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Cold Justice: The Negotiators #1
Cold & Deadly
Hostage Negotiators can talk themselves out of anything—except falling in love.
FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan is an accomplished expert in the Crisis Negotiation Unit. Practiced, professional, used to dealing with high-stake situations under tense conditions, Dominic is a master at manipulating people. Everyone, that is, but the headstrong rookie agent bent on destroying her fledgling career.
As a child, Ava Kanas put her life on the line when the mob executed her father. Now someone has killed her mentor, the man who inspired her to become an FBI agent—and she’s the only one who recognizes it was anything but a tragic accident.
When another agent is murdered and Dominic nearly dies, it becomes obvious a serial killer is targeting the FBI. Together Dominic and Ava search for clues in the investigation, all the while fighting a forbidden attraction that will complicate everything, especially when the predator sets their sights on Ava.
In this exciting crossover series, Toni Anderson introduces new characters alongside some reader favorites. Read the thrilling Cold Justice - Crossfire series today.
FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan is an accomplished expert in the Crisis Negotiation Unit. Practiced, professional, used to dealing with high-stake situations under tense conditions, Dominic is a master at manipulating people. Everyone, that is, but the headstrong rookie agent bent on destroying her fledgling career.
As a child, Ava Kanas put her life on the line when the mob executed her father. Now someone has killed her mentor, the man who inspired her to become an FBI agent—and she’s the only one who recognizes it was anything but a tragic accident.
When another agent is murdered and Dominic nearly dies, it becomes obvious a serial killer is targeting the FBI. Together Dominic and Ava search for clues in the investigation, all the while fighting a forbidden attraction that will complicate everything, especially when the predator sets their sights on Ava.
In this exciting crossover series, Toni Anderson introduces new characters alongside some reader favorites. Read the thrilling Cold Justice - Crossfire series today.
400 pages, ebook
First published February 12, 2019
About the author
Toni Anderson
60 books3,147 followersNext Release: COLD SPITE
Put it on your "To Read" shelf.
BUY LINKS:
Put it on your "To Read" shelf.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in Mystery/Suspense, the Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She’s been a finalist in The Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, and also in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Jackie Collins Award for Romantic Thrillers.
Her books have been downloaded more than three million times.
Best known for her Cold Justice® books perhaps it’s not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean.
In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.
For more information about Toni:
Website: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com
Store: https://toniandersonshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonianderson...
TikTok: tiktok.com/@toni_anderson_author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toni_anders...
Newsletter: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/ne...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Start reading Toni's award-winning, bestselling Cold Justice® series with A COLD DARK PLACE.
If you want to know when Toni's next book will be out, visit her website (https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/co...) or sign up for her newsletter.
Put it on your "To Read" shelf.
BUY LINKS:
Put it on your "To Read" shelf.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in Mystery/Suspense, the Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She’s been a finalist in The Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, and also in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Jackie Collins Award for Romantic Thrillers.
Her books have been downloaded more than three million times.
Best known for her Cold Justice® books perhaps it’s not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean.
In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.
For more information about Toni:
Website: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com
Store: https://toniandersonshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonianderson...
TikTok: tiktok.com/@toni_anderson_author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toni_anders...
Newsletter: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/ne...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Start reading Toni's award-winning, bestselling Cold Justice® series with A COLD DARK PLACE.
If you want to know when Toni's next book will be out, visit her website (https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/co...) or sign up for her newsletter.
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April 23, 2020"Cold and Deadly kept me on the edge of my seat until the jaw-dropping end! Toni Anderson is a true master of the genre, delivering tight plotting and a sizzling, slow-burn romance that left me breathless and panting for more!”
~NYT bestselling author Annika Martin
~NYT bestselling author Annika Martin
December 31, 2020
So, I freaking LOVE the Cold Justice books by Ms. Anderson. They hit all of my reader buttons: engrossing stories, plausible mysteries, hot romance, interesting and well fleshed out characters, heroines who can take care of themselves but are vulnerable, heroes who are both compassionate and kick-ass. So I was excited when I heard about this book. I'm delighted to say it met all of my expectations. *happy sigh*
Cold & Deadly was so freaking good I couldn't stop reading - I read before bed, in bed, during 5 spare minutes before work, on my lunch break, and I finally finished it after work, ignoring everything else to read it. In all, I read it in just under 24 hours. I could not put it down. The downside, of course, is the wait until Ms. Anderson releases another book. :(
Now, I have to admit that our heroine, Ava, was highly annoying at first. She was impulsive, blunt, and reckless. But she grew on me over time, impressing me with her courage, her determination and stubbornness, her passion for her work, and her love for and commitment to her family. It helped that she was able to recognize her flaws and try to change her behavior.
Dominic occasionally veered into cliche territory, being a child of rich parents determined to prove himself, but Anderson fleshed him out and made him real. He recognized Ava's strengths as an agent, even when other agents didn't, and tried to help her, without overshadowing her or patronizing her. They made a good team professionally and personally. Dom was also loyal and committed. Unlike Ava he wasn't close to his family and he realizes during the story that much of the responsibility for that lies on him. He steps up and changes his behavior and attitude. A willingness to change and an ability to admit weaknesses were traits that Dominic and Ava shared.
The story itself kept me guessing, swiping my Kindle. There was more than one villain and I figured one out quite easily but the main one, nope. Anderson completely took me by surprise. And yet, when I looked back, the hints and clues were there. Bravo Ms. Anderson!
If you like romantic suspense,a realistic depictions of the FBI, fascinating characters and engrossing stories, you need to read this book, and the original series, Cold Justice. You do NOT need to have read any of the Cold Justice books in order to read this. It's just fine as a stand-alone.
Conclusion: GO BUY AND READ RIGHT NOW.
Cold & Deadly was so freaking good I couldn't stop reading - I read before bed, in bed, during 5 spare minutes before work, on my lunch break, and I finally finished it after work, ignoring everything else to read it. In all, I read it in just under 24 hours. I could not put it down. The downside, of course, is the wait until Ms. Anderson releases another book. :(
Now, I have to admit that our heroine, Ava, was highly annoying at first. She was impulsive, blunt, and reckless. But she grew on me over time, impressing me with her courage, her determination and stubbornness, her passion for her work, and her love for and commitment to her family. It helped that she was able to recognize her flaws and try to change her behavior.
Dominic occasionally veered into cliche territory, being a child of rich parents determined to prove himself, but Anderson fleshed him out and made him real. He recognized Ava's strengths as an agent, even when other agents didn't, and tried to help her, without overshadowing her or patronizing her. They made a good team professionally and personally. Dom was also loyal and committed. Unlike Ava he wasn't close to his family and he realizes during the story that much of the responsibility for that lies on him. He steps up and changes his behavior and attitude. A willingness to change and an ability to admit weaknesses were traits that Dominic and Ava shared.
The story itself kept me guessing, swiping my Kindle. There was more than one villain and I figured one out quite easily but the main one, nope. Anderson completely took me by surprise. And yet, when I looked back, the hints and clues were there. Bravo Ms. Anderson!
If you like romantic suspense,a realistic depictions of the FBI, fascinating characters and engrossing stories, you need to read this book, and the original series, Cold Justice. You do NOT need to have read any of the Cold Justice books in order to read this. It's just fine as a stand-alone.
Conclusion: GO BUY AND READ RIGHT NOW.
April 3, 2020
this book is a spin-off from the A Cold Dark Place
and I didn't like it as much I did other books in Cold Justice series. I was happy to read about characters from those books.
and I didn't like it as much I did other books in Cold Justice series. I was happy to read about characters from those books.
June 11, 2023
Wonderfully written story with great characters and a nice twist at the end as to who the villain was.
I didn't see that coming.
Great start to a new series!
Read
January 10, 2022’As he spoke, Agent Kanas took off sprinting down the road behind him, using the line of parked vehicles as some measure of cover.
Shit.
Dominic ran after her, half expecting a barrage of gunfire. Neither of them had body armor, but there was no way he’d sit around while another agent attempted to tackle the gunman alone.
She was fast, but he was faster. He caught her as she reached the road, and they raced across four lanes of traffic together, dodging oblivious drivers who honked their horns at the two handgun-wielding lunatics.’
fav scene from the whole book tbh
very blockbuster-y
a very well written solid read, with solid plot and solid characters (as in not unlikable but nothing to write home about either). the romance was a bit bland, and by the end of the day its still a detective/cop/fbi story that focuses more on the mystery aspect than characters / couple so.. i just couldnt rlly fully enjoy it. im biased ik, do pick this up, esp if ure looking for murder/serial killer mystery novel where the romance takes a back seat
(believe it or not i do read & enjoy non romance novels, albeit only happens once in a year probably, but it does happen lol)
Shit.
Dominic ran after her, half expecting a barrage of gunfire. Neither of them had body armor, but there was no way he’d sit around while another agent attempted to tackle the gunman alone.
She was fast, but he was faster. He caught her as she reached the road, and they raced across four lanes of traffic together, dodging oblivious drivers who honked their horns at the two handgun-wielding lunatics.’
fav scene from the whole book tbh
very blockbuster-y
a very well written solid read, with solid plot and solid characters (as in not unlikable but nothing to write home about either). the romance was a bit bland, and by the end of the day its still a detective/cop/fbi story that focuses more on the mystery aspect than characters / couple so.. i just couldnt rlly fully enjoy it. im biased ik, do pick this up, esp if ure looking for murder/serial killer mystery novel where the romance takes a back seat
(believe it or not i do read & enjoy non romance novels, albeit only happens once in a year probably, but it does happen lol)
March 8, 2021
This Series is a spinoff of the Cold Justice Series and even though it is you should read the Cold Justice Series first. Not only is Cold Justice a fantastic series, but several characters make appearances in this book including a major role for Mallory Rooney and Alex Parker, one of my all time favorite couples. "Cold and Deadly" is fantastic. Twisted plot, hot romance, awesome characters that make you really root for their HEA. The baddie eluded me through the whole book, which is just great.
Ava Kanas has just lost her mentor and friend, retired FBI Agent Van Santos. They have called his death accidental, but everyone suspects it was suicide. Ava isn't buying it. She knows is was murder and is determined to prove it, but as a rookie FBI agent no one is taking her seriously. When another agent is murdered Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan, also a close friend of Van's is willing to at least consider what she has to say.
Dominic Sheridan has gotten to his position in the FBI on his own and not on his name and personal connections. Van was more than a friend and his death is especially tough. Ava's concerns are troubling until Dominic is almost killed too. Now her suspicions are becoming a little too real. They both have been told to leave it alone, the "Task Force" will investigate, except that a killer has Dominic in their sights and Ava is not going to let him be harmed, even if it puts her squarely in the killers sights too.
Ava Kanas has just lost her mentor and friend, retired FBI Agent Van Santos. They have called his death accidental, but everyone suspects it was suicide. Ava isn't buying it. She knows is was murder and is determined to prove it, but as a rookie FBI agent no one is taking her seriously. When another agent is murdered Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan, also a close friend of Van's is willing to at least consider what she has to say.
Dominic Sheridan has gotten to his position in the FBI on his own and not on his name and personal connections. Van was more than a friend and his death is especially tough. Ava's concerns are troubling until Dominic is almost killed too. Now her suspicions are becoming a little too real. They both have been told to leave it alone, the "Task Force" will investigate, except that a killer has Dominic in their sights and Ava is not going to let him be harmed, even if it puts her squarely in the killers sights too.
April 1, 2019
The first book in the Cold Justice: Crossfire series by Toni Anderson. Ava Kanas and many other FBI agents are attending retired FBI agent Van Santos funeral when a sniper takes out one of their own. Ava is sure that Van Santos' death was murder not suicide but no one seems to want to listen. FBI Agent Dominic Sheridan was also at the funeral and, after the sniper attack, thinks that maybe Ava is on to something. They are forced to work together and decide to do a little investigating themselves.
Toni Anderson is one of my auto buys. I have enjoyed everything she has written so far. At least, everything of hers I have read. This is no exception!
Toni Anderson is one of my auto buys. I have enjoyed everything she has written so far. At least, everything of hers I have read. This is no exception!
January 11, 2021
Fairly fast pace read. A couple of twists and at least one "I didn't see that coming". I had an inkling as to who the bad guy(s) were, but a few red herrings had me second guessing myself. Not a bad read, enough to keep me on this series.
4 stars and a thumbs up.
From the blurb: FBI Crisis Negotiator Dominic Sheridan is adept at dealing with high-stake situations under treacherous conditions. But nothing prepared him for the headstrong rookie agent, Ava Kanas, who seems hell-bent on destroying her fledgling career while in pursuit of justice.
When several agents die in quick succession it becomes obvious a killer is targeting the FBI, and Dominic in particular. Together, Dominic and Ava race to find the murderer, all the while fighting a forbidden attraction that will complicate everything, especially when a predator has them in their sights.
4 stars and a thumbs up.
From the blurb: FBI Crisis Negotiator Dominic Sheridan is adept at dealing with high-stake situations under treacherous conditions. But nothing prepared him for the headstrong rookie agent, Ava Kanas, who seems hell-bent on destroying her fledgling career while in pursuit of justice.
When several agents die in quick succession it becomes obvious a killer is targeting the FBI, and Dominic in particular. Together, Dominic and Ava race to find the murderer, all the while fighting a forbidden attraction that will complicate everything, especially when a predator has them in their sights.
September 25, 2022
4.5 stars. Absorbing, thrilling, almost perfect romantic suspense:
◆ A Greek-American heroine (I'm not above admitting that exponentially increased my enjoyment of the book). Bonus points for not making her temper a cliché, but something that she worked to control.
◆ A privileged hero who found success on merit, as opposed to said privilege, but was willing to use his connections for good (so definitely a fantasy, but I guess that's the point).
◆ Edgy and gritty, but not gory or salacious.
◆ Plenty of twists and turns.
◆ Not letting the inconvenient attraction between Ava and Dominic manifest at totally inappropriate times. I wanted to see more overt tension-building and exploration of their chemistry before they got together, but I appreciated that the focus stayed on the suspense element.
The climax, however, occasionally made me roll my eyes (especially having a woman walk within minutes of labor).
I'm confused, because I apparently DNF the first book of the series for which this is a spin-off. Not only that, but the main characters from that book appear here, and I liked them! Maybe I was in a bad mood that day, or the author has improved, or there was some other weird quirk. Regardless, I'll definitely revisit the original series because this? This was right up my alley.
◆ A Greek-American heroine (I'm not above admitting that exponentially increased my enjoyment of the book). Bonus points for not making her temper a cliché, but something that she worked to control.
◆ A privileged hero who found success on merit, as opposed to said privilege, but was willing to use his connections for good (so definitely a fantasy, but I guess that's the point).
◆ Edgy and gritty, but not gory or salacious.
◆ Plenty of twists and turns.
◆ Not letting the inconvenient attraction between Ava and Dominic manifest at totally inappropriate times. I wanted to see more overt tension-building and exploration of their chemistry before they got together, but I appreciated that the focus stayed on the suspense element.
The climax, however, occasionally made me roll my eyes (especially having a woman walk within minutes of labor).
I'm confused, because I apparently DNF the first book of the series for which this is a spin-off. Not only that, but the main characters from that book appear here, and I liked them! Maybe I was in a bad mood that day, or the author has improved, or there was some other weird quirk. Regardless, I'll definitely revisit the original series because this? This was right up my alley.
February 11, 2019
The marvellous Toni Anderson scores again. ‘Cold & Deadly’ is the latest incarnation or rather, the first of the spin-off books of her FBI agents series, and with it comes the same fantastic, faultless type of writing that reminds me why I love romantic suspense so much.
SSA Dominic Sheridan and rookie agent Ava Kanas find themselves embroiled what apparently looked like a simple case of a retired agent committing suicide, where soon it becomes clear that someone is targeting the FBI agents themselves as Dominic soon finds himself in the crosshairs of an investigation that blows up beyond his imagination.
From the onset, it becomes clear that the case is a winding, gritty and absorbing one, so vividly painted—even with the sub-plot/diversion that was equally hair-raising—with the bleak but brutal shadow of violent deaths and the warped minds of serial killers. There’s no doubt at all that Anderson can write and does it superbly (I think I can’t say this enough about the quality of her prose), as her protagonists and secondary characters are so cohesively put together that any prerequisite knowledge of her previous books isn’t needed to get lost in this tale of grand revenge, edgy paranoia, spellbinding action sequences and unintended (or forbidden?) attraction.
Yet my only gripe, strangely, is about the romance, which I found sidelined amidst the rocking suspense. Dominic and Ava, pushed together incidentally, and their growing attraction is predictable though not without the amount of cold water each pours on the future of this so-called relationship. There’re so many reasons why this pairing wouldn’t work—Anderson herself provides these reasons in the protagonists’ individual musings—and I was left ironically convinced that ‘Cold & Deadly’ would still have been a brilliant (or perhaps, even superb?) read if the romance hadn’t been even included at all.
The shining light here however, was probably Ava Kanas herself. My perspective on her went from dour to admiring to uncertain, but what remained consistent was that Anderson had drawn up a pretty complex, passionate and multi-faceted protagonist who felt like a contradictory piece of work on so many levels, yet owned a big heart that made it impossible not to feel for her when push came to shove. Dominic Sheridan in contrast, felt like he was left a little paler in the shade: more remote, more like the poor rich boy who shunned commitment, who made a name for himself independently in law enforcement in spite of his rich family’s connections, suddenly questioning what he can commit to.
If length tends to become and issue of contention for several authors that I do like, ‘Cold & Deadly’, at around 400 pages, made me grateful that Anderson took her time to weave everything together with intricate detail. Surfacing from this a few days later, I’m just happy to say that I had a bloody good time.
*ARC by the author
SSA Dominic Sheridan and rookie agent Ava Kanas find themselves embroiled what apparently looked like a simple case of a retired agent committing suicide, where soon it becomes clear that someone is targeting the FBI agents themselves as Dominic soon finds himself in the crosshairs of an investigation that blows up beyond his imagination.
From the onset, it becomes clear that the case is a winding, gritty and absorbing one, so vividly painted—even with the sub-plot/diversion that was equally hair-raising—with the bleak but brutal shadow of violent deaths and the warped minds of serial killers. There’s no doubt at all that Anderson can write and does it superbly (I think I can’t say this enough about the quality of her prose), as her protagonists and secondary characters are so cohesively put together that any prerequisite knowledge of her previous books isn’t needed to get lost in this tale of grand revenge, edgy paranoia, spellbinding action sequences and unintended (or forbidden?) attraction.
Yet my only gripe, strangely, is about the romance, which I found sidelined amidst the rocking suspense. Dominic and Ava, pushed together incidentally, and their growing attraction is predictable though not without the amount of cold water each pours on the future of this so-called relationship. There’re so many reasons why this pairing wouldn’t work—Anderson herself provides these reasons in the protagonists’ individual musings—and I was left ironically convinced that ‘Cold & Deadly’ would still have been a brilliant (or perhaps, even superb?) read if the romance hadn’t been even included at all.
The shining light here however, was probably Ava Kanas herself. My perspective on her went from dour to admiring to uncertain, but what remained consistent was that Anderson had drawn up a pretty complex, passionate and multi-faceted protagonist who felt like a contradictory piece of work on so many levels, yet owned a big heart that made it impossible not to feel for her when push came to shove. Dominic Sheridan in contrast, felt like he was left a little paler in the shade: more remote, more like the poor rich boy who shunned commitment, who made a name for himself independently in law enforcement in spite of his rich family’s connections, suddenly questioning what he can commit to.
If length tends to become and issue of contention for several authors that I do like, ‘Cold & Deadly’, at around 400 pages, made me grateful that Anderson took her time to weave everything together with intricate detail. Surfacing from this a few days later, I’m just happy to say that I had a bloody good time.
*ARC by the author
March 24, 2019
Cold & Deadly by Toni Anderson is an exciting romantic suspense novel and the first in her new series Cold Justice: Crossfire.
When Ava Kanas’s FBI mentor retired agent Van Santos dies, she’s determined to prove that it wasn’t a suicide despite what the evidence appears to show. While attending his funeral a sniper targets a fellow agent, drawing her into another murder case and the notice of FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan.
Dominic is also struggling with the ‘suicide’ as explanation of Van’s death. Working undercover with Ava to prevent her from damaging her fledgling career, they soon discover that these cases are not in isolation, but appear to be part of a serial killer’s plans to decimate the FBI. As they grow closer to the killer, they also get personally involved. Will they catch the perpetrator before their own chance at a happy ending is cut short?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie.
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
When Ava Kanas’s FBI mentor retired agent Van Santos dies, she’s determined to prove that it wasn’t a suicide despite what the evidence appears to show. While attending his funeral a sniper targets a fellow agent, drawing her into another murder case and the notice of FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan.
Dominic is also struggling with the ‘suicide’ as explanation of Van’s death. Working undercover with Ava to prevent her from damaging her fledgling career, they soon discover that these cases are not in isolation, but appear to be part of a serial killer’s plans to decimate the FBI. As they grow closer to the killer, they also get personally involved. Will they catch the perpetrator before their own chance at a happy ending is cut short?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie.
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
September 23, 2021
Cold & Deadly
4 Stars
Rookie FBI agent Ava Kanas is convinced that her recently deceased mentor was murdered. Yet none of the higher-ups are willing to entertain the idea until a sniper attack results in the death of another agent. Now Ava joins forces with hostage negotiator Dominic Sheridan to get catch a predator who has the FBI in their sights.
Series note: This is the first book in the Cold Justice spin-off series focusing on a new set of characters. Nevertheless, characters from the original series play significant roles and as such, it is recommended that readers begin with A Cold Dark Place
An action-packed suspense plot and an engaging romance.
Ava is a rather prickly heroine. Despite her strength and intelligence, she has a chip on her shoulder and finds it difficult to trust others. This is problematic for a fledgling FBI agent as her impulsive actions and imprudent comments often get her into trouble.
Dominic is the exact opposite. As a member of the Crisis Negotiation Unit, he is always calm, collected, and in control except when it comes to Ava. They have great chemistry and it is entertaining to see the stoic agent discombobulated by his feelings.
The suspense plot is intense and exciting. There are several nail-biting moments and the ending is particularly satisfying. Although there are some good red herrings, it is possible to figure out the identity of the villain by paying careful attention.
