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Cold Case Investigation #1
A Cold Day in Hell
"A retired detective, Lissa Marie Redmond gives it to the reader without the sugarcoating and lifts the veil off how the system really works . . . or doesn't."-Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of What You Break
Lauren's job as a cold case homicide detective is her life. And life just got complicated.
Lauren Riley is an accomplished detective who has always been on the opposite side of the courtroom from slick defense attorney Frank Violanti. But now he's begging to hire her as a private investigator to help clear his client of murder. At first Lauren refuses, wanting nothing to do with the media circus surrounding the case-until she meets the eighteen-year-old suspect.
To keep an innocent teen from life in prison, Lauren must unravel the conflicting evidence and changing stories to get at the buried facts. But the more she digs, the more she discovers that nothing is what it first appears to be. As Lauren puts her career and life in danger, doubt lurks on every corner . . . and so does her stalker.
"Recommend this one to anyone who loves courtroom dramas where lawyers tear into witnesses like pit bulls. And to anyone hot for a police procedural where tired cops make mistakes but slowly, relentlessly-and with morbid humor-get the job done. Redmond delivers both in one package. . . . The real attraction here is a keyhole view into a world that turns our expectations upside down-a world where a bullying, quasi-fascist cop can be the only one with a handle on reality. Keep your eyes on Redmond, a retired cop who knows how to write."-Booklist
Lauren's job as a cold case homicide detective is her life. And life just got complicated.
Lauren Riley is an accomplished detective who has always been on the opposite side of the courtroom from slick defense attorney Frank Violanti. But now he's begging to hire her as a private investigator to help clear his client of murder. At first Lauren refuses, wanting nothing to do with the media circus surrounding the case-until she meets the eighteen-year-old suspect.
To keep an innocent teen from life in prison, Lauren must unravel the conflicting evidence and changing stories to get at the buried facts. But the more she digs, the more she discovers that nothing is what it first appears to be. As Lauren puts her career and life in danger, doubt lurks on every corner . . . and so does her stalker.
"Recommend this one to anyone who loves courtroom dramas where lawyers tear into witnesses like pit bulls. And to anyone hot for a police procedural where tired cops make mistakes but slowly, relentlessly-and with morbid humor-get the job done. Redmond delivers both in one package. . . . The real attraction here is a keyhole view into a world that turns our expectations upside down-a world where a bullying, quasi-fascist cop can be the only one with a handle on reality. Keep your eyes on Redmond, a retired cop who knows how to write."-Booklist
390 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2018
87 people are currently reading
1919 people want to read
About the author
Lissa Marie Redmond
20 books313 followersLissa Marie Redmond is the author of the Cold Case Investigation series. She lives in western New York with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
July 23, 2017
This is an excellent crime fiction debut novel from Redmond, part police procedural and part legal thriller. Lauren Riley is 38 years old, twice divorced, with two grown up daughters, working in Cold Case Homicide in Buffalo, New York. She has a great police partner in Shane Reece, and she is a rising star in the police department. Lauren gets the shock of her life when she is asked by arch enemy, defense lawyer, Frank Violanti, to work as PI on a case where 18 year old David Ryan Spencer, his godson, stands accused of murder. The victim is Katherine Vine, strangled by her scarf in her car after having rough sex with David. Joe Wheeler is the investigating officer who arrested him. Lauren has history with Wheeler, an ex-fiance she views with contempt, with good reason. This, and her assessment of David as likely to be innocent, has her agreeing to work with Violanti.
Whilst Lauren works the Spencer case, we get insight into Lauren's normal cold cases as she and Reece investigate the 1993 fatal stabbing of Vinita Ortiz, to the Stenz case, notoriously known as the vampire slaying. Lauren is reminded of exactly how bad Wheeler can be. As she is hunting down information on Katherine Vine and her husband, Anthony, she finds herself back in touch with Mark Hathaway, her ex-husband, which leads to complications in her personal life. Her DA, Carl Church, with whom she has a good relationship is less than happy that she is acting as second front for a defense attorney, particularly as he is going to be prosecuting Spencer himself. In the meantime, Lauren has acquired a stalker, and gathers evidence that Anthony Vine has motive in wanting his wife dead. Amidst gathering doubts and confusion, the trial begins with plenty of drama. This is a story of twists, where nothing is as it seems.
The more I read of this novel, the more hooked I became into the story, Redmond has acquitted herself well on her character driven debut, showcasing terrific plotting and great writing. Her heroine, Lauren Riley, is a complex and complicated character with bags of determination and personality. She is flawed, and her personal life is a bit of a mess amidst which she has to deal with the ghastly Wheeler. I liked her relationship and banter with her partner, Reece, and the authentic portrayal of them having ups and downs, but they are loyal to each other. The everyday life and tasks of the cold case homicide unit gives the reader an excellent idea of how cases are investigated and the way detectives juggle their workloads. An enjoyable, tense and suspenseful read that I recommend to readers of crime fiction. Many thanks to Midnight Ink for an ARC.
Whilst Lauren works the Spencer case, we get insight into Lauren's normal cold cases as she and Reece investigate the 1993 fatal stabbing of Vinita Ortiz, to the Stenz case, notoriously known as the vampire slaying. Lauren is reminded of exactly how bad Wheeler can be. As she is hunting down information on Katherine Vine and her husband, Anthony, she finds herself back in touch with Mark Hathaway, her ex-husband, which leads to complications in her personal life. Her DA, Carl Church, with whom she has a good relationship is less than happy that she is acting as second front for a defense attorney, particularly as he is going to be prosecuting Spencer himself. In the meantime, Lauren has acquired a stalker, and gathers evidence that Anthony Vine has motive in wanting his wife dead. Amidst gathering doubts and confusion, the trial begins with plenty of drama. This is a story of twists, where nothing is as it seems.
The more I read of this novel, the more hooked I became into the story, Redmond has acquitted herself well on her character driven debut, showcasing terrific plotting and great writing. Her heroine, Lauren Riley, is a complex and complicated character with bags of determination and personality. She is flawed, and her personal life is a bit of a mess amidst which she has to deal with the ghastly Wheeler. I liked her relationship and banter with her partner, Reece, and the authentic portrayal of them having ups and downs, but they are loyal to each other. The everyday life and tasks of the cold case homicide unit gives the reader an excellent idea of how cases are investigated and the way detectives juggle their workloads. An enjoyable, tense and suspenseful read that I recommend to readers of crime fiction. Many thanks to Midnight Ink for an ARC.
January 16, 2018
This debut mystery stars a cold case detective in Buffalo, NY. A defense lawyer that she loathes, Frank Violanti, hires her as a investigator on a murder charge of an 18 year old teen. “She was disturbed by the genuine display of emotion he was putting on. It threatened the delicate balance that they had struck between hate and disgust for each other.” Her relationship with Violanti was one of the best things about the book.
Lauren is a good detective and I appreciated her investigative acumen (although she gets a lot of leads handed to her).
Then there’s the police officer that made the arrest. He was her physically abusive ex-boyfriend. He’s a bit of a cliche in my mind. But he did provide a nice creep factor.
This book moves along at a steady pace through most of the first ⅔s. A lot of time seems spent in giving the characters some background and depth. At times I felt it could use a little more oomph. This is a decent book but nothing great. Fair warning, this book ends with both a cliff hanger and what I considered a key plot point left dangling.
My thanks to netgalley and Midnight Ink for an advance copy of this book.
February 11, 2018
It's hard to believe this one is a debut. There's lots going on, and it easily kept my attention. The main character is immensely likable and easy to root for. She's certainly not perfect, but she's doing her best... devoted mother, intelligent detective, and of course unlucky in love. I found myself more involved in the case than I usually am with mysteries, dying to know exactly what happened to the victim and why. I was not disappointed! There's a little bit of a creep factor to it, and lots of suspense and courtroom drama.
Lauren Riley is a highly respected detective who works on cold cases. With two grown daughters in college and nothing to do with her time but work, she takes a case as a private detective when she's offered a significant amount of money for it. It means working with Frank Violanti, a defense attorney she has no respect for, but she's drawn in to assist once she meets the client: David, a recent high school graduate accused of murder. There's just something innocent about him, and she worries she'll regret it if she doesn't help with his case and prove he isn't guilty.
Digging deep into the case while still working cold cases at her main gig, she's stressed to the max... and there's some who believe she never should have taken on David's case in the first place. She alternates between working cold cases with her partner Reese, who is like a brother to her, to dealing with the overconfident and sometimes off-putting Violanti. As if that weren't enough to deal with, she's being watched and monitored by a different player.
This story does wrap things up by the end, but leaves a thread hanging that will leave you looking forward to the next book. I'm already checking to see when it's coming out!
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Midnight Ink, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Lauren Riley is a highly respected detective who works on cold cases. With two grown daughters in college and nothing to do with her time but work, she takes a case as a private detective when she's offered a significant amount of money for it. It means working with Frank Violanti, a defense attorney she has no respect for, but she's drawn in to assist once she meets the client: David, a recent high school graduate accused of murder. There's just something innocent about him, and she worries she'll regret it if she doesn't help with his case and prove he isn't guilty.
Digging deep into the case while still working cold cases at her main gig, she's stressed to the max... and there's some who believe she never should have taken on David's case in the first place. She alternates between working cold cases with her partner Reese, who is like a brother to her, to dealing with the overconfident and sometimes off-putting Violanti. As if that weren't enough to deal with, she's being watched and monitored by a different player.
This story does wrap things up by the end, but leaves a thread hanging that will leave you looking forward to the next book. I'm already checking to see when it's coming out!
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Midnight Ink, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
September 2, 2017
2.75 stars
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Setting: Buffalo, NY
POV:
Plot: 3.5/5
Intensity: 2/5
Steamy times: 1.75/5
Likes
Detective Lauren Riley was a seasoned professional with sixteen years of homicide experience under her belt. This story moved quickly and Lauren's combative relationship with Frank Violant was fun to read about because they both had witty banter to exchange. The actual courtroom drama occurred swiftly and was a bit anticlimactic, as were other areas of the story, but the ending was great.
Not so much
I liked the start of this story and even enjoyed some parts of the investigative process, but one of the cold cases was solved in record time (after being shelved for so long) and wasn't very exciting. Also, Lauren exhibited some doormat-ish behavior that drove me crazy. There was a smidgen of romance going on, but Lauren went from craving and adoring Mark to suddenly not wanting any part of him. Her willpower to refuse him skyrocketed overnight it seemed!
► Overall, this was a fair read but I didn't like any of the characters and this story didn't offer a thrilling ride for me.
*NetGalley ARC kindly provided by Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Setting: Buffalo, NY
POV:
Plot: 3.5/5
Intensity: 2/5
Steamy times: 1.75/5
Likes
Detective Lauren Riley was a seasoned professional with sixteen years of homicide experience under her belt. This story moved quickly and Lauren's combative relationship with Frank Violant was fun to read about because they both had witty banter to exchange. The actual courtroom drama occurred swiftly and was a bit anticlimactic, as were other areas of the story, but the ending was great.
Not so much
I liked the start of this story and even enjoyed some parts of the investigative process, but one of the cold cases was solved in record time (after being shelved for so long) and wasn't very exciting. Also, Lauren exhibited some doormat-ish behavior that drove me crazy. There was a smidgen of romance going on, but Lauren went from craving and adoring Mark to suddenly not wanting any part of him. Her willpower to refuse him skyrocketed overnight it seemed!
► Overall, this was a fair read but I didn't like any of the characters and this story didn't offer a thrilling ride for me.
*NetGalley ARC kindly provided by Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2017
This was a great, fast paced read. The main character is a strong willed single mum who works not only on cold cases with the police but also as a private investigator on a high profile murder case. I hope this is the start of the series as I would love to read more. Thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for an advance copy of this book to read and review
January 23, 2018
3 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. It takes place in Buffalo, NY. I grew up in Buffalo and still live in Western NY. The descriptions of Buffalo and surroundings are authentic. But the book ends with a major cliffhanger, forcing the reader to buy the next book in the series(expected 2019, according to author bio).
The book has two major plots:
Lauren Riley is a cold case detective with the Buffalo Police Department. She and her partner, Shane Reese are working on a murder that remains unsolved for over 20 years.
The second plot involves Lauren taking on a case in her off duty time as a private investigator. She agrees to work for a defense attorney Frank Violanti. She despises Violanti because of some very nasty questions he has asked her as a witness. She only agrees to take the case because she feels his client, Violanti's godson, might be innocent and a $10,000 fee.
One of these 2 plots is resolved and the other is not at the end of the book. Two subplots also remain unresolved.
I may or may not read book 2 in the series. Thanks to NetGalley, Midnight Ink and Lissa Marie Redmond for sending me this ebook.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It takes place in Buffalo, NY. I grew up in Buffalo and still live in Western NY. The descriptions of Buffalo and surroundings are authentic. But the book ends with a major cliffhanger, forcing the reader to buy the next book in the series(expected 2019, according to author bio).
The book has two major plots:
Lauren Riley is a cold case detective with the Buffalo Police Department. She and her partner, Shane Reese are working on a murder that remains unsolved for over 20 years.
The second plot involves Lauren taking on a case in her off duty time as a private investigator. She agrees to work for a defense attorney Frank Violanti. She despises Violanti because of some very nasty questions he has asked her as a witness. She only agrees to take the case because she feels his client, Violanti's godson, might be innocent and a $10,000 fee.
One of these 2 plots is resolved and the other is not at the end of the book. Two subplots also remain unresolved.
I may or may not read book 2 in the series. Thanks to NetGalley, Midnight Ink and Lissa Marie Redmond for sending me this ebook.
February 12, 2018
This was quite the suspenseful ride that I was searching for! I was initially intrigued by this book because I have always been a fan of cold cases. I loved reading the main mystery of the recent murder and also enjoyed the side plot of the cold case file. Lauren Riley was a likable character because she was flawed and realistic. She chose broken men, she tried to fix people and loved the wrong person. Even through these flaws she was a strong and intelligent woman and a good cop. I am definitely am looking forward to book 2 of this series! Reading this fast paced thriller was quite the treat! Not only did you get to enjoy seeing the crime thriller side this had some legal aspects as well with the trial and such. Some of the stuff that went on had me in utter shock. I do have to give this story a mild trigger warning for those who might've been in an abusive relationship. Overall this was a grade A suspense that I won't soon forget!😍
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. I appreciate this opportunity.
To find this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. I appreciate this opportunity.
To find this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
January 29, 2018
Lauren Riley is a thirty-eight-year-old twice-divorced mother of two college age daughters, working cold case homicides. She has a great, younger cold case partner, Reese, and carries a torch for her ex-husband, Mark. Meanwhile, her ex, Joe Wheeler, is a Garden Valley homicide detective and a total (excuse my language) a-hole, who brazenly punches Lauren in the mouth after learning she's working against him on a case. Lauren's working two jobs -- her daytime gig on cold cases and also as a certified Private Investigator (PI). Lauren is hired by her nemesis, attorney Frank Violanti, to work the high-profile case of David, who is accused of murdering Katherine Vine, the beautiful, younger wife of Anthony Vine, who runs a successful chain of gyms. Lauren knows taking the case could stir up some issues in her department, with the DA, and with Reese. But in her gut, she feels that David is innocent. Can she and Frank make peace and prove it?
I read a lot of mysteries and while there are thankfully more strong female detectives coming on the scene (see Kristen Lepionka's Roxanne Weary and Emily Littlejohn's Gemma Monroe, for instance), they are still few and far between. While Lauren Riley may still be finding herself (there's a lot of side coverage of emotional entanglements and relationships here), I still love finding and championing a complicated, real, strong female detective.
Lauren's PI case is really the star of the show, and it's interesting and engaging throughout the entire novel. It keeps you guessing throughout, questioning whether David did it or not, and who else played a key role in Katherine and Anthony Vine lives. Nothing is cut or dried.
Also fascinating is Lauren's main cold case. While you could argue some of it ties up neatly, it doesn't go as expected, per se, if that makes sense, and the characters involved are intriguing and different. All the cases kept me interested as I read. A lot certainly happens in this novel, between Lauren's work and personal life. Nothing is boring, and there's never really a dull moment, especially once you get into the swing of things and realize that the book covers both her personal life and her work life in-depth. It also tells the story from more than Lauren's POV, even if she's the main focus, which works surprisingly well.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the book culminates in a trial related to Lauren's PI case, and it's a great, suspenseful, incredibly well-written piece of work. The courtroom scenes were so well-done and really had me on the edge of my seat. One of the things I loved about this novel was how I could so easily picture each of these characters-- each is well-described and fleshed out. Redmond writes darn good trial scenes (and a darn good book), and I was frantically flipping the pages to see how things would turn out.
It wasn't until I finished the book that I learned the author is a retired homicide detective, but it definitely shows as you read. The novel is written expertly in terms of police and courtroom procedure, but still enjoyable in terms of the characters. There is a lot of personal "stuff" in terms of Lauren; this will be a little different if you are used to the Bosch type of detective (the love of my life and my hero). Still, it's completely refreshing to see a complicated female lead detective, and, as mentioned, so nice to be reading more of these stories. I grew to really love Lauren.
The courtroom scenes are great, and a lot will keep you guessing. Sure, some of the cold cases wrap up what seem a little easily, but even Lauren addresses that as she works. I read some reviews that Joe Wheeler is a cliche character, and I guess I could see where people get that, but for me, society as of late seems to be showing us everyday that these sort of angry, abusive men truly exist. Everywhere. To me, Joe was a sadly realistic portrayal of a horrible man, and his slow, boiling anger only added to the tension of the entire novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It looks like it's going to be a series, and it ends with some unfinished issues that make me even more eager for book two. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 02/08/2018.
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I read a lot of mysteries and while there are thankfully more strong female detectives coming on the scene (see Kristen Lepionka's Roxanne Weary and Emily Littlejohn's Gemma Monroe, for instance), they are still few and far between. While Lauren Riley may still be finding herself (there's a lot of side coverage of emotional entanglements and relationships here), I still love finding and championing a complicated, real, strong female detective.
Lauren's PI case is really the star of the show, and it's interesting and engaging throughout the entire novel. It keeps you guessing throughout, questioning whether David did it or not, and who else played a key role in Katherine and Anthony Vine lives. Nothing is cut or dried.
Also fascinating is Lauren's main cold case. While you could argue some of it ties up neatly, it doesn't go as expected, per se, if that makes sense, and the characters involved are intriguing and different. All the cases kept me interested as I read. A lot certainly happens in this novel, between Lauren's work and personal life. Nothing is boring, and there's never really a dull moment, especially once you get into the swing of things and realize that the book covers both her personal life and her work life in-depth. It also tells the story from more than Lauren's POV, even if she's the main focus, which works surprisingly well.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the book culminates in a trial related to Lauren's PI case, and it's a great, suspenseful, incredibly well-written piece of work. The courtroom scenes were so well-done and really had me on the edge of my seat. One of the things I loved about this novel was how I could so easily picture each of these characters-- each is well-described and fleshed out. Redmond writes darn good trial scenes (and a darn good book), and I was frantically flipping the pages to see how things would turn out.
It wasn't until I finished the book that I learned the author is a retired homicide detective, but it definitely shows as you read. The novel is written expertly in terms of police and courtroom procedure, but still enjoyable in terms of the characters. There is a lot of personal "stuff" in terms of Lauren; this will be a little different if you are used to the Bosch type of detective (the love of my life and my hero). Still, it's completely refreshing to see a complicated female lead detective, and, as mentioned, so nice to be reading more of these stories. I grew to really love Lauren.
The courtroom scenes are great, and a lot will keep you guessing. Sure, some of the cold cases wrap up what seem a little easily, but even Lauren addresses that as she works. I read some reviews that Joe Wheeler is a cliche character, and I guess I could see where people get that, but for me, society as of late seems to be showing us everyday that these sort of angry, abusive men truly exist. Everywhere. To me, Joe was a sadly realistic portrayal of a horrible man, and his slow, boiling anger only added to the tension of the entire novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It looks like it's going to be a series, and it ends with some unfinished issues that make me even more eager for book two. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 02/08/2018.
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July 26, 2020
An excellent start to the series of Cold Case Investigation. Lauren is all for justice, but she's as real as it comes with typical lost loves and 2 failed marriages, in fact, Lauren Riley reminded me of Karen Pirie by Val MacDermid. The author Lissa Marie Redmond definitely knows her work, and it shows in how detailed and structured the story begins with. The first part of the story focuses on introducing the characters and everything is quite descriptive but not in a boring too much way.
A Cold Day in Hell is a part investigative and part legal thriller. Lauren works with Shane Reece in the cold case division and the warmth friendship they both share is dished out perfectly. Even though I expected a cold case to be the main theme of the story, the major investigation is by Lauren as a PI for the defense advocate with whom she doesn't share a good equation. There is quite a lot happening in the story as we are made aware of her ex lover bully cop, the ex husband with whom she's still in love, her girls and their relationship, the stalking drama , and 2 other cold cases where most times justice is not served.
A brilliant work and looking forward to continuing the series.
A Cold Day in Hell is a part investigative and part legal thriller. Lauren works with Shane Reece in the cold case division and the warmth friendship they both share is dished out perfectly. Even though I expected a cold case to be the main theme of the story, the major investigation is by Lauren as a PI for the defense advocate with whom she doesn't share a good equation. There is quite a lot happening in the story as we are made aware of her ex lover bully cop, the ex husband with whom she's still in love, her girls and their relationship, the stalking drama , and 2 other cold cases where most times justice is not served.
A brilliant work and looking forward to continuing the series.
February 2, 2018
An electronic ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via Netgally.
I loved loved loved this book! Do you know those homicide investigation TV shows? Well, I used to be addicted to them and this felt like watching those again. I don't want to go in too much detail as I'm planning to publish a more in-depth review closer to release date but I'll tell you that this book is gonna keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. A must read for 2018.
Amazing writing with a fantastic plot, a great debut novel.
UPDATE:
Okay, I have no idea what the more in-depth review would have been about, but I do know that I definitely LOVED this book, couldn't stop reading it, definitely a page turner. So if you have a chance, do check it out, because (at least in my opinion) it's worth it I can tell you that much.
I loved loved loved this book! Do you know those homicide investigation TV shows? Well, I used to be addicted to them and this felt like watching those again. I don't want to go in too much detail as I'm planning to publish a more in-depth review closer to release date but I'll tell you that this book is gonna keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. A must read for 2018.
Amazing writing with a fantastic plot, a great debut novel.
UPDATE:
Okay, I have no idea what the more in-depth review would have been about, but I do know that I definitely LOVED this book, couldn't stop reading it, definitely a page turner. So if you have a chance, do check it out, because (at least in my opinion) it's worth it I can tell you that much.
August 13, 2017
3.75 ⭐️
Thank you so much to Netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of A Cold Day in Hell by Lissa Marie Redmond in exchange for an honest review. A Cold Day In Hell will be published on February 8,2018 by Midnight Ink.
Drama, romance and murder what else could you want from a mystery novel?!
Lauren is a detective and private investigator and she is very good at her job. So when a defense lawyer that had bashed her and questioned her sanity asks for a favor she laughs in his face. Frank begs Laurens to help him, there has been a murder of a high profile celebrity Kathrine Vine and his godson has been caught in the crossfire. Lauren has two grown children of her own so she decides to help Frank and his godson David.
But not only does Lauren have to deal with her job and davids trail but she has to deal with her Ex husband Mark. But Mark has a new wife and a son and Lauren in his hotel room.
Laurens life is spiraling out of control and everything she loves is at risk.
Descriptive writing, the humor flowed so easily and the tension and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of A Cold Day in Hell by Lissa Marie Redmond in exchange for an honest review. A Cold Day In Hell will be published on February 8,2018 by Midnight Ink.
Drama, romance and murder what else could you want from a mystery novel?!
Lauren is a detective and private investigator and she is very good at her job. So when a defense lawyer that had bashed her and questioned her sanity asks for a favor she laughs in his face. Frank begs Laurens to help him, there has been a murder of a high profile celebrity Kathrine Vine and his godson has been caught in the crossfire. Lauren has two grown children of her own so she decides to help Frank and his godson David.
But not only does Lauren have to deal with her job and davids trail but she has to deal with her Ex husband Mark. But Mark has a new wife and a son and Lauren in his hotel room.
Laurens life is spiraling out of control and everything she loves is at risk.
Descriptive writing, the humor flowed so easily and the tension and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat.
March 14, 2018
This was quite the suspenseful ride that I was searching for! I was initially intrigued by this book because I have always been a fan of cold cases. I loved reading the main mystery of the recent murder and also enjoyed the side plot of the cold case file. Lauren Riley was a likable character because she was flawed and realistic. She chose broken men, she tried to fix people and loved the wrong person. Even through these flaws she was a strong and intelligent woman and a good cop. I am definitely am looking forward to book 2 of this series! Reading this fast paced thriller was quite the treat! Not only did you get to enjoy seeing the crime thriller side this had some legal aspects as well with the trial and such. Some of the stuff that went on had me in utter shock. I do have to give this story a mild trigger warning for those who might've been in an abusive relationship. Overall this was a grade A suspense that I won't soon forget!😍
September 22, 2017
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Wow. This was a really awesome book and to be very honest I don't even know how to describe it. I just hope everyone will be able to read it as soon as it comes out!
Wow. This was a really awesome book and to be very honest I don't even know how to describe it. I just hope everyone will be able to read it as soon as it comes out!
February 24, 2018
This was a fantastic debut by the author. Her law enforcement experience shows and is certainly a plus in the telling of this story. I've read some of the negative comments about the book, the main one being the cliffhanger at the end and I'd have to argue that to a certain extent. The murder, arrest of the suspect, and the trial itself, are well told and actually reach a conclusion at the end. However, there are extenuating circumstances that leave you with questions that can only be answered in the next book. I just hope we don't have to wait long for that to happen.
Lauren Riley is a detective who takes on the role of private investigator in this case. Normally working for the prosecution, she's faced off with defense attorney, Frank Violanti, several times before. It wasn't pleasant and she really doesn't care for him. So when he asks for her help she has no problem saying no. He tells her his godson, David, age eighteen, has been arrested and charged with the murder of Katherine Vine, an older married woman he met at the toy store where he worked. Frank convinces Lauren to at least meet the boy, confident that when she does she'll change her mind.
After talking to David, Lauren too believes in his innocence and agrees to work for Frank. David admits he was with Katherine the night she died. Yes, she came on to him, was all over him, in fact, and yes, they had sex, hence the reason the forensic evidence puts him at the scene of the crime. But he swears she was alive when he exited the car and walked away. Then there's the fact Katherine's husband, Anthony Vine, an extremely successful businessman, was having an affair. Katherine had recently discovered that fact and if she chose to file for divorce, Anthony stood to lose about two million dollars. This gave him a strong motive for killing her.
Frank and Lauren have their work cut out for them if they're going to keep David out of prison for the rest of his life or prevent him from possibly even getting the death penalty if proven guilty. Tracking down clues, digging up witnesses, working to piece things together, proves challenging. It doesn't help that Lauren has a stalker. He's her ex, a police officer and a sadistic monster. He wants Lauren back and even punches her after confronting her in a parking lot where she refuses him. Now she's armed and vowing he won't get a second chance. Unfortunately, he's the arresting officer in David's case which means she has to see him every day in the courtroom while waiting for him to testify.
This was one I pretty much read in one sitting. I hated to put it down. I found it very entertaining and really liked the characters. Lauren had her flaws. She was involved with a married man, another ex of hers, that she couldn't seem to stay away from even though she knew it was wrong. Frank was married but put his job before his wife, something he knew he needed to rectify if his marriage was going to succeed. The personal aspects of the story added to its appeal. I hope we learn more about both of them as the series continues.
If you enjoy police procedurals and don't mind a good legal thriller now and then, this one is a bit of both. I liked the author's writing style. She made the story easy to read and mixed in just the right amount of narrative and dialogue to keep you turning the pages. This is one of the better books I've read so far this year.
Lauren Riley is a detective who takes on the role of private investigator in this case. Normally working for the prosecution, she's faced off with defense attorney, Frank Violanti, several times before. It wasn't pleasant and she really doesn't care for him. So when he asks for her help she has no problem saying no. He tells her his godson, David, age eighteen, has been arrested and charged with the murder of Katherine Vine, an older married woman he met at the toy store where he worked. Frank convinces Lauren to at least meet the boy, confident that when she does she'll change her mind.
After talking to David, Lauren too believes in his innocence and agrees to work for Frank. David admits he was with Katherine the night she died. Yes, she came on to him, was all over him, in fact, and yes, they had sex, hence the reason the forensic evidence puts him at the scene of the crime. But he swears she was alive when he exited the car and walked away. Then there's the fact Katherine's husband, Anthony Vine, an extremely successful businessman, was having an affair. Katherine had recently discovered that fact and if she chose to file for divorce, Anthony stood to lose about two million dollars. This gave him a strong motive for killing her.
Frank and Lauren have their work cut out for them if they're going to keep David out of prison for the rest of his life or prevent him from possibly even getting the death penalty if proven guilty. Tracking down clues, digging up witnesses, working to piece things together, proves challenging. It doesn't help that Lauren has a stalker. He's her ex, a police officer and a sadistic monster. He wants Lauren back and even punches her after confronting her in a parking lot where she refuses him. Now she's armed and vowing he won't get a second chance. Unfortunately, he's the arresting officer in David's case which means she has to see him every day in the courtroom while waiting for him to testify.
This was one I pretty much read in one sitting. I hated to put it down. I found it very entertaining and really liked the characters. Lauren had her flaws. She was involved with a married man, another ex of hers, that she couldn't seem to stay away from even though she knew it was wrong. Frank was married but put his job before his wife, something he knew he needed to rectify if his marriage was going to succeed. The personal aspects of the story added to its appeal. I hope we learn more about both of them as the series continues.
If you enjoy police procedurals and don't mind a good legal thriller now and then, this one is a bit of both. I liked the author's writing style. She made the story easy to read and mixed in just the right amount of narrative and dialogue to keep you turning the pages. This is one of the better books I've read so far this year.
November 1, 2017
What a ride! 'A Cold Day in Hell' gives you part murder mystery, part legal courtroom drama - leaving you until the last few pages to find out who the murderer was. Fantastic writing and brilliant characters, putting aside the annoying back and forth with the detectives ex and their rendezvous (just annoying really). I look forward to revisiting these characters in the next novel!
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2018
Usually I struggle to read US crime novels as I don't know enough about how the ranks of detectives, attorneys, etc fit together and which holds the most clout in legal terms. This novel however captured my attention throughout. I found it reminiscent in mood to the 'Shades of Blue' series starring Jennifer Lopez which recently aired its second series here in the UK.
The scene is set in the cold case department of Buffalo police HQ where Lauren Riley and her partner Reese work together to try and solve some of the old cases which never saw a conclusion to the crime. A single mom to two college students who live away from the family home I found Lauren's character really well developed and, if slightly stereotyped, very real.
Twice-divorced Lauren works two jobs; her day job is in the cold case department and she supplements this income with a lesser position as a private detective. It is in this second role that defence attorney Frank Violanti requests her services to try and prove his godson's innocence in a murder case. Lauren and Frank have clashed across the courtroom on several occasions so Lauren is quite surprised that Frank should ask for her assistance in any capacity. The two characters have a grudging respect for each other professionally and manage to rub along together to find out the facts of the case not without a few bumps along the way.
The main problem with the case is that the prosecuting officer is one of Lauren's ex partners Joe Wheeler. He is still bitter about his split with Lauren and would desperately like to have another chance to be back in her personal life. He sees this as his chance to prove to her what a good catch he would be. Unfortunately his inability to control his temper puts paid to any remaining respect Lauren had for him and his personal involvement takes over where his professionalism should be his first priority. Wheeler tries to claim that Lauren's involvement in this case is a conflict of interests with her day job in an attempt to get her thrown off the case and therefore make his job of prosecuting the young man so much easier. No spoilers here but there are some strong court scenes which make for great reading.
The author demonstrates an excellent knowledge of how evidence is collected in a criminal case in the US and how both the defence and prosecution can use this evidence to strengthen or destroy the case in question whether that be in a current case or a resurrected cold case.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was pleased to discover (as I had hoped) that there will be a second book in the series released in early 2019. I highly recommend that you give this book a chance, especially if you are a fan of US TV crime series.
The scene is set in the cold case department of Buffalo police HQ where Lauren Riley and her partner Reese work together to try and solve some of the old cases which never saw a conclusion to the crime. A single mom to two college students who live away from the family home I found Lauren's character really well developed and, if slightly stereotyped, very real.
Twice-divorced Lauren works two jobs; her day job is in the cold case department and she supplements this income with a lesser position as a private detective. It is in this second role that defence attorney Frank Violanti requests her services to try and prove his godson's innocence in a murder case. Lauren and Frank have clashed across the courtroom on several occasions so Lauren is quite surprised that Frank should ask for her assistance in any capacity. The two characters have a grudging respect for each other professionally and manage to rub along together to find out the facts of the case not without a few bumps along the way.
The main problem with the case is that the prosecuting officer is one of Lauren's ex partners Joe Wheeler. He is still bitter about his split with Lauren and would desperately like to have another chance to be back in her personal life. He sees this as his chance to prove to her what a good catch he would be. Unfortunately his inability to control his temper puts paid to any remaining respect Lauren had for him and his personal involvement takes over where his professionalism should be his first priority. Wheeler tries to claim that Lauren's involvement in this case is a conflict of interests with her day job in an attempt to get her thrown off the case and therefore make his job of prosecuting the young man so much easier. No spoilers here but there are some strong court scenes which make for great reading.
The author demonstrates an excellent knowledge of how evidence is collected in a criminal case in the US and how both the defence and prosecution can use this evidence to strengthen or destroy the case in question whether that be in a current case or a resurrected cold case.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was pleased to discover (as I had hoped) that there will be a second book in the series released in early 2019. I highly recommend that you give this book a chance, especially if you are a fan of US TV crime series.
July 24, 2017
A COLD DAY IN HELL by LISSA MARIE REDMOND
Being a top notch detective can get you far on both the most wanted list and the most watched list.
Lauren Riley, mother of two, twice divorced and refined detective in cold cases and homicide. An impeccable record attributed to years of experience endowed her with multiple accolades that saw her to the pinnacle of her career as well as distinguished her from the best.
For Lauren, life was great with a cup of tea_
filling up her cup to the brim taking a sip from it, before topping it up again_excerpt from a cold day in hell
Lauren's life and career are in sudden jeorpardy when she accepts Frank Volanti's proposal. A polished lawyer could make you doubt your beliefs. She's been on the receiving side. Once.
18-year-old David Ryan Spencer is charged with the murder of a high profile personality, Katherine Vine being the only suspect found in the scene the charges are heavy and so is the press.
She gives in to Volanti's persistent plead to help clear his client of murder considering he was a teenager.
Years of experience gives her an upper hand in the case to dug through rubbles and debris to unwind enough evidence to prove David innocent of the crime.
Still waters run deep, with each new day came new challenges and what seemed a mount hill became a mountain.
Justice is served but Lauren is left hollow and empty with unsettling thoughts clawing at the back of her mind, is there more to the story than meets the eye?
The end is just the beginning.
In addition
I love the way Lissa presented Lauren to us. Like she's a normal human like us. Not so perfect, endowed with her own personal flaws and mistakes. Not too stuck up trying to be the hero.. She takes her life one step at a time careful not to miss anything and most of all is a loving mom to her children.
More grease to you elbows Lissa Redmond you had the element of surprise to the end.
Being a top notch detective can get you far on both the most wanted list and the most watched list.
Lauren Riley, mother of two, twice divorced and refined detective in cold cases and homicide. An impeccable record attributed to years of experience endowed her with multiple accolades that saw her to the pinnacle of her career as well as distinguished her from the best.
