Lauren's Reviews > Cold & Deadly

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.