Sudden Death: A Novel of Suspense [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Sudden Death" the 1st book in her series by Allison Brennan.

Product Description

Heroic Justice

When a homeless veteran is found dead in a squalid Sacramento alley, FBI special agent Megan Elliott vows to find the murdered hero’s killer. Her investigation gets complicated fast, for the victim, a former Delta Force soldier, is just one link in a nationwide spree of torture and murder.

Straight off a job rescuing medical missionaries, soldier-for-hire Jack Kincaid returns to his home base in the Texas border town of Hidalgo only to receive the news that one of his closest colleagues – also ex-military – has been brutally murdered. Faced with an inept local police force, Jack takes matters into his own hands.

Now, as part of a national task force to stop the sadistic killings, by-the-book Megan and burn-the-book Jack form a tense alliance, sparked with conflict and temptation. But they struggle against more than passion, for a vicious pair of killers has only just begun a rampage of evil . . . and the primary target is much closer than Megan suspects.

About the Author

Allison Brennan worked in the California State Legislature before leaving to concentrate on her family and writing. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers.

Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 19 thrillers and romantic suspense novels. A five-time RITA award nominee for Best Romantic Suspense, she also won the Daphne du Maurier winner for Best Suspense for FEAR NO EVIL. A former consultant in the California State Legislature, Allison lives in northern California with her husband, five kids, and assorted pets. She's currently writing, reading, playing video games, or attending her kids sporting events.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 434 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 24, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345502744
ISBN-13: 978-0345502742

My Review:

FBI special agent Megan Elliot is investigating a serial killings of veterans that are tortured and then killed.  Jack Kincaid is a former veteran who joins forces with Megan when one of his friends and former teammate is killed and becomes one of the victims.

We know who the killers are early in the story (Ethan and Karin).  Ethan was a reporter who was with a group of soldiers on a mission in Afghanistan.  He was a prisoner and tortured for three months before being rescued from the Taliban.  As a result, he has become suicidal and has mental issues.  Karin wants to learn his methods of torture techniques using needles.  Ethan won't teach her so she convinces him to capture and torture the soldiers or personnel connected to the mission when he was captured/tortured.  He believes they abandoned him so when they finally capture their victims Karin watches Ethan place his needles in vital points to cause the most pain.

I didn't really feel the romance between Megan or Jack because there wasn't much of a buildup.  Their interaction was only a few meetups and then working together (I did feel the attraction/lust between them though).  As individuals I liked them and they do work well together (once they trusted each other).

The torture scenes were quite graphic so as a warning if you don't like pain or torture don't read this book!

Hans was out of character in this book because he was angry with Karin but we didn't find out until the end why!

3.5/5