Overall, a solid beginning to the spin-off and I look forward to reading the next book, which takes place in an uncommon setting - Indonesia.
4 Stars
Rookie FBI agent Ava Kanas is convinced that her recently deceased mentor was murdered. Yet none of the higher-ups are willing to entertain the idea until a sniper attack results in the death of another agent. Now Ava joins forces with hostage negotiator Dominic Sheridan to get catch a predator who has the FBI in their sights.
Series note: This is the first book in the Cold Justice spin-off series focusing on a new set of characters. Nevertheless, characters from the original series play significant roles and as such, it is recommended that readers begin with A Cold Dark Place
An action-packed suspense plot and an engaging romance.
Ava is a rather prickly heroine. Despite her strength and intelligence, she has a chip on her shoulder and finds it difficult to trust others. This is problematic for a fledgling FBI agent as her impulsive actions and imprudent comments often get her into trouble.
Dominic is the exact opposite. As a member of the Crisis Negotiation Unit, he is always calm, collected, and in control except when it comes to Ava. They have great chemistry and it is entertaining to see the stoic agent discombobulated by his feelings.
The suspense plot is intense and exciting. There are several nail-biting moments and the ending is particularly satisfying. Although there are some good red herrings, it is possible to figure out the identity of the villain by paying careful attention.
Overall, a solid beginning to the spin-off and I look forward to reading the next book, which takes place in an uncommon setting - Indonesia.
May 22, 2024
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
He was a Supervisory Special Agent ten years her senior, and someone who played by the book. She was a rookie who followed her gut.
Another Toni Anderson book I’ve read and listened to a whole bunch of times. They’re just comfort books at this point, and I adore the badass FMC in this one. She’s a hard-ass and doesn’t let any man put her down, but she’s also just a good and loyal person. Dominic is a commitment-phobe, but in a surprisingly non-annoying way. He’s had a rough time with the death of his mother and a revolving door of step-moms, but he’s also not a jackass about the whole thing.
The mystery part is great, and I love it when this author includes the POV of the villain of the story.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Age gap
Murder mystery
Rookie FBI agent
FBI agent
Hostage negotiator
Coworkers
Forced proximity
Greek FMC
Tall FMC
Commitmentphobe MMC
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Death of a close friend (off page)
Discussions of suicide
Gun violence
MC severely injured (gunshot wound, on page)
Grief
Detailed public shooting incident (death of minor character)
Murder of parent (past, some details)
MC drugged - resulting in car crash (spiked drink)
MC drugged and sexually assaulted (past, stripped naked and touched)
On-page murder (both by MC and SC)
MC hit and sexually assaulted as a child (touched under clothes, some details, past)
Parent suicide (off page, past, some details)
Alcohol consumption
Hostage situation - woman nearly sexually assaulted
Explicit sexual content
Power imbalance
Attempted murder of main and side characters
Mentions of the rape, torture and murder of unnamed victims (past, details)
MC’s family member excessively drinking (maybe addict, on page)
Misogyny and sexual harassment of FMC (side character)
MC and SC abducted and held hostage
Pregnant SC threatened at gunpoint
Pregnant SC forced by circumstance to give birth in the forest
On-page birth (safe and healthy child)
Death of a child due to heart problems (off page, past, SC’s child),
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/F
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: 26 and 35
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 427
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
He was a Supervisory Special Agent ten years her senior, and someone who played by the book. She was a rookie who followed her gut.
Another Toni Anderson book I’ve read and listened to a whole bunch of times. They’re just comfort books at this point, and I adore the badass FMC in this one. She’s a hard-ass and doesn’t let any man put her down, but she’s also just a good and loyal person. Dominic is a commitment-phobe, but in a surprisingly non-annoying way. He’s had a rough time with the death of his mother and a revolving door of step-moms, but he’s also not a jackass about the whole thing.
The mystery part is great, and I love it when this author includes the POV of the villain of the story.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Age gap
Murder mystery
Rookie FBI agent
FBI agent
Hostage negotiator
Coworkers
Forced proximity
Greek FMC
Tall FMC
Commitmentphobe MMC
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Death of a close friend (off page)
Discussions of suicide
Gun violence
MC severely injured (gunshot wound, on page)
Grief
Detailed public shooting incident (death of minor character)
Murder of parent (past, some details)
MC drugged - resulting in car crash (spiked drink)
MC drugged and sexually assaulted (past, stripped naked and touched)
On-page murder (both by MC and SC)
MC hit and sexually assaulted as a child (touched under clothes, some details, past)
Parent suicide (off page, past, some details)
Alcohol consumption
Hostage situation - woman nearly sexually assaulted
Explicit sexual content
Power imbalance
Attempted murder of main and side characters
Mentions of the rape, torture and murder of unnamed victims (past, details)
MC’s family member excessively drinking (maybe addict, on page)
Misogyny and sexual harassment of FMC (side character)
MC and SC abducted and held hostage
Pregnant SC threatened at gunpoint
Pregnant SC forced by circumstance to give birth in the forest
On-page birth (safe and healthy child)
Death of a child due to heart problems (off page, past, SC’s child),
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/F
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: 26 and 35
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 427
Happy ending: Yes
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February 12, 2019
Cold and Deadly is a spin off of Anderson's other series, which I loved! She writes great romantic suspense and yall know I love romantic suspense! Also, I am on a bit of an FBI agent kick apparently!
Dominic and Ava are both FBI agents, so the story has a touch of an office romance. They are forced to work together and endure some serious danger! Anderson writes stunning suspense and mystery and Cold and Deadly was no exception. There really isn't a good place to stop reading because its kind of a non stop action plot. I will admit I wasn't entirely in love with Dominic and Ava initially. However, as you get further into the story and learn more about them, they grew on me. Anderson develops the characters with strengths and weaknesses which makes them feel more believable. Ava's backstory is sort of teasingly revealed which keeps you wondering. I think this additional mystery kept the plot quick and snappy. There is always something you are trying to parse out!
Cold and Deadly combines the fast paced mystery of a killer on the loose with a touch of office/taboo romance (they are on the same team, so not suppose to 'fraternize') and lots of danger. If you are new to Anderson, this spin off series is a great place to start! If you have been a fan for years like me, you will love the cameos.
POV: 3rd
Tears: no
Trope: FBI, office romance
Triggers: none
Series/Standalone: stand alone
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts, Say You're Sorry by Karen Rose, Buried Lies by Kaylea Cross...then you will probably like Cold and Deadly!
February 19, 2019
Cold & Deadly was a slow burn with bursts of action scattered throughout. Every time we are lulled into the comfort of the investigation, Anderson sends us reeling. It took me a little bit to get into the story but as I kept reading, I got pulled in deeper.
I enjoyed the way this story was told. We got to see various characters’ points of view throughout. Adding the UNSUB’s POV was an interesting addition. I have to say that while I had made certain connections, I was surprised when the identity was revealed. I loved that Anderson gave me something I wasn’t expecting.
I loved the way the relationship between Dominic and Ava played out. While they may have had an instant attraction, the actual relationship took time to build. I couldn’t get enough of the tension it created. The mystery, the action, the intrigue, the romance, I was riveted!
January 2, 2020
So disappointing, especially considering ‘Cold Justice’ is one of my favorite RS series ever. This is a pale, pale imitation, heavy on the soap opera drama and cheesy sex. The plot was just okay, and the only thing that kept me going was the tie-in to ‘Cold Justice’ characters. So disappointing.
June 14, 2019
Cold & Deadly is a spin off of the Cold Justice series so it's a great place to start if you haven't read this author before and if you are a fan of the Cold Justice Series you'll love this spin-off and the cameos!
This book centers around Dominic and Ava who are both FBI agents. Dominic is a hostage negotiator with a lot of experience and success in the FBI and Ava is a new FBI agent who is trying to make a name for herself. When one of Dominic and Ava's mentor's dies the two end up working together to figure out the details surrounding his death. Although the two are attracted to each other from the beginning they don't necessarily like each other. I admit it took me awhile to warm up to both Dominic and Ava but as the story progressed I ended up really liking both of them. Dominic and Ava both have some wonderful characteristics but they also have some faults that the author isn't afraid to show the reader as well. They are both well rounded, believable characters that you can't help but root for as you get to know them.
Toni Anderson is one of my favorite suspense authors and she excels in this book at keeping the story progressing quickly with just enough questions so that you can't put this book down. The romance is secondary to the suspense but well balanced and has just a touch of the forbidden since FBI agents working together aren't supposed to be in a relationship. Both Dominic and Ava have interesting backgrounds and I found the characters had a lot of depth that added to the suspense.
Of course Alex and Mallory are two of my favorite characters from the Cold Justice series so I loved catching up with them! I'm excited to meet more of the hostage negotiators and to see where this series will go.
If you are looking for a great romantic suspense book with in-depth, realistic characters, a romance that takes you from that spark of attraction to a deeper relationship and a suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat than I highly recommend this book.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the author with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
This book centers around Dominic and Ava who are both FBI agents. Dominic is a hostage negotiator with a lot of experience and success in the FBI and Ava is a new FBI agent who is trying to make a name for herself. When one of Dominic and Ava's mentor's dies the two end up working together to figure out the details surrounding his death. Although the two are attracted to each other from the beginning they don't necessarily like each other. I admit it took me awhile to warm up to both Dominic and Ava but as the story progressed I ended up really liking both of them. Dominic and Ava both have some wonderful characteristics but they also have some faults that the author isn't afraid to show the reader as well. They are both well rounded, believable characters that you can't help but root for as you get to know them.
Toni Anderson is one of my favorite suspense authors and she excels in this book at keeping the story progressing quickly with just enough questions so that you can't put this book down. The romance is secondary to the suspense but well balanced and has just a touch of the forbidden since FBI agents working together aren't supposed to be in a relationship. Both Dominic and Ava have interesting backgrounds and I found the characters had a lot of depth that added to the suspense.
Of course Alex and Mallory are two of my favorite characters from the Cold Justice series so I loved catching up with them! I'm excited to meet more of the hostage negotiators and to see where this series will go.
If you are looking for a great romantic suspense book with in-depth, realistic characters, a romance that takes you from that spark of attraction to a deeper relationship and a suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat than I highly recommend this book.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the author with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
August 2, 2020
Review posted on Got Fiction? book blog
This book was very well-done. This author writes intense Romantic Suspense. I was instantly hooked! If you want a good Romantic Suspense, this book kicks off a new series, but it’s a spin-off of an existing series. However I had no trouble following along, so it works even if you haven’t read the Cold Justice series.
Ava is a rookie agent, and the book opens at her mentor’s funeral. They were told it was a suicide, but Ava knows it wasn’t. She’s certain it was a homicide, but no one wants to hear it. Dominic is there as well, and all he can think is, “This rookie is going to tank her career.” So he agrees to help her. But he doesn’t necessarily believe her. That is, until the bullets start flying. There’s a sniper taking out federal agents at a funeral. Ava and Dominic are quick and competent and work well together while chasing down the sniper. Afterwards, though, they are separated since they work in different divisions of the FBI, and told to leave it alone.
But of course they can’t do that. Her stubbornness becomes a good quality rather than a bad trait. She won’t let go and she won’t give up. Dominic admires her tenacity and where he is a negotiator, able to stay calm under pressure and get into peoples’ heads, for some reason, he can’t figure Ava out, and she gets under his skin like no other.
Pretty soon they realize that someone is targeting the FBI and Ava and Dominic are the only ones who see it. The subplot was exciting and interesting, the romance was sexy, and the action was intense.
With complex characters, and an intriguing plot, Ms. Anderson has definitely piqued my interest.
***I bought this book
This book was very well-done. This author writes intense Romantic Suspense. I was instantly hooked! If you want a good Romantic Suspense, this book kicks off a new series, but it’s a spin-off of an existing series. However I had no trouble following along, so it works even if you haven’t read the Cold Justice series.
Ava is a rookie agent, and the book opens at her mentor’s funeral. They were told it was a suicide, but Ava knows it wasn’t. She’s certain it was a homicide, but no one wants to hear it. Dominic is there as well, and all he can think is, “This rookie is going to tank her career.” So he agrees to help her. But he doesn’t necessarily believe her. That is, until the bullets start flying. There’s a sniper taking out federal agents at a funeral. Ava and Dominic are quick and competent and work well together while chasing down the sniper. Afterwards, though, they are separated since they work in different divisions of the FBI, and told to leave it alone.
But of course they can’t do that. Her stubbornness becomes a good quality rather than a bad trait. She won’t let go and she won’t give up. Dominic admires her tenacity and where he is a negotiator, able to stay calm under pressure and get into peoples’ heads, for some reason, he can’t figure Ava out, and she gets under his skin like no other.
Pretty soon they realize that someone is targeting the FBI and Ava and Dominic are the only ones who see it. The subplot was exciting and interesting, the romance was sexy, and the action was intense.
With complex characters, and an intriguing plot, Ms. Anderson has definitely piqued my interest.
***I bought this book
May 6, 2019
WOW! 5 Hot stars for Cold & Deadly, the first of Toni's new Cold Justice: Crossfire series.
This story has all the elements you come to expect from Toni, it's a suspense/thriller, action packed and has tonnes of hot testosterone loaded FBI agents in it LOL and one in particular, Supervisory Special Agent, Dominic Sheridan, a 35 year old Crisis Negotiator. This guy seriously packs some heat and I'm not just talking about his weaponry! He's cool, calm and collected in every situation, he knows what he's doing, until he comes across a rookie FBI Agent, Ava Kanas, head strong, loner, just learning the ropes and not playing the FBI team game, which only gets her into more trouble than she is looking for.
This story line is so engaging, I did not want to put it down. These two agents are brought together because of a tragic end to a mutual colleague and friend, from there, the plot thickens and does not slow down until after the nail biting climax.
One other enormous attraction about this story is that there is heavy involvement from two other favourite characters from the Cold Justice series and you get a first hand update on their life together, it is awesome!!
Can't gloat enough about this one, an excellent read and the audio narration, as always is fantastic! I cannot wait for the next book!!
This story has all the elements you come to expect from Toni, it's a suspense/thriller, action packed and has tonnes of hot testosterone loaded FBI agents in it LOL and one in particular, Supervisory Special Agent, Dominic Sheridan, a 35 year old Crisis Negotiator. This guy seriously packs some heat and I'm not just talking about his weaponry! He's cool, calm and collected in every situation, he knows what he's doing, until he comes across a rookie FBI Agent, Ava Kanas, head strong, loner, just learning the ropes and not playing the FBI team game, which only gets her into more trouble than she is looking for.
This story line is so engaging, I did not want to put it down. These two agents are brought together because of a tragic end to a mutual colleague and friend, from there, the plot thickens and does not slow down until after the nail biting climax.
One other enormous attraction about this story is that there is heavy involvement from two other favourite characters from the Cold Justice series and you get a first hand update on their life together, it is awesome!!
Can't gloat enough about this one, an excellent read and the audio narration, as always is fantastic! I cannot wait for the next book!!
February 19, 2019
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: An eARC was provided via Inkslinger PR and the Author as part of the Blog Tour. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
This is honestly my first book by Toni Anderson – I had actually heard of Cold Justice Series (which romantic suspense reader worth their salt wouldn’t?) – yet somehow I never got around to reading her Cold Justice Series; EVEN though the first book in Cold Justice Series is now sitting on my kindle app (since its FREE on Amazon, currently!).
I binge read Cold and Deadly where SSA Dominic Sheridan meets Agent Ava Kansas on a dark day for both of them – at the funeral of their shared mentor – Agent Van Stamos. They butt heads when Dom finds out that Ava is adamant that her mentor didn’t die by his own hand, but under suspicious circumstances.
Ava is a prickly Agent; a loner due to her past and walks around with a huge chip on her shoulder – while she secretly wants to be part of a team, the brotherhood, she just doesn’t know how to make a move for it – but is quite an agent; I loved tenacious attitude she had; the one that frustrated her, especially when no one gave her opinions the attention they deserved.
Dominic @ Dom, on the other hand, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth – which ends up with a different kind of chip on his shoulder as well – he follows rules and regulations religiously; and has never once used his clout or his connections for either personal or professional gains; even though he unconsciously knows he enjoys the unseen perks of his known connections.
The book drops the reader smack dab in the middle of action from the first chapter itself – and the action never stops, even though it might slow down a bit at times to focus on the connection between Ava and Dom – the twists just keep coming one after the other – and the author’s talent shows when even I couldn’t figure out who exactly the villain is (and I am an Assistant Forensic Psychologist by day trade!).
The connection between Dom and Ava is apparent from the start – its attraction from the first glance – and it’s a slow burn romance with a bit of forbidden thrown in the mix – even with the fast paced plot, the romance between Dom and Ava was handled delicately and given it’s due – and there was not one moment where it felt that the mystery or the romance were being neglected!
I absolutely adored this first book in a crossover series – and I plan on picking up COLD JUSTICE SERIES; the HEA of two secondary (and important part!) characters in this current one and I am really excited to see start her original series!
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July 4, 2019
3 stars - Romantic Suspense
July 23, 2023
I've given this a B for both content and narration at AAR.
ETA: This series has been renamed "The Negotiators" since I wrote this review.
Cold & Deadly is the first book in the spin off from Toni Anderson’s long-running Cold Justice series, Cold Justice: Crossfire , and it features characters who work as negotiators for the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit, which conducts and manages on-scene negotiations during crisis events worldwide involving US citizens. This is the first of Ms. Anderson’s books I’ve listened to – I’ve read others and have had some on my Audible wishlist for ages – and I was pleased to be able to jump in at the beginning of a series. Narrator Eric G. Dove is new-to-me, but has almost 400 titles to his credit at Audible, so I had high hopes for both the story and the narration.
The book opens at the funeral of FBI Agent Van Stamos, who retired after thirty years of service four months earlier, then got blind drunk one night and accidentally shot himself. Stamos was a father figure and mentor to many a rookie, including Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan, who became one of Van’s closest friends. As friend and family mill around, Dominic is thinking about Van, and how this is the third funeral for a colleague out of the New York Field Office he’s attended in the last year – when the sound of an altercation attracts his attention. He can’t hear what’s being said, but Special Agent Ava Kanas is arguing with her boss (Van’s replacement) who clearly doesn’t want to hear what she has to say. Years as one of the FBI’s top negotiators means Dominic is able to set his own grief and anger aside in order to diffuse the situation – but he isn’t quite prepared to hear what Kanas has to say, either. She was one of Van’s protégés and was pretty close to him… and she is adamant that his death wasn’t an accident. She believes he was murdered. Dominic tries to point out that the man’s funeral isn’t the right place for this discussion when shots are fired, another agent is badly wounded, and Dominic – closely followed by Ava – races off towards the nearby apartment block he believes must be the shooter’s location. When they get there, there’s no sign of them – and later, learning of the injured agent’s death, he finds himself thinking that maybe Ava is right and that “there was something hinky with Van’s death” after all.
As Dominic and Ava start digging deeper, they make the alarming discovery that someone is targeting FBI agents. Their investigation leads them into a years-old web of betrayal, revenge and murder, but with the most likely culprit dead - shot and killed by Dominic several years earlier – and leads going nowhere, it’s baffling. And it’s not long Dominic and Ava find themselves firmly in the killer’s sights.
Cold & Deadly was a compelling listen; tightly plotted and fast-paced with plenty of action and twists and turns along the way. The relationship between Dominic and Ava doesn’t get off to the best of starts, with rookie agent Ava coming across as something of a loose cannon with the potential to be the worst kind of TSTL. Thankfully however, the author quickly demonstrates that she’s courageous, tenacious and good at her job, things which Dominic quickly realises, too. He’s more than a decade older than Ava, and the nature of his job means he’s intensely pragmatic and a cool head in a crisis; he’s a rule-follower for good reasons, and they’re like chalk and cheese. Yet the attraction that sparks between them is undeniable – they have terrific chemistry, even though both of them are determined to talk themselves out of it. Dominic also suspects that Ava is keeping something from him – about her past, her relationship with Van – and this comes into play in a really tense section set during a prison siege that, while a tangent from the main plotline, is nonetheless gripping, and provides a fascinating insight into the job of the negotiator.
I liked both characters, although Dominic is perhaps a little overshadowed by the multi-faceted, vibrant Ava, but I have to admit that I wasn’t 100% convinced by the romance, mostly because they were both so adamant that nothing could or should happen between them, and even after it did, insisted in thinking in terms of a finite arrangement. That said, by the end of the book, they’ve both crossed that line and shown each other that they’re in it for the long haul, and despite their very different personalities, I could see it working out between them.
The identity of the villain(s) isn’t immediately obvious, but when the reveal came, it was somewhet anti-climactic. Not because I hadn’t considered that person as a possible culprit (I hadn’t) but because they seemed an odd choice (as well as being bat-shit crazy!) Another thing that made me scratch my head was the inclusion of a secondary character – the heroine from book one of the Cold Justice series, A Cold Dark Place – who was thirty-eight weeks pregnant, but STILL working in the field. That seemed all kinds of unlikely and unwise to me.
As I said at the beginning, Eric G. Dove – who narrates this series and all the books in the Cold Justice series – is a very experienced narrator, but this was my first time listening to him. I was impressed on the whole and will definitely listen to him again; his performance is well-paced and clearly enunciated, and he differentiates effectively between all the characters. His female voices are good – not too high-pitched – and he does a particularly good job with Ava, bringing all of her ballsy determination to his portrayal while also allowing her more vulnerable side to peek through when called for. Dominic’s deep tones and measured delivery reflect his character, but I was pleased to hear him becoming slowly less rigid in his demeanour as the story progressed and his relationship with Ava developed. There are a large number of secondary male characters in the book, but Mr. Dove is able to voice them distinctly by employing a variety of accents and timbres so that there’s never any confusion as to who is speaking in group scenes.
All in all, Cold & Deadly is a good, solid romantic suspense novel featuring well-drawn characters and a tight, well-executed plot that kept me guessing and had me listening to ‘just one more chapter’ more than once. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of the author and the genre in either format, and I’ll definitely be picking up more of the series in audio.
ETA: This series has been renamed "The Negotiators" since I wrote this review.
