe in Tom's innocence.
Meanwhile, a killer has hidden in plain sight for decades, and he is not finished.
I enjoyed this book by Allison Brennan, the last of her Prison Break trilogy. I loved seeing quite a few familiar characters, and I really liked both of the main characters, Claire O'Brien and Mitch Bianchi. The book held me engrossed, and I was kept guessing, trying to tie all of the threads of the story together. The plot was fairly complicated, much more so than what I expected at the beginning of the book, and I found reading it a very enjoyable experience.
Mitch Bianchi, who has been dating Claire and really cares for her, is living a lie. Claire believes he is a writer, while he is truly an FBI agent looking for her escaped father. Although Mitch knows his time with Claire is going to end very badly, he can't keep from falling even deeper for her. Mitch has been reviewing Tom O'Brien's case due to assistance Tom provided after the earthquake in capturing some of the very dangerous inmates who escaped. Mitch has begun to believe in Tom's innocence.
Meanwhile, a killer has hidden in plain sight for decades, and he is not finished.
I enjoyed this book by Allison Brennan, the last of her Prison Break trilogy. I loved seeing quite a few familiar characters, and I really liked both of the main characters, Claire O'Brien and Mitch Bianchi. The book held me engrossed, and I was kept guessing, trying to tie all of the threads of the story together. The plot was fairly complicated, much more so than what I expected at the beginning of the book, and I found reading it a very enjoyable experience.
January 16, 2020
This was a great mystery-suspense plot. The romance, not so hot, not so much and not at all satisfying to the romantic in me. I like my suspense intense and my romance scorching. But, I can live with a so-so romance as long as the mystery is there and is was there all the way from start to finish.
Claire O'Brien has spent half her life believing her father, a cop, killed her mother. When Tom O'Brien escapes prison, she wants him caught and returned to death row. Even a law student, Maddox, claiming he has proof her father was framed doesn't sway her. Tom helping recapture some really bad dudes, well, that is great, but he is still a murderer. When he contacts her asking her to find the law student, she wants nothing to do with him, but she is intrigued as to what happened to Maddox and what information he has. As a successful private investigator she sets out to find Maddox and put to rest, once and for all, any doubts her father killed her mother and her lover.
FBI Agent Mitch Bianchi saw first hand how Tom O'Brien helped recapture some really bad people and Tom saved his life too. It has caused Mitch to wonder just what did happen to Tom fifteen years ago. Going undercover, he has made contact with Tom's daughter in the hope that he can bring Tom in and keep him safe. Good plan, bad execution when Mitch falls for the lovely Claire. As a carefully constructed frame begins to fall apart, bodies start dropping and Claire becomes a target too.
Claire O'Brien has spent half her life believing her father, a cop, killed her mother. When Tom O'Brien escapes prison, she wants him caught and returned to death row. Even a law student, Maddox, claiming he has proof her father was framed doesn't sway her. Tom helping recapture some really bad dudes, well, that is great, but he is still a murderer. When he contacts her asking her to find the law student, she wants nothing to do with him, but she is intrigued as to what happened to Maddox and what information he has. As a successful private investigator she sets out to find Maddox and put to rest, once and for all, any doubts her father killed her mother and her lover.
FBI Agent Mitch Bianchi saw first hand how Tom O'Brien helped recapture some really bad people and Tom saved his life too. It has caused Mitch to wonder just what did happen to Tom fifteen years ago. Going undercover, he has made contact with Tom's daughter in the hope that he can bring Tom in and keep him safe. Good plan, bad execution when Mitch falls for the lovely Claire. As a carefully constructed frame begins to fall apart, bodies start dropping and Claire becomes a target too.
March 8, 2015
Fifteen years ago, Claire O'Brien's mother and her lover were murdered. Her father was convicted of the crime. Now he has escaped from San Quentin and has contacted her. He tells her he is innocent and needs her to use her private investigator skills to prove it. FBI Agent Mitch Bianchi believes Tom O'Brien is innocent. Tom saved his life when other escapees tried to kill him. Mitch started digging into the past and sees big holes in the case. During his investigation, Mitch meets Claire and doesn't let her know he is a cop. As they grow closer, Mitch falls in love with her, but knows she will never believe his feelings are real after all of the lies he told her.
This is the third book in Brennan's Prison Break series. As with the last two books, the hero and heroine already know each other when the story starts. We flashback to many scenes from the past, including their first meeting. Since the actual book takes place over a matter of days, this allows the quick pace of the relationship to be believable.
