Cold Kill

DC Laura McGanity #5

by Neil White

‘Intelligent plotting, superb characterisation and impressive forensic detail.’ Lancashire Evening Post

‘A serious contender to match the giants of the crime fiction world.’ Crimesquad.com on Fallen Idols

‘Certain to have you hooked from start to finish.’
Closer on Dead Silent

‘One to watch’
Bookseller

Cold Kill was No. 1 in the UK Kindle Chart.

When Jane Roberts is found dead in a woodland area, Detective Sergeant Laura McGanity is first on the scene. The body bears a chilling similarity to a woman murdered three weeks earlier. Both have been stripped, strangled and defiled.

When reporter jack Garrett starts digging for dirt on the notorious Whitcroft estate, he finds himself face-to-face with Jane’s father and local gangland boss Don who won’t stop hunting his daughter’s killer until justice is done. It seems that the two murdered women were linked in more ways than one and a dirty secret is about to surface that some would prefer stay buried.

As the killer circles once more, Jack and Laura must stop him before he strikes again. But his sights are set on his next victim and he’s watching Laura’s every move...

A taut and terrifying novel from one of the rising stars of British crime fiction.

Learn more about Neil White at his websites:
USA: www.neilwhite.info
UK: www.neilwhite.net

Follow Neil on Twitter: @neilwhiteinusa or @neilwhite1965

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Neil White (b. 1965) is a British freelance criminal lawyer and a full-time crime writer.


Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Helen Stead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story with a tense ending.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read from NW. It was tricky at times to know who to root for as even the bad guys had every reason to get their hands on the killer. Conversely, one of the good guys is a journalist and their reputation made it hard to pull for him. I didn't really believe such a small town hack would be that brave.
Laura's boss was a bit of a stereotype and her partner, Joe remained a bit of a mystery to me as he was so cerebral. I wondered if he had been a character from another book I had yet to read.
A very minor point were the characters Joe and Jack with the same initial, I found I was mixing them up more than once.

[Adeeba Afreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold thriller, midddd

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by Neil White and I very much enjoyed it. Two young women have been found both have been discovered naked,strangled and horribly defiled. There are no clues to be found about the killers identity either on the bodies or nearby. What can link the two girls? D. S. Laura McGanity is determined to find out as is her partner, reporter Jack Garret. It appears that the killer knows their movements and is one step ahead.
It’s a fast paced thriller with plenty of twists along the way to keep you engrossed. It had some very frightening moments. I’ll definitely read more by this author.

[Abhijeet Dutta · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Fallen Idols” and “Lost Souls”, the first and second novels of the “Jack Garrett and Laura McGnaity” series I found very OVERWHELMING that I still strongly desire them into a cinematic adaptation.

This is was good physiological thriller novel. It has heart pounding and spine tingling story: keeps the reader engaged till the end. I liked it but not as highly as mentioned previous two in this series.

[Vicki - I Love Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book by Neil white. really enjoyed it. now onto his next one.

[Jenny Macdonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely written and good read. Exciting with a few twists along the way.

[Lisa Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth and last novel by Neil White in the DC Laura Mcganity series. He definitely saved the best till last.

Although this book followed the same pattern as the previous books this was more of a page Turner from start to finish.

Two brutal murders of young women have taken place, and it becomes clear that a potential serial killer is on the loose. As the investigation takes place the police wonder if there is there a connection between the two women, one the daughter of a police officer, the other of the local "crime lord".

The book is Well written and graphic and fast paced which makes the novel is a "page turner". 

White certainly used his legal background well in this book and I'm sure he used the research of the murderer Dennis Rader as research. It's even referenced in the book as the BTK killer. The abbreviation "BTK" stands for “Bind, Torture, Kill,” a moniker Rader had given himself years earlier indicating what he had done to his victims. He even sent letters to the police which the murderer does in this story too.

Fast paced, page Turner and gripping till the last page.

[Klaudia Nogajczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nie będę zaprzeczać, że najbardziej do twórczości Neila White'a przekonał mnie opis "Literacki kryminał oparty na prawdziwej historii seryjnego mordercy", ale "Zagłuszyć krzyk" to coś więcej niż porównanie do Dennisa Radera. Kryminał ukazuje historie ludzi pochodzących, z wielu wymijających się pozornie światów: policyjnego z dziennikarskim, biednych z bogatymi, aż wreszcie policyjnego z przestępczym. Dziennikarz Jack - wolny strzelec na dziennikarskim rynku, spotyka się z Laurą - piękną, inteligentną i nad wyraz skuteczną "ozdobą" policji. Mick składał niegdyś przysięgę służyć ludzkości, broniąc jej przed bandytami pokroju Dona. Morderca, który zabija młode, atrakcyjne kobiety. Pech chciał, że trafiło na córki: praworządnego Micka i mającego w garści cały "przestępczy światek" Dona. Co wspólnego z zabójstwami, ma sprawa sprzed wielu lat? Kto będzie następny? Kto zabija? Polecam serdecznie, bo kryminał ten wart jest uwagi.

[Hazel McHaffie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author can certainly write ... so well in fact that he challenged me at a very fundamental level. Cold Kill begins with a murder of a young woman seen through the eyes of the killer. He's wearing heavy boots, has handcuffs at his waist, a police crest on his chest, the familiar black and white ribbon on his head. Instantly I'm reminded of Sarah Everard. And I'm sick to my stomach. Can it be right to read about the stuff of real families nightmares for entertainment? And the whole book challenged me with so many moral dilemmas. It's brilliantly conceived, chillingly believable, scarily haunting. And I'm still conflicted about reading it!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series and the moral juxtaposition of Laura being police and Jack being a reporter. Usually, in these police procedurals, we are meant to hate the reporters who reveal secrets and make drama for the hardworking police, but this series gives a different take on that relationship.

I loved the second half of this book, and it probably would have been a good 4 star rating from me, but I found the first half a bit slow paced. Not necessarily Laura's plot but Jack's. It wasn't obvious why the estate story was important and it wasn't overly interesting at the early stage, for me.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The pace felt good the story moved along at a good pace. I liked the added shocks of finding out who Shane was and his connections to Emma, Ida, Don Roberts and Mike Corley. I felt it gave the story a nice rounded feel. I would have liked to have known whose son he was but that wasn’t really relevant to the wrapping up of the plot. I have a few other by him to read so I look forward to seeing how they compare

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I put this book down halfway through and didn’t pick it up again until weeks later because it didn’t grip me enough to hold interest. However, once I picked it back up I found that things started to get a bit more interesting. Overall the final portion of the book was good and I did enjoy the backstory involving the killer.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bog standard crime thriller. Enjoyed it and the characters were ok but it didn’t grip me the way others have - John Connelly had kinda spoiled me a bit I think. I’d read other books by Neil White if I saw them second hand or cheap on Kindle but I’m not desperate to seek them out.

[_och_man_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Powinno mi się podobać, a wcale tak nie jest. Może to kwestia tłumaczenia, ale 70% tekstu (z czego 3/4 to dialogi) było niemiłosiernie drętwe. Gotowe rozwiązanie historii, podane dobre 150 stron przed końcem, odbierało większość przyjemności z lektury.

[Amelia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly one of THE most gripping thriller/crime story I’ve ever read. Each page made me want to read further on, and due to this, I read the book within days…the ending was perfect. Couldn’t fault anything about this book. 10/10

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

[Derek Hayward · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read

A good yarn. Went along at a decent pace. Would like to see more development of the characters. Will read another of the same series.

[Kavita Favelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great thriller, perfect for reading on bus, train or plane - a great distraction from the monotonies of travel! Really interesting story, and interplay between the characters. A great read.

[Kifflington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty hackneyed stuff and full of very thinly drawn characters.

[Dave]

Dave Read

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read, I’m not sure if it’s part of a series or not so there might have been a bit of back story to the main characters which would have made it even better but it was enjoyable.

[Adele Wharton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great thriller with some nice twists. Well worth a read.

[Stacey Gillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Found it hard to put down.

[Małgorzata Karpeta-Olech · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pomysl na zbrodnię fajny, rozwinięcie może trochę pobieżne ale ok. Najsłabszym punktem są pozytywni bohaterowie. Są tak dobrzy i stereotypowi zarazem, że aż mdli...

[Elusive · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 'Cold Kill', someone is targeting attractive young women and brutally torturing them to death. When Jane Roberts - the daughter of a notorious man in the neighbourhood - winds up as the latest victim, DC Laura and her reporter partner Jack work together to figure out the identity of the perpetrator. Along the way they discover a possible connection between Jane and Deborah who had been murdered weeks earlier. Will Jack and the police be able to stop this ruthless killer before the body count piles up?

The story was told using third-person narrative featuring different characters' respective perspectives - namely Jack, Laura and the criminal. As usual, I enjoyed Jack's point of view the most because he seemed to be doing a hell of a lot more legwork and investigation than the police. I still find it hilarious that he always puts the pieces of the puzzle together way faster than the cops. Anyhow, Jack ventured into an incredibly dangerous territory this time - more risky than before considering the threats and warnings issued by Jane's father, Don. It was great that he stuck to his principles.

The crime and mystery aspects were very well done indeed. The case was complex with the truth and answers buried underneath many layers comprising the past and present. In the beginning, the murders appeared to be committed by someone perverted, sick and in need of help but they turned out to be more than that. The killer's motive was well-thought-out. As much as I didn't condone what he'd done to those poor women, I could understand his desire for revenge though he really should have just gone straight to the source of his anger.

There were a couple of red herrings and plot twists which were perfectly incorporated into the story. Even when I thought I had figured out how the criminal knew about the latest developments, I was in for a surprise. There were no loose ends; everything was tied up perfectly. That was satisfying. The pivotal scene nestled within the last few chapters was aptly jam-packed with tension. Jack displayed so much bravery and determination that without a doubt made him the star of this book.

