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Rook Radcliffe #1
Out Cold
Rook Radcliffe can’t burn her past, but she can bury it.
Until the last guy she kissed turns up beaten and unconscious. Now she’s caught in the storm that follows.
Theo Locke is grieving. Stuck. And when Rook becomes the center of suspicion, he refuses to look away.
She knows better than to trust him, but he’s not going anywhere.
In a school run by half-truths and Varsity royalty, Out Cold is a sharp, emotional mystery about strength, trust, and what it takes to let someone get close.
Out Cold is the first book in a slow-building mystery series where emotional stakes deepen before answers arrive. The second book, Hard Fall, launches Fall 2026.
Until the last guy she kissed turns up beaten and unconscious. Now she’s caught in the storm that follows.
Theo Locke is grieving. Stuck. And when Rook becomes the center of suspicion, he refuses to look away.
She knows better than to trust him, but he’s not going anywhere.
In a school run by half-truths and Varsity royalty, Out Cold is a sharp, emotional mystery about strength, trust, and what it takes to let someone get close.
Out Cold is the first book in a slow-building mystery series where emotional stakes deepen before answers arrive. The second book, Hard Fall, launches Fall 2026.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
E.J. Ridley
1 book2 followersE.J. Ridley writes emotionally charged mysteries for readers who want the wait. Readers who long for slow burns that are truly slow. Who know that love can’t land before characters are safe—and safe takes time.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 29, 2026
Many thanks to BookSirens and the author for the advance reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. Below are my thoughts after reading.
If you like messy characters, guilt-ridden inner dialogue, and mystery, this one is for you.
Rook Radcliffe is a mystery. When she arrives in the small town of Lakeview, she’s determined to keep her past buried.
Things spiral when Rook becomes a suspect in a crime involving one of Lakeview High’s most popular students.
Theo Locke is grieving the loss of his best friend, carrying a guilt that won’t let him go. He meets Rook who is guarded, strange, impossible to ignore…and the perfect distraction.
Can Rook and Theo uncover the truth and escape the constant thoughts in their mind, or is this just the beginning of their unraveling?
Reasons I enjoyed the book and think it would appeal to reluctant readers:
-Who doesn’t love a good series, a good opportunity to obsess over an upcoming release. In a world of instant gratification, the wait feels intoxicating.
-Rook is a character I haven’t quite seen before. I’m excited to learn more about her.
-Theo also feels new and unique. Without giving too much away, I especially loved the small, intimate details about his home. It made me feel like I really knew him.
-Lots of messy HS drama. There’s mild language and some references to hook up culture. It feels dramatic enough without being totally inappropriate for the intended reader. (As a parent/educator, I’d personally allow this one for a high school reader. I’d be more reluctant to allow middle schoolers to read. From my interpretation, as Rook’s past unravels, it might be too mature for middle-aged readers.)
There are a lot of characters and details to keep up with, which might be challenging for students reading below grade level.
Overall, as a HS student, I would have LOVED this book.
Props to E.J. Ridley. She perfectly illustrates a scene, creates dimensional characters, and writes genuine dialogue.
If you like messy characters, guilt-ridden inner dialogue, and mystery, this one is for you.
Rook Radcliffe is a mystery. When she arrives in the small town of Lakeview, she’s determined to keep her past buried.
Things spiral when Rook becomes a suspect in a crime involving one of Lakeview High’s most popular students.
Theo Locke is grieving the loss of his best friend, carrying a guilt that won’t let him go. He meets Rook who is guarded, strange, impossible to ignore…and the perfect distraction.
Can Rook and Theo uncover the truth and escape the constant thoughts in their mind, or is this just the beginning of their unraveling?
Reasons I enjoyed the book and think it would appeal to reluctant readers:
-Who doesn’t love a good series, a good opportunity to obsess over an upcoming release. In a world of instant gratification, the wait feels intoxicating.
-Rook is a character I haven’t quite seen before. I’m excited to learn more about her.
-Theo also feels new and unique. Without giving too much away, I especially loved the small, intimate details about his home. It made me feel like I really knew him.
-Lots of messy HS drama. There’s mild language and some references to hook up culture. It feels dramatic enough without being totally inappropriate for the intended reader. (As a parent/educator, I’d personally allow this one for a high school reader. I’d be more reluctant to allow middle schoolers to read. From my interpretation, as Rook’s past unravels, it might be too mature for middle-aged readers.)
There are a lot of characters and details to keep up with, which might be challenging for students reading below grade level.
Overall, as a HS student, I would have LOVED this book.
Props to E.J. Ridley. She perfectly illustrates a scene, creates dimensional characters, and writes genuine dialogue.
March 19, 2026
I loved getting to meet and know Rook and Theo in this character driven novel. This slow burn teen mystery is for those who love to get to know their main characters on a deep level and are willing to invest time in the world the author is building. Rook is a complicated character who has many layers the are slowly revealed over the course of the story. Theo is a lovable character who restored my faith in good people in mystery novels.
Review of advance copy
🤬 - somewhat frequent
😘 - there is a hookup but is is short and described by someone watching (you'll get it when you read the book) so its not horrible
14+
Thank you to Book Sirens for the ARC! This review is my own facts and opinions.
This book had all I wanted from a mystery. I am very intrigued to know that it is the first of 8 books. It kept me reading and guessing.
However, I didn't really see a lot of clues leading up to who the criminal was supposed to be, that might have been me (user error). When there are clues leading up and you almost feel like you can solve the mystery, it makes it so much better. Not seeing that kind of took me out of the mystery. Once again, might have just been me.
The characters did feel very real, so props for that. I liked the character of Rook. She had a lot of mystery to her and it made me want to find out more about her. Looking forward to the next book where I can learn more about her (I assume). I feel like we learned a lot about the characters, enough so they felt realistic and exciting, but you want to learn more. I REALLY want to learn more about Rook's grandpa (what's the thing about book grandpas?). Her lawyer was also pretty funny. The mystery felt realistic and the ending made sense, but like I said, there weren't a lot of clues.
😘 - there is a hookup but is is short and described by someone watching (you'll get it when you read the book) so its not horrible
14+
Thank you to Book Sirens for the ARC! This review is my own facts and opinions.
This book had all I wanted from a mystery. I am very intrigued to know that it is the first of 8 books. It kept me reading and guessing.
However, I didn't really see a lot of clues leading up to who the criminal was supposed to be, that might have been me (user error). When there are clues leading up and you almost feel like you can solve the mystery, it makes it so much better. Not seeing that kind of took me out of the mystery. Once again, might have just been me.
The characters did feel very real, so props for that. I liked the character of Rook. She had a lot of mystery to her and it made me want to find out more about her. Looking forward to the next book where I can learn more about her (I assume). I feel like we learned a lot about the characters, enough so they felt realistic and exciting, but you want to learn more. I REALLY want to learn more about Rook's grandpa (what's the thing about book grandpas?). Her lawyer was also pretty funny. The mystery felt realistic and the ending made sense, but like I said, there weren't a lot of clues.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Out Cold is a young adult fiction that follows Rook Radcliffe after she moves from NYC to live with her grandfather in a small town. Through her eyes, we see her struggle to leave her past behind, and assimilate into a new reality. Weight lifting is her passion and emotional relief valve.
The heart of the book is her relationship with another high school student, Theo. Coming to grips with her attraction to him, while maneuvering through her interactions with others and dealing with the intricacies and personalities of high school is the heart of the story. Throw in attempted murder and hormonal shenanigans for a great read!
The writing is simple but powerful, mixing teenage humor with serious themes about empathy and moral justice. It’s message about understanding others and standing up for justice makes it worth the read.
The heart of the book is her relationship with another high school student, Theo. Coming to grips with her attraction to him, while maneuvering through her interactions with others and dealing with the intricacies and personalities of high school is the heart of the story. Throw in attempted murder and hormonal shenanigans for a great read!
The writing is simple but powerful, mixing teenage humor with serious themes about empathy and moral justice. It’s message about understanding others and standing up for justice makes it worth the read.
April 3, 2026
This moody high school mystery, the first in a promising new series, gives big Veronica Mars vibes while introducing two characters who are gripping in their own right. Rook is a champion weightlifter forced to go into hiding and give up her passion. As she gets caught up in the brutal blame games and stratifications of high school, the person most dangerous to her turns out to be the one most determined to help her: Theo, the perceptive, kind boy who sees beyond her walls. As suspects, viral moments, and accusations build, Rook’s defenses are pushed to the breaking point. At the end, it’s one crime solved, but Rook has plenty of mystery left for readers to uncover as the series continues.
May 4, 2026
This was a great read. Fun. Relatable. Warm. Captivating. Really connected with many of the characters, some from my own youth and others as I watch my teen son grow. I had a hard time putting it down when I had real life things to do. Keep calm and keep reading! Ha. The end was rewarding with both the mystery itself and where the each of the characters landed on the last page. Book one must mean theres there’s more to come, and I am here for it!
April 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really enjoyed this book. I felt as though I was in Rook’s shoes and was trying to solve the mystery myself. The slow reveal of new clues was great, as were the twists!
I will definitely read the rest of the series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I will definitely read the rest of the series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 2, 2026
What I thought would be a quick vacation read turned out to be an engrossing mystery with compelling characters and a plot that kept me guessing up to the reveal. The characters, even the ones who aren’t featured, are three dimensional and memorable. Thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews