Fear the Darkness by Becky Masterman

by:  Becky Masterman
published by:  Minotaur Books
publish date:  January 20, 2015

Retirement is a bitch. Between ravine walks with her pugs and liquid lunches with her new friend Mallory, ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn can’t stop working. She’s taking cases as a private investigator—just to keep her hand in—and is immediately drawn to the suspicious death of a local teen that may have chilling consequences for her own family.  

Enter Brigid’s clever but emotionally damaged niece Gemma Kate. She comes to live with her aunt Brigid following the death of her mother and immediately connects with a local boy who knew the drowned teen. But Gemma Kate’s arrival also coincides with a series of ghastly poisonings close to home. Can Gemma Kate help solve Brigid’s case, or is she the biggest threat of all?

This is second book in the Brigid Quinn series.  The first book, Rage Against the Dying, was an excellent book.  I was so excited when this book finally came out.  

The story line in Fear the Darkness was a little bit complicated.  Becky is trying to relax in her retirement, but her niece comes to live with her.  Gemma Kate is weird to say the least.   Brigid starts investigating the death of a teenaged boy from their church congregation.  Then people and animals start getting sick.  Who is making everybody sick?  Is it creepy Gemma Kate or is it someone trying to stop the investigation?  

I felt like this book got a little bit too long.  The story got too twisted up at times.  That said, I did like it.  I like the Brigid Quinn character.  Becky Masterman is a great writer.  This is a series that I will be keeping up with assuming it continues.