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Dead Cold Mystery #8
Unnatural Murder
It was not a cold case. Or was it…?
Sebastian Acosta has been gunned down at three AM on a Saturday morning, sitting behind the wheel of a beaten up Toyota. The passenger door is open and a few paces away his pal, Luis Irizarry, lies with his life ebbing away through two gunshot wound in his chest. It should be a red hot case, except that fifteen years earlier, Rosario Rojas was raped and strangled in that self same house, the house Luis was crawling toward, the house that belonged to Angela Rojas, Rosario’s daughter.
Rosario, who was like a sister to Marta Flores, Detective Dehan’s mother.
Things get more complicated when it emerges that Rosario had started to get involved in a set whose morals Marta had considered a little too lax, a bit too broad-minded; when it emerges that the two boys who just got shot are the sons of two of the couples that made up that set.
But then it turns out, this is just the tip of the iceberg, in this old, cold case…
Sebastian Acosta has been gunned down at three AM on a Saturday morning, sitting behind the wheel of a beaten up Toyota. The passenger door is open and a few paces away his pal, Luis Irizarry, lies with his life ebbing away through two gunshot wound in his chest. It should be a red hot case, except that fifteen years earlier, Rosario Rojas was raped and strangled in that self same house, the house Luis was crawling toward, the house that belonged to Angela Rojas, Rosario’s daughter.
Rosario, who was like a sister to Marta Flores, Detective Dehan’s mother.
Things get more complicated when it emerges that Rosario had started to get involved in a set whose morals Marta had considered a little too lax, a bit too broad-minded; when it emerges that the two boys who just got shot are the sons of two of the couples that made up that set.
But then it turns out, this is just the tip of the iceberg, in this old, cold case…
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2021
2335 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Blake Banner
151 books396 followersUSA TODAY and Amazon #1 bestselling author of the OMEGA and DEAD COLD MYSTERY series. Learn more about Blake Banner at his website: www.blakebanner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
April 30, 2020
I am still loving this series, so much so that I just bought the next four books!
Stone and Dehan have just return from a trip to Goa which perhaps did not turn out as expected. Things between them are unusually chilly as they work to solve their latest case, a seemingly motiveless shooting.
Blake Banner hits the jackpot for me with this series. Each book is short, easy to read, well paced and tells a separate story. You still need to start with book one and progress through because the characters are the best part and they develop in each book. Banner also writes excellent and very amusing dialogue.
Best of all he writes and published really fast! With the best will in the world I am sure he is writing them faster than I am reading them. Long may this continue!
Stone and Dehan have just return from a trip to Goa which perhaps did not turn out as expected. Things between them are unusually chilly as they work to solve their latest case, a seemingly motiveless shooting.
Blake Banner hits the jackpot for me with this series. Each book is short, easy to read, well paced and tells a separate story. You still need to start with book one and progress through because the characters are the best part and they develop in each book. Banner also writes excellent and very amusing dialogue.
Best of all he writes and published really fast! With the best will in the world I am sure he is writing them faster than I am reading them. Long may this continue!
April 9, 2021
I've long loved the team of John Stone and Carmen Dehan - especially the Sensei/grasshopper part!
I can see from reading other reviews (which are absolutely glowing) that I'm definitely the outlier. I guess I like a little more realism in my books...
I can see from reading other reviews (which are absolutely glowing) that I'm definitely the outlier. I guess I like a little more realism in my books...
July 19, 2021
Interesting mystery, but I cannot say it was my fave. No spoilers but a definite “turn” in the series that any faithful reader saw coming.
April 24, 2024
Stone and Dehan catch a current homicide but it relates to the past. Well written.
May 29, 2021
This one was twisted and sad.
