Cold River

Detective Constable Sally White #2

by Margaret Hickey

Deep in the mountains, secrets grow deadly . . .

Detective Constable Sally White knows how easily hikers can go missing in Victoria’s high country. But there’s something about the disappearance of Louis Taylor, a young man lost up Mount Viking, that’s not sitting right with her.

Louis was an aspiring journalist, researching the illegal tobacco trade – also known as chop chop – that was once so prevalent in the area. And the last person he interviewed before his hike has just met a gruesome end . . .

But with no other leads, and with the search winding down, Sally is forced to accept the young man died in a tragic accident.

Until she learns of another missing person case that bears striking similarities. Astrid Marlowe, a young lawyer, vanished in the same mountains two years before.

Were Louis and Astrid simply unlucky hikers lost in the treacherous terrain? Or did they both stumble into something – or someone – they shouldn’t?

Genres: Mystery, Crime

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2026

About the author

Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of six crime novels - Cutters End, Stone Town, Broken Bay, The Creeper, An Ill Wind and Cold River - and a collection of short stories, Rural Dreams. Cutters End was awarded the BAD Crime Sydney Festival’s Danger Prize, and was also shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for First Fiction. Margaret won the Ned Kelly Award for Best Fiction in 2025 for The Creeper.

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of rural crime writer Margaret Hickey, who seriously deserves more recognition in my opinion. When I heard that Cold River was to be the second book with Detective Constable Sally White I was thrilled. The first book, The Creeper was amazing,and guess what… so is Cold River.

This author is absolutely brilliant at giving readers such an insight to the setting of her books. We are in the Victorian High County, with its dense bushland, dangerous wilderness and rivers, you feel as if you are there working the case with Sally. The area is a popular destination for hikers with spectacular views, but the weather conditions are not always kind. Torrential rain and heavy snow make these mountains a dangerous place for tourists and even the most skilled climbers can find themselves in trouble.

Sally has just returned back to Edenville after a well deserved vacation after the events of The Creeper. The hunt is on for a missing young many, Louis Taylor, who has gone missing on Mount Viking. Something about his disappearance doesn’t sit right either Sally, and after the official search is called off, she continues to investigate. She finds that he was an inspiring journalist and was working on stories about the illegal tobacco trade that has been rife in the area. Was he just unlucky on the mountain or did something more sinister happens to him?

Sally is a complex character, with a family that has her conflicted with her job. She is still seen as an outsider in town having only been there a short time. She is well liked, but does make some silly decisions that find her in trouble. I love how tenacious she is and willing to do anything to expose the villains, no matter who they are.

Thank you so much to Penguin Books Australia for sending me an early copy of Cold River, I absolutely devoured it. Out on July 28th so you have time to read The Creeper first if you haven’t already done so.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back in the high country of Victoria with Senior Constable Sally White and this time a hiker has gone missing on Mount Viking this is a great way to return to work after her holiday but we all know Sally throws herself into work but things aren’t adding up for her.

The hiker Louis Taylor a budding journalist has been researching the chop, chop, illegal tobacco industry up in the high country and now the criminal that he interviewed has met a gruesome end and Sally is very worried about Louis not just being lost.

The search is winding down but Sally will not let it go especially when she learns about another missing hiker a few years ago and what she uncovers puts her in grave danger as well, Sally has a great mind for policing but she often jumps in feet first and against advice from numerous colleagues as well as her step father, the assistant commissioner of police, Sally takes off to find the answers and hopefully Louis as well but will she get out alive herself?

I loved this one from start to finish and have no problems highly recommending it, there were times that I could have yelled at Sally but what she finds will make her actions worth it I think and I do want more from Sally White and am hoping there will be more books.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 Stars🌟
Cold River by Margaret Hickey is an energetic and gripping regional crime thriller that’s atmospheric and chilling and I loved it. I am becoming quite a fan of Margaret Hickey’s books.

The setting is Victoria’s high country and the treacherous terrain of Mount Viking where people disappear. Senior Constable Sally White is investigating the disappearance of a young journalist who was hiking alone up Mount Viking. Sally won’t accept he died in an unfortunate accident especially when she learns he was investigating the illegal tobacco trade know as ‘chop chop’ in the area.

