Good Reads Challenge: Review …The Book of Cold Cases
Hello friends, and happy Winter!
“Am I bitter or am I sweet? Ladies can be either.”
– The Book of Cold Cases
How is everyone doing this week? I hope you’re having a great day, eating good some comfort food, and getting outside (if you can), as well as checking in with friends and family.
I’m ahead of schedule on my Good Reads list so I’ve been able to add one more book to my challenge. Today I’m reviewing …The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James.
The Review
Title | The Book of Cold Cases
Author | Simone St. James
Pages | 352
Genre | Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Horror
GR Rating | 3.81
Purchase | Amazon
Synopsis
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.
My Rating & Review (☆☆☆☆)
I love a good true crime story and this book fits the bill. The Book of Cold Cases is a murder mystery, and a ghost story all rolled into one.
She Collins is a medical receptionist by day, but in the evenings she runs a blog called The Book of Cold Cases which discusses notorious unsolved murders. For each post, Shea tries to crack the code with new information from form comments and additional investigations from Michael (a private investigator). Shea is not without her own trauma as she was almost abducted when she was 9 years old.
from The Book of Cold Cases
“It made no sense, but guilt doesn’t have to. It simply exists, weighing you down and choking you until you can’t breathe anymore.”
Recently divorced from a marriage that just wasn’t working Shea lives alone, never rides in cars, and has her life neatly packed into sections. Her only interactions are with her sister and her husband, a few co-workers, and Michael.
While at work Shea sees a familiar face that she just can’t place. She can’t remember if she’s famous or infamous… then in a flash, Shea remembers that woman sitting in her office is none other than Beth Greer the acquitted Lady Killer. Beth Greer was a rich socialite in Claire Lake, who in 1977 was accused of cold-blooded murder and nicknamed “The Lady Killer”. Beth was the daughter of two of the most broken people in the world, who decided to marry to keep up appearances vs love.
from The Book of Cold Cases
“Being a girl is the best,” she said, “because no one ever believes you’d do something bad. People think you’ll do nothing, which means you can do anything.”
Growing up they don’t give Shea much affection. Her father (Julian) was on business travel 75% of the time and her mother (Marina), an acholic who basically checked out of life. When Beth was around 9 a mysterious cousin started spending holidays with the family. Lily would start to spend regular holidays with the family but Shea notices that her father doesn’t take to Lily, while Marina gushes.
Secrets would begin to unfold as we learn about Beth’s life dynamic and her relationship (if you will) with Detective Black. Shea would take advantage of a chance to meet with Beth for an interview for her blog. She wanted to find out the true story behind the infamous Lady Killer.
from The Book of Cold Cases
“Aftershave, Beth thought, was one of the most important scents in any girl’s world. It was the smell of fathers, or uncles, or teachers, or priests, or husbands.”
Shea would see Beth as beautiful, bold, crass, and confident. She was rich and had a big house but was still seen by some parts of the town as a serial killer because the real killer was never brought to justice. Shea would learn why Beth never moved out of the house that caused her so much mystery, the house where her father was murdered and how she couldn’t escape the mansion, and why she drank too much. Shea would also learn the part that Lily would play in Beth’s life.
This book was perfect, not too graphic but just enough detail to have you wanting more. I always come to a point of confusion where I think I know the story and the murderer but then everything gets shaken, stirred, and the pieces start to fall into place.
My Good Reads Challenge Progress
That concludes my short review. Thanks so much for visiting the blog today. I’ve finished The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires (review coming soon!), and I’m currently reading a YA novel called Disco Deathtrap. Yes, it’s as silly as sounds but it is a horror novel, so I can’t wait to review it.
Don’t forget to follow and subscribe, as I really appreciate the support. — Peace
