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Detective Kendall Halsrud #2
Iced Malice
In the midst of a deadly cold winter, Detective Kendall Halsrud returns, faced with a body found frozen on a neighbor’s porch and days later, the brutal murder of a teen-age couple. The body of the boy is found shot to death in his car, and the girl he was with, is missing.
When the girl’s body is discovered in a garbage receptacle, Kendall’s partner insists there is a connection between the death of these teenagers and a famous case from ten years ago when three teenage couples from the western Wisconsin area disappeared.
Adam Nashlund, the man Kendall has been living with, is found critically injured after an undercover assignment. Torn between her fear for Nash and her dedication to find a killer, Kendall devotes all her efforts and possibly her life, looking for a murderer and his accomplice.
When the girl’s body is discovered in a garbage receptacle, Kendall’s partner insists there is a connection between the death of these teenagers and a famous case from ten years ago when three teenage couples from the western Wisconsin area disappeared.
Adam Nashlund, the man Kendall has been living with, is found critically injured after an undercover assignment. Torn between her fear for Nash and her dedication to find a killer, Kendall devotes all her efforts and possibly her life, looking for a murderer and his accomplice.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2015
1636 people are currently reading
1517 people want to read
About the author
Marla Madison
12 books112 followersMarla Madison currently works part-time doing arbitration for the the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Hard at work now as an author, she is writing her sixth novel of suspense. Her first series, the TJ Peacock & Lisa Rayburn suspense series, has three editions out, the third, Girl Undone, has just been released. Marla is currently working on the third novel in her second suspense series which spotlights Detective Kendall Halsrud.
At home in Northwestern Wisconsin, Marla lives on Prairie Lake with her significant other, Terry, a beloved shelter-dog, Skygge, and Poncho, an opinionated feline from the same shelter who believes he is the boss of everything.
Some of her favorite things are playing duplicate and tournament bridge, golf, reading, pontooning, and taking long walks with her dog.
Hard at work now as an author, she is writing her sixth novel of suspense. Her first series, the TJ Peacock & Lisa Rayburn suspense series, has three editions out, the third, Girl Undone, has just been released. Marla is currently working on the third novel in her second suspense series which spotlights Detective Kendall Halsrud.
At home in Northwestern Wisconsin, Marla lives on Prairie Lake with her significant other, Terry, a beloved shelter-dog, Skygge, and Poncho, an opinionated feline from the same shelter who believes he is the boss of everything.
Some of her favorite things are playing duplicate and tournament bridge, golf, reading, pontooning, and taking long walks with her dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
March 29, 2023
Kendall has to solve three cold cases while hot on the trail of a killer who kills without remorse and in some macabre ways, all the while dealing with her feelings for her colleague, Detective Adam Nashlund, who after being severely injured while on an undercover operation, suffers amnesia and no longer remembers what they meant to each other. It's a chilling mystery, (no pun intended), as well as a warm human emotional story. I felt that there was a bit too much made of a lovelorn woman pining for her man...but other than that small thing it was a fairly good mystery and an actually well-written book.
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January 27, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/27/2018)! 💝
August 7, 2016
I realize this is not the first book in the series, so I've jumped into the middle of it, however I feel each book in a series should stand alone. I was never really able to relate to Kendall and found myself more drawn to Brynn. I'd love to see a series about her.
The mystery part of this story was ok, but Kendall felt like she should never, ever have been allowed to be a cop. She ignored every rule about getting back-up and put herself and her bystanders in danger everytime by doing so.
It was ok, but I won't be looking for more books in this series.
The mystery part of this story was ok, but Kendall felt like she should never, ever have been allowed to be a cop. She ignored every rule about getting back-up and put herself and her bystanders in danger everytime by doing so.
It was ok, but I won't be looking for more books in this series.
May 12, 2015
Suspenseful,
Started with accidental death, alcoholic froze to death at the footsteps of the wrong house. Following this young girls started to disappear. Opening of cold case called "fiance murders". Many sub plots, not much thrill.
