Fear the Darkness

A Novel

De: Becky Masterman

Narrado por: Suzanne Toren

It's hard to recognize the devil when his hand is on your shoulder. That's because a psychopath is just a person before he becomes a headline….Psychopaths have preferences for Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts coffee, denim or linen, Dickens or…well, you get the point.


Ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn has seen more than her share of psychopaths. She is ready to put all that behind her, building a new life in Tucson with a husband, friends, and some nice quiet work as a private investigator. Sure, she could still kill a man half her age, but she now gets her martial arts practice by teaching self-defense at a women's shelter.

But sometimes it isn't that simple. When her sister-in-law dies, Brigid take in her seventeen-year-old niece, Gemma Kate. There has always been something unsettling about Gemma-Kate, but family is family. Which is fine, until Gemma-Kate starts taking an unhealthy interest in dissecting the local wildlife.
Meanwhile, Brigid agrees to help a local couple by investigating the death of their son—which also turns out not to be that simple. Her house isn't the sanctuary it used to be, and new dangers—including murder—seem to lurk everywhere. Brigid starts to wonder if there is anyone she can trust, or if the devil has simply moved closer to home.

Becky Masterman's Fear the Darkness is the masterful follow-up to the Edgar Award and CWA Gold Dagger finalist Rage Against the Dying.

Reseñas de la Crítica

<p>“Electrifying...another strong display of the author's ingenuity. Ms. Masterman once again shows herself to be an expert manipulator of readers' expectations.” —Janet Maslin, <i>The New York Times</i><br><br>“Idiosyncratic and engaging. . .an action-filled finale that pulls the rug out from beneath expectations.” —<i>The Wall Street Journal</i><br><br>“[A] superior series. . .The strong voice that Masterman established for Brigid in <i>Rage Against the Dying </i>excels in this sequel.” —<i>The Associated Press</i><br><br>“Brigid Quinn is a vigorous narrator. . . with an arresting voice that keeps her audience close, without shying away at vulnerable moments. . . .Resourceful, direct, and determined--especially in the face of pure, murderous evil--in her second outing, Quinn remains a fun force to be reckoned with.” —<i>The Boston Globe</i><br><br>“It's refreshing to spend time with Brigid. . . .She's flawed and stubborn, but you sure would want her on your side in any kind of battle.” —<i>The Plain Dealer</i><br><br>“Tough, cunning Brigid Quinn will certainly appeal to thriller readers who favor a female perspective, but her unwavering determination to fight for even the ugliest forms of justice will also draw in fans of Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane.” —<i>Booklist</i><br><br>“Pulse-quickening...scorching...invigorating.” —<i>Janet Maslin, The New York Times, on Rage Against the Dying</i><br><br>“When the nominations are made for the best crime-novel debut of the year, we should be hearing [Masterman's] name again.” —<i>The Washington Post on Rage Against the Dying</i><br><br>“One of the most memorable FBI agents since Clarice Starling.” —<i>Publishers Weekly (starred, Pick of the Week) on Rage Against the Dying</i><br><br>“Wow. An absolute pleasure. Chilling, smart...and what a voice.” —<i>Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl, on Rage Against the Dying</i><br><br>“Masterman lives up to her name in this masterly combination of compelling character and plot.” —<i>Library Journal (starred) on Rage Against the Dying</i></p>

Masterman Does It Again

What made the experience of listening to Fear the Darkness the most enjoyable?

I chose Rage Against the Dying (the first book in the series) on a whim. I loved the narrator, Judy Kaye, who read the Sue Grafton's Alphabet mysteries. I enjoyed the first Brigid Quinn mystery and was looking so forward to the 2nd. When I found out there was a different narrator, I was disappointed but because I enjoyed the story; I gave it a try. Even better than the first. Suzanne Toren does a marvelous job narrating this story. She gives life to each character, and the story is wonderful. Brigid is a "retired" agent trying to settle down but something or someone always keeps her in the game. At first the details seem so wide apart that you think there is no way everything can be related. Once again, Masterman does a splendid job weaving a story web of twists. I truly didn't see it coming. Looking forward to the 3rd in the series.

What did you like best about this story?

Humor - Brigid (through the narrator) just makes you crack up constantly. As hard as she tries, she will always have her career as a part of her life.

Which character – as performed by Suzanne Toren – was your favorite?

All were splendid. She gives life to each one. Brigid and Mallory were definitely my favorites. She does a great job differentiating between them.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Who Can You Trust? Brigid's niece comes to live with her after her ailing mother dies. Like Brigid, Gemma Kate is definitely a Quinn to the bone. Is Brigid going crazy or is GK a psychopathic nut job?

Any additional comments?

The narrator deserves so much of the credit in these books. They truly make the Audible experience enjoyable.

Wanted to like it more

I was a little disappointed after enjoying book 1 so much. I found myself getting increasingly annoyed with the characters. Too much suspending my disbelief.... How everyone else noticed Brigid looking terrible and walking oddly - except for her own spouse? How no one cared about her driving while acting odd? Faces into airbags don't create concussions?
I love this character but don't make her so dumb!
Finally, the wonderfully narrated voice of Brigid which I enjoyed in the first book seemed to break in & out of a strange southern drawl in book 2. Where did that come from?
Please write book 3. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

Love her books

This one is even better than the first one of hers I have read. Becky Masterman knows and loves Tucson.

Mmah.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, but thought the reader was entertaining and kept me engaged even when the book was slow.

Another Great Book from Becky Masterman

I don't remember how I heard about the author's first book, Rage Against the Dying. Maybe it was fascination with the title. But I loved it. And anxiously awaited another. This is it and I loved this one too. I'm a tough rater too.

So often in audiobooks, it seems hard to keep characters straight. Not so with Masterman's writing.

Protagonist Is a female retired FBI agent with a long history of violence, in both her personal and professional lives, now married to a former priest. This is a really intriguing match which stands firm through some real tests.

Except for husband Carlo and two dogs, there weren't carryover characters from the earlier book. (Except for one phone call with a former colleague and discussion with the local ME.) I hope in future books she develops a wider circle around her.

Again I look forward to the next chapter in the life of this woman.