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Without A Trace #3
Cold Case Murder
Her hometown of Loomis, Louisiana, holds no charm for Jodie Gilmore. Why be reminded of her mother's abandonment? Then the novice FBI agent is assigned to a missing person's case, and refusal isn't an option. Her coworkers are counting on her. Surely the tight-lipped locals will talk to one of their own. Or will they? A decades-old double homicide is discovered, and Harrison Cahill, the handsome forensic anthropologist on the case, thinks Jodie knows more than she's saying. But speaking freely can be deadly in Loomis....
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
87 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 25, 2023
So far, this is my favourite book of the series. I really liked that Harrison was already strong in his faith, and that Jodie just needed a gentle nudge from an unexpected source to get her to a place where she could be touched by the Word and rediscover her own faith.
Without giving any spoilers, I will say that though I was correct in 'whodunnit', the way the cold case mystery played out was chilling.
We have more questions than answers when it comes to Leah Farley's disappearance and the 'contemporary' murders in Loomis. I have my eye on one particular person, but I've not yet figured out their 'end game'. It will be interesting to see if my suspicions prove correct or not.
Without giving any spoilers, I will say that though I was correct in 'whodunnit', the way the cold case mystery played out was chilling.
We have more questions than answers when it comes to Leah Farley's disappearance and the 'contemporary' murders in Loomis. I have my eye on one particular person, but I've not yet figured out their 'end game'. It will be interesting to see if my suspicions prove correct or not.
September 25, 2021
This book is more suspense than romance, though Jodie and Harrison do decide they "love" each other by the end of the book. I was glad to see that Jodie voiced one of my concerns with this genre which is that usually the characters have only known each other a short time before they're engaged or married to each other. Despite her voicing that though, it seems like shortly after that, they're both talking about having an Autumn wedding (so probably within a year).
Oddly, the case that brings Jodie back to her hometown is not solved (at least not by the end of the book)--though it does sound like they plan to keep working it from New Orleans as best they can--at least until some new evidence shows up. We also don't see the solving of who is behind the notes being left for the mothers nominated in the pageant. Instead, the case that is solved ends up being what happened 25 years ago when Mary Sampson was murdered and Jodie's mother disappeared--and also when Vera's husband disappeared.
I guessed right on some plot points, but didn't guess correctly who had murdered Mary Sampson.
Oddly, the case that brings Jodie back to her hometown is not solved (at least not by the end of the book)--though it does sound like they plan to keep working it from New Orleans as best they can--at least until some new evidence shows up. We also don't see the solving of who is behind the notes being left for the mothers nominated in the pageant. Instead, the case that is solved ends up being what happened 25 years ago when Mary Sampson was murdered and Jodie's mother disappeared--and also when Vera's husband disappeared.
I guessed right on some plot points, but didn't guess correctly who had murdered Mary Sampson.
May 6, 2024
Excellent.
Jodie Gilmore hasn't been an FBI agent for very long and now she is being assigned to her hometown of Loomis, Louisiana to assist in solving several crimes that have taken place there. Her supervisor believes that people will be more comfortable talking to her. Almost as soon as she arrives in town, she goes to the scene of a double-homicide that happened 25 years ago, which is the same year that her mother left town. Harrison Cahill, a forensic anthropologist has also been called in to work on the case. Jodie has a bad feeling about the female body that is found, and Harrison is pretty sure she knows something that she doesn't want to talk about.
Jodie Gilmore hasn't been an FBI agent for very long and now she is being assigned to her hometown of Loomis, Louisiana to assist in solving several crimes that have taken place there. Her supervisor believes that people will be more comfortable talking to her. Almost as soon as she arrives in town, she goes to the scene of a double-homicide that happened 25 years ago, which is the same year that her mother left town. Harrison Cahill, a forensic anthropologist has also been called in to work on the case. Jodie has a bad feeling about the female body that is found, and Harrison is pretty sure she knows something that she doesn't want to talk about.
January 2, 2024
Another intense installment in the Without a Trace series. Saw a bit of Sam from book 1 which was fun.
Isn’t it handy to have a forensic anthropologist on hand when you discover a 25-year-old murdered pair? Especially if he is kind and handsome and available…
This story was a bit more predictable than the first, but that didn’t make me enjoy it less because the characters were so pleasant to be around. I enjoyed Jodie’s character arc of facing down the issues in the town she’d grown up in.
Isn’t it handy to have a forensic anthropologist on hand when you discover a 25-year-old murdered pair? Especially if he is kind and handsome and available…
This story was a bit more predictable than the first, but that didn’t make me enjoy it less because the characters were so pleasant to be around. I enjoyed Jodie’s character arc of facing down the issues in the town she’d grown up in.
November 15, 2025
This is an awesome read. It has everything a good mystery needs. Novice FBI agent is sent to her hometown to try and get locals to help with a missing person case. The townspeople are not helping.
They find two 30 year old dead bodies. She has a forensic anthropologist who starts flirting with her.
People remember what an unruly teenager she had been. Exciting and intense read.
They find two 30 year old dead bodies. She has a forensic anthropologist who starts flirting with her.
People remember what an unruly teenager she had been. Exciting and intense read.
October 13, 2022
Here's another good series Without a Trace in the Love Inspired Suspense series will have you wanting more. Join Harrison Cahill and Jodie Gilmore as they get closer to a killer that wants them died and the truth buried forever.
September 1, 2024
Read in a day
I am really getting into this series. Each mystery cleared up leaves another behind. Plus, still chasing the original mystery. I loved that Jodie was finally able to get closure about her mother. Really good story.
I am really getting into this series. Each mystery cleared up leaves another behind. Plus, still chasing the original mystery. I loved that Jodie was finally able to get closure about her mother. Really good story.
