Cutting Edge: A Novel of Suspense [Mass Market Paperback]

Allison Brennan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2009

A RADICAL WAY TO DIE

When security specialist Duke Rogan’s state-of-the-art computer system fails at a controversial bio-tech firm, a raging inferno spreads, and a grotesquely charred body is discovered in the aftermath. With an extremist anti-technology group claiming responsibility, the case grows even more complex when the victim’s autopsy unexpectedly reveals that he bled to death. Heading the FBI’s domestic terrorism unit, Agent Nora English is fiercely determined to track and stop a sadistic assassin.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Brennan knows how to deliver.”—Lisa Gardner

About the Author

Allison Brennan is the author of ten bestselling romantic thrillers, including The Prey, Speak No Evil, Killing Fear, and Playing Dead. For thirteen years she worked as a consultant in the California State Legislature before leaving to devote herself fully to her family and writing. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Northern California with her husband, Dan, and their five children.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 405 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345502760
• ISBN-13: 978-0345502766
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dear Reader:

Like most writers, I am an avid reader. I started light - Encyclopedia Brown, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew - but by the time I was eleven, I'd discovered my mom's vast Agatha Christie and Ed McBain collections.

But two things happened on my way to becoming a mystery writer.

First, I discovered Stephen King.

As a thirteen-year-old book fanatic, I learned about page-turners early. I wrote Stephen King a fan letter after reading THE STAND and told him I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. He wrote back and told me: "If you want to be a writer, write." Which I took to mean, why wait until I grew up?

My problem? I never finished anything I started. As soon as I was well into the story and had figured out what was going to happen, I became bored and started a new project.

In high school, I became fascinated with true crime, and it wasn't until college that I started reading my mom's romance novels. They hadn't appealed to me as a teenager, but as a "mature" twenty-one year old, I found them entertaining.

Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, and others introduced me to contemporary novels that didn't involve murder, dismemberment, or deranged clowns living in the sewer.

Over the next decade, I built a career, married, had five kids, but never stopped reading--or writing.

I soon discovered a wonderful blend of suspense and romance with the romantic suspense novels of Tami Hoag, Kay Hooper and Lisa Gardner, and knew exactly what I wanted to write. I could take my mystery reader background, my fascination with true crime, and my desire for the happily ever after, and blend it into a romantic thriller.

I love romance because I want a happy ending. True love should win over adversity. IF the hero and heroine are worthy. They need to earn it, because nothing achieved easily is truly appreciated. But I also love intense thrills and chills because they are physical--fear causes the entire body to react, heart pounding, head thumping, hands shaking.

I'm thrilled to have a new series. LOVE ME TO DEATH started the Lucy Kincaid series. Lucy is an aspiring FBI agent with a troubled past. Readers can follow her from application to Quantico and -- hopefully -- as a Special Agent. The fourth book in the series, SILENCED, will be out on 4.24.12.

Thank you to all my readers who continuing to buy and read my books. I appreciate your feedback and enthusiasm. I will keep writing as long as you keep reading!

Happy Reading!
Allison Brennan

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New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan has published seventeen romantic thrillers, in addition to several short stories. Allison is a five-time RITA award nominee for Best Romantic Suspense, and the Daphne du Maurier winner for Best Mainstream Suspense for FEAR NO EVIL. She also has an essay on Daphne du Maurier's REBECCA in the Edgar-nominated 100 MUST READ THRILLERS.

A former consultant in the California State Legislature, Allison lives in northern California with her husband Dan and their five kids. She's currently writing ... or attending her kids sporting events.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as her others, August 3, 2009

By 

Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" (Dawson, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cutting Edge: A Novel of Suspense (Mass Market Paperback)

Allison Brennan has been one of my favorite mystery writers since she started. I have all her books and I think I have reviewed most of them, but this one was a letdown. Most have a good romance and a good story this one however was just not as good. Yes, there is gore. Yes, there is a mystery. Yes, this is Duke Rogan's story. Was I disappoointed? Yes!!! First of all the story starts out twenty yrs ago with a couple of revolutionaries who were blowing up buildings. The daughter turns her mom and stepdad into the FBI. The daughter, Nora, falls in love with her FBI contact, who is murdered by her stepdad. Her mom is sent to prison and Nora and her sister to child services. Now twenty years later she is an FBI Agent and her sister Quin is a Fire Marshall.

Once again terrorists are targeting Biotech firms. The latest one is protected by Duke Rogan's security. There is a body this time and it is the owner of the firm who was a friend of Duke's. Duke is immediately attracted to Nora, but although she likes him she clings to the memory of Andy from 20 years ago. As the mystery unfolds it turns out that the deaths from 20 years ago have not been forgotten and now someone is out for vengence.

I really expected a better romance. I was bored by the constant back and forth revelations. When it finally hit the fan you already knew what would happen and it was disappointing. At the end of the book she says she is going to write a new series with a supernatural slant. I think she has reached the end of this type of story and needs to branch out. I will be looking forward to her next novel ORIGINAL SIN which will be out in March of 2010.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Allison Brennan continues to keep me in awe..., October 10, 2009

By 

A. Mazer "RomanceLover666" (Pasadena, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cutting Edge: A Novel of Suspense (Mass Market Paperback)

"Cutting Edge" joins the other Brennan books in being absolutely awesome. It was not her best, but, with Brennan, it's awfully hard to not be good. I finished this book in a day, I enjoyed it so much. Like most of her books, Brennan presents suspension, drama, and a crime with a twist that will shake you so hard you'll have the book dropping from your fingertips. It's romantic and sexy, but still incredible with the crime and the characters.

I think my favorite thing about the books Brennan writes is that she continues her stories, set in the same world, but switching character focus. It's brilliant. She has mastered the art of suspense and continues to keep me on the end of my chair, turning page after page.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong romantic suspense, August 1, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cutting Edge: A Novel of Suspense (Mass Market Paperback)

When she was eighteen years old, Nora English betrayed her deadly anarchist mom by turning her in to the FBI. She did it to save her younger sister Quin. Twenty years later mom still lingers behind bars psychotically outraged at her two ungrateful daughters especially the older one, who besides her treachery has become a FBI agent; her younger one is almost as evil becoming an arson investigator. To her glee, they are somewhat estranged.

Nora investigates arsons of the biotech industry by an apparent internal terrorist gang. This time they breach security expert Duke Rogan's computer system protecting a biotech company, but the inferno is different as the charred remains of a corpse are found. The autopsy reveals the starling revelation that the deceased actually bled to death. Norah and Duke realize something new and lethal has entered the equation, but what and who remains elusive as both investigate as a team.

Although having teammates working a dangerous inquiry fall in love is quite common as romantic suspense is hot, Allison Brennan adds a refreshing profound psychological look at the dependency of relationships and of a need to belong. Quin needed Nora back then and Nora needed to be needed by Quin back then. Thus Duke has quite a task to win Nora's heart. Fans will relish this terrific thriller as Nora realizes she is a prime target not because of her inquiry, but because of her lineage and begins to fear Quin is behind the assaults. CUTTING EDGE is a winner.

Harriet Klausner