REVIEW: Only Fear by Anne Marie Becker

 

Author: Anne Marie Becker

Genre: Romance - Suspense / Thriller

Publisher: Carina Press

AMAZON: Only Fear

Only Fear was kindly provided to me by Netgalley

Synopsis (Goodreads)

After a violent incident with a patient leaves scars on both her mind and body, psychiatrist Dr. Maggie Levine craves isolation. A radio talk show host seems to be the perfect profession, a job where she can help people from a distance while staying safe. When a strange caller begins stalking her on the air and murdering people to get her attention, Maggie realizes she can no longer close herself off from the outside world.

A personal security expert, former Secret Service Agent Ethan Townsend is no stranger to tracking down the most violent monsters of society and bringing them to justice. Still, it will take all of Ethan's skills to protect his new assignment, the irresistible Maggie, from a man intent on teaching her the ultimate lesson in fear…. 

REVIEW: 4 out of 5 stars

Only Fear was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press.

Dr. Maggie Levine is a radio show host and university lecturer who craves her privacy and solitude; after her brother was brutally murdered by an ex-patient she has pursued her occupation as a psychiatrist in a capacity where she no longer has to be so close to them. Her attacker left Maggie both emotionally and physically scarred, blaming herself she has withdrawn from those closest to her – her friends, family and patients living in isolation.

When a regular caller to her show ‘Owen’ becomes argumentative and threatening on air, Maggie returns home at the end of her shift to find her walls covered in the word ‘Fear’ written in blood. Realizing she has attracted another stalker; Maggie seeks the help of a family friend’s agency, SSAM.

Society for the Study of the Aberrant Mind is an agency which deals with serial murderers and other violent criminals and Agent Ethan Townsend, personal security specialist has been giving the task of protecting Maggie.

It was an intense and emotional journey to find Maggie’s stalker and when it comes to their attention that there are similarities with Owen’s crimes and that of a serial killer known as ‘Fearmonger’, protection is increased in order to catch him now he is targeting and murdering those closest to Maggie in order to teach her a lesson and eventually get directly to her.

I really enjoyed the main characters; Ethan was a wonderful, caring, dominant hero and had personal struggles of his own. As a former Special Services agent, given the task of protecting the Vice Presidents family he feels he failed in his role when there was a death whilst he was on duty and after some negative media scrutiny left the role and is now working with SSAM. Maggie was strong and determined despite everything she had to endure, I admired her courage and resilience and willingness to help even though she was putting herself directly in danger. The romance between them happened at a believable pace and was slow to build-up although the chemistry and attraction between them was instantaneous.

I really enjoyed Only Fear by Anne-Marie Becker, it was a thrilling fast-paced read that had me anticipating the villain’s next moves and wondering the reasons behind his obsession with Maggie.

By the end of the book, I was completely engrossed in each of the main characters and had a pretty good glimpse of some of those in secondary roles – I hope there will follow-up books focusing on the rest of the SSAM team especially Becca as well as Detective Noah Crandall.

Only Fear is wonderful Romantic Suspense/Thriller; I look forward to reading more novels written by this author.