novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2019; Harper/HarperCollins
I was super excited to read Stone Cold Heart, but this one fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed reading more about Cat and her workmates, her new relationship and family. It was the mystery that didn't work for me. I found it a bit confusing with all the characters involved. They seemed to sort of be like one another, and were hard to tell apart. I like Frear's writing so I am down for more Cat Kinsella books!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2019; Harper/HarperCollins
I was super excited to read Stone Cold Heart, but this one fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed reading more about Cat and her workmates, her new relationship and family. It was the mystery that didn't work for me. I found it a bit confusing with all the characters involved. They seemed to sort of be like one another, and were hard to tell apart. I like Frear's writing so I am down for more Cat Kinsella books!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
memengwaa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bobmetal's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kbranfield's review
4.0
4.5 stars.
Stone Cold Heart by Caz Frear is an absorbing mystery. Although this second installment in the Cat Kinsella series can be read as a standalone, the first book in the series, Sweet Little Lies, provides valuable background information about Cat and her family.
Detective Cat Kinsella and her partner Detective Sergeant Luigi Parnell are investigating the death of Australian national Naomi Lockhart. There is little doubt the twenty-two year young woman has been murdered but there are scant clues at the crime scene. Cat and Luigi's first stop in the investigation is the victim's boss, Kirstie Conner. They quickly discover that Kirstie's husband Marcus set Naomi up with her roommate Kiernan Drake, a thirty-four year old personal trainer. Further complicating the situation is the fact Naomi was at the Conner's house for a party the day of her death. Cat and Luigi soon have reason to believe Kirstie's brother-in-law Joseph Madden was having an affair with Naomi. The only problem? Joseph's wife Rachel insists her husband was at home the night Naomi was murdered. Cat and Luigi continue their investigation but all roads lead back to Joseph. Is it possible that Rachel is lying for her husband? Can Cat uncover the truth about who murdered Naomi?
Cat is still dealing with the fallout from her previous case but she is determined not to allow the fraught situation to affect her at work. She has carefully compartmentalized her life and she does everything she can to keep the various areas separate. Unfortunately, Cat's boyfriend is growing impatient with her refusal to introduce him to anyone in her life. And Luigi and her other co-workers are giving her a hard time about her "secret" boyfriend. Cat's life grows even more complicated when someone from her past suddenly reappears in her life and she is suspicious about what this person wants from her.
The investigation into Naomi's murder is a bit of a slow burner as Cat and Luigi try to find definitive evidence that Joseph is, in fact, their killer. The complex family ties muddy their search for answers but it does not take long for Cat to make some headway. Rachel quickly begins to unravel but she remains adamant Joseph is innocent. Kinsella and Parnell soon untangle Joseph's web of lies but will they uncover irrefutable proof that he murdered Naomi? In the meantime, Cat is chasing down a few puzzling details although she is not sure how this information fits into their investigation. A stunning discovery turns the case upside down, but will Cat and Luigi discover the identity of Naomi's murderer?
Stone Cold Heart is a fast-paced and engrossing police procedural. Cat, Luigi and the rest of the team are vibrantly developed characters that are quite personable. Cat is quite intelligent with an intriguing moral compass due to her family history. The current investigation is completely wrapped up novel's end, but a cliffhanger involving Cat will leave readers awaiting the next installment in Caz Frear's clever Cat Kinsella series.
Stone Cold Heart by Caz Frear is an absorbing mystery. Although this second installment in the Cat Kinsella series can be read as a standalone, the first book in the series, Sweet Little Lies, provides valuable background information about Cat and her family.
Detective Cat Kinsella and her partner Detective Sergeant Luigi Parnell are investigating the death of Australian national Naomi Lockhart. There is little doubt the twenty-two year young woman has been murdered but there are scant clues at the crime scene. Cat and Luigi's first stop in the investigation is the victim's boss, Kirstie Conner. They quickly discover that Kirstie's husband Marcus set Naomi up with her roommate Kiernan Drake, a thirty-four year old personal trainer. Further complicating the situation is the fact Naomi was at the Conner's house for a party the day of her death. Cat and Luigi soon have reason to believe Kirstie's brother-in-law Joseph Madden was having an affair with Naomi. The only problem? Joseph's wife Rachel insists her husband was at home the night Naomi was murdered. Cat and Luigi continue their investigation but all roads lead back to Joseph. Is it possible that Rachel is lying for her husband? Can Cat uncover the truth about who murdered Naomi?
