Review: Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner

Fear Nothing (Detective D.D. Warren #7) by Lisa Gardner
Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
Publisher: Dutton Books/Brilliance Audio
Length: 12 Hours 46 Minutes
Publication date: January 7th 2014
My rating: 5 stars 

My name is Dr. Adeline Glen. Due to a genetic condition, I can’t feel pain. I never have. I never will.

The last thing Boston Detective D.D. Warren remembers is walking the crime scene after dark. Then, a creaking floorboard, a low voice crooning in her ear… She is later told she managed to discharge her weapon three times. All she knows is that she is seriously injured, unable to move her left arm, unable to return to work.

My sister is Shana Day, a notorious murderer who first killed at fourteen. Incarcerated for thirty years, she has now murdered more people while in prison than she did as a free woman.

Six weeks later, a second woman is discovered murdered in her own bed, her room containing the same calling cards from the first: a bottle of champagne and a single red rose. The only person who may have seen the killer: Detective D.D. Warren, who still can’t lift her child, load her gun, or recall a single detail from the night that may have cost her everything.

Our father was Harry Day, an infamous serial killer who buried young women beneath the floor of our home. He has been dead for forty years. Except the Rose Killer knows things about my father he shouldn’t. My sister claims she can help catch him. I think just because I can’t feel pain, doesn’t mean my family can’t hurt me.

D.D. may not be back on the job, but she is back on the hunt. Because the Rose Killer isn’t just targeting lone women; he is targeting D.D. And D.D. knows there is only one way to take him down:

Fear nothing.

My Thoughts:

I’ve been a fan of Lisa Gardner’s mysteries for years, and Fear Nothing has to be one of her best.  If you’re a fan of a well-plotted, mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend this story! 

Detective D.D. Warren is out on disability after suffering falling down a flight of stairs at the scene of a horrendous murder.  She has no recollection of what happened, only that she fired her gun and woke up with one hell of a shoulder injury.  Pain is now her constant companion, making her existence a nightmare.  This is how she meets Dr. Adeline Glen, a pain specialist highly recommended. D.D. and Adeline soon find that they have more in common that just a doctor patient relationship when the murders continue and they discover a bizarre and suspicious connection to Adeline’s family.

Two things about Dr. Adeline Glen are significant.  First, she can’t physically feel pain, which makes her chosen profession ironic and second, she is the daughter of one of the most infamous serial killer’s in history, Harry Day, who died over forty years ago.  As if that wasn’t enough of a stigma, her older sister Shana Day, a convicted murderer as well. You’d think this wouldn’t have much of an impact on Adeline’s life given that her father committed suicide when she was just a baby and she was adopted by a well respected doctor, but nature versus nurture weighs heavily in Adeline’s mind.  As you read the story it becomes evident why…

One thing I love about Lisa Gardner is the fact that she delves heavily into her character’s state of mind. This story is told in first person for Adeline’s POV, and third person for D.D.’s chapters, which worked perfectly.  Because of the first person narrative with Adeline, I felt an intimate connection with her and the interworking of her mind was fascinating!  Her relationship with her incarcerated sister, and their family history factor heavily into the story.  With the murders resembling the methods used by both Shana and their father, suspicions are swirling everywhere and as a reader I suspected everyone!    

With D.D. dealing with intense pain and complete memory loss, she is understandably frustrated, but she continues to work on the case unofficially with her team, her husband Alex, and with Adeline.  In the previous books, D.D. reluctantly settled down with Alex, a blood spatter specialist, and had a child.  It was lovely to see them as a couple still going strong even dealing with extremely difficult circumstances, and I thought Ms. Gardner did an excellent job portraying their struggles realistically.

This mystery was a good one! Layer upon layer was slowly stripped away until we discover the secrets of the past as well as the identity of the killer.  I was riveted to the pages, and bouncing up and down in parts from the suspense!  Fear Nothing is part of a series, but it’s not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy this story.

The brilliant narration of Kirsten Potter really enhanced my enjoyment of this excellent mystery.  She has a low sultry voice which I found very appealing. I’ve listened to another book narrated by Ms. Potter (Never Seduce a Scot) and she is amazing with accents!

 

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