Locksmith

Danielle Fear never disappoints. Her books are always on point. She’s become one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to Inside Story for a copy of this ARC book. This book was so thrilling and had you on the edge of your seat until the end.

Locksmith by Danielle Fear is an absolutely gripping psychological thriller that hooked me from the very first page and never let up. Fast-paced, tense, and relentlessly unsettling, this is the kind of book you end up racing through because you have to know what’s coming next. So much so that I stayed awake until 2am just to finish it 🙃

The writing style is a standout — sharp, immersive, and perfectly paced to build psychological tension chapter by chapter. The chapters are short and from different POV’s which made it so easy to digest. There’s a constant sense of unease running through the story, and it only intensifies as you read. I flew through this in less than 24 hours. And was on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time

This was a great, fast-paced, suspenseful book that grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go!

If you think you are safe behind your locked door, think again! The locksmith can get inside without a trace of forced entry.

If you want a suspenseful book with some great twists, give this a read!

There is a killer on the loose who is able to enter a house without detection, even when the doors are locked. The smallest amount of evidence is left behind, will it be enoigh for Cook and his partner to catch the killer before they strike again?

One of my favorite lines from this book is, "The freezer doesn't lie...."
This story is one of murder and calm mayhem dished with a little side of revenge.

Y’ALL! Imagine going to bed feeling safe… locked doors, cozy vibes… and then waking up dead. No forced entry. No noise. No struggle. Just a surgically precise nightmare and a missing body part like a calling card. 😳🩸 Yeah. THIS book.

Danielle Fear’s writing is razor-sharp, chilling, and deliciously cruel—short chapters that snap shut like a deadbolt and keep you flying forward whether you’re ready or not. The tension hums. The dread creeps. The fear? Oh, it seeps into your bones. You can practically hear the silence right before the kill. 😬

Detective Dwight Cook is racing against a killer who doesn’t smash windows or kick doors—he slips in, calm and methodical, like he owns the place. And honestly? That’s what makes this so terrifying. The Locksmith doesn’t need permission… and that idea will LIVE RENT FREE in your head at 2 a.m. 🫠🔪

This is a fast, brutal, smart thriller with a wicked premise and a writing style that wastes ZERO time being polite. Snappy. Dark. Surgical. And just the right amount of twisted.

Lock your doors if you want… but good luck sleeping after this one. 😏🔐💀

This was a great book! The cover is what got me to want to read it! I enjoyed the POV‘s. It was easy to keep up with. But was one that wanted me to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.! I had to know how it was going to end. This was my first book by this author and I look forward to digging into more of her work!

This is one intense, edge of your seat thriller! I hope there will be a sequel because I want more!

Locksmith by Danielle Fear is a relentlessly tense, edge-of-your-seat thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. The premise alone is terrifying — someone gaining access to locked homes without leaving a trace — but it’s the execution that makes this book truly unforgettable.

The pacing is razor-sharp, the murders are chilling without being gratuitous, and the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the ‘villain’ and the investigators kept me constantly guessing. Danielle Fear does an incredible job building dread — every locked door suddenly feels meaningless, and that sense of vulnerability follows you through every page.

What really elevates this story is how clever and controlled the villain is. She isn’t just killing — she’s orchestrating. The psychological tension, the twists, and the slow reveal of how she operates made this impossible to put down.

Danielle is easily becoming a favorite author to read. She’s methodical and I can truly appreciate the effort she puts into her writing.

From the first chapter, Locksmith grips you with a sense of unease that never fully lets go. What begins as a seemingly straightforward mystery quickly reveals itself to be a tightly wound thriller, full of twists that constantly force you to question what you think you know.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how confidently it plays with expectations. Just when the story appears to settle into a familiar rhythm, a revelation shifts the ground beneath it. These twists don’t feel random or gimmicky; instead, they’re carefully planted, making earlier moments take on new meaning once the truth begins to surface. The author excels at misdirection, leading the reader down one path while quietly preparing another.
The pacing is especially effective. The early and middle sections take their time building tension, layering clues, secrets, and emotional stakes. Then, as the novel hurtles toward its conclusion, the pace accelerates - the sense of urgency becomes almost breathless.

By the final stretch, the story feels like it’s rushing downhill, pulling the reader along with it and making it nearly impossible to stop reading.
What makes the ending particularly satisfying is how that rapid pace mirrors the characters’ own desperation. Everything collides at once—truths are exposed, and consequences arrive fast and hard. Even after the final page, the story lingers, leaving you replaying key moments and twists in your mind.

Locksmith is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read that rewards patience and attention. If you enjoy stories packed with surprises and an ending that races toward you at full speed, this book is well worth picking up.

Five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Locksmith was the perfect way to kick off my 2026 reading log. Creepy, fast-paced, and completely addictive. The premise alone is chilling, but the real crime is thinking you can trust Danielle Fear. You can’t. She delivers a sucker punch twist that had me screaming at the book. Add this to your TBR immediately… and maybe double check your locks before bed. 🔐📖😱

Locksmith

Author Danielle Fear

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my word, Locksmith is one Incredible psychological thriller, I was totally captivated by this brilliant book by Danielle.
An extremely fast-paced multi POV, short-chapter chapters suspense-filled filled and tense-filled story of a silent and invisible murderer.

Detective Dwight Cook and his team are up against it with the case of an invisible and silent serial killer who gains access to homes in the middle of the night while most of the world and the victims sleep.
How does the perpetrator gain entry? There is no sign of forced entry, no signs they have been there no DNA, nothing disturbed, just the body lying peacefully in bed, throat slit. The killer always leaves taking with them a different body part from each victim.
Is it a trophy or part of a story to be told?

This is a truly difficult and testing case for Dwight as there are no clues and apparently no connection between the victims.
The race is on for the detective team to come up with answers as the panic spreads.
The ending was completely unexpected and a real shocker, I was totally stunned.

I thoroughly enjoyed Locksmith, a brilliantly written thriller by Danielle Fear that's full of tension, incredibly believable characters in settings that are visually descriptive.
Danielle certainly knows how to keep you on the edge, this one is no exception, I did not want to put this book down.
I feel this is not the end of this story and I can't wait to find out.