Fear The Darkness by Becky Masterman (thoughts)

Books like this are why I read and adore books as much as I do! This book had the best beginning that I've read in a long time....one that instantly had me hooked.  Happily enough the book didn't let up from there, and I was in for an intense ride from beginning to end.  It's pretty early to say but there is a very good chance that this book will end up on my best of list for this year.  It was just that good!

In this book, retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn is thrown a curveball when she takes in her niece to live with her before she goes off to college.  Almost from the very beginning things start going awry as Brigid is pulled into investigating the death of a young man whom was part of the youth group that her niece joins.  It was believed to be a suicide at the time but the mother of the boy just can't let his death go.  Brigid agrees to investigate in hopes of getting some closure for the family but soon finds herself in danger and unsure of who to trust.  Will she be able to figure out what is going on before it becomes too late??

I tried to keep the summary for this book as vague as possible because there is just so much that I didn't want to give away.  This is a book that keeps the pages turning without you even realizing it.  It is a book that pulled me as the reader:  I couldn't figure out what was going on and that meant that I just couldn't set this book down.  It was a completely intense reading experience!  I wish I could explain more but I really don't want to give anything away.  This book is filled with all of these questions and intense moments.  Brigid becomes an unreliable narrator at times but without meaning to be (which is one of my favorite things).   As the reader, I could never fully trust what was going on which knocked the suspense level up even higher!  I'm being deliberately vague here just because I think that this book will be enjoyed even more if you know little to nothing about it when you read it for yourselves.  I can tell you that it made my reading experience that much more enjoyable! 

How refreshing it was to read about a main character that was older and more established!  So many books have main characters that are younger so it was a great change of pace to have a character that wasn't just beginning her life/career.  Brigid is one of those characters that left me intrigued.  I feel like there is so much more to her that we will learn about in future books.  I can't wait!  She has secrets and a past that I'm hoping we will hear about.  There is just something very mysterious about her at times that reminded me of one of my other favorite mystery characters Lacey Flint.  There are times that I didn't fully understand Brigid's motivations...yet another thing that added to the thick layer of suspense in this book.  I could keep gushing but really I just have nothing but good things to say about this book.  And the ending was phenomenal!  When I finally realized what was going on and the way the author ties the beginning of the book to the end was just perfection!  I cannot wait to read this author's other book!!!

Overall, I loved this book to pieces and can't think of one criticism.  I want more books just like this in my life!!!  I really cannot say enough good things about this book.  Filled with layers, questions, and suspense....this is exactly how a thriller should be!  Also, in case you were wondering it didn't effect my reading experience at all that I was starting with the second book in the series.  I am super excited to see that I have another book by this author to look forward to which I've already put on hold at the library.  I will be recommending this one to just about everybody.  Mystery lovers and thriller fans though, this is one that shouldn't be missed!  Highly recommended!!!

Bottom Line:  One of the best thrillers that I have read in a long time!  Wow!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and as part of a Shelf Awareness giveaway!  My thanks for the chance to read it!