A lot of innocent young lives lost for jealousy and stupidity. I didn't really like any of the characters and I found it a little long winded. The inclusion of the English guy and the African militia guys was unnecessary and I felt like the last couple of deaths were unnecessary
A lot of innocent young lives lost for jealousy and stupidity. I didn't really like any of the characters and I found it a little long winded. The inclusion of the English guy and the African militia guys was unnecessary and I felt like the last couple of deaths were unnecessary
October 9, 2024
★★★★☆
I read this book so quickly and I was so engrossed in the whole thing, wondering what the hell was happening because not only was there a cold case in this book but also a recent murder that linked them altogether. I mostly read this book on the plane which made the flight go by quicker and I didn’t want to put my kindle down!
I really did not expect that plot twist of who killed Rosario all those years ago and then who ended up killing Sebastian and nearly killing Luis now. Turns out, Sebastian’s mum was the one behind it all due to jealousy over Rosario and Ed’s relationship (Luis’ dad). It was really sad that Angela and her husband ended up getting killed in the end since she was a key witness but I’m glad Stone ended up discovering it in the end. This is why we do not get too close and cuddly with other couples because they can end up stealing your partner 🥲 it was a bit of a sad story and the ‘kids’ getting involved with their parents’ shenanigans was crazy.
Don’t even get me started on the gruesome murder of the British guy (who’s name I forgot lol) since he was a suspect because that shit was terrible. The fact that he had all his insides removed and ugh, when I was reading the crime scene description, I wanted to throw up 😭
And I saved the best part for last… STONE AND DEHAN KISSED RIGHT AT THE END! Why would you leave us with that cliffhanger???? 🫠 I have been waiting 8 books for this moment and then it ends with Stone kissing Dehan. All those years, months, weeks of chemistry and he finally did it. He was lowkey pissing me off with how long he was taking to catch the hint that Dehan likes him! Everyone but him was noticing and he’s a detective! I know it’s a little cliché that they’re partners and falling in love and it’s not allowed but fuck it. I can’t wait for the next book to find out more on what happens in their relationship!! 🥹
Overall, Blake’s books in this series are super quick to get into and finish and I’m excited to continue the rest of the series!
I read this book so quickly and I was so engrossed in the whole thing, wondering what the hell was happening because not only was there a cold case in this book but also a recent murder that linked them altogether. I mostly read this book on the plane which made the flight go by quicker and I didn’t want to put my kindle down!
I really did not expect that plot twist of who killed Rosario all those years ago and then who ended up killing Sebastian and nearly killing Luis now. Turns out, Sebastian’s mum was the one behind it all due to jealousy over Rosario and Ed’s relationship (Luis’ dad). It was really sad that Angela and her husband ended up getting killed in the end since she was a key witness but I’m glad Stone ended up discovering it in the end. This is why we do not get too close and cuddly with other couples because they can end up stealing your partner 🥲 it was a bit of a sad story and the ‘kids’ getting involved with their parents’ shenanigans was crazy.
Don’t even get me started on the gruesome murder of the British guy (who’s name I forgot lol) since he was a suspect because that shit was terrible. The fact that he had all his insides removed and ugh, when I was reading the crime scene description, I wanted to throw up 😭
And I saved the best part for last… STONE AND DEHAN KISSED RIGHT AT THE END! Why would you leave us with that cliffhanger???? 🫠 I have been waiting 8 books for this moment and then it ends with Stone kissing Dehan. All those years, months, weeks of chemistry and he finally did it. He was lowkey pissing me off with how long he was taking to catch the hint that Dehan likes him! Everyone but him was noticing and he’s a detective! I know it’s a little cliché that they’re partners and falling in love and it’s not allowed but fuck it. I can’t wait for the next book to find out more on what happens in their relationship!! 🥹
Overall, Blake’s books in this series are super quick to get into and finish and I’m excited to continue the rest of the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2018
When two young men are shot in a car just outside the house of a young woman they have been visiting, Stone and Dehan are sure that it is tied back to a 15-year-old case of Rosario, a woman raped and murdered inside the same house. The girl the boys were visiting is that woman's daughter. One boy was killed, the other was badly injured. When they talk to the parents of the injured boy, his father turns out to be an obnoxious blowhard. They find that the two sets of parent of the two boys were friends years earlier, and Rosario was also part of their circle. Various suspects crop up, and the two murders keep getting more related as they discover more. Stone and Dehan seem to be having a little trouble working together; the implication is that Dehan was expecting a bit more during their recent vacation in India than Stone was willing to give. People keep telling him that Dehan is in love with him, but he has difficulty dealing with that. I thought that their relationship problems detracted from the mystery plot, but I suppose their relationship has to move forward at some point! This is the 8th book in the series and the last one that I have - I need to find out if any more have been published! Overall a very interesting and enjoyable series.