The book contains interesting characters and the community dynamics are characterised by the elements of historical legacy and town loyalties. The chapters are short and the pace flows quickly, a gripping thriller.

There’s a bittersweet finale and you may of noticed Constable Sally White was introduced in The Creeper published in 2024, Cold River is the second book she is featured in.

Publication Date 28 July 2026
Publisher Penguin Books

Thank you so much to the lovely team at Penguin Books Australia for a copy of the book.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The Victorian high country with its jagged rock ledges, dense bush and historical shacks dotted about form the atmospheric and eerie setting for illegal activity and murder.
A place where you could get lost or hide from the law.
Louis finds himself trapped and a jump into a freezing dangerous river the only solution for freedom.
Badly injured and starving he survives the jump and stumbles upon a shack that has a few supplies.
Researching the illegal activity of growing and processing chop chop.
Detective Constable Sally White knows that hikers do go missing in the sometimes treacherous conditions but her suspicion of foul play is fuelled by other factors.
As she gathers the clues she flirts with danger and betrayal.
Tension, desperation and fear cohesively match determination and grit force in a case of good and evil.
Short chapters and succinct dialogue kept this fast paced suspense thriller entertaining and had the brain guessing outcomes.
An author who isn’t afraid to push boundaries and present realistic scenarios.

[Tracey Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Constable Sally White is back for another gripping thriller set in the High Country.

This book had me gasping and feeling all of the emotions. If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller, you’ll enjoy this one.

This is a review of an advanced copy. The book will be released on July 28. Thanks Penguin!

[bookswithpaulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flew through this book, loved the setting so good.. full review to come

[what.karli.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

𝙼𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙹𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝!

𝚁𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚒𝚛 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚅𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 - 𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜!

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 (𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔) 𝚍𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚝-𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚍, 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 - 𝚂𝙾 𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳 !

𝚆𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚋𝚞𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔!

𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭.

[Emma Moon]

Cold River is the second Margaret Hickey book I've read, both have been great reads, I definitely need to add more of her books to my to be read pile!
Featuring Dectective Constable Sally White, I believe this is the second book she's been the lead character in, and if the ending anything to go by it won't be the last book we see her in.
When a hiker goes missing in the Victorian High country, Sally has a gut feeling that's there's more to his disappearance than meets the eye, looking into the case further she's drawn to the illegal tobacco trade, and chop chop, once prolific in her patch of the world.
A vast array of characters kept the book interesting and you guessing who was involved and how.
Drawing on a current issue and delving into it gives the story a 'real world issue' feel, making it more relatable.
A great read that had me keen to find out the ending and exactly who was involved and what they were up to!
Thank you Good reading and Penguin Books for the copy to read and review

[Jodie Gerakelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! I really enjoyed this book and finished in two days. I have seen this author’s books before but yet to read one until this book, Cold River, and now I am asking myself why? What has taken me so long to read this author.
Sally who is working in a rural police station is investigating the disappearance of Louis who has vanished while hiking the trails. This kicks off an investigation into not one, but two disappearances. I had to keep reading to find out who survives and who does not and could just not put it down. The people who live in the town and the production of ‘chop-chop’ was an interesting take, as this is current events in Victoria including the Freire-bombings. The residents were an interesting bunch who seemed to do whatever they wanted to and the top brass would turn a blind eye, with some being related. I did not like the character who was the step-father of Sally, he was just too slimey, even more so than her biological father, at least he did not hide who he was. Imagine if that is happening now, with someone quite high up in the police force controlling the strings, working with criminals for personal gain.
The unrequited love between Sally and Disco surely will have to progress in another novel somewhere! Can’t leave us hanging like this!
The story tied up nicely at the end and would love to see the next in the series to see any repercussions that may happen. A big five star read from me.

[Sue Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Review to follow

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Vibe check: Atmospheric, Rural Crime, Mountain Mystery

full review ⬇️

At this point, Margaret Hickey has well and truly cemented herself in my mind as the queen of Australian rural crime.

One of the things I love most about her books is that the setting is never just a backdrop, it's a character in its own right. From isolated mountain towns to underwater caves to wind farms and now the world of illegal tobacco crops, every location feels so vividly Australian and adds another layer of tension to the story.

