We Were Killers Once

We Were Killers Once

Becky Masterman

Mystery / Crime / Thriller

"Former FBI agent Brigid Quinn, with her trademark toughness, raw humor, and human frailty, is back and better than ever in Masterman's latest novel. As Quinn is drawn into an infamous cold case with a possible link to the two killers immortalized by Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, she finds danger closing in. A gripping premise, brilliantly executed—you won't be able to put this one down!"—Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOORIn 1959, a family of four were brutally murdered in Holcomb, Kansas. Perry Smith and Dick Hickok were convicted and executed for the crime, and the murders and their investigation and solution became the subject of Truman Capote's masterpiece, IN COLD BLOOD. But what if there was a third killer, who remained unknown? What if there was another family, also murdered, who crossed paths with this band of killers, though their murder remains unsolved? And what if Dick Hickok left a...
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Maternal Instinct

Maternal Instinct

Becky Masterman

Mystery / Crime / Thriller

Think moving in with your mother-in-law is your worst nightmare? You have no idea . . . A jaw-dropping novel of domestic suspense from the author of the critically acclaimed Brigid Quinn series"Chilling, smart . . . and what a voice" Gillian Flynn on Rage Against the Dying"A thriller that must be read" Lisa Gardner on Rage Against the DyingDon't let them know what you're thinking, Althea Deming tells herself. It's your best defense. Althea didn't want her good natured but thoughtless step-son Hal and manipulative daughter-in-law Grace to move in with her, relegating her to a corner of the house that was once just hers, but she doesn't have much choice. She's been powerless since her beloved husband Robert's death. According to the will, everything that was hers now belongs to Hal - and to Grace. Grace Deming didn't want to uproot her family to care for her difficult mother-in-law, but...
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Rage Against the Dying

Rage Against the Dying

Becky Masterman

Mystery / Crime / Thriller

You have never met an (ex) FBI agent like Brigid Quinn*“Keeping secrets, telling lies, they require the same skill. Both become a habit, almost an addiction, that’s hard to break even with the people closest to you, out of the business. For example, they say never trust a woman who tells you her age; if she can’t keep that secret, she can’t keep yours. I’m fifty-nine.”*Brigid Quinn's experiences in hunting sexual predators for the FBI have left her with memories she wishes she didn’t have and lethal skills she hopes never to need again. Having been pushed into early retirement by events she thinks she's put firmly behind her, Brigid keeps telling herself she is settling down nicely in Tucson with a wonderful new husband, Carlo, and their dogs. But the past intervenes when a man named Floyd Lynch confesses to the worst unsolved case of Brigid’s career—the disappearance and presumed murder of her young protégée, Jessica. Floyd knows things about that terrible night that were never made public, and offers to lead the cops to Jessica's body in return for a plea bargain. It should finally be the end of a dark chapter in Brigid’s life. Except…the new FBI agent on the case, Laura Coleman, thinks the confession is fake, and Brigid finds she cannot walk away from violence and retribution after all, no matter what the cost.With a fiercely original and compelling voice, Becky Masterman's Rage Against the Dying marks the heart-stopping debut of a brilliant new thriller writer.Review “Pulse-quickening…scorching… invigorating… In one final demonstration that she has learned the lessons of crime fiction well, Ms. Masterman hides important evidence in the unlikeliest place: within plain sight. But this book is too cleverly manipulative for readers to get ahead of Brigid in making such startling discoveries.” —Janet Maslin, *The New York Times"Wow. An absolute pleasure. Chilling, smart...and what a voice she has."—Gillian Flynn, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Gone Girl* “Masterman lives up to her name in this masterly combination of compelling character and plot to keep the pages turning.” —Library Journal (starred review) "One of the most memorable FBI agents since Clarice Starling as well as a killer debut thriller."—Publishers Weekly Pick of the week (starred review)“Brigid is a marvelous character, and her skills are fearsome for someone her age… fans of Lisa Gardner and Tess Gerritsen will love this book.” —Booklist"A scorching, humane first novel that reads as if Masterman’s been sitting for a long time on some truly ugly secrets." —*Kirkus Reviews"First time is the charm for Masterman's masterful debut, featuring 59-year-old retired FBI Agent Brigid Quinn, still tough, still determined, and still smarting to catch that one killer who got away. An author to watch. A thriller that must be read."—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Catch Me and Love You More"Blown away. What else can I tell you? Brigid Quinn is a heroine to cheer for, and Masterman writes like an angel who has seen far too many ungodly things.”—Linwood Barclay, author of the New York Times bestseller No Time for Goodbye*"Rage Against the Dying is the kind of thriller that will keep you up long past your bedtime, and Brigid Quinn is the kind of FBI agent you have never met before, but will want to meet again!" —Peter Robinson, Edgar and Arthur Ellis-winning author of the New York Times bestseller, Before the PoisonAbout the AuthorBECKY MASTERMAN is the acquisitions editor for a press specializing in medical textbooks for forensic examiners and law enforcement. She grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and received her MA in creative writing from Florida Atlantic University.  Becky lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband. This is her first thriller.
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A Twist of the Knife

A Twist of the Knife

Becky Masterman

Mystery / Crime / Thriller

"A crime novel that transcends the genre—a twisting, high-stakes story with characters so real and so recognizably human, that it breaks your heart a little. Brilliant."-Shari Lapena, author of the New York Times bestseller The Couple Next DoorEx-FBI agent Brigid Quinn, now happily settled in Tucson, doesn't visit her family in Florida much. But her former partner on the force, Laura Coleman—a woman whose life she has saved and who has saved her life in turn—is living there now. So when Laura calls about a case that is not going well, Brigid doesn't hesitate to get on a plane.On leave from the Bureau, Laura has been volunteering for a legal group trying to prove the innocence of a man who is on death row for killing his family. Laura is firmly convinced that he didn't do it, while Brigid isn't so sure—but the date for his execution is coming up so quickly that they'll have to act fast to find any evidence...
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Fear the Darkness: A Thriller

Fear the Darkness: A Thriller

Becky Masterman

Mystery / Crime / Thriller

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.Review"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, The New York Times, on *Fear the Darkness *“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.” —Booklist on Fear the DarknessPraise for Rage Against the Dying"Pulse-quickening...scorching...invigorating." —Janet Maslin, *The New York Times "When the nominations are made for the best crime-novel debut of the year, we should be hearing [Masterman's] name again." —The Washington Post "One of the most memorable FBI agents since Clarice Starling." —Publishers Weekly* (starred, Pick of the Week) "Wow. An absolute pleasure. Chilling, smart...and what a voice." —Gillian Flynn, author of *Gone Girl "Masterman lives up to her name in this masterly combination of compelling character and plot." —Library Journal *(starred) About the AuthorBECKY MASTERMAN is the acquisitions editor for a press specializing in medical textbooks for forensic examiners and law enforcement. She grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and received her MA in creative writing from Florida Atlantic University. Becky lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband. Suzanne Toren has over 30 years of experience in recording.  She won the American Foundation for the Blind's Scourby Award for Narrator of the Year in 1988, and AudioFile magazine named her the 2009 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture.  She is also the recipient of multiple Earphones Awards. Her many credits include works by Jane Smiley, Margaret Weis, Jerry Spinelli, Barbara Kingsolver, and Cynthia Rylant. AudioFile also raves, “Toren brings a distinguishing warmth and power to her narrations. Her talents extend to both fiction and nonfiction, and in her recording career of 30-plus years she has given listeners heart-wrenching memoirs, lively history, engaging light fiction, and involving mysteries.” Toren also performs on and off-Broadway and in regional theatres.
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