Title: Stone Cold Heart by Caz Frear
Cat Kinsella Series Book Two
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 332 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
From the beloved and internationally bestselling author of Sweet Little Lies comes the second novel featuring DC Cat Kinsella—an investigator “on par with Susie Steiner’s and Tana French’s female detectives” (Kirkus Reviews).
After a brief stint in the Mayor’s Office, Detective Constable Cat Kinsella is back at the London Metropolitan Police, wisecracking with her partner Luigi Parnell and trying to avoid the wrath of the boss, DI Kate Steele.
But for Cat and Parnell, it’s serious business when a young Australian woman turns up dead after a party thrown by her new boss. The initial investigation of Naomi Lockhart’s murder points to Joseph Madden, the owner of a coffee shop around the corner from police headquarters. Madden insists he’s innocent, that he was home with his wife Rachel at the time of the murder. When police question her, Rachel contradicts his alibi, swearing that she was home alone.
While the team builds its case against Joseph, Cat is tasked with getting to the heart of the Maddens’ marriage. Cat knows that one of them is lying—but the question of which one, and why, is far more complicated than she could have expected. As she tries to balance the demands of the investigation with a budding romance and unresolved family drama, Cat has to decide how far she’ll go to keep her own past mistakes buried.
With her trademark wit and brilliant plotting, Caz Frear ratchets up the tension and keeps you guessing as she explores the secrets we keep from our loved ones—and the ones we’d kill to keep safe in the dark.
Review:
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.