Started with accidental death, alcoholic froze to death at the footsteps of the wrong house. Following this young girls started to disappear. Opening of cold case called "fiance murders". Many sub plots, not much thrill.
January 22, 2020
3 stars
Detective Kendall “Kenny” Halsrud is feeling a little lost due to the absence of her boyfriend Nash who is on an undercover assignment with another police force.
It is a bitterly cold winter in Eau Claire, Wisconsin when an alcoholic young man freezes to death on the front steps of a home that is not his. Kendall and her partner Ross put it down to a horrible accident, but her father's girlfriend (who is a lawyer and a private investigator), and her neighbor Brynn (a self-styled psychic), believe it was murder.
At the same time Ross meets with an overweight young woman who wants to write a novel about the Fiance Murders that occurred several years earlier. When the young woman goes missing, Ross becomes concerned.
When two murders occur, Ross is worried that the young woman may have gotten mixed up in the murders, or has been murdered herself. Another young woman is missing.
The police have several suspects and Kenny gets herself in a tight situation when she overhears an argument.
There are several things going on in this book. The murders, the kidnappings, Brynn's situation and not the least is Kenny's Nash issues. It is a lot to take in, but it somehow works. I found this to be an interesting book with a somewhat engaging plot. The Brynn character got old by the end of the book. She can't seem to stay out of trouble and is awfully innocent. Kenny makes several stupid moves like taking a civilian with her on a case. The book is fairly well written, but does tend to wander a bit. It really gets to lose its focus at the end. Perhaps it is the author trying to balance many plots and sub-plots. All in all it is a fairly competent effort.
Detective Kendall “Kenny” Halsrud is feeling a little lost due to the absence of her boyfriend Nash who is on an undercover assignment with another police force.
It is a bitterly cold winter in Eau Claire, Wisconsin when an alcoholic young man freezes to death on the front steps of a home that is not his. Kendall and her partner Ross put it down to a horrible accident, but her father's girlfriend (who is a lawyer and a private investigator), and her neighbor Brynn (a self-styled psychic), believe it was murder.
At the same time Ross meets with an overweight young woman who wants to write a novel about the Fiance Murders that occurred several years earlier. When the young woman goes missing, Ross becomes concerned.
When two murders occur, Ross is worried that the young woman may have gotten mixed up in the murders, or has been murdered herself. Another young woman is missing.
The police have several suspects and Kenny gets herself in a tight situation when she overhears an argument.
There are several things going on in this book. The murders, the kidnappings, Brynn's situation and not the least is Kenny's Nash issues. It is a lot to take in, but it somehow works. I found this to be an interesting book with a somewhat engaging plot. The Brynn character got old by the end of the book. She can't seem to stay out of trouble and is awfully innocent. Kenny makes several stupid moves like taking a civilian with her on a case. The book is fairly well written, but does tend to wander a bit. It really gets to lose its focus at the end. Perhaps it is the author trying to balance many plots and sub-plots. All in all it is a fairly competent effort.
May 29, 2017
This book was just ok enough to keep me reading. It had several problems, including spelling errors and sketchy writing at times, but it had decent characters. Unfortunately, the best character has a secondary role. The lead character didn't have much personality. I'll pass on the rest of this series.
November 3, 2020
"A slow-burn of a thriller"
All the ingredients were there for a gripping thriller, and I do love a complex police procedural. My only gripe was it seemed to take me forever to get to the end. Maybe I should have read the first book in order to understand the back story. A slow-burn rather than a forest fire.
All the ingredients were there for a gripping thriller, and I do love a complex police procedural. My only gripe was it seemed to take me forever to get to the end. Maybe I should have read the first book in order to understand the back story. A slow-burn rather than a forest fire.
August 26, 2019
I enjoyed Iced Malice, it has a very good story line, it kept me thinking on what would happen at the end. I enjoyed learning about the characters within the story. Madison is a good writer and keeps a person within the story to not want to put the book down.