I enjoyed this story. I tried to guess the identity of the villain based on the scenes from his point-of-view. But, I was way off base on this one. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is the third book in Brennan's Prison Break series. As with the last two books, the hero and heroine already know each other when the story starts. We flashback to many scenes from the past, including their first meeting. Since the actual book takes place over a matter of days, this allows the quick pace of the relationship to be believable.
I enjoyed this story. I tried to guess the identity of the villain based on the scenes from his point-of-view. But, I was way off base on this one. My rating: 4 Stars.
January 21, 2020
Tom O’Brien escaped from prison after an earthquake and he sets out to prove he’s innocent of the crime he was sent to prison for. First he needs to convince his daughter. Along the way he helps the FBI catch other escaped convicts.
From the beginning of the book it’s hard to believe that Tom O’Brien killed his wife and lover. After the events of that day are described for the reader it’s even harder to understand why he was charged. There is no proof and no evidence. This fact alone lets the reader know that he was framed and that there is a lot of covering up going on. There are so many people involved in this story that it was almost hard to keep track of them. The main assassin seems to come across as an afterthought.
Mitch Bianchi is back and makes some really bad choices. Thankfully none of them affect the case, but it was close.
There is a lot going on in this book and the way it all comes together in the end is great. It’s a smooth reveal and surprising. It was an interesting mystery that kept me thinking about things every time I put the book down.
From the beginning of the book it’s hard to believe that Tom O’Brien killed his wife and lover. After the events of that day are described for the reader it’s even harder to understand why he was charged. There is no proof and no evidence. This fact alone lets the reader know that he was framed and that there is a lot of covering up going on. There are so many people involved in this story that it was almost hard to keep track of them. The main assassin seems to come across as an afterthought.
Mitch Bianchi is back and makes some really bad choices. Thankfully none of them affect the case, but it was close.
There is a lot going on in this book and the way it all comes together in the end is great. It’s a smooth reveal and surprising. It was an interesting mystery that kept me thinking about things every time I put the book down.
October 22, 2008
Incredible, unputdownable, unforgettable!
Claire O’Brien is a successful fraud investigator, assuming that they are all guilty until proven otherwise. After her father went to prison, she wouldn’t, and hasn’t really, trusted anyone. As she goes out to investigate a suspicious fire, her father surprises her, begging for help. He doesn’t care if he ends up back in prison, he doesn’t care that in four weeks, he’ll walk that stretch of corridor knowing he wouldn’t be coming back. What he cares about is that he doesn’t go to his grave without Claire knowing the truth ~ that he never killed her mother or her lover. That he was framed.
But the begging fell on deaf ears. Until, that is, when Claire found a letter from her father in her home office. That letter let curiosity out of the bag, and Claire began her own investigation. The more questions she posed, the more questions than answers she got back, and the more runaround the received, the more she believed that her father really was innocent.
Meanwhile, Mitch (FBI agent - we’ve met him in the first two books in the trilogy) had befriended Claire, hoping to get close to her, truly believing that her father would eventually contact her. What he didn’t plan on was falling in love with her. Now the question is - will he be able to keep her alive and prove that her father really is innocent when a psychopath made it clear he wants Claire - dead?
Even though I enjoyed the first two novels in the series, this was the perfect ending to the trilogy. Gripping, chilling, suspenseful, you truly won’t be able to put the book down. You’ll pick it right back up.
You’re sucked into the story and follow along with Claire as she tries to piece together what had happened 15 years ago. What and why. You really feel what Claire and Mitch feel for each other, including their inner battles. Great action, tenseful scenes, an excellent mystery. Plenty of colourful characters, but not too many; just the right amount that you knew exactly who all the players were - except for one.
The more questions Claire poses, the more questions she comes up with that are left unanswered. And the more you twist and turn into the story, the more you think you believe who the psycho is that’s after Claire. And I was so sure of myself, so darn sure. And I was off, way off… And I adore it when an author does that to me. If an author leaves me completely clueless until you find out exactly who it is, or all clues point to someone else and you’re totally wrong in your assumption, to me… the best romantic suspense thrillers around.
Allison Brennan is definitely an author not to ignore! I can’t wait for her next trilogy!
Claire O’Brien is a successful fraud investigator, assuming that they are all guilty until proven otherwise. After her father went to prison, she wouldn’t, and hasn’t really, trusted anyone. As she goes out to investigate a suspicious fire, her father surprises her, begging for help. He doesn’t care if he ends up back in prison, he doesn’t care that in four weeks, he’ll walk that stretch of corridor knowing he wouldn’t be coming back. What he cares about is that he doesn’t go to his grave without Claire knowing the truth ~ that he never killed her mother or her lover. That he was framed.
But the begging fell on deaf ears. Until, that is, when Claire found a letter from her father in her home office. That letter let curiosity out of the bag, and Claire began her own investigation. The more questions she posed, the more questions than answers she got back, and the more runaround the received, the more she believed that her father really was innocent.
Meanwhile, Mitch (FBI agent - we’ve met him in the first two books in the trilogy) had befriended Claire, hoping to get close to her, truly believing that her father would eventually contact her. What he didn’t plan on was falling in love with her. Now the question is - will he be able to keep her alive and prove that her father really is innocent when a psychopath made it clear he wants Claire - dead?
Even though I enjoyed the first two novels in the series, this was the perfect ending to the trilogy. Gripping, chilling, suspenseful, you truly won’t be able to put the book down. You’ll pick it right back up.
You’re sucked into the story and follow along with Claire as she tries to piece together what had happened 15 years ago. What and why. You really feel what Claire and Mitch feel for each other, including their inner battles. Great action, tenseful scenes, an excellent mystery. Plenty of colourful characters, but not too many; just the right amount that you knew exactly who all the players were - except for one.
The more questions Claire poses, the more questions she comes up with that are left unanswered. And the more you twist and turn into the story, the more you think you believe who the psycho is that’s after Claire. And I was so sure of myself, so darn sure. And I was off, way off… And I adore it when an author does that to me. If an author leaves me completely clueless until you find out exactly who it is, or all clues point to someone else and you’re totally wrong in your assumption, to me… the best romantic suspense thrillers around.
Allison Brennan is definitely an author not to ignore! I can’t wait for her next trilogy!
October 12, 2014
This book was like a sweater that was slowly unraveling. You pull one thread and then all of a sudden there is another one and another one ready to go.
It seemed like every time you had a handle on the story things would change, causing you to re-evaluate what you thought of the story and just who the bad guy was.
I just knew that the choices that Mitch made was going to come back and bite him in the butt, and sure enough it happened just how I thought.
I was surprised to see Nelia in this one, it took me a bit to place her and then once I did I was happy to see her finally find some happiness.
It seemed like every time you had a handle on the story things would change, causing you to re-evaluate what you thought of the story and just who the bad guy was.
I just knew that the choices that Mitch made was going to come back and bite him in the butt, and sure enough it happened just how I thought.
I was surprised to see Nelia in this one, it took me a bit to place her and then once I did I was happy to see her finally find some happiness.
February 19, 2017
I hadn't read the first two but enjoyed this never-the-less.
July 15, 2015
Title: Playing Dead, book 3 of the Prison Break trilogy
Author: Allison Brennan
Published/Released: 2008
Read: June, 2015.
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars!
Genre: Mystery - Law enforcement/FBI - thriller - murder mystery - side of romance ;)
Brief remarks:
I really, really enjoy reading pretty much anything written by Allison Brennan and "Playing Dead" was no exception! What a fabulously intricate plot; truly, I can often figure out who the bad dude is, but this book kept me guessing and surprised me with the big reveal! So groovy :))
I'm Type A and convinced I must read every book in a series in order or try to read books by an author I enjoy in the order they were written. I appreciate the fact howervr, that this series (& the others by Ms Brennan) can be read out of order and be just as enjoyable.
Great characters and character development, fabulous plot and I also enjoy "seeing" folks from other books. I'm weird, probably. lol
This book definitely deserves the five star rating I am proud to give!
Enjoy...cheers! Lisa (@NurseLisainOhio)
Author: Allison Brennan
Published/Released: 2008
Read: June, 2015.
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars!
Genre: Mystery - Law enforcement/FBI - thriller - murder mystery - side of romance ;)
Brief remarks:
I really, really enjoy reading pretty much anything written by Allison Brennan and "Playing Dead" was no exception! What a fabulously intricate plot; truly, I can often figure out who the bad dude is, but this book kept me guessing and surprised me with the big reveal! So groovy :))
I'm Type A and convinced I must read every book in a series in order or try to read books by an author I enjoy in the order they were written. I appreciate the fact howervr, that this series (& the others by Ms Brennan) can be read out of order and be just as enjoyable.
