The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

The Book of Cold Cases

by Simone St. James

A Most Anticipated Novel by PopSugar * Crime Reads * Goodreads *

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.

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.
 
Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases—a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea’s surprise, Beth says yes.
 
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?

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

5 of 5 stars

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Yes! I fell in love with Simone St. James' writing two years ago when The Sun Down Motel was released, and I have been counting down the days to a new release ever since (yes, I do plan on going through her backlog at some point). The Book of Cold Cases is every bit the novel I've been waiting for, as it blends mystery and fantasy into one delightful mix.

Anyone obsessed with unsolved murders and mysteries has heard of the Lady Killer Murders. They plagued Claire Lake, Oregon, during 1977. Two men died, with only one suspect ever rising to the forefront.

Decades later, Shea Collins is once again delving into that mystery. She's always been into cold cases, quite possibly to cope with her own trauma. And she's about to do what nobody else ever succeeded in: she will uncover the Lady Killer.

“It made no sense, but guilt doesn't have to. It simply exists, weighing you down and choking you until you can't breathe anymore.”

She's done it again! The Book of Cold Cases is every bit as chilling and enchanting as I had hoped. I sincerely cannot get enough of Simone St. James' writing – or this combination of genres. More, please!

The Book of Cold Cases is an atmospheric read that cuts to the quick. Shea's obsession with mysteries and crimes is immediately clear, while the reason behind this obsession takes longer to parse out. This, combined with the mystery of the Lady Killer Murders, is more than enough to suck readers right in.

At least, that's what happened to me. I love this combination of murder mystery and fantasy elements. There's something so appropriate about having ghosts interact with the world regarding murder (or several). Don't you think so?

Let us not forget Beth and her story, which is intrinsically tied up with the Lady Killer Murders. Her coldness and ferocity were a sharp contrast to Shea, which made for an ideal balance. It made me wonder who I would want to see cast to play their characters in a movie...

Long story short – I absolutely loved The Book of Cold Cases and highly recommend that you give it a try. It's different from everything else I've read while still in line with what I would expect from Simone St. James.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 2 May, 2022: Finished reading
  • 2 May, 2022: Reviewed