September 15, 2022
very involved murder investigation
This 8th book in the series has an intricate murder investigation whose theme ties in with the relationship dynamic between Stone and Dehan. Because it’s been a little while since I read book 7 it took me a while to remember what had happened in the last book.
The mystery is very involved with several possible motives and several potential suspects. I was so certain of one villain but was proven wrong. The writing is cleverly misleading and the red herrings very well done.
The use of incorrect idioms and other language continues to irritate me to no end. Stone would not talk like this and it interferes with my enjoyment of the reading because it jumps out at me. A friend tells me I’m crazy! She says she never notices that stuff. But it is what it is.
This 8th book in the series has an intricate murder investigation whose theme ties in with the relationship dynamic between Stone and Dehan. Because it’s been a little while since I read book 7 it took me a while to remember what had happened in the last book.
The mystery is very involved with several possible motives and several potential suspects. I was so certain of one villain but was proven wrong. The writing is cleverly misleading and the red herrings very well done.
The use of incorrect idioms and other language continues to irritate me to no end. Stone would not talk like this and it interferes with my enjoyment of the reading because it jumps out at me. A friend tells me I’m crazy! She says she never notices that stuff. But it is what it is.
October 31, 2018
Book 8, Passion blooms
As my title indicates, this is book 8 in this series. I’ve mentioned in prior posts that I do not really like book series. These books are the exception to the rule. I have the entire set but I’m delaying reading them by reading other material in between these books. Well, back to this book. This picks up where book 7 left us. Stone & Dehan are called out on an active homicide at 3 a.m. Stone feels it’s connected with an earlier murder that is part of their cold cases. I don’t want to give to much away, you need to read this to be delighted. Spoiler Alert, stone & Dehan’s relationship shifts at the end of the book. YOU GOTTA READ THIS! Nick the Moose
As my title indicates, this is book 8 in this series. I’ve mentioned in prior posts that I do not really like book series. These books are the exception to the rule. I have the entire set but I’m delaying reading them by reading other material in between these books. Well, back to this book. This picks up where book 7 left us. Stone & Dehan are called out on an active homicide at 3 a.m. Stone feels it’s connected with an earlier murder that is part of their cold cases. I don’t want to give to much away, you need to read this to be delighted. Spoiler Alert, stone & Dehan’s relationship shifts at the end of the book. YOU GOTTA READ THIS! Nick the Moose
March 20, 2018
Cant get enough Stone and Dehan
Each book builds on the MC's relationship. The stories are always from John's POV, which works perfectly for the evolution of this pairing. SPOILER ALERT. We're a year and a half into this team, and all along we got hints of John's feelings. Carmen's feelings we suspected, but this book gave her away. Nicely written mysteries that hold one's interest, with nice little twists. Too short as always, but I finally got my payoff. And I know dang well what that confession was. Next one PLEASE!
Each book builds on the MC's relationship. The stories are always from John's POV, which works perfectly for the evolution of this pairing. SPOILER ALERT. We're a year and a half into this team, and all along we got hints of John's feelings. Carmen's feelings we suspected, but this book gave her away. Nicely written mysteries that hold one's interest, with nice little twists. Too short as always, but I finally got my payoff. And I know dang well what that confession was. Next one PLEASE!
September 2, 2020
Ok
The story kept my attention and kept me guessing as to who killed poor Sebastian. Won't give the ending away but I was surprised! Stone and Dehan are a good match as police partners. I am really disappointed that an element of romance is going to be introduced. Why???!! If I wanted romance I would buy a book under that genre. Dehan has too much baggage for a relationship and romance can only detract from reader enjoying them solving crimes. Oh well. End of this series for me
The story kept my attention and kept me guessing as to who killed poor Sebastian. Won't give the ending away but I was surprised! Stone and Dehan are a good match as police partners. I am really disappointed that an element of romance is going to be introduced. Why???!! If I wanted romance I would buy a book under that genre. Dehan has too much baggage for a relationship and romance can only detract from reader enjoying them solving crimes. Oh well. End of this series for me
May 13, 2022
Oh man no words to express what I am feeling while reading this series. Each and every case they investigate proves to be difficult but this one is on top of the list. The beauty is this never starts as an cold case and gets connected to the new cases as usual, but this murder linking back to one of the cold case is refreshing. And finally it happened in this book and I am very happy for that and also sad on the consequences that are to happen because of this (to know what it is kindly read the book)
May 24, 2018
Love this pair!
Good plot in this one. Last book ended with a trip being planned,this book mentions the trip a couple of times but the reader doesn't know what happened! Aaaargh the suspense. Stone & Dehan in top form, eating beef deli sandwiches rather than steak ,hmm,that's not important is it? They ALWAYS eat steak. I feel as if I am becoming more and more familiar with the Bronx. Loving these stories so much. Keep them coming Blake Banner .
Good plot in this one. Last book ended with a trip being planned,this book mentions the trip a couple of times but the reader doesn't know what happened! Aaaargh the suspense. Stone & Dehan in top form, eating beef deli sandwiches rather than steak ,hmm,that's not important is it? They ALWAYS eat steak. I feel as if I am becoming more and more familiar with the Bronx. Loving these stories so much. Keep them coming Blake Banner .
March 31, 2018
I loved this book
I have all of the John Stone and Carmen Dehan books, in order, one after the other. I love the characters, the stories, and the way the stories .are told. I can't wait until the next book is released. Now I can see how the relationship between John and Carmen progresses and how that affects the series.
I have all of the John Stone and Carmen Dehan books, in order, one after the other. I love the characters, the stories, and the way the stories .are told. I can't wait until the next book is released. Now I can see how the relationship between John and Carmen progresses and how that affects the series.
March 14, 2019
Stone and Dehan Cold Cases
Love reading this series have bought up to 12 in one lot, This case Book 8 an Unnatural Murder was one I’ve liked the best so far, always a twist or too to keep you interested, and finally the romance between them is beginning to heat up!Now onto book 9👍🏻😀
Love reading this series have bought up to 12 in one lot, This case Book 8 an Unnatural Murder was one I’ve liked the best so far, always a twist or too to keep you interested, and finally the romance between them is beginning to heat up!Now onto book 9👍🏻😀
December 22, 2019
Unnatural Murder Blake Banner
This is an excellent read. Beyond a classic whodunit. I was clueless. It starts with a cold case, then people are being murdered, brutally. Everyone is directly or indirectly tied to the original homicide. Then a likely suspect is identified who actually turns himself in. A slam dunk. Nope. Again, a stupendous read! Enjoyed immensely!
This is an excellent read. Beyond a classic whodunit. I was clueless. It starts with a cold case, then people are being murdered, brutally. Everyone is directly or indirectly tied to the original homicide. Then a likely suspect is identified who actually turns himself in. A slam dunk. Nope. Again, a stupendous read! Enjoyed immensely!
August 17, 2020
Everything about this story is unnatural.
This story felt like a house of mirrors. Almost every character that appeared was distorted in some way, as was the entire plot. At least it was a surprise ending for me. Stone finally got around to taking care of business with Dehan. What a dork!
This story felt like a house of mirrors. Almost every character that appeared was distorted in some way, as was the entire plot. At least it was a surprise ending for me. Stone finally got around to taking care of business with Dehan. What a dork!
October 19, 2022
Even though this writer desperately needs a good editor, I will give him credit for the imaginative plots he invents. Some are better than others. This plot was a bit weak. What I liked: the characters, especially Stone and Dehan; the interwoven aspects with previous books in the series. What I didn’t like: much of the plot stretched credulity; the way Stone makes leaps without filling in Dehan. This novel was so-so.
April 30, 2024
4.5 stars
Unnatural Murder is the eighth book in the Dead Cold Mystery series by Blake Banner.
Great series. Cold Cases. Crime and investigation. Mystery. Suspense. Detectives. Police procedural. Intrigue. Tension. Dramatic developments. Engrossing. Would make a superb TV series.
Full Review to come.
Unnatural Murder is the eighth book in the Dead Cold Mystery series by Blake Banner.
Great series. Cold Cases. Crime and investigation. Mystery. Suspense. Detectives. Police procedural. Intrigue. Tension. Dramatic developments. Engrossing. Would make a superb TV series.
Full Review to come.
May 26, 2024
There are so many books in this series, and they all follow the same general Law and Order combined with Sherlock Holmes format, that I feel writing these reviews is unnecessary other than to just rate it. 🙃
Another great entry in the series. This one had me guessing until the end. I had no idea who the culprit was, and was very surprised by the ending.
Another great entry in the series. This one had me guessing until the end. I had no idea who the culprit was, and was very surprised by the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2025
Another good case for Stone and Dehan. It is a tricky case carried out in the present with a link to the past. It is difficult to determine what had really occurred. But as Sherlock Holmes might say “When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Enjoyable read.
April 1, 2018
Wicked Good Read (see what I did there)
Never tire of this series and have been coming at the bit for another one.
If you like the others, get this. If you haven't read any, do yourself a favor and get on it.
Never tire of this series and have been coming at the bit for another one.
If you like the others, get this. If you haven't read any, do yourself a favor and get on it.
December 30, 2018
With this book, it was very much - he’s the killer! No, she is! He is - wait a minute. Could be her… Kept me guessing right to the end. I also like how the relationship between the two main characters is growing slowly to something more. Start the next one tonight!
May 24, 2020
Love the series!!!
Well developed story and characters! You just got to love Stone & Dehan! Two great detectives that give their all to their cases. At the same time they are two wonderful human beings! They make a great team as detectives and as civilians!!!
Well developed story and characters! You just got to love Stone & Dehan! Two great detectives that give their all to their cases. At the same time they are two wonderful human beings! They make a great team as detectives and as civilians!!!
April 25, 2021
Unnatural murder
Really convoluted tale with more twists and turns than normal if that's possible. Tightly woven throughout the closeness of the families involved really led to more feelings than a simple murder would have generated.
Really convoluted tale with more twists and turns than normal if that's possible. Tightly woven throughout the closeness of the families involved really led to more feelings than a simple murder would have generated.
July 8, 2021
Book 8 and still not bored
The murder and the solving is typical. The two detectives solve not just a new case but a cold case. Also the two detectives relationship continues to developed. And must read book 9.
The murder and the solving is typical. The two detectives solve not just a new case but a cold case. Also the two detectives relationship continues to developed. And must read book 9.
August 18, 2022
In my opinion this was one the better books in this series so far. It was a very good twisted whodunnit. On the ending: even though I could see it since the end of book 1, all I can say is its about time.
October 15, 2022
Great story and ending
Yep back back with a great story and super ending. Quite the story going from the past to the present. Really looking forward to the next to see where this is going now.
Yep back back with a great story and super ending. Quite the story going from the past to the present. Really looking forward to the next to see where this is going now.
March 26, 2018
Love his boiks
I love a good mystery and can usually figure out who done it. I have never figured it out in his hooks. His plots are just that good
I love a good mystery and can usually figure out who done it. I have never figured it out in his hooks. His plots are just that good
April 1, 2018
A great absorbing read
This is the first one of the series I've read. It was fun, fast paced and we'll defined characters. Story was complicated, but progressed well.
This is the first one of the series I've read. It was fun, fast paced and we'll defined characters. Story was complicated, but progressed well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews