IF I SHOULD DIE continues the Lucy Kincaid series with non-stop action, spine-tingling suspense, and plenty of relationship drama.

Lucy Kincaid and boyfriend Sean Rogan are on vacation as she waits to start FBI training. Sean sees it as an opportunity for some much-need alone time and a chance to break through some of Lucy's emotional armor. He loves her and she loves him (or at least he thinks she does since she won't actually say it). Not surprisingly given their penchant for adventure and trouble, Lucy and Sean have agreed to use some of their vacation time to help a friend whose attempts to open a resort in the Adirondacks are being sabotage. Lucy and Sean are determined to find the source of the sabotage and help their friends open their resort outside of Spruce Lake on time. What they stumble across is life-threatening danger and a criminal conspiracy dating back generations. Can they separate the good guys from the bad guys before someone pays the ultimate price?

I think this is a wonderful addition to a great series. Brennan is a master at creating such frighteningly amoral bad guys you want to cheer when justice is finally served. In IF I SHOULD DIE, there is an added complement of people doing what they can to survive in a bad situation. The moral ambiguity added its own sense of drama and tension. As a big fan of romance, I thoroughly enjoy the traditional story arc of boy-meets-girl. Sean and Lucy are past that stage (see Love Me to Death) but I would still classify this book as having a strong romantic element. I was caught up in Sean and Lucy's attempts to deepen and grow their relationship. I look forward to more of their personal and professional adventures.