The Body Box

Cold Case Thriller #1

by Lynn Abercrombie

Terror

He calls it the Body Box. It's a space too small for his victims to sit up or lie down. But it's the perfect place to keep them for his games—the perfect place to watch them while they die.

Can't Be

Bad choices and big mistakes have landed Detective Mechelle Deakes on the Atlanta Police Department's lowest rung, the Cold Case Unit. Sifting through forensic evidence and unsolved murder files is a thankless job she shares with her new partner, Lieutenant Hank Gooch, a man of few words and even fewer for African-American female cops like Mechelle. His single obsession is finding a serial killer who preys on the most innocent of victims, a man he thinks is responsible for many of the most gruesome unsolved cases in their files. And one chilling look convinces Mechelle that Hank's right.

Contained

It's a case that has been cold for a reason. Someone wants it to stay closed. And two cops will risk everything—their jobs, their reputations, even their lives—to uncover the truth, no matter where it takes them.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Adult, Crime

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Also writes under the pseudonyms Ruth Birmingham and legal name Walter Sorrells.

Reviews

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very, very good book! It keeps you on the edge of your seat. It had a good bit of humor too. I actually found myself laughing out loud in some spots which you usually don't get with this type of book. But it also was very suspensful & the characters were believeable. A MUST READ book!

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: two Atlanta cops try to catch a cold-case serial killer although no one else seems to care too much.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! what a heart stopper! This book kept me guessing who the kidnapper was from the first page up until the final revealing! Not only is this book interesting it is also everything you could want from a mystery/horror novel! Awesome! The way the author developed each character was brilliant and unique. It was laugh out loud funny at some parts and extremely gruesome at others, a perfect balance of back-story and action! Can't wait to read the rest of the series!!!

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Body Box is the first book I have read from this author. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I found it a tad silly in parts. I also did not connect with the characters. If you like humor in your suspense books, do not let my review discourage you. I think it is just my style. 3 stars

[Maxine Hawkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writer does such a disservice to the POC community. The story itself is captivating but I don’t think white authors should be writing books about and narrated by a black character.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay. It certainly keeps you guessing, but it’s hard to have much respect for Mechelle. She’s pretty much a giant screw-up, and not in a particularly endearing way. And since you only ever see Gooch in a way that’s colored by her view, you never really feel much for him. About the best thing I can say about it is that it contains an accurate portrayal of rural/poor Southern speech patterns.

[Samhazy]

Was shocked to find this was written by a white man. I know that writers are supposed to be able to put themselves into another person's life but I feel this writer went a little far in certain respects in describing a black woman's life and experience. I enjoyed it but finding out that was more than a little off-putting.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book it had my attention from the beginning, it kept me guessing the whole time. Everytime I would have a uh-huh moment thinking I knew who the kidnapper was (like I do in most books I read). I ended up being wrong So needless to say I was totally shocked when the kidnapper/killer was revealed.

[Damon Mcmurdo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good start to this book as it begins with mayhem and gun fire. Not too far into it but it did start well. Book was pretty good and had some places that were kind of deceptive so I did not have it solved right away.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly liked this book, was a twist at the end that I did not see coming. Disappointed they make the main male character so closed and uncommunicative, when in the sequel he is very articulate and caring. I prefer him that way. Otherwise a really good book.

[Jody]

good book, new author I'll probably read her again.

[Jetreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery -- Set in Atlanta, a serial killer is exposed due to the efforts of
a detective working on a cold case.

[Vanillahugz]

Will read more of this author. Kept me guessing to the end

[Brey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its horrible what people find exciting.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY good

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good but at times very slow

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the story and the way it developed but I really disliked the majority of the characters. I'm not sure that a white man can honestly write a book with a black woman as the main character and do her justice. I feel like her character feel flat. the white male characters were more relatable and believable.