Cold Blade

Nils Shapiro #6

by Matt Goldman

If a murder scene looks too good to be true . . . it probably is. Wealthy businessman Jonathan Willetts wants private investigator Nils Shapiro to prove that his wife Paige didn’t murder one of his employees, Lukas Day. Everything points to Paige’s guilt: she had an encounter with Lukas the night he died, and her fingerprints are on the knife found at the scene. As far as the Minnesota Police Department are concerned, it’s an open and shut case. Nils isn’t so sure. After all, Jonathan and Paige have plenty of enemies. Is Paige being set up by a calculating killer? Deception, theft, and stunning secrets convince Nils that there’s more to this case than meets the eye. But can he uncover the chilling truth?

256 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication November 3, 2026

Reviews

[Sue Em · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

An intelligent and emotionally grounded private investigator mystery based in Minnesota. Nils Shapiro has struggled since his wife, who was the chief of police there, was murdered two years ago. His return to a fully functioning adult is a secondary plotline to the main case. Nils, and his firm, agree to look into look into the case where the wife of a hedge fund manager has been arrested for the murder of her lover. Things aren't as open and shut as was first apparent with a number of viable suspects and motives. A real winner! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jackthedad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Joffe Books for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.

This was my first book by Matt Goldman and I enjoyed it very much. Nils Shapiro is an interesting, thoughtful character and a shrewd PI. However, I felt the story spent too much time on his love-life. The book works fine as a standalone but I suspect it would be enjoyed better if the reader had read previous books in the series. Nevertheless, it's a good story, well-told.

[David Prestidge · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are in the streets - some decidedly mean but others rather splendid - of Minneapolis for this pacy thriller, the latest saga in the career of private investigator Nils Shapiro who works in an agency with two other PIs, Annika and Eglaand. Lukas Day, a junior hedge fund manager has been found in his apartment, butchered with a kitchen knife. The chief suspect is the woman who was recently in his bed, Paige Willett. Who just happens to be the wife of Day's boss.

Jonathan Willett is a hugely successful hedge fund trader, and has made billions by being ruthless, uncompromising and determined to win at every single aspect of his life. Willett hires Shapiro to find out who killed Lukas Day. Shapiro soon finds that both Jonathan and Paige have what is euphemistically known as an open marriage and are fairly repulsive human beings, for different reasons, but being an old fashioned kind of man, he determines to get to the truth, unhindered by his negative feelings for his clients.

The initial alternative suspects are all friends and family; we have Reeves Fleetwood, Willett's former business partner and now serious competitor; we have Willett's first wife Cecilia, and their son Vincent, who has mental issues; the there's Benjamin, Willett's brother, tasked withe unenviable task of looking after their father, now in the grip of dementia; how about Brooke Stolle, Lukas Day's actual girlfriend?

CriFi buffs will find Shapiro doesn't depart too far from the well traveled and much loved template for an American PI. He is handsome, smart, a former police officer and, while he doesn't wisecrack with other characters, he does share his trenchant observations with readers. He is both unlucky and unfortunate in love. He is divorced from his first wife, and his second - a senior Minneapolis police officer, died of wounds sustained in a shoot-out three years earlier.

Jonathan Willett has a mania for antiques and, in particular Chinese artifacts including ancient porcelain. The trio at the Stone Arch Investigations, now joined by a former British police officer Shanae, come up with a possible theory. For all Willett's acquisitive energy, it seems like the main kick he gets from buying the antiques is the knowledge that if he has them, no-one else can. The actual grace, history and intrinsic beauty of the vases and and sculptures appears to escape him, and he is quite happy to have them stored away in a cellar. What if, then, Benjamin Willett - a talented potter - has been 'borrowing' vases from his brother's house, making detailed copies of them, returning the copies to the house, but selling on the originals? Already in Shapiro's sights is a mysterious warehouse on the edge of town, a place with intense 24/7 security, and apparently run by an elderly Chinese man known as Mr Tu (who is, as they say, 'known' to the FBI). In the end the killer of Lukas Day is unmasked, and all I will say is that the murderer's identity is a surprise - but not a shock. This entertaining and immersive thriller is published by Severn House Crime and Thriller and is available now.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is based on an ARC received through NetGalley.

Minneapolis PI Nils Shapiro is back in action following three years of grieving his wife’s murder. Nils committed his days attending to his then four year old daughter, Evelyn, every need. Nils wife, Gabriella, the Minneapolis chief of police, had been killed in the line of duty (see earlier Nils Shapiro books for the complete story).

I find the diminutive self effacing Nils who uses his brain instead of his fists or guns a real outlier among contemporary fictional PI’s. He uses his physical ordinariness, dogged people finding skills, and charming personality—even those he is pursuing seem to smile when Nils is around—to seek out his quarry and complete his assignment.

In Cold Blade Nils realizes that he needs to move forward with his and his daughter’s lives. Evelyn is on an around the world vacation with Nils’ first wife so Nils decides it is time to return to his PI business. His partners assign him a case that appears ready-made for Nils. A wealthy woman is accused of murder, her husband disagrees, and Nils becomes the seeker of truth. In his usual fashion Nils unravels the mystery piece by piece while dealing with the irritating, arrogant one percenters who treat him like a servant. But Nils can handle himself in any situation.

This clever, skillfully plotted mystery, laced with humor, is character-driven with characters I loved and a few I wouldn’t give the time of day. Nils also finds time for romance, including a surprising relationship neither side ever expected. It was great to see.

Matt Goldman provides his readers with another exciting Nils Shapiro adventure with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing to the very end. There are enough surprises along the way to keep the pages turning while rooting for Nils to get his man or woman. I highly recommend Cold Blade to all mystery fans.

[Margie Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled when Matt Goldman's entertaining Nils Shapiro series continued last year after a 5-year absence. And now there's book #6 in the series, Cold Blade. Nils co-founded a private investigation firm with a fellow PI after his Minneapolis police chief wife was killed on the job several years back, and the firm is thriving. Now he is approached by Leah, a high-powered attorney who was once the firm's receptionist, to ask him to assist with a tricky case.

Paige WIlletts, the wife of financier and art collector Jonathan Willetts, is under arrest for the murder of Jonathan's colleague, and the police have so much evidence against Paige that they have stopped looking for another suspect. Leah thinks Paige is being framed, and Jonathan is desperate for someone to find the real killer. The Willetts are not well liked, as they are not only high-handed with everyone, but they also have an open marriage that has left several disgruntled exes behind. Other Willett family members have even been identified by Paige as possible suspects.

Like the other books in the series, Cold Blade has a fascinating plot, distinctly described characters, and writing that pulls the reader in from beginning to end. And, of course, Nils himself is multi-layered and relatable. His 7-year-old daughter is touring Europe with her mother, Nils's first wife, so family life is not the center of the story this time, but it is an important part of Nils's personality. And although he didn't have much of a love life after the tragedy with his wife, it seems that not one, but several potential romantic partners have appeared in this book.

Any more details might lead to spoilers, so it's up to you to read this excellent book (and preferably all of the books in the series) if you enjoy a fulfilling crime story written by a master.

[Pam Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are from the Minneapolis area you already must know about Matt Goldman and his Nils Shapiro PI series – Shapiro drives the streets you know and eats in the restaurants you frequent. There is much fun in knowing the locations given in a book. But the real fun in Goldman’s Shapiro series is the sharp wit and insightful prose.
I have been an avid reader of all books Goldman since 2017 with the first Shapiro novel, Gone to Dust. Here with his seventh Shapiro adventure, Cold Blade, we find Shapiro a little older and single once again. With his daughter out of town with her mom, romance finds Shapiro during a case he takes to prove a rich woman did not stab her lover. The evidence is clearly against the privileged, arrogant woman, and Shapiro would be just as happy to find more evidence against his client as he would be to clear her. Something else is going on beneath the obvious. The case, and seemingly everything in his life right now, is about love. But what kind of love?
Shapiro is at a cross-roads in his life – with his great love dead now for 3 years, how shall he move on? The case he is working on weaves into Shapiro’s personal story, creating an intricate and fascinating plotline. Goldman’s characters are sketched fully, and the story builds carefully to the satisfying ending.
Goldman was a comedian in another life, as well as an award-winning television writer. All of which reveals itself in this story. The razor-sharp prose is clever and just what you need on a cold Minnesota night.

My rating: 5 of 5

This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
Cold Blade will be published on Nov 3, 2026.

[Mark Lieberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't even know a Nils Shapiro book was available for me to read, and when I saw it, I was glad. I have been trying to get into some other series, and just couldn't get into them.

So, Nils is back! He is hired by a rich businessman named Jonathan Willetts to prove his wife, Paige, didn't murder an employee of his named Lukas Day. Of course, the Willetts give him some names to look into, and Nils being Nils, he figures it out! I do like his investigative partners of Anders Ellegaard aka Ellie, his best friend and former police officer and Annika Brydolf. They can easily have books of their own. Oh, how can I forget, Jameson White, a nurse practitioner and helper in the investigative area as well. Two new PI's are hired on.

It's really interesting to see how Nils has been coping with the death of his wife, Gabriella Nunez, and how he moves forward with his relationships with a few different interested ladies. It did surprise me, who he ultimately chose.

Whenever a new Nils book is published, I will always read it. Definitely, I am a Nils fan. He can join Spenser, Cork O'Connor, Mac McKenzie, Elvis Cole, and Sunny Randall for my favorite Private Investigators.

[Mike Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, what is it about the Upper Midwest that produces such great settings for the private eye genre? Seriously, my favorite PI books all take place in that part of the country thanks to Mall Goldman, Steve Hamilton & David Housewright. Forget the Great Lakes. We're talking great private eyes with Mac McKenzie, Alex McKnight & Nils Shapiro. Cold Blade is the latest entry in Goldman's Shapiro series and is an instant classic. The engaging prose and memorable characters (old and new) make this yet another page turner. Shapiro, much to the chagrin of the Minneapolis Police Department, is hired by a rich businessman to prove his wife is innocent of murder. The crime scene evidence suggests an open and shut case. It can't be that easy, can it? That's the question Shapiro must answer while also trying to decide what path he wants his personal life to take three years after the tragic death of his wife. It's a riveting read. Cold Blade proves yet again that any journey you take with Nils Shapiro will be a rewarding one at the end.

[Juli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder, police say they have it all figured out. Paige Willett did the deed, her prints are on the murder weapon and she is on security footage and admits to have been at the victim's condo. Jonathan Willett believes his wife is being set up and hires PI Nils Shapiro to investigate. Nils knows he is on the right track when he is offered $ 50,000 to back off. Of course, this just reaffirms his belief, and the fact that he is being watched.

Cold Blade is another exciting installment in the series. Nils is a loveable character. He is still coming to terms with the death of his wife two years ago. Matt Goldman writes witty dialogue that ,keeps the pace of the plot moving. He also knows how to create some twists and turns that make you keep reading. The chilly Minnesota setting provides a stark atmospheric feel.

This is a superbly written mystery with a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend all the books in this series, starting with the classic, Gone to Dust.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Severn House, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. One of my all-time favorite mystery series. Jonathon and Paige Willett have an open marriage. So the fact that Paige is having an affair with a former business partner of Jonathon is of no concern. The fact that sad former business partner ends up dead with Paige's fingerprints all over the murder weapon does, however, present a problem. A problem that Jonathon is convinced that only Nils Shapiro can resolve. This series entry is a bit different than previous books in that you really don't like the clients terribly much, and find yourself having a great deal of sympathy for the cast of suspects. The only reason this wasn't a 5 star for me is that the solution was complicated. Very complicated. To the point that the author has to do a bit of an Agatha Christie info dump at the end to tie it all up. Still, I love the characters, enjoyed ths story, and have decided I need to make a trip to Minneapolis if only to try out all the restaurants Goldman has described.

[Christa Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

PI Nils Shapiro is hired by a wealthy hedge fund manager whose wife has been arrested for murder. Despite the overwhelming evidence against her, her husband wants Nils to prove her innocence by finding the real murderer. There is video, DNA, and fingerprint evidence that is so convincing that Nils begins to suspect that it's almost a little too good and that this is a very thorough frame job. The police are satisfied that they have their murderer so it is up to Nils and his investigative partners to solve the case. They find multiple suspects who hated the couple and had both motive and means to commit the murder. This book is another great case with lots of twists and red herrings that kept me guessing until the last pages.
#ColdBlade. #NetGalley

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sixth in the series but the first I have read. It worked fine as a standalone and I really enjoyed it. Nils is a great character. He's an experienced investigator who is hired to look into proving his wife's innocence and see who really killed an associate of his who his wife was having an affair with.

There's many characters here, some quite shady and things soon become less clear-cut in the investigation. I enjoyed the dialogue and pace throughout and there's a few other subplots going on at the same time. It was easy to read as I was quite riveted throughout and I look forward to reading more in the series.

[Otterpuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one hooked me from the beginning. I liked Nils and the fast paced nature of the book. 


The writing is descriptive and I had no trouble 'seeing' the people and the settings. 


There are quite a lot of coincidences, a friend who is a nurse, who is at a lose end job wise and doesnt mind breaking the Nightingale Pledge, who has a Chinese wife which proves rather useful...friends in the Police and FBI who will dish out whatever information is requested...


But... I still liked it...


Leave your reality at the door and come on in!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goldman pairs clever, contemporary storytelling with an engaging murder mystery, witty humor, and character-rich subplots.

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books/Severn House for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #ColdBlade

[Kate Valentine · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Cold Blade, book #6 in the Nils Shapiro series, left me wanting more! I still want to be Nils’s friend! I’ve enjoyed every book in this series and hope there are many more to come.

All the members of Nils’s team are likable, quirky, and fun to read about. Cold Blade keeps you engaged from beginning to end, making it a quick and enjoyable read, just like the other books in the series. Nils is witty, always ready with a clever comeback, and just sneaky enough to keep things interesting and add an unexpected twist.

I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.