Fear the Dark
Patricia A. Rasey
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
ISBN: 1-59279-923-X
124 Pages
$12.50
Patricia Rasey has crafted an expert tale of seduction and terror within these few chapters, leading the reader off in different directions at every turn and making us wonder if our instincts are correct or if we're off on our own wild snake chase.
It's obvious that Rasey has done her research for this story with her spare-no- gory-details descriptions of the damage inflicted on the victims by the snake venom. As a snake lover, I was a little concerned that this story was going to give the oft-maligned exotherms an even worse reputation than they already have. Thankfully, Rasey seems to have gone out of her way to point out that the snakes are just more innocent victims of a madman's cruelty.
The book rushes along at breakneck speed, hitting its only bump at the end when the killer's identity is revealed. There is a slight amount of ambiguity involving the assumed name of the culprit that was never completely explained and the ending seemed just a bit rushed. However, it doesn't detract from the overall excellence of the book and I would not hesitate to read this tale again and again.
The additional short story, In the Mind of Darkness that is included at the end is nothing short of breathtaking. I found myself dabbing my eyes as I finished it and wanting more at the same time! Do yourself a favor this weekend and read Fear the Dark!
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