Cold & Deadly is the first book in the spin off from Toni Anderson’s long-running Cold Justice series, Cold Justice: Crossfire , and it features characters who work as negotiators for the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit, which conducts and manages on-scene negotiations during crisis events worldwide involving US citizens. This is the first of Ms. Anderson’s books I’ve listened to – I’ve read others and have had some on my Audible wishlist for ages – and I was pleased to be able to jump in at the beginning of a series. Narrator Eric G. Dove is new-to-me, but has almost 400 titles to his credit at Audible, so I had high hopes for both the story and the narration.
The book opens at the funeral of FBI Agent Van Stamos, who retired after thirty years of service four months earlier, then got blind drunk one night and accidentally shot himself. Stamos was a father figure and mentor to many a rookie, including Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan, who became one of Van’s closest friends. As friend and family mill around, Dominic is thinking about Van, and how this is the third funeral for a colleague out of the New York Field Office he’s attended in the last year – when the sound of an altercation attracts his attention. He can’t hear what’s being said, but Special Agent Ava Kanas is arguing with her boss (Van’s replacement) who clearly doesn’t want to hear what she has to say. Years as one of the FBI’s top negotiators means Dominic is able to set his own grief and anger aside in order to diffuse the situation – but he isn’t quite prepared to hear what Kanas has to say, either. She was one of Van’s protégés and was pretty close to him… and she is adamant that his death wasn’t an accident. She believes he was murdered. Dominic tries to point out that the man’s funeral isn’t the right place for this discussion when shots are fired, another agent is badly wounded, and Dominic – closely followed by Ava – races off towards the nearby apartment block he believes must be the shooter’s location. When they get there, there’s no sign of them – and later, learning of the injured agent’s death, he finds himself thinking that maybe Ava is right and that “there was something hinky with Van’s death” after all.
As Dominic and Ava start digging deeper, they make the alarming discovery that someone is targeting FBI agents. Their investigation leads them into a years-old web of betrayal, revenge and murder, but with the most likely culprit dead - shot and killed by Dominic several years earlier – and leads going nowhere, it’s baffling. And it’s not long Dominic and Ava find themselves firmly in the killer’s sights.
Cold & Deadly was a compelling listen; tightly plotted and fast-paced with plenty of action and twists and turns along the way. The relationship between Dominic and Ava doesn’t get off to the best of starts, with rookie agent Ava coming across as something of a loose cannon with the potential to be the worst kind of TSTL. Thankfully however, the author quickly demonstrates that she’s courageous, tenacious and good at her job, things which Dominic quickly realises, too. He’s more than a decade older than Ava, and the nature of his job means he’s intensely pragmatic and a cool head in a crisis; he’s a rule-follower for good reasons, and they’re like chalk and cheese. Yet the attraction that sparks between them is undeniable – they have terrific chemistry, even though both of them are determined to talk themselves out of it. Dominic also suspects that Ava is keeping something from him – about her past, her relationship with Van – and this comes into play in a really tense section set during a prison siege that, while a tangent from the main plotline, is nonetheless gripping, and provides a fascinating insight into the job of the negotiator.
I liked both characters, although Dominic is perhaps a little overshadowed by the multi-faceted, vibrant Ava, but I have to admit that I wasn’t 100% convinced by the romance, mostly because they were both so adamant that nothing could or should happen between them, and even after it did, insisted in thinking in terms of a finite arrangement. That said, by the end of the book, they’ve both crossed that line and shown each other that they’re in it for the long haul, and despite their very different personalities, I could see it working out between them.
The identity of the villain(s) isn’t immediately obvious, but when the reveal came, it was somewhet anti-climactic. Not because I hadn’t considered that person as a possible culprit (I hadn’t) but because they seemed an odd choice (as well as being bat-shit crazy!) Another thing that made me scratch my head was the inclusion of a secondary character – the heroine from book one of the Cold Justice series, A Cold Dark Place – who was thirty-eight weeks pregnant, but STILL working in the field. That seemed all kinds of unlikely and unwise to me.
As I said at the beginning, Eric G. Dove – who narrates this series and all the books in the Cold Justice series – is a very experienced narrator, but this was my first time listening to him. I was impressed on the whole and will definitely listen to him again; his performance is well-paced and clearly enunciated, and he differentiates effectively between all the characters. His female voices are good – not too high-pitched – and he does a particularly good job with Ava, bringing all of her ballsy determination to his portrayal while also allowing her more vulnerable side to peek through when called for. Dominic’s deep tones and measured delivery reflect his character, but I was pleased to hear him becoming slowly less rigid in his demeanour as the story progressed and his relationship with Ava developed. There are a large number of secondary male characters in the book, but Mr. Dove is able to voice them distinctly by employing a variety of accents and timbres so that there’s never any confusion as to who is speaking in group scenes.
All in all, Cold & Deadly is a good, solid romantic suspense novel featuring well-drawn characters and a tight, well-executed plot that kept me guessing and had me listening to ‘just one more chapter’ more than once. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of the author and the genre in either format, and I’ll definitely be picking up more of the series in audio.
June 11, 2020
FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dominic Sheridan and rookie agent Ava Kanas are thrown together when agents begin dying and Dominic’s life is at stake. Ava has been assigned as his bodyguard after she almost lost her job. If she can keep him alive she just might hold continue to fulfill her dream as an FBI agent. .
Dominic is an expert negotiator in the Crisis Negotiation Unit, but falls short when it comes to stopping a maniacal killer. Ava has a lot to prove since she lost her father due a brutal murder and is also dealing with the death of her mentor. The pair don’t get along, except the sparks that fly between them that soon spiral out of control.
Cold & Deadly introduces the Cold Justice: Crossfire series. The predecessor series, Cold Justice, is in my TBR, as I only have been able to read the first in the series so far, A Cold, Dark Place. I love how Toni Anderson uses federal agents in her series as they are just the types of shows I enjoy whenever I watch television.
There was a fairly equal mix of passion, intrigue and danger in this book. Both Ava and Dominic are greatly affected by former agent Van Santos’s death. This shared concern is a terrific catalyst in helping the pair work so closely together. At they get closer to the killer, they get even closer to each other. I truly loved Ava and Dominic together making this story an excellent read. I and am eager to read the next book in the series, Colder Than Sin.
Dominic is an expert negotiator in the Crisis Negotiation Unit, but falls short when it comes to stopping a maniacal killer. Ava has a lot to prove since she lost her father due a brutal murder and is also dealing with the death of her mentor. The pair don’t get along, except the sparks that fly between them that soon spiral out of control.
Cold & Deadly introduces the Cold Justice: Crossfire series. The predecessor series, Cold Justice, is in my TBR, as I only have been able to read the first in the series so far, A Cold, Dark Place. I love how Toni Anderson uses federal agents in her series as they are just the types of shows I enjoy whenever I watch television.
There was a fairly equal mix of passion, intrigue and danger in this book. Both Ava and Dominic are greatly affected by former agent Van Santos’s death. This shared concern is a terrific catalyst in helping the pair work so closely together. At they get closer to the killer, they get even closer to each other. I truly loved Ava and Dominic together making this story an excellent read. I and am eager to read the next book in the series, Colder Than Sin.
February 14, 2019
Reviewed on Behalf http://bookaddict.live,
I love Toni Anderson books, they have everything I love reading about. In this book we hit the jackpot, great characters, plenty of murders and above all a couple falling love.
This starts at a funeral of a well loved FBI agent who had either committed suicide or shot himself by accident. So under the circumstances the mourners are close friends and family. Suddenly shots are fired at the FBI agents attending. This starts an investigation that leads all over the county.
