Cold Frame: A Novel by Deutermann, P. T. (July 14, 2015) Hardcover

by P.T. Deutermann

Three Washington, D.C. police detectives investigate a government official's murder and uncover a secret sect devoted to sanctioned assassinations of enemies of America. An American government official dies suddenly in a Washington restaurant, but the coroner cannot determine a cause of death. When a second bureaucrat dies, Metro detective Av Smith discovers that both were members of a committee known only as DMX. DMX operates in total secrecy, and its mission is to target foreign terrorists for elimination. Detective Smith is determined to pursue both murder cases, even if it means butting heads with Carl Mandeville, the alpha wolf of DMX. As Smith delves deeper and deeper, he finds himself the target of a plot that goes well beyond DMX- and reaches into the darkest areas of the government.Set in contemporary Washington, D.C. amidst the immense counter-terrorism bureaucracy, Cold Frame is a compelling thriller by a masterful novelist with insider knowledge of how the military, federal, and local intelligence agencies work…or don’t.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Suspense

Unknown Binding

First published July 14, 2015

About the author

P. T. Deutermann is a retired Navy captain and has served in the joint Chiefs of Staff as an arms control specialist. He is the author of eighteen novels, and lives in North Carolina. His World War II adventure novel Pacific Glory won the W. Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction, administered by the American Library Association; his other World War II novels are Ghosts of Bungo Suido and Sentinels of Fire. His most recent novel is Cold Frame, a contemporary thriller set in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting thriller by one of my favorite authors, P.T. Deutermann. Now a sea story but a police detective story and how the executive power of the US could go to extremes. A committee that makes out a "Kill List" of US enemies that is approved by the President, defends its self by killing off some of the committee members that want to see the program ended. Has surprises even at the end. Another good Deutermann read.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In P.T. Deutermann's, Cold Frame, he had given us an exceptional thriller that deals with the world of counterterrorism. For Detective Sergeant Kenneth "Av" Smith, he worked for the Metro Police Department's Interagency Liasion Bureau (ILB) on bouncing cases to the FBI. But it all started with the murder of Francis McGavin, who was a member of the secret NSA agency called the DMX. But when they investigated it, things gotten out of hand. They tried to connect the dots, when Ellen Whiting who worked for the FBI, had explained her role in the investigation to bring them down. But not if Carl Mandeville, the leader of that rat pack, had anything to do with it. Things had gotten sticky, when another member of DMX was left cold with a violent chill with a poisonous plant. The deeper they investigate these murder, the more Av's smith were on the line, when they try to dispose of him. But in the end, when he escaped from their clutches from their unlikely friends, it would be Mandeville who would have the final word.

[Harry Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, this book is scary on two levels. One, the story itself is suspenseful and fast paced with the possibility and actuality of mayhem on every other page. The plot is wickedly devious, and it's hard to tell the good guys from the bad; in fact I'm still not sure about some of them. One the second level, though, the story revolves around the government playing by its own rules in dealing with counter-terrorism. The bad effects of wheeling and dealing in the shadows is too realistic for comfort.

[Nan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a real page turner and also a real eye opener as to how our government has evolved since 9-11.

The situations in the book were not all that unbelievable, but the mechanics of the situations were implausible. Lots and lots and LOTS of coincidences.

The plot was very tight (as all of Deutermann's are) and well developed. No fluff nor filler in his books. And all questions about points in the plot were nicely summed up in the end.

All in all a good, if scary and shocking, read.

[Viva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like PT Deutermann's WW2 books; his espionage books not so much. Spoilers ahead. This is a contemporary book based in Washington DC. The protagonist Av Smith is a Metro PD detective shunted to a liaison department for unspecified misdeeds by his superior officer who apparently hates him. The author gives him quite a detail background except for this.

Parallel to this Carl Mandeville is the head of DMX, a high level advisory group whose function is to approve kill orders to kill bad guys who are deemed to be enemies of the state, i.e. a drone strike to a terrorist leader somewhere in the world. However some members of DMX are beginning to have misgivings about killing terrorists without a trial and Mandeville decides to kill them off. To do this he uses plant poison developed by a reclusive botanist.

Smith is drawn into the plot when one of the members of DMX is found dead in DC. Because the victim is a federal staffer, Smith's department is called in to shunt the case to a one of the many federal law enforcement agencies so MPD can get it out of their hands. That's the sole function of Smith's department.

Somehow Smith is stuck with the case and Mandeville decides to bring him in to be part of his group. This makes no sense at all. And in fact the whole plot makes no sense. The author always does a good job of making his characters interesting and in fact he puts a lot of effort in the backgrounds of the characters, however I feel it's too much, since these are stand alone books and we never get to see them again.

Also, as usual in his thrillers, the plot is complicated, too many agencies and characters are brought in for no reason at all. I don't really recommend this book but I will continue to try Deutermann's other books because I generally like his settings and characters.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An American government official dies suddenly in a Washington restaurant, but the coroner cannot determine a cause of death. When a second bureaucrat dies, Metro detective Av Smith discovers that both were members of a committee known only as DMX. DMX operates in total secrecy, and its mission is to target foreign terrorists for elimination. Detective Smith is determined to pursue both murder cases, even if it means butting heads with Carl Mandeville, the alpha wolf of DMX. As Smith delves deeper and deeper, he finds himself the target of a plot that goes well beyond DMX- and reaches into the darkest areas of the government.

[Jim A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seldom give five stars to thriller fiction, especially novels that deal with egotistical psychopaths in position of authority in government. Novels with that story line are a dime a dozen in the political thriller genre. This work by Deutermann deserves them because of the innovative method that Deutermann had the protagonists deal with the antagonists.

Hard to write too many things about this without giving away too much of the plot and end game. But pick up a copy and give it a read. You won't be disappointed, I'm confident.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Cold Frame’ is a political twister with a large cast of characters and a ton of secrecy which helps a bit in the suspense but doesn’t rise to the level of a thriller. The characters are a bit one dimensional but interesting and the addition of bottony group adds a new twist I haven’t seen before and kept it interesting and refreshing.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really wild satire of the war against terror and Washington, DC bureaucracy. The characters are all a bit extreme and the plot over the top. It involves killer plants, a DC Metro Police unit known as the "Briar Patch" staffed with misfits and the head of a secret anti-terror bureau gone rogue. The reader works well for this book.

[Mark Roeser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio 3.0. There is a reason this book has been out for 10 years and only has 376 reviews!!! Story of deep state secrets involving CIA, FBI, and multiple other alphabet agencies involved in assassinations, framing of police detectives, and a ridiculous fortified compound protected by various plants, giant Venus fly traps, etc.

[Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely and compelling

Another fast paced novel from the author. Weaving fact and fiction with the warts of DC today. Power is a vicious thing, those that do not have it want it an those that have it never want to relinquish it and will do anything to do so. Excellent read.

[Glyn Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good thriller , a lot of inter agency bull as usual, but all in all a cracking read. It involves the KILL LIST of the us president and all the cloak and dagger stuff that goes with it(no spoilers). So just go out and BUY it you will enjoy it for SURE.

[Todd Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed P.T. Deutermann.

But this one is different. It is filled with a strange set of characters that will make you laugh out loud.

Lots of fun.

[Vince Waechter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Different than your run of the mill detective story. Plenty of colorful characters.
A little bit sci-fi, but fun and fresh.

[Chris Stasny · Rating 3 out of 5]

overly complex

Too many characters telling too many lies to follow. Not PTD’s usual. I’ve been a fan for a while but this wasn’t his best.

[Cheree Crandall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.95

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the proliferation of counterterrorism groups following the September 11th attacks, the playing field is complex and political. One of those secret groups creates a Kill List of overseas terrorists; when members of the committee begin to die under mysterious, unexplainable circumstances, Metro detective Av Smith is drawn into the case. Although he’s assigned to a bureau that has no function other than passing cases along to the proper federal agency, events conspire to keep the detective involved. Despite being blocked at almost every turn, Av moves closer and closer to the truth, forcing the mastermind behind the murders to move out of the shadow and silence him forever.

Well-drawn characters, believable situations, and a welcome bit of humor make this finely crafted, nonstop thriller one that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final page. Unexpected plot twists and some amazing plants ramp up the suspense and keep those pages turning until the final chilling reveal.

Highly recommended.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is another winner from P. T. We have a Washington, D.C. Metro Police Department detective who catches the case of the unusual death of a senior government official in a D.C. restaurant. The cause of death is undetermined. This leads him into the byzantine world of the Department of Homeland Security specifically and federal counter terrorism agencies in general. The specifics
include a federally funded and approved committee charged with the responsibility of identifying terrorist enemies of the country and nominating them to the President for assassination. If approved by POTUS, the world is one or more terrorists short. This yarn doesn't speak too highly of the counter terrorism bureaucracy in and around D.C. and with Mr. Deutermann's background you get the feeling he knows what he's talking about. He also took a couple of back hand swipes at the current administration.

[Tom Tischler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A top secret committee of government and civilian officials maintain
a list known as the Kill List. This list targets overseas threats to
America for termination. When a senior bureaucrat who is part of the
Kill List process dies from mysterious circumstance metro detective Av
Smith is tasked to investigate. Smith and his fellow detectives soon
find themselves besieged by a nest of intrigue and deception. With the
help of an FBI agent and a reclusive scientist Av digs deeper into the
mystery only to become the target of a plan that reaches into the
highest levels of the government and far exceeds the mission of the
Kill List. This story isn't to bad but Deutermann has done better.
I gave it a 3.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overzealous super secret counterterrorism department, DMX, is mandated to carry out assassinations of anti-Americans who are put on a U.S. president approved kill list. A group of Washington DC's metropolitan police department's Interagency Liaison Branch--their version of the last stop off for politically incorrect screw-ups--finds itself getting a homicide, and a second one, that eventually leads them to determining DMX was using its influence to kill Americans on domestic soil. Lots of action, renditions, and whacko government officials make the book a fun read.

[Weaver "Andy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a slow start (It may have been my emotional state) the action picked up it pace. I found it hard to put the book down. I love deutermann I was not disappointed. well developed believable characters and story. One tall giant, several lovely plants. The protagonist's partners had unusual abilities. The bad guy is a government top dog. Two women could mean trouble. Will our hero be able to come out on top. This was pure Deutermann.

[Tony Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy P.T. Deutermann's books, and this was a fun one to read. Not necessarily his very best, so I am being critical when I give him just 4 stars, but by all means it is a good read if you like techno- thrillers. He obviously had fun taking a writer's license in creating some not-always-so-believable events, but again, it is fun.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

The description pretty much tells the story in this book. Is Av Smith on to something or is he just a pawn in a nest of government agencies?
I was somewhat disappointed in the plot and its myriad twists and turns, and, for some reason, the ending left me disappointed.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This doesn't compare to the Pacific or submarine books. it is breezy, full of Washington conspiracy an so-called intrigue and although not bad, it isn't a book I would recommend unless you need something for the airplane.

[Ralph Dunkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me. He has written at least 15 books so I will be looking for him in the local library. This book started a bit slow but really took off and I hated to put it down.

This author tells a great story of intrigue and suspense. I highly recommend this book and this author.

[Rob Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know who the good guy is, but what about everyone else. You will not be sure until the last page. One of Deutermann's best, this novel tells the story of counter terrorism gone amok. It begs the question "does the end justify the means?"

[Pat Rosenberg]

never received unable to review

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one cost me a lot of sleep. It's one of the best I've read.

[Mark Cheathem · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish it. Cardboard characters and slow plot.

[Patrick44 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anything P.T. Deutermann writes is OK with me.
He is one of the few who have the background to
lend authenticity to his writing.