Title: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Supernatural Elements
Length: 350 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.
In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect—a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.
Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases—a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea’s surprise, Beth says yes.
They meet regularly at Beth’s mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she’s not looking, and she could swear she’s seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn’t right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?
Review:
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James is a suspense-laden mystery with eerie ghostly elements.
Twenty-nine-year-old Shea Collins is a divorced survivor of a failed childhood kidnapping attempt. Although the kidnapper remains in prison, she takes great care to ensure her safety. She is a bit quirky and socially awkward and no one, including her sister, Esther, understands why she is so dedicated to her true crime blog, the Book of Cold Cases. With the still unsolved murders of two men in her hometown on the Oregon coast, Shea is thrilled when the woman acquitted of the decades old crime agrees to an interview.
Beth Greer is a wealthy recluse who still lives in her family’s secluded mansion. After the trial ended in an acquittal, she retreated to her somewhat creepy childhood home. Beth has never discussed the murders she was arrested for committing, but she believes Shea will not only treat her fairly but follow the clues she drops during their conversations.
Needless to say, Shea is excited but nervous about upcoming interview with Beth. As Beth recounts her lonely childhood with her extremely unhappy parents, Shea is unnerved by the unexplained, otherworldly events she experiences at the mansion. Despite her continued unease, she becomes deeply invested in finding out the truth about Beth and the unsolved murders. With the help of private detective Michael De Vos and the retired detective who investigated the case, will Shea uncover the truth about whether or not Beth got away with murder?
The Book of Cold Cases is an atmospheric mystery with terrifying supernatural elements that are hair-raising. Shea is a sympathetic character who grows and evolves as she tries to uncover the truth about Beth and the killings. Beth’s revelations are shocking but is she being truthful with Shea? The storyline is well-developed and the various settings spring vibrantly to life. With a stunning denouement, Simone St. James brings this mesmerizing mystery to a highly satisfying conclusion.