September 30, 2017
A light suspense with way too hammy tropes.
February 12, 2019
Cold Case Murder review
Cold Case Murder is the third romantic suspense book in the Without a Trace series written by author Shirlee McCoy.
Cold Case Murder is the third romantic suspense book in the Without a Trace series written by author Shirlee McCoy.
November 28, 2022
A 25 year old cold case solved. Very good story!! I didn’t see the end coming.
November 30, 2023
Who dun it? surprises!
The book was very good. Lots of murder even 25 year old one. Lots of other threats too. Small town stuff going on! I really enjoyed it!
The book was very good. Lots of murder even 25 year old one. Lots of other threats too. Small town stuff going on! I really enjoyed it!
January 5, 2025
A thoroughly enjoyable read
June 18, 2025
Fast paced….enjoyed
February 16, 2015
Without a Trace
Book 3
This story focuses on two new characters. Jodie Gilmore is a young female FBI agent who has been called to help on the investigation of missing person/murders.But the moment she gets there, the FBI is called to investigate two skeletal remains that were found. They are suspected to have died 25 years ago. The story goes deeper than that, but I'll leave it for you to discover the deeper secret.
The romance was interesting. These two had a lot of trouble getting the feelings going, but the romance eventually took off.
The interesting thing in this book is how amazingly flopped it was. At the end of Book 2, Sam and Jocelyn were married. Inf fact at their reception, Sam was called away to investigate the bloody shoe. So no time apparently lapsed between book 2 and book 3. In this book, Sam and Jocelyn are engaged - not married. Not only that, but it seems they discussed moving to New Orleans when in the first book, Sam said he'd live there with Jocelyn. By the next book, they are back to living there...
I'm confused...
These mistakes cost the book a star. I'm not sure who is to blame for the problems, but that did distract me from the book. The suspense in this book was very good, though, so I still gave it four stars. Oh, and as far as the "who done it and why?" I had it figured out pretty quickly, though I thought it was too easy - well, it was true!
Book 3
This story focuses on two new characters. Jodie Gilmore is a young female FBI agent who has been called to help on the investigation of missing person/murders.But the moment she gets there, the FBI is called to investigate two skeletal remains that were found. They are suspected to have died 25 years ago. The story goes deeper than that, but I'll leave it for you to discover the deeper secret.
The romance was interesting. These two had a lot of trouble getting the feelings going, but the romance eventually took off.
The interesting thing in this book is how amazingly flopped it was. At the end of Book 2, Sam and Jocelyn were married. Inf fact at their reception, Sam was called away to investigate the bloody shoe. So no time apparently lapsed between book 2 and book 3. In this book, Sam and Jocelyn are engaged - not married. Not only that, but it seems they discussed moving to New Orleans when in the first book, Sam said he'd live there with Jocelyn. By the next book, they are back to living there...
I'm confused...
These mistakes cost the book a star. I'm not sure who is to blame for the problems, but that did distract me from the book. The suspense in this book was very good, though, so I still gave it four stars. Oh, and as far as the "who done it and why?" I had it figured out pretty quickly, though I thought it was too easy - well, it was true!
September 4, 2011
Book 3 in the Without a Trace series.
Harrison and Jodie's story.
Jodie Gilmore is an FBI agent who booked out of Loomis, Louisiana as soon as she was 18 to make a new life for herself. She never fit in even though it was her home. She is called in for a missing persons case and she cannot refuse. They think the locals might open up more to Jodie since it is her hometown. They don't know that Jodie has some buried secrets of her own.
Harrison Cahill is called in after they find two more bodies, two very old bodies from a few decades ago. As a forensic anthropologist he is considered one of the best.
More mayhem and threats and still no Leah Farley.
Harrison and Jodie's story.
Jodie Gilmore is an FBI agent who booked out of Loomis, Louisiana as soon as she was 18 to make a new life for herself. She never fit in even though it was her home. She is called in for a missing persons case and she cannot refuse. They think the locals might open up more to Jodie since it is her hometown. They don't know that Jodie has some buried secrets of her own.
Harrison Cahill is called in after they find two more bodies, two very old bodies from a few decades ago. As a forensic anthropologist he is considered one of the best.
More mayhem and threats and still no Leah Farley.
March 23, 2016
Great who done it plot. One of my favorite storylines. FBI agent Jodie Gilmore is not pleased having to go back to her small town of Loomis, Louisiana to help investigate the disappearance of a woman. In the meantime there are two bodies found in an old building who appear to be decades old. With the help of a forensic anthropologist, they discover who the bodies belong to and more.
May 25, 2012
I rarely read romances, but the title of this one led me to believe it would be more of a crime/mystery novel. I wasn't disappointed. The elements of mystery were strongly written and I found myself racing to the end to see how it all turned out! Definitely recommended.
December 24, 2013
More bodies are found in Loomis, Louisiana, and Jodie is sent by the FBI to return to her hometown and help with the case. In addition she may find even answers and a handsome forensic anthropologist, Harrison Cahill.
August 29, 2010
Love It So Far :D
May 21, 2012
Book 3 Without A Trace
April 24, 2014
I enjoyed the book. However, in the end of the second book, Sam and Jocelyn got married and in this book they are merely engaged. Details!
January 18, 2015
The ending left me a little unsettled.
February 16, 2015
Spell-binding!
This is a must read. I couldn't put it down! The characters and plot so well developed. Bravo, Shirlee McCoy!
This is a must read. I couldn't put it down! The characters and plot so well developed. Bravo, Shirlee McCoy!
June 1, 2024
Good series.
April 13, 2017
now need to find others in series
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews