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dmurdock1997's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kle105's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, Lauren a Cold Case Detective and a Private Investigator on the side, take a case with the Defense Attorney that she has always won against. While they have hated each other they are now working together and the contempt and witty banter between the two is hilarious.
I loved the story as it unfolded, aside from Lauren's very idiotic taste in men and decisions regarding men. The ending was chilling and makes me want to read more of this series. So many great characters, and great story telling.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the story as it unfolded, aside from Lauren's very idiotic taste in men and decisions regarding men. The ending was chilling and makes me want to read more of this series. So many great characters, and great story telling.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
mg_in_md_'s review
4.0
This was an impressive debut thriller that introduces accomplished Buffalo-based cold case detective Lauren Riley, who works part-time as a private investigator and has a very messy personal life. As the story begins, Lauren is hired as a p.i. by a slick defense attorney, who is normally on the opposing side of the court room, to look into the arrest of his teenaged godson for murder. Despite her misgivings about working for her arch-nemisis, Lauren throws herself into the investigation and is convinced there is more to the story. She is juggling this investigation with her day job (she is also working on a new cold case, giving readers two mysteries for the price of one) and dealing with personal life challenges, including a potential stalker. Some of those personal life complications are of her own doing and will likely leave the reader scratching his/her head about the choices she's made; however, I think that they will provide an opportunity for Lauren to grow and evolve as the series progresses. While I found myself frustrated with her choices at times, I also like her and the premise of the series enough to allow for those imperfections.
I found the story to be briskly paced and complex. The writing and plot development kept me reading "just one more chapter" to find out what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the mix of Lauren's police and p.i. work, the courtroom drama, having insights from different characters that Lauren did not have, and the cliffhanger ending. The author's knowledge of Buffalo and prior work as a cold case detective provided a sense of place and realism.
I found the story to be briskly paced and complex. The writing and plot development kept me reading "just one more chapter" to find out what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the mix of Lauren's police and p.i. work, the courtroom drama, having insights from different characters that Lauren did not have, and the cliffhanger ending. The author's knowledge of Buffalo and prior work as a cold case detective provided a sense of place and realism.
tscibs's review
5.0
Starting this first book in the series after reading book 6 to start, it’s cool to see how the series has developed and I can’t wait to get into the rest of the series this week! Like Lissa’s most recent book in the series, I love reading about places I’m so familiar with like Cheektowaga and Orchard Park where Lissa mentions is the home of the Buffalo Bills (go bills!) The way this mystery was told was put together perfectly. The varying POV’s kept you wondering if the suspect really did it or not. That ending though
katreader's review against another edition
4.0
A COLD DAY IN HELL by Lissa Marie Redmond
The First Cold Case Investigation
As a cold case homicide detective Lauren Riley is used to dealing with the seamier side of society, and that includes defense attorney Frank Violanti. But after meeting the young kid he's defending on a murder charge, Lauren agrees to do some PI work for him. Detective Riley must navigate the pitfalls of working for "the other side" while continuing to investigate her cold case workload. What will put her in more danger, an old case, the current murder, or her personal life?
Power is the thread that ties everything together in this first Cold Case Investigation, showing what people will do to get it and keep it. A COLD DAY IN HELL illustrates the abuse women face on a daily basis and the power men desire to wield over them. It's also a finely detailed mystery, rich in atmosphere and filled with complex character dynamics.
Lissa Marie Redmond nails the gritty realism in this police procedural. Filled with dark troubled people its multiple mysteries coalesce into one detective's story - and struggle.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
The First Cold Case Investigation
As a cold case homicide detective Lauren Riley is used to dealing with the seamier side of society, and that includes defense attorney Frank Violanti. But after meeting the young kid he's defending on a murder charge, Lauren agrees to do some PI work for him. Detective Riley must navigate the pitfalls of working for "the other side" while continuing to investigate her cold case workload. What will put her in more danger, an old case, the current murder, or her personal life?
Power is the thread that ties everything together in this first Cold Case Investigation, showing what people will do to get it and keep it. A COLD DAY IN HELL illustrates the abuse women face on a daily basis and the power men desire to wield over them. It's also a finely detailed mystery, rich in atmosphere and filled with complex character dynamics.
Lissa Marie Redmond nails the gritty realism in this police procedural. Filled with dark troubled people its multiple mysteries coalesce into one detective's story - and struggle.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
constantreader471's review against another edition
3.0
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.
meisterkanz's review against another edition
2.0
This book is neither riveting nor engrossing. I felt this was so similar to the movie "Primal Fear." Another thing was that this book is setting up a platform for a future novel, given that the author is a retired cold case investigator.
jennie_cole's review against another edition
4.0
This is a new series I will be adding to my reads. It has very currently characters. The main character, Lauren Riley, is a very good detective in the Cold Case unit in the Buffalo Police department. The other characters are all men and are hugely flawed. This story revolves around a case out in the county where Lauren is hired by the defense to help a teenage boy against a murder charge. The other characters are the defense attorney who believes that his godson could not possibly do this thing, Lauren's ex-husband who cheated on her and is now cheating with her because he never loved the other woman, Lauren's police detective ex-fiance who was very abusive and this is his case, finally there is the husband of the murder victim who was tracking her every move, controlling her life, cheating on her, and sending her to various shrinks in order to make her seem insane and steal her pills.
Lissa Marie Redmond is a retired cold case detective in Buffalo so there is a feeling of authenticity to the story. Now I will say that if you do not like non-ending endings then this will not satisfy but if you are going to read the next book then you should be okay with it.
Lissa Marie Redmond is a retired cold case detective in Buffalo so there is a feeling of authenticity to the story. Now I will say that if you do not like non-ending endings then this will not satisfy but if you are going to read the next book then you should be okay with it.
ceredonia's review against another edition
4.0
Reading #1 puts a lot more of #3 in context...
I really like Lissa's writing style, the storyline flows very evenly and methodically. Starting #2 now, and even though I know what happens (whoops), I'm enjoying the way she gets the characters there.
I really like Lissa's writing style, the storyline flows very evenly and methodically. Starting #2 now, and even though I know what happens (whoops), I'm enjoying the way she gets the characters there.