Review: Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan

Speak No Evil (Evil #1) by Allison Brennan
Narrated by: Tim Lundeen
Publisher: Audible Inc.
Length: 10 Hours 56 Minutes
Audiobook Publication date: February 17th 2012
My rating: 4.5 stars 

Silence is deadly.
The murder of eighteen-year-old Angie Vance was exceptionally vile:her mouth was sealed with glue, an obscenity 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 victims 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.

Evil has spoken. Now see what it can do.

My Thoughts:

Speak No Evil was like one of the gritty, disturbing mysteries you find on Criminal Minds the TV series with a sizzling romance thrown in. It was addictive and I couldn’t stop listening, so I blew through this in no time, not able to wait for my commute times to continue.

Carina Kincaid is a homicide detective and has just caught a violent, disturbing murder case: a girl was found gagged and suffocated, wrapped in garbage bags with the name SLUT written on her chest.  This murder has all the marks of a burgeoning serial killer and so Carina can’t help but feel the pressure to catch this guy ASAP before he strikes again. When Steve Thomas becomes the prime suspect, his brother Sheriff Nick Thomas steps into to aid his brother with his defense.  While Nick doesn’t want to think his brother had anything to do with the murder, it won’t stop him from uncovering the truth even if Steve is guilty. 

Nick is recovering emotionally and physically after wrapping up an investigation of a particularly nasty serial killer. The guy was caught but not before leaving a trail of victims.  Realizing the asset Nick can be to the investigation after learning his history, Carina pulls him in for help because it’s a race against the clock when victims start piling in.

The murders in this mystery were horrible and graphic, so fair warning for any who decides to pick this story up. Very disturbing especially because we get the killer’s POV in some of the chapters. *shivers* I think some of what makes this so very scary is the fact that these types of crimes actually happen in real life.  It reminds me to carry my pepper spray in my hand while walking to and from the parking garage at work!

Both Nick and Carina have painful baggage in their pasts that factor heavily into their jobs, making them better investigators, IMO, because to them the cases are personal.  Through the investigation Nick and Carina’s respect for one another grows along with a simmering attraction. Their romance was built on a deep connection between kindred spirits.  I did appreciate that neither Carina nor Nick tried to “solve” each other’s hurt rather they provided comfort and a listening ear.

I loved Carina’s big family, most of which were law enforcement professionals, and were very supportive of both Nick and Carina.  She had plenty of help and input from her brothers, who were key players in the investigation.  I hope to see more of them in the continuing series.

I was on the edge of my seat by the end of this read as the danger and stakes ramped up when it becomes apparent who the killer is. Sure to give you chills and thrills up to the end! I was happily surprised at finding this series and I definitely plan on reading the next two books.  The next book, See No Evil, centers on Connor Kincaid, Carina’s brother.

As for the audio, I enjoyed Tim Lundeen’s voice for the male characters, but I wasn’t thrilled with the female characterization. The story was thrilling enough to overlook that.