Eisiger Kerker

Calista Gates #1

by Bernadette Calonego

Ein grauenvoller Fund an einem Strand im eisigen Labrador: eine Holzkiste mit dem Skelett einer jungen Frau, die vor drei Jahren verschwand. Die linke Hand verstümmelt. Polizeidetektivin Calista Gates hofft auf einen Durchbruch in dem Fall. Die junge Ermittlerin aus Vancouver ist nach einem Überfall, den sie nur knapp überlebte, gegen ihren Willen in die Eiswüste Labradors versetzt worden. Im kanadischen Norden muss sie beweisen, dass sie trotz einer Hirnverletzung wieder voll einsatzfähig ist. Kurz nach ihrer Ankunft geschieht ein weiterer Mord im Küstendorf Port Brendan. Calista hat einen Verdacht, doch ihr Vorgesetzter Bernard Closs glaubt ihr nicht. Der neue Teamkollege Fred van Heisen dagegen schon. Im brutalen Winter Labradors kämpft Calista Gates um ihren Job, um Gerechtigkeit - und um ihr Leben. Bis es fast zu spät ist.

Genres: Crime

469 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2020

About the author

I was born and raised in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, on Lake Lucerne, a very picturesque area with mountains and lakes. I grew up in a house full of book lovers. As a child, I sneaked in my brothers' rooms to read their adventure books like "Ivanhoe", "The Leatherstocking Tales", "Treasure Island", "Robinson Crusoe", "Huckleberry Finn". Or I persuaded my mother that I was old enough to read romances (they were really harmless!). To make me happy, I wanted nothing more than read a good book while eating an apple, and to be left alone!

My mother, a poet, encouraged me to try my hand at writing at an early age. My first publication was a fairytale, which appeared in a Swiss newspaper when I was eleven years old.

But I did not turn into a writer right away. I became a teacher, then a reporter and a foreign correspondent.

My career has included working as a reporter/editor for Reuters newsagency in Zurich. My time covering financial news for Reuters inspired my book "The Zurich Conspiracy".

From 1990 to 2000, I was the foreign correspondent for “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the largest circulation daily newspaper in Germany, reporting from Switzerland. After I had emigrated to Canada, I wrote regularly for newspapers and magazines in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

I now reside and work as a crime novelist near Vancouver, Canada, on the beautiful Sunshine Coast (okay, in winter, it is raining a lot). Visitors in my backyard include black bears, racoons, coyotes and bold eagles. You can also find me often in northern Newfoundland on Canada's east coast which is moose, polar bear and humpback whale territory.
My popular mystery thriller series with intrepid RCMP detective sergeant Calista Gates is set in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Come and read my English blog on my website www.bernadettecalonego.com
You can also contact me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BernadetteCa...
Or Instagram @bernadettecalonegoauthor
Or Tiktok @bernadettecalonego.author

I would love to hear from you!

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so stoked that this is a new series! I can't wait to see what happens next with Detective Calista Gates. I really liked her character a lot.

Detective Calista Gates is transferred from her position with the Vancouver RCMP to a small town in Labrador. A crate is discovered on an icy beach. Inside, the body of a woman who went missing three years earlier.

Calista, still recovering from a horrendous attack that left her with a brain injury is ready to prove she's fit for service.

I'm a big fan of crime fiction and Cries From The Cold definitely delivered! The storyline was excellent, great characters and the descriptions really had me feeling as if I was in a frozen landscape. Plus I love that the setting is in Canada! Annnd, I didn't guess the end result ... that's always a win!

Thanks so much Bernadette for my gifted copy!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Police Procedural

This book is set in Labrador, an area of Canada I am not familiar with. Calista was transferred there from her familiar life in Vancouver. She is investigating a cold case and more murders start piling up. She has a history of being a excellent investigator but a injury has caused her to doubt herself. Can she do it?

[Buchdoktor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Sergeant Calista Gates von der RCMP Vancouver ist nach einer schweren Kopfverletzung erst eingeschränkt dienstfähig und wird zur Wiedereingliederung in die kleine Polizeistation in Port Brendan/Labrador versetzt. Calista selbst zweifelt 1 ½ Jahre nach dem Überfall auch nach psychiatrischer Therapie daran, ob sie je wieder einsatzfähig sein wird. Nach einer Reise-Etappe mit dem Buschflugzeug lernt Calista gleich nach ihrer Ankunft die Eigenheiten des hohen Nordens kennen: außer einem Dienstfahrzeug steht für sie ein Dienst-Schneemobil bereit.

In Port Brendan ist drei Jahre nach ihrem Verschwinden die Leiche von Lorna Taylor gefunden worden. Die junge Frau hatte sich im Ort unbeliebt gemacht, weil sie sich in einen Soldaten der US-Airforce verliebte und ihm in seine Heimat folgen wollte. Der Fall konnte u. a. deshalb nicht geklärt werden, weil Lornas Lebenspartner noch vor Abschluss des Falls in die USA zurück versetzt wurde. Die Fundsituation lässt auf einen Täter schließen, der den Ermittlern etwas mitteilen will und auf eine Beziehungstat. Nicht erst als es zu weiteren Todesfällen kommt, wächst Calistas Ahnung, dass sie persönlich beobachtet und verfolgt wird.

Calista sieht sich in Port Brendan in keiner einfachen Situation. Ihre Versetzung hat das Bewerbungskarussell auf Kosten eines anderen Kollegen unterbrochen und sie wird gleich zu Beginn ermahnt, ihren Dienstgrad nur zurückhaltend zu nennen. Als neutrale Fremde aus der Großstadt hat die junge Ermittlerin andererseits den Vorteil, dass die Einwohner ihr Dinge erzählen, die sie vor ihren neugierigen Nachbarn verbergen, weil man hier oben nun mal aufeinander angewiesen ist. Für eine so abgelegene Gegend bietet Port Brendan ein erstaunliches Bündel an möglichen Motiven für die Tat - Einwohner und Einwanderer, Weiße und Inuit, Frauen, die wegziehen und Männer, die die Abwanderung übelnehmen. Calista erfährt, wer wen nicht leiden kann und wer noch fremd in der kleinen Gemeinschaft ist.

Bernadette Calonego treibt ihre Handlung mit schnellen Wechseln der Perspektive zügig voran; u. a. erzählt Calista in der Ichperspektive. Eine Fülle denkbarer Motive verzögern die Auflösung immer wieder. Auch ohne die große Zahl an Handlungsfäden hätten Flair des Schauplatzes, Plot und für die Gegend charakteristische Beweismittel mich gefesselt. Vom stimmungsvollen Schauplatz und einem sehr guten Plot weicht allerdings die sprachliche Qualität deutlich ab. Ein Roman, der laut Impressum professionell lektoriert und korrigiert wurde, sollte keine Grammatikfehler und Rückübersetzungen aus dem Englischen enthalten.

[Jenn (burlingtonbiblio) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review
Cries from the Cold by Bernadette Calonego

Interesting fact: Translated from Russian
Genre: Police procedural,
Mystery, crime fiction, Nordic noir
Location: Labrador
Trigger warning: Brain injury


In true crime fiction fashion the author has us circling the truth. I was easily distracted by Callista’s physical struggles and fell for the red herrings placed along the way.
My head was spinning trying to connect people to places and events- there was a lot going on ( or maybe too much for my brain)
I was totally off in my predictions for the ending.
I loved the descriptions of the frigid landscapes and snow covered lakes. The author provides insight into the harsh conditions of life in an isolated northern small town.
Some of the characters fell a bit flat for me but I really liked Callista . She is a fierce female lead in a heavily male dominated career and her inner strength and determination drew me in.

A solid read for lovers of crime fiction or Noric noir.

Thanks to Bernadette for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie Moul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new book is the beginning of a wonderful new series, around Detective Calista Gates from author Bernadette Calonego. The story reveals layers to this main character and promises to reveal more of the layers to Calista's journey through struggles and finding her place in a new community. I really appreciated the way Calista navigates her way in a new place, learning the ways of life in a small Labrador community, and how she holds the tension between taking care of herself and at the same time really trying to listen to the people she interacts with so she can see below the surface. Essential ingredients for a good detective.
I really appreciated the way the plot unfolded and the surprising turns the story takes, including quite a surprise at the end of the story!
The actual writing structure seemed to take on the cadence of the way people in this Canadian province of Labrador/Newfoundland. I found this quite delightful and it added to the authenticity of the setting of the story.
The depth of writing from this story teller continues to provide great reads and I look forward to the next book in this new series.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Go buy it!

And that’s my review.

Okay, I suppose you need more. So…

Cries from the Cold is set in untamed, freezing cold, Labrador, Canada. I was sitting here in Florida, where it’s currently hovering around 90 degrees with sauna-level humidity, and I was feeling the chill of the icy tundra as I read. Atmosphere and setting are masterful!

The characters are all interesting, unique people that I enjoyed getting to know.

The plot is complex, with moving parts that came together along the way without ever getting confusing.

This is the first book in the Detective Calista Gates Series, and I’ve just ordered the second.

Grab your thermal underwear and a hot cup of tea, and settle in for entertaining crime fiction!

[Booksandchinooks (Laurie)]

I somehow missed posting my review for this book last year after I read it. Thank you to the author for sending her book my way.

I really enjoy this author’s books so of course I was interested in this one. This is the first in a series featuring Detective Calista Gates. The descriptions and details in this author’s books are exceptional. I always love her characters too. This story is set in Labrador which is not somewhere that is usually found in books. Calista needs to solve a murder mystery set in Labrador and I liked following on her journey as she is an intriguing character. I am looking forward to more in this series.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy of. Cried From the Cold!

I really enjoyed this police procedural murder mystery set in an isolated Canadian town. This book is a great example of how a setting, when developed enough, can also play the role of a character. The small town, it’s isolated location, severe wintery weather and minimal population of people who know each other’s business was an integral piece of the bigger picture. It reminds me of some other series whose settings do the same thing, such as Three Pines by Louise Penny or the Shetland series by Anne Cleeves.

The mystery within was well plotted and examined. I had a lot of theories going, and while I did guess the killer, I had a good time riding out the journey. This one doesn’t have much gore or graphic descriptions, which might be a plus to some readers. I also enjoyed the characters and the depth they were given, especially the main detectives on the case. All in all, this is a solid and entertaining crime fiction novel that I really enjoyed!

[Lou Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story with a sad ending.

The story begins with a recuperating RCMP officer Calista Gates arriving out in the boonies for her first assignment. Her body and brain are still not fully recovered from the horrific beating an unidentified assailant who almost beat her to death.

She thinks her bosses are being way too cautious with her recovery. She’s sent to solve one murder and ends up solving three!

[Tammy Teresa Roos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realized lately, that my favorite books take place in isolated areas during winter months. It just gives the book such a dark and creepy feeling. This book had that and an amazing storyline that kept me guessing and flipping the pages. I really enjoyed this one and love that it Is the first in a series. If you love a great police procedurals this book is for you.

[I dream of the ocean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It reminds me a lot of Scandi noir books but better because it's based in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The main character, Calista, if a strong lead even with some physical moments of weakness.
The twists and turns kept me engaged inn The story and I can't wait to start the second book.

[Calista Andrechek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading a book with a main character with the same name that is out to solve a murder case. I also loved the Canadian setting and how much action there was peppered throughout the novel. I will definitely be looking forward to the next Detective Gates novel.

[Mary Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 Murders

This is the first book by this author that I read. Cries From The Cold is a very good murder mystery. I love trying to guess who dun it and this story kept me guessing. If you like a mystery with lots of twists and turns, you will love this book.

[Cherime MacFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Excellent read. I know two people with brain injuries. The author handled it well. I've lived in bush Alaska and know that even your worst enemy gets a ride at below zero.

[Patty Guerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read a different type of mystery, in a new series, and this was a real surprise. Gripping, full of twists and turns and unexpected surprises. I took my time reading this, really getting into it, as this is the first novel I have read about the RCMP. Excellent book.

[Julie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

The many twists and turns make the story intriguing as well as captivating. I also enjoyed the fact that the story takes place in NL and Labrador where I have myself experienced the harsh weather several years ago!

[E'Who'Reads'a'Thousand'Mysteries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold winter crime

This high quality lady Detective crime solving book is set in the cold of winter. The crime solving is captivating, the translation is flawless, and the sensory details really bring the Labrador winter to life.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing

Not a bad story. The writing style takes a while to get use to. I’m not a fan of continual changes of POV (point of view), it is jarring and disrupts the flow. The characters are solid, I especially like the protagonist, Gates. Interesting plot.

[Bridgit White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

I've read 3 other books by BC. This book does not disappoint. I really like this new character, Calista. I'm excited to get the next book in this series. Highly recommend

[Belter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

This is a tremendous story and you can feel.the cold coming from the pages great twisty plot keeps you guessing

[Bill Mock · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a nice twisty tale and reading it while it was 100° outside was perfect. But the epilogue pushed it down a point with just too much crammed in. No spoiler but it was unnecessary.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting plots, compelling characters and the wild beauty of remote Labrador as a fascinating showplace

[Danah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book during my first trip to Newfoundland. It was awesome! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Ted Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calista, a detective has problems. You find that out right off and soon you get the idea she will overcome them in her own time and way. An ordinary tale of murder and detective work, although there is nothing ordinary about this tale.

Set in the harsh Labrador winter, the descriptions of life there and the people are excellent. I have never been there, but spent two years in Newfoundland where the people are as natural and friendly as she describes them. Everyone knows everyone and there are no secrets.

Calonego's characters are believable and you learn to like them, tolerate them, or not like them as they work there way through her tale. The murder tale, not really important, well it is, but the interactions are really the meaningful part of this story.

I highly recommend it even if you aren't into detective stories.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

363 pages

5 stars

Detective Calista Gates is still recovering from a brutal beating. She is now judged fit for duty, but still suffers from lingering problems. She is transferred from the Vancouver she loves to Eastern Canada - to Labrador.

Her first case is a cold one. A young woman has been found in a crate. She disappeared three years earlier. Nothing is left but a skeleton, but it is determined she died from strangulation.

They barely begin the police investigation when a man is killed in the village. He was stabbed and then shot to death. Who would have wanted to kill the popular chef?

The weather in Labrador plays a major part in this book. It is bitterly cold there and the snow forms tunnels along the roads. Calista is both awed and not a little frightened. She has never driven a snow machine, but manages to master it pretty quickly. She has great ideas, some of which her fellow officers laugh at, but a couple of the officers take her seriously.

The investigation progresses nicely when another man is killed. This time it is the very popular doctor in town.

This is an extremely well written and plotted novel. The scenery was absolutely marvelous! I would like to visit, but think I’ll pass. Nebraska winters are enough for me. It sounds absolutely gorgeous. I liked Calista and some of the other officers and folks who lived in the town. She is very competent and smart. I will definitely keep reading this series. I have read all of Ms. Calonego’s book and have never been disappointed. Mr. Chapple does a great job of translation. He is a gem.

[Maggie-beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calista Gates, a respected officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stationed in Vancouver, suffered a violent attack that left her brain so damaged she had to re-learn many things. Over the course of 18 grueling months, she has (mostly) found herself again, but has lost her husband - a fellow officer - along the way. Though pronounced basically fit for duty, the powers-that-be are reticent about sending her back on duty in the metropolis.
Besides – there is a mystery on the other side of the continent that might benefit from her well-known detective skills. So, from the warm, gentle waters of the Pacific Ocean and her home city of Vancouver, Calista is sent to the small town of Port Brendan, in Labrador – a town of few people but many bays and coves - hanging on the northeastern edge of the continent, in an area so cold that the Atlantic Ocean itself freezes over for months every year.
It is both culture shock and climate shock; Calista has no time to adjust. She is thrown into the midst of an investigation with no preparation. As the only woman on the small police force of Port Brendan - and as an “outsider” - she is hindered and viewed suspiciously by most everyone.
A crate has been found on a frozen beach in one of the many coves in the area. In it are the remains of a young woman who has been missing for three years. The crate was obviously PLACED there to be found. And who could place it there but the murderer? Why does the killer want it to be found after three years of having hidden it successfully?
When another body – a “fresh” one this time – is found shortly thereafter, the quiet town of Port Brendan becomes a hot-bed of suspicion, lies, secrets, and shame.
Not to mention horrible weather!
This is an atmospheric, character-driven, compelling read.
I admire Calista – she’s smart, she’s a fighter, and she’s not a whiner!
I hope this is the first of a series.

[Sabine Kettschau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inhalt:
Im eiskalten Labrador wird an einem einsamen Strand eine Holzkiste mit einem verstümmelten Frauenskelett gefunden. Dieser Fall ist direkt das erste, womit sich Calista Gates, die eigentlich aus Vancouver stammt, konfrontiert sieht. Für ihre Begriffe wurde sie nach ihrem Unfall und der Genesung danach hier buchstäblich auf Eis gelegt. Und genauso erscheinen ihr ihre Mitmenschen in der Einöde. Merkwürdige Personen mit merkwürdigen Verbindungen zueinander. Und sie ist der Fremdkörper und soll nun diesen Fall maßgeblich aufklären. Da macht es die Sache nicht gerade einfacher, dass Calista noch viel mehr entdeckt, als so manchem Alteingesessenen lieb ist. Alle scheinen noch mehr in Aufruhr zu geraten, als ein weiterer Mord geschieht und die Winterspiele kurz bevor stehen. In der vermeintlichen Ruhe der abgeschiedenen Natur von Labrador muss Calista um weit mehr fürchten, als ihre Reputation in ihrem Job zu verlieren.


Meine Meinung:

Kanadisch kriminell

Als Kanada-Fan habe ich mich sehr gefreut, für die Autorin ihr 8. Buch lesen und rezensieren zu dürfen! Und direkt der Einstieg gefiel mir wirklich gut. Man wird mitgenommen, erlebt die wenn auch karge, aber dennoch beeindruckende Natur, die Abgeschiedenheit, die für uns Städter einfach unvorstellbar ist. Auch die Kälte kann man hier ja gar nicht so wirklich nachvollziehen, aber man ahnt, was das Zusammenspiel aus Abgeschiedenheit und Eiseskälte mit einem machen kann, wenn man quasi verbannt wird.

So wurde ich von Anfang an für Calista eingenommen und habe auch mit ihr mitgelitten und mich geärgert. Über die Verbohrtheit der Einheimischen, den Misstrauen und auch das manchmal chauvinistische Machogehabe ihrer männlichen Kollegen.

Gänsehautmomente wurden auch zu Hauf erzeugt, ob es der auslösende Mord an einer jungen Frau ist und die Auffindesituation oder der gruselige Inhalt eines blauen Müllsacks mitten auf dem Eis, man beginnt automatisch, sich zu schütteln und dann zu überlegen, wer dahinter steckt und warum.

Man merkt schnell, dass die Autorin weiß, worüber sie da schreibt, wo sie ihren Krimi spielen lässt und auch, welchen Menschenschlag man in der Einöde antrifft. Da mutet das Setting manchmal wirklich sehr lebendig und realitätsnah an und man meint, eine Doku zu schauen. Die atemberaubende und ehrfurchtgebietende Kulisse ist hier mehr als klug gewählt.

Und auch der eigentliche Fall wirkt nicht bemüht konstruiert, sondern passt genau dorthin. Alles, was passiert, passt einfach!

Der Stil der Autorin ist sehr aufgeräumt, klar und trifft genau die richtigen Nerven, ohne effekthascherisch viel Blut zu verspritzen und lässt die Seiten manchmal nur so dahinfliegen.

Fazit:
Ein wunderbar eiskalter Krimi im winterlichen und atemberaubenden Kanada, der im Sommer garantiert für Abkühlung sorgt.

[Claudia Zago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding!

[Judith Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bernadette Calonego's books are grand adventures. The reader gets to vicariously join well-developed characters in their fast-;aced, intriguing lives. The setting, in the extreme Canadian tundra, might not be an ideal location for a vacation, but it certainly adds a dynamic backdrop for readers to better understand people who chose to lives in such locales. 'Cries from the cold' does not disappoint. Detective Calista Gates is given a last chance to prove herself capable of being a detective after a traumatic brain injury. She must deal with three murders, one that happened three years before she arrived in this isolated and hostile location. Layer after layer of incidents builds suspense, making this a page turner that doesn't disappoint. Even the ending adds an unexpected twist. My only complaint was the overuse of the word 'perp,' which, perhaps, was the fault of the translator. This term came across as artificial dialogue and needs to be discarded in future Calista novels. And let's just hope there will be future Calista novels. She's an interesting and admirable character. A truly enjoyable read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Calista Gates of the Vancouver RCMP is recovering from a violent assault when she learns she's being transferred to a small coastal town in Labrador. The thought of cold, ice, and snow is not encouraging, but she doesn't have a choice if she wants to keep her career afloat. Upon arrival, she is quickly caught up in a cold case. The remains of a local girl Lorna Taylor who went missing three years ago, have appeared in a wooden box with strange markings. Now Calista has to prove to her new team of colleagues that she can hold her own in the investigation. But, before she can do that, another body is found; this time, it's a prominent chef planning to help with a charity dinner for the local medical clinic. In a small town like Port Brendan, secrets are rife, and gossip is sustenance for the isolated locals which means Calista will have to dig deep to uncover the killer. But will she be quick enough to keep the town and herself safe?

Cries From The Cold is a riveting story that kept me glued to the pages. It's full of mystery, adventure, and engaging characters. I loved Calista Gates. Despite her difficulties and the setbacks she's experienced, she's still a fighter. I felt like I was able to look over her shoulder throughout the investigation. And, getting to see the points of view of some of the other main characters gave this story a lot of depth which helped me feel like I was a part of all the scenes. I'm hoping there will be more in this series to come because I can't wait to find out more about Calista's somewhat mysterious past and that of her ex-husband back in Vancouver as well. All in all, this was a fun and satisfying read.

Thanks to the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.com