When I first started reading The Fear of Fire I didn’t realize it was the second book in a series, but not to worry this can easily be read as a standalone. That being said I enjoyed this one so much that I ordered a copy of the first book before I’d even finished with this one.

The opening scene with Casey really grabbed me. It was intense to say the least and definitely hooked me into the story. Speaking of the story, it is about Hannah Jacobs, Casey’s younger sister. It’s been ten years since Casey’s death and Hannah, now a private detective, is determined to finally solve her sister’s murder. Great characters and a well crafted plot had me reading late into the night. Honestly if I had to complain about anything, and this might be a stretch, I wish S.C. Sterling wrote shorter chapters. Just personal preference here. I like short punchy chapters. I still end up reading the same amount but I get the illusion of having read more with short chapters, lol. But my silly preference aside, this was seriously an excellent thriller. I particularly enjoyed the setting. Small town Wyoming gave off a great sense of desolation, if that makes sense. I’m looking forward to going back and reading book 1. I’d like to thank N/B Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Fear of Fire.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RFI2OMEKYCIOF/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Ten years ago Casey Jacobs was murdered. Now her sister, Hannah, a private investigator is out to solve this cold case. This is a tight, well plotted, fast paced thriller. The characters and story are believable and excellent writing make this one an easy recommendation. I hope Sterling intends to continue on with this series. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Fear of Fire is book #2 of The Fear Of series by S.C. Sterling
Gripped from the first page this book had me invested from the start. Hannah Jacobs was excited to have a sleepover with her older sister Casey, but a blizzard prevented her from going. That night a killer broke into Casey's apartment and brutally stabbed her and left her for dead. Ten years later, Hannah now a private investigator she returns to Laramie, Wyoming to solve her sisters unsolved case. With the local police unwilling or able to help she uncovers a link from her sisters murder to other missing women in the area. As Hannah searches for evidence to
link her sisters murder to the serial killer, she puts her own life in danger . Will she find the man who killed her sister or become his next victim.
I could relate to Hannah's determination not to give up even when the police discouraged her meddling and even hindered her from searching out the truth. I enjoyed the characters and storyline, but I was disappointed to not get more info on the killer. I don't mind a slow burn but the end kind of felt like it came too quickly without enough storyline regarding the killer and his motives. And while upon finishing the book I see where the fire comes from I didn't particularly like it for the book.
All in all it was an enjoyable read, and I will recommend it to my thriller lovers.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hannah has yet to address the loss of her sister Casey a decade ago, when a murderer broke into the latter's apartment and stabbed her to death.

It is even harder to do that when Hannah is aware that if their original plan for her to sleep over with Casey had gone ahead - instead of being postponed as a result of the brutal snowstorm that hit the city of Laramie, Wyoming that night - Hannah could have ended up dead alongside her sister.

Desperate for answers, she returns home and teams up with a local sleuth to find out what happened to her sister. What Hannah doesn't expect is the possibility of a link with a serial killer that their investigations uncover...Not to mention the danger that this then puts her in!

Hannah is an appealing protagonist and readers will root for her. The story is interesting and keeps you engaged almost throughout. Though part of a series, this can definitely be read as a stand-alone. It gets 3.5 stars.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Fear of Fire. I have waited a long time for this book. I loved Sterlings first novel and this sequel although short is very good.
Hannah returns to continue her search for her sister’s killer. She is. Relentless and won’t stop until she has answers
Hannah is a strong female presence and you can’t help but like her
Hannah has lost a lot but her determination to find a killer is the major plot
Lots of interesting characters and this can be a standalone but read Sterlings first book Fear of the Winter which is also excellent
Very good 5 stars for me!

Love this series! Hannah is a very interesting character!! Who murdered Hannah's sister? and why? Is her sister's murder the work of a serial killer or was it someone she knew? Hannah needs closure and will do everything she can do find out what happened on the night her sister was murdered. Captivating from the very first pages. Great book!

Umm wow! It was good read! This book has some crazy twist and turns throughout! I was in the edge of my seat at times! The storyline in this book was amazing and kept me wanting more. I couldn’t figure out who the killer was

“Rough around the edges” Hannah is an engaging PI attempting to track the person responsible for her sister’s murder. Little does she know that her visit to Laramie, Wyoming will unearth a serial killer. An enjoyable weekend read. I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.

This book was soooo good!

The writing was superb. You can almost feel the chill of the desolate Wyoming air and Hannah's desperation for finding the monster that killed her sister.

As someone who has also lost a sister, I was Hannah's biggest cheerleader. She's also a badass!

The book definitely takes you in a couple of different directions on who the killer might be, and the characters are all either relatable or HATEABLE lol

If you like a good heart racing thriller, I would definitely give this one a read.

** I want to also thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for a true review. **

The story follows Hannah Jacobs who is a private investigator. When Hannah was a teenager her older sister Casey, is murdered by an unknown killer who broke into her apartment in Laramie, Wyoming. Hannah travels back to Laramie to hunt down the killer and bring them to justice. As Hannah digs into the case, she rubs some locals up the wrong way and soon ends up in a cat and mouse chase with the killer who may have killed multiple women.

This was a well written and fast-paced story. I couldn't put it down as I was keen to know what happens next. The author really created suspense and some scenes were really tense. I like Hannah's character and the way we got to see how Casey's death had impacted Hannah's own life. Hannah was flawed but determined to succeed in her mission to find the killer and I found this believable.

This is the second book in the Fear Of... series. I haven't read the first book Fear of Winter and although there are some references to the first book and other characters, it didn't take away from the story.

I will definitely read the first book and keep up with the series as it progresses.

The only reason this was not 5 stars is the lack of back story on the killer. However, this was a solid 4 star read and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a fast-paced thriller.

The book is released on the 16th of May 2024.

Ooooooh good read! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a fantastic who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
As a teenager, Hannah Jacobs was excited for a sleepover with her older sister Casey, but a blizzard altered their plans. Sometime that night, an unknown killer broke into Casey’s apartment in Laramie, Wyoming, and brutally stabbed her multiple times, leaving her for dead. Ten years later, Hannah is still haunted by the murder of her sister that fateful night, and with no viable suspects the case has long turned cold, nearly forgotten by everyone except her. Determined to uncover the truth, Hannah shutters her Private Investigation firm and travels to Laramie. With the help of a local amateur sleuth, Hannah discovers a series of murders linked to her sister, and evidence of a possible serial killer targeting young woman throughout the region. As she delves deeper into the unsolved murders, Hannah’s life is thrust into jeopardy, and she finds herself in a race to find the killer before she becomes his next victim!!