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Kali O'Brien #5
Cold Justice
After the brutal murder of her best friend, which bears a startling resemblance to the victims of the Bayside Strangler, who was recently executed, San Francisco lawyer Kali O'Brien fears that the wrong man was sentenced to death and must re-open a case thought to be solved in order to catch the real killer. Reprint.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 12, 2023
Attorney Kali O'Brien is shocked when her friend, Anne, is murdered. Even more shocking is that her murder resembles that of the victims of the Bayside Strangler. Even more shocking is that the Bayside Strangler was put to death after Kali secured a conviction against him. When another similar murder occurs, it is clear that either a copycat is operating, or Kali convicted the wrong man. Worryingly, it looks like Kali might be on the killer's list.
The is-it-a-copycat-or-not angle in a serial killer thriller is a frequent one, but it can often work, which is why I forgive the unoriginality of it. However, this is a very underwhelming effort. I found it to be extremely boring and predictable, and could only read bits of pieces of it at a time before either falling or asleep or wanting to do something else. It has taken me nearly three weeks to finish this!
Not a good sign.
The other factor against it, for me, is the frequent risk you take with a serial killer thriller: when it winds up being just another run-of-the-mill police procedural. That very much felt like the case here, with cops Lou Fortune and Bryce Keating methodically investigating any links they can find between the victims. The romance that develops between Kali and Bryce was badly written. Even Harlequin would have knocked that back!
There's a sub0plot involving Kali being romantically pursued by Nathan, who is clearly a stalker. I got fed up with the supposedly smart Kali ignoring all the glaring red flags he gave off. This subplot never really goes anywhere , when it actually had the potential to be realistic and creepy. Instead, it mostly just got in the way of the main plot - what there was of it, that is.
And why was everyone going on about Kurt Lancaster having a weird and unfortunate name? Other than the resemblance to Burt Lancaster, it seems like a pretty unremarkable name to me!
I spotted the killer's identity and their motive without any trouble at all. Cold Justice is another dud in a reading year full of them. I gave it 1 star because I just found it to be so boring, the worst sin a book can commit.
The is-it-a-copycat-or-not angle in a serial killer thriller is a frequent one, but it can often work, which is why I forgive the unoriginality of it. However, this is a very underwhelming effort. I found it to be extremely boring and predictable, and could only read bits of pieces of it at a time before either falling or asleep or wanting to do something else. It has taken me nearly three weeks to finish this!
Not a good sign.
The other factor against it, for me, is the frequent risk you take with a serial killer thriller: when it winds up being just another run-of-the-mill police procedural. That very much felt like the case here, with cops Lou Fortune and Bryce Keating methodically investigating any links they can find between the victims. The romance that develops between Kali and Bryce was badly written. Even Harlequin would have knocked that back!
There's a sub0plot involving Kali being romantically pursued by Nathan, who is clearly a stalker. I got fed up with the supposedly smart Kali ignoring all the glaring red flags he gave off. This subplot never really goes anywhere , when it actually had the potential to be realistic and creepy. Instead, it mostly just got in the way of the main plot - what there was of it, that is.
And why was everyone going on about Kurt Lancaster having a weird and unfortunate name? Other than the resemblance to Burt Lancaster, it seems like a pretty unremarkable name to me!
I spotted the killer's identity and their motive without any trouble at all. Cold Justice is another dud in a reading year full of them. I gave it 1 star because I just found it to be so boring, the worst sin a book can commit.
June 2, 2021
Kali O'Brien goes back to work for the DA's office when her friend Owen Nelson calls. They worked together on the Bayside Strangler case finding Dwayne Davis guilty and put on death row. When Dwayne is executed new crimes start that look very similar to the Strangler cases. Is it a copycat or did they execute the wrong man? Owen is running for Governor of California and doesn't want any bad publicity so he hopes bringing Kali in will keep them ahead of the game. Kali works with detectives Lou and Bryce. While Bryce has a rep as a ladies man Kali still finds him charming and they slowly get to know each other. But Kali has another admirer, Nathan Sloane, who she's unsure about but a bit hopeful. As Kali tries to find time for romance she diligently works to find the murderer of women who acts like the Strangler....at least in some ways.
March 27, 2019
a really good story
April 30, 2019
Started a little slow but picked up mid-way and had an awesome twist at the end. I was ended changing my suspect but did not see that coming.
February 8, 2014
RATING: 3.75
It’s official. Dwayne Arnold Davis, aka The Bayside Strangler, has been executed. During the time that he was in action, five young women lost their lives. There were various signature elements to the crimes that linked them to Davis. For example, he would send the victim a single yellow rose with a poem, dress her in sensual attire and pose her body provocatively, etc. So when those same elements appear in a new series of murders, the authorities and public wonder if the right man was executed or if the new crimes are the work of a copycat killer.
Owen Nelson rose to prominence as the result of the way that he handled the Davis case and is now the prime candidate for governor of California. Kali O’Brien was an Assistant District Attorney who worked on the case as well. She becomes pulled into the new situation when one of the other attorneys by the name of Anne Bailey who also was involved is one of the latest victims.
Kali is at somewhat of a crossroads in her professional life. Most recently, she has been working as a defense attorney and had planned on entering into a partnership with Anne. These new events convince her that her future lies elsewhere and that she needs to assist on resolving the murders. Therefore, when she is approached by Owen about returning to the District Attorney office, it feels like a more productive avenue for her to follow.
Kali works in partnership with 2 policemen who are first wary about her role in the case but grow to trust her when she proves not to be a glory hound. Lou Fortune is an older, experienced cop who doesn’t believe that women should be involved in police work. His partner, Bryce Keating, is a younger man; and he and Kali find themselves attracted to one another. They work together well to try to establish the links between the various murders and bring the perpetrator to justice. It’s obvious that the killer is quite familiar with the Davis case, which limits the suspect possibilities. The investigation takes a turn for the worse when Kali becomes one of the targets of the killer.
Overall, the book was quite satisfactory. There were a few areas where I felt that Jacobs could have done a better job. The first was in how she had Kali handle a personal relationship that was no longer attractive to her, in which the other person was overly persistent. It was inconsistent with her character to waffle in her dealings with this man; indeed, I would have expected her to be very direct because that is the kind of person she was. Secondly, the resolution was a bit of a letdown. The crime was resolved in a way that I didn’t find credible, and a major personal thread becomes tangled up in an implausible way.
Jacobs did an excellent job on characterization, and the plot was satisfying with a preponderance of red herrings that left the reader guessing as to how things would turn out while ratcheting up the suspense. Kali is an interesting enough character that I’m planning on checking out the previous 4 books in this series.
It’s official. Dwayne Arnold Davis, aka The Bayside Strangler, has been executed. During the time that he was in action, five young women lost their lives. There were various signature elements to the crimes that linked them to Davis. For example, he would send the victim a single yellow rose with a poem, dress her in sensual attire and pose her body provocatively, etc. So when those same elements appear in a new series of murders, the authorities and public wonder if the right man was executed or if the new crimes are the work of a copycat killer.
Owen Nelson rose to prominence as the result of the way that he handled the Davis case and is now the prime candidate for governor of California. Kali O’Brien was an Assistant District Attorney who worked on the case as well. She becomes pulled into the new situation when one of the other attorneys by the name of Anne Bailey who also was involved is one of the latest victims.
Kali is at somewhat of a crossroads in her professional life. Most recently, she has been working as a defense attorney and had planned on entering into a partnership with Anne. These new events convince her that her future lies elsewhere and that she needs to assist on resolving the murders. Therefore, when she is approached by Owen about returning to the District Attorney office, it feels like a more productive avenue for her to follow.
Kali works in partnership with 2 policemen who are first wary about her role in the case but grow to trust her when she proves not to be a glory hound. Lou Fortune is an older, experienced cop who doesn’t believe that women should be involved in police work. His partner, Bryce Keating, is a younger man; and he and Kali find themselves attracted to one another. They work together well to try to establish the links between the various murders and bring the perpetrator to justice. It’s obvious that the killer is quite familiar with the Davis case, which limits the suspect possibilities. The investigation takes a turn for the worse when Kali becomes one of the targets of the killer.
Overall, the book was quite satisfactory. There were a few areas where I felt that Jacobs could have done a better job. The first was in how she had Kali handle a personal relationship that was no longer attractive to her, in which the other person was overly persistent. It was inconsistent with her character to waffle in her dealings with this man; indeed, I would have expected her to be very direct because that is the kind of person she was. Secondly, the resolution was a bit of a letdown. The crime was resolved in a way that I didn’t find credible, and a major personal thread becomes tangled up in an implausible way.
