I can’t remember exactly where I saw the blurb for The Book of Cold Cases the first time. But I do remember finding it really interesting, especially that it was based around the concept of true crime.
So when I finally got the book from my library, I dove right in. Read on to know if it met expectations. Before we get to that though, a quick disclaimer.
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Genre:
Crime, Thriller
Length:
344 pages
Blurb:
Shea Collins is a receptionist by day and a true-crime blogger by night. Her passion for her blog – The Book of Cold Cases – is fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. A shy, anxious adult, Shea is pulled out of her comfort zone when she meets Beth Greer.
30 years ago, Beth had been arrested for the brutal murder of two men who had been shot, strange notes left by their bodies. In spite of a witness claiming that he’d seen Beth fleeing the scene, the rich, easily-judged twenty-three-year-old was acquitted. And she spent the rest of her life alone, in her mansion, away from prying eyes.
Yet when Shea asks her for an interview, Beth agrees. They meet at Beth’s mansion, and Shea begins to notice strange happenings – things move when she’s not looking, she sees a girl outside the window, and the house seems to have a life of its own. Slowly, Shea is pulled in by Beth’s charm, resisting her own intuition that something is off. But is it Beth who’s manipulating Shea, or is there something more sinister in the Greer mansion?
Overall Rating:
7 out of 10 stars
Plot:
7 out of 10 stars
Characterization:
8 out of 10 stars
Primary Element:
8 out of 10 stars for its thrill and mystery
Writing Style:
9 out of 10 stars
Part of a Series:
No.
Highlighted Takeaway:
An interesting mix of thriller, horror, and mystery, The Book of Cold Cases will be most enjoyed by readers/viewers of true crime.
What I Liked:
The characters were really well done, with the range of their emotions being realistic and easy to understand, even when you didn’t like them. The story itself is told from multiple points of view, and all of them hold their own. A few different arcs run in parallel, and they’re tied together really well at the end. All in all, the book moves at a good pace, keeps you engaged, and keeps you guessing.
What I Didn’t Like:
While there isn’t anything to specifically dislike in The Book of Cold Cases, there were two things that stuck out for me. One, the book does everything it should do to be a good read, but somehow it isn’t phenomenal. Two, the horror aspect is just a given – it’s there, you have to accept it, and there is little focus on it other than how it affects the characters and their emotions.
Who Should Read It:
Anyone who enjoys crime fiction and true crime would like this book. It is the first book of Sime St. James that I’ve read and I enjoyed it enough to want to read more of her work. The mix of horror and mystery works!
Who Should Avoid:
If you’re not a fan of crime-related content, I’d recommend giving this a skip.
Read It For:
The relationship between the protagonist and antagonist, and how it affects them individually.
I explored some more titles from Simone St. James, and although I’m not a big fan of horror (as I am, in fact, a scaredy-cat), I’ll be reading more of her work for sure. In the meantime, if you’d like to get a copy of Simone St. James’ The Book of Cold Cases, you can buy it here.
Share your thoughts on The Book of Cold Cases or other books and series on true crime in the comments below. And as always, thanks for stopping at The Book Review Station and giving this review a read!
– Rishika
The Book Review Station 