Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line: I watched as fire devoured the house as if it were a living, breathing monster, ravenous for death and destruction.
But first the photo and verse. You knew I had to post a snow photo after this week, didn’t you? We haven’t thawed out yet after receiving over five inches of snow in our area. I know that isn’t much for people north of my hometown, but it’s a LOT for this little corner of northeast Mississippi. It was very pretty as it fell, but on the whole, I’d rather it stayed up north!
Now for Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Twenty years ago, several people were murdered in Des Moines. The only evidence left behind was a snowman ornament hanging ominously on a tree in the victims’ front lawns. With a suspect behind bars, the killings have come to an end. Or so everyone thought. But now crimes with a similar MO are happening in a small Iowa town, and a local detective believes the killer is back and ready to strike again.
With little time left on the clock before they have another murder on their hands, private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair must work alongside Tony’s detective father to find evidence that will uncover an evil that has survived far too long. As the danger mounts and the suspect closes in, it will take all they have to catch a killer–before he catches one of them.
My take:
I was just glad I didn’t have to get up early the night I read Cold Threat! I stayed up past 1:30 for find out who the killer was.
This is a great suspense, one that will keep the reader flipping the pages for the next twist. I love the characters–River Ryland and Tony St. Clair–and enjoy finding out what makes them tick. I can’t wait for the next installment. Nancy Mehl knows how to hook a reader and keep them hooked to the end.
River and Tony were behavior analysts for the FBI before Tony was shot the night a serial killer tried to kill River. He’s still recovering from the wounds, and River suffers from PTSD so they’ve started a detective agency. This is book 2. If you haven’t read book 1, Cold Pursuit now would be a good time to do it although it isn’t necessary for this book). Tony’s dad has asked them to do a profile on a twenty-year-old cold case. They have gone to Burlington, Iowa to catch the arsonist who kills then sets the victim’s house on fire. He also leaves a snowman ornament.
Once they’re there, River deals with Tony’s sister who blames her for Tony almost dying. Well, she blames herself, too. And she can’t understand how her feelings for Tony could be changing–they are best friends. She doesn’t want to mess with that.
As they race against an impending snowstorm, the killer strikes again, but this time the victim lives. As they close in on the killer, nothing is as it seems. This is a page-turner for sure!
You can find purchase links for Cold Threat here, and at Christianbooks.com
Okay readers, what are you reading this week? Leave your first line in the comments or a comment about Nancy Mehl’s book, Cold Pursuit and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
And don’t forget that Fatal Witness releases February 6, 2924 (as if I’d let you!
Comments 37
I’m reading Loving Beth by Bonnie Rose Ward
“Esther straightened and blew a wisp of graying brunette hair from her face.”
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Sounds like a good read, Gail!
Pat your photo is fitting of the season and Nancy’s book title. Your matching of Scripture is always on target.
I’ve got “Cold Threat” on preorder and should be reading it next week. I love Nancy’s books.
“The woman Michael Wright had given his heart to was gone. Just…gone.” This is the first line from “Rescuing You: Secrets and Spies in Shadow Cove (The Wright Heroes of Maine Book 2)” by Robin Patchen. It is indeed a thriller, and a fast paced book.
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I have Rescuing You on my TBR table, Tim. You will enjoy Nancy’s book!
I believe both of you will enjoy Rescuing You. It’s different from most of her books as far as the setting, but this one is packed with action and suspense as her other books have been.
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I am looking forward to it, Edward! Robin Patchen writes great books! And that first line reads like out headlines. lol
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks, Diana!
Cold Threat sounds terrific!
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It is, Priscilla!
I can hardly wait to read this one!
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I think you’ll really enjoy it, Jeanna!
Yep, I think the photo and Scripture match this week perfectly, Pat. Like Tim wrote, Nancy’s book title fits right in with the weather here. We still have our 9” and it’s snowing again. Hope I don’t see any snowmen ornaments outside! Good review, Pat. I do like Nancy’s books, but I CANNOT start them at night.
Paris was out of time.
The French government knew it. The people knew it. This is the opening to The Paris Housekeeper, a WW II novel, by Renee Ryan
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I hope you don’t see any snowmen either, Barbara…if you do, lock up tight… 😉 And The Paris Housekeeper sounds good!
For sure, Pat. Will lock up tight! lol
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😉
I’m reading, Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill.
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Hi Beverly! I’ll have to check out Counterfeit Love!
Love the photo (looks the same outside my house!) and it goes so well with the book title. Nancy’s book sounds wonderful.
I just finished “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein.
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I’m hoping my view changes soon, Kay! And Garth Stein is a new author to me. I’ll have to check him out.
Thanks for the great photo and verse!
I’m currently reading Shadow of Truth by Susan Sleeman. It starts with ” Norman Fowler was free to terrorize her again.” It’s book 3 of the Shadow Lake series. As you can guess, it’s “un-put-downable!” 🙂
“Un-put-downable” now there is a word I will use in the future. Thank you!
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Me, too, Tim!
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All of Susan Sleeman’s books are that way, L.!
Lovely photo Pat but I’ve seen more snow this week than I appreciate – 8″ on Monday and due to frigid temps still hanging around. Like you I prefer the snow stay further north.
I have read a number of Nancy’s books and like them all. This sounds like another good one. I just finished reading Susan Sleeman’s Shadow of Truth. Another good read!
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I’ll be glad to see the cold temps and snow go away, Miss Mary! I am not a fan. lol Susan Sleeman’s books always draw me in.
I have my eye on this one but need to read book 1 first. I agree that the title matches your picture perfectly. I am reading the Anna Lee Huber book from last week.
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Hi Gloria. I’ve read Nancy’s first book, Cold Pursuit, and it’s great, too. And while this is the second one, you really don’t have to read the first one first. The story stands alone. 🙂
I’d love to read Nancy Mehl’s book. I just finished The Way You Love Me by Michelle Sass Aleckson.
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Hi Joan! I havent’ read The Way You Love Me yet…will have to check it out.
That’s the perfect picture for the book title! The book sounds really good. I’m looking forward to reading it. I enjoyed the first book in the series. I’m reading The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt.
Antonina. August 31, 1939. Warsaw, Poland. Antonina-and-Helena. That was how I remembered our names. Spoken in a single breath, always blended together.
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Intriguing first line, Erika! I’ll have to check it out. I’ve enjoyed some of Amanda’s other books.
Great picture and verse. I saw some snow today – snow flurries. So far, the threats of snow have only accomplished getting kids out of school several days. We haven’t had any accumulation. Apparently, the storms are either fizzling before they get here or getting diverted by the mountains to the west.
I’m looking forward to reading Nancy’s next book. As soon as I work my way through the stack on my desk so I can return them to the library, I will be looking for this one. I’m currently reading a tamer story, or at least, I think it is. It’s Karen Kingsbury’s Just Once. The first line however seems to fit well with the picture and verse above.
A wicked nor’easter crippled Washington, D.C., that March afternoon, closing down the federal government under a snow emergency.
Nancy’s books are always good!
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They are, Shelia!
I’m reading When the Waters Came by Candice Sue Patterson. Beautiful photo and verse. We definitely don’t need more snow.❄️
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I’ll be glad when this stuff is gone and life returns to normal, Lucy!