Cat is still dealing with the fallout from her previous case but she is determined not to allow the fraught situation to affect her at work. She has carefully compartmentalized her life and she does everything she can to keep the various areas separate. Unfortunately, Cat's boyfriend is growing impatient with her refusal to introduce him to anyone in her life. And Luigi and her other co-workers are giving her a hard time about her "secret" boyfriend. Cat's life grows even more complicated when someone from her past suddenly reappears in her life and she is suspicious about what this person wants from her.
The investigation into Naomi's murder is a bit of a slow burner as Cat and Luigi try to find definitive evidence that Joseph is, in fact, their killer. The complex family ties muddy their search for answers but it does not take long for Cat to make some headway. Rachel quickly begins to unravel but she remains adamant Joseph is innocent. Kinsella and Parnell soon untangle Joseph's web of lies but will they uncover irrefutable proof that he murdered Naomi? In the meantime, Cat is chasing down a few puzzling details although she is not sure how this information fits into their investigation. A stunning discovery turns the case upside down, but will Cat and Luigi discover the identity of Naomi's murderer?
Stone Cold Heart is a fast-paced and engrossing police procedural. Cat, Luigi and the rest of the team are vibrantly developed characters that are quite personable. Cat is quite intelligent with an intriguing moral compass due to her family history. The current investigation is completely wrapped up novel's end, but a cliffhanger involving Cat will leave readers awaiting the next installment in Caz Frear's clever Cat Kinsella series.
aljraymond's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rachelibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
jordangender's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
justanotherpageturner's review against another edition
4.0
STONE COLD HEART: a cleverly written and structural police detective novel with high-end characterisation.
This was the first book of Frear’s I have read and I was instantly enticed and excited to see how the story would unfold- it worked beautifully as a stand-alone novel due to the fact that whilst there are secondary stories, it is largely based around piecing together the circumstances of a murder (I would definitely go back to read Frear’s debut novel and subsequent follow ups).
I was blown away by Frear’s writing style- she nailed characterisation and dialogue which was pitched perfectly to help develop the story in an organic way with teasing, subtle hints to keep the pace of the story; a clever writing approach which I felt made the book more enjoyable and authentic. The book is a slow burner which enables the story to twist and turn through the web of potential suspects, witnesses and family members of those being investigated in a way that is both beneficial to developing the story and the tension. What makes it so good is that it doesn’t rely on usual literary crime tactics to keep pace- the story holds its own. It’s ultimately a murder mystery that keeps you hooked throughout.
The book is written in first person from the perspective of the main protagonist DC Cat Kinsella, a feisty but loveable character who brings so much more to the storyline with mentions of her own dysfunctional family, complex romantic situation and her sheer grit and determination for justice: you can’t help but love her. Likewise her immediate superior, Parnell, adds more depth to the story as a loyal and steady character in Cat’s life and this enables the reader to see Cat from a different vantage point. With its clever unravelling and strong repertoire of characters that were considered to the smallest of details, I could definitely see the books on-screen potential with DC Kinsella heading up a police detective series.
Overall I found Frear’s writing gripping and her subtlety with clues was first class. I loved that although it’s a series everything ended up fully explained regarding the case that was being investigated and the only loose ends were around characters that remain a constant throughout the series.
I was kindly gifted this book by Zaffre Books in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first book of Frear’s I have read and I was instantly enticed and excited to see how the story would unfold- it worked beautifully as a stand-alone novel due to the fact that whilst there are secondary stories, it is largely based around piecing together the circumstances of a murder (I would definitely go back to read Frear’s debut novel and subsequent follow ups).
I was blown away by Frear’s writing style- she nailed characterisation and dialogue which was pitched perfectly to help develop the story in an organic way with teasing, subtle hints to keep the pace of the story; a clever writing approach which I felt made the book more enjoyable and authentic. The book is a slow burner which enables the story to twist and turn through the web of potential suspects, witnesses and family members of those being investigated in a way that is both beneficial to developing the story and the tension. What makes it so good is that it doesn’t rely on usual literary crime tactics to keep pace- the story holds its own. It’s ultimately a murder mystery that keeps you hooked throughout.
The book is written in first person from the perspective of the main protagonist DC Cat Kinsella, a feisty but loveable character who brings so much more to the storyline with mentions of her own dysfunctional family, complex romantic situation and her sheer grit and determination for justice: you can’t help but love her. Likewise her immediate superior, Parnell, adds more depth to the story as a loyal and steady character in Cat’s life and this enables the reader to see Cat from a different vantage point. With its clever unravelling and strong repertoire of characters that were considered to the smallest of details, I could definitely see the books on-screen potential with DC Kinsella heading up a police detective series.
Overall I found Frear’s writing gripping and her subtlety with clues was first class. I loved that although it’s a series everything ended up fully explained regarding the case that was being investigated and the only loose ends were around characters that remain a constant throughout the series.
I was kindly gifted this book by Zaffre Books in exchange for an honest review.
pam_sartain's review against another edition
4.0
Stone Cold Heart by Caz Frear has DC Cat Kinsella and her partner Luigi Parnell looking into the death of a young Australian woman after a party at the home of her boss, Kirstie.
There's evidence pointing to Joseph, who is married to the sister of Kirstie's husband, but there's something more going on.
Cat is also in a relationship with the brother of the murdered girl from the first book, and Cat's father is somehow involved there, which makes it awkward for Cat all round.
I haven't read the first book in this series, which made it harder for me to understand some of what was going on, but it was an enjoyable read, with secrets and twists I didn't see coming.
Stone Cold Heart was published on 27th June 2019 and is available from Amazon , Waterstones and Bookshop.org .
You can follow Caz Frear on Twitter and Instagram .
I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Bonnier Books .
There's evidence pointing to Joseph, who is married to the sister of Kirstie's husband, but there's something more going on.
Cat is also in a relationship with the brother of the murdered girl from the first book, and Cat's father is somehow involved there, which makes it awkward for Cat all round.
I haven't read the first book in this series, which made it harder for me to understand some of what was going on, but it was an enjoyable read, with secrets and twists I didn't see coming.
Stone Cold Heart was published on 27th June 2019 and is available from Amazon , Waterstones and Bookshop.org .
You can follow Caz Frear on Twitter and Instagram .
I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Bonnier Books .
skconaghan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cheeky. Witty. Absorbing. Brill.
Cat is a danger to herself, but worse than herself are her dodgy relatives, poised to muck up her life, job and relationships if they can get at them—but she works hard to keep her private and professional lives on opposite sides of the city and in polar arenas.
Cat idolises the Boss Lady, even comes close to letting her in, but settles for discreet swooning in the aftermath of her praise. Her partner is the father figure she’s always craved, and the father she has is the bane of her existence, the focal point for all her agonies and joys. She’s a desperate mess, and we come to love her and hope for her in all her arrogant and ignorant blunders. Cat badly craves accolades in the job—but more so, she is consumed by an internal motivation to bring justice to the innocent young girl left dead on her kitchen floor.
And this mysterious murder has us stumped as well.
There are so many layers in this story it goes beyond ‘police procedural’ and sucks up family drama, social commentary, and lures us to the dark, to walking that rickety fence between righteous and criminal. You just don’t know what side Cat will end on, even though we see the purity of her tainted heart.
The writing is quick, smart, sparse on wordy explanations, but full of vivid and artful descriptions. Plot and periphery whip into place with intricate detail in a seemingly effortless delivery.
Can’t wait till they turn this into a mini-series; rich and layered, this is perfect for the small screen.