If A Face Could Kill

A Brigid Quinn Thriller #5

By: Becky Masterman

ISBN: 9781448317899

Publisher: Severn House

Publication Date: 03/03/206

Format: Other

My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC)

MAR 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

"Chilling, smart . . . and what a voice"—Gillian Flynn

The hunt for a neighbor’s killer . . . reveals chilling secrets close to home.

Former FBI agent Brigid Quinn hasn’t forgiven herself for the testimony that led to young mother Nicole Gleason being convicted for the manslaughter of her abusive husband.

Now out of jail early on parole, Nicole is living in a group home for felons in Brigid’s Arizona neighborhood. But while Brigid hopes to make amends with Nicole, not everyone in the community is happy to have criminals on their doorstep.

When outspoken local resident Dorita Gordino is grotesquely murdered, suspicion soon falls on Nicole. Brigid is determined to catch Dorita’s killer and prove Nicole’s innocence—even if it means one of her own darkest secrets comes to light . . .

This addictively dark thriller featuring Brigid Quinn, “one of the most memorable FBI agents since Clarice Starling” (Publishers Weekly), is perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Lisa Gardner, Lisa Jewell, and Tess Gerritsen.

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#IfAFaceCouldKill

My Review

In If A Face Could Kill, the fifth installment of Becky Masterman's captivating Brigid Quinn series, retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn is drawn into a local murder investigation that forces her to confront professional guilt from her past.

In this solid, deeply layered entry in the series, Becky Masterman proves once again why Brigid Quinn is one of the most distinctive and memorable protagonists in contemporary suspense. Haunted by a past mentor-student relationship gone tragically wrong, Brigid finds herself at the center of a neighborhood war when a local activist is found grotesquely murdered.

To prove the innocence of a vulnerable parolee, Brigid must navigate a sharply etched landscape of animosity and moral dilemmas that transcend the typical domestic thriller.

Blending suspense with a deep examination of conscience, Masterman expertly manipulates reader expectations in a mystery that is as much an inquiry into memory as it is a hunt for a killer. Well-shaded characters and genuine surprises make this a standout read that breaks your heart while keeping the tension sky-high."

The Character: Brigid Quinn

~Seasoned / Battle-worn

~Unsentimental / Direct

~Flawed / Conflicted

~Fierce / Lethal

The Atmosphere & Tone

~Chilling & Gritty

~Emotionally Layered

~High-Stakes & Tense

~Nuanced

The Writing Style

~Fiercely Original

~Manipulative (in a good way)

~Compelling / Arresting

My thoughts...

A Sun-Drenched Noir! "Tense, Bitter, and Unflinching."

"Masterman delivers an addictively dark and chillingly smart thriller that pits retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn against a neighborhood's deadly prejudices. As a brutal murder frame-up threatens to expose her own buried past, the tension remains pulse-quickening until the very last page. A must-read for fans of Gillian Flynn, Lisa Unger, and Lisa Gardner.”

Themes

The author explores themes that go beyond a standard murder mystery, focusing on the heavy emotional and social consequences of a violent past.

Takeaway

The ultimate takeaway is that the past is never truly settled, and "doing the right thing" often requires a messy, uncomfortable reckoning with one's own mistakes.

In the end, the book suggests that justice isn't always found in a courtroom. Sometimes, it’s found in the quiet, private choices made by those who have seen the darkest sides of human nature.

Special thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 4 Stars

Pub Date: Mar 03, 2026

March Newsletter

Praise

Well-shaded characters, genuine surprises, and a meaty moral dilemma elevate this soapy thriller. Lisa Unger fans will be pleased

― Publishers Weekly

[A] sharply etched examination of a neighborhood overflowing with animosity

― Kirkus Reviews

"Chilling, smart . . . and what a voice"

―Gillian Flynn

About the Author

Becky Masterman is the author of MATERNAL INSTINCT and the Brigid Quinn series, including HER PRODIGAL HUSBAND.

While working as a forensic science acquisitions editor, Becky got to meet (and publish) some of the most famous people in that profession, and the idea for Brigid Quinn was born. The four novels in this series—RAGE AGAINST THE DYING, FEAR THE DARKNESS, A TWIST OF THE KNIFE, and WE WERE KILLERS ONCE—feature this FBI special agent who only in her retirement is finally getting married, making friends, owning Pugs, and trying to fit into the civilian world she always sought to protect for others, all while keeping her book club from finding out she can kill people with her bare hands. RAGE AGAINST THE DYING was a finalist for the Edgar Awards and the CWA Gold Dagger, as well as the Macavity, Barry, ITW and Anthony awards.

With MATERNAL INSTINCT, Becky introduces readers to Grace and Althea Deming in a domestic suspense novel that challenges everything we take for granted about families.

Becky lives in Arizona with her husband and dog Boodle. WEBSITE