Jacobs did an excellent job on characterization, and the plot was satisfying with a preponderance of red herrings that left the reader guessing as to how things would turn out while ratcheting up the suspense. Kali is an interesting enough character that I’m planning on checking out the previous 4 books in this series.
May 22, 2016
Cold Justice begins with Kali O'Brien investigating her best friend, Anne's murder. Kali already knew when Anne didn't show up for their dinner engagement. When a letter and a rose was sent to Anne's husband, Kali knew it was a signature of a serial killer, Bayside Strangler that she helped prosecuted. Except the fact that the Bayside Strangler has been executed before Anne's murder.
Kali notified her former boss and D.A., Owen Nelsen who is now running for governor of California. For Owen, it would meant disasterous and an end to his political career. When the second and third murdered victims turned up, Kali discovered that each victims are linked to the Bayside Strangler. She has to find out whether this is the work of a copycat or was the wrong man convicted and executed.
Cold Justice has a lot of twists and turns as Kali tried to find the killer. The story will leave readers/listeners guessing if the wrong man was convicted and executed, whether the Bayside Strangler has a partner, or if there is a copycat. Everyone in the story is a suspect and there are reasons to believe that they could possible be the Bayside Strangler. If the readers/listeners pay close attention, it would be a revelation of who is the killer.
The narrator George Kuch provided a good performance narrating Cold Justice. His voice tends to be gruff but then again, Kali is the only female main character in the story.
I was given this book by the author/narrator/publisher via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influence in any way for writing this review.
Kali notified her former boss and D.A., Owen Nelsen who is now running for governor of California. For Owen, it would meant disasterous and an end to his political career. When the second and third murdered victims turned up, Kali discovered that each victims are linked to the Bayside Strangler. She has to find out whether this is the work of a copycat or was the wrong man convicted and executed.
Cold Justice has a lot of twists and turns as Kali tried to find the killer. The story will leave readers/listeners guessing if the wrong man was convicted and executed, whether the Bayside Strangler has a partner, or if there is a copycat. Everyone in the story is a suspect and there are reasons to believe that they could possible be the Bayside Strangler. If the readers/listeners pay close attention, it would be a revelation of who is the killer.
The narrator George Kuch provided a good performance narrating Cold Justice. His voice tends to be gruff but then again, Kali is the only female main character in the story.
I was given this book by the author/narrator/publisher via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influence in any way for writing this review.
October 7, 2016
kali the attorney who returned to oakland from living at her dads after he passed away in the small town is now involved in a serial killer case. the org serial killer was executed, but now either a copy cat or the real killer is killing again. the first victim was her friend who was supposed to meet her for dinner that night. the second was a real estate agent. she is going out with a man she met at a bar, i dont know why she would trust him with everything that is going on.
the man she met at the bar turned out to be a stalker and ended up in jail after another womans restraining order
the serial killer turned out to be the son of the man running for Governor who wanted his dad to fail. he tried to kill kali but she was rescued at the last minute and he was arrested.
but it hurt her starting relationship with the cop as she suspected him. he thinks he might get over it one day...guess shes supposed to wait around for that...
the man she met at the bar turned out to be a stalker and ended up in jail after another womans restraining order
the serial killer turned out to be the son of the man running for Governor who wanted his dad to fail. he tried to kill kali but she was rescued at the last minute and he was arrested.
but it hurt her starting relationship with the cop as she suspected him. he thinks he might get over it one day...guess shes supposed to wait around for that...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2007
COLD JUSTICE – VG
Jonnie Jacobs – 5th in series
San Francisco lawyer Kali O'Brien gets the shocking news that Anne has been murdered in an apparent copycat killing. Anne's murder is eerily similar to the crimes for which the so-called Bayside Strangler, Dwayne Davis, has recently been executed. When a second, and then a third victim, turns up in short order, the heat is on and a team is put together to investigate the new murders and ensure that an innocent man was not executed.
Interesting secondary characters, very good suspense, and an unexpected ending provide a very good read. And, it’s set where I live in Oakland/East Bay, which is fun for me. But the most interesting thing is that, with the Kali being a prosecuting attorney, none of the story is in the courtroom – a refreshing change. I have always enjoyed this series, and this book is particularly good.
Jonnie Jacobs – 5th in series
San Francisco lawyer Kali O'Brien gets the shocking news that Anne has been murdered in an apparent copycat killing. Anne's murder is eerily similar to the crimes for which the so-called Bayside Strangler, Dwayne Davis, has recently been executed. When a second, and then a third victim, turns up in short order, the heat is on and a team is put together to investigate the new murders and ensure that an innocent man was not executed.
Interesting secondary characters, very good suspense, and an unexpected ending provide a very good read. And, it’s set where I live in Oakland/East Bay, which is fun for me. But the most interesting thing is that, with the Kali being a prosecuting attorney, none of the story is in the courtroom – a refreshing change. I have always enjoyed this series, and this book is particularly good.
April 28, 2014
I recently discovered this author and have really been enjoying her books. This was my least favorite so far. The book was to similar to thousands of others in this genre. Sometimes these serial killer books are so redundant it is like you are reading the same book over and over.Also, I figured out the killer the minute he/she was introduced, which made it to predictable for my liking. I still am a big fan of Kali O'Brien though and will continue reading this series.Overall, it was an interesting story. Just to similar to so many others as I stated before.
July 3, 2014
Another fine book from a good series
I will definitely read the next book in the series. The stories are well-written, believable, and accurate with regard to procedure. The author has a gift for giving you plenty of suspects so you can be a partner in solving the mystery. There were several times where I thought I had the killer pinned, only to find another option. I think this was a great deal of fun, well-written, and although I would not say I couldn't put it down it did hold my attention and keep me guessing till the very end.
I will definitely read the next book in the series. The stories are well-written, believable, and accurate with regard to procedure. The author has a gift for giving you plenty of suspects so you can be a partner in solving the mystery. There were several times where I thought I had the killer pinned, only to find another option. I think this was a great deal of fun, well-written, and although I would not say I couldn't put it down it did hold my attention and keep me guessing till the very end.
November 15, 2015
I love books by Jonnie Jacobs and this one was no different. I was gifted this audiobook with the understanding that I would give an honest review.
At first I was not fond of the narrator because I thought the story should have been read by a women. But I soon got over that an fell into the story and the wonderful job of the narrator. If you enjoy a good mystery that will keep you guessing till the end then this is a must read.
At first I was not fond of the narrator because I thought the story should have been read by a women. But I soon got over that an fell into the story and the wonderful job of the narrator. If you enjoy a good mystery that will keep you guessing till the end then this is a must read.
October 21, 2012
overall this was a very competent mystery, the only reason I gave it three stars instead of four was that there isn't a whole lot to distinguish it from other books in the genre. I figured out who the killer was before it was revealed, but overall I did enjoy the book – even if it was a little predictable.
June 28, 2013
I would have given this four stars, except I think Jacobs ruined some of the suspense by introducing the culprit character too soon. The scene felt out of place, and since there had to be a reason for it, I wasn't surprised to find out who the killer was.
August 3, 2015
Great read!
I'm a crime drama junkie and this book delivers. The characters are realistic and well developed. The plot has plenty of layers and depth. Well worth the investment of time to read.
I'm a crime drama junkie and this book delivers. The characters are realistic and well developed. The plot has plenty of layers and depth. Well worth the investment of time to read.
January 27, 2017
This was a good book.George Kuch is the perfect narrator for this legal thriller.Kali is being stalked by a killer that she put behind bars years ago.Her best friend is killed and only she can figure out who the real killer is.I was provided this book by the author,narrator or publisher.
September 10, 2007
new author i will have to follow
May 28, 2009
Intense and tough to put down. I enjoyed the references to my hometown area--the East Bay.
January 10, 2013
Enjoyable reading, thanks to Ann's having given this book to me among a stack she bought at her local library sale.
August 10, 2011
A great thriller and I will be reading more of Jonnie's books !!
March 26, 2012
I enjoyed this thriller. I guessed whodunit early on, but was still guessing until the end. I wondered why the title was the title? The title Cold Justice didn't work for me.
Read
June 24, 2013LIB
July 28, 2015
Great book!
This was a really good book. I will definitely look for more books by this author. Good story line, interesting characters.
This was a really good book. I will definitely look for more books by this author. Good story line, interesting characters.
September 3, 2016
Keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Read
December 7, 2012excellent
March 28, 2017
This was a good book.George Kuch is the perfect narrator for this legal thriller.Kali is being stalked by a killer that she put behind bars years ago.Her best friend is killed and only she can figure out who the real killer is.I was provided this book by the author,narrator or publisher.
Read
March 21, 2018okay
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