Great characters and character development, fabulous plot and I also enjoy "seeing" folks from other books. I'm weird, probably. lol
This book definitely deserves the five star rating I am proud to give!
Enjoy...cheers! Lisa (@NurseLisainOhio)
September 9, 2015
Brennan has a very readable style and entertaining voice. There are a LOT of flashbacks in this book, where a good deal of the clues reside, so if that's not to your taste, this book might fall flat for you. Some of the character descriptions fall under the "tell" rather than "show" category--for instance, we're told that hero Mitch has a trigger temper, but never once did he lose control during the story.
This book played the mystery and suspense very well, the story gaining momentum through to the end. Brennan did a good job making the bad guy extremely creepy. I feel like the conspiracy-angle of the story got short-shrift though.
The romance was a bit ho-hum... from a love story perspective, I didn't really connect with the characters. While I was invested in them solving the mystery and escaping danger, I didn't much care about their kinda superficial romance (which wraps up too neatly at the end).
Trigger warning: while none of the crimes are depicted in a terribly graphic or gruesome way, the villain is, among many other things, a sexual predator.
This book played the mystery and suspense very well, the story gaining momentum through to the end. Brennan did a good job making the bad guy extremely creepy. I feel like the conspiracy-angle of the story got short-shrift though.
The romance was a bit ho-hum... from a love story perspective, I didn't really connect with the characters. While I was invested in them solving the mystery and escaping danger, I didn't much care about their kinda superficial romance (which wraps up too neatly at the end).
Trigger warning: while none of the crimes are depicted in a terribly graphic or gruesome way, the villain is, among many other things, a sexual predator.
January 23, 2021
last in the trilogy of Prison Break. An earthquake at San Quentin allows a few prisoners to escape, including Tom, a former policeman, convicted of killing his wife and her lover. Prior to this book, in the two previous novels he helps the police catch a few of the escapees, anonymously; he is injured during one of the tipoffs.
He returns to Sacramento, to see his daughter, to plead his innocence. She was 16 at the time of the murders, now 10 years later is an investigator, raised by one of Tom's colleagues and his son, also policemen. Tom tells his daughter to look into a law student who had worked for The Western Innocence Project, and thought he had found new evidence; their next meeting had been interrupted by the earthquake. It turns out he was never seen after the earthquake date, but the FBI are also working to find Tom, and discover more strings to investigate.
Certainly more thrilling than the last novel.
He returns to Sacramento, to see his daughter, to plead his innocence. She was 16 at the time of the murders, now 10 years later is an investigator, raised by one of Tom's colleagues and his son, also policemen. Tom tells his daughter to look into a law student who had worked for The Western Innocence Project, and thought he had found new evidence; their next meeting had been interrupted by the earthquake. It turns out he was never seen after the earthquake date, but the FBI are also working to find Tom, and discover more strings to investigate.
Certainly more thrilling than the last novel.
August 2, 2025
Five tries. Finally, I had to commit to a desperate skim. Torturous.
All the cards are played way too soon, the skill of artfully dropping information is remiss. Brennan hasn't really created suspense- rather a mechanic sharing of information. I've read so many crime novels- and this misses the mark awfully.
The main character is a classic "one-of-the-guys" girl, a pick-me in the lame "boss-babe" way. Not hooking us in with the main character makes so much of the book's information-drops and flashback scenes boring and lacking in depth.
Crime novels are generally centred around an aspect of morality, a dark root, or at least a motive that toes the line of being both vile and pitiable to some degree. While Brennan tries to create that with the killer's back story- she fails at centring the whole plot around it- it just feels like a mess of sexual deprivation and lukewarm romance.
Every thing that is to be aimed for in a crime novel wasn't reached.
All the cards are played way too soon, the skill of artfully dropping information is remiss. Brennan hasn't really created suspense- rather a mechanic sharing of information. I've read so many crime novels- and this misses the mark awfully.
The main character is a classic "one-of-the-guys" girl, a pick-me in the lame "boss-babe" way. Not hooking us in with the main character makes so much of the book's information-drops and flashback scenes boring and lacking in depth.