Detective Constable Sally White is back after her standout role in The Creeper and I was so happy to be back alongside her. She's exactly the kind of protagonist I love. A capable, grounded and quietly determined woman showing the world her best police work.

This was a fun missing person mystery with a few twists along the way. The two investigations joined and separated back and forth throughout the story and had me intrigued to find out the ending.

Add in balancing an investigation with the complexities of a small rural community where everyone seems to know everyone and everyone has something to hide and it’s the perfect Aussie crime drama.

Margaret Hickey continues to be an author I know I simply can't go wrong with. If she writes it, I’ll read it.

A big thank you to Penguin for sharing this wonderful book with me.

[Anthony Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was an enjoyable read. It’s the second in the series featuring Sally White. I probably find this series so entertaining because it is set in the area where I grew up and now currently live, so I may rate this higher than I would normally. The descriptive prose of the bush, rivers and landscape in general is spot on. Sally as the prime protagonist is relatable and likeable; a little more development of her character was needed, but the hectic pace of the plot didn’t really present much of an opportunity to do so.

The ending while satisfactory, seemed somewhat rushed from my perspective. So much time was spent developing a complex and layered storyline, then within about 50 pages it was all wrapped up. I know I am the first bloke to complain when a novel just drags on and on, but in this instance another hundred or so pages would not have hurt.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold River by Margaret Hickey is a superb Australian crime thriller that will keep you riveted from start to finish. The main character Sally is a constable in the mountains who is investigating a case involving the illegal tobacco trade and a missing journalist. She is enthusiastic and determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and expose all those involved, including people close to her and people she knows.
Cold River is a thrilling read with a great story and characters. I’ve never read a book by the author before but plan to read more in future. Highly recommends . Five stars!

[Robert Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Hickey returns to the Victorian high country in Cold River, a sequel to her Ned Kelly Award winning novel The Creeper. Senior Constable Sally White is back in action, breaking the rules and dealing with her complicated family structure as she hunts for a missing hiker.

Cold River’s cold open involves hiker Louis Taylor, unable to climb a cliff that he has fallen down and trying to decide whether to jump into the raging river below him. Then Hickey returns to Sally, back from a South Pacific holiday and feeling a little guilty for being away from work. Sally quickly gets drawn into the search for Louis which has now been ongoing for a while. The search is given new life when Louis’s backpack is discovered but Sally thinks there is something odd about where it was found and starts to dig further. Which is when she stumbles on a gangland murder and finds out about another missing person from a few years before. Soon Sally is trying and make connections between these cases. But there are forces that do not want her investigating.

The plot of Cold River revolves around illegal, untaxed tobacco which has the nickname ‘chop-chop’. The supply coming out of the Victorian high country was very lucrative in the 1990s and seems to be resurging. Sally finds that Louis was investigating the trade but that it possibly has ties both to the police and to some of the well-established and tight-knit local families in the area, making her investigation doubly fraught.

Sally’s investigation is fairly methodical and slow moving. So Hickey ups the tension by also including point-of-view chapters from Louis who finds himself in increasing amounts of trouble. Louis is decidedly not a hero (and knows it) but probably best represents plenty of normal people if they were caught up in a threatening or violent situation.

It was always clear from The Creeper that there was more to Sally’s story that needed to be told. Her father is a criminal and her stepfather is the deputy police commissioner. Sally’s mother is divorced from both of them but also maintains a good relationship with both, something Sally has trouble doing, at least with her biological father. Being regional crime, Sally runs the one-person station at Edenville and is still trying to be accepted by the community (a task made harder since she broke up with her local boyfriend). And she does like to have a good time and drink too much, which is something that still tends to get her into trouble. But she is also an intuitive investigator who will keep pushing for the truth even when plenty of people are warning her off it and will put her life on the line if she needs to.

Hickey, once again, brings the landscapes and people of the Victorian high country to life. The rugged peaks and the people who hike them, the freezing rivers and the people who swim in them year round, the dangerous roads that wind around the mountains and the small towns and landholdings. While Edenville and its local mountain are fictional, Hickey does locate her action in the Victorian alps and includes real places including Mount Viking and a very real isolated location to which one of her characters goes hiking called Forlorn Hope. The other aspect of crime novels set in regional Victoria is that Melbourne is never more than a few hours drive away and so Sally also gets to spend a little time in the city.

