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? In 1977, the people of Claire Lake, Oregon, feared for their safety when 2 family men were murdered by the same gun and notes were left on them steering towards a lady killer. The wealthy Beth, 23 years old at the time, was tried and acquitted and remains at her mansion isolating herself from the community. YES, the scene is set for another CHILLING read from Simone St. James whether you are inside the mansion or outside in the elements.

Shea's struggles also made me care for her. Watching her overcome some of them was gratifying. I was glad she had Winston Puurchill to help her out too. My favorite character is Shea's adorable adopted cat, Winston Purrchill, who is a green-eyed-gray-tabby-purring-machine! The comfort he gives to Shea during her dogged search for answers in this cold case is a great addition to the story. I want more of this kitty and kudos to the author for this soft touch! Well done!St. James is such a compelling writer. She has an absolute gift for setting a scene and keeping you intrigued. I was captivated throughout my entire read. For me, the highlight was the relationship between Beth and Shea. In a way, it was like through their, I won't call it friendship, but acquaintance, Beth was able to free Shea. 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. The Book of Cold Cases is a suspenseful mystery about a sensational cold case surrounding an unknown female serial killer. With the reemergence of the suspected killer, an amateur sleuth tries to unravel the killer’s identity, leading her into a dark, dangerous, and otherworldly place.

The setting of the old Victorian house nestled on the edge of a cliff overlooking the coastal waters below gives an ominous and threatening feel to the story. Extremely interesting and well developed characters, two distinct timelines, long-held secrets, and family drama are skillfully blended together to create additional atmosphere and suspense within this story. Shea was a victim of an attempted abduction as a child and it has both haunted her and fueled her passion for true crime. It's the reason for her blog, 'The Book of Cold Cases' and why she boldly approaches Beth to request an interview. Beth finally agrees, with the stipulation the interview is conducted in her home. years later, Shea Collins is a receptionist by day, and a true crime blogger by night. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To her surprise, Beth says yes. One year later, Shea sees a news report that Beth Greer died, probably from the aneurysm. Someone bought the haunted Greer house. In the course of her day job she meets Beth Greer, the prime suspect of the "Lady Killer" murders of 1977 in which two men were shot dead at point-blank range in separate incidents and one person identified Beth, who he witnessed leaving the scene of one of the murders, as the perpetrator. The case remains unsolved and even though Beth was acquitted she was still suspected to be guilty. Shea, intrigued by Beth’s past and in awe of Beth’s poise and gravitas, requests an interview for her blog to which Beth surprisingly agrees. As Shea is permitted to dig deep into Beth’s world, she passionately pursues the cold case interviewing not only Beth but also the police officer assigned to her case many years ago and other people who figured as a part of Beth’s life. Her research takes her into the history of Beth’s family which has its share of secrets and much tragedy in the past. Her visits to Beth’s home, the Greer family mansion, are also not without incident and Shea encounters more than she bargained for. As she gets closer to unraveling the events from 1977 and unmasking the killer, she becomes more aware of a mysterious presence surrounding Beth and the house – a force that makes its presence felt to her as well, often thwarting her efforts and threatening her in the process.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. Mariana introduces Beth to her cousin Lillian. Beth’s parents fight about Lily, who lives with foster parents and shows up at holidays. When Beth is a teenager she finally gets Lily to confirm that they are half sisters, not cousins. Beth tells Lily that all Mariana’s family money went to Julian. Lily ages out of the foster care system and disappears. Shea POV 2017 Is guilt a good or bad emotion? It depends on the individual's character on how we respond to guilt. We can positively consider guilt by saying that it can motivate us to improve ourselves for a better chance and future. Guilt can also break you down. This book had an other-world, spooky tone to it right up to the end. I don’t do horror and I wouldn’t classify this one as part of that genre. Let’s just say a paranormal vibe.👻 Julian Greer and Mariana Pattinson Greer – lived in Greer house in the 1950-1975. Both died after that, Julian in 1973 in a home invasion and Mariana in 1975 in a car accident.

This is my second Simone St. James book, the other being The Broken Girls, and I can see where she has a certain "flavor" as an author: a strong-willed but broken female protagonist, a Gothic setting with a haunted atmosphere, a malevolent or dark spirit, and a dual-timeline mystery that the protagonist is investigating. Where I mostly enjoyed that in her previous effort, I found this story far more compelling. She didn't know what a life without fear would look like. Beth knew the contours of fear intimately, its shifting shapes, its taste and its smell." ABOUT 'THE BOOK OF COLD CASES': 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 23-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion. The second half of the novel lost intensity causing my connection to fizzle. The story remained enjoyable but not as gripping or edgy as the beginning half. By the last 20%, the atmosphere and tension lost its grip on me and the conclusion felt rushed and unbelievable.

The effect was supposed to be sweeping, breathtaking, but like most of Julian's life, it didn't work out as planned. The windows fogged and the view was bleak. The lawn was flat and dead, and the ocean beyond the cliff was choppy and cold. Julian had done the renovations in hopes of pleasing his new wife, Mariana. But instead the relentless view from the windows unsettled her, and she kept the curtains closed. She decorated the rest of the house dutifully but listlessly, which was a harbinger of their marriage. Something about the Greer mansion stifled laughter and killed happiness. It might sound dramatic but anyone who had lived there knew it was true. Do yourself a favor and light some fall candles (I recommend ”Leaves” from Bath & Body Works), pour a glass (or bottle) of wine, wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, and settle in for a quaint night of reading. If you hear a strange noise or feel like someone is watching you, hopefully it’s just your animal/spouse/child. If you live alone, get the hell out of there! Enjoy! 🕯🍷📖 👻