The Book of Cold Cases
Written by: Simone St. James
Berkley Hardcover Edition
344 Pages
2022
Other Information that writers and/or readers may find interesting:
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery
Agent: Pam Hopkins
Point of View and Tense: The story has two character viewpoints. Shea’s is First person, present tense. Beth’s chapters are Third person, present tense.
The Book of Cold Cases Premise
Shea Collins is a divorced lady in late twenties. She works in the filing department of a doctor’s office during the day. At night, she writes about murder on her true crime website. When Shea was nine, she was abducted, the near-death experience haunts her, emotionally.
Elizabeth is in her 60’s. She was tried and acquitted of the Lady Killer murders back in the 70’s. The murders have never been solved, yet everyone believes Beth (Elizabeth) got away with murder.
Now, Shea has the opportunity to speak with Beth and find out what really happened and if Beth really did get away with murder.
My Personal Opinions
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Spoiler-Free Review of The Book of Cold Cases
I’ve found a new favorite author. Okay, let’s be clear, I don’t have ONE favorite author, I have many “go-to” authors. Finding a new awesome author to add to my list makes me giddy. So, I’m giddy because I have another author to reach for when I know I want a good novel.
Simone St. James’ The Book of Cold Cases sucked me in from the get-go. I hated putting it down. I love a book that makes me want to stay up beyond my bedtime. Or that has me dodging chores to finish. When I have that much desire to read, it means I’m addicted, and the chances are slim that it will end in disappointment.
I was right. It was great from the start, all the way to the end!
Simone St. James’ writing gives me everything. The word choice, the pace, the description, the intricate weaving of plot and sub-plot, the subtle hints and teasing of who and why.
The Plot
The plot is great. A lady, battling her own fears after an evil person invaded her life as a child, has a true-crime website digging for information and writing about cold cases. The sense of justice pervades her being. Which is why she meets with a possible killer, to see if she can get answers.
The Setting
The House. Oh my gosh! The description of Beth’s house was superb. I was there, I could visualize it, smell it, taste the salty spray of sea water that crashed against the rocks. I don’t want to give it away, but the interior – awesome. The hauntings were goose-pimple inducing and gave some new spins on hauntings (for me anyway). I want to say more, but I won’t. You have to read the book.
The Characters
I love these characters. They are both emotionally damaged from events in their childhood. And, yet they are completely different. WHICH!!! Oh my gosh, all the characters have their own different quirks and personalities. Every character is different. That is so hard to master and to have work so well. Yet, Simone St. James does it masterfully. Beth is a unique character, not one we see often in fiction, and she is so well written, you can feel why Shea feels the way she does and why Detective Black describes her the way he does.
And speaking of, phenomenal characters. I love that Detective Black plays his cards close to his vest. Basically, I hate when a non-officer gets information from an officer easily. That always annoys me. Detective Black doesn’t give up information. That is a real character.
Final Thoughts
After reading all that, I’m sure you can guess how I’m rating this, but I’ll write anyway: 5 out of 5 stars!
This book was thoroughly entertaining, I enjoyed it immensely. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery and paranormal events, and realistic characters.
I will be reading this book again and I am on the hunt for her other novels. There are seven others and I’m bound and determined to get them all.
Did you read this book? What did you think? Do you have other books that are similar that you can recommend to me?