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Kate Gillespie #4
Cold Case
The colder it gets . . .
the hotter it gets. Three years ago SFPD Homicide Investigator Kate Gillespie was in pursuit of a suspect who murdered a hooker in a sleazy motel, and she nearly lost her own life in the process. The shooter escaped into the San Francisco shadows and the trail went colder than the grave. Now Kate's appearance on a Bay Area "crime stoppers" TV show produces new leads that carry her back into the sordid world of drugs and prostitution -- and point her toward a local crime boss whose missing wife is possibly linked to multiple men and multiple murders. But when a dangerous knot of betrayals, secrets, and criminal cover-ups starts unraveling, Kate can only hope she'll be as lucky as she was on that black night at the Twin Palms Motel. Because the only way to the truth leads directly into the line of fire . . .
the hotter it gets. Three years ago SFPD Homicide Investigator Kate Gillespie was in pursuit of a suspect who murdered a hooker in a sleazy motel, and she nearly lost her own life in the process. The shooter escaped into the San Francisco shadows and the trail went colder than the grave. Now Kate's appearance on a Bay Area "crime stoppers" TV show produces new leads that carry her back into the sordid world of drugs and prostitution -- and point her toward a local crime boss whose missing wife is possibly linked to multiple men and multiple murders. But when a dangerous knot of betrayals, secrets, and criminal cover-ups starts unraveling, Kate can only hope she'll be as lucky as she was on that black night at the Twin Palms Motel. Because the only way to the truth leads directly into the line of fire . . .
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First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 18, 2019
Read in just over 24 hours, and I've got a kid still at home.
Excellent. I loved the cold case. There were a lot of characters and I lost track a few times. I missed seeing her ex partner more, and the aunt and nephew were missing.
I, like another reviewer, need more books so we can find out what happens to Nick and also so the romance has closure.
I wouldn't mind more of San Fran, too.
Excellent. I loved the cold case. There were a lot of characters and I lost track a few times. I missed seeing her ex partner more, and the aunt and nephew were missing.
I, like another reviewer, need more books so we can find out what happens to Nick and also so the romance has closure.
I wouldn't mind more of San Fran, too.
October 10, 2024
definitely pulp fiction, there is nothing innovative or exciting about this story but it is an easy comfortable read without having to engage too many brain cells. It is entertaining and is worth a read but you wont want to hang on to it and reread it every couple of years. Fairly straight forward with no twists or turns and not much of a hook
March 28, 2018
Awesome read from a truly gifted, talented, & even more awesome author. Love, Love this story line, I so hope there is more to come. Now back to the Sidney Frizpatrick saga!
June 20, 2019
Ho hum. Was hoping the SF setting would be featured more.
April 19, 2024
I'm over halfway through this book. I think the way it's written is really strange.. incorrect grammar and long sentences. The plot is interesting, but hard to keep up with.
June 20, 2019
3.5 stars
San Francisco Homicide Investigator Kate Gillespie was shot three years before the story opens. Both the murder she was investigating and her own shooting have gone unsolved. In an attempt to rekindle the flames of this cold case, Kate appears on a local crime solving show. Soon afterwards, a potential informant is found dead, and Kate and her partner witness a bank robbery and murder. FBI agent Mike Torrance and his partner are involved because of a possible connection between Kate's case, an FBI case, and crime boss Nick Paolini. Their interview with Paolini triggers cascading events, including meetings with various shady characters. No one is telling the truth, and someone begins staking Kate. Will the team find the culprit before Kate is silenced for good?
It is difficult to keep the mystery's huge cast of characters straight at first. Once the reader can sort out who's who, the plot takes on a life of its own, with exciting twists and turns. There are so many possible suspects that I was completely surprised at the identity of the murderer. Kate is a strong female character with a vulnerable side, and the romantic tension between Kate and Torrance makes an intriguing secondary story. Though Cold Case is Robin Burcell's fourth in her Kate Gillespie series, it can stand alone as a thrilling, fast-paced mystery with a hint of romance.
San Francisco Homicide Investigator Kate Gillespie was shot three years before the story opens. Both the murder she was investigating and her own shooting have gone unsolved. In an attempt to rekindle the flames of this cold case, Kate appears on a local crime solving show. Soon afterwards, a potential informant is found dead, and Kate and her partner witness a bank robbery and murder. FBI agent Mike Torrance and his partner are involved because of a possible connection between Kate's case, an FBI case, and crime boss Nick Paolini. Their interview with Paolini triggers cascading events, including meetings with various shady characters. No one is telling the truth, and someone begins staking Kate. Will the team find the culprit before Kate is silenced for good?
It is difficult to keep the mystery's huge cast of characters straight at first. Once the reader can sort out who's who, the plot takes on a life of its own, with exciting twists and turns. There are so many possible suspects that I was completely surprised at the identity of the murderer. Kate is a strong female character with a vulnerable side, and the romantic tension between Kate and Torrance makes an intriguing secondary story. Though Cold Case is Robin Burcell's fourth in her Kate Gillespie series, it can stand alone as a thrilling, fast-paced mystery with a hint of romance.
December 31, 2014
This one was a bittersweet read, being that it's the 4th and final book in the Kate Gillespie series and glad she ended it with an easy spot to pick the story back up.
Cold Case ties into the 2nd book in the series. Three years ago, Gillespie was shot in the arm in in the sleazy Twin Palms Motel, and while pursuing a suspect in the murder of a escort/hooker.
She's currently working Cold Case's with her partner Rocky, they decide to take another look at the case and try to solve it. In typical fashion, she has the bad guys running scared, even cause them to try a hit on her and trying to throw her off of their trail.
Like the others in the series, you have that awesome support cast around her, Torrence now with the FBI is back with his partner and Paolini the slim ball Mob boss. Two things finally happen in this one. First Paolini finally gets arrested, second Gillespie and Torrence finally hook up.
Burcell's an amazing author, one of my top-10 favorites, highly recommend her and this series is worth it to track down to read. It's the first series, were I wished you had more volumes in it to read.
I do hope that one day soon, she'll get the rights to the series and be able to add to this one.
Cold Case ties into the 2nd book in the series. Three years ago, Gillespie was shot in the arm in in the sleazy Twin Palms Motel, and while pursuing a suspect in the murder of a escort/hooker.
She's currently working Cold Case's with her partner Rocky, they decide to take another look at the case and try to solve it. In typical fashion, she has the bad guys running scared, even cause them to try a hit on her and trying to throw her off of their trail.
Like the others in the series, you have that awesome support cast around her, Torrence now with the FBI is back with his partner and Paolini the slim ball Mob boss. Two things finally happen in this one. First Paolini finally gets arrested, second Gillespie and Torrence finally hook up.
Burcell's an amazing author, one of my top-10 favorites, highly recommend her and this series is worth it to track down to read. It's the first series, were I wished you had more volumes in it to read.
I do hope that one day soon, she'll get the rights to the series and be able to add to this one.
April 16, 2009
SFPD Homicide Investigator Kate Gillespie is working a cold case - the 3 year old murder of Fiona Winchester - a hooker shot in a hotel (coincidentally, Kate was shot at the scene of the crime). In a complex and at times confusing plot, Kate also investigates a bank robbery, murders of a bank CFO and a transsexual, missing informers, witnesses, and $6M in diamonds while attempting to find Fiona’s shooter while avoiding a hit man and dealing with personal issues with potential boyfriend FBI Mike Torrance and crime boss Nick Paolini. Who did it? The crime boss’ ex wife - Louise - who is a mechanic - arranges hits for the mob. Louise’ other ex-husband - Jim Greene - car salesman, cocaine dealer and diamond thief is involved. As was her lover, murdered bank CFO Millhouse and his wife. Found all the plots to be very complex but continue to read series because I like the main character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2021
Not exactly her best book. Sometimes slow, sometimes repetitive.
Boring.
I kept reading expecting it to become a detective story, it never did.
Boring.
I kept reading expecting it to become a detective story, it never did.
November 27, 2009
When SFPD Homicide Investigator Kate Gillespie appears on a crime stoppers TV show, an old case in which she was wounded and her partner killed gets some new leads. Will she be back in the line of fire?
An entertaining police procedural with a touch of romance.
Read this after seeing author at Bouchercon in Indianopolis.
An entertaining police procedural with a touch of romance.
Read this after seeing author at Bouchercon in Indianopolis.
January 15, 2008
I enjoy books that have repeat characters and this one returns Kate. A good mystery book that moves fast.
August 5, 2008
It's an okay book but I think it could have been better. It definitely got better when there were less than a 100 pages.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews