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I'll take a pound of flesh and all your blood….

A spate of deadly crimes has paralyzed the secluded small town of Black Rock. Girls are vanishing without a trace.

FBI Agent Tanya Stone’s first case is to hunt the cold-blooded killer prowling the West Coast. With her K9 partner, Max, she has one chance to prove her worth and keep the job she desperately needs.

When she stumbles across a dying girl in a ditch and the shocking photo of an underground torture chamber, she vows to unmask the psychopath’s identity.

Even if it risks her own life.

But dark and twisted secrets seethe underneath the perfect lives of this upscale neighborhood. The monster lives among them, spreading vicious lies.

Nothing in Black Rock is what it seems.

The serial killer could be anyone. He could be standing right behind you..

443 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2023

97 people are currently reading
173 people want to read

About the author

Tikiri Herath

43 books376 followers
Tikiri Herath is the award-winning author of the best-selling crime thriller, HER DEADLY END.

Tikiri is an adrenaline junkie who has rock climbed, bungee jumped, flown upside down in a stunt plane, and parachuted solo.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria, Canada, and a master’s degree from the Solvay Business School in Brussels. She’s worked in risk management for Canada’s top federal intelligence agency and for NATO in Europe.

A fifth-culture kid raised across four continents, Tikiri now calls Canada home.

When she’s not plotting her next murderous twist, you’ll find her baking decadent treats in her kitchen, vintage jazz on the speakers and a glass of red Shiraz in hand.

Her globetrotting adventures and real-life brushes with danger inspire her mystery thriller novels, infusing deadly menace and psychological suspense into every page she writes.

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5 stars
93 (54%)
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52 (30%)
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23 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Rudrashree Makwana.
Author 1 book71 followers
March 11, 2024
The book is dark and twisted. The killer is on loose and abduction of girls has threatened the peace of the small town of Black Rock. While in this book, everyone is a suspect and it is hard to find the killer. Killer maybe one among them. Tanya Herath finds the body of a teenage girl. She was alive and she was trying to tell her something but she couldn’t make it. Tanya and her team are trying to find the killer by following the deadly clues and secrets leading to the killer. The book has twists and turns. I loved the characters. While some characters were multifaceted. I liked the idyllic setting of a small town. The ending was jaw dropping.

Thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley.
Profile Image for Kim.
507 reviews5 followers
July 2, 2023
5 STARS ALL THE WAY! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This thrilling and suspenseful adventure kept me glued to my chair furiously clicking through the pages on my e-reader late into the night. The descriptions are so vivid that I felt I was right there with Tanya and her K9 partner, Max, every step of the way as they tried to solve a string of mysterious disappearances of young women from a seemingly idyllic coastal community. You know the saying about things that seem to be too good to be true, this beautiful tourist town is hiding a lot of dark secrets and Tanya is determined to uncover them, especially after her good friend, Asha, goes missing. If you enjoy a superbly plotted mystery brimming with interesting and sometimes quirky characters, unremitting tension, and surprising twists and turns, this is a perfect choice for you. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for Tanya and Max next.

I was provided with an advance copy of this book, for which I thank the author, but I am sharing my honest and unbiased review on a completely voluntary basis.
Profile Image for Natasha.
146 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2024
Review of “Her Cold Blood” by Tikiri Herath

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an ARC copy of this book from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

“Her Cold Blood” by Tikiri Herath is a heart-pounding thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Although it’s the second book in the series, I found it easily accessible as a standalone read.

Following FBI Agent Tanya Stone and her loyal K9 partner Max, the story dives into a series of kidnappings in the small town of Black Rock. The narrative is divided into sections, with each day bringing new twists and turns that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

Herath’s vivid descriptions and captivating visuals immediately drew me into the story, creating a palpable sense of tension and mystery. However, what truly sets this book apart is its ability to keep you guessing. The author skillfully keeps the identity of the perpetrators shrouded in mystery until the very end, leaving me constantly second-guessing and on the edge of my seat.

While the plot is gripping and the characters well-developed, one aspect that stood out to me was the portrayal of internal paranoia within the main character, Tanya. Her relentless pursuit of the truth, coupled with the fear of the unknown, added layers of depth to the story and kept me invested in her journey.

Overall, “Her Cold Blood” is a thrilling ride filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected twists. However, the portrayal of the town’s inhabitants and their apparent obliviousness to the sinister events unfolding around them felt somewhat unrealistic. Despite this minor flaw, the book delivers an exhilarating reading experience that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Profile Image for Susan May.
723 reviews14 followers
February 24, 2024
OMG! I don't know where to start. I am so hooked on this series. The author has a unique way of drawing you in with some very interesting characters and a brilliant plot. She is quickly moving up on my favorite authors list.
Tanya Stone and her canine partner Max are sent out undercover. Their mission is to uncover the truth in a beautiful coastal community. A surge in crime and a string of disappearances. She goes undercover working for the Sheriffs office. Right away she meets up with resistance. A young woman is found dying and Tanya is horrified at the lack of investigation from local law enforcement. Her team at the office seems to resent her presence and Tanya is disgusted at how the mayor seems to think the sherriff and his crew are his puppets to use as a protection detail. Tanya knows this coastal town is hiding dirty secrets and as young women continue to dissappear, she vows to get some answers. When her friend Asha comes for a visit, she gets involved and then she is taken. This is the last straw for Tanya and she sets out to rescue her friend and find the missing girls with Max in tow her world is about to explode.
This will keep you glued to your seat and you will be irate with the sheriff and how he runs his town. You literally won't want to put it down.
24 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2024
The Best!

This is one of the best series I've read! Love the characters, the action and stories! This was a fantastic author and super fun to read!
Profile Image for Meghan.
3,381 reviews7 followers
August 6, 2024
Who to trust

Tanya is back and on her first FBI undercover task. Asha also returns and plays a pivotal role in solving the crime. New characters are everywhere and Tanya is told to trust no one. Even her contact in the fBI is under some secrecy and is an unknown variable for support. The mystery of the missing girls was fascinating and did not go the traditional storyline of trafficking/sex crimes. some of the bad people really surprised me with their role and the ending has me questioning what next since her undercover role is clearly still not over but her role is known by someone!
Profile Image for TaniaRina.
1,589 reviews117 followers
August 18, 2023
‘It’s pretty little towns that hide the darkest secrets’
No place is perfect and free of crime, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. That person is either in denial (and therefore, possibly in danger) or is trying to cover up something. Living in a town where “everybody knows your name” can be a double-edged sword – people either “see something, say nothing” or they go running off to your mama every time you make goo-goo eyes at a boy (I know a friend who…).


Is the below necessarily a negative thing?
‘Some days, everybody looked like the bad guy.’
Actually, I think being prepared is much better than walking into a situation blindly.


Some sage advice from the author:
Get yourself some street skills
Look for the patterns and follow the money.
Set up care calls from close friends when out of town and/or out of sorts.

Fave line:
‘Brace yourself, because the games are just beginning.’


Don’t miss the Author’s Note and Twelve Book Club Questions at the end.

#BreakTheCycle continues with the upcoming books (‘Her Last Lie’, ‘Her Secret Crime’, ‘Her Perfect Murder’, and ‘Her Grisly Grave’).
If you’re interested in the origins of Asha and Tanya, check out ‘The Red-heeled Rebels’ series.

‘This book is dedicated to all the brave women of Ukraine and all other war zones in the world today.’
Profile Image for Cyndi.
425 reviews9 followers
February 9, 2023
This is a new series from the author and it is off to a great start! Tatiana from the Red Heeled Rebels series is the lead character. I'm not sure why the author changed her name to Tanya unless it is because she is undercover and I was half way through the book before I started calling her by it. I loved Tatiana! She is one badass that doesn't take any crap! As Tanya she is still that way and has a hard time taking ordered from anyone. This book has lots of action and suspense and I wasn't able to tell who was guilty! I'm interested to see what happens in the next book as the story didn't answer all the questions of this book. I received a free download of this book from the publisher. This review is my own honest opinion.
44 reviews3 followers
March 17, 2024
Tanya, Stone, an FBI agent, is working undercover It's the strangest job she has ever done as she has been given no idea of what she is there for other than to keep her eyes open and trust no-one! The town doesn't want to talk about the strange goings on but when Tanya is called to a crime site and finds a girl dying in a ditch she know that there is more to the town of Black Rock than meets the eye. Determined to find out the truth she begins her own investigation but when her friend comes to visit and is kidnapped, she finds herself racing against time.
This was a pacy read full of twists and turns. The ending of the book sets the reader up for further forays into Black Rock - I for one am looking forward to revisiting the town!
Profile Image for S McK.
289 reviews8 followers
February 21, 2025
Thrilling!

Tanya is sent undercover to help a police force but the wider FBI involvement isn't clear, yet. She only has one contact and doesn't know, who she can trust.

There are missing girls, no explanation and little in the way of clues or true investigations, with runaways being the reason. Then one girl shows up, dishevelled, gaunt and terrified. Tanya found the body, presuming her dead but she managed to tell Tanya of a 'monster' before she succumbs to her injuries. Tanya gets little help from the police and cannot trust them. Asha visits to check on Tanya but is kidnapped.

Tanya must help find the missing girls and Asha but will she be too late.

A shocking twist and thrilling end. Don't miss this book!
17 reviews
March 20, 2024
Her Cold Blood by Tikiri Herath has everything that you'd want in a book, and more. Well written with easy flow that keeps you on pins, and needles throughout. Tanya, and her dog Max are on an undercover mission in a small town full of conspiracy theories, cloak, and dagger, missing girls, and murder. Who can she trust with an entire town of suspects? What exactly is her mission? Her only instruction is to keep her eyes open, and not to blow her cover. Thankfully, she has a little help from her friend Asha.

Awesome read.
392 reviews41 followers
August 1, 2023
It is a thrilling, mysterious, adventurous story. I enjoyed following Tanya and Max to solve this complex case. The costal setting was absolutely beautiful but as usual there are secrets to discover in this idyllic tourist town. The author gave me a twist that made me work harder to find out the ending that was well crafted. I can't wait for the next case.
1,306 reviews16 followers
February 10, 2023
Tikiri has another hit in this new series with Tanya assigned to a town hidden in secrets and danger that she did not expect. Plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Excellent.
Very Highly Recommended.
7,765 reviews50 followers
February 22, 2024
A chilling mystery with Tanya and Max. in a small tourist town. Follow these two as they
uncover secrets, and murder. A good series and I recommend reading.
Given arc by Net Galley and Rebel Diva academy for my voluntary review
21 reviews
October 8, 2024
Great series can't get enough

S
The story kept twisting in another direction couldn't put it down ready to dive into book three next I just know I will be enjoying it just as much great reading
Profile Image for Josefina.
73 reviews
May 28, 2025
Tanya Stone and her gang does it again! I think this has become one of my favorite series.
Profile Image for J Kromrie.
2,522 reviews47 followers
April 24, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

'Her Cold Blood" by Tikiri Herath is a riveting addition to the "Tanya Stone FBI K9 Mystery Thriller series". This standalone novel plunges readers into the heart of a small, seemingly tranquil town that is anything but peaceful. The narrative follows FBI Agent Tanya Stone and her loyal K9 partner, Max, as they are thrust into a chilling case of vanishing girls in the secluded town of Black Rock.

The book opens with a haunting scene that sets the tone for a story filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Stone's determination is palpable as she navigates through the town's dark underbelly, uncovering secrets that many would prefer stayed hidden. Herath's writing is sharp and engaging, drawing readers into the urgency of the hunt for a cold-blooded killer.

What makes "Her Cold Blood" stand out is the dynamic between Stone and Max. Their bond is not just that of a handler and her dog but of true partners in crime-solving. Max's keen senses and Stone's investigative prowess create a formidable team that breathes life into the narrative.

Herath's background in risk management and her adventurous spirit shine through in the meticulous details of the investigation and the high stakes that Stone faces. The author's skill in crafting a complex mystery is evident as she weaves a web of deceit and danger, challenging readers to guess the killer's identity before the thrilling conclusion.

The setting of Black Rock is a character in itself, with its picturesque facade masking the sinister reality. Herath's descriptions are vivid, transporting readers to the coastal town where beauty and horror coexist.

"Her Cold Blood" is a must-read for fans of crime thrillers. It delivers a potent mix of intrigue, action, and psychological depth, all while showcasing a strong female lead and her canine companion. Herath has penned a novel that is both a page-turner and a thought-provoking exploration of the darkness that can lurk in the most unexpected places.
Profile Image for Leah Burgess.
84 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2026
I REALLY wanted to like this. The thriller/crime part was a phenomenal storyline and I enjoyed the twists. However, the main character is SO unlikable. We start the book with “I have to prove myself to the FBI” and she was “chosen for this mission for a reason” but we have the character doubting herself at every turn. She also breaks like 1,000 protocols and isn’t a team player but goes undercover with a team??? We have so many things working against each other that I find it distracting how inconsistent the character is. In addition, we have a curt writing style that leads to choppy dialogue and multiple POV switches without warning. I found it difficult to know whose POV I was in prior to chapter 43 when the chapters get labeled for different POVs. The second half of the book WAS better and the epilogue leaves you on a killer cliff hanger, so let’s be real, I’ll read the third book. But I thought about DNFing this book about three times and was happy when I finished reading it.
Profile Image for Nikki Brooks.
3,555 reviews54 followers
April 4, 2024
Tanya and her K9 partner, Max, need to make an impact on the higher-ups to save her job. Their newest assignment is to go undercover in the small town of Black Rock and unearth a killer.

When she finds a young woman on the edge of death, Tanya cannot believe the lack of impetus from the local law enforcement! The Mayor is a complete sleaze and sees the cops as his own personal protection detail.

Things come to a head when her friend Asha arrives in town and is quickly taken. Now Tanya is making things personal and she wont stop, listen to bogus instructions or stand down until her friend and the other missing persons or their remains are found.

A completely worthy murder mystery to fill a few hours with. Plenty of twists and turns and the internal maelstrom of Tanya's thoughts and self-recriminations are superb.
Profile Image for Dwayne Keller.
1,009 reviews13 followers
June 10, 2023
Great first book in a new series. Tanya Stone and her dog Max have their first assignment. The island town of Black Rock has teenage girls going missing and it's Tanya's job to find them. But nothing in the town is what it seems and she can't trust anybody. Nor can she contact her boss at the FBI. She has to do this on her own. Everybody is suspicious of her, making her job harder. Her detective friend Asha surprises her and stays to help solve the case. Plenty of suspects, plenty of twists and turns, plenty of action. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Merged review:

Great first book in a new series. Tanya Stone and her dog Max have their first assignment. The island town of Black Rock has teenage girls going missing and it's Tanya's job to find them. But nothing in the town is what it seems and she can't trust anybody. Nor can she contact her boss at the FBI. She has to do this on her own. Everybody is suspicious of her, making her job harder. Her detective friend Asha surprises her and stays to help solve the case. Plenty of suspects, plenty of twists and turns, plenty of action. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
1,819 reviews13 followers
July 10, 2023
A number of young girls have gone missing from a small town. Tanya Stone, FBI is sent in undercover to investigate. She does not know in this town who she can trust. She receives a threating note which makes Tanya work harder. Asha comes to visit and gets kidnapped. A very exciting novel with an unexpected conclusion. Highly recommend.
136 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2023
This book (and series) has it all. Excellent storyline, characters you wish you could have coffee with, and an intriguing mystery. The twists and turns will keep you guessing and page turning well into the night.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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