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Cold Hard News
When the snowbanks in a small Maine town start to melt, the secrets begin to emerge.
Bernie O'Dea, the editor of the Peaks Weekly Watcher, is jazzed to finally have a big story to cover when a body is found in a melting snowbank. But as spring turns into a long, hot, explosive summer in Redimere, Maine, the story gets bigger - maybe too big for Bernie to handle.
As secrets are revealed, the town is ripped in half and the body count rises, Bernie if forced to question her part in the town's tragic tale, a part that may cost her and others their lives.
Bernie O'Dea, the editor of the Peaks Weekly Watcher, is jazzed to finally have a big story to cover when a body is found in a melting snowbank. But as spring turns into a long, hot, explosive summer in Redimere, Maine, the story gets bigger - maybe too big for Bernie to handle.
As secrets are revealed, the town is ripped in half and the body count rises, Bernie if forced to question her part in the town's tragic tale, a part that may cost her and others their lives.
310 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2015
15 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
Maureen Milliken
8 books27 followersMaureen Milliken is an award-winning Maine mystery writer. She was a long-time journalist who worked for daily newspapers in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Her book "Dying For News," the fourth in the Bernadette "Bernie" O'Dea mystery series, was named 2025 Maine Literary Award winner for crime fiction.
She’s a member of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and blogs with other Maine crime writers at Mainecrimewriters.com.
She also co-hosts a true-crime podcast, Crime & Stuff, with her sister, Maine artist Rebecca Milliken. She lives in central Maine.
Her book "Dying For News," the fourth in the Bernadette "Bernie" O'Dea mystery series, was named 2025 Maine Literary Award winner for crime fiction.
She’s a member of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and blogs with other Maine crime writers at Mainecrimewriters.com.
She also co-hosts a true-crime podcast, Crime & Stuff, with her sister, Maine artist Rebecca Milliken. She lives in central Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 14, 2015
I was furnished a copy of this book for an honest review.
Mysteries are not my genre of choice, and when I was asked to read Cold, Hard, News I agreed, without much enthusiasm. I ended up reading it in a day!
The first thing I like about this book is the locale — Maine. A part of the country I've never visited. The second thing I like about this book is the protagonist, Bernie, a 40-something single woman who recently bought the little weekly newspaper where she was hired as a reporter when she first graduated from college. She had been gone a long time, and now that she's back to this little town, she's learning how difficult it can be to be from 'away' and come to live in a small cliquish town. She is not only the owner, but also the main reporter, and she has to be careful of what she prints as news — or earn the enmity of the locals, and lose their support. And Bernie has ADHD.
Pete, the new Chief of Police, is also from away. He was a homicide cop in Philadelphia and came to Redimere as the new chief. An outsider, he isn't exactly trusted, and has earned the enmity of at least one of his cops who thought the job should have gone to him.
The book starts off with the discovery of a body. Stanley has spent the winter buried in a snowdrift while the town thought he was at a cousin's in North Carolina. The ME rules the death as 'undetermined.' The townsfolk classify it as accidental, but little things keep niggling at the back of Bernie's skull.
In the last two years, there have been deaths that have all been called accidents, but they, in true mystery form, are somehow connected. I had a couple figured out, but I had a couple figured out wrong, too.
I really enjoyed reading a story with a strong woman protagonist, and one who, though she has a medical/psychological condition, chose not to use it as an excuse, but to live and work with it. It was interesting to see how she did it, and the book gave me a much better understanding of ADHD, what it is, how it affects people, and why my nephew is the way he is.
This is a stand-alone book, but I hope it's the first of many Bernie and Pete stories!
Buy this book. Read this book. Review this book.
Mysteries are not my genre of choice, and when I was asked to read Cold, Hard, News I agreed, without much enthusiasm. I ended up reading it in a day!
The first thing I like about this book is the locale — Maine. A part of the country I've never visited. The second thing I like about this book is the protagonist, Bernie, a 40-something single woman who recently bought the little weekly newspaper where she was hired as a reporter when she first graduated from college. She had been gone a long time, and now that she's back to this little town, she's learning how difficult it can be to be from 'away' and come to live in a small cliquish town. She is not only the owner, but also the main reporter, and she has to be careful of what she prints as news — or earn the enmity of the locals, and lose their support. And Bernie has ADHD.
Pete, the new Chief of Police, is also from away. He was a homicide cop in Philadelphia and came to Redimere as the new chief. An outsider, he isn't exactly trusted, and has earned the enmity of at least one of his cops who thought the job should have gone to him.
The book starts off with the discovery of a body. Stanley has spent the winter buried in a snowdrift while the town thought he was at a cousin's in North Carolina. The ME rules the death as 'undetermined.' The townsfolk classify it as accidental, but little things keep niggling at the back of Bernie's skull.
In the last two years, there have been deaths that have all been called accidents, but they, in true mystery form, are somehow connected. I had a couple figured out, but I had a couple figured out wrong, too.
I really enjoyed reading a story with a strong woman protagonist, and one who, though she has a medical/psychological condition, chose not to use it as an excuse, but to live and work with it. It was interesting to see how she did it, and the book gave me a much better understanding of ADHD, what it is, how it affects people, and why my nephew is the way he is.
This is a stand-alone book, but I hope it's the first of many Bernie and Pete stories!
Buy this book. Read this book. Review this book.
November 24, 2018
Excellent characterization. Felt like I knew the main character, Bernie O'Dea. Specially pleased that she is a journalist, albeit in small-town Maine. (I'm a former journalist). Her quirky nature, flaws, intelligence, and perseverance charmed me. And the setting actually provides us with another character-- weather, snow, cold, wind, and a little bit of warm weather.
Gives a great picture of small-town Maine.
Gives a great picture of small-town Maine.
August 21, 2024
Fun book. As a Mainer and former journalist I had lots to connect with.
July 22, 2016
An enjoyable read with several mysteries intertwined into a large overall mystery.
June 15, 2021
Before I begin this review I want to state that the author, Maureen Milliken, and I have been friends and colleagues since we were both cutting our journalism teeth in small market Maine in the 1980's. Then years later she wrote this book!
My review is probably biased but I enjoyed this book very much. I read the Kindle version, which I bought at the time it was published.
This book could almost be seen as autobiographical for the author. No, not that she found herself threatened and nearly killed as a result of small town politics, small town crime, small town gossip and so on.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading it but in the end it was a totally satisfying experience. Well, occasionally the lead character Bernie irritated me with her aggression and poking into things that really should have been left to the police to sort out. But good reporters often stretch the boundaries to get a good story.
The death toll in this book is a little high. The first victim is found during the spring snow melt after having been pushed into a snowbank in the winter by a snowplow. The former town police chief dies in a fire. There are other deaths to follow. But sit tight, these are all connected in the end
One of the things I liked about this book relates to the author's and my mutual experiences covering Select board meetings, school board meetings, planning board meetings, local social events and fundraisers and a whole lot of things that make a small town...well...small. Trying to make that stuff exciting and newsworthy was always a challenge. Everybody knows each other's business and they form strong opinions about said business.
I loved the tense escape and rescue scene in Chapter 25. Read it to find out.
But to me, the most thrilling thing about this book is that the author confided in me that she based one of her minor reporter characters after me!! How flattering is that? That's not something everyone can brag about.
My review is probably biased but I enjoyed this book very much. I read the Kindle version, which I bought at the time it was published.
This book could almost be seen as autobiographical for the author. No, not that she found herself threatened and nearly killed as a result of small town politics, small town crime, small town gossip and so on.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading it but in the end it was a totally satisfying experience. Well, occasionally the lead character Bernie irritated me with her aggression and poking into things that really should have been left to the police to sort out. But good reporters often stretch the boundaries to get a good story.
The death toll in this book is a little high. The first victim is found during the spring snow melt after having been pushed into a snowbank in the winter by a snowplow. The former town police chief dies in a fire. There are other deaths to follow. But sit tight, these are all connected in the end
One of the things I liked about this book relates to the author's and my mutual experiences covering Select board meetings, school board meetings, planning board meetings, local social events and fundraisers and a whole lot of things that make a small town...well...small. Trying to make that stuff exciting and newsworthy was always a challenge. Everybody knows each other's business and they form strong opinions about said business.
I loved the tense escape and rescue scene in Chapter 25. Read it to find out.
But to me, the most thrilling thing about this book is that the author confided in me that she based one of her minor reporter characters after me!! How flattering is that? That's not something everyone can brag about.
August 14, 2025
Great story! I had heard the author last year when she came to my library to talk about her latest book. Then after looking her up, realized she went to college with my sister. I love Bernie, the plucky journalist/ owner of a small weekly Maine newspaper. The author, being a Mainer has the right sense of place. Having lived in small towns in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine, I get the small town politics and being ‘from away’. Interesting mystery, and well written, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
January 20, 2019
Well written and interesting
I received this book as a gift from the author under a holiday promotion. I love books set in small towns because of the complexity of interpersonal relationships. This story did not disappoint in this area. The writing overall was strong, and the story development kept the pace moving. It was a little more negative in tone than I prefer, and had a few too many cliches pop up, but overall I enjoyed the read.
I received this book as a gift from the author under a holiday promotion. I love books set in small towns because of the complexity of interpersonal relationships. This story did not disappoint in this area. The writing overall was strong, and the story development kept the pace moving. It was a little more negative in tone than I prefer, and had a few too many cliches pop up, but overall I enjoyed the read.
September 16, 2024
I totally enjoyed this book, partly because I live in Maine and briefly worked as a journalist, but also because it's a really great story. I loved the protagonist and her internal struggles with her brain chemistry and her passion for truth-telling. Great internal dialog when we see what she's thinking and how she relates to a wide array of small-town characters. The close-but-not-quite love story also kept my attention. Can't wait to read more of this series!
April 21, 2025
One of the best books I've read in a while. As a former journalism teacher, I really enjoyed watching the main character, Bernie O'Dea, navigate her career as a small-town newspaper owner. She balances her desire to "get the big story" with ethical considerations and life in a small town, where she knows the people she's covering. Great mystery and fantastic pacing. Tremendous book — can't wait to start the next one!
June 19, 2017
This was fun for so many reasons. It's set in a small Maine town and its heroine is a newspaper editor and writer, all things I can relate to directly. Best of all, it's written by a former coworker (at a small Maine newspaper). She's got a good touch and I plan to track down the second book.
January 17, 2018
More Maine crime fiction. I liked this one a lot, it offered a little more than just a regular crime fiction novel albeit with a Maine flavor. I felt she spend some good time developing her characters and they seemed more fully believable for it and I cared more about them.
July 8, 2024
I really really wanted to like this book since it’s a Maine author and based in Maine but it was just so slow.
January 8, 2025
Interesting plot and attention to detail. Could use more character development, but since this is the first in a series, I'm assuming that will be coming.
September 4, 2025
I enjoyed this book.about a newspaper woman who moves back to Maine, to a small town in the Farmington area Indefinitely want to read her next book!
March 13, 2017
Solid murder mystery, though not without cliché factors (re: main character's love life). Good suspense. The author is a journalist, as is her investigator (though she has a real police officer as a sidekick). Set in Maine.
Audio book: Disliked the reading -- too fast, without inflection. I read the sequel rather than listening to it.
Audio book: Disliked the reading -- too fast, without inflection. I read the sequel rather than listening to it.
March 4, 2017
Newspaper owner Bernie O'Dea is not as easy to like or empathize with as your average protagonist. She's an odd duck. She can be a tad curmudgeonly. She can be her own worst enemy. And let's not even get started on how mucked up she is in the romance department.
Stick with her.
Slowly, grudgingly perhaps, you're going to appreciate her dogged pursuit of the truth, her often-barely-discernible-but-definitely-there compassion, and her direct and outspoken manner (even when it works against her). You'll find yourself rooting for her eventually, and when you do, you're going to discover that you actually do want to see what happens next to her and to all the authentic and uniquely drawn characters that populate tiny Redimere, Maine.
Stick with her.
Slowly, grudgingly perhaps, you're going to appreciate her dogged pursuit of the truth, her often-barely-discernible-but-definitely-there compassion, and her direct and outspoken manner (even when it works against her). You'll find yourself rooting for her eventually, and when you do, you're going to discover that you actually do want to see what happens next to her and to all the authentic and uniquely drawn characters that populate tiny Redimere, Maine.
February 11, 2016
I've long read Maureen Milliken in the local paper where she serves as writer and editor.
Had been waiting for a while for her first book to come out.
And it's a good mystery, a gripping one.
Set in Redimere, Maine, the novel focuses on Bernadette O'Dea, a journalist who's recently bought the local weekly newspaper and who's dedicated to investigating all she can, especially when a variety of attacks and deaths in this small Franklin County town rip people apart. The plot is complicated and enriched by a cast of characters, including new police chief Pete Novotny.
I live in a small town in which elected officials have served long and well; the town's gossip lines also fuel politics and opinion and there are sometimes very dark corners that are revealed.
And that's what I like about Milliken's mystery: the dark corners, the will to see truth on some parts, the slogging good work that so many people do, the secrets and yearnings and crimes that sometimes are left to chance or ignored.
Milliken has a deft way with dialog and scene that really highlights all she covers.
A strong first book.
Had been waiting for a while for her first book to come out.
And it's a good mystery, a gripping one.
Set in Redimere, Maine, the novel focuses on Bernadette O'Dea, a journalist who's recently bought the local weekly newspaper and who's dedicated to investigating all she can, especially when a variety of attacks and deaths in this small Franklin County town rip people apart. The plot is complicated and enriched by a cast of characters, including new police chief Pete Novotny.
I live in a small town in which elected officials have served long and well; the town's gossip lines also fuel politics and opinion and there are sometimes very dark corners that are revealed.
And that's what I like about Milliken's mystery: the dark corners, the will to see truth on some parts, the slogging good work that so many people do, the secrets and yearnings and crimes that sometimes are left to chance or ignored.
Milliken has a deft way with dialog and scene that really highlights all she covers.
A strong first book.
March 3, 2016
S and H Publishing provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.
Maureen Milliken's debut novel Cold Hard News is a well-written mystery. Bernie O'Dea is the editor and owner of a local newspaper. Bernie has ADHD. She is not defined by these letters. She is strong, determined and unstoppable. Her strength of character drives this novel.
A body is discovered in a melting snowbank and Bernie's investigative journey begins. The new police chief in town, Pete Novotny adds an interesting layer to this original read as well. As more bodies are revealed she is determined to uncover the truth at any cost. The deaths have been called accidental--but are they? The story cleverly unfolds as secrets are revealed.
Looking forward to the next book in the Bernie O'Dea mystery series.
Maureen Milliken's debut novel Cold Hard News is a well-written mystery. Bernie O'Dea is the editor and owner of a local newspaper. Bernie has ADHD. She is not defined by these letters. She is strong, determined and unstoppable. Her strength of character drives this novel.
A body is discovered in a melting snowbank and Bernie's investigative journey begins. The new police chief in town, Pete Novotny adds an interesting layer to this original read as well. As more bodies are revealed she is determined to uncover the truth at any cost. The deaths have been called accidental--but are they? The story cleverly unfolds as secrets are revealed.
Looking forward to the next book in the Bernie O'Dea mystery series.
January 31, 2016
Great plot! Love mysteries set in small towns where everyone knows everybody's name and business. Characters are well defined and interesting. Looking forward to next book in the O'Dea series due out later this year.
August 14, 2015
Great read. Really enjoyed!! Looking forward to next one!
March 13, 2016
Great sympathetic and genuine lead characters with a plot that kept me turning the page.
January 29, 2017
Loved the setting. Characters were great to get to know both their strengths & weaknesses.
Plot kept twisting and turning.
Plot kept twisting and turning.
June 10, 2025
Better the second time around.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews