PLAYING DEAD

Author: Allison Brennan ISBN: 9780345502735 10/2008 SUSPENSE Publisher: BALLANTINE

Dead Man Running Sentenced to death for crimes he didn’t commit, ex-cop Tom O’Brien is now a fugitive on the run. After fifteen years behind bars, he’s determined to prove his innocence—but first he must convince his daughter, whose testimony helped put him in prison, that he has damning evidence of a plot to frame him. Claire is no longer the naïve young teenager who walked in to find her mother and her mother’s lover dead and her father holding the gun. She’s a successful fraud investigator who figures that everyone lies. Though Claire believes in her father’s guilt, her curiosity propels her to look into the disappearance of a law student who claimed he had proof of Tom’s innocence. But the answers Claire finds only lead to more questions and reinforce her belief that there’s no one left to trust. Obsessed with the O’Brien case, FBI agent Mitch Bianchi befriends Claire under false pretenses, convinced that Tom is not only innocent but in grave danger—and not just from the cops. As the three race toward the truth, a murderous conspiracy tightens its noose—and Claire becomes the target of an ice-cold psychopath who will kill to protect his secrets.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

The fantabulous Allison Brennan has done it again.

Ms. Brennan's PLAYING DEAD, the last of her prison break series, is a no-holds-barred, edgy, dynamite thriller with a terrific romance. PLAYING DEAD skillfully juggles
an exciting mystery with Ms. Brennan's creepy character study of a group of highly successful, prestigious men (depraved sociopaths, all) while exploring the relationship of the decidedly compelling lead characters.

From a definitely attention-grabbing beginning to the satisfying conclusion, this novel will snag readers immediately and keep them glued through a harrowing race-against-time plot. While the plot shines, Mitch Bianchi and Claire O'Brien give PLAYING DEAD added dimension. These two superbly sketched characters may be my favorite Brennan characters yet—just nudging out Nick Thomas (the Montana sheriff from THE HUNT) for top honors.

Every aspect of PLAYING DEAD is dead on. The creative, provocative Ms. Brennan delivers another breathtaking tale of gritty, terrifying excellence. Bravo, Ms. Brennan... and thank you!

Debbie Jett