Fear the Darkness is a suspenseful mystery. Retired FBI Agent and sometime private detective Brigid Quinn was introduced in the first book of the series. In that one she caught a serial killer. In Fear the Darkness Brigid's niece comes to live with Brigid and her husband Carlo after her mother dies. Soon after Gemma-Kate arrives things begin to happen. One of Brigid and Carlo's dogs is poisoned by biting a toad and other things go wrong. Is Gemma-Kate up to something or is there something else happening. What is up with the death of a 14 year from drowning after playing a dangerous choking game. Is there a 17 year old psychopath in Brigid's house or is something else happening. ( )

Masterman once again developed areal set of characters and a plot with unexpected turns. Loved it! ( )

Fear the Darkness by Becky Masterman is a 2014 Minotaur publication.

Becky Masterson takes full advantage of the momentum and foundation she established with Brigid Quinn in the first book in this series.
When Brigid’s sister-in-law dies after a lengthy illness, she reluctantly takes in her niece for a while, before she begins college.

Unfortunately, things get off to a very rocky start when her niece participates in some ghoulish behavior, then one of Brigid’s dogs becomes ill, quite suddenly, and then Brigid, herself, begins experiencing the hallmark symptoms of a serious illness.

Meanwhile, a local couple asks Brigid to investigate the alleged accidental drowning death of their son, who was not popular amongst his classmates.

If you read the first book in this series, you will have noticed that Brigid seems almost mellow in this installment, by comparison. But don’t let that fool you- Brigid still has her edge- it’s just taking a small sabbatical while Brigid is wading through the heaviness of her symptoms, and facing the possibility of her own mortality in a way she never has before.

There is a lot going on in this novel- but many of the key shifts are quiet and may even go unnoticed at first. I wouldn’t let my guard down, if I were you, as the last quarter of the book hypnotically weaves all the threads together to reveal a huge surprise and a riveting conclusion.

I am definitely all in with this series and am eagerly anticipating Brigid’s next adventure!!

4 stars ( )

There's nothing quite like reading an exciting "whodunnit," and Becky Masterman has written a great one. "Fear of Darkness" is #2 in the Brigid Quinn series, and Masterman takes us along in this slow-to-unfold mystery, which slyly grabs you by the throat!

She skillfully helps us experience retired FBI agent Brigid's growing bewilderment about what is happening to her in her new life as a suburban wife and now temporary guardian to her college-bound niece, but it's not what you'd expect...even when she accepts a job to privately investigate the cause of a teen's death - never resolved to his heartbroken mother's satisfaction.

Author Masterman masterfully provides insight into key characters in her own good time, and yet leaves others somewhat thin and underdeveloped - my only criticism. Her take on Brigid, however, is spot on!

If you haven't read "Rage Against the Dying," the first in the Brigid Quinn series, I'd start there, but that's just me!

Can't wait to read her third, which just came out. ( )

This is the second book about retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn, I will definitely have to go back and read the first one.

Brigid is happily married to ex-priest Carlo. They are living in Tucson after a recent move. When Brigid’s sister-in-law passes away after a long illness, she honours her promise to allow Gemma-Kate, her niece, to come and live with them so she can go to College in Arizona. She also meets a woman at church, Mallory, and finally has a friend to talk with, lunch with and drink wine. Shortly after Gemma-Kate comes to live with them, things began to go wrong.

When Brigid meets Jacqui, the mother who's son had died, she is asked to investigate his death. Jacqui thinks there was more to it than an accident. As she begins to put her past skills to use once again, her gut instinct and intuition tell her that there is evil close by? Her suspicions are going haywire. Why is she herself suddenly feeling ill? What was happening? Why is she hallucinating?

As danger came closer, Brigid wondered if she was going crazy, what was wrong with her?

Fear the Darkness by Becky Masterman is a wonderful thriller! Gripping, intense and with a scarily real plot plus twists and turns to blow you away. An excellent read if you like thrillers and suspense. I have no hesitation in recommending Fear the Darkness. ( )