The Trophy Exchange

Lucinda Pierce #1

by Diane Fanning

A fast-paced thriller introducing an unforgettable heroine - Homicide Investigator Lucinda Pierce is physically and emotionally scarred by her job. She is angry and bitter, but her life is her work. Lucinda gets sent to investigate the brutal killing of Dr Kathleen Spencer. There seem to be links with other dead could it be the work of a serial killer? And will Lucinda be able to solve it or has she become too emotionally involved this time?

Genres: Mystery, True Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Crime

249 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Autumn Bragg · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was my first time really reading a true crime book and let’s say it is not my absolute favorite genre. It was still a well written book but they were missing pieces to make it a complete mysterious story. I will admit their were times when I wanted to stop reading the book because she really knows how to disturb a reader. The parts that were written in the killers mind and thoughts were so gory and really messed up. The fact that this stuff happens every day has really gotten into my head. This book was definitely an interesting story and maybe the last true crime book I read…

[Chris Demer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Fanning crime novel-this one involving a very disturbed, angry man with mental health issues, long ago ignored and forgotten by his family.
He sets out on a complex rampage of revenge, including, but not limited to his family.
The novel includes well-drawn characters, suspense and false leads.
Of added interest to the story, Lucinda, the investigator on the case has a badly scarred side of her face and the loss of one eye from a shotgun blast during a domestic call. Why has she hesitated to get plastic surgery so far? There are complex reasons, some of which are resolved when the case is over.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book, but I like books that have turns you never see coming.. this one I predicted halfway through the book. However, I still couldn’t put it down. I think if you like suspense and murder mystery’s you should definitely read this one, but be aware.. there are some chapters that are from the view of the murderer and they are intense to say the least.. 🫣😅

[natdelll · Rating 5 out of 5]

new niche obsession incoming …

[Daniel Rudge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very hard book for me to rate. I couldn't decide between 3 stars and 4 stars but ultimately chose three because of a couple of issues I had with this book. The plot was fast-paced and slightly disturbing but it wasn't enough to wow me either. The story focuses on the pursuit of a serial killer who murders women, steals one piece of jewelry, then places that jewelry on his next victim while taking a piece of that persons jewelry. Thus the title, The Trophy Exchange. While the lead character of Lucinda Pierce is vividly portrayed with a great deal of emotional and violence-filled background, the other characters aren't much more than window dressing. However, you invest so much in Lucinda (she has a facial deformity she obtained from a shotgun blast to the face while breaking up a domestic dispute) that the lack of character building for all of the other players doesn't seem to matter as much. My biggest gripe was that author Fanning could have spent more time delving into the brain of the serial killer. I also think the mystery would have been better if Lucinda hadn't been so focused on Evan Spencer as her one and only suspect. Evan is her suspect because Evan's daughter Charley arrives home from school to find her mother dead in the basement with her face crushed by a cinder block. Lucinda is called in to investigate and finds the victim's husband Evan, a little strange in the way he is acting towards the murder. As more murders pile up and the trophy exchange continues there is not much pointing at Evan's guilt except Lucinda's suspicions. Hard to call a serial killer mystery light summer reading, but that is what this book is all about. Unless you are enthralled by books with seriously emotionally and physically disturbed main characters, I wouldn't put it on your must read list but if you have nothing else, you won't mind spending the time with this mystery.

[Patti · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't believe this steamy heap of pig intestines and dog shit was ever written, let alone written by a woman. I couldn't finish it for three reasons and they were the main female characters:

1) Detective Lucinda is scarred both mentally & physically and of course she is single and lonely and depressed and...wait for it...she has a cat. Of course she does! I'm sure she eats TV dinners in little foil trays, too. She probably longingly stares at commercials for diamond rings and honeymoon cruises when she isn't throwing herself into her career or petting her cat or longing to have kids.

2) Wifey #1 murder victim had a PhD in math, was a freaking mathema-fucking-tician with a faculty job at a university but once she crapped out her kids, she happily threw that all away to stay home and bake cookies. Yes, she literally had just baked some cookies before she died. Math doctorate? What math doctorate???? I'ma bake me some cookies, bitches!

3) Wifey #2 wife of the male detective and ex-boyfriend of Lucinda. She also doesn't seem to have a job and man is she a bitch. She is still hung up on Lucinda even though she was husband's high school girlfriend. So she treats her husband--who is supporting her deadbeat ass, by the way--like shit. For having a high school girlfriend. Did I mention he is supporting her and if he (wisely) threw her dead ass out, she'd be working three jobs with no health care? Go right on ahead treating him like ass though, please.

I guess I have to be the one to break it to this broad that women can have careers & kids, not have kids, not be total cunts to their men, actually support themselves and that it's not 19 fucking 53!Do you know how I know this? Because I don't have/want kids, I'm not a cunt to my man and I support myself. And my SmartPhone says it's 2012.

[Kayeb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serial killer who takes jewelry or other small thing from one person and gives it to the next....... The unveiling of the solution is ok, the plot moves along and I am mostly fine with.....however, why writers think they ahve to force a romance into the novel is beyond me...I guess the idea is that the dad/husband (suspect) has the kid that he can't respond to emotionally and Lucinda can out of her own :stuff: but it just seemed like it lessened the story to have them get together at the end. My response.......yes, she has become too emotionally and phonily involved



[close:] A fast-paced thriller introducing an unforgettable heroine - Homicide Investigator Lucinda Pierce is physically and emotionally scarred by her job. She is angry and bitter, but her life is her work. Lucinda gets sent to investigate the brutal killing of Dr Kathleen Spencer. There seem to be links with other dead women: could it be the work of a serial killer? And will Lucinda be able to solve it or has she become too emotionally involved this time? [close:]

[BxerMom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane Fanning has a winner with her new series featuring Lucinda Pierce.
The Trophy Exchange starts off fast and never slows down. Lucinda is a strong, intelligent detective yet she has a soft side which you will see.
The story revolves around the murder of a woman who leaves two young children behind. Lucinda jumps in with both feet to investigate, returning to the job after a lengthy internal affairs investigation. As Lucinda develops a strong bond with one of the victims daughters, she follows the clues and her instincts to catch the killer. But all the clues point to one suspect-one that may leave the victims children without a father.
A must read for anyone who enjoys fast paced action. I look forward to reading more of Diane Fanning's books.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Fanning’s The Trophy Exchange starts off fast and keeps moving. A woman has been killed, the only witness, a three-year old child. The lead detective, Lucinda Pierce, is smart and strong. She’s also just back on the job and has demons of her own. She not only has to deal with this horrific case, she has to contend with scars visible to all.

But unlike those who may step back when they first see her, she can’t step away from this case, even as it puts her in personal danger.

Fanning has created a flawed and fascinating character that I’ll look forward to reading in books to come.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very solid police procedural with an interesting police detective protagonist. My only quibble is that she (and several of the other characters) have had a little too much torment in their lives. The lead detective, Lucinda, watched the murder suicide of her mother/father, has been shot in the face with a shotgun so that she lost and eye and has disfiguring scars, and most recently mistakenly shot a baby being held as protection by his gun-wielding father. All of this is her backstory and it got to be a bit much. I still consider this a solid start to the series and will read future books by the author - merely hope that she tones down the tortured doom.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I find it interesting in how we discover new authors. Case in point, I picked this book up because I needed it to fit a random challenge category (the initials of the author had to match my own) and I found it by browing the F shelf at the library. But I really enjoyed it overall. I loved that as a character Lucinda wasn't the perfect cop. The supporting characters were intriging, I want to hear more about Ted (one of the Sgt's who works with her) and his family; and hoping that there will be a re-appearance of other characters. I'll def. be reading the next one in the series.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this author 's true crime books and was pleased to see that her fiction is entertaining as well. This is usually not the kind of book I read, but I did like it fairly well. It was suspenseful and had enough going on that it raised a few issues outside of the plot, such as spousal abuse and racism. The heroine was just tough enough, yet just human enough to make me willing to read more about her, possibly. I have met this author and thought she was a good speaker.

[Derk · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I picked this book more or less at random and enjoyed it. At first I thought it was a sequel, but then later history was explained so it's either a stand alone, or the start of a series. A fast, reasonably consistent read. The villain was pulled out of the air, which seemed a bit unfair.

[Ships · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I loved the detective and twisted antagonist, I also liked it's from multi points of view, I did think it was longer then it needed to be dragging in places, but the ending was very good I found myself biting my fingernails towards the end lol...Will probably read the next in the series wanting to see how Lucinda's character develops...

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novel by a true - crime writer!

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda knew the 'who' but the 'why' was good. The story had another case unfolding that had a unique end.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a really good book. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day.

[Suzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good mystery storpy. Interesting detective. Will read more in this series.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Lucinda Pierce book--interesting but not as good as the last one I read, however, it's about the murder of Charlie's mother and how she and Lucinda became such good friends.

[JMRL]

Find it at JMRL: http://bit.ly/1J89th8

Diane Fanning lives in Bedford, VA.

[Kay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific beginning for a very interesting heroine. The story was interesting, not so simple to be guessed and the characters were believable.,