Dominic Sheridan is investigating with the help of Special Agent Ava Kanas.It always hard to write a review without giving much away especially a murder mystery. This book kept me gripped and I couldn’t put it down. It kept me guessing until the end and them I felt bereft when it was finished. So what I’m trying to say is this is a great read, and I loved the Ava and Dominic they are good together or should I say HOT together.
This is definitely going on my reread shelf.
I love Toni Anderson books, they have everything I love reading about. In this book we hit the jackpot, great characters, plenty of murders and above all a couple falling love.
This starts at a funeral of a well loved FBI agent who had either committed suicide or shot himself by accident. So under the circumstances the mourners are close friends and family. Suddenly shots are fired at the FBI agents attending. This starts an investigation that leads all over the county.
Dominic Sheridan is investigating with the help of Special Agent Ava Kanas.It always hard to write a review without giving much away especially a murder mystery. This book kept me gripped and I couldn’t put it down. It kept me guessing until the end and them I felt bereft when it was finished. So what I’m trying to say is this is a great read, and I loved the Ava and Dominic they are good together or should I say HOT together.
This is definitely going on my reread shelf.
April 7, 2019
This had a good murder mystery but there were pages and pages of 3 long sex scenes and one short one, which is a little too much for any murder mystery. It’s what I’d expect in an erotic book, because they are all about sex with very little story-line. That’s why it was 284 pages (or 427 pages according to amazon. Not sure just how many pages it had) but too many pages taken up with sex, IMO. Some authors are not familiar with the phrase “less is more.” I like sex in my books, but this was just too much.
Anyway, it was nice seeing Lincoln Frazer and computer genius Alex Parker and his very pregnant wife Mallory Rooney, three great characters from Cold Justice series, ten awesome books and I’ve read all of them.
I did like SSA Special Agent Dominic Sheridan and Ava Kanas. He was drop-dead gorgeous, and she was beautiful, just like I like my MC’s to be. He is an FBI Crises Negotiator and she was a rookie FBI agent. They were looking into several FBI agents having been killed in what was supposed to be accidents, but wasn’t.
Ava was 26 and Dominic was 35, and the age difference did bother him, but not enough to keeping him from having sex with her. LOL
I was surprised at who the baddie was.
Too much sex and the F-bomb was used 53 times.
As to the narration: Eric G. Dove always does such a great job, on the voices as well as the emotions when he reads.
Anyway, it was nice seeing Lincoln Frazer and computer genius Alex Parker and his very pregnant wife Mallory Rooney, three great characters from Cold Justice series, ten awesome books and I’ve read all of them.
I did like SSA Special Agent Dominic Sheridan and Ava Kanas. He was drop-dead gorgeous, and she was beautiful, just like I like my MC’s to be. He is an FBI Crises Negotiator and she was a rookie FBI agent. They were looking into several FBI agents having been killed in what was supposed to be accidents, but wasn’t.
Ava was 26 and Dominic was 35, and the age difference did bother him, but not enough to keeping him from having sex with her. LOL
I was surprised at who the baddie was.
Too much sex and the F-bomb was used 53 times.
As to the narration: Eric G. Dove always does such a great job, on the voices as well as the emotions when he reads.
January 22, 2020
I've been reading Toni Anderson books since 2014, so the author’s style and book content is not new to me. I read Cold & Deadly (Cold Justice: Crossfire #1) by Toni Anderson , as a NetGalley “read now” selection, almost a year after its original publication date. Sadly I found the book to be rather bland, single dimensional, and with characters I couldn’t identify with or root for. The overall story in my opinion lacked excitement, tension, surprise, or any real suspense. The romantic component of the story had the required sex scenes, the rush to love, and the expected “happy for now / forever” ending.
I felt the book was rather generic, change the character’s names, have a different plot, but it could have been any other book by the same author. Looking back over the author’s books I’ve read, I see the most of my enjoyment came from her early Cold Justice books , losing steam towards the end of that series.
In my opinion, a story with more suspense, surprise, even some grizzly scenes and plot that keeps the reader guessing, and on the edge of their seat is far more satisfying. I almost could call this a cozy romantic suspense read.
I realize looking at other reviews of the book that I am in the minority, but for me this was a 2.75 star read which I will raze to 3 stars.
I wish to extend my thanks to the Author, her publishing division and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
I felt the book was rather generic, change the character’s names, have a different plot, but it could have been any other book by the same author. Looking back over the author’s books I’ve read, I see the most of my enjoyment came from her early Cold Justice books , losing steam towards the end of that series.
In my opinion, a story with more suspense, surprise, even some grizzly scenes and plot that keeps the reader guessing, and on the edge of their seat is far more satisfying. I almost could call this a cozy romantic suspense read.
I realize looking at other reviews of the book that I am in the minority, but for me this was a 2.75 star read which I will raze to 3 stars.
I wish to extend my thanks to the Author, her publishing division and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
March 14, 2019
Toni Anderson create Hero and herons that readers can connect with, from their drive for the truth or seeking answers no one else can ask. Toni Anderson is a can't miss author!
Cold and Deadly starts off with a bang, reader reconnect with secondary characters from the other series and Mallory is finally having her baby.
The characters are smart, strong and willing to risk their life for those who are innocent.
Toni Anderson is able to combine action, characters who come alive on the pages as the walk, run or even shoot though the pages of the story. The author is able to create the perfect balance of Action, Suspense and Romance. Making this a can't miss series.
Thank you to the author for a copy of Cold and Deadly in exchange for my honest review.
Cold and Deadly starts off with a bang, reader reconnect with secondary characters from the other series and Mallory is finally having her baby.
The characters are smart, strong and willing to risk their life for those who are innocent.
Toni Anderson is able to combine action, characters who come alive on the pages as the walk, run or even shoot though the pages of the story. The author is able to create the perfect balance of Action, Suspense and Romance. Making this a can't miss series.
Thank you to the author for a copy of Cold and Deadly in exchange for my honest review.
January 5, 2021
5 stars
I tend to avoid detective novels like a plague. I genuinely have no idea why but I just do, unless the hype gets to me I will not read a book involving cop main characters.
BUT THIS THOUGH
Cold & Deadly had the perfect balance of everything;
- suspense
- angst
- romance
- likable characters
- interesting plot
The pace was great too. It never felt drawn out or too quick.
Also, I usually find out who the killer is very early on, but this time I had no clue until the end. The reveal wasn't necessarily a shock but it made a lot of sense. Had me face palming for not guessing sooner.
It was just a very solid read.
I've never read the cold justice series, but I've got a feeling I'm about to go on a binge😈
I tend to avoid detective novels like a plague. I genuinely have no idea why but I just do, unless the hype gets to me I will not read a book involving cop main characters.
BUT THIS THOUGH
Cold & Deadly had the perfect balance of everything;
- suspense
- angst
- romance
- likable characters
- interesting plot
The pace was great too. It never felt drawn out or too quick.
Also, I usually find out who the killer is very early on, but this time I had no clue until the end. The reveal wasn't necessarily a shock but it made a lot of sense. Had me face palming for not guessing sooner.
It was just a very solid read.
I've never read the cold justice series, but I've got a feeling I'm about to go on a binge😈
April 13, 2020
This was such a ridiculous book; the 38 weeks Preggo agent that was still active in the field , same woman that jumped in Radom car after her water broke ....despite the fact that her husband and mother were in the same venue... eye roll ...they were not even the main characters...H/h were so bland that author clearly had to plug in characters from her first RS hit to main them relevant....waste of my time.
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