Cold Woods by Karen Katchur
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A dark, thrilling police procedural with a splash of domestic suspense, Cold Woods is chilling, eerie, and ferociously smart. The second in the Northamptom County series (the first one, last year’s River Bodies, was a bestselling hit), Cold Woods starts with a bang as mysteries and murder from past and present collide.
The story follows three women who were best friends when they were teenagers. Now, 30 years later, the remains of Trisha’s stepfather, Lester, have been found. And it’s the job of Detective Parker Reed to find out what the truth behind his murder really is. But the truth is never as clear as it seems, especially when nobody seems to remember things quite the same way.
With a horrific murder, chequered pasts and vivid characterization, this story is an atmospheric who-dunnit, with a palpable sense of tension, a steady pace, and a twist I genuinely didn’t see coming. I highly recommend Cold Woods for those lazy end-of-summer days; or, even better, those crisp autumn nights curled up in front of a fire.