Overall, 'Cold Kill' delivered a suspenseful mystery that kept me turning the pages. It was morbid and realistic but at the same time it also highlighted elements such as love, morals and strength. The sweet ending was fitting too.

[ReadandRated · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb: Every breath you take, he’ll be watching you…

When Jane Roberts is found dead in a woodland area Detective Sergeant Laura McGanity is first on the scene. The body bears a chilling similarity to a woman – Deborah Corley –murdered three weeks earlier. Both have been stripped,strangled and defiled.

When reporter Jack Garrett starts digging for dirt on the notorious Whitcroft estate, he finds himself face-to-face with Jane’s father and gangland boss Don who will stop at nothing until justice is done. It seems that the two murdered women were linked in more ways than one and a dirty secret is about to surface that some would prefer stay buried.

As the killer circles once more, Jack and Laura must get to him before he strikes again. But his sights are set on his next victim and he’s watching Laura’s every move…

I enjoyed this book, it had engaging characters and a horrible storyline!

I really liked the dynamics between DS McGanity and her reporter boyfriend. That is until I read the blurb for the next book and realised that yet again it is she who solves the case after he somehow receives exclusive clues. That means it will be the exact same book but with slightly different suspects. Hmmm.

And yes, I know that there are other series out there which I love and therefore it’s the same DS who continually solves the crimes, but, I think it’s the fact that it’s a cop/reporter relationship and the reporter ALWAYS happens across very vital information and is brave enough to dive in headfirst to solve things.

I loved that about this book (hey, no one said I wasn’t a contrary Mary) but I just don’t know if it would be insulting for it to keep happening? Maybe I just need to read another one and find out.

Anyway, this book, well woven story with lots of little bits and pieces that kept you guessing. If you like crime thrillers then you’ll like it. Simples.

[Kulpreet Yadav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever. Cold Kill is a real page turner – brilliantly plotted, believable characters straight out of normal life and a tight narrative. This was the first crime fiction by Neil White I've read and I am already thinking of more. A couple of my writer friends turned me towards this and I must say that I relished every bit of it.

The story is set in Blackley, a small county in Northern England where, three weeks apart, two young beautiful girls end up dead. They have been sexually violated in most heinous of ways. Jack, a freelance reporter, is commissioned by a local daily to cover the story. Moved by the extremeness of the killings and seeking out a connection between the two dead women, he wakes up to an invisible smokescreen he was earlier oblivious of. The police investigations go in circles and his girlfriend, Detective constable Laura, who is in the investigation squad, doesn't share the details of the progress. As his desperation to do a good story makes him to uncover more layers and travel extra miles, he becomes a conduit for the killer to communicate with the police. The killer is smart and to send his e mails to Mike he uses proxy servers they can’t locate. The dangling loose ends multiply as another woman ends up dead. With it the police realize that for once they would have to work with Mike. Together they churn the dirty waters of people’s past and soon enough skeletons come tumbling out.

I loved the persuasiveness of the narrative. This is a book you can’t put down. Just one thing that I found odd. Almost every character – most of all Laura –blushed a lot. In every situation. Someone should count the number of times the word has been used by Neil. I bet it would be over 100.

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Without wanting to be harsh on something which had few faults (and wishing to note that this would be a 3.5 if half stars were possible), most of what I have to say about this would be adjectives about it being solid and grounded and well-structured and workmanlike. I was interested to see another reviewer mention that they were left feeling they might've read too many novels of this ilk, as I felt a little like that too.

This police procedural (heavy on the 'procedure', which meant it took a while to get going) was set in the north of England, and had a cast of characters who felt real and not excessively 'soap opera' in nature. I'd draw comparisons with Peter Robinson in that manner, though the crimes were a little more gory and nasty than the average 'cosy' thriller. I believed the characters (not too much superhuman ability) and the storyline - women being killed and left with their mouths and vaginas stuffed with earth - was actually quite clever and generally I felt it was possible as opposed to fantastic.

Though the writing and the style didn't elevate it to the top of my 'must read more' lists (it took a long time for me to feel involved in the story) it also wasn't full of the faults that some of the books I have read recently - SJ Bolton and Tim Weaver for instance - have had. I'll keep an eye out for others in the series.

Oh, and PS - it's so refreshing to have a woman detective who isn't constantly worrying what her male colleagues think of her and fighting crushes on every man she works with!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

I normally don't read crime fiction, although I do love crime shows on t.v. I did try to read P D JAMES but just couldn't get into her books. It was with some trepidation that I started this book. I was to get really quickly into the story. The book opens with a murder from the killers point of view and then switches across to the other two main characters - a detective and her partner, a journalist. These three concurrent story lines really help, and play a major part in providing the detailed setting that many people can relate to - a working class town where industry has gone, and youth crime is on the rise.

Throughout the story you start to get a few ideas on who the killer is but it twists and turns and as you expect it turns out not to be who you think it is. There is a lot of things going on around the story which are not directly part of the main storyline but really help to make the setting more real and this is the strength of the story - these people are real you can believe that they exist, you are drawn into their world and start to empathise with some and be revolted by others.