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One Cold Night
ONE COLD NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED...
New York Police detective Dave Strauss is haunted by the one case he couldn't solve. A schoolgirl vanished off the streets of Brooklyn, with only a trail of blood and a series of untraceable phone calls from "the Groom" hinting at her fate. Now the cold dark night has engulfed another young girl-but this time she is part of Dave's family. He and his wife, Susan, know fourteen-year-old Lisa has not run away, and they know her disappearance is not just a tragic coincidence. And once the first phone call comes, they know she's not alone....
New York Police detective Dave Strauss is haunted by the one case he couldn't solve. A schoolgirl vanished off the streets of Brooklyn, with only a trail of blood and a series of untraceable phone calls from "the Groom" hinting at her fate. Now the cold dark night has engulfed another young girl-but this time she is part of Dave's family. He and his wife, Susan, know fourteen-year-old Lisa has not run away, and they know her disappearance is not just a tragic coincidence. And once the first phone call comes, they know she's not alone....
272 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2006
113 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Katia Lief
29 books231 followersThe first thing I ever wrote that received any notice was a one page story for my third grade English teacher. I don't recall what the assignment was, but I somehow found myself writing about a woman at a dinner party who suddenly realizes her teeth are invisible. She sits there, wedged between two chattering guests, wondering how she will eat, how she will talk, and generally how she will get out of the situation without having to open her mouth and reveal her dilemma. My teacher showed the story to my parents with a note to this effect: Katia could be a writer.
What if her note had instead encouraged me to be a dentist?
But it didn't. And so here I am.
So far I've published two literary novels (as Katia Spiegelman, the name I was born with), and seven suspense novels--five as Kate Pepper (a pseudonym) and two as Katia Lief (the name I live by). And to complicated things even more, I'm adding a new pen name to my arsenal-Karen Ellis-with my new novel A MAP OF THE DARK, coming January 2, 2018.
I have loved writing every one of my novels, and hope you will enjoy reading them.
What if her note had instead encouraged me to be a dentist?
But it didn't. And so here I am.
So far I've published two literary novels (as Katia Spiegelman, the name I was born with), and seven suspense novels--five as Kate Pepper (a pseudonym) and two as Katia Lief (the name I live by). And to complicated things even more, I'm adding a new pen name to my arsenal-Karen Ellis-with my new novel A MAP OF THE DARK, coming January 2, 2018.
I have loved writing every one of my novels, and hope you will enjoy reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
October 3, 2017
Really well written mystery. I like this author a lot. She reminds me a lot of Wendy Corsi Staub. This book had twists and turns and was a great read. Would highly recommend this!
July 26, 2014
Lisa Bailey is a 14 year old school girl living in New York with her sister Susan and her husband. One cold night after her sister tells her a secret she's not sure she wants to know, she runs out into the night and disappears. Susan's husband David, a detective becomes worried when Lisa's disappearance starts to looks a lot like a case he was working on a year ago, where a young girl disappeared and the abductor never found.
This is the second novel by Katia Lief that I have read and while the story is well told it never quite achieves the fear and suspense that this type of novel should. It's more a cross between a police procedural and a psychological thriller and could have been a lot more gripping. There is one scene towards the end of the book that, although not totally unexpected is a little chilling. Overall I enjoyed the writing and the story but would like to see the suspense ramped up a level. 3.5★
This is the second novel by Katia Lief that I have read and while the story is well told it never quite achieves the fear and suspense that this type of novel should. It's more a cross between a police procedural and a psychological thriller and could have been a lot more gripping. There is one scene towards the end of the book that, although not totally unexpected is a little chilling. Overall I enjoyed the writing and the story but would like to see the suspense ramped up a level. 3.5★
May 22, 2019
Susan Strauss has put off having children with her husband, Dave, because of a secret she’s been keeping. Once she shares it with her sister, fourteen-year-old Lisa, she can also tell Dave, and maybe they can move ahead with plans for a family of their own. But Lisa does not take the news well and runs off into the night to blow off steam. As the hours pass, Susan gets more and more worried. She calls Dave, a New York police detective, and he decides to come home. Lisa’s disappearance eerily mirrors Dave’s only unsolved case—that of a young girl who went missing the year before.
When the police discover signs that Lisa did not leave of her own free will, clues come to light that point to the possibility that Dave’s case and Lisa’s disappearance might be related. Does any of this have to do with Susan’s secret? Will Dave forgive her when he discovers the truth?
One Cold Night redeemed Kate Pepper in my eyes. I adored her first novel, Five Days in Summer, but last year’s Seven Minutes to Noon was a severe disappointment. One Cold Night is a well-plotted, fast moving suspense novel with sympathetic characters and an intriguing mystery. I identified with Susan, Lisa, and Dave in different ways. Their reactions to situations are realistic and will help readers engage with their characters.
There are a couple of twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Just when you think you might have everything figured out, another surprise comes from left field. There are a few things that always give me pause with Pepper’s novels; one is that the police are very forthcoming with everyone—civilians, police in other jurisdictions, etc. I have a difficult time believing that this is realistic. However, the emotions of the characters are true to life, and this makes the story easy to relate to. For a quick mystery read, One Cold Night definitely satisfies.
When the police discover signs that Lisa did not leave of her own free will, clues come to light that point to the possibility that Dave’s case and Lisa’s disappearance might be related. Does any of this have to do with Susan’s secret? Will Dave forgive her when he discovers the truth?
One Cold Night redeemed Kate Pepper in my eyes. I adored her first novel, Five Days in Summer, but last year’s Seven Minutes to Noon was a severe disappointment. One Cold Night is a well-plotted, fast moving suspense novel with sympathetic characters and an intriguing mystery. I identified with Susan, Lisa, and Dave in different ways. Their reactions to situations are realistic and will help readers engage with their characters.
There are a couple of twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Just when you think you might have everything figured out, another surprise comes from left field. There are a few things that always give me pause with Pepper’s novels; one is that the police are very forthcoming with everyone—civilians, police in other jurisdictions, etc. I have a difficult time believing that this is realistic. However, the emotions of the characters are true to life, and this makes the story easy to relate to. For a quick mystery read, One Cold Night definitely satisfies.
March 25, 2012
Wow. This book was awesome. Terrific. When I bought it for $0.99, I was expecting nothing more than amateur writing, a recycled plot, and/or a totally predictable ending. From the beginning through to the end, ONE COLD NIGHT was none of those things.
After reading this book, I have filed Katia Lief in my mind with the likes of Jodi Picoult and Meg Gardiner. She falls about right in between those two.
I couldn't put this thriller down. Without giving too much away, this book played on all of my emotions. With the adoption twist, I felt Susan's love and heartache for Lisa. With the unsolved Becky Rothka case, I felt Dave's frustration and determination as well as Marie Rothka's constant hope. With the discovery of Susan's secret, I felt both Peter's joy at having a daughter and his anger at having missed so much. And when Theo Childress finally came into the light, I felt everyone's disgust.
I plan on snatching up all the $0.99 Katia Lief books I can find. I don't know why they are priced so low, but Katia Lief and ONE COLD NIGHT have sucked me in to buying them.
After reading this book, I have filed Katia Lief in my mind with the likes of Jodi Picoult and Meg Gardiner. She falls about right in between those two.
I couldn't put this thriller down. Without giving too much away, this book played on all of my emotions. With the adoption twist, I felt Susan's love and heartache for Lisa. With the unsolved Becky Rothka case, I felt Dave's frustration and determination as well as Marie Rothka's constant hope. With the discovery of Susan's secret, I felt both Peter's joy at having a daughter and his anger at having missed so much. And when Theo Childress finally came into the light, I felt everyone's disgust.
I plan on snatching up all the $0.99 Katia Lief books I can find. I don't know why they are priced so low, but Katia Lief and ONE COLD NIGHT have sucked me in to buying them.
October 2, 2012
I enjoyed this book - definitely wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Would read some more from this author
Would read some more from this author
June 10, 2015
This is really good. I love it when one of my ebook bargains turns out like this. :-)
April 15, 2020
Had such high hopes for this book when I read the synopsis.....but I feel like it lacked in certain places where it could’ve excelled!
A story like this one should keep you on the edge of your seat and submerse you into the lives of not only the kidnapper but the family affected too.
I found myself having a lot of ‘meh’ moments and just didn’t feel connected to the characters at all. I nearly DNFd on so many occasions, but I’m trying not to this year so I battled through.
Honestly? I don’t think I’d recommend this to anyone, which is a shame as I could see it had potential to be such a good book.
A story like this one should keep you on the edge of your seat and submerse you into the lives of not only the kidnapper but the family affected too.
I found myself having a lot of ‘meh’ moments and just didn’t feel connected to the characters at all. I nearly DNFd on so many occasions, but I’m trying not to this year so I battled through.
Honestly? I don’t think I’d recommend this to anyone, which is a shame as I could see it had potential to be such a good book.
January 8, 2013
this was my 2nd Katia Lief book i read and i must admit she has surpassed my expectations. her books i stumbled uppon on my kobo and bought because they where cheap reads, i was a little relucktent at 1st and doubted how good her books could be but now i am deffenitly a fan. this book was a nice, light easy read which was suspenceful and kept your intrestest and made you want to read more. her characters are very detailed and well described, her plot is good and keeps you intrested and shes just got a way of keeping you "on the edge of your seat" and wanting more
January 19, 2018
I would like to give 4 stars to this book as every chapter of this book has taken me to the new world and has captivate my interest.
Such a good read!!.Lisa (a teenager-a missing girl) runs away from home after she reveal the secret of her family which has been veiled for many years.
Most of the time she had an argument with her mother and sister, which makes her sad and all this subject matter started after Lisa reveals that she is not a biological child of this family))
Such a good read!!.Lisa (a teenager-a missing girl) runs away from home after she reveal the secret of her family which has been veiled for many years.
Most of the time she had an argument with her mother and sister, which makes her sad and all this subject matter started after Lisa reveals that she is not a biological child of this family))
February 6, 2017
Lisa disappears just after a major revelation by her sister Susan. Has she run away or are more devious forces in play? Dave, her brother-in-law, and a police officer is in a race against time to save Lisa whilst he draws parallels between another missing girl from a year earlier he hadn't been able to find. Fast paced read.
June 10, 2020
This is another book I got for free back in 2013. so I had no expectations of it at all.
Lisa, a confident 14 year old tells her 'sister' that she wants to find her birth parents as she has always been told that she is adopted. Things escalate quickly from there. Kidnapping, deceit, lies, manipulation of a bipolar depressive by a psychopath, what can possibly go wrong?
Lisa, a confident 14 year old tells her 'sister' that she wants to find her birth parents as she has always been told that she is adopted. Things escalate quickly from there. Kidnapping, deceit, lies, manipulation of a bipolar depressive by a psychopath, what can possibly go wrong?
July 17, 2017
The more I read this author, the more I like her style, her plots, and, especially, her character development. I find myself really caring about the characters, invested in what happens to them. This was no different. A real page turner with some good twists that I didn't expect.
August 19, 2019
Worth reading
Characters are described well and you can visualise them as real people. Suspenseful in that you don’t know until the end how it will turn out. A bit ponderous in places. Didn’t like the ‘god and Jesus’ debates and found it unnecessary and mildly preaching.
Characters are described well and you can visualise them as real people. Suspenseful in that you don’t know until the end how it will turn out. A bit ponderous in places. Didn’t like the ‘god and Jesus’ debates and found it unnecessary and mildly preaching.
December 30, 2017
Outstanding mystery. Extremely well written.
November 27, 2018
Gripping read
From Very early On I was hooked. Tragic and gripping all the way through, a tale of every parents nightmare, well written and very enjoyable read
From Very early On I was hooked. Tragic and gripping all the way through, a tale of every parents nightmare, well written and very enjoyable read
September 8, 2019
Amazing book! The beginning makes more sense the further you get into the book. It was a well written mystery and very suspenseful. I would recommend this book in a heart beat!
December 26, 2018
I don't know if Katia Lief aka Kate Pepper is considered a "Christian" author, but this novel blends faith and psychology into an interesting concept. The antagonist is portrayed as a mentally ill evangelical while the protagonists are viewed as varying between believers and nonbelievers with a lot of psychological profiling throughout. Viewpoints switch from one to another so there is no single main character, but a focus on the family dynamic. There are no real "red herrings" but each clue fits into the final solution, making this a thriller rather than a mystery. The epilogue was longer than is needed to be.
