Reviewed by Kelly Fordon
The Meaning of Fear
By Laura Hulthen Thomas
Regal House Publishing
July 2026, 284 pages, ISBN-13: 978-1646036783
Laura Hulthen Thomas has written a brilliant psychological thriller. The Meaning of Fear is riveting — bursting with present-day intrigue yet suffused with the fallout from childhood trauma, offering deep dives into the characters’ minds, sensational twists, and dazzling suspense.
This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you happen to be a survivor of childhood trauma or know someone who has suffered that grave injustice, it will speak to you. The Meaning of Fear explores what life is like for a survivor after betrayal, how the past haunts the present, and how every interaction is lacquered with that toxic refuse. It is beautifully written and outlines with precise, devastating lucidity how pain reshapes us and permeates not only the life of the survivor, but also the lives of other family members, friends, and even subsequent generations.
Set in rural Michigan, the novel centers on the story of Lea Johnson, a behavioral researcher studying post-traumatic stress, and Paul Rilke, a deputy who has suffered his share of wounding.
Lea’s work in the lab focuses on turning terror into quantifiable data. Paul wants to create a safe community. Their motivations are good and reasonable, but the psychological impact of the past continuously waylays them. They have both been conditioned to see the world as cattywampus, and their family and friends are of little help. As in life, the characters in this novel tend to misread, avoid, or inflict pain on each other, sometimes unwittingly.
If you have ever wondered about the lasting effects of childhood abuse, if you have perhaps suffered the consequences of it, you will find a companion in this novel. Thomas is a writer at the top of her game, adept at unpacking how past harm shapes perception and how often our best attempts at discernment fall short.
All of this unfolds through a gripping narrative, rife with tension and intrigue as Lea and Paul’s worlds converge. The Meaning of Fear is not an easy novel, but it is a necessary one, particularly in today’s world. Readers will find a lot to unpack here and, without a doubt, gain insight into the ramifications of abuse. At the same time, fans of suspense are in for an adrenaline-charged ride, penned by a top-notch storyteller.
About the reviewer: Kelly Fordon is the host of the podcast, “Let’s Deconstruct a Story.” She has published two award-winning short story collections, I Have the Answer (2020) and Garden for the Blind (2015). Her second poetry collection, What Trammels the Heart, was published in June 2025, and her first poetry collection, Goodbye Toothless House, in 2019. Her poetry chapbook, The Witness (2016), won the Eric Hoffer Award for the Chapbook and was a Finalist for the Grand Prize. Her work has appeared in The Kenyon Review Online, The Boston Review, The Florida Review, The Michigan Quarterly Review, Rattle, and The Saturday Evening Post, among others. She is the spring 2026 Resident Fellow at VCCA’s Moulin à Nef campus in France.