Love is Murder by Allison Brennan

The Lucy Kincaid series was selected as a group read in one of my Goodreads groups and we decided to first read the earlier trilogies preceding the series because there was so much backstory for Lucy and many other characters. This is now the first in the series.

It’s been a few years since we last heard from Lucy Kincaid, when she’d just graduated from high school and went through a horrible abduction. She’s now 24-years old and on a long weekend retreat at a lodge in the Sierra Nevada mountains with her brother, Patrick. He’s also recovered from being in a two year coma following a brain injury sustained while helping to rescue Lucy. Returning to the lodge after a day of skiing, they come upon the owner’s son, Steve, as he tumbled down the mountainside. After they assist him, they find out he’s been experiencing health issue but won’t take the time to deal with it as he struggles to keep the lodge afloat. But, there’s another bigger issue to contend with once they return as one of the guests is found dead in her room, the apparent result of a drug overdose.

I’m so glad our group decided to read the preceding trilogies before starting this series as that’s where we got Lucy’s (and Patrick’s) backstory. If you start here, you won’t learn much about her but having read those earlier stories, this was a good update on the direction her life is now taking. She and Patrick, a former e-crimes detective, take control of the room where the guest died and they soon realize things may not be what they first seem. This short story covers a lot of ground, quickly and thoroughly, as they follow investigative procedures while in the middle of a blizzard. They’re on their own until law enforcement can get there, which isn’t anytime soon.

This was an enjoyable story as Lucy shows she’s learned a lot in preparation for a career with the FBI. Not knowing who she could trust or anything about the guests, she had to rely on instincts and training to resolve the situation. It moves quickly but was interesting and engaging. You may not need to read the earlier stories before beginning this series to appreciate the story but it helped me better understand Lucy’s transition from a traumatized teen to a skilled investigator. Nice start to the series.

Book Info

• Release Date: January 24, 2011
  
• Series: Lucy Kincaid #.5
• Page Numbers: 106
• Publisher: Ballantine Books

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