For Lauren, life was great with a cup of tea_
filling up her cup to the brim taking a sip from it, before topping it up again_excerpt from a cold day in hell
Lauren's life and career are in sudden jeorpardy when she accepts Frank Volanti's proposal. A polished lawyer could make you doubt your beliefs. She's been on the receiving side. Once.
18-year-old David Ryan Spencer is charged with the murder of a high profile personality, Katherine Vine being the only suspect found in the scene the charges are heavy and so is the press.
She gives in to Volanti's persistent plead to help clear his client of murder considering he was a teenager.
Years of experience gives her an upper hand in the case to dug through rubbles and debris to unwind enough evidence to prove David innocent of the crime.
Still waters run deep, with each new day came new challenges and what seemed a mount hill became a mountain.
Justice is served but Lauren is left hollow and empty with unsettling thoughts clawing at the back of her mind, is there more to the story than meets the eye?
The end is just the beginning.
In addition
I love the way Lissa presented Lauren to us. Like she's a normal human like us. Not so perfect, endowed with her own personal flaws and mistakes. Not too stuck up trying to be the hero.. She takes her life one step at a time careful not to miss anything and most of all is a loving mom to her children.
More grease to you elbows Lissa Redmond you had the element of surprise to the end.
November 11, 2019
This is a new series surrounding the Buffalo, NY Cold Case Department. Although there appears to be four detectives in this unit; the story evolves around Detective Lauren Riley and her partner, Detective Reese.
While a good portion of the book deals with the cold cases; the reason a case is chosen (most often after a family member has called to learn if anything has been occurring with the case), to locating the original case file, to familiarizing the officer’s view of the case, to retrieving evidence and in some cases running DNA, to actually locating and re-interviewing witnesses. Just as often as not, these cold cases remain cold; but sometimes everything lines up in a manner that did not occur the first time around and after years, justice is served.
In the midst of her cold case investigations, Riley is approached by her nemesis, Defense Attorney Violenti who asked her to put aside her personal feelings and animosity towards him to help him save his eighteen-year-old God-son who had been charged with murder. Riley agrees, putting herself in an awkward position. First, she finds herself being viciously attacked and stalked by her former, abusive fiancée, the Detective that brought the case against the young defendant, and she finds herself falling into an affair with her ex-husband.
She had excepted the assignment of private investigator after having spoken to the young defendant; but things change when he shows a side of himself that is less than stellar.
Will Riley survive this assignment? Will she get the young man acquitted? If she does, will it be a mistake?
I love books that are written with a local background.
While a good portion of the book deals with the cold cases; the reason a case is chosen (most often after a family member has called to learn if anything has been occurring with the case), to locating the original case file, to familiarizing the officer’s view of the case, to retrieving evidence and in some cases running DNA, to actually locating and re-interviewing witnesses. Just as often as not, these cold cases remain cold; but sometimes everything lines up in a manner that did not occur the first time around and after years, justice is served.
In the midst of her cold case investigations, Riley is approached by her nemesis, Defense Attorney Violenti who asked her to put aside her personal feelings and animosity towards him to help him save his eighteen-year-old God-son who had been charged with murder. Riley agrees, putting herself in an awkward position. First, she finds herself being viciously attacked and stalked by her former, abusive fiancée, the Detective that brought the case against the young defendant, and she finds herself falling into an affair with her ex-husband.
She had excepted the assignment of private investigator after having spoken to the young defendant; but things change when he shows a side of himself that is less than stellar.
Will Riley survive this assignment? Will she get the young man acquitted? If she does, will it be a mistake?
I love books that are written with a local background.
September 9, 2020
Pearl Jam 'Better Man'
"She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man"
- Better Man
"I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky, But why, why, why can't it be,
why can't it be mine" -Black
A woman walks into a toy store buys a couple toys for her children. She forgets her credit card at the store and asks the cashier, a 17 year old boy, to bring it out to her car behind the building then they have sex in the car, happens to me all the time.
The woman is found dead in her car.
So whodunit?
There is a second story, a cold case, where 25 years ago a woman was found dead in the middle of the street and is still unsolved. So whodunit?
This was a well written police investigation, courtroom drama, with a creepy twist at the end.
Lauren Riley a strong, independent, intelligent detective but when it come to her personal life can be self destructive, she can't find a better man so she settles for losers and cheaters.
Lauren reminds me of the actress Kathryn Morris from tv show 'Cold Case'.
Remember at the end of the show when they would play a song that was popular at the time of the crime. At the end of this book play Pearl Jam's 'Better Man'.
"She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man"
- Better Man
"I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky, But why, why, why can't it be,
why can't it be mine" -Black
A woman walks into a toy store buys a couple toys for her children. She forgets her credit card at the store and asks the cashier, a 17 year old boy, to bring it out to her car behind the building then they have sex in the car, happens to me all the time.
The woman is found dead in her car.
So whodunit?
There is a second story, a cold case, where 25 years ago a woman was found dead in the middle of the street and is still unsolved. So whodunit?
This was a well written police investigation, courtroom drama, with a creepy twist at the end.
Lauren Riley a strong, independent, intelligent detective but when it come to her personal life can be self destructive, she can't find a better man so she settles for losers and cheaters.
Lauren reminds me of the actress Kathryn Morris from tv show 'Cold Case'.
Remember at the end of the show when they would play a song that was popular at the time of the crime. At the end of this book play Pearl Jam's 'Better Man'.
February 8, 2018
“Lauren Riley is an accomplished detective who has always been on the opposite side of the courtroom from slick defense attorney Frank Violanti. But now he's begging to hire her as a private investigator to help clear his client of murder. At first Lauren refuses, wanting nothing to do with the media circus surrounding the case—until she meets the eighteen-year-old suspect.”
I really liked Lauren and thought her relationship with Frank Violanti was really intriguing.
She throws herself into gathering information to defend his client and in the process comes face to face with her violent ex.
Joe is a nasty piece of work and Lauren is determined not to let him get the better of her.
This is a really good read which will have you on the edge of your seat at the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
I really liked Lauren and thought her relationship with Frank Violanti was really intriguing.
She throws herself into gathering information to defend his client and in the process comes face to face with her violent ex.
Joe is a nasty piece of work and Lauren is determined not to let him get the better of her.
This is a really good read which will have you on the edge of your seat at the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
August 5, 2017
Author: Lissa Marie Redmond (Bio) | Expected Publication:February 8th 2018 by Midnight Ink | Series: Cold Case Investigation #1 | Length: 397 pages | Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Crime| ISBN:N/A |Source: NetGalley
Lauren Riley is an accomplished detective who has always been on the opposite side of the courtroom from her nemesis, slick defense attorney Frank Violanti. But now he's begging to hire her as a private investigator to help clear his client of murder. At first Lauren refuses, wanting nothing to do with the media circus surrounding that case—until she meets the eighteen-year-old suspect.
To keep an innocent teen from life in prison, Lauren must unravel the conflicting evidence and changing stories to get at the buried facts. But the more she digs, the more she discovers that nothing is what it first appears to be. As Lauren puts her career and life in danger, doubt starts to lurk on every corner . . . and so does her stalker.
This story quickly jumps into the career and life of Lauren Riley, a successful cold case detective who is well known throughout the Buffalo Police Department for her work. She is a approached by a shifty defense attorney who wants to hire her despite his track record of calling her incompetent on multiple past cases. As she tries to balance her professional and personal life, some lines start to blur. As the tale unravels Lauren must decide who she can trust in this cat mouse game that some how ends up with her in the center. In the end Lauren must decide between following her cop mind or her heart to do what she feels is right.
What I find most captivating about this book is how real it is. Lauren is portrayed as a real character that some people, both men and women might be able to identify with. Not only is she a single mom twice divorced, but also battles with feelings of abandonment as her daughters are off to college. Lauren's life depiction is not some story of a perfect female cop and all is right in her world without any complications. Instead her her strengths and weaknesses are equally laid out there for everyone to see and multiple characters in the book call out these things which makes Lauren seem even more touchable.
It is not often a book in this genre captivates me enough to stay up all night to complete. I find that crime novels are often easy to figure out and for that reason they tend to bore me. Not this one, the reveal at the end somewhat blindsided me because I couldn't quite make up my mind. One thing to keep in mind as I read was that not everyone in the tale is as they seem. Redmond did a great job with playing to multiple audiences with the way she wrote her novel and for that I applaud her and her work.
If you are a fan of crime novels or just looking for a new read, this is definitely worth picking up. The chapters are quick and the story transitions quite well from scene to scene. This is basically your most complicated Law and Order episode you can think of except better and in book form.
This book is not yet release. There is a link to the author's Goodreads account at the top of the page. I humbly thank NetGalley and the publisher Midnight Ink for this ARC copy of the book to review prior to release. I wish the author all the best and hope to see this on shelves early next year.
Lauren Riley is an accomplished detective who has always been on the opposite side of the courtroom from her nemesis, slick defense attorney Frank Violanti. But now he's begging to hire her as a private investigator to help clear his client of murder. At first Lauren refuses, wanting nothing to do with the media circus surrounding that case—until she meets the eighteen-year-old suspect.
To keep an innocent teen from life in prison, Lauren must unravel the conflicting evidence and changing stories to get at the buried facts. But the more she digs, the more she discovers that nothing is what it first appears to be. As Lauren puts her career and life in danger, doubt starts to lurk on every corner . . . and so does her stalker.
This story quickly jumps into the career and life of Lauren Riley, a successful cold case detective who is well known throughout the Buffalo Police Department for her work. She is a approached by a shifty defense attorney who wants to hire her despite his track record of calling her incompetent on multiple past cases. As she tries to balance her professional and personal life, some lines start to blur. As the tale unravels Lauren must decide who she can trust in this cat mouse game that some how ends up with her in the center. In the end Lauren must decide between following her cop mind or her heart to do what she feels is right.
What I find most captivating about this book is how real it is. Lauren is portrayed as a real character that some people, both men and women might be able to identify with. Not only is she a single mom twice divorced, but also battles with feelings of abandonment as her daughters are off to college. Lauren's life depiction is not some story of a perfect female cop and all is right in her world without any complications. Instead her her strengths and weaknesses are equally laid out there for everyone to see and multiple characters in the book call out these things which makes Lauren seem even more touchable.
It is not often a book in this genre captivates me enough to stay up all night to complete. I find that crime novels are often easy to figure out and for that reason they tend to bore me. Not this one, the reveal at the end somewhat blindsided me because I couldn't quite make up my mind. One thing to keep in mind as I read was that not everyone in the tale is as they seem. Redmond did a great job with playing to multiple audiences with the way she wrote her novel and for that I applaud her and her work.
If you are a fan of crime novels or just looking for a new read, this is definitely worth picking up. The chapters are quick and the story transitions quite well from scene to scene. This is basically your most complicated Law and Order episode you can think of except better and in book form.
This book is not yet release. There is a link to the author's Goodreads account at the top of the page. I humbly thank NetGalley and the publisher Midnight Ink for this ARC copy of the book to review prior to release. I wish the author all the best and hope to see this on shelves early next year.
August 25, 2017
A Cold Day in Hell is first in the Cold Case Investigation series, and in this book, we're introduced to several characters: Lauren, a hard boiled cop who is in love with her ex-husband; Frank, a slimy litigator with a heart of gold; and a very creepy stalker guy who shan't be named here.
The readers are also exposed to a number of plot threads, very few of which are tied up in this book. In fact, ACDiH is more like a promise of more to come than a complete novel. Not that I minded. I did have a sense of satisfaction at the end of the story, and I wasn't entirely left hanging. In fact, I wanted more which is always a good sign. Just don't go into this book thinking that everything will come together in the end because it won't.
To me, characters are what make a book good. Unfortunately, I felt that I'd met the characters in ACDiH before. They weren't quite cardboard, but there was a sense of stereotype (angry cop; faithful sidekick, etc.) I would have liked more individualization - just something to set them aside from other angry cops and faithful sidekicks in other books.
The plot was interesting and moved well without slowing down. There were also some unexpected turns which is always enjoyable. The ending wasn't exactly a surprise, but the clues were nicely laid out, and the red herrings added to the suspense. Despite the overused characters, the plot was solid.
I liked the setting for the book which took place in Buffalo, New York. I haven't visited Buffalo before, but after reading the book, I felt as if I knew it. The city was gritty enough for a good urban cop story, but at the same time, it wasn't a completely unpleasant place.
One small thing that troubled me was the title and cover to this book. A Cold Day in Hell didn't work for me. I understand the idiom, but it didn't apply to the story. I think that the author meant it was a cold day in hell because Detective Riley said she would never work alongside the attorney, but I'm not sure. Also, the cover is confusing. Again, I think the white is supposed to be a scarf, which would make sense, but to me, it looks like smoke which makes no sense at all. However, these are minor nits that wouldn't stop me from reading the book.
My final word is that ACDiH is a quick-paced mystery that sets itself up for what promises to be an interesting series. Three and a half stars out of five.
My thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for the review copy.
The readers are also exposed to a number of plot threads, very few of which are tied up in this book. In fact, ACDiH is more like a promise of more to come than a complete novel. Not that I minded. I did have a sense of satisfaction at the end of the story, and I wasn't entirely left hanging. In fact, I wanted more which is always a good sign. Just don't go into this book thinking that everything will come together in the end because it won't.
To me, characters are what make a book good. Unfortunately, I felt that I'd met the characters in ACDiH before. They weren't quite cardboard, but there was a sense of stereotype (angry cop; faithful sidekick, etc.) I would have liked more individualization - just something to set them aside from other angry cops and faithful sidekicks in other books.
The plot was interesting and moved well without slowing down. There were also some unexpected turns which is always enjoyable. The ending wasn't exactly a surprise, but the clues were nicely laid out, and the red herrings added to the suspense. Despite the overused characters, the plot was solid.
I liked the setting for the book which took place in Buffalo, New York. I haven't visited Buffalo before, but after reading the book, I felt as if I knew it. The city was gritty enough for a good urban cop story, but at the same time, it wasn't a completely unpleasant place.
One small thing that troubled me was the title and cover to this book. A Cold Day in Hell didn't work for me. I understand the idiom, but it didn't apply to the story. I think that the author meant it was a cold day in hell because Detective Riley said she would never work alongside the attorney, but I'm not sure. Also, the cover is confusing. Again, I think the white is supposed to be a scarf, which would make sense, but to me, it looks like smoke which makes no sense at all. However, these are minor nits that wouldn't stop me from reading the book.
My final word is that ACDiH is a quick-paced mystery that sets itself up for what promises to be an interesting series. Three and a half stars out of five.
My thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for the review copy.
November 9, 2017
This is the first in a series which introduces Lauren Riley who works as an accomplished detective (together with her partner Shane Reese) in the Cold Case Homicide Department in Buffalo, New York. Lauren is twice divorced and has two daughters who are in college leaving Lauren suffering from empty nest syndrome, and she misses her ex-husband Mark who has remarried with one son.
Lauren who works for the homicide department and is therefore always on the side of the prosecution is approached by a defense attorney, Frank Violanti who wants her assist him and work as an investigator. Lauren refuses until she meets the accused who is Violanti’s 18 year old godson accused of murder.
So here we have an investigative novel; part police procedural, part courtroom drama and part romance. Quite a mixture. Give it a good stir and you have got quite a novel. I loved it. It is well-written and well-constructed and the characters are carefully drawn and credible. I loved the relationship between Lauren and Reese and found some of their dialogue very amusing. Her ex-fiancee (long abandoned) is particularly strong; what a creep and scarily too believable. As for the accused – I can’t say anymore. You will just have to read it. Go on – it’s brilliant.
Can’t wait for No. 2 Ms Redmond.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
Lauren who works for the homicide department and is therefore always on the side of the prosecution is approached by a defense attorney, Frank Violanti who wants her assist him and work as an investigator. Lauren refuses until she meets the accused who is Violanti’s 18 year old godson accused of murder.
So here we have an investigative novel; part police procedural, part courtroom drama and part romance. Quite a mixture. Give it a good stir and you have got quite a novel. I loved it. It is well-written and well-constructed and the characters are carefully drawn and credible. I loved the relationship between Lauren and Reese and found some of their dialogue very amusing. Her ex-fiancee (long abandoned) is particularly strong; what a creep and scarily too believable. As for the accused – I can’t say anymore. You will just have to read it. Go on – it’s brilliant.
Can’t wait for No. 2 Ms Redmond.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
July 13, 2017
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. WOW I am the first person to review this one on GR. HOW exciting! I really liked this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I finished it. I had my suspicions about how the story would end but I wasn't 100% sure until I got to the last page. Lauren is a Police Detective in the Cold Case Unit in Buffalo, NY and she is also a private investigator on the side. A defense attorney whom she hates asks her to investigate a murder in which his godson has been accused of. Lauren is a very strong character, single mother, smart, pretty and dedicated to her job. The story is complicated by her ex-fiance (who is nasty and used to hit her) being the arresting cop in the murder. The characters are interesting and intertwined in many different ways which makes the story really intriguing. The accused David seems like a just a super nice high school kid who was in the wrong place at the wrong time...I do not want to spoil the book for anyone but I was pretty surprised about the ending. And happy to see that there will be a sequel. Definitely worth reading! Suspenseful, great writing, interesting characters and story too. Loved it!
August 8, 2017
Lauren Riley is a cold case detective with the Buffalo NY PD. Lawyer Frank Violanti asks her to investigate a murder his Godson is being accused of committing. Lauren and Frank have a bitter courtroom history, but she reluctantly takes on the case. We follow Lauren and Frank as they investigate the case, but we also follow her and her partner, Reese, investigate two cold cases. In addition, Lauren handles two daughters and two past relationships which she cannot seem to totally put behind her. While there is so much going on in one book, I never felt any part was shortchanged. I really enjoyed the character building so much so, I disliked her ex-fiance probably as much as Lauren does. Lauren is a complex lady and I really enjoyed her character. According to Goodreads, this is the 1st book in the Cold Case Investigation series. Based on the ending of this book, I see some really intriguing times ahead for Lauren and her partner Reese. I am really looking forward to this being an ongoing series. Great first books, Ms. Redmond! Cannot wait for more!!!
January 26, 2018
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher/author for a free copy of A COLD DAY IN HELL in exchange for my honest review.
Wow, this book had it all! Lauren Riley is a cold case detective with a PI license. When an attorney on the opposite side asks her to investigate a case, she finds it hits a little too close to home, for both her and her new employer. She works to juggle her day job with the side job. The results? A web of danger, conflict and unexpected challenges stand in her way of discovering the truth.
This book was a thrilling read, as it covered multiple cold cases , past relationships, potential new relationships, and a court case for murder. I loved Lauren's authenticity and candid approach as she attacked all her responsibilities head on. If you are a fan of murder mysteries or legal thrillers, this book will be a great addition to your to be read list!
Wow, this book had it all! Lauren Riley is a cold case detective with a PI license. When an attorney on the opposite side asks her to investigate a case, she finds it hits a little too close to home, for both her and her new employer. She works to juggle her day job with the side job. The results? A web of danger, conflict and unexpected challenges stand in her way of discovering the truth.
This book was a thrilling read, as it covered multiple cold cases , past relationships, potential new relationships, and a court case for murder. I loved Lauren's authenticity and candid approach as she attacked all her responsibilities head on. If you are a fan of murder mysteries or legal thrillers, this book will be a great addition to your to be read list!
December 3, 2018
Fantastic debut!
Great new series featuring a strong female lead (she’s slightly annoying but admits her faults so she is palatable enough).
But the great aspect of this book is the time devoted to the gross and nasty characters. The stalker, the boy serial killer, and the sleazy defense attorney all get their own chapters and they become well rounded characters of their own.
Sticking to this theme of well thought out characters will make this series a success!
Spoiler—
Loved how David admitted his murders at the end but that scene should have been edited more heavily because in his memory there wasn’t any sex, he just killed her. But in the trial it said that they had sex....so that should have been fixed in the editing process.
But for a first novel it was pretty good! Something different and less annoying than usual in this genre of fake arrogant female characters
Great new series featuring a strong female lead (she’s slightly annoying but admits her faults so she is palatable enough).
But the great aspect of this book is the time devoted to the gross and nasty characters. The stalker, the boy serial killer, and the sleazy defense attorney all get their own chapters and they become well rounded characters of their own.
Sticking to this theme of well thought out characters will make this series a success!
Spoiler—
Loved how David admitted his murders at the end but that scene should have been edited more heavily because in his memory there wasn’t any sex, he just killed her. But in the trial it said that they had sex....so that should have been fixed in the editing process.
But for a first novel it was pretty good! Something different and less annoying than usual in this genre of fake arrogant female characters
January 19, 2022
Lauren Riley is a Buffalo Cold Case Detective, and her partner is Shane Reese. They are some of the best at solving crimes. The first book in the series is A COLD DAY IN HELL. In this book Lauren is trying to solve a murder from years ago, and also is helping a local lawyer, Frank Violanti, who's client was charged with murder and they both think he did not do it. Can they get him off? Can they find out who really did this murder? I really enjoyed this whole story. I loved how lauren pieced all the evidence together and she was definitely a tough woman. Loved this! Will definitely be picking up more of her books.
August 3, 2017
***I received an ARC through netgalley for an honest review***
Amazing book! The case was intriguing and the characters were well developed. This book has a bit of everything! I was hooked from beginning to end. You will be surprised and shocked. I highly recommend this book.
Amazing book! The case was intriguing and the characters were well developed. This book has a bit of everything! I was hooked from beginning to end. You will be surprised and shocked. I highly recommend this book.
January 19, 2020
I tried with this book, but perhaps it's because I work in criminal defense, in Buffalo, that I had too much trouble suspending disbelief to make this work for me. It's alright but that's about it.
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