November 25, 2020
This book was alright. There were parts I did enjoy. The characters were very believable, in both good ways (their reactions to what's happening) and bad ways (they came across as the stereotypical well off people who move into a gentrified neighbourhood). I also will always be down for a character who actually understands the point of Lolita and an author who is good hammering the point home through him.
The downsides was the way the mystery turned out seemed messy and not well thought out. The things didn't line up well and it came across was too farfetched and reaching. I couldn't quite suspend my sense of disbelief.
The downsides was the way the mystery turned out seemed messy and not well thought out. The things didn't line up well and it came across was too farfetched and reaching. I couldn't quite suspend my sense of disbelief.
October 30, 2021
okay
The basic storyline was decent, but where was an editor?? Way, way, way too much useless information and it made the book drag. I skimmed over so much and it made no difference in the storyline. I’m a little surprised at all the great reviews, I’ve read much better, tighter stories than this that received fewer stars. Just not for me. I wrote this review so when I come across this author again, I’d remember to pass.
The basic storyline was decent, but where was an editor?? Way, way, way too much useless information and it made the book drag. I skimmed over so much and it made no difference in the storyline. I’m a little surprised at all the great reviews, I’ve read much better, tighter stories than this that received fewer stars. Just not for me. I wrote this review so when I come across this author again, I’d remember to pass.
March 26, 2024
This was just an average story for me. Nothing to really set it apart from a million other books of this genre. The story lacked atmosphere and where I should have been feeling suspense I felt boredom in the flat storytelling. None of the characters had any depth. I found the reveal of the "groom" was anti climactic with not nearly enough insight given into what motivated him to do what he did. It felt pulled out of thin air.
October 13, 2025
Also listed under Kate Pepper. Susan tells her 14-year-old sister a long-withheld truth and Lisa, shocked, goes for a walk. It is after 10 p.m. Husband, Detective David, tells Susan not to worry, to wait until midnight. Then he discovers that this is an obvious abduction which resembles a previous case; one which haunts him because he could not close it. The story is told hour by hour as clues fall into place and they race to find/save Lisa.
August 7, 2022
Whose your mama
Katie learns her real birth motherwas the person she knew as her sister. Angry for being lied to she runs out the door and is kidnapped. As they search her stepfather Dave remembers a cold case he followed a year ago and the girl murdered resembled his daughter. Will they find Katie in time and does she know her abductor.
Katie learns her real birth motherwas the person she knew as her sister. Angry for being lied to she runs out the door and is kidnapped. As they search her stepfather Dave remembers a cold case he followed a year ago and the girl murdered resembled his daughter. Will they find Katie in time and does she know her abductor.
June 14, 2022
Entertaining and suspenseful. I loved Lupe and Bruno, the quirky but capable cops who help try bring a missing teenager home. Smart and resourceful female characters and a steady plot. Kudos to Julia Farhat, the Audible narrator who nails the different accents here.
May 26, 2018
Pretty good read
Like the fact not much "unnecessary language". Storyline is good. Will read another of this author's books though this one wasn't a "gripping page turner " for me.
Like the fact not much "unnecessary language". Storyline is good. Will read another of this author's books though this one wasn't a "gripping page turner " for me.
December 27, 2018
Have added this author to my go to list, very good!
February 10, 2019
Tiene una linda narrativa pero no hay mucho misterio y sobre todo ni una revelación sorpresiva. Es un 3,5, es tierno
May 16, 2019
Not great
Very average read. Not particularly well written - no suspense or excitement whatsoever. Not the worst book but wouldn’t recommend.
Very average read. Not particularly well written - no suspense or excitement whatsoever. Not the worst book but wouldn’t recommend.
July 10, 2019
Really enjoyed this novel. Will look for others by Kate Pepper.
August 20, 2019
This was an easy to read mystery, from a new author to me, and I liked it!
August 29, 2019
This was a really good read - again, like others, I found this in the 'cheap reads' the plot looked interesting but you never know - great find... enjoyed reading this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews