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Lucy Kincaid #1
Love Me to Death
Six years ago, Lucy Kincaid was attacked and nearly killed by an online predator. She survived. Her attacker did not. Now Lucy's goal is to join the FBI and fight cyber-crime, but in the meantime, she's volunteering with a victim's rights group, surfing the Web undercover to lure sex offenders into the hands of the law. But when the predators she hunts start turning up as murder victims, the FBI takes a whole new interest in Lucy.
With her future and possibly even her freedom suddenly in jeopardy, Lucy discovers she's a pawn in someone's twisted plot to mete out vigilante justice. She joins forces with security expert and daredevil Sean Rogan, and together they track their elusive quarry from anonymous online chat rooms onto the mean streets of Washington, D.C. But someone else is shadowing them: A merciless stalker has his savage eye on Lucy. The only way for her to escape his brutality may be another fight to the death.
With her future and possibly even her freedom suddenly in jeopardy, Lucy discovers she's a pawn in someone's twisted plot to mete out vigilante justice. She joins forces with security expert and daredevil Sean Rogan, and together they track their elusive quarry from anonymous online chat rooms onto the mean streets of Washington, D.C. But someone else is shadowing them: A merciless stalker has his savage eye on Lucy. The only way for her to escape his brutality may be another fight to the death.
Audible Audio
First published December 28, 2010
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About the author
Allison Brennan
110 books5,316 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 626 reviews
April 17, 2020
LOVE ME TO DEATH by Allison Brennan is the first book in the Lucy Kincaid series. (3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.) Six years ago, Lucy Kincaid was sexually assaulted and tortured. She has finally got her life together and is waiting on the results of her FBI application. Meanwhile she works a variety of jobs including part time at a victim's rights group and the coroner's office. What she didn't count on was one of her prior kidnappers getting out on parole and ending up murdered. On top of this, she has a stalker.
Lucy is a compelling main character and definitely someone you can root for. Her strength wavered at times in this book, but perhaps that is to be expected after what she went through six years ago. Her goals were clear and definitely influenced the plot. Her motivations seemed believable and well-drawn. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story.
The prose was well-written and absorbing. The plot was intense, thought-provoking and suspenseful, but a little slow in places in the middle of the book. The ending was dramatic and traumatic. Overall, this is an excellent start to this series. The novel does deal with traumatic themes including violence, sexual assault and torture, but it also deals with victim's rights, recovering from a traumatic event, family dynamics and even the beginnings of a romance.
I have read other books in this series as well as other series by this author, but it has been a while. I believe that they are best read in order. I have book 2 on my bookshelf and plan to read it soon.
Lucy is a compelling main character and definitely someone you can root for. Her strength wavered at times in this book, but perhaps that is to be expected after what she went through six years ago. Her goals were clear and definitely influenced the plot. Her motivations seemed believable and well-drawn. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story.
The prose was well-written and absorbing. The plot was intense, thought-provoking and suspenseful, but a little slow in places in the middle of the book. The ending was dramatic and traumatic. Overall, this is an excellent start to this series. The novel does deal with traumatic themes including violence, sexual assault and torture, but it also deals with victim's rights, recovering from a traumatic event, family dynamics and even the beginnings of a romance.
I have read other books in this series as well as other series by this author, but it has been a while. I believe that they are best read in order. I have book 2 on my bookshelf and plan to read it soon.
June 10, 2020
Six years ago, Lucy Kincaid was abducted and brutally assaulted by a sexual predator who operated an entire enterprise. She worked hard at her recovery and with her family’s help is now well adjusted and has set her sights on a career with the FBI. In the meantime, Lucy is volunteering at a victims rights organization called Women and Children First (WCF) where she engages online with known paroled sex offenders and leads them to recapture. When one of her targets ends up suspiciously murdered, she discovers after some probing that others she’s engaged with have also later turned up dead.
Since brother Patrick is out of town, Sean Rogan, his partner at Rogan Caruso Kincaid, comes to assist her in his stead. With the FBI’s Noah Armstrong leading the investigation, Lucy becomes an unwilling participant when she comes under suspicion. And, it soon becomes clear that someone is stalking her and may be connected to the investigation.
I am really glad our group reading this series together decided to first read the preceding trilogies that set up not only Lucy’s tragic past but others in the Kincaid family. Having that insight about them made this a much more layered story. There are a lot of angles and possible suspects, including Lucy’s stalker and I had to pay close attention to keep the clues assembled. I was quickly drawn in and immersed in the mystery and lives of the characters.
I opted to listen to the series and enjoyed the narrator’s performance of this story, even though I had to increase the speed setting. There are a lot of characters and she was able to distinguish them effectively. The mystery itself was a little gnarly and, considering it involved sexual predators, quite loathsome. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Sean and Lucy, as well as her realistic portrayal of a young woman who is forced to relive the trauma she worked so hard to overcome. It was interesting on many levels and a strong start to the series.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Since brother Patrick is out of town, Sean Rogan, his partner at Rogan Caruso Kincaid, comes to assist her in his stead. With the FBI’s Noah Armstrong leading the investigation, Lucy becomes an unwilling participant when she comes under suspicion. And, it soon becomes clear that someone is stalking her and may be connected to the investigation.
I am really glad our group reading this series together decided to first read the preceding trilogies that set up not only Lucy’s tragic past but others in the Kincaid family. Having that insight about them made this a much more layered story. There are a lot of angles and possible suspects, including Lucy’s stalker and I had to pay close attention to keep the clues assembled. I was quickly drawn in and immersed in the mystery and lives of the characters.
I opted to listen to the series and enjoyed the narrator’s performance of this story, even though I had to increase the speed setting. There are a lot of characters and she was able to distinguish them effectively. The mystery itself was a little gnarly and, considering it involved sexual predators, quite loathsome. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Sean and Lucy, as well as her realistic portrayal of a young woman who is forced to relive the trauma she worked so hard to overcome. It was interesting on many levels and a strong start to the series.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
September 30, 2018
About nine months ago I have read the tenth book in this series No Good Deed and I wasn't genuinely impressed. Now, I gave a chance to the first book in this series and I don't like it either.
One of the things I didn't like about the previous book I read is the slow pace of the story. Here I also have this problem. This is about 400 pages of endless waiting for the characters to come up with the right answers. The answers you already know. You know that and many other things, but you have to wait for the FBI to see the truth. Extremely frustrating! There are lot of twists in the plot that are totally predictable and unsurprising. If you ever read any suspense book, you already know this story. And, just in case, the author gives you clues.
And what is with all this people?! Kincaids are probably the most tortured family in the history of crime stories! Do Kate and Dillon have their own book? There is no one member of this family without some heartbreaking story!
The other thing I didn't like about No Good Deed is the fact that I felt no attachment to Lucy. This is still the case, I don't care about her enough. The good thing is that I really like Sean who I totally overlooked in the tenth book. He is a nice hero after all.
I don't think this is my last book in this series, but I'm not sure I will read another book soon.
One of the things I didn't like about the previous book I read is the slow pace of the story. Here I also have this problem. This is about 400 pages of endless waiting for the characters to come up with the right answers. The answers you already know. You know that and many other things, but you have to wait for the FBI to see the truth. Extremely frustrating! There are lot of twists in the plot that are totally predictable and unsurprising. If you ever read any suspense book, you already know this story. And, just in case, the author gives you clues.
And what is with all this people?! Kincaids are probably the most tortured family in the history of crime stories! Do Kate and Dillon have their own book? There is no one member of this family without some heartbreaking story!
The other thing I didn't like about No Good Deed is the fact that I felt no attachment to Lucy. This is still the case, I don't care about her enough. The good thing is that I really like Sean who I totally overlooked in the tenth book. He is a nice hero after all.
I don't think this is my last book in this series, but I'm not sure I will read another book soon.
November 14, 2014
I will start by saying this is not my kind of book. It took me several days to get through this. I finished it this morning and I'm already wondering, "What was this about again?" I did the audio on this and I can't blame the reader, because it was read well. I will even say the story was good. It had good suspense, too. So, I knew I would finish it...eventually.
First off, there seemed to be so many people in it. So I found myself hitting the rewind button to re-listen so I could learn who all these people were. A fair amount of them had such minor roles, they could have been eliminated and the story would not have suffered.
There also seemed to be a lot of back story introduced every time something needed more explanation. I had to rewind a lot because of that as well. For me, it felt super manipulated, because there was an explanation for everything.
The female mc did not have a consistent presence. She wobbled a lot between what the author was telling us who she was (ie: a tough FBI wannabe), to being a weak victim of a past crime. Survivors of traumatic experiences usually don't whip out a fine tooth comb to go over it every second of every day.
The romance was fantasy fiction. It caused excessive eye rolling and there was a simpering part that almost activated my gag reflex. I am not a fan of the mix of genre's here.
Lastly, the men seemed a little whiny. But maybe it was how the reader read the lines. I don't know. I just know it didn't feel right.
First off, there seemed to be so many people in it. So I found myself hitting the rewind button to re-listen so I could learn who all these people were. A fair amount of them had such minor roles, they could have been eliminated and the story would not have suffered.
There also seemed to be a lot of back story introduced every time something needed more explanation. I had to rewind a lot because of that as well. For me, it felt super manipulated, because there was an explanation for everything.
The female mc did not have a consistent presence. She wobbled a lot between what the author was telling us who she was (ie: a tough FBI wannabe), to being a weak victim of a past crime. Survivors of traumatic experiences usually don't whip out a fine tooth comb to go over it every second of every day.
The romance was fantasy fiction. It caused excessive eye rolling and there was a simpering part that almost activated my gag reflex. I am not a fan of the mix of genre's here.
Lastly, the men seemed a little whiny. But maybe it was how the reader read the lines. I don't know. I just know it didn't feel right.
January 16, 2026
4 Stars
Love Me to Death opens the Lucy Kincaid series with a pulse that’s impossible to ignore. I’m genuinely grateful I started with Love Is Murder (#0.5), because it didn’t just introduce me to a new series — it introduced me to a woman who lodged herself under my skin and stayed there.
Lucy Kincaid is so much more than a main character. She’s a survivor whose past feels raw enough to touch. She endured an attack that should have ended her story, yet she rises from that darkness with a fierce, almost defiant determination to reclaim her life. Not just for her own sake, but to protect others from the horrors she knows too well. Watching her rebuild herself — slowly, painfully, bravely — stirred something deep in me. Her fear, her grit, her quiet moments of vulnerability, and that stubborn spark that refuses to die… it all feels achingly human.
In Love Me to Death, Lucy is pulled into an investigation involving a string of mysterious deaths — and, devastatingly, she becomes a person of interest herself. It’s as if the shadows she’s been trying to outrun suddenly close in again. The tension is relentless. The danger feels like it’s breathing down her neck. And through it all, Lucy’s resilience becomes the lifeline you cling to as the story twists tighter and tighter.
The pacing never lets up. Each chapter feels like stepping deeper into a labyrinth of secrets, where every turn reveals something darker, sharper, more urgent. Brennan’s writing doesn’t just tell a story — it wraps around you, pulling you into a world of suspense that’s intricate, atmospheric, and impossible to escape. I found myself completely absorbed, flipping pages because I needed to know what happened next — not just to unravel the mystery, but to stay beside Lucy as she fights her way forward.
By the end, I wasn’t just reading a thriller. I was rooting for a woman who refuses to break.
By the time I reached the end, I wasn’t just entertained — I was invested. And now I’m diving straight into the next book, because leaving Lucy behind isn’t an option.
And then there’s Sean Rogan — a private investigator whose arrival adds a whole new current of tension and intrigue. His presence complicates the plot in all the right ways, adding depth, friction, and a dynamic that promises even more intensity as the series unfolds. He doesn’t overshadow Lucy; he sharpens the world around her.
Love Me to Death opens the Lucy Kincaid series with a pulse that’s impossible to ignore. I’m genuinely grateful I started with Love Is Murder (#0.5), because it didn’t just introduce me to a new series — it introduced me to a woman who lodged herself under my skin and stayed there.
Lucy Kincaid is so much more than a main character. She’s a survivor whose past feels raw enough to touch. She endured an attack that should have ended her story, yet she rises from that darkness with a fierce, almost defiant determination to reclaim her life. Not just for her own sake, but to protect others from the horrors she knows too well. Watching her rebuild herself — slowly, painfully, bravely — stirred something deep in me. Her fear, her grit, her quiet moments of vulnerability, and that stubborn spark that refuses to die… it all feels achingly human.
In Love Me to Death, Lucy is pulled into an investigation involving a string of mysterious deaths — and, devastatingly, she becomes a person of interest herself. It’s as if the shadows she’s been trying to outrun suddenly close in again. The tension is relentless. The danger feels like it’s breathing down her neck. And through it all, Lucy’s resilience becomes the lifeline you cling to as the story twists tighter and tighter.
The pacing never lets up. Each chapter feels like stepping deeper into a labyrinth of secrets, where every turn reveals something darker, sharper, more urgent. Brennan’s writing doesn’t just tell a story — it wraps around you, pulling you into a world of suspense that’s intricate, atmospheric, and impossible to escape. I found myself completely absorbed, flipping pages because I needed to know what happened next — not just to unravel the mystery, but to stay beside Lucy as she fights her way forward.
By the end, I wasn’t just reading a thriller. I was rooting for a woman who refuses to break.
By the time I reached the end, I wasn’t just entertained — I was invested. And now I’m diving straight into the next book, because leaving Lucy behind isn’t an option.
And then there’s Sean Rogan — a private investigator whose arrival adds a whole new current of tension and intrigue. His presence complicates the plot in all the right ways, adding depth, friction, and a dynamic that promises even more intensity as the series unfolds. He doesn’t overshadow Lucy; he sharpens the world around her.
April 14, 2021
Benimde hayatıma Sean girse bende sonsuza kadar mutlu yaşarım 😍 neyse böyle sapkınlıklar keşke sadece kurgularda olsaydı adelette aynı şekilde ama bunların gerçek olduğunu bilmek çok ürkütücü 😰 kitap genel olarak güzeldi ama yazar kendiyle çok çelişmiş sen güçlü bir kadın karakter yaratmışsın güya ama kadının en ufak birseyini görmedik ajanlarında öyle, olan biten her seyi erkek karakter çözüp erkek karakter kurtardı 😒
August 23, 2021
I started this book thinking this would be a mystery bordering on thriller but it was actually tagged romantic suspense. My mistake.
+ This was much darker than expected. The whole book is about sex crimes and more specifically Lucy's trauma after the kidnapping, rape, and torture she suffered six years ago.
+ There are just too many characters to keep track of. Some of those characters were introduced in another series of standalone, like Lucy's sister-in-law Kate Donovan in the novel that follows Lucy's abduction. But for the first book in a series, the sheer amount of character dump was too much of a headache.
+ The romance... ah, I love romance in my mysteries so much but I like slow-burn so much more. The romance is incredibly fast-paced when we recall it's supposed to be somewhat of a subplot and... incredibly bland. Both characters already had crushes on each other before the story even started and they didn't have time to really build anything before they were a done deal.
Disappointing.
Trigger warning:
Sex crimes: rape, gang rape, cybercrime, kidnapping, humiliation, filming, ... Some scenes are more detailed than others, some are just mentioned but the whole book is about many different sex crimes and unwilling porno industry.
> Main character in her mid-twenties
> (fast burn) romance
June 22, 2020
Six years after her kidnapping and rape, Lucy Kincaid has vowed to not let the incident ruin her life. Volunteering with a victim's rights group, Lucy uses the web to entice sex offenders into breaking their parole, allowing them to be re-arrested. But when one of these sex offenders is murdered, the FBI wants to talk to Lucy.
With her brother, Patrick, out of town, Lucy joins forces with his partner Seth Rogan to clear her name and discover who killed this predator. What they discover is many of the men she attempted to lure into the arms of the police have now ended up dead.
This is the first book in the Lucy Kincaid series. Her character appeared along with her family in several of this author's past books. Reading about Lucy's ordeal in those books helped this reader understand what makes Lucy tick.
I liked the mystery, though my mind did tend to wander a couple of times. I also liked the pairing of Lucy and Seth, though I wish the author would have slowed down the romance since this book only spans a few days and this will be an ongoing series. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
With her brother, Patrick, out of town, Lucy joins forces with his partner Seth Rogan to clear her name and discover who killed this predator. What they discover is many of the men she attempted to lure into the arms of the police have now ended up dead.
This is the first book in the Lucy Kincaid series. Her character appeared along with her family in several of this author's past books. Reading about Lucy's ordeal in those books helped this reader understand what makes Lucy tick.
I liked the mystery, though my mind did tend to wander a couple of times. I also liked the pairing of Lucy and Seth, though I wish the author would have slowed down the romance since this book only spans a few days and this will be an ongoing series. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
July 17, 2014
I had to quit on this one. I was listening to the audio version, so the irritants were even more noticeable. Too many people with obvious backstories I didn't know, as this was the first of her books I've tried. The interminable internal dialogues. Characters (including the bad guys) seemed to be constantly pausing in the middle of a scene to analyze their feelings/motivations/history/possible actions while other characters often hung out in limbo waiting for them to finish and the character to actually speak or do something. Mary Janes. Everyone was too wonderful. "I create magical databases to find criminals." "My boyfriend is a master hacker and can get in anywhere." "My friend is the best profiler known to man." "My brother is a genius."
Extra words. Why use one, when you can use a whole bunch?! "He pulled out the lime green metal folding chair with the paint chipped off the lower left leg that had been at the desk across the room where Agent X was sitting earlier in the day before he left to solve crimes and brought it back across the room to the desk where [she] had been sitting dejectedly despondent with her head in her hands and her long dark hair falling over her shoulders to trail down her long luscious legs which he found incredible attractive and arousing though he should not right now because other important and bad things were happening and her brother might not like it but he is a grown man with his own branch of the company that he runs but never actually appears to work at and she is a grown woman and it should not matter that her brother might not like it and though he has never found anyone like her remotely attractive before that is probably because he had not met her and he did not want to grow up which is why he usually dated airheads but now that he was spending more time with [her] due to the 3 currently unconnected horrible things that were happening to her he kind of liked her now more than he had liked those other women who only wanted to do fun things like ride in his car that he liked to drive very fast when he wasn't flying them somewhere in his personal plane that he pilots he thought as he placed the metal chair next to where she was sitting in great internal pain at her desk in the brown leather chair that usually molded to her body but not when she was stiff with pain as she was now making sure the bent leg of the green metal chair did not accidentally bump her as he settled the chair in position, lowered his well shaped posterior, in such great shape due to the fact that he worked out a lot, into the chair and then he moved her hair away from her ear and said..."
instead of
"He sat down beside her and said..."
There are people who enjoy this style of writing - if you do, please give it a try. AFAIK her books sell just fine, and kudos to the author for developing a following with a nice connected series of books. If you prefer a faster pace with tighter writing, you might want to give this one a pass.
Extra words. Why use one, when you can use a whole bunch?! "He pulled out the lime green metal folding chair with the paint chipped off the lower left leg that had been at the desk across the room where Agent X was sitting earlier in the day before he left to solve crimes and brought it back across the room to the desk where [she] had been sitting dejectedly despondent with her head in her hands and her long dark hair falling over her shoulders to trail down her long luscious legs which he found incredible attractive and arousing though he should not right now because other important and bad things were happening and her brother might not like it but he is a grown man with his own branch of the company that he runs but never actually appears to work at and she is a grown woman and it should not matter that her brother might not like it and though he has never found anyone like her remotely attractive before that is probably because he had not met her and he did not want to grow up which is why he usually dated airheads but now that he was spending more time with [her] due to the 3 currently unconnected horrible things that were happening to her he kind of liked her now more than he had liked those other women who only wanted to do fun things like ride in his car that he liked to drive very fast when he wasn't flying them somewhere in his personal plane that he pilots he thought as he placed the metal chair next to where she was sitting in great internal pain at her desk in the brown leather chair that usually molded to her body but not when she was stiff with pain as she was now making sure the bent leg of the green metal chair did not accidentally bump her as he settled the chair in position, lowered his well shaped posterior, in such great shape due to the fact that he worked out a lot, into the chair and then he moved her hair away from her ear and said..."
instead of
"He sat down beside her and said..."
There are people who enjoy this style of writing - if you do, please give it a try. AFAIK her books sell just fine, and kudos to the author for developing a following with a nice connected series of books. If you prefer a faster pace with tighter writing, you might want to give this one a pass.
March 25, 2025
Audiobook. I usually have a hard time with character jumping, but it was smooth and not confusing. There are spots that felt a little repetitive, but overall it kept me entertained. I thought I would add there are triggers and subjects in this book could be a problem for some people.
June 23, 2020
Lucy Kincaid works for a victim’s right group by going undercover on the internet to catch sex offenders. When her account gets hacked and the offenders she has lured into meeting her turn up dead, Lucy teams up with Seth Rogan and finds the murders are linked to a vigilante group.
This book was a good start to the Lucy Kincaid series. Since I have already read the previous books by this author I knew who most of the characters were and Lucy’s back story. I highly recommend reading those trilogies first. There is a lot of information in them,
I’m glad that Lucy is doing well and has applied to the FBI, but I felt like she still has quite a few issues since her attack. She’d very jumpy and still has trust issues. I hope she is able to figure things out so that she can join the FBI.
It was great having many of the original characters back and involved in the case. I had a slight issue with Lucy’s job at WCF. I felt that it was entrapment to some degree. I guess her letting the sex offender set up the meeting may have covered that issue.
As is typical with Allison Brennan’s books, the bad guy is so far in the background that he wasn’t even on my radar. Lucy gets in trouble again and I hope this doesn’t become a pattern. What she and the other girl endure is horrific. It has a good ending with no cliffhangers and good news for Lucy.
This book was a good start to the Lucy Kincaid series. Since I have already read the previous books by this author I knew who most of the characters were and Lucy’s back story. I highly recommend reading those trilogies first. There is a lot of information in them,
I’m glad that Lucy is doing well and has applied to the FBI, but I felt like she still has quite a few issues since her attack. She’d very jumpy and still has trust issues. I hope she is able to figure things out so that she can join the FBI.
It was great having many of the original characters back and involved in the case. I had a slight issue with Lucy’s job at WCF. I felt that it was entrapment to some degree. I guess her letting the sex offender set up the meeting may have covered that issue.
As is typical with Allison Brennan’s books, the bad guy is so far in the background that he wasn’t even on my radar. Lucy gets in trouble again and I hope this doesn’t become a pattern. What she and the other girl endure is horrific. It has a good ending with no cliffhangers and good news for Lucy.
June 21, 2011
Having read the previous book in the series regarding Lucy Kincaid's kidnapping, I was really excited to read about her all grown up. This is by far my favorite Allison Brennan book...it reminded me a lot of Karen Rose.
Lucy is such a strong character. She's been through literal torture and though she has her moments of weakness, she has come through it all with determination. I loved her decision to try and help others by taking scum off the streets. Sean was a super hot, perfectly protective, romantic suspense hero. I loved him to pieces...he seemed to anticipate Lucy's needs before she did.
I'm looking forward to the next book in their series!
Lucy is such a strong character. She's been through literal torture and though she has her moments of weakness, she has come through it all with determination. I loved her decision to try and help others by taking scum off the streets. Sean was a super hot, perfectly protective, romantic suspense hero. I loved him to pieces...he seemed to anticipate Lucy's needs before she did.
I'm looking forward to the next book in their series!
September 24, 2024
3 stars.
This author is not for me. While the writing was fine, the elements of storytelling were not. It was repetitive and kept referring to events that had happened in previous books, despite this being the first in the Lucy Kincaid series.
The subject matter was also a bit too horrific to be dealt with in this way.
This author is not for me. While the writing was fine, the elements of storytelling were not. It was repetitive and kept referring to events that had happened in previous books, despite this being the first in the Lucy Kincaid series.
The subject matter was also a bit too horrific to be dealt with in this way.
June 13, 2020
This is the first book of the Lucy Kincaid Series. It reviews what happened to Lucy and that event changed her life six years ago. I liked this book and I wasn't expecting to. Human trafficking and sex offenders are not my favorite for the baddies and the stories that are written around them. This story has no graphic scenes, it deals with a vigilante group going after the ones who were paroled or got off lightly. It's an interwoven story with several different strands and keeps you guessing to the end. Watching Lucy and Sean get together was a bonus. These two make a wonderful couple.
Lucy Kincaid made a decision six years ago that her kidnapping and rape were not going to control her life. But they impacted her just the same in what she chose as her life's work. She decided to become an FBI Agent and worked tirelessly to that end. Her passion and determination are a wonder to behold and she impresses everyone who comes into contact with her. When one of the men who attacked her six years ago turns up dean not far from where Lucy lives, a lot of secrets are exposed. While waiting out the FBI application process she is volunteering with a victim's rights group where she sets up paroled sex offenders to reoffend and be sent back to prison. When one of the men turns up dead, Lucy starts digging and finds others. Lucy is now on the FBI's radar, but for a very bad reason.
With everything that happened and the revelations from her family, Lucy seeks out her brother Patrick, except Patrick isn't in Washington D.C., his partner, Sean Rogan, is the one Lucy turns to and confides in. Sean feels instantly protective of Lucy, but knows she has survived a lot and the last thing she wants is to be protected and coddled, so he decides to help her any way he can and to stick close to protect her. But, Lucy has been feeling like she was being watched for awhile and that is just the beginning.
Lucy Kincaid made a decision six years ago that her kidnapping and rape were not going to control her life. But they impacted her just the same in what she chose as her life's work. She decided to become an FBI Agent and worked tirelessly to that end. Her passion and determination are a wonder to behold and she impresses everyone who comes into contact with her. When one of the men who attacked her six years ago turns up dean not far from where Lucy lives, a lot of secrets are exposed. While waiting out the FBI application process she is volunteering with a victim's rights group where she sets up paroled sex offenders to reoffend and be sent back to prison. When one of the men turns up dead, Lucy starts digging and finds others. Lucy is now on the FBI's radar, but for a very bad reason.
With everything that happened and the revelations from her family, Lucy seeks out her brother Patrick, except Patrick isn't in Washington D.C., his partner, Sean Rogan, is the one Lucy turns to and confides in. Sean feels instantly protective of Lucy, but knows she has survived a lot and the last thing she wants is to be protected and coddled, so he decides to help her any way he can and to stick close to protect her. But, Lucy has been feeling like she was being watched for awhile and that is just the beginning.
October 28, 2021
This was an ok story. Someone recommended the series to me and I found the audiobook copy at my library.
The romance was fine but the evil, dehumanizing sexual predator theme is just repulsive. I almost stopped listening at several points. The Vigilante death squad had me trying hard to accept that things could happen the way that it was all rolled out.
I will not be continuing with the series.
The romance was fine but the evil, dehumanizing sexual predator theme is just repulsive. I almost stopped listening at several points. The Vigilante death squad had me trying hard to accept that things could happen the way that it was all rolled out.
I will not be continuing with the series.
September 3, 2019
Simply too much mush. I tried to get past it (stopped at page 174) but I felt like I was reading a 15 year old’s diary.
April 11, 2021
Too much romance, way too many characters, the main character is supposed to be this tough FBI type person but jumps at her own shadow.
January 18, 2019
4.25 stars for story; 5 for narration.
I really enjoyed this. I love a good, intense thriller/romance, and Allison Brennan is a talented writer. Lucy suffered horrible torture and abuse at the hands of a sadistic sociopath. We meet Lucy prior to this book, and we see the story of her kidnapping, torture and eventual rescue. It's been a while since I read that story so I don't remember specifics about the who, where and how. But this book here does give some backstory which I appreciated.
As for the romance between Sean and Lucy, yes it is beautiful and loving and tender. It's also very insta-love, which the first time I read this I didn't really pay attention to. Now I'm older and wiser in reading, so I picked up on that right away. I find it unrealistic they would fall in love (Sean does, and he is convinced Lucy is too but not ready to admit it) so quickly, particularly in light of ALL the events that are going on in this story. Did it detract from my enjoyment of this story? Nope, not one bit. Sean has told Lucy he is prepared to take things between them as slow as necessary so Lucy comes around. :)
The police work and Sean's most likely illegal activities to search for answers was exciting to read and it certainly moved the story along at a quick pace. I wasn't bored and since I know what is coming in future stories, I am even more excited to continue this series again. Yes, the police work and action is over the top at times, and does fall in to the incredulous, but again, this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
This can be read as a standalone; you don't need to read the books before, and you don't need to read the rest of Lucy's series. This has a very exacting ending, bad guys caught, no question of cliffhanger. If you do choose to continue with Lucy's series, you can't jump around and skip books. They will need to be read in order, and if memory serves, future books do end on cliffhangers.
I highly recommend this story, the audio, and the series.
I really enjoyed this. I love a good, intense thriller/romance, and Allison Brennan is a talented writer. Lucy suffered horrible torture and abuse at the hands of a sadistic sociopath. We meet Lucy prior to this book, and we see the story of her kidnapping, torture and eventual rescue. It's been a while since I read that story so I don't remember specifics about the who, where and how. But this book here does give some backstory which I appreciated.
As for the romance between Sean and Lucy, yes it is beautiful and loving and tender. It's also very insta-love, which the first time I read this I didn't really pay attention to. Now I'm older and wiser in reading, so I picked up on that right away. I find it unrealistic they would fall in love (Sean does, and he is convinced Lucy is too but not ready to admit it) so quickly, particularly in light of ALL the events that are going on in this story. Did it detract from my enjoyment of this story? Nope, not one bit. Sean has told Lucy he is prepared to take things between them as slow as necessary so Lucy comes around. :)
The police work and Sean's most likely illegal activities to search for answers was exciting to read and it certainly moved the story along at a quick pace. I wasn't bored and since I know what is coming in future stories, I am even more excited to continue this series again. Yes, the police work and action is over the top at times, and does fall in to the incredulous, but again, this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
This can be read as a standalone; you don't need to read the books before, and you don't need to read the rest of Lucy's series. This has a very exacting ending, bad guys caught, no question of cliffhanger. If you do choose to continue with Lucy's series, you can't jump around and skip books. They will need to be read in order, and if memory serves, future books do end on cliffhangers.
I highly recommend this story, the audio, and the series.
June 9, 2022
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I've never been a huge fan of series that follow the same heroine for every book so even though Allison Brennan was one of my favorite authors back in my romantic suspense reading days I never started this series. I'm really glad I decided to go back and change that by listening to the audiobooks though.
This story was so intriguing and Lucy as the main character was brilliant. There was a lot going on and many mysteries to uncover that kept the book captivating and had me dying to get back to it any time I had to stop listening. I also adored Sean and Lucy's romance and I really liked that it was given a lot of page time in between the crime solving.
I think my only complaint is that I really wanted to see Patrick's reaction to Lucy and Sean being together. I know that's just my brothers-best-friend trope love showing though.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I've never been a huge fan of series that follow the same heroine for every book so even though Allison Brennan was one of my favorite authors back in my romantic suspense reading days I never started this series. I'm really glad I decided to go back and change that by listening to the audiobooks though.
This story was so intriguing and Lucy as the main character was brilliant. There was a lot going on and many mysteries to uncover that kept the book captivating and had me dying to get back to it any time I had to stop listening. I also adored Sean and Lucy's romance and I really liked that it was given a lot of page time in between the crime solving.
I think my only complaint is that I really wanted to see Patrick's reaction to Lucy and Sean being together. I know that's just my brothers-best-friend trope love showing though.
July 21, 2020
I enjoyed this book. The suspense kept me interested and the budding romantic relationship was believable. I don’t mind a little romantic interlude if it doesn’t seem too forced but it isn’t usually why I read a book either so it can be off-putting to me. I enjoyed the banter and the relationship in this story. Lots of great characters with two families made up of law enforcement, military, and psychologists. This leaves a lot of fun places for many more interesting stories to emerge. Count me in!
August 11, 2013
My first book by this author and I must say it was very enjoyable. It started out a little slow, and it always does when I read a new author, but it certainly picked up and had many characters which kept you wondering who actually was the criminal! I will definitely be reading more in the "Lucy Kincaid" series!
January 26, 2011
A tale of suspense and deep darkness of the soul. Allison Brennan brings readers a story that will captivate them from beginning to end in Love Me To Death.
Upon beginning Love Me To Death, I was hooked. The suspense and action is constant throughout the entire story, taking the reader on a journey of unending twists and turns.
It has been six years since Lucy Kincaid was brutally raped, tortured and nearly killed. Through it all, she has come out strong and determined to save others from ever suffering as she once did. With the dream and goal of becoming an official part of the FBI, Lucy works for an undercover victim's rights group, whose main goal is to put rapists and attackers, out on parole, back into prison. What Lucy did not count on were the guys she "set up" through online chats, to end up dead. Exactly who is taking matters into their own hands and why are they making Lucy look like a suspect?
If she didn't have enough to deal with, Lucy discovers there is a stalker on her tail, and the terror of six years ago, which constantly haunts her, comes thrusting forward relentlessly. The one glimmer of light, filtering through the nightmare, is Sean, Lucy's brother's partner in a security firm. Sean is set on protecting Lucy, no matter the consequence, and will stop at nothing to keep her safe. As the flame soars between Lucy and Sean, the twisted and menacing mind of evil gets closer to Lucy and her dream of a "normal" life. Can she be saved before spiraling into an eternity of darkness and endless torment?
Love Me To Death focuses on a very real and very terrifying epidemic - online predators and sex offenders. This is not a book that can be read light-heartedly, nor without having a cruel reality thrown in the reader's face. However, this realism creates a memorable and hard-to-put-down read. The story is solid and I really enjoyed the characters. Particularly the strength and courage of Lucy and the sturdiness and love of Sean. They are both incredibly real and strong characters that work well off of one another, as well as together. I also enjoyed Kate, Lucy's sister-in-law, whose care and love of Lucy makes for a wonderful support system as well as an added dimension to the story itself.
While I greatly enjoyed the story weaved by Ms. Brennan, I do have to be honest in saying that as I read Love Me To Death, I often felt as though this was actually a continuation of a prior story. I did a bit of searching and did not come across anywhere that mentioned this book being a spin-off of another or part of a series, so I am not exactly sure what to think of this aspect. This prior story, did unfold throughout the main story, however as I read, I often felt questions popping up in my mind, as well as feeling as though I was missing something, somewhere. I am not sure if this was intentional, on the part of the author, as a way to draw the reader in and make them continue to read to try and figure the questions out? Whatever the reason, it did take a bit away from the story, for me. While I loved the characters and plot, I was unable to completely feel as though I was within the story, for reason of lacking information. I do enjoy Allison Brennan's writing style and her ability to create a fantastic story, so I still recommend Love Me To Death to readers looking for a great suspense story, however I did want to mention my trepidation on the background story, to make future readers aware of it. Overall, Love Me To Death is a great read and held my attention from start to finish.
Upon beginning Love Me To Death, I was hooked. The suspense and action is constant throughout the entire story, taking the reader on a journey of unending twists and turns.
It has been six years since Lucy Kincaid was brutally raped, tortured and nearly killed. Through it all, she has come out strong and determined to save others from ever suffering as she once did. With the dream and goal of becoming an official part of the FBI, Lucy works for an undercover victim's rights group, whose main goal is to put rapists and attackers, out on parole, back into prison. What Lucy did not count on were the guys she "set up" through online chats, to end up dead. Exactly who is taking matters into their own hands and why are they making Lucy look like a suspect?
If she didn't have enough to deal with, Lucy discovers there is a stalker on her tail, and the terror of six years ago, which constantly haunts her, comes thrusting forward relentlessly. The one glimmer of light, filtering through the nightmare, is Sean, Lucy's brother's partner in a security firm. Sean is set on protecting Lucy, no matter the consequence, and will stop at nothing to keep her safe. As the flame soars between Lucy and Sean, the twisted and menacing mind of evil gets closer to Lucy and her dream of a "normal" life. Can she be saved before spiraling into an eternity of darkness and endless torment?
Love Me To Death focuses on a very real and very terrifying epidemic - online predators and sex offenders. This is not a book that can be read light-heartedly, nor without having a cruel reality thrown in the reader's face. However, this realism creates a memorable and hard-to-put-down read. The story is solid and I really enjoyed the characters. Particularly the strength and courage of Lucy and the sturdiness and love of Sean. They are both incredibly real and strong characters that work well off of one another, as well as together. I also enjoyed Kate, Lucy's sister-in-law, whose care and love of Lucy makes for a wonderful support system as well as an added dimension to the story itself.
While I greatly enjoyed the story weaved by Ms. Brennan, I do have to be honest in saying that as I read Love Me To Death, I often felt as though this was actually a continuation of a prior story. I did a bit of searching and did not come across anywhere that mentioned this book being a spin-off of another or part of a series, so I am not exactly sure what to think of this aspect. This prior story, did unfold throughout the main story, however as I read, I often felt questions popping up in my mind, as well as feeling as though I was missing something, somewhere. I am not sure if this was intentional, on the part of the author, as a way to draw the reader in and make them continue to read to try and figure the questions out? Whatever the reason, it did take a bit away from the story, for me. While I loved the characters and plot, I was unable to completely feel as though I was within the story, for reason of lacking information. I do enjoy Allison Brennan's writing style and her ability to create a fantastic story, so I still recommend Love Me To Death to readers looking for a great suspense story, however I did want to mention my trepidation on the background story, to make future readers aware of it. Overall, Love Me To Death is a great read and held my attention from start to finish.
April 10, 2017
The beginning of this book was more like beginning in the middle of a series! There was so much back story put out for the reader with very little detail as in "let me hit the highlights to get you caught up from the last book" that it was a huge turn off and I ALMOST put it down and said forget it. The last half of the book was better and had great drama as well as mystery. Not sure I will be continuing this series as it wasn't my favorite.
January 13, 2021
Wear Me Out
At the beginning I liked Lucy but by the end I was bored to death with her and Sean. Too many characters that I didn’t care about. Too many supposedly interwoven stories that didn’t make one good one. All of the italic text of Miller was like wading through mud to read and way too much deep kissing between Lucy and Sean. Boring.
At the beginning I liked Lucy but by the end I was bored to death with her and Sean. Too many characters that I didn’t care about. Too many supposedly interwoven stories that didn’t make one good one. All of the italic text of Miller was like wading through mud to read and way too much deep kissing between Lucy and Sean. Boring.
December 31, 2015
this story was a lot of work even on audiobook
February 13, 2019
Excellent writing, so shocking that a person could be so warped. Sad thing to think about. Enough said...
September 13, 2020
It was ok. Easy read and good story but it was a bit cheesy. Lucy was described as the strongest woman they knew, etc etc. It just became to much. I won't be reading anymore if this series.
August 10, 2022
Love Me to Death is the first book in the Lucy Kincaid series From the very first chapter, we are introduced to Lucy Kincaid, a woman who was sexually assaulted and tortured a few years ago. These days, Lucy is busy waiting on the results of her FBI application and juggling her other jobs– volunteering at a victims rights organisation called Women and Children First (WCF); an organisation that seeks to capture paroled sex offenders and lure to recapture. Lucy has been living a relatively normal life, so it was a shock when the police question her about her kidnapper’s murder; immediately she is thrust into a homicide investigation trying to figure out what kind of monster would kill another one.
Let’s talk about our main character. Lucy is a character you root for. It’s hard not to– especially when you consider the absolute horror she experienced. The flashback scenes provide an uncomfortably vivid scene of just how terrible it must’ve been for Lucy during her kidnapping and torture. It is quite difficult to read through Lucy’s past, so I would take caution and check any content warnings beforehand. Despite this Lucy has goals and ambitions, and it is clear that she has her heart set on becoming an FBI agent.
The plot is intense. Readers are immediately thrown into a suspenseful, dramatic chase as they witness Lucy become entangled in her kidnapper’s murder investigation. There are twists that I did not expect, and revelations which might surprise even fans of true crime novels. It does start off a little slower than I would have liked, but the second half of the book really picks up pace and reads more swiftly. The author has a great talent for keeping tensions high from start to finish, and as a result, had me eating dinner an hour later because I wanted to finish the chapter. Again, I would recommend checking up on content warnings due to the fact that this novel does contain some darker themes which may make some readers uncomfortable.
There is also a blooming romance between Lucy and another character which provided a very-much needed contrast from the darker parts of the book. The romance did not at all feel forced or unnecessary– in fact, I quite enjoyed the romance. In my opinion, it allowed readers to see another, more vulnerable, side to Lucy.
To conclude, this was a really solid start to the Lucy Kincaid series. I look forward to checking out the other books in this series, and cannot wait to see more of Allison Brennan’s work.
3.5 stars.
⭐⭐⭐
Let’s talk about our main character. Lucy is a character you root for. It’s hard not to– especially when you consider the absolute horror she experienced. The flashback scenes provide an uncomfortably vivid scene of just how terrible it must’ve been for Lucy during her kidnapping and torture. It is quite difficult to read through Lucy’s past, so I would take caution and check any content warnings beforehand. Despite this Lucy has goals and ambitions, and it is clear that she has her heart set on becoming an FBI agent.
The plot is intense. Readers are immediately thrown into a suspenseful, dramatic chase as they witness Lucy become entangled in her kidnapper’s murder investigation. There are twists that I did not expect, and revelations which might surprise even fans of true crime novels. It does start off a little slower than I would have liked, but the second half of the book really picks up pace and reads more swiftly. The author has a great talent for keeping tensions high from start to finish, and as a result, had me eating dinner an hour later because I wanted to finish the chapter. Again, I would recommend checking up on content warnings due to the fact that this novel does contain some darker themes which may make some readers uncomfortable.
There is also a blooming romance between Lucy and another character which provided a very-much needed contrast from the darker parts of the book. The romance did not at all feel forced or unnecessary– in fact, I quite enjoyed the romance. In my opinion, it allowed readers to see another, more vulnerable, side to Lucy.
To conclude, this was a really solid start to the Lucy Kincaid series. I look forward to checking out the other books in this series, and cannot wait to see more of Allison Brennan’s work.
3.5 stars.
⭐⭐⭐
February 3, 2019
This book has been on my TRR for ages and this weekend I finally got a chance to listen to it. And I quite enjoyed it. Good mystery, good characters - thought the MC could have been injected with a bit more oomph...she did seem to oscillate between damaged and strong, pathetic and independent....but kudos to the author for her presentation of rape and violence in this book. Was very well done -not necessarily nice to read, but good to have this theme (and its consequences) represented in fiction.
March 30, 2013
I wasn't really expecting to like this book because I do not like the mixing of the romantic suspense with the more hard core thriller. I prefer to have my mystery/thrillers without having to endure the formulaic romance storyline. For a great deal of the book I was on high alert for anything that would make me want to jerk out my headphones and go on to something else.
And for quite a while it teetered on the edge. Yes, it was pretty much hit-you-in-the-nose obvious that Lucy and Sean would get together, and we had to have the obligatory sex scene. I always wonder how the narrators on audio books feel when they are narrating those scenes. And the book just barely missed being patronizing about Lucy-- the characters were repeatedly amazed at her strength and poise despite all she had been through. I could just picture them patting her on the head. And I had a hard time relating to Lucy's outrage at finding out that predatory pedophiles were being murdered instead of arrested and sent back to prison. The passages about the dangers of vigilantism and the necessity of relying on the justice system were much too preachy.
SPOILER ALERT: DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DO NOT LIKE SPOILERS!
And yet... Although Lucy bordered on being too good to be true, I grew to like her as a character, just as I grew to like the other members of her extended family, and I liked the way they all put their various alliances aside to focus on rescuing Lucy-- oops-- there was something else I normally wouldn't like-- the fact that the heroine had to be rescued at the end.
Except here is where I really have to give credit to Allison Brennan. She actually came up with a plausible way to put Lucy into a dangerous situation without having to rely on her heroine being too stupid to live. Leaving aside the fact that the whole stalker subplot was utterly unbelievable and was clearly put in there just to set up a situation in which Lucy would need to be rescued by Sean, the actual kidnapping was carried out in such a way that it was clear Lucy could not have prevented it.
It made perfect sense that Lucy would want to go to the church for Cody's funeral without her current boyfriend accompanying her since Cody had been her previous boyfriend. It also made perfect sense that everyone involved thought all the danger was resolved with the arrests of the members of the vigilante group. It also made sense that Lucy's stalker was able to drug her as she was entering the church without her knowledge-- although the thought of a version of rohypnol that can be absorbed through the skin makes me shudder. And it made sense that once the drug started to work, Lucy would become ill and leave the church to get some fresh air, leaving her coat with the cell phone behind on the church pew. I might wonder why her sister-in-law, Kate, didn't accompany her to the church, just for support, but overall I think it is plausible.
Even when Lucy is kidnapped, she does not dissolve into victim mode. She largely keeps her wits about her, trying to learn more about where she is, looking for escape opportunities, and handling her captor adroitly. I can even forgive Brennan for sending the cavalry in to rescue her instead of letting her get herself out of the situation because, let's face it, there are some situations in which no matter how capable the person, there is no escape. And when Sean finds Lucy handcuffed and barefoot in the cage in the basement, she is clearly not in victim mode-- she unlocks her own handcuffs once she is given the lock pick tool by Sean, and she grabs Sean's throw-down gun to provide coverage for him while he is picking the combination lock that holds the cage shut (although why he didn't just shoot it, I am not sure.) She saves the life of her fellow captive and gets herself out of the basement because Sean has to carry the other woman out.
So the book redeemed itself at the end, and I ratcheted the rating up largely on the basis of how the kidnapping and rescue of Lucy was written.
Would I read another book in the series? I am not sure. I might read Fear No Evil, which details an earlier Lucy story in which she is kidnapped and held by a pornographer who videotapes her multiple rapes and posts them online. Love Me to Death repeatedly refers to it and I'm kind of interested to see more of the story. I might read another book in the Lucy Kincaid series to see if Brennan can focus more on the suspense aspects and drop the formulaic romantic crap. I certainly wouldn't buy it, but if it shows up at my library, I'll probably check it out.
And for quite a while it teetered on the edge. Yes, it was pretty much hit-you-in-the-nose obvious that Lucy and Sean would get together, and we had to have the obligatory sex scene. I always wonder how the narrators on audio books feel when they are narrating those scenes. And the book just barely missed being patronizing about Lucy-- the characters were repeatedly amazed at her strength and poise despite all she had been through. I could just picture them patting her on the head. And I had a hard time relating to Lucy's outrage at finding out that predatory pedophiles were being murdered instead of arrested and sent back to prison. The passages about the dangers of vigilantism and the necessity of relying on the justice system were much too preachy.
SPOILER ALERT: DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DO NOT LIKE SPOILERS!
And yet... Although Lucy bordered on being too good to be true, I grew to like her as a character, just as I grew to like the other members of her extended family, and I liked the way they all put their various alliances aside to focus on rescuing Lucy-- oops-- there was something else I normally wouldn't like-- the fact that the heroine had to be rescued at the end.
Except here is where I really have to give credit to Allison Brennan. She actually came up with a plausible way to put Lucy into a dangerous situation without having to rely on her heroine being too stupid to live. Leaving aside the fact that the whole stalker subplot was utterly unbelievable and was clearly put in there just to set up a situation in which Lucy would need to be rescued by Sean, the actual kidnapping was carried out in such a way that it was clear Lucy could not have prevented it.
It made perfect sense that Lucy would want to go to the church for Cody's funeral without her current boyfriend accompanying her since Cody had been her previous boyfriend. It also made perfect sense that everyone involved thought all the danger was resolved with the arrests of the members of the vigilante group. It also made sense that Lucy's stalker was able to drug her as she was entering the church without her knowledge-- although the thought of a version of rohypnol that can be absorbed through the skin makes me shudder. And it made sense that once the drug started to work, Lucy would become ill and leave the church to get some fresh air, leaving her coat with the cell phone behind on the church pew. I might wonder why her sister-in-law, Kate, didn't accompany her to the church, just for support, but overall I think it is plausible.
Even when Lucy is kidnapped, she does not dissolve into victim mode. She largely keeps her wits about her, trying to learn more about where she is, looking for escape opportunities, and handling her captor adroitly. I can even forgive Brennan for sending the cavalry in to rescue her instead of letting her get herself out of the situation because, let's face it, there are some situations in which no matter how capable the person, there is no escape. And when Sean finds Lucy handcuffed and barefoot in the cage in the basement, she is clearly not in victim mode-- she unlocks her own handcuffs once she is given the lock pick tool by Sean, and she grabs Sean's throw-down gun to provide coverage for him while he is picking the combination lock that holds the cage shut (although why he didn't just shoot it, I am not sure.) She saves the life of her fellow captive and gets herself out of the basement because Sean has to carry the other woman out.
So the book redeemed itself at the end, and I ratcheted the rating up largely on the basis of how the kidnapping and rescue of Lucy was written.
Would I read another book in the series? I am not sure. I might read Fear No Evil, which details an earlier Lucy story in which she is kidnapped and held by a pornographer who videotapes her multiple rapes and posts them online. Love Me to Death repeatedly refers to it and I'm kind of interested to see more of the story. I might read another book in the Lucy Kincaid series to see if Brennan can focus more on the suspense aspects and drop the formulaic romantic crap. I certainly wouldn't buy it, but if it shows up at my library, I'll probably check it out.
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