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Ian Quinn #1
The Fear In Her Eyes
From internationally-acclaimed thriller writer Grant McKenzie comes a novel that hits perilously close to home, and will keep you guessing until the last page.
What if everything you believed about the worst event in your life was a lie?
Ian Quinn’s day begins with an anonymous death threat, but that’s not entirely unusual in his line of work as a court-ordered child protection officer. The frustrated parents of his clients often need someone to lash out at — and Ian makes sure that he is the easiest target.
But the threat is nothing compared to the envelope stuffed into his hand by a foul-smelling vagrant who mutters the cryptic message, “He says he’s sorry” before scurrying away.
The envelope with his name scrawled across the front contains a lone visitor’s pass to the Oregon State Penitentiary, and the accompanying message fills Ian’s heart with both terror and revulsion.
The author of the note destroyed Ian’s life. In the blink of an eye, this drunk-driving scum took the most precious thing in Ian’s life.
Worst of all, Ian had watched it happen.
And now the bastard wants to see him.
The message is short. Only seven words.
I was paid to kill your daughter.
What if everything you believed about the worst event in your life was a lie?
Ian Quinn’s day begins with an anonymous death threat, but that’s not entirely unusual in his line of work as a court-ordered child protection officer. The frustrated parents of his clients often need someone to lash out at — and Ian makes sure that he is the easiest target.
But the threat is nothing compared to the envelope stuffed into his hand by a foul-smelling vagrant who mutters the cryptic message, “He says he’s sorry” before scurrying away.
The envelope with his name scrawled across the front contains a lone visitor’s pass to the Oregon State Penitentiary, and the accompanying message fills Ian’s heart with both terror and revulsion.
The author of the note destroyed Ian’s life. In the blink of an eye, this drunk-driving scum took the most precious thing in Ian’s life.
Worst of all, Ian had watched it happen.
And now the bastard wants to see him.
The message is short. Only seven words.
I was paid to kill your daughter.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2014
1195 people are currently reading
637 people want to read
About the author
Grant McKenzie
16 books75 followersBorn in Scotland, living in Canada and writing fast-paced fiction, Grant likes to wear a kilt and toque with his six-guns. Often compared to Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay, Grant has twelve internationally published thrillers to his name that have earned him an avalanche of positive reviews and loyal readership around the globe. His latest novel, The Seven Truths of Hannah Baxter, was shortlisted for the 2023 International Thriller Writers award. He also has a secret identity as mystery writer M.C. Grant (Oops, there goes that secret) who pens the Dixie Flynn mysteries set in San Francisco. This series was shortlisted for the prestigious Shamus award. As a journalist, Grant has won numerous awards across Canada and the U.S., including one in 2012 from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia — the same organization that Dixie’s fictitious San Francisco NOW belongs to. He resides in Victoria, B.C., where he works with people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
October 13, 2018
Now this WAS fast and furious, full of suspense and high drama. Read the synopsis elsewhere and trust me that its a page turner. And there endeth today's catch ups.
February 24, 2019
I started this book this morning and its 8:00pm and I am done. This was a very interesting storyline, fast plot page turner. I will be looking for more books by this author. This book had just the right amount of intense that I love! Great Read!
October 18, 2014
This book was fantastic! It was filled with the kind of gripping action and suspense of an intensity that few authors can manage in their writing. McKenzie is one of those rare authors, like Harlan Coben or Linwood Barclay, that is a master of suspense, and it is evident in each of his books written under this name. I must caution you, though, that his series written under the name M.C. Grant is not of the same style or caliber. In fact, books like "The Fear in Her Eyes" make me wonder why the author would waste his time writing garbage under a different name. I guess there is a market for boring drivel? In any case, avoid M.C. Grant books, but buy everything you can find by Grant McKenzie and it still won't be enough. Each book draws you in and never lets go, and you won't be sorry you went along for the ride. I LOVED this book!
June 12, 2019
This book took me quite a while to read. It wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't as good as others that I've read alongside it. I finished the book as I still interested to see how the case was wrapped up, but I didn't miss the story when I wasn't reading it.
April 12, 2022
Great thriller
This story kept you on your toes until the end. Lots of action and suspense. The transformation of mild mannered Ian into an avenging angel is understandable. Loved the ending.
This story kept you on your toes until the end. Lots of action and suspense. The transformation of mild mannered Ian into an avenging angel is understandable. Loved the ending.
January 20, 2019
Great murder mystery! Wanted to keep reading to see who did it!
January 17, 2019
The fear in her eyrs
Had you guessing till the end with a slant on your normal thriller kind and likeable characters great read
Just the right mix of compassion and gore which draws you into you'll read more
Had you guessing till the end with a slant on your normal thriller kind and likeable characters great read
Just the right mix of compassion and gore which draws you into you'll read more
October 11, 2016
Very good. A story of a tormented father, and how far he will go to avenge his daughters death.
January 15, 2019
Non stop
Action all the way, well most of the way. Pretty bloodthirsty stuff, with quite a bit of it believable. Some later characters were pretty out there, but hey, this is fiction, right? I enjoyed it anyway. I will certainly read more of this man's work. Next........!
Action all the way, well most of the way. Pretty bloodthirsty stuff, with quite a bit of it believable. Some later characters were pretty out there, but hey, this is fiction, right? I enjoyed it anyway. I will certainly read more of this man's work. Next........!
January 10, 2019
This book will hook you and keep right on giving you a thrill a minute. It doesn't let up. Ian, a type of social worker, fights battles like he is an MMA champ. I will be reading more books by this author.
February 8, 2019
I liked the plot. Social worker lost a child and his marriage. He gets embroiled in a journey to discover how his child was killed.
It did move quickly. The character definitely had a lot of anger and took it out on everyone. Some of the action scenes were a bit over the top, but I enjoyed the story.
It did move quickly. The character definitely had a lot of anger and took it out on everyone. Some of the action scenes were a bit over the top, but I enjoyed the story.
March 22, 2019
Driven
Fast paced and riveting, this book races through a horrible murder. As each action leads to another larger issue, justice finally wins.
Fast paced and riveting, this book races through a horrible murder. As each action leads to another larger issue, justice finally wins.
March 22, 2019
The usual gripping story from this Canadian author.
January 20, 2019
I am a fan of Grant McKenzie, but authors are judged against their previous books, and in my opinion, this isn't one of his best. Ian Quinn learns that somebody paid the man who killed his daughter in a road accident. As with the author's other work, the story is well told as we follow the desperate father's attempts to uncover the truth, but the ending felt a little contrived. I enjoyed this book but I think Switch was far better.
January 31, 2019
Plan an Uninterrupted Day of Reading for This Book
This was the first book I have read by this author. It will not be the only book I will read by Grant McKenzie! I was hooked from the first page and stayed up all night to finish the book. Plenty of twists and turns with very realistic characters and all neatly solved by the last page. Kept me enthralled throughout and extremely satisfied with the ending!
This was the first book I have read by this author. It will not be the only book I will read by Grant McKenzie! I was hooked from the first page and stayed up all night to finish the book. Plenty of twists and turns with very realistic characters and all neatly solved by the last page. Kept me enthralled throughout and extremely satisfied with the ending!
February 9, 2019
The Fear in Her Eyes
Very entertaining and interesting storyline about the death of a child that was thought to be an accident but still caused the parents to separate and the problems that continue to follow the dad. After the deaths of other people related to the situation the dad sets out to solve the mystery. Excellent novel.
Very entertaining and interesting storyline about the death of a child that was thought to be an accident but still caused the parents to separate and the problems that continue to follow the dad. After the deaths of other people related to the situation the dad sets out to solve the mystery. Excellent novel.
May 4, 2019
Good read. Fast-paced and intense.
Ian’s life work was ensuring children were safe and well taken care of. Problem being, he couldn’t take care of his own and that would always weigh heavy on him. She was killed coming out of kindergarten by a drunk and stoned driver. What he never expected was a note from prison exhaling that Tyler Young was hired to kill his daughter.
Ian’s life work was ensuring children were safe and well taken care of. Problem being, he couldn’t take care of his own and that would always weigh heavy on him. She was killed coming out of kindergarten by a drunk and stoned driver. What he never expected was a note from prison exhaling that Tyler Young was hired to kill his daughter.
September 24, 2020
'The Fear in Her Eyes' completely blew me away. Once I started reading I had to keep on going. The characters were a great cast of personalities. Ian is a great lead. He's compassionate and he truly cares about his job. Time story line really surprised me. Quite a few twists. Definitely a must add to your tbr list. Recommended.
January 15, 2019
No good killing
Greedy, ambitious, self serving, self righteous, violent, not one good character worth reading in this book. The no ending beating and killing makes whole human society sick.
Greedy, ambitious, self serving, self righteous, violent, not one good character worth reading in this book. The no ending beating and killing makes whole human society sick.
January 24, 2019
The story line was great.
Enjoyed reading this story. The beginning of the book was held my imagination and kept me interested. But don't understand how this individual transformed into James James Bond.
Enjoyed reading this story. The beginning of the book was held my imagination and kept me interested. But don't understand how this individual transformed into James James Bond.
June 13, 2019
A totally rivetting murder mystery
Well written, extremely well contrasting of characters. This is a book not to bemissed. It has everything to grip the reader from go to woah. A tragically desperate story of death, deception and soul destroying action.
Well written, extremely well contrasting of characters. This is a book not to bemissed. It has everything to grip the reader from go to woah. A tragically desperate story of death, deception and soul destroying action.
September 14, 2019
Amazing!
Yet another heart pounder from this terrific author!
The plot was incredible and the execution mind blowing. I am now off to read every thing else Mr. McKenzie has ever written! Thank you for this fabulous read!
Yet another heart pounder from this terrific author!
The plot was incredible and the execution mind blowing. I am now off to read every thing else Mr. McKenzie has ever written! Thank you for this fabulous read!
November 12, 2019
A real page turner that was worth the read
There were so many twists and turns that I thought in was on a roller coaster ride that would not end. Well written and always a damaged hero to make the world or a small part of it a better place. I will read more from this author.
There were so many twists and turns that I thought in was on a roller coaster ride that would not end. Well written and always a damaged hero to make the world or a small part of it a better place. I will read more from this author.
February 27, 2020
Great
Loved the book, really enjoy Grant McKenzie's style of writing. Characters and plot are well developed, the storyline is believable, which is not always the case in this writing genre. I will be back for more.
Loved the book, really enjoy Grant McKenzie's style of writing. Characters and plot are well developed, the storyline is believable, which is not always the case in this writing genre. I will be back for more.
March 25, 2020
Meh! This was an ok story. I liked the plot line, which was suspenseful until the end. However, I didn't like most of the character, especially Ian. Just based on that, I'm not interested in reading the sequel.
June 19, 2020
Heart stopping action
The description of the story that led me to read this book was inadequate.
It didn’t even come close to describing the twists and turns, along with the pulsating action of this story.
A must read.
The description of the story that led me to read this book was inadequate.
It didn’t even come close to describing the twists and turns, along with the pulsating action of this story.
A must read.
July 27, 2020
This was a very fast paced story with the main character trying to find out who paid to have his daughter murdered. What a terrible thing to discover and Ian holds no stops to find the person responsible who ordered "the hit". Very good read and I'll read more by this author.
August 16, 2014
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reviews THE FEAR IN HER EYES "outstanding . . . one of my favorite thrillers" tinyurl.com/mks7pme
October 2, 2014
Hooked from page 1 until the end. Quick easy read filled with suspense!
July 16, 2016
Excellent. No time for naps, you got to finish!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews