A cautionary tale, the psychological suspense novel Fear Killer is the story of Emily Perrit, a beautiful but timid young woman victimized by an abusive, adulterous husband. When Emily is attacked by an intruder in her home, she surprises herself by fighting off and finally killing the man. Seeing the fear in his dying eyes, something snaps inside her. She has never made anybody afraid before. She is no longer willing to be a victim. Her need to see that fear again soon becomes an obsession, with deadly consequences.

Police detective Martha Newton, who befriended Emily after the first attack, now begins to investigate a series of murders that will eventually lead back to Emily. As the case becomes more complex, Newton brings in another cop, Stella Morris, to assist. Soon Stella begins to fall under Emily's seductive influence. Deep into the snowy Colorado mountains, Emily must finally choose between escape and saving Martha's life. Her humanity reluctantly resurfaces, but, her need to cause fear will never completely go away.