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jcurry447's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lezreadalot's review against another edition
4.0
“Wow,” Corey breathed. “I want her to sing at my funeral.”
“I was kind of thinking maybe she could sing at our wedding first.”
3.5 stars. Another great, quiet little mystery/suspense novel with these characters that I'm becoming more and more attached to as the series goes on. Books that follow the same couple