Served Cold: BOOK #1 of the REVENGE SERIES

by Terry Tyler

Revenge is a dish best served cold

Two novellas in which vengeance is planned long after emotions have cooled ... these are calculated, deliberate acts of retribution. Justice designed for catastrophic effect.

The Steal

Jodie Tarrant has it all - her own small business, a husband she adores, lots of friends, a house she loves in a cosy English village.
She can see her and Kirk's future all mapped out, with the children she longs for - until the arrival of an enigmatic stranger becomes a threat to everything Jodie holds dear.

Lucky Star

Abduction! Imagine waking up in a strange room, in a strange building, with no recollection of how you got there.
This is what happens to Stevie Warren. Worst of all, she soon discovers that she can't leave. But who put her there, and why? Deep down, she has her suspicions...

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

I am self-published with thirty books on Amazon. Most recently I've published the first two books in my Revenge series, Served Cold and So Shall Ye Reap. More to come!

Other recent releases include Safe Zone, a dystopian/post-apocalyptic thriller. It follows on from the SFV-1 series (Infected, Darkness and Reset), but is completely stand-alone, so can be read as a story within itself.

I love watching and reading anything to do with history, post apocalypse, dystopian scenarios, anthropology, mountaineering and polar exploration. Big Walking Dead fan.

Favourite writers: Gemma Lawrence, Kate Mary, Blake Crouch, Deborah Swift, Carol Hedges, Douglas Kennedy, John Boyne, Deborah Moggach, Judith Arnopp, Jon Krakauer, Phillipa Gregory, John Privilege, Zeb Haradon, Dylan Morgan, Kate Atkinson, Norah Lofts, Dorothy Parker, Bill Bryson, PJ O'Rourke, Ann Swinfen, Keith Blackmore, Frank Tayell.

Reviews

[Georgia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Served Cold is the first book, made up of two novellas, in a new series from Terry Tyler on the subject of revenge. The series is certainly off to a good start with these stories too, and they are very different from each other.

The first story is called The Steal and features Jodie and Alana. Half the novella is from Jodie’s point of view and half from Alana’s. I really liked the build up of this story and was certainly thinking I knew what form the revenge was going to take, until it didn’t. Tyler is as observant as she always is with the social situations and interactions between her characters and I don’t want to give anything away but it is well worth a read.

The second story is a harsher tale about what appears to be a reality show called Lucky Star. Stevie wakes to find she has no idea where she is. And so it begins… The contestants are pitted against each other in a bid to win a big cash prize and luck is all they have on their side. I really did enjoy the twist right at the end of this unusual story. Highly recommended.

[Rosie Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Served Cold contains the first two novellas in a series of revenge themed stories.

The first tale is called The Steal and features two women. Jodie is happy with her life, her husband and where she lives until Alana moves in and sets up her business. Everyone likes Alana and she soon fits in well; so well that Jodie may be in for a surprise.

This is a story in two parts. I liked the way that I settled into the characters and their story and how easy this changed with part two.

The second story, Luck Star, made me think about reality TV and how players might ‘play’ games for the best entertainment. However, this is a very dark tale about revenge. Stevie and the other contestants have been brought to a building to play a game that they know nothing about, or do they?

I was left with quite disturbed feelings after reading both of these stories; creepy, eerie and with a level of uncomfortableness that left me thinking about what I had read long after I have finished reading.

[Sally Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared for a riveting read from first to last page of this two novella release, first in the series on revenge by Terry Tyler.

You would probably have to be a rather forgiving person, to not sometimes fantasise about doling out a little justice to those who may have caused upset in your life, from small infractions to sometimes devastating and lasting traumas.

The author has taken that premise and in these first two stories we need not use our imaginations, as she has created some wonderful and detailed examples of retribution.

There are plenty of twist and turns in the first story particularly, where you are lulled into a sense of righteous indignation on behalf of one of the characters, and then faced with a sudden turn of events which has you doubting your own judgement. As always this author creates compelling characters the reader can relate to, as if you have met them personally. As the steal plays out, you will find yourself becoming more and more involved in the story and the lives of the players.

