Speak No Evil

By Allison Brennan

Don’t say a word. . . . Just scream.

The murder of eighteen-year-old Angie Vance was exceptionally vile–her mouth was sealed with glue, an obscenity was scrawled across her skin, and she was suffocated in a garbage bag. The killing seems personal, so police detective Carina Kincaid focuses her efforts on the victim’s much older ex-boyfriend, Steve Thomas. But without physical evidence, Carina can’t make a collar or a case. She also can’t stop Sheriff Nick Thomas, the prime suspect’s brother, from conducting his own unwelcome investigation.

Though Nick is still scarred and unsteady from a recent confrontation with a serial killer, he’s determined to prove his brother’s innocence. But his confidence is shaken when he learns of Steve’s dark side, and when a friend of the murdered girl meets a similarly gruesome fate. With no time to lose, Carina and Nick work together to trap a psychopath, before another unlucky woman faces an unspeakable end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 30, 2007
• ISBN: 9780345497253

Allison Brennan

ALLISON BRENNAN is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over forty-five novels. She has been nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers and the Daphne du Maurier Award. A former consultant in the California State Legislature, Allison lives in Arizona with her husband, five kids and assorted pets.

Reviews for Speak No Evil

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[nora_reads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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!

[dawn772 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A good romantic suspense although more suspense then romance. I liked the strong character of both the hero and heroine especially how they quickly accepted each other and worked together. I'm looking forward to the next in this series. Detective Carina is assigned to a gruesome murder and sheriff Nick's brother is prime suspect.

[sarielle-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting story, likeable characters. An easy read with a good plot.

[callmejacx · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First book in the “evil” series. A page turner. A fast paced novel. It starts with the brutal murder of Angie Vance. Sheriff, Nick Thomas, from Montana, has become personally involved with this case, doing what he can to help Carina Kincaid with the San Diego Police. The San Diego Police feel that with Nick Thomas’s past experience with serial killers, that it will give them a better chance at catching the killer.Not long after the first murder there are others. There are similarities but at the same time differences. The girls mouth is glued shut with a black bandana, the body is washed and wrapped, raped then murdered. Although they are unable to get any DNA they feel it’s the work of a serial killer. Carina Kincaid and Nick Thomas work closely. They start to trust and open up to each other, their past bringing them closer. All along, the reader knew that these two would end up together. Their relationship was the part of the story, but it didn’t smother the story. All in all, it was a good read. Parts of it was gruesome, but not so bad that I wanted to stop reading. I am looking forward to the next two in the series.

[silverbird_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Allison Brennan's Speak No Evil follows a serial killer who goes after college girls and the federal agent who hunts him down.As many other reviewers have stated, this book is very graphic and depicts rape scenes in great detail, so if this is not what you're into, I wouldn't read it. However, if that doesn't bother you, this is a good book overall. At times it was a bit cliche, and the romance in the book moves much too quick to be realistic - however, this is fiction. I do recommend this book.

[slpenney07 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Summary: A serial killer is stalking college girls and has the police baffled -- the victim was targeted through her online sex journal.The Take-Away: I really liked how this novel brought to light the sort of things that are found on the internet and how people are never "anonymous." It was good, in an extremely scary sort of way. The reaction of some secondary characters highlighted how even playing it safe can lead to problems with young users.For instance, one had a 13 or 14 year old daughter. Always anonymous, never any specific details. However, when her journal and that of two or three friends were viewed together, someone could, and had, figured out where they lived and what school they went to. The focus point for the stalker? A basketball game recounted without team names or mascots, but with the score and location of the game.I applaud Allison for bringing such a touchy topic to light in her novel. Hopefully it will spark a few conversations at the dinner table.As far as the story line, resolution, character arcs, etc., Allison is a fantastic writer with a great legal background. Her novels are fast paced and a great air plane read.Recommendation: Check it out.

[bookbeat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in Allison Brennan's evil trilogy & we are introduced to the Kincaid family who will appear in each of the books. Speak No Evil features Carina Kincaid, a San Diego homicide detective and Nick Thomas from one of Brennan's previous novels, The Hunt. Nick is still recovering from the "Bozeman Butcher" a serial killer in Montana when his brother, Steve, calls him to come to San Diego and help prove his innocence in the murder of a young college girl he had dated. As Carina and Nick, a sheriff on leave from his Montana job, work closely trying to track the vicious killer, they grow close, but they both have past issues to deal with.Evil is definitely the word for this killer who defines online predator.

[emigre_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When college girsl are murdered one after the other on a San Diego campus, detective Carina Kincaid must find the killer before he kills again. The first victim's racy online journal shows the killer may have known her in cyberspace first. The author did her research with online stalking. It's a book that shows how no one is really anonymous online.