Allison Brennan
Author of Speak No Evil
About the Author
Allison Brennan was born in 1969 in California. She is an American bestselling writer of romantic thriller novels. Her writing includes the Lucy Kincaid series, the F. B. I. Trilogy and the Predator Series. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and International show more Thiller Writers. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Allison Brennan
I'll Be Watching You 2 copies
No title 1 copy
Allison Brennan, Prison Break Series 3 pack: #1 Killing Fear, #2 Tempting Evil, #3 Playing Dead (2008) 1 copy
Her Lucky Day (short story) 1 copy
Body Bags and Toe Tags (2007 RWA Session/Panel) — Presenter — 1 copy
No Plotters Allowed 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1969-09-29
- Gender
- female
- Education
- University of Santa Cruz
- Occupations
- political campaigns
bartender
country club hostess
administrative assistant
legislative consultant
mother (show all 8)
writer
public policy career with California State Legislature - Organizations
- Romance Writers of America
International Thriller Writers
Mystery Writers of America
Novelists, Inc.
Horror Writers Association - Agent
- Kimberly Whalen (Trident Media Group)
Dan Conaway (Writer's House) - Short biography
- Allison Brennan (born September 29, 1969) is an American best-selling writer of romantic thriller novels. Her first book was published in 2005.
Brennan was born in San Carlos, California. In 1987, she graduated from Menlo School in Atherton, California, and attended college at UC Santa Cruz from 1987 to 1989, working as a legislative consultant in the California State Legislature from 1992 to 2005. In 1993, she married Dan Brennan, and they had five children. She currently resides in Elk Grove, California.
As of 2012, Brennan has published numerous novels, five of which are found in over 1000 libraries and have been translated into Japanese, Norwegian, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Most of her books have been New York Times best-sellers. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Elk Grove, California, USA
- Places of residence
- San Carlos, California, USA
Chatsworth, California, USA
Sacramento, California, USA
Elk Grove, California, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- California, USA
Members
Reviews
Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan is a very highly recommended domestic thriller where a family is battling both the weather and human threats in Cooke County Texas. This is an excellent, fast-paced, compelling family drama that encompasses elements of both a survival story and a thriller.
After her husband John's death eleven months ago, Ellen McKenna is working as hard as she can to keep the family farm going with the help of her four children, Jake, Avery, Lyla, and Billy. Along with her show more grandmother-in-law, Penny's cooking, and long-time hired hand Mateo Delgado, they have kept things going. Now they have just had bad storms go through, the ground is already saturated, and a huge new storm system is heading for them. They have some repairs to make from the last storm, which Jake and Mateo are doing, and Avery and Lyla are helping with all the regular chores. Billy is obsessed with a missing pregnant barn cat, Cleo, and wants to find her before the next storm hits.
Making things more tense are the Robinson brothers, Mitchell and Clive, who own Verdacorp, an agribusiness corporation. They have been buying up farm land across the area and Mitchell, the main driving force, has been ruthlessly trying to get some of the McKenna land. Known to the readers, simultaneously there are some nefarious plans underway. Three people were hired to steal something from four different families, after being assured that the owners would be gone. Brock, his wife, Rena, and her brother Sam have just broken into a home, but the owner was there, gun fire was exchanged, and now Sam is injured.
After Clive from Verdacorp stops by and later a neighbors injured dog is found hit by a shotgun, it sets into motion a whole series of events that finds the McKenna family scattered, off helping and checking up on neighbors before the next storm hits. The whole area is under a flood warning, the creeks are high, and they know the risks are real.
The writing is exceptional, the action is non-stop, and the tension and suspense is high throughout this atmospheric, outstanding rural/domestic thriller that held my complete attention throughout. If you have ever lived in a rural area, or perhaps anywhere, where the weather can present some dangerous challenges, you will understand the family's concerns over flooding. There is so much to worry about with the impending weather alone, so when the additional stress is added over the home invasions, and bad faith actors, the apprehension and dread is palpable. I was glued to the pages and could not read fast enough while engrossed in this un-put-downable novel.
Every member of the McKenna family has some stressful, tension-packed event going on in this novel, so as the narrative moves from one event to another, all of it is urgent and dangerous in some way. You will be concerned over each family member as events in the narrative unfold. The focus on individual family members and some friends, allows character development for all of them. They are all fully realized individuals that are forced to face some event that threatens them and their survival. The final denouement was a perfect way to wrap up this intense, immersive drama and I fully recommend this novel.
Whisper Creek is an exceptional, well-written domestic thriller/mystery/survival story. Everyone, read this novel. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/05/whisper-creek.html show less
After her husband John's death eleven months ago, Ellen McKenna is working as hard as she can to keep the family farm going with the help of her four children, Jake, Avery, Lyla, and Billy. Along with her show more grandmother-in-law, Penny's cooking, and long-time hired hand Mateo Delgado, they have kept things going. Now they have just had bad storms go through, the ground is already saturated, and a huge new storm system is heading for them. They have some repairs to make from the last storm, which Jake and Mateo are doing, and Avery and Lyla are helping with all the regular chores. Billy is obsessed with a missing pregnant barn cat, Cleo, and wants to find her before the next storm hits.
Making things more tense are the Robinson brothers, Mitchell and Clive, who own Verdacorp, an agribusiness corporation. They have been buying up farm land across the area and Mitchell, the main driving force, has been ruthlessly trying to get some of the McKenna land. Known to the readers, simultaneously there are some nefarious plans underway. Three people were hired to steal something from four different families, after being assured that the owners would be gone. Brock, his wife, Rena, and her brother Sam have just broken into a home, but the owner was there, gun fire was exchanged, and now Sam is injured.
After Clive from Verdacorp stops by and later a neighbors injured dog is found hit by a shotgun, it sets into motion a whole series of events that finds the McKenna family scattered, off helping and checking up on neighbors before the next storm hits. The whole area is under a flood warning, the creeks are high, and they know the risks are real.
The writing is exceptional, the action is non-stop, and the tension and suspense is high throughout this atmospheric, outstanding rural/domestic thriller that held my complete attention throughout. If you have ever lived in a rural area, or perhaps anywhere, where the weather can present some dangerous challenges, you will understand the family's concerns over flooding. There is so much to worry about with the impending weather alone, so when the additional stress is added over the home invasions, and bad faith actors, the apprehension and dread is palpable. I was glued to the pages and could not read fast enough while engrossed in this un-put-downable novel.
Every member of the McKenna family has some stressful, tension-packed event going on in this novel, so as the narrative moves from one event to another, all of it is urgent and dangerous in some way. You will be concerned over each family member as events in the narrative unfold. The focus on individual family members and some friends, allows character development for all of them. They are all fully realized individuals that are forced to face some event that threatens them and their survival. The final denouement was a perfect way to wrap up this intense, immersive drama and I fully recommend this novel.
Whisper Creek is an exceptional, well-written domestic thriller/mystery/survival story. Everyone, read this novel. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/05/whisper-creek.html show less
Mia Crawford is due a big promotion at her financial firm—name on the door and all. That she would rather stoke her passion for reading by owning a bookstore aside, she looks forward to her new position. More or less. But, before that, her boss forces her to take some much-needed R&R at an exclusive resort on the sun-soaked Caribbean island of St. Lucie. He wants her to unwind, her friends want her to get her nose out of a book, enjoy life, make new friends, and maybe have a little NSA show more sex. Mia would rather read..
Upon arrival at the resort, she learns that a woman has gone missing from the island and no one seems to have answers. Mia picks up a paperback from the resort’s discard table, heads to the pool, and dives in. The book, not the pool. But what are all the cryptic notes the previous reader scribbled in the margins? A puzzle Mia struggles to solve. Then she realizes the book had belonged to the missing woman, and the notes might suggest she was blackmailing other guests. Who, and why? Was one of her targets the killer? If so, which one? There are plenty to choose from. Of course, there are other bodies, mysterious security staff, the hot bartender, and enough murder suspects to fill a clown bus. Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is the perfect beach read. Fun characters, twisty plotting, and loads of suspense and humor. Allison Brennan has given us another best-seller—no doubt.
DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series show less
Upon arrival at the resort, she learns that a woman has gone missing from the island and no one seems to have answers. Mia picks up a paperback from the resort’s discard table, heads to the pool, and dives in. The book, not the pool. But what are all the cryptic notes the previous reader scribbled in the margins? A puzzle Mia struggles to solve. Then she realizes the book had belonged to the missing woman, and the notes might suggest she was blackmailing other guests. Who, and why? Was one of her targets the killer? If so, which one? There are plenty to choose from. Of course, there are other bodies, mysterious security staff, the hot bartender, and enough murder suspects to fill a clown bus. Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is the perfect beach read. Fun characters, twisty plotting, and loads of suspense and humor. Allison Brennan has given us another best-seller—no doubt.
DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series show less
What makes a great thriller? Action, suspense, engaging characters, a convoluted plot, and a compelling setting like the Montana mountains with an approaching blizzard. NORTH OF NOWHERE has all that and more. Kristen McIntyre and her deaf younger brother Ryan, survive a small plane crash as they run from their organized crime father Boyd. After five years of living safely under the protection of the man sworn to keep them their father, Boyd has tracked them down and sent his henchmen to show more kidnap his children and dispatch their protector. Their escape plane crashes after suffering damage in a runway shootout. The children’s aunt, Ruby, learns of the crash and heads to Montana. Long estranged from her criminal family, Ruby is ex-military tough and committed to protecting Kristen and Ryan. Rancher Nick Lorenzo, who knows the mountains better than anyone, also learns of the crash and jumps in to help find the children. But why are the children running from their father? Who are the good guys and who wishes harm? What follows is the stuff of thrillers. A great story, well told. show less
This was fantastic. I loved Austin and Tommy and Emma (although we don't see much of her). The mystery was interesting and I didn't remotely guess the murderer. I felt sorry for Austin and Tommy who are dealt a bad lot in life. Particularly with Austin's mother forbidding Tommy to come to the house or see Austin. Austin's so encouraging of Tommy though and I really liked the way he and Max both talked to and with Tommy and how they treated him as more than his mental handicap. Max was still show more her hardass self determined to reveal the truth but she was further developed in this case - she's starting to learn it might not always be better for everyone to have the truth revealed. I mean she still reveals it but when she discovers Tommy sleepwalks, she has second thoughts about how it may come across. And I like that she's more compassionate and empathetic in this case. The issue and implications of social media and cyberbullying are also examined within this novel. I really liked the following quote.
Civil society requires civility. It requires individuals to consider the repercussions of their words as well as their actions. Today I fear people—not just teenagers, who did not exhibit self-control even in my day—rarely consider the repercussions of anything they do or say.”
Brennan, Allison. Poisonous (Max Revere Novels) . St. Martin's Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Overall this was a fantastic book. 4.5 stars. It only lost half a star because the moaning about Max's relationship annoys me. The thing is I love Max but I also hate her at least half the time. I mean the whole thing with David and Nick's kids and them not wanting to badmouth their partner is admirable. But Max is all the truth is only ever good. I'm firmly on the boys' side of the argument - parents should be parents first and foremost - as in, it's about the kid and what's best for them - not about the fact your husband or wife is a cheating bastard. The fact that David and Nick jump through hoops to see their kids is horrible. The women should feel ashamed of themselves. Every kid should have access to both parents as they desire. But the fact that David and Nick are both willing to comply with every demand so as to see their kid is commendable. And it's wrong of Max to criticise it. She can hate the women too - but she should leave the men alone because it's not their fault.
Anyway so 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. show less
Civil society requires civility. It requires individuals to consider the repercussions of their words as well as their actions. Today I fear people—not just teenagers, who did not exhibit self-control even in my day—rarely consider the repercussions of anything they do or say.”
Brennan, Allison. Poisonous (Max Revere Novels) . St. Martin's Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Overall this was a fantastic book. 4.5 stars. It only lost half a star because the moaning about Max's relationship annoys me. The thing is I love Max but I also hate her at least half the time.
Anyway so 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 89
- Also by
- 9
- Members
- 12,871
- Popularity
- #1,817
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 490
- ISBNs
- 500
- Languages
- 6
- Favorited
- 14