August 23, 2016
Detective Kendall Halsrud and her new partner Detective Ross Alverson are investigating some missing persons when a body is discovered covered in snow at a door of a home - accident or murder. Are the missing persons connected to an old case known as the 'The Fiancé Murders'.
I didn't read the first in the series but I am not sure that I like Halsrud much, I will have to read another book to decide, but the story kept my interest.
I didn't read the first in the series but I am not sure that I like Halsrud much, I will have to read another book to decide, but the story kept my interest.
July 3, 2017
Never got really involved with the character. Police procedural without much procedure. Cookie cutter woman detective, who breaks all the rules, but gets her man. I like good detective stories this one is not quite there.
September 13, 2016
Congrats on the success of this series. All the best to you, Marla!
March 25, 2017
Fast paced
Absolutely loved the second book in the series and about to download the third to read. I can't get enough of Kendall and company.
Absolutely loved the second book in the series and about to download the third to read. I can't get enough of Kendall and company.
February 1, 2018
Just a case of the wrong address? Kendall & her partner Ross have a new case but it just looks like a death by misadventure, the guy froze to death outside the wrong. So they are happy to close the case that is until a lawyer gets involved on behalf of the family. So Kendall decides to leave it open for now and she lets her neighbor the ex hacker Brynn have a quick look but Brynn starts digging and she finds out the truth and it is a sad tale. Kendall & Ross have another case of a missing girl and this time it is someone that Ross knows and he just wants to find the girl before it is too late as they are on the hunt for a serial killer that might have taken her. But all the clues point to a couple but they find nothing so Kendall decides to dig deeper and what she finds will bring peace to the families of the lost couples. But Kendall is dealing with her own heartache her boyfriend Nash has been beaten and he has no memory of their time together and she is afraid that he will go back to his wife who he was in the process of divorcing. What does she do now? Will they get all the answers that they need and bring closure to their open cases? A good solid read.
September 26, 2019
Iced Malice Marla Madison
When I started reading this book I wasn’t aware that it was part of a series, but it became apparent that I was missing a lot of back story to fully understand the content of parts of the story, especially between Ryan and Brynn, and Kendell and Nash.
I would recommend that others do start this series with the first Detective Kendall Halsrud novel “Relative Malice” I imagine this will set the scene for Iced Malice as this is book 2 out of 4.
Even with having to work with missing plot keys I found Iced Malice to be an enjoyable crime mystery. I found it easy to get sucked into the mystery of the stories as they are more than one case happening during the course of the story. I’m not sure if it’s with me not starting with book 1 but I seemed to keep getting lost and in a permanent position of confusion.
I may have to come back to this again after I find the 1st book. It will not be for a while as I have a pile of books that I need to get through before any rereading takes place. So at present I feel I can only give Iced Malice 3/5
When I started reading this book I wasn’t aware that it was part of a series, but it became apparent that I was missing a lot of back story to fully understand the content of parts of the story, especially between Ryan and Brynn, and Kendell and Nash.
I would recommend that others do start this series with the first Detective Kendall Halsrud novel “Relative Malice” I imagine this will set the scene for Iced Malice as this is book 2 out of 4.
Even with having to work with missing plot keys I found Iced Malice to be an enjoyable crime mystery. I found it easy to get sucked into the mystery of the stories as they are more than one case happening during the course of the story. I’m not sure if it’s with me not starting with book 1 but I seemed to keep getting lost and in a permanent position of confusion.
I may have to come back to this again after I find the 1st book. It will not be for a while as I have a pile of books that I need to get through before any rereading takes place. So at present I feel I can only give Iced Malice 3/5
January 31, 2018
The thing I liked most about this book was the author's ability to put you into the place being described. It doesn't get very cold where I live but I felt quite shivery as she described the wintry, snowy landscape. The plot, where the main character, Detective Kendall Halsrud, and her partner look into a 12 year old case where three couples have disappeared is interspersed with current cases. I did not find it gripping, partly because police officers are not very attractive characters, but also because there was little imaginative about it apart from the first case. The nicest person in the book was Kendall's neighbour, an albino computer expert .
February 5, 2018
Good enough
This is the first of the series I have read, although it is the second book in the series. I had no problem reading it as a stand alone story. Was it good enough to read more? Yes, although it doesn't really qualify as an action-packed, on the edge of your seat mystery thriller. It's a good police detective saves the day story with a strong, well-written heroine with nicely developed support characters. Good editing, clean writing. Some icky given the subject content, but nothing over the top. Characters interesting enough to read the rest of the series. Did I love it? No, but it was good enough.
This is the first of the series I have read, although it is the second book in the series. I had no problem reading it as a stand alone story. Was it good enough to read more? Yes, although it doesn't really qualify as an action-packed, on the edge of your seat mystery thriller. It's a good police detective saves the day story with a strong, well-written heroine with nicely developed support characters. Good editing, clean writing. Some icky given the subject content, but nothing over the top. Characters interesting enough to read the rest of the series. Did I love it? No, but it was good enough.
December 20, 2018
This mystery was alright, but it didn`t grab me and pull me onto the next page. It was interesting enough that I did not give up on it, but I strongly doubt I would read any more by this author. For some reason I didn`t find the main characters all that likable either. It was not horrible, but for me it just wasn`t compelling enough for my liking. I need more tension, strong emotions to be brought out. I love it when I finish a murder mystery and heave a sigh of relief because it was like running a marathon. I would feel utterly exhausted because my heart was racing. That is what I call a 5 star mystery. :)
July 17, 2020
An interesting procedural!
Kendall is a detective in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She was in a relationship with Nash, a divorcing detective who has gone undercover with a special task force. She and her partner are investigating the death of an alcoholic man who froze to death on the wrong front porch and also the murder of a teenage girl. She uses her friends and partners to investigate, but she also goes off on her own. It is well written and is not written as a cozy mystery, a plus in my thinking. 3.5 stars raised to a four. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
Kendall is a detective in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She was in a relationship with Nash, a divorcing detective who has gone undercover with a special task force. She and her partner are investigating the death of an alcoholic man who froze to death on the wrong front porch and also the murder of a teenage girl. She uses her friends and partners to investigate, but she also goes off on her own. It is well written and is not written as a cozy mystery, a plus in my thinking. 3.5 stars raised to a four. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
February 4, 2022
When the body of a man is discovered frozen to death on the doorsteps of a local, Detective Kendall Halsrud, and her partner, Detective Ross Alverson from the Eau Claire Station are called in to investigate.
The detectives question witnesses: Nick Goracki, owner of the R-Bar, where the victim was last seen; Merilee Olson, mother of two, and owner of the house where his body was later found. According to the bar owner, the victim, Chuck was given a ride home by a stranger since he was too drunk to drive himself home. Only he arrived on someone else’s doorstep.
Kendall has also enlisted the help of her neighbor Brynn a fortune teller and a hacker.
The detectives question witnesses: Nick Goracki, owner of the R-Bar, where the victim was last seen; Merilee Olson, mother of two, and owner of the house where his body was later found. According to the bar owner, the victim, Chuck was given a ride home by a stranger since he was too drunk to drive himself home. Only he arrived on someone else’s doorstep.
Kendall has also enlisted the help of her neighbor Brynn a fortune teller and a hacker.
April 1, 2018
First in a series. I have already read number two so this brought a lot of insight into the story. Native American woman has a spirit wolf that helps her find lost children. She, herself, was kidnapped and raped as a teen. She joins forces with a gamer millionaire and together they go after the man who kidnapped her and is running a business stealing young girls and selling them on the black market around the world.
Good writer, good characters, good story line. I will read another of this series.
Good writer, good characters, good story line. I will read another of this series.
March 18, 2020
If I could, I would have given this book 2. 5 stars but I'm rounding it up to 3. Lots of little subplots made book feel disjointed. Kendall broke the rules by not going with backup twice and almost getting killed. In the last instance she involved a civilian. Brynn is a more interesting character, particularly when there was a twist at the end involving her. I wish Kendall would get over Nash, especially when there is an attractive military veteran who is interested in taking her out to dinner. The plot line involving the very young Courtney and the much older Ross is sort of creepy.
January 5, 2026
OMG what an awesome book! Well-written with great characters, locations and GREAT storyline! This book is one you don't want to put down, it keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for what happens next... Has some swearing and horror aspects but I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great Cop/Murder mystery. I can't wait to read the other 2 in the series. Kept you wondering whodunnit right to the end... 5 Stars from me!
February 19, 2018
Iced Malice (Detective Kendall Halsrud Series Book 2)
Interesting book that takes you through all the steps and lives of the detective as they try to solve the different cases that come across their desks that don't seem to be connected but yet are and the daily dangers they live with every day
Interesting book that takes you through all the steps and lives of the detective as they try to solve the different cases that come across their desks that don't seem to be connected but yet are and the daily dangers they live with every day
February 25, 2018
Good Read
Enjoyed the story. But needed to be edited better. Lots of typos and grammar mistakes. Didn't like that the doctors insisted Kendall should not come to hospital to see Nash. Just didn't make sense. I always thought you should expose an amnesia patient to familiar things and people to help jar their memory. Really liked Kendall's character. Strong!
Enjoyed the story. But needed to be edited better. Lots of typos and grammar mistakes. Didn't like that the doctors insisted Kendall should not come to hospital to see Nash. Just didn't make sense. I always thought you should expose an amnesia patient to familiar things and people to help jar their memory. Really liked Kendall's character. Strong!
June 16, 2020
Once again Marla has us hanging on to the edge of our seats, just when you think you know who the killer is it all twists around.
I love the writing style, the way the story is about 2 ongoing cases at the same time, also keeping my fingers crossed that Kendall’s love of her life pulls through. This is definitely in the category of “couldn’t put down till finished”.
Can’t wait till the next book.
I love the writing style, the way the story is about 2 ongoing cases at the same time, also keeping my fingers crossed that Kendall’s love of her life pulls through. This is definitely in the category of “couldn’t put down till finished”.
Can’t wait till the next book.
May 10, 2021
Poor characters. The main character is not good at her job at all and puts herself and others in danger. The other detective is a misogynistic prick. The author uses words like “downs” and other vile things right from the beginning of the book. The story line was terrible and utterly predictable. Not worth the read. Definitely not worth looking into the rest of the series.
July 20, 2022
This was a good book, but a bit drawn out. I like Detective Kendall , but there were so many other characters brought in , I thought it took the spotlight away from her.
Did you really have to name the dog, SHIRLEY? My name is Shirley and I have rarely heard of anyone naming their kids Shirley, let along their dog. What happened to a dog named fido? :)
Did you really have to name the dog, SHIRLEY? My name is Shirley and I have rarely heard of anyone naming their kids Shirley, let along their dog. What happened to a dog named fido? :)
July 27, 2022
Pleasantly surprised with Iced Malice (I did not read Halsrud #1). At first I thought the novel was going to be a challenge as there are multiple, and seemingly unrelated, plot lines. The novel reads well, the characters interesting, and those multiple plot lines all weave together beautifully. Enjoyable read that I'm glad I stuck with.
June 11, 2024
Good story
A number of cases, a number of characters, the good guys and the bad guys, are woven together to form a fast-moving narrative. I do wish an editor had helped make the narrative and conversations a bit less forced. They robbed Madison of the ability to make her writing great.
A number of cases, a number of characters, the good guys and the bad guys, are woven together to form a fast-moving narrative. I do wish an editor had helped make the narrative and conversations a bit less forced. They robbed Madison of the ability to make her writing great.
May 23, 2017
Great read
Lots of ups and downs suspense and confusion if you're trying to figure out who person is causing of murder but as you get further in the story start develop instinctive bad good job
Lots of ups and downs suspense and confusion if you're trying to figure out who person is causing of murder but as you get further in the story start develop instinctive bad good job
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews