Hard Fall

Lucy Guardino FBI Thriller #4

by C.J. Lyons

An FBI agent must pick up the pieces of her life as she helps a woman receiving death threats in this thriller by the bestselling author of After Shock.

There comes a time in every hero's life when they fall harder and farther than ever before and they face a choice that changes to give up or claw their way back again. Lucy thought she'd made her choice two months ago when she sacrificed everything to save her family, but now she has to decide whether or not she can save herself...

When honor, duty, and family collide . . . who would you save?

Hard Fall is the fifth novel in the Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers series. If you enjoy captivating suspense, intelligent storytelling, strong and vulnerable characters, and a freight-train pace, then you'll love this adrenaline rush of a heart-pounding thriller.

Praise for the Beacon Falls novels

"Combine Dirty Harry with a loving wife and mother and you might end up with Lucy Guardino. Fans of Lyons' hospital-set series will love the change of setting and thrilling pace. . . . You won't be able to put this one down." --RT Book Reviews on Snake Skin

"An action packed thriller from page one! An amazing fast paced story with characters that jump off the page and capture your heart. A must read!" --My Book Addiction on Blood Stained

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense

291 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2014

About the author

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

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

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

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series! Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. This time Lucy is on the hunt for another predator and as usual gets her man! CJ Lyons really knows how to hook me with a story. I can't wait for the next one!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read almost everything from C.J. Lyons I can honestly say that this is one of her best ever. While all of the Lucy Guardino stories are action packed, this one was able to combine the action with more insight into what makes Lucy tick and show just how important her family is to her. In the last book, Lucy became the victim of one of her own cases. She ended up with a potential career-ending injury and her own mother was killed. Hard Fall takes place just two months later, in fact the action starts on her first day back to work. Once again, Lyons has created a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat but with a very realistic, everyday, human heroine. Fans of the previous books will love to catch up with Lucy and her family and fortunately we know there will be more Lucy in the future.... And I for one can't wait for more!

[John W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Hard Fall," C.J. Lyons delivers a mystery story full of suspense, action, and thrills as she immediately involves her readers. The protagonist Lucy works hard to put the pieces of her life puzzle back together after almost losing her life two months earlier. The author likes to make life difficult for her protagonists. Lyons is quoted in Kindle Daily Post, "Lucy faces the kind of dilemma that I love torturing characters with: is it okay to do all the wrong things for all the right reasons?"

"Hard Fall" is a thought provoking story showing Lucy Guardino, Supervisory Special Agent Guardino, dealing with both personal family issues and job related problems. Lyons portrays her main protagonist as a passionate FBI agent and a passionate wife and mother. In "Hard Fall" readers see situations unfold through Lucy's eyes and they are able to listen to Lucy's thoughts. and understand Lucy feelings. Her world has been turned upside down. The story's pace accelerates so fast it is like lightning - striking adding suspense and intrigue at every turn. We are able to experience, see and feel Lucy's reactions.

The FBI is turning their back on Lucy because of the decisions she made two months earlier breaking with FBI protocol to survive and save her family from certain death. Lucy had expected changes, but not the life and career changes facing her on her return to work. She doesn't intend to let anything stand in her way from doing her job, from helping to heal herself and her family, or from getting her life back. Lucy is driven to prove she can still do her job and be a loving wife and mother to her family. Lyons helps readers understand why Lucy connects her job to her need to protect Nick and Megan and her desire with Nick's help to resolve the frictions within the family.

Readers see how Lyons uses thought provoking comments to weave social issues throughout her intense mystery. She is a master at transitioning her readers between Lucy's work and Lucy's concerns for her family, and her concern for the victims.

"Hard Fall's" protagonist has the support of well-developed characters helping in the ongoing investigation. Lyons introduces each support character and their back story helping readers understand their role the story and helping change the direction of the story. Lucy and her team are going after an antagonist, who has eluded law enforcement for decades. Lucy is sure she can bring down the antagonist known as "Daddy" because she has a witness and a victim with evidence.

Implementing twist and turns and misdirection gives readers the feeling they are on a merry-go-round and not sure when or where to get off. Lyons keeps the progress of the story moving forward showing transitions between Lucy, her team, the victim, the antagonist, and her family. Lyons helps readers understand the importance of the conflict going through Lucy's mind. Lucy is weighing how her actions will effect everyone, including herself.

The creative way Lyons keeps readers' involvement in "Hard Fall" places readers in the middle of resolving the case. She helps her readers see Lucy seeking justice for the victims of the antagonist. Lyons gives readers a rare insight to how Lucy deals with her good and bad decisions and helps her readers see Lucy dealing with making difficult decisions with the help of memories of talks with her Mom and Dad.

"Hard Fall," never fails to keep readers off balance and Lyons always delivers an ending no one perceives or has ever thought possible. Lyons' readers will find "Hard Fall" a great mystery full of suspense and a great 5 star read.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book in series yet. Lucy is recovering from injuries sustained by the man who killed her mother. On her return to work, she is confronted by HR to quit or retire. Those are not the options Lucy wants to hear. She heads to her department and gets pulled into another case with only the weekend to get it done.

[Karla Lokker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Every Lucy book in this series is excellent including this one. I can hardly wait for the next book "Bad Break" that is coming out next spring. Each book is riveting and just keeps you on the edge of your seat.

[(NurseLisa) Square Granny from Ohio · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: "Hard Fall" (#4, Lucy Guardino, FBI Series)
AUTHOR: Cj Lyons
PUBLISHED: 2014
READ: July, 2016
FORMAT: ebook by NOOK (Barnes and Noble) via my Samsung Galaxy Tab4 Nook.
KEYWORD/GENRE: Fiction, thriller, mystery, FBI/law enforcement mystery-thriller, murder, serial killer, pedophile, pornography, child pornography, kidnapping, also a mild love story in the backstory. Female STRONG MC (FBI SSA), violence; etc. ADULT fiction.
MY GOODREADS RATING (0-5 star scale): 5 "WHOA! That was INTENSE" stars.

BRIEF REMARKS:

Why do I always forget what a AWESOME storyteller Cj Lyons is?! Holy hell, this book was EXCELLENT!

Lyons is a pediatrician & ER doc turned crime writer. Most, if not all, of her thrillers in this series are actually based on REAL CRIMES AND CRIMINALS! The way I understand it is Lyons takes these real life asshats and their horrifying crimes and builds that into a combination resulting in a technically FICTIONAL story that is mirroring the ACTUAL REAL LIFE events. She also typically prefaces her books with a "warning" related to the fact that the crimes ARE real as well as a link or information about the real-life incidents that inspired the books. I've gotta tell you, I'm a ginormous mystery-thriller fan, but I'm sooooo glad her books are ultimately fiction. When I made what was for me, a mistake, of reading the true story behind one of her books? Uh, YIKES. That was too much for me, despite being the granddaughter of a police chief and being surrounded by law officers, crimes, stories and mysteries all of my apparently really sheltered life. It's pretty damn scary what is really out "there". Hence, I prefer FICTION...I NEED things to be alright; not perfect or whatever, but okay. Whew.

As I read "Hard Fall", I realized I missed a story in between this book & the last...Barnes and Noble didn't offer an ebook copy of the novella "After Shock", but fortunately kindle store did. Even though I already knew how that book ended, obviously, I immediately downloaded the one I missed and just read it too. Despite the fact that the Guardino series is based on true crime, it is still a series and it helps me tremendously to read in order. It's what I would recommend with this series, for sure.

"Hard Fall" was outstanding. I found another one of my "Top 10 in 2016" books super close to one I found a few days ago. This one will DEFINITELY be on that list, in a good slot.

If you love mysteries, FBI-thrill of the hunt, who dunnits as much as I do, I really hope you'll give Cj Lyons' "Lucy Guardino" series a serious chance. I'd be hard pressed to find even a small reason why a reader just described wouldn't love her books as much as yours truly. :)

Cheers!
Lisa

[DeeAnn Garner Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 5th book in the Lucy Guardino FBI Thriller Series. I fell in love with the characters in this series when I read the first book, Snake Skin and I love mysteries, suspense and thrillers. I don’t want to give away too many details because it’s always better when you don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s part of the suspense!

Lucy is a very hard-working and dedicated FBI agent who is returning from leave after she was injured during her last case where she almost died as well as her family. Her daughter is having a really hard time accepting what happened on the last case and fearing what will happen in the future. Lucy’s husband is always so supportive of her career but has he had enough of it too? The last case changed their lives in a huge way. Of course, Lucy is not one to take it easy so she pushes herself and doesn’t want anyone to know how much pain she is in. She doesn’t want anyone to think she can’t do her job. While Lucy was on leave, things at work have not gone so well. How her last case ended didn’t help the situation. It became too personal and her family was pulled into it where Lucy had to make a choice between her family and the job. When Lucy starts working on a new case, she isn’t able to do things “safely” because she puts all of herself into catching the pyschos she is trying to find to protect and make life safe for others. The man behind the kidnappings thinks he is smarter than everyone else and hasn’t been caught in all the years that the authorities have been searching for him. But, that was before Lucy was asked to help. Lucy has a knack for figuring out puzzles, getting inside the perps mind and thinking like they do to figure out what their next move might be. Lucy and her team work hard to find this guy before he strikes again. But will her family get hurt again by another case?

Be sure to buy this book and all the Lucy Guardino books by C.J. Lyons. She is one of my favorite authors and I’ve enjoyed all of the books she has written.

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 5 out of 5]

HARD FALL by C.J. Lyons is an exciting Romantic Suspense. # 5 in the "Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers" series, but can be read as a stand alone. Although, I would recommend reading the others in this amazing series, especially "After Shock",which "Hard Fall" continues the story.
Faced paced,action packed thriller. This is a high-stake adventure, with dire consequences. Romantic suspense at it's best!

Once again, Ms. Lyons delves into the human soul. This tale is not for the faint of heart, for this is a tale of dark human emotions, violence with realistic consequences,and very adult situations.


I love the way Ms. Lyons brings her characters to life on every page and beyond, her emotional tales are awe-inspiring. Ms. Lyons writes tales that not only holds you to the pages, but kicks you emotions into high gear. High-octane, heart pumping tale of sacrifice, romance and love. A must read for anyone who enjoys high-octane emotions with realistic characters and an intriguing storyline.

What is in Lucy's future? I see more coming soon. This is not the end to Lucy Guardino. An awesome read from beginning to the very last page. A must read!

*Received for an honest review from the author*

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again CJ Lyons delivers an action packed thriller that you cannot put down! This can be read as a stand alone book even though it is the latest in her series. This is a book that delves into the heart of a very difficult subject area. CJ brings her characteristic kindness and clarity of purpose as she describes horrific actions without gore or gratuitous violence.

One of the strengths of CJ's writing style is the depth that she brings to all of her characters. She clearly provides a picture of each character so that you can visualize the plot as it unfolds. You are hooked from the beginning as you encounter Lucy and her struggle to regain a sense of normalcy after recent events. The depth of character development keeps you hooked throughout the story.

This is a fabulous addition to the already phenomenal series that CJ has created. I cannot wait for the next installment and to see where Lucy ends up next!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

CJ Lyons does it again!! This is another action packed Lucy Guardino thriller. From start to finish you will not be able to put the book down. I started reading it one evening and realized I finished the book. It felt like no time had gone by.

This is a particularly disturbing case for Supervisory Special Agent Gaurdino and will see her battle with her emotions as well as the worst type of felon imaginable. The plot had me turning the page as I was finish up the last one. The images the Lyons creates are disturbing and let you into a world that is difficult to imagine, or not even believable. You want to see the horror of this book end up caught by Lucy.

You will be captivated from the very first page and will ride the emotional roller-coaster to the unexpected conclusion.

This is the best CJ Lyons book to date.

You must read this.

[Brenda Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Fall is another fabulous book by CJ Lyons! The story takes off 59 days after the last book "After Shock". Lucy Guadino is recovering from injuries received while working on her last case to take out the bad guys. She's conflicted as to whether to stay in the FBI or be more avaiilable to her husband and daughter. Lucy being Lucy can not back away but has to get right back into the thick of things. This is the most horrible crime of all. Will she be able to stop the horrendous acts of one man or will he continue to get away with what he is doing?

This book pulls you in from the very first and you will not be able to put it down until the last page! CJ Lyons is a gifted story-teller and aways leaves me wanting more. A must read for sure!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner! CJ has managed to weave Lucy's family through yet another suspenseful adventure.
Lucy, FBI agent,friend,wife and mother. Always mindful of all her hats. What will she do? How will it end? The backstory weaved into the pages expertly. The storyline is good, could have been picked from the headlines of any metro city. Terrifying and deplorable criminals. How do you write about such subjects? Get into the heads of these sick people? CJ manages to do it with great finesse! A great read, hard to put down, can't wait for the next part of Lucy's journey.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

CJ Lyons has done it again! Hard Fall is a gripping, dynamic narrative guaranteed to engage the reader from beginning to end. This fast-paced thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat and looking for more. CJ Lyons has a gift for bringing her characters to life while drawing the reader into their world. You will enjoy the suspenseful journey as you race with Lucy and her team to catch a most horrific villain while trying to protect the innocent.

[Sandy Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

LUCY is back to work, bad ankle and all. This case she is protecting a very pregnant abused child survivor June Unknown and her husband Seth. They are in search of her captor and abuser, Daddy. Another edge of your seat thriller. Couldn't put it down and now I wonder where Lucy goes from here. There is so much action and twists that makes for an exciting story. CJ does it again. Highly recommend.

[Bella Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Whenever I see a new Lucy Guardino book is available, I snap it up, and I have never regretted doing so! This is another fast-paced action thriller by Lyons that gives us more insight into the mother-daughter relationship as well as Lucy's strained but loving relationship with her husband. I really can't wait to see where this new arc of the story (as hinted at in the ending) will take the reader in future books!

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhhh my!! This is the best one yet(I think that about every one of hers I read though)! If you haven't read Lucy's stories your are really missing out! Absolutely loved this one and the only problem is that when you finish it you know you have to wait for the next one!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to write this without spoilers. Maybe just do it simply... Kick-A Lucy faces her worst opponent ever, and wins. No surprise there, but Hard Fall also includes a level of poignancy that is special to the five books of the series. Very much looking forward to more Lucy in the future.

[Joanne DeCorso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read - kept me reading right to the end. C. J. Is on of my favorite authors. Thanks again CJ for an exciting read.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Hard to put down as we race through another case with Lucy. Her struggles with her family vs. her career could echo many in that field. Great ending!

[Carole Kuentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This is a fast paced thriller. I read this book in one day. Couldn't put it down. The ending was perfect.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pediatric emergency physician and prolific thriller author CJ Lyons hits high marks for this page-turning addition to her Lucy Guardino series. At the center, the most heinous of all crimes perpetrated on innocent children; told not in prurient detail, but from the survivors point of view, described with a deep understanding of and empathy for the victims of some men's vile depravity. The child who knew herself as "Baby Girl" becomes June Unknown when rescued after abandonment by the only other person, the only love, she ever knew: "Daddy." From there the story twists and turns through ever deepening cycles of June's journey to something like normal, and Lucy and her team's relentless pursuit of this "Daddy," to find and stop him before he victimizes other little girls. Entwined in the continuous rising action are Lucy's own inner conflicts with career, husband, and estranged teenage daughter. An entertaining and thought-provoking read.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

CJ Lyons has the ability to affect me emotionally as no other author can. Each book is different in subject matter, but draws me in and affects me. In hard fall the reader is asked to consider the impact on the life of a child porn subject and all those that surround her. The story is richly detailed and compelling. Both old and new characters are familiar. The story is heart-pounding and suspenseful. I had to read it in a single setting. At the end I was drained and satisfied. It will be your loss if you don't read this book.

[Jo Ann Reinhold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is the best in the series. There are so many layers and dimensions to the story and the characters. Its like painting a pictures on clear plastic, each picture is complete as is but when layered on top of each other a new picture is created with multiple dimensions, dang I wish I was better with words. C.J. Lyons, a horrific subject handled with so much integrity, insight and heart...well done

[Gina Basham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved it! I have enjoyed the Lucy series immensely. The characters are so well written. I love Lucy`s relationships with her co-workers and especially with her family. Lucy`s long suffering husband is my favorite, The story line is exciting from start to finish and the entire series is worth reading. I was very satisfied with the ending and felt it took the turns it needed to. I would highly recommend! gbash

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think what the bureau has done to Lucy is bullshit!!!! Ok, I understand that under no circumstances are you to give any privileged info to anyone, ie. the passcode she gave that lunatic in the prior book. I can also understand Megan's anger towards her mother but that girl needs to chill a little and give her mother a break (what Lucy went through in the previous book - most people wouldn't have survived that). The story itself was ok - this book was more about personalities and decisions to be made. What happened to June was beyond horrific and the fact that this really does happen in our world is even more horrifying - the world is filled with sick, demented people. I wish they could kill the Dark Web and all others like it. Cudos to all the people out there that are trying to help and find the victims!!!!

[E Sano · Rating 3 out of 5]

As previously noted, I almost gave up on the Lucy Guardino series after #4: it was terrible, poorly written, ragged, dismal. Still, I went ahead and got #5, and it allows me to write off #4 a a poor attempt at a set-up that produced a decent story line.

Yet, as much-improved as #5 is, it is still at odds with itself at critical junctures. The ending feels rushed, and the detective-ing is jumbled and uneven. In the end, it is a good enough story, and it sets Lucy up for a (new, much happier, more productive, one hopes) different life. We shall see. I just ordered #6.

[Debra Chiaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

Riveting, fast paced, intriguing story. Lucy definitely has her hands full again. With a paedophile called Daddy and an assistant district attorney named Seth, and her family still grieving from the loss of her mom, she tries to juggle it all. Oh yeah, she also has a broken ankle just recently undergone surgery and rehab and returning to work way to early. But we are talking about Lucy here, super FBI agent! So, with the help of her team and others, they plan to track down their man. So goes it! Onward to the next book.

[Neena Christianson Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Child predators.

Before her team is dismantled, Lucy and her team is brought on to work the Baby Girl case. The girl was kept in captivity for ten years until she became too old for her captor. The depraved predator is back to take her back so he can have her unborn child. It's up to the team to stop him.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

FBI agent Lucy Guardino faces difficult situations both at work and at home and has to also deal with the after-effects of the events of the previous book in the series After Shock. Nice, easy and fast to read but unfortunately nothing heart-wrenching or unique.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Fall review

Hard FAll is the fifth fast-paced book in the Lucy Guardino F. B. I. Thriller series written by author C. J. Lyons.