Hickey is one of a few Australian crime writers who are setting their stories in the Victorian high country at the moment. While they have different styles, this series is very similar to Adrian Hyland’s three Jesse Redpath books (which started with Canticle Creek). Both feature strong but flawed female police officers struggling to connect to their communities but who go above and beyond. The area is more than big enough and interesting enough for both of them.

[E Brodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even sitting beside a fire in a thick, fluffy robe with a steaming cup of licorice and peppermint tea (yummier than it sounds), I couldn't escape the chill of Mount Viking, a place in Victoria's high country where hikers go missing. For Detective Constable Sally White, it's the latest disappearance of journalist wannabe Louis Taylor that has her sixth sense firing. Something about the way his backpack was found doesn't feel right. When she learns of another missing hiker two years earlier whose skis were discovered in an unnatural position, she decides to follow her instincts. What she uncovers are tenuous but common threads linking the pair to figures in the criminal underworld. As she risks her career to singlehandedly investigate the cases - cases her colleagues have dismissed as accidents - Sally finds herself caught up in an illegal tobacco ring, with one false move after another placing her in grave danger.

I love a book that portrays its setting in cinematic fashion. In Cold River, our young detective competes with the treacherous Mount Viking for main character energy, along with Forlorn Hope - a location I Googled to see if it was real or fictional as it sounds too perfect for a crime novel. Lo and behold, it's real, along with Mount Despair, The Razor, Mount Speculation and Mount Disappointment. Victoria's high country nails the thriller inspo brief!

The story uses dual perspectives (Sally's and Louis') to balance suspense and anticipation, with the pace quickening as their narratives merge. The characterisations broke away from stereotypical personalities in this genre, which was refreshing, and what the structure lacked in cliffhangers and 'next chapter rush', it made up for with a carefully knitted plot that never dropped a stitch. The twists didn't take my breath away, however they were credible and satisfying, which is arguably more important.

This isn't the first time I've read a book that's part of a series without having read the earlier instalment, but this was the first time I felt a little disoriented for not having done so. Knowing Sally's backstory would have made this a smoother read. That said, this was still a solid, gripping thriller that I looked forward to picking up at every chance.

This one drops on July 28. If you enjoy police procedural and Aussie bush noir, mark your calendar or pre-order now. And read The Creeper first.

[Valeriya Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much, Penguin Books Australia, for gifting me a copy of “Cold River” in exchange for my review.

I requested this book because the cover and the title hooked me, and it sounded so promising! The name of it sent me a jolt of adrenaline that was followed by a chilling wave in my bloodstream. I knew this book would be special!

“Cold River” is an interconnected standalone and the second book about Detective Constable Sally White, who resides in the Victorian High County where she is always busy with work. The area itself is quite inviting for a crime: dense bushland, deep & wild rivers, dangerous wildlife. Not a place to hang out for wanderers. Yet the area is popular for hiking despite the disappearance of people regularly.

Luis, a young journalist hungry for great, chilling stories, goes on his hiking journey and disappears from the face of the earth. There is no reason to harm him; he had no enemies, and yet he faced a devastating end.

Astrid, a young lawyer, vanished two years earlier in the same area and under similar circumstances.

Sally can’t help herself stop thinking that these two people are somehow linked. What if they witnessed something they shouldn’t, or went to the places they'd better avoid? Persuaded by her suspicions, she starts to untangle a dangerous knot related to the illegal tobacco business that brings astonishing truth in relations of Sally’s personal connections.

I read this book in slow motion, thinking about every detail and trying to guess all these connections and reasons behind the crime. The best thing that kept me going was the author’s incredible talent for transporting her readers into the places where her story goes. I had a blanket and cup of coffee while I was reading this story, because I could literally feel the unforgiving chill of the wind from Victorian Mount Viking, and the breath of cold freshness coming from the river.

“Cold River” is one of those books that will take you there where all things happen. I take it as a specific aspect of the writing language that I enjoyed very much!

