If I Should Die_ A Novel of Suspense - Allison Brennan [130]
For seventeen books, the Ballantine team has really shined. Without my amazing editors Charlotte Herscher and Dana Isaacson, I wouldn’t have this book to share with my readers. Gina Wachtel’s enthusiasm and smile are contagious, and I truly appreciate her efforts. Thanks especially to Linda Marrow and Scott Shannon for being supportive from the very beginning. And of course the unsung heroes—the production, sales, marketing, publicity, and art departments.
I am blessed with amazing friends and family. My smart and diplomatic agent, Dan Conaway, who took me on mid-career with both faith and a vision. My blogmates at Murderati and Murder She Writes who keep me sane and focused. My mom and best friend who’s my biggest fan and strongest supporter. My kids, all five of them, who make me love them more each day, even when they drive me crazy. And of course my husband, Dan, who tolerates my hectic schedule, late nights, and wild questions. I couldn’t do any of this without your support and understanding.
And last but certainly not least, I want to thank my readers who have embraced Lucy Kincaid and love her as much as I do. Writing a series character is both new for me and exciting, and I hope you enjoy this and future Lucy and Sean thrillers. To keep up with the latest news about my books, please visit my website at allisonbrennan.com where you can read excerpts, watch book trailers, sign up for my quarterly newsletter, and follow me on your favorite social media website.
BY ALLISON BRENNAN
If I Should Die
Kiss Me, Kill Me
Love Me to Death
Original Sin
Carnal Sin
Sudden Death
Fatal Secrets
Cutting Edge
Killing Fear
Tempting Evil
Playing Dead
Speak No Evil
See No Evil
Fear No Evil
The Prey
The Hunt
The Kill
Read on for
LOVE IS MURDER
An original novella
by
Allison Brennan
Published by Ballantine Books
Dear Reader:
Love Is Murder takes place a year before the events in Love Me to Death, the first Lucy Kincaid novel. I hope you enjoy reading this adventure about Lucy and her brother Patrick as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Special thanks to Dr. D. P. Lyle for help on medical questions, and my pal Toni McGee Causey for a quick, early read. My husband, Dan, was particularly helpful this time around with brainstorming. And as always, thank you to the Ballantine and Writers House team.
Happy Reading,
Allison Brennan
ONE
Twenty-four-year-old Lucy Kincaid had certainly needed a break, but skiing hadn’t turned out to be quite as much fun as her brother Patrick had promised. In fact, Lucy had spent more time in the snow than on the snow. Snowsuit notwithstanding, she was cold, wet, and miserable.
“I told you I didn’t know how to ski.” Lucy shivered in the passenger seat of Patrick’s truck. She put her hands directly in front of the heater vent.
“You just need more practice. We’ll try again tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Wimp.”
“Is it wimpy to not want to freeze my ass off?”
For just a second, Patrick took his eyes off the curving mountain road. “Since when have you been a quitter?”
“It happened the thousandth time I hit the snow.”
Patrick laughed. “You weren’t all that bad.”
“It’s no fun to fail.”
“You’re just cranky because everything usually comes so easy to you.”
“Not true,” Lucy protested, though she wondered if her brother was right.
Patrick grinned.
“You think this is funny?” she asked.
“I think you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.”