The Art of Fear (The Little Things That Kill Series Book 1)

Two women—survivors—raised with the worst the world can give join together in their common pain to protect each other and stop a determined killer. Along the way, new revelations about each other and their troubling backgrounds threaten to stop them from finding the evil person who plans to take their lives. And the countdown has begun, ticking off one day after another…until death.

A good, psychological thriller should take us places our minds would never go on their own. When we see the bizarre behavior of characters in a book, we are reassured that we couldn’t possibly go there, and yet, frightened that we might.

There-in lies the terror in THE ART OF FEAR—characters who do the unthinkable and those that achieve the impossible.

Pamela Crane rips this tale out of the deep darkness that threatens the fragile safety of our world, with enough twists and turns to make you nauseous. She hooks you with vivid and descriptive writing, tempts you with a story line straight from the news, and strings you along to a shocking ending.

Add THE ART OF FEAR to your list of must-reads, today!

Another fabulous book from Pamela Crane! The first book in The Little Things The Kill Series and I'll surely be catching up on the rest! Ari has lived with the crippling blame and of her sister's death since childhood and has lived in the shadow of the events since. After meeting Tina at her suicide support group, the two form an unlikely bond and set out to find answers to questions that have gone unanswered for too long. Tragic and suspenseful, yet we're left with hope for these two strong women. This incredible story and interesting characters sucked me in and just wouldn't let me go. Highly recommended!

This was an amazing thrill ride! I absolutely fell in love with Ari and Tina, the main characters. They were broken women who endured horrible, unspeakable pain during childhood by the exact people who are supposed to keep them safe and love them unconditionally. It just goes to show that not all are who are given the gift of children, deserve it. Most thrillers I've read I know the conclusion way before the end and that really makes reading the last of the book boring. Not this one. I didn't see the ending coming at all. The twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. Pamela Crane is an extremely talented writer, a true master of her craft! I can't wait to read more of her work. I am now a fan for life.

I never truly knew the meaning of being hooked from page one until I read this book. I love Pamela Crane's books so naturally, I couldn't wait to get this book. She delivered another truly, truly fantastic story once again with mind blowing, memorable characters.
The Art of Fear is everything and more. It scared me, it thrilled me and kept me on the edge of my seat. I experienced that spine tingling sensation you get when you read a good psychological thriller. This was dark and intriguing and really gripped me with the real life issues of poverty and child trafficking. As I journey through the story I definitely appreciated how well written this book was. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I thoroughly recommend this book, you won't be able to put it down.

A psychological dark thriller at its best that will keep you on the edge of your seat and causes you to become so entangled up in it all and will definitely make you not want to put it down till its finished. A story so intriguing and filled with so many twists and turns while dealing with strong issues as sex trafficking, child abuse, mental illness, death, and suicide. A story where you will encounter a serial killer, a child molester, and murderers. A story where two girls meet and try to rise above what life has dealt them. A story full of lies and deceit but also friendship and love. A story you don't want to miss reading! Well done, Pamela Crane!

Wow! This is my first experience of Pamela Crane's books, but I'll be reading more! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't stop till the book was complete. Experiencing the story through more than one character brought them all alive. The subject matter was dark and tragic, but Ms. Crane doesn't go into graphic details. The suspense mounts with each chapter. I admit I was sure I knew the murderer, only to change my mind several times until the end. I will be anxiously awaiting the sequel to tie up some loose ends. Write on, Ms. Crane. Write on!

An absolutely thrilling, intriguing, dark and twisted psychological thriller. My first foray into the writing of Pamela Crane, and it did not disappoint. The plot twists are many and varied, and truly keep you guessing from page to page. The characters are artfully and creatively developed. This book will disturb you on many levels, and thrill you even more. Perhaps the best thing, for me, was how well this book was written! A joy to find a unique voice, and I look forward to reading much more of this author's work.

OMG what a roller coaster ride of emotions this book takes the reader through from the first page to the last. The author definitely shows what kinds of scary or unpleasant things people often can and do fear, and does so with her way with powerfully descriptive words. From the chilling opening sentences and all through the multiple character viewpoints of the story with its twists and turns, I was hooked. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of the book.

The plot is okay, but the characters all are bizarre beyond belief. This book glorifies mental illness in many ways in that therapy is needed by all yet the main character only goes once. People seem to recover from injuries too quickly and you never learn how people get to North Carolina from Mexico. The protaganist is a mess and seems to think she can change other people's lives at the drop of a hat. The writing is stilted and childish in many ways. The villians are obvious and the ending is telegraphed.

5 stars of pure excellent writing. This book has so many twists and turns and lies layered into a basket of chaos for two families. Never did I think this story would come together in the sad ways it did.

I have a hard limit when it comes to books twisting in the kid storylines but this book did an amazing job of making the storyline tough but not grotesque.

This story was two families with very dark secrets in the past and present. There were many twists and turns and unexpected events. I was drawn in by the end of the first chapter and could not put it down. I can't wait for the next book!

Waffle House on Hillsborough Road. I worked at Duke and Durham Regional Hospital during the years 2001-2008. I read a lot of books, but it is so rare to read one about your hometown. Pamela Crane had me guessing who the killer was until the last two chapters. Ari is a new type of heroine and sex slavery and selling babies is a subject that needs to have more light shed on it. It is horrific and tragic how many missing children are victims of this atrocity.

I always love discovering great new books, and this novel is absolutely extraordinary. I would not be surprised to soon see Pamela Crane's name among the most famous authors writing today. The Art of Fear is a fabulous, intriguing story, written with a crisp, unique voice. I could not put it down.

If you are into Psychological Thrillers, Pamela Crane is going to be your new favorite author! Hands down, 100%, her writing is top-notch...thoroughly engaging!! I was completely enthralled by her every word and turning pages like my life depended on it. I couldn't put it down! As a result, I now am the proud owner of every book she has written, including the pre-order of the next in this series, set to be released June 2018! I also am a subscriber to her newsletter where I learned that Ms. Crane regularly interacts with her readers and holds drawings and giveaways. So nice! Especially, because she is so busy already...she has a family of six and is a horse rescuer. This woman deserves an award! Not only is she a talented writer, but she also is a caring mother, an animal lover, a positive role-model, and clearly one smart cookie! You will not be disappointed! I am so happy I made the decision to pre-order this book. I now have a new favorite author and a slew of books to dive into! Thank you, Pamela Crane, and keep up the great work! Without hesitation, I rate The Art of Fear (The Little Things that Kill Series Book 1) by Pamela Crane a well-deserved 5/5 stars.

Thank you so much for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)

I really enjoyed the method the author used in introducing each character. I was seeing them each not just in a one dimensional way through the eyes of another ,but from their very own thoughts and feelings, both past and present. This, for me, created such amazing insight and very well defined people that I found made the story more interesting and the people involved so much more real.
As the story of Ari unfolds after the tragic death of her sister Carly in a hit and run accident, Ari is left with the nightmare of her death and some very unwarranted and unjust repercussions. The complete lack of empathy from her mother, her father refusing to even give her any comfort at all and the subsequent abuse she went on to endure being moved from homes to a juvenile detention facility. All while not quite understanding what exactly had happened that day.
Through a group designed to help survivors of suicide Ari meets and comes to care for Tina, another lost, abused and terrified young girl without the ability to confide the truth to anyone; leaving her open to a continuation of the horrors she so desperately had tried to run away from.
Without spoilers I can tell you this book has the best and the worst of people! Nothing was off limits in the tragedy of this story. Reading the horrors of being a "juvi kid" being neglected, hated and abused by those who were supposed to care for them, to a corrupt system where human trafficking is exposed and a child can be sold to anyone with the money to pay, I can truly say I was horrified. The dark reality of poverty, mental illness, suicide, alcoholism, hunger, weariness, death and most frightening of all betrayal are all laid bare, a reality for so many and dark secrets where the perpetrators could even be our neighbors!
Turning page after page I wanted hope and closure for both girls. I was completely thrown by the ending and certainly didn't see the twist that came from nowhere. An amazing read, definitely an education into some of the things people like to keep hidden or don't like to think about. Pamela Crane has tackled amazing issues here and woven a story that I feel couldn't have been told by another unless they personally lived it.
My sincerest thank you to Maxine (Booklover Catlady) and of course the author Pamela Crane for a copy of The Art Of Fear to read and review.

The first thing that attracted me about this book was the cover. I was further attracted by the synopsis.

Ari Wilburn forms a suicide support group to help people like her who have been affected by suicide in someway. During this support group, Ari meets Tina whose father has allegedly committed suicide. Ari helps Tina to try and come to terms with the suicide of her father, however suspects that his death is not a suicide but a murder. As well as helping Tina, Ari has her own troubled past as her sister died and she was suspected of killing her by her parents. Ari feels helping Tina will help her to overcome her own troubles.

An interesting thriller that had me gripped from the beginning. Full of suspense and mystery. I thought I had figured the story out, however was thrown into another scenario realising I was wrong. This is the first book I have read by this author and look forward to the next in this series.

I never truly knew the meaning of being hooked from page one until I read this book. I love Pamela Crane's books so naturally, I couldn't wait to get this book. She delivered another truly, truly fantastic story once again with mind blowing, memorable characters.
The Art of Fear is everything and more. It scared me, it thrilled me and kept me on the edge of my seat. I experienced that spine tingling sensation you get when you read a good psychological thriller. This was dark and intriguing and really gripped me with the real life issues of poverty and child trafficking. As I journey through the story I definitely appreciated how well written this book was. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I thoroughly recommend this book, you won't be able to put it down.

An absolutely thrilling, intriguing, dark and twisted psychological thriller. My first foray into the writing of Pamela Crane, and it did not disappoint. The plot twists are many and varied, and truly keep you guessing from page to page. The characters are artfully and creatively developed. This book will disturb you on many levels, and thrill you even more. Perhaps the best thing, for me, was how well this book was written! A joy to find a unique voice, and I look forward to reading much more of this author's work.

OMG what a roller coaster ride of emotions this book takes the reader through from the first page to the last. The author definitely shows what kinds of scary or unpleasant things people often can and do fear, and does so with her way with powerfully descriptive words. From the chilling opening sentences and all through the multiple character viewpoints of the story with its twists and turns, I was hooked. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of the book.

Another fabulous book from Pamela Crane! The first book in The Little Things The Kill Series and I'll surely be catching up on the rest! Ari has lived with the crippling blame and of her sister's death since childhood and has lived in the shadow of the events since. After meeting Tina at her suicide support group, the two form an unlikely bond and set out to find answers to questions that have gone unanswered for too long. Tragic and suspenseful, yet we're left with hope for these two strong women. This incredible story and interesting characters sucked me in and just wouldn't let me go. Highly recommended!

Ari is a young woman who starts a suicide support group in the hope of overcoming her past trauma. In the group, she meets and befriends Tina. Tina has a truly bonkers backstory. There were several points in this book where I found it hard to believe the author intended anyone to take this seriously. It's like a silly campfire storytelling game where people are trying to one-up each other with improbable plot twists. At one point, a man stumbles on footage of his pregnant teenage daughter on a porn website. Although he hasn't seen her for at least a decade, he immediately recognizes her and then uses details from the background of the video to figure out her location . . . in another country. And keep in mind, he's a laborer, not a man with special tracking skills. Like, come on. The constant reveals of long lost family or improbable connections between characters are ridiculous. To top it off, the writing is terrible. It's florid and overwrought in a very distracting way, like the author felt she had to constantly impress us by expressing everything in a complicated way.

After we endure all that, we get to the end where a small part of the mystery is cleared up and they're just like "I guess maybe we'll find out the rest someday," THE END.