Speak No Evil
4 Stars

When a young college student is brutally killed, suspicion naturally falls on her older ex-boyfriend. With little evidence to go on, homicide detective Carina Kincaid is forced to accept the help of the suspect's brother, Sheriff Nick Thomas, who is determined to find out the truth even if that means accepting his sibling is a sadistic killer.

Series note: This is book #1 in the No Evil trilogy but the hero is a character in book #2 of the Predator trilogy and it is worth reading The Hunt for Nick Thomas's back story.

An excellent romantic suspense novel although the idea that the police would accept the assistance of a suspect's brother, regardless of his experience with serial killers, requires a healthy suspension of disbelief.

Nick and Carina are engaging characters both as individuals and as a couple. Carina reasons for becoming a police officer are heart-wrenching, and considering the circumstances, it is interesting that she seeks justice and not vengeance. The trauma of Nick's experiences and his strength and resilience make him just as appealing. Nick and Carina's romance is very well drawn with a solid balance between their professional interactions and their personal attraction. Their relationship is both believable and satisfying.

The scenes from the killer's POV added an extra layer to the tension and suspense as well as providing insight into his identity and motivation.

All in all, a fantastic beginning to the new trilogy and I look forward to reading more about the Kincaids.
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A deranged serial killer is on the loose. The San Diego police team force has an unexpected ally to help them catch the bad guy.
Gripping, chilling descriptions of each crime bring you into the killer's mind. I just couldn't sleep until I read it to the end.
I'm so ready for book #2! ( )

A college girl's body is found on a San Diego beach wrapped in a garbage bag. Homicide Detective Carina Kincaid and her partner are investigating the murder, and their primary suspect is the victim's much older ex-boyfriend, Steve. Sheriff Nick Thomas from Montana comes to San Diego to offer his brother Steve help and support. The murder seems like the work of a serial killer. Nick has experience with this type of killer, since he himself was once held captive by a serial killer. He offers to help the detectives in any way he can, even if his brother turns out to be the guilty party. A mutual respect and attraction builds between Carina and Nick during the course of the investigation, even though they know that once the killer is found, they will return to their separate lives.

Carina and Nick made a great pair. She was a strong and smart heroine who really held her own in difficult situations. Nick (who was previously featured in Allison Brennan's book The Hunt) was a sympathetic and caring hero. He sees himself as a broken man as he continues to struggle with physical and emotional damage from his previous brush with a serial killer. The story was never boring, it moved at a fast pace, and kept me entertained throughout. ( )

3 stars. A pretty scary book. ( )

3 stars. A pretty scary book. ( )