Crime novels are generally centred around an aspect of morality, a dark root, or at least a motive that toes the line of being both vile and pitiable to some degree. While Brennan tries to create that with the killer's back story- she fails at centring the whole plot around it- it just feels like a mess of sexual deprivation and lukewarm romance.
Every thing that is to be aimed for in a crime novel wasn't reached.
January 19, 2016
This was a really good suspense with a heavy thread of romance running through it. The entire trilogy was good and in my opinion should be read in order for the entire story arc. There was a twist with one of the characters that was unexpected and I wish that we would have had more epilogue with that part of the story.
February 21, 2020
The third book of this trilogy, Brennan continues to engage readers with the escaped convicts from San Quentin, a prison in California. During an earthquake (in the first book), nine or so convicts escaped. Thanks to local police departments, the FBI, and one of the convicts himself, all of the escapees have been captured. Well, all besides the one who has been helping them.
Tom O'Brien, a former police officer, escaped during the earthquake and leaked locations to the police and the FBI to recapture all of the convicts. During the second book, Tempting Evil, readers are led to believe that O'Brien died during a shoot out with two other convicts, because he made a comment about Doherty's love interest.
Left in a snowbank during a blizzard, the second novel ends without ever hearing from O'Brien again.
But the third novel picks up with his return to California in search of his daughter, Claire.
But he's not alone this time. In fact, Brennan manages to create a crossover with her Lucy Kincaid series by bringing in Nelia Kincaid as O'Brien's savior. Now they're both trying to prove his innocence, and the only one who can help them is his daughter, also known as a private investigator for the Rogan-Caruso company - yet another crossover.
---
Fifteen years ago, Claire's mother, Lydia, and her lover were shot dead in Claire's parent's bed. She had heard them together, called her dad, and returned twenty minutes later to find her father holding a gun, and both of the cheaters laying together, bloody and dead.
Claire assumed her father's guilt. She testified against him. He was sentenced.
Fifteen years later, he has never wavered about his innocence, and now he's doing his best to get his daughter to believe him, because something isn't sitting right.
Besides his innocence, nothing makes sense. The police never looked into the prosecutor his wife was sleeping with. They assumed that O'Brien was the only possible culprit, and stopped their investigation.
But then there's also the law student who believed in O'Brien's innocence and is now missing. And other people are showing up dead. Nothing makes sense and O'Brien can only do so much while being a fugitive.
Without his daughter's help, he might die. But with her help, she might die.
---
Tom O'Brian, Claire, the FBI … none of them know what they're about to uncover. Between the lies, the deceit, and the fake identities, Claire's ability to trust has completely disintegrated over the years - and it doesn't seem as though she's going to gain it back any time soon.
Especially when someone she's grown up with and known all of her life is the reason that she's lost everything.
---
A phenomenal end to yet another series, Brennan never ceases to amaze her beloved and devoted readers.
Tom O'Brien, a former police officer, escaped during the earthquake and leaked locations to the police and the FBI to recapture all of the convicts. During the second book, Tempting Evil, readers are led to believe that O'Brien died during a shoot out with two other convicts, because he made a comment about Doherty's love interest.
Left in a snowbank during a blizzard, the second novel ends without ever hearing from O'Brien again.
But the third novel picks up with his return to California in search of his daughter, Claire.
But he's not alone this time. In fact, Brennan manages to create a crossover with her Lucy Kincaid series by bringing in Nelia Kincaid as O'Brien's savior. Now they're both trying to prove his innocence, and the only one who can help them is his daughter, also known as a private investigator for the Rogan-Caruso company - yet another crossover.
---
Fifteen years ago, Claire's mother, Lydia, and her lover were shot dead in Claire's parent's bed. She had heard them together, called her dad, and returned twenty minutes later to find her father holding a gun, and both of the cheaters laying together, bloody and dead.
Claire assumed her father's guilt. She testified against him. He was sentenced.
Fifteen years later, he has never wavered about his innocence, and now he's doing his best to get his daughter to believe him, because something isn't sitting right.
Besides his innocence, nothing makes sense. The police never looked into the prosecutor his wife was sleeping with. They assumed that O'Brien was the only possible culprit, and stopped their investigation.
But then there's also the law student who believed in O'Brien's innocence and is now missing. And other people are showing up dead. Nothing makes sense and O'Brien can only do so much while being a fugitive.
Without his daughter's help, he might die. But with her help, she might die.
---
Tom O'Brian, Claire, the FBI … none of them know what they're about to uncover. Between the lies, the deceit, and the fake identities, Claire's ability to trust has completely disintegrated over the years - and it doesn't seem as though she's going to gain it back any time soon.
Especially when someone she's grown up with and known all of her life is the reason that she's lost everything.
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A phenomenal end to yet another series, Brennan never ceases to amaze her beloved and devoted readers.
May 18, 2019
Okay okay firstly can I just scream because its about time we get to see Neila Kincaid in action! The secret alluring missing Kincaid has been something I have been waiting to get on my hands as shes been missing for 12 years! But oh the horror and exception I was expecting more! A mini cameo of Carina mentioned set me off and here is me thinking we would get the family reunion I deserve. But alas that is not the case. Though the story evolves around the innocence of Thomas O Brien it actually is set majority in the eyes of Special Agent Mitch (who we see in the previous books) and Claire Brain the daughter of the ex convict Thomas.
I wish I could say I was surprised about who was watching her the whole time but I actually wasnt. I am suspicion person in general and I first thought it might have been Dave but the way a certain character by the name Phil stood out to me well. I just knew it I just needed to know the why and goddam its times like this when I see the system is flawed for the powerful.
A cop wrongly convicted due to power brutality? By a judge and other senators and others in power. Justice suck hard core!
This was my favourite book in the series but why didnt Nila meet her family? I have feeling she might just and will soon find out the death of her son Justin who has been set up for us previously!
But yes if you have read my review is the book worth it? YES but please read the other series starting from the first book she starts out with! I promise its fun!
I hae a feeling im seeing Meg book next ;)
I wish I could say I was surprised about who was watching her the whole time but I actually wasnt. I am suspicion person in general and I first thought it might have been Dave but the way a certain character by the name Phil stood out to me well. I just knew it I just needed to know the why and goddam its times like this when I see the system is flawed for the powerful.
A cop wrongly convicted due to power brutality? By a judge and other senators and others in power. Justice suck hard core!
This was my favourite book in the series but why didnt Nila meet her family? I have feeling she might just and will soon find out the death of her son Justin who has been set up for us previously!
But yes if you have read my review is the book worth it? YES but please read the other series starting from the first book she starts out with! I promise its fun!
I hae a feeling im seeing Meg book next ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2025
I rated this book 4.5 stars.
This book is the third and last one in the "Prison Break" trilogy and follows Claire and Mitch.
Claire is Tom's daughter who is one of the prisoners who escaped and was a cop. Claire has always believed that Tom was guilty until he comes asking her to investigate the time he supposedly committed.
Mitch is an FBI agent who was saved by Tom and believes that he is innocent so he befriends Claire under a fake identity and they end up falling for each other.
And the closer Claire gets to the truth the more danger she is in.
The suspense and mystery in this book were done so well. And the twists I did not see coming. I was so invested in this book and was sitting on the edge of my seat. I was hooked on the first page.
I loved this book so much.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good suspense and mystery book with a bit of a romantic subplot.
This book is the third and last one in the "Prison Break" trilogy and follows Claire and Mitch.
Claire is Tom's daughter who is one of the prisoners who escaped and was a cop. Claire has always believed that Tom was guilty until he comes asking her to investigate the time he supposedly committed.
Mitch is an FBI agent who was saved by Tom and believes that he is innocent so he befriends Claire under a fake identity and they end up falling for each other.
And the closer Claire gets to the truth the more danger she is in.
The suspense and mystery in this book were done so well. And the twists I did not see coming. I was so invested in this book and was sitting on the edge of my seat. I was hooked on the first page.
I loved this book so much.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good suspense and mystery book with a bit of a romantic subplot.
October 27, 2017
I have now read all three of the books in the prison break trilogy. I quite enjoyed the first one and I was started to read the following two I found myself not being drawn into the story as much as the first. The more I read into the last two books the more that I found myself dragging my feet to finish them. I felt the need to finish the second and the third one because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
At times I got confused on who exactly the killer was as far as their identity. I quite enjoyed the way the book ended, but this was probably my only favorite part of this book. I felt that the further the series went the harder it was to read the books as they lost their interest to me.
At times I got confused on who exactly the killer was as far as their identity. I quite enjoyed the way the book ended, but this was probably my only favorite part of this book. I felt that the further the series went the harder it was to read the books as they lost their interest to me.
June 3, 2018
Tom O'Brien was sentenced to death for the murders of his wife & a man she was having an affair with. However, he was not quilty. His daughter, Claire, believes he is. An FBI agent, Mitch Bianchi, believes O'Brien is innocent and is determined to prove it. Mitch befriends Claire but doesn't tell her who he is. She thinks he's an author.
The search for truth becomes dangerous and numerous murders happen.
Lots of action and suspense in this story and some vivid sex, which surprised me for a female author.
c
The search for truth becomes dangerous and numerous murders happen.
Lots of action and suspense in this story and some vivid sex, which surprised me for a female author.
c
March 13, 2020
A great ending to this trilogy. I had been looking forward to Toms story since the first book and I thoroughly enjoyed his journey to redemption. Claire and Mitch are a great couple and Mitch might be one of my favorite male characters that AB has created! This story is very fast paced and full of betrayal, action, love, crime and secrets. There are a few familiar faces from other books such as Hans and Meg, but it is not necessary to read other series before this one. I would recommend reading the trilogy in order though to experience the buildup to this story!
January 18, 2025
This one is a dud. I've ready many Allison Brennan books and often go to see if I can find older ones.
This one is a solid pass. I was reading thinking "When does this get good?" I was on page 159. I get it - she thinks her dad killed her mom, he is and FBI agent and hasn't told her. So what -- it doesn't take 159 pages to establish this.
I threw this book away at the crude-uneccessary-sexual incidents. Not part of the romance and not part of the relationship. Just crude, unneccesary, and not relevant.
Take a pass on this one.
This one is a solid pass. I was reading thinking "When does this get good?" I was on page 159. I get it - she thinks her dad killed her mom, he is and FBI agent and hasn't told her. So what -- it doesn't take 159 pages to establish this.
I threw this book away at the crude-uneccessary-sexual incidents. Not part of the romance and not part of the relationship. Just crude, unneccesary, and not relevant.
Take a pass on this one.
June 1, 2017
This was really good. Reading this reminded me of the 'Grave Digger' storyline on 'Bones'. I liked how Allison Brennan wrote this. I liked how she built this storyline that eventually led to O'Brian getting his name cleared. This is another series I'd like to see continue or have another one spun off from this one. One that'd have Mitch and Claire as lead characters in the suspenseful action packed story
February 3, 2022
An engrossing read: three evil men with their own hired assassin ( all of them from the same college fraternity) committed crimes and covered them up for three decades. The cover up was murder - not the least of which were 16 young women whose bodies had been buried in the same rural field.
The bad guys included a politician, a judge, a petty thief and a college law professor Eindhoven enough cops and DBI to make a quorum.
I recommend this book.
The bad guys included a politician, a judge, a petty thief and a college law professor Eindhoven enough cops and DBI to make a quorum.
I recommend this book.
November 7, 2025
I enjoyed the story and it did keep me guessing until the end. My only problem with it was the amount of character names and keeping them all straight in my head towards the end of the book. One of the characters was referred to sometimes by his first name and sometimes his surname so it got a little confusing and that’s the reason I didn’t give the book 5 stars. I would not be opposed to reading another book by this author
September 11, 2018
I understand that the author wanted to make the criminals hateful but (geeze!!!) she went way overboard with the gross demeaning and abuse of women. It was unnecessary. There were just too many disturbing parts that I had to skip over. It was unfortunate because other than that, the writing was good, the plot and characters interesting.
December 5, 2019
I think this was really well written: I liked that it wasn't in a first person narrative (though if it was, I still would've liked it), I didn't get bored while reading and I liked the main characters. I kind of wish there was a bit more romance in it (I have a fondness for romance lol) but it had enough to keep my heart content.
December 12, 2017
I loved this story, but I had a hard time keeping track of all of the characters, so at times I got confused and had to look back to figure out who was who. If not for that issue I would have rated this book 5 stars
October 23, 2018
I really, really enjoyed this book, simply because of the twists and turns. It was difficult to predict the whos and whys at first, although I later guessed why. It was a satisfying read which i finished in one sitting
April 9, 2021
Claire finds her beliefs of her father's guilt can cost her her life. More and more truth comes out as she begins to question and remember. A serial killer may hold the key to question she may not want answered.
Read
August 12, 2021pretty good book, definitely enjoyed the thrill and suspense. I wish they did better with the ending, it should have included how David and Bill reacted to finding out Philip was the killer and what he did to Clarie.
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