Lucy Kincaid Books in Order

How to Read the Lucy Kincaid Series

Allison Brennan’s long-running series following Lucy Kincaid—a survivor of a horrific cyber-crime abduction who channels her trauma into a determined path to join the FBI—blends pulse-pounding police procedural work with intense romantic suspense. Across dozens of novels and bridging novellas, Lucy and her partner, security expert Sean Rogan, navigate complex investigations, digital stalkers, and deadly criminal conspiracies. Because the characters grow, experience major life changes, and build relationships over time, reading the series in a logical order is highly recommended to appreciate their full development.

Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start?

For the best experience, you should start Lucy’s journey either with her backstory introduction or directly with her first titular novel:

• The Backstory Option (The No Evil Trilogy): Before launching the official Lucy Kincaid series, Allison Brennan introduced Lucy and her family in the No Evil trilogy. The third book in this trilogy, Fear No Evil (2007), is where Lucy is kidnapped and brutally targeted by a cyber-predator. While this is not officially Book 1 of the Lucy Kincaid series, it provides the essential, traumatic backstory that explains her motivation to fight cyber-crime and join the FBI.
• The Main Series Option (Book 1): If you want to jump straight into her investigative career, start with Love Me to Death (2010) or its digital prequel novella, Love is Murder. This is where Lucy begins volunteering with a victim’s rights group and officially steps into the role of protagonist.

Lucy Kincaid Chronological Reading Order

While the publication order matches the chronological progression of the main novels, the standalone novellas fit into specific gaps between the books. To read the entire saga chronologically, including all short stories and novellas, follow this sequence:

1. Love is Murder (Novella, 2011) – A prequel story that takes place before the first full-length novel.
2. Love Me to Death (Book 1, 2010)
3. Kiss Me, Kill Me (Book 2, 2011)
4. If I Should Die (Book 3, 2011)
5. Vacation Interrupted (Novella, 2018) – Chronologically set during a brief respite after Book 3.
6. Silenced (Book 4, 2012)
7. Stalked (Book 5, 2012)
8. Reckless (Novella, 2013) – Chronologically sets up the events directly preceding Book 7.
9. Stolen (Book 6, 2013)
10. Cold Snap (Book 7, 2013)
11. Dead Heat (Book 8, 2014)
12. Best Laid Plans (Book 9, 2015)
13. No Good Deed (Book 10, 2015)
14. The Lost Girls (Book 11, 2016)
15. Make Them Pay (Book 12, 2017)
16. Two to Die For (Book 13, 2017) – Features two short stories, including the Lucy Kincaid story 'Spiral' and a Max Revere story 'Retired'.
17. Breaking Point (Book 14, 2018)
18. Too Far Gone (Book 15, 2018)
19. Storm Warning (Novella, 2019) – A bridging story leading into the events of Book 16.
20. Nothing to Hide (Book 16, 2019)
21. Cut and Run (Book 17, 2020)
22. No Way Out (Novella, 2020) – Chronologically fits between the high-octane events of Book 17 and Book 18.
23. Cold as Ice (Book 18, 2020)
24. A Deeper Fear (Novella, 2021) – The most recent release in the series, rounding out Lucy and Sean's latest challenges.

Crossovers and Spin-Offs: The Maxine Revere Connection

As the series progresses, Allison Brennan's fictional universe expands. Investigative reporter Maxine 'Max' Revere, the protagonist of her own thriller series, crossed paths with Lucy Kincaid in major storylines. To get the complete picture of their interactions, keep the following crossovers in mind:

• Shattered (2017): Though officially Book 4 of the Max Revere series, this novel is a full crossover event. Max Revere is hired to look into a cold case involving the murder of Lucy’s cousin and childhood best friend, Justin Stanton. Lucy and Max must overcome their initial friction and work together, combining Lucy's official FBI resources with Max's independent investigative reporting. Chronologically, this fits perfectly between Make Them Pay (Book 12) and Breaking Point (Book 14).
• Cut and Run (Book 17, 2020): This novel serves as another major crossover where Lucy Kincaid, Sean Rogan, and Max Revere team up once more to solve a dark mystery involving a mass grave in the mountains.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Lucy Kincaid's world, here are a few structural details to keep in mind:

Character Continuity is Key

Unlike some thriller series where each mystery completely resets the status quo, the Lucy Kincaid series features a strong overarching narrative. Over the course of the books, Lucy transitions from a traumatized survivor to an FBI analyst, then an FBI trainee at Quantico, and eventually a full field agent. Her romantic relationship with Sean Rogan and her dynamics with her sprawling family evolve continuously. Skipping books might leave you confused about major changes in her personal and professional life.

The Role of Novellas

While the novellas are not strictly mandatory to understand the plot of the main novels, they are highly recommended. Brennan uses these shorter stories to bridge emotional transitions and minor subplots, such as wedding preparations or holiday interruptions. They add depth to the romance and provide fun, fast-paced cases that keep the characters sharp between their larger, multi-layered investigations.

Standalone Readability

Each main novel features a self-contained crime investigation—usually involving cyber-criminals, human trafficking rings, or serial killers—which is resolved by the final page. You can technically read the individual mysteries as standalones, but you will miss out on the emotional payoff of the long-term character arcs and the overarching growth of the Kincaid-Rogan partnership.