Fear the Darkness by Becky Masterman Review!

The Book
Ex-FBI Agent Brigid Quinn thinks she has a second chance at life. After too many years spent in the company of evil, she's quit the Feds and is working out what normal is meant to feel like. She's swapped serial killers, stakeouts and interrogation for a husband, friends and free time. But when you've walked in darkness for so long, can you stand the light? When a local teenager dies in a tragic drowning accident, the community thinks Brigid might be able to help comfort the family. But when she does so, something doesn't add up. And it's no easier at home: after a bereavement in the family, Brigid has reluctantly taken in her niece to give her a break before she starts college. Brigid's ever-patient husband Carlo tells her they must go easy on Gemma-Kate, the grieving youngster. Which is fine, until she starts taking an unhealthy interest in dissecting the local wildlife. For Brigid, death still seems to be wherever she turns. But as she herself starts to feel unwell, it's her own mortality that is the most troubling. And as she tries to get to the bottom of a series of allegedly accidental deaths and increasingly gruesome occurrences at home, she slowly realizes that maybe this time, she's let the darkness inside the only place she ever felt safe. Sometimes, death is closer than you think.

The Author
Becky Masterman created her heroine, Brigid Quinn while working as an editor for a forensic science and law enforcement press. Her debut thriller, Rage Against the Dying, was a finalist for the Edgar Awards and the CWA Gold Dagger, as well as the Macavity, Barry, ITW and Anthony awards. Becky lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband.

The Review
I love a good thriller and Fear the Darkness is one of the better ones I have read in awhile. Brigid Quinn is retired FBI and now she teaches self defense at a woman's shelter. Married to an ex-priest they have a happy life in Tucson Arizona. Brigid's sister in law dies from a long illness, requesting that her daughter Gemma-Kate come live with them until she starts college.

Brigid is asked by a family to investigate the death of their son, he drowned in their pool and the mother does not believe it was suicide. Things start getting strange with Gemma-Kate, Brigid's dog is poisoned and the investigation starts taking a turn for the worse. To maintain her sanity, she spends a lot of time with a long time friend Mallory. People at a church gathering start feeling ill and Brigid also starts feeling ill, hallucinations and weakness. She starts suspecting Gemma-Kate of poisoning her. Brigid's quiet life is not as tranquil as it had been, before Gemma-Kate. Is someone trying to kill her? and why? Are things happening because of her investigation? 

Fear the Darkness is the followup to Rage Against Dying, which I need to read, I always seem to read books in the wrong order but it did not take away from the story at all. The author tells a terrific story and I loved the main character Brigid, a strong woman, I never expected the ending, totally surprised me. I totally enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.

I received this book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.