Gone Cold

by Kristen Valentine

It's been four long years since college student Avery Callahan went missing, leaving a host of unanswered questions behind her on a lonely stretch of road in upstate New York. In the space of just eighteen minutes—between the moment Avery was last seen, and when police found her abandoned vehicle—the area's most curious cold case was born.

Time has passed, but there's still nothing to go on—no leads, no evidence, and no trace of the missing woman. Even her family's steadfast hope is wearing thin, and in what could amount to a final attempt to learn the truth, former NYPD detective John Starett is hired to take another look at a case that has made its way to the bottom of everyone else's pile.

Starett isn’t stupid. He knows that if the police couldn’t find Avery then, he is unlikely to find her now. But since he’d otherwise spend his days dwelling on how he left the NYPD to make his wife happy—the success of which can currently be measured in alimony payments—this case seems as good as any.

Despite low expectations all around, Starett soon finds himself drawn into the inscrutable mystery of Avery’s disappearance. As he chips away at the assumptions and secrets clouding Avery’s life even before she vanished, the cold case begins to thaw. But as it does, Starett begins to suspect that the people closest to Avery might be more interested in protecting themselves than in helping to find her.

From small towns to the big city, from private lives to public scandals, only one thing about Avery is certain: the way her story unfolds will change everything.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

200 pages, ebook

First published March 24, 2013

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine detective story, extraordinarily good for a first novel. Not many first mysteries, even by excellent writers, are this good--Robert B. Parker's "The Godwulf Manuscript," for example, isn't quite up to its level--particularly when it comes to readability, lack of pretentiousness, and efficient plot construction. It is a little on the soft side of the hard-boiled genre, featuring a city (New York) and a P.I. with an attitude (former NYPD cop Starrett). Any fan of Hammett, Chandler and Parker will find much here to admire.

Although Valentine has a distinctive voice, her debt to Robert B. Parker is clear, and "Gone Cold"--this is high praise--is as readable as anything he has written. The prose is clean, witty, and illuminated by memorable metaphors, and yet it never calls attention to itself, never interferes with the development of the plot or the intensity of the action. The dialogue is simple and elegant: breezy and funny when it wants to be, tough as nails when it has to be. The plot is the kind I like best: it lets me guess a few things right before the detective does (thus allowing me to feel smart) and yet it still reserves something surprising--and credible--for the conclusion.

I like the characteristic method through which Valentine reveals her clues. Starrett will engage a character in dialogue, and then (usually during the second or third interview) that character will reveal not only important facts about the case, but also embarrassing secrets about himself. Each revelation deepens and enriches our sense of who that character is, increasing our compassion both for him and for ourselves, while--perhaps the most important part--further widening Valentine's world. No, you will find no amiable fellow here, the kind who drops his mask in the final paragraphs, uncovering a raging psychopath beneath. (And there's no serial killer with a literary bent here either, thank God!)

I also like the love relationship that grows between detective Starrett and the psychologist Kate. Valentine has some way to go before she equals her mentor Parker in memorable characters or urban atmosphere, but I believe that, in this one small important area, she surpasses him. Kate--unlike Spenser's Susan--is a former cop, and she instinctively understands Starrett. She does not require painful page upon page of analytic dialogue a la Ms. Silverman in order to understand his code or his motivations. These two remind me more of Hammett's Nick and Norah Charles than they do Spenser and Susan. And that's a very good thing.

I highly recommend "Gone Cold." It is a brisk entertaining read with an interesting plot, and it never insults your intelligence. I hope we will see more of Starrett and Kate in the future.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific mystery - atmospheric, engaging, and suspenseful. The narrative is first rate, and expert pacing allows the reader's interest to build at a pace that perfectly matches the rate at which detective John Starett himself becomes drawn into the mysterious disappearance of Avery Callahan.

Starett, as a character, is one of the main reasons this book is so enjoyable. He blends a modern New York cynicism with a level of personal charisma straight out of the golden days of noir. He is so well drawn and so charming that by the time you finish the story, he doesn't feel like someone you would like to know. He feels like someone you do. He is really the best kind of fictional detective, in a genre where sleuths sometimes seem like they are a dime a dozen, or full of gimmicks (bounty hunter! psychic! photographic memory!) he is in an elite club of investigators who's voices are memorable enough to stay with you after the book is closed.

Characterization is really a strength throughout - even the missing woman feels much more three dimensional than seems typical for this type of novel. Minor characters (Meghan, Nick, Kelly Marefka) have their own speech patterns, their own distinctive styles. No one seems to be around strictly for the convenience of the plot, which speaks to both the well realized cast of characters and a plot that moves swiftly in a very organic way.

The central mystery is fairly straightforward - what exactly happened to Avery Callahan in the eighteen minutes between when she was last seen, and when her car was found abandoned on the side of the road. But the book does a nice job of making the investigation into Avery's disappearance a study of who, exactly, she was. She starts out as the quintessential girl on a missing persons poster, described by everyone who knew her in blandly nostalgic platitudes. You could almost make a drinking game where you take a shot every time someone describes her as sweet or nice. But the way that the mystery unfolds, you wind up with a clearer picture of her as a complex and compelling young woman, and find yourself really caring about what might have happened to her.

In addition to all this, Gone Cold also manages to contain a delightfully low key love story, and flashes of humor that made me burst out laughing on more than one occasion. It's so completely well done that I would not have otherwise guessed this was a first novel, or that it is only available - right now -electronically. But I suppose we are in a brave new world of digital publishing, especially post-Wool, where a first time author can make their book directly available readers, and really hit the ball out of the park. This one certainly does.

All in all, one of the best mysteries I've read in quite some time.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A suspenseful character-driven read. Would definitely pick up the next book by this author!

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This came so strongly recommended by a Goodreads friend that I immediately downloaded a copy. Everything he said about it was true. It is a far better-than-average mystery novel, let alone FIRST mystery novel, and I look forward to reading any more that will be coming. It is the story of a cold case, and only a week or so ago I read a similar cold case novel by a master--Michael Connelly. One of the hardest things to do with this kind of story is begin it--everything has already been investigated to death. What tiny thing could possibly have been overlooked that will be the beginning of the unraveling? This book handled that aspect of plotting much more plausibly than the Connelly book did. The main characters were appealing. When the love interest was about to reveal why she had (up to now) been reluctant to talk about her past, I was abruptly required to run some errands right now. My level of irritation was a good measure of how much I had been caught up in the story.

[Mystery Sister · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Gone Cold" is a chilling, page turner from first time novelist Kristen Valentine. This novel brings you into the story quickly and holds you fast in the depths of PI John Starett's relentless pursuit for the truth in a college co-ed's disappearance some 4 years earlier. First person narrative and outstanding story telling will keep you engaged and wanting more!

[Colleen McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gone Cold is a great mystery. It's a fast read with funny scenes and endearing characters I didn't start to guess the solution to the mystery until I was almost done with the book, yet the twists were viable enough to hold attention and guessing games.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, crime thrillers and detective stories.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that this was a quick, easy read. I typically don't read mysteries, but I really liked the story. I was completely wrapped up in finding out what happened to Avery. Starrett was very likeable, and I liked the twists.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a good mystery, I highly recommend Gone Cold. This is a great mystery, one I really could not put down. The writing style is fabulous, and the storyline intriguing . The characters are lively and interesting.