In the second story Lucky Star… the characters all appear to have something to hide, and as they begin to show their true natures, you pick up on how easily, particularly today with everything on social media, you can’t get away with much. Someone around you has a camera, photos, recordings and greed can turn you into a pawn in a dangerous and intricate challenge. Someone is after justice but who is it and who is their target?

This is a fascinating study into human nature and its many facets…skilfully formated into two stories that will have you considering your own actions on either side of the revenge game. I can highly recommend and very happy to know there are more stories on retribution to come.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an old aphorism that revenge is a dish best served cold, and Terry Tyler cooks up a storm in this delicious double-serving of stories to gratify the appetite of those seeking morsels of moral satisfaction.
 
Take the starter, The Steal. Jodie has it all; well, almost. She’s a successful businesswoman, able to work from home, married to the love of her life who also manages his successful business from their desirable property located in a picturesque English village. Even when Kirk’s business necessitates him taking out commercial premises they’re located just down the road, in the centre of their community; so he’s not exactly having to spend time commuting. The only thing Jodie needs to complete her happiness is children, and she’s working on that, although Kirk needs just a little more convincing.
 
Then a somebody new moves into the village, inserts themselves into the community and sets up shop near Kirk; and suddenly Jodie’s marriage seems somewhat crowded. The story had me from the first page, and by this point I could see what was coming; or I thought I did. A twist, and a turning-on-its-head for the story, which moves to an unexpected but still satisfying conclusion.
 
On to the main course then, Lucky Star. Stevie Warren awakens in a strange room which resembles a prison cell. How she got there is a mystery to her, and the disembodied and synthesised voice which soon begins to issue instructions to her gives no clues, other than the fact that she’s in some sort of Big Brother-style game show. Given that she hasn’t entered for anything of the kind, her circumstances are disturbing to say the least; and the other nine ‘contestants’ who Stevie soon meets have no more idea than she does of what’s going on. Matters begin to become clear to them all, however, as they begin to ‘play’ and the contest moves along its interminable route, with the type of outcomes you won’t see in legitimate TV game shows of this type.
 
The third course consists of the reader’s sweet satisfaction, with the odd bitter undertone. The moral of The Steal is plain to see, even with the twist. Watch how you behave, because you never know who’s watching, when you get something wrong. You think it’s over and done with, in the past, forgotten—but not necessarily forgiven. Lucky Star isn’t quite so simple, because it isn’t only crime in the legal sense for which retribution is being dealt. It’s a darker and more disturbing story, but a page-turner nevertheless.
 
Both tales, however, effectively illustrate the idea that somebody out there may well be waiting to serve you a dish of their own brand of justice, which will certainly not be to your taste.
 
What more can I say? Five stars and a Chef’s kiss.
 

[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several of Terry Tyler’s individual novels and series and have always been impressed by her talent. She is a great storyteller who writes in very different genres and always manages to create gripping plots inhabited by psychologically complex characters. This is most in evidence in her novels and series, where she has the time to develop individuals whose journeys engage the reader to the point of feeling as if they have known them for a long time. But even in her novellas, she still manages to dig deep into the psyche of the characters we only follow for a few chapters. This is true of this book, which features two novellas and is part of her latest series, the Revenge Series. Tyler has announced that this series will consist of 4 volumes, each one containing two novellas that develop a particular aspect of the revenge theme. And, she starts writing about the revenge that is long in the coming, served cold, as the saying goes. So cold, sometimes, that the guilty party has forgotten (or buried quite deep) the incident or events the victims are taking their revenge on. So, just deserts or not, the revenge might come as a far-from-pleasant surprise.
The two novellas are very different. The first one, “The Steal”, comes across as a story we have read or watched many times before, at least to begin with. Jodie, A woman living in a picture-perfect English village, whose life sounds ideal (her business goes well, she lives in a lovely house, has a great husband, has many friends and is fairly happy) with only one little nagging issue; she would like to have a child, but her husband keeps postponing the decision to do so, despite the ticking loud and clear of her biological clock. A new woman arrives in the village, Alana, and Jodie starts to feel jealous, but her friends reassure her that she is only imagining things. Only… Well, you can imagine the rest, but don’t be so fast, because while things seem to follow a well-trodden path, the second part of the story, told from Alana’s perspective, makes readers reconsider everything they thought was true. Sympathies change, and things are not as black and white as they seemed anymore. This story is told in the first-person, from different points of views in each part (and we get to hear from Jodie at the end again), and that means we get to inhabit the heads of both women, which are not always pleasant or comfortable places; and we get to appreciate the degree of desperation, obsession, and determination that guides some of their actions. I can’t say I “liked” either of the two main characters very much, but by the end of the story, I understood their circumstances and actions, to a certain extent.
The second story, “Lucky Star”, narrated in the third-person, appears to be about a reality TV contest —one where the contestants are unwilling participants and have no idea how or why they are there— that turns nasty pretty quickly. Imagine finding yourself in a situation where everything is random, and you have no way of making an informed decision, because there are no trustworthy clues or patterns that can guide your actions. There is no logic or reason behind anything that happens. And still, you have to decide. And your decision has consequences, not only for you and for the rest of the contestants, but also for your loved ones.
It is a disturbing and twisted premise that only gets worse as the story progresses. Readers get a first-row perspective, as they get to share in the experiences of one of the contestants, Stevie Warren (contestant 7), and another character, whose reasons only become clear much later. I won’t go into any further details, to avoid spoilers, but the author manages to make readers feel as if they were inhabiting the skin of the character, and we get to vividly experience some of the rounds she and her fellow contestants have to “play”. The plot gets ever more twisted, and the ending is truly dark (and horrifying).
I have already mentioned the author’s talent for creating great plots and characters, and these two stories are true page-turners, where readers get hooked by the plot and the immediacy of the experiences of the main characters, who feel recognisable and familiar. However, things are not as straightforward as they appear to be at first, and their backstories come back… well, with a vengeance.
I have always loved a good revenge story, but these two novellas made me wonder if perhaps I am no longer so keen on them, as they put me in mind of the rewording of the Bible’s Book of Exodus “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth”, attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind”.
In sum, a great series opening, recommended to fans of revenge stories who thrive on gripping, twisted, and eye-popping stories. And any readers who haven’t read Terry Tyler yet: this is a great chance to start.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never know what to expect when I begin a new Terry Tyler book…only that it’s going to be a cracking read. Served Cold didn’t disappoint. In the first novella, The Steal, Jodie Tarrant seems to have the perfect life. She’s happily married, longing to have a baby and both she and her husband run successful businesses. The only negative is she can’t convince her husband the time is right for starting their family. Then someone new moves into the village and enigmatic Alana is soon part of the village scene and Jodie’s social circle.

'The crazy thing was that I liked her at first. Told myself that any doubts were ‘just me’. But it didn’t matter what I thought, because everyone else adored her anyway.'

The reader might think they know what’s coming, and in part they would probably be right as Jodie’s life spirals out of control as everything she held dear disappears, but there’s always an unexpected twist or two to muddy the waters. The second part of the story is told from Alana’s point of view, which may change opinions as Jodie’s past and the consequences of certain actions are laid bare.

Lucky Star, the second novella, is much darker in tone. Stevie wakes up one morning to an unfamiliar cubicle of a room with no recollection of how she got there.

'Felt like she’d got mashed the night before, though. Had the others come home, had she woken up and gone down to join them? Gone somewhere else? What had she done?'

As the story unfolds it becomes apparent there are several people in the same predicament. None of them know where, or why, they are there, much less how they can get out of the situation in which they find themselves. Lucky Star is such an imaginative (and scary) scenario where fear and emotions rule the choices they make and what they have to do in this terrifying ‘game’ being controlled and played out by someone unseen.

Both these stories are extremely compelling and creative, and kept me guessing about possible outcomes. It’s a real insight into the thought processes, feelings and actions humans could and can be capable of. The characters are rounded and believable, displaying a range of emotions and motivations dependent on their situations. So glad there’s more to come.

[D.G. Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I jumped on this book when I heard it came out. Terry Tyler never disappoints with characters who get under our skin and always has readers keeping turning the pages.

Two novellas in one book, and just desserts Served Cold. Two stories about karma catching up long after those who committed sins may have forgotten.

The book is written in three parts for the first story – The Steal. And what a theft it was. Jodie’s life is swimming along, until the new girl, Alana, comes to town, and turns Jodie’s life in a tailspin. Jodie thought her life was perfect, the only thing missing, was having children, because her husband Kirk could never commit as to when that time would come. Until an old vendetta rears its head and turns her life upside down in Part 1. In Part 2, we’ll learn just who this ‘Alana’ person really is. Is her name really Alana? Nina? Zoe? Even Kate? We’ll learn ALL about Alana and her vengeful plan, and why she’s come to town. In Part 3, Jodie gets a rude awakening when her past comes back to haunt her.

In Lucky Star, ten people appear to have been abducted and have no idea what they must do to get out of the nightmare game. These people all have a certain past and they are all captive to the ‘game’ now with no escape until the very end. But even the end isn’t enough for one contestant, Stevie. The past is never far away.

Once again, Terry’s book is a hard one to put down. Both stories will keep you guessing what’s about what’s going to happen next. The second story is a tad dark, just to mention, but the storyline kept me turning the pages to try and figure out what the diabolical game being played in Lucky Star, was leading up to. Just as it did with the characters in The Steal revealing more of themselves as the story continued.

If you read the author’s note at the end of the book, Terry tells us there will be three more books of two-story novellas to this delicious series, all based on variations of how revenge plays out. I can’t wait for the next book!

[D. Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Tyler’s edge-of-the-seat writing and looked forward to this pair of novellas based on the expression: revenge is a dish best served cold. Revenge is the name of the game in these very different stories, and I read them both throughout one day, unable to stop myself from going back for more.

“The Steal” is the first story. Jodie has everything going for her – a beautiful home in a lovely town, a dream business, and a great husband. The only thing missing in her life is children. Then Alana moves to town, fabulous Alana, and little by little, all those wonderful things about Jodie’s life trickle away. It’s not fair, but what can Jodie do about it? This story has a great twist, and a valuable lesson for those who carelessly destroy other people’s lives.

“Lucky Star” is truly frightening, a revenge tale that edges into the horror genre. This one is a nail-biter. Stevie wakes up in a strange facility, an unwilling contestant on a game show with a small group of other, equally baffled, people. None of them can leave; all of them must participate, and each round just might kill someone. The truth about what’s happening, and why, comes slowly to light, and there’s a breathtaking twist at the end that I thought about for the rest of the day. Yikes!

The writing in both stories is compelling, and they move at a clip. The characters are richly drawn and likeable … until they’re not. If you like suspense, edge-of-your-seat stories, and great twists, this set of novellas is for you. Highly recommended.

[Pete Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In reading these two very different novellas that center around the same theme, I was struck by the lengths that some people will go through to exact their revenge on others. The first story (The Steal) demonstrates how the things that happen to someone as a kid in school can transform their life and produce an anger that fuels them for years, biding their time to exact revenge on someone as an adult. It was cold and calculating, yet we see both of the main characters as people we wouldn't want to make enemies of. The Steal is about taking away something that is most precious to someone who made your life a living hell.

The second novella (Lucky Star) was disturbing. The writing was excellent, but I found the story chilling. Imagine waking up in a strange place, not knowing how you got there, and suddenly you're thrust into a game show with the prospect of winning an enormous sum of money. That might sound intriguing, except when each of the other contestants is eliminated by death. Refusing to play or reacting in anger toward those in charge results in great pain from electric shock and the fear that a family member or close friend will be punished harshly. The game brings out the best and the worst in people as the contestants are manipulated to reveal the things they're most ashamed of.

[Alex Craigie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains the first two ‘revenge’ tales of a series.
The opening story shows us Jodie and Kirk enjoying a perfect life. Well, Jodie is hankering after a child for it to be true perfection, but they are the couple admired by others for their lifestyle and loving relationship. When Alana moves in, Jodie’s unease becomes a very real fear as her happy existence comes under threat.
There are two main narrators: Jodie and Alana, and we see their pasts and their innermost thoughts, and I switched allegiance from one to the other as the author let them tell their story.
The second tale is a tightly-woven plot that involves characters waking up to find themselves part of a sinister game show called Lucky Star. This one is told mainly through Stevie Warren, one of the contestants, but we know that there are Eyes watching them. One of these Eyes is Theodore Masden and he is keenly watching the events. At the end, we discover why. During the increasingly terrifying challenges, the tension builds to its final twist.
Terry Tyler creates memorable and complex characters put in situations where their true colours come to the surface. This book does just that and I was hooked, telling myself I’d read ‘just another chapter’ until I’d devoured the whole book. This isn’t the first book I’ve read by Terry Tyler and I know it won’t be the last.

[Balroop Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the name suggests, ‘Served Cold’ serves you two chilling stories of acerbic revenge. The Steal begins on a pleasant note. Jodie and Kirk appear to be a loving couple, but the arrival of Alana, a woman in her thirties, brings a tsunami into their lives. She buys a cottage in Lichenstone and a shop at a prime position in the village. Soon she becomes a popular part of the community and steals Kirk, Jodie’s husband, her home, and her dreams.

As a reader, you would start hating her, call her a bitch, and root for Jodie until the revelations are made. The suspense and the truth will leave you stunned. There is not a single dull moment in this story. It flows at a breathtaking pace, and the characters are well-crafted. Wow!

‘Lucky Star’ affirms that fear is a bizarre emotion. It can manipulate, it can direct your path, and compel you to do what you would never think of doing. Written in a wildly imaginative style, this story thrives on human emotions and hurls an eerie reminder that you can never escape your past. Sitting on the edge of the chair, I kept on turning pages to know the outcome of the so-called game. So riveting and horrendous! But I’m looking forward to the next edition.

[Jenny Reeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Terry Tyler’s books. She never, ever disappoints. There are two stories in Served Cold. Both completely different in style, but both about revenge and both brilliantly thought through and wonderfully written.

The stories are fascinating and gripping. Each one are page turners and leave you wanting more. What else could I ask for in a good book?

The first story meanders along beautifully at first, then it unravels to capture the reader and everything is opened up into a believable finale. The second story is haunting and frightening. If you think the game show Big Brother is absorbing, just wait until you read this! A kind of dangerous version of Big Brother. And, just when you think it’s all over, you are taken on to the riveting end.

Goodness me, I have no idea how a good author thinks up the style and depth of a story. How they create such original and imaginative narrative is simply amazing.

Thank you, yet again Terry for a wonderful book to capture my imagination. Brilliant!

[Tony Riches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Served Cold is a masterclass in short story telling. Terry Tyler shows how to use a short story to craft a deeply human exploration of the complex emotions that come with revenge.

Brilliantly structured, clever, and authentic, the stories of Served Cold would make great TV dramas – or a series.

In the meantime I’m adding Terry Tyler to my list of favourite authors. Highly recommended if you like character-driven fiction - and stories where payback is anything but simple.

[Debbie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chillingly good! I always enjoy Terry's books and these two novellas based on revenge were unputdownable.

[Siesta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not enough….Rating is an average over the two novellas. First one was generic, slow, no real payoff. Second one was much better but even so, could have ramped up the tension and horror more.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

The author and their book deserve five stars. This book came from a very image five mind. Every story was better then the last.

[G. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling and addictive!

A great set of novellas, a dark, scary little treat which will make you question the limits of human nature