If you are hungry for a good crime story with a brilliant detective trying to resolve a quite complicated riddle, pick this book; you will enjoy following Sally’s steps!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant novel by one of my favourite authors.

This is book #2 in the series, following on from the Creeper. That said, I read that years ago and do not think you necessarily need to in order to dive into this one.
Detective Constable Sally White appreciates the dangers of Victoria's high country and Mount Viking. Hikers get lost. But something about the disappearance of Louis Taylor doesn't seem right. An aspiring journalist, he was looking into the illegal tobacco, or chop-chop trade and the last person he interviewed also met a terrible fate. As the search of the mountains reaches its end, Sally must come to terms with his fate. That is until she discovers a woman that went missing just two years before, a case with similarities. As Sally delves more into the two cases, she finds more than she bargained for.

The small town of Edenville, the mountains and setting of this one had me immediately immersed in the story. The author wove a bunch of interesting mysteries into this one and cleverly connected each of them, as the novel went along. I was intrigued by Sally and her complicated family and really appreciated the way the author made her so relatable and real, with all of the mistakes and vulnerabilities. This was a slow burn and had a cosy mystery feel in parts, though it was also darker in other parts. Another thoroughly enjoyable novel by the author. 4.5*

Thank you to Penguin Books Australia for this gifted review copy.

[Andrée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Senior Constable Sally White returns for another chilling thriller set in Victorian high country. Sally loves working as the idyllic-sounding Edenville’s sole police officer. Yet every small town harbours its shocking secrets, and living among a tight-knit community in pristine wilderness comes with a price. The small-town setting fosters a sense of intrigue with its compulsive tug between community spirit and cloistered history. When Sally springs into action searching for a journalist missing from a hike, her intuition alerts her that this disappearance might not be routine. She investigates the burgeoning mystery with rigor and integrity; determined to unearth what her colleagues and fellow townspeople may wish to remain invisible.


Sally also makes mistakes and embarrasses herself in ways that have real consequences for her personal life and career. There is intentional room for her to show a satisfying degree of accountability and growth in further books. Overall, some of the major twists are a little contrived, though they do contribute towards very dynamic pacing. Enjoy this propulsive read in a cosy place, as your mind conjures the beautiful imagery of freezing alps alongside the ugly underbelly of an astounding criminal syndicate.

This is a review of an advanced copy due to be released on 28 July. Many thanks Penguin, via Good Reading.

[Lakinloveslit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I jumped straight into this after finishing The Creeper, and it was another excellent crime novel!

It’s easy for hikers to go missing in Victoria’s high country, but when aspiring journalist Louis Taylor disappears, presumably in an accident, it doesn’t sit right with Detective Constable Sally White. Louis had been researching the illegal tobacco trade (or chop chop) that was once so prevalent in the area, and the last source he met with has been found dead. Sally doesn’t believe Louis’ disappearance was accidental at all, and as she starts to question it, she learns about another young hiker that went missing two years prior, and she uncovers connections that seem to coincidental to ignore.

This is the second book with DS Sally White, and I bloody love her! I love that she trusts her gut instincts and isn’t afraid to do her own investigating if she feels she’s got something to find. She’s not afraid to ask questions or put herself out there (though she sometimes maybe isn’t the safest) but her determination to find out the truth is awesome. She does make me feel slightly stressed though with her social life potentially harming her professional reputation lol. This is told mostly from Sally’s POV, but we have chapters narrated by Louis as well which adds to the tension and underlying feeling of dread. I felt kept on my toes trying to figure out of Louis’ disappearance was connected to the other hiker going missing a few years prior, and whether any of the locals were involved in the chop chop business. Again in this, the high country setting shines and is as much of a character as the people. The ending of this was left open for more featuring Sally, and I hope we do see more of her! Another book I’d highly recommend to my crime fans!

[Adventures with Shelle (Rochelle Kentish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Margaret Hickey's books and when I heard that Detective Constable Sally White is back for a second book and that it was set in the Victorian High Country I knew I had to read it.

I have never been the High Country region, however the authors detailed descriptions left me feeling as though I was standing right next to the characters. She paints the bushland as dense bush, both dangerous and beautiful with rivers and spectacular views that take your breath away. And weather conditions that even the most experienced bush person would struggle with. The setting becomes it own character by the end of the novel.

I enjoyed watching Sally develop through this story, she remains a determined and capable police officer who seems to still be an outsider, despite her efforts to work with the local community. I did not guess the ending of this story and whilst the story came to a resolution, I am hoping there will be more Detective Constable Sally White stories in the future!

Easily 5 stars and one of my favourite reads this year.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

[Emily (the_bookdragons_den) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to be back in the Victorian high country in Margaret Hickey’s new small town thriller Cold River. It follows Senior Constable Sally White, the only cop in town and who we first met in The Creeper.

Hickey has a knack for immersing readers in the high country setting. The writing in Cold River is vivid and descriptive and the second person’s perspective added an edge of your seat layer to the narrative.

I felt like this book also gives us more insight into the complexity of Sally’s family dynamics and her continued drive to prove herself. It explains why she is like a dog with a bone when it comes to investigating. She’s also not perfect, and at times can feel and act quite immature, but I do hope we see more of her in the future.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable small town Aussie thriller that twists and turns just like a river through the landscape.

Please note that it can be read as a standalone, but I’d start with The Creeper first if you are able.

Thank you to Penguin Aus for a copy to review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as an ARC. I enjoyed the Victorian High Country setting for the latest novel from Margaret Hickey. The closed community feeling both physically and mentally within the small towns themselves and the extended police force, added to the momentum of frustration as well as understanding of the storylines and characters. It was an interesting foray into a current issue (illegal tobacco) and how people can get caught up in events that are beyond their control. While I enjoyed the female protagonist, Detective Constable Sally White, I did query a few of her choices within the narrative, which pulled me out of the otherwise gripping twists and turns. Another good read by Margaret Hickey that I had difficulty putting down!

[Michele (michelethebookdragon) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cold River sees us back in Edenville in the Victorian high country, where Senior Constable Sally White is the one cop in town.

When a young man who went missing on Mount Viking while Sally was on holidays is still missing a couple of weeks later, Sally is rightfully concerned. Another missing persons case from two years earlier has Sally thinking things are not quite right.

After doing some digging and uncovering possible links between the two cases, Sally feels she is being thwarted and that her superiors are being a bit cagey. It's worrying that one of them is her stepfather, Angelo Conti, who is also the deputy commissioner.

Sally is like a dog with a bone and will not give up. This leads her to make many questionable decisions putting herself, others and her career on the line.

I swayed between cheering Sally on and feeling that she was being childish and petulant at times.

The underlying story regarding illegal tobacco was intriguing and very topical.

[Dani Netherclift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another unputdownable read from Margaret Hickey. Senior Constable Sally White is never one to back down from investigating a case, no matter what the dodgy characters around her throw her way, and that's why we love her! She has serious daddy issues and is like a dog with a bone when it comes to the niggling crimes that others have said are probably not even crimes at all. Victoria's High Country is again portrayed in all its beauty and relative terror, as well as an always intriguing dip into the vagaries of life in a small town, and what it means, or takes, to belong. I particularly loved Hickey's tender epilogue.

[Lynne Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great high country of Victoria context, well described - I could visualise the cold and the geography. DC Sally White is likeable but has a complex family situation.. her search in this book for missing hikers who in fact were themselves searching - Louis and Astrid, takes all sorts of twists and turns revealing a criminal web which touches them and Sally ..
the story has good pace with interesting ending

[Gae · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening lines I found myself swept up in the story, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of two young people intertwined with something sinister underlying it all had me hooked until the very last word. At present I am wishing Margaret Hickey all the best in her personal health challenge and as with her previous books again I am left hoping there will more books to come as boy can this lady write!!!

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me. The premise was interesting but I did find some of the situations that the main character found herself in a little bit unbelievable at times.
I also felt like the ending was somewhat rushed in an attempt to tie up all the loose ends

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review coming soon

[Yvonne Boag · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Hayley]

Stopped at 30 percent. This is a run of the mill rural crime fiction. Nothing wrong with it but nothing standout and I just want a bit more from my time spent reading.