Worst Fear

In Hilton’s action-packed fourth outing for Portland, Maine, PI Teresa Grey and her colleague and lover, Nicholas “Po” Villere (after 2017’s Raw Wounds), the body of Chelsea Grace, a college roommate whom Tess hasn’t seen in years, is found on the beach at the base of a cliff. She has left behind a Facebook post that reads: “If I’m dead, contact Teresa Grey.” At first, it appears that Grace wanted Tess to investigate the circumstances of her death. But when more former classmates end up brutally murdered, Tess realizes that the message may well have been a warning. Meanwhile, hoodlums have vandalized the Bar-Lesque, a retro bar that Po owns, and terrorized its manager. As Tess’s situation becomes more pressing, Po is torn between handling his own problem and protecting the woman he loves. In the fast-paced, terrifying free-for-all finale, Tess’s bravery and resourcefulness keep her alive in the face of her tormentors’ irrational rage. That Tess and Po always prevail when they kick butt is a big part of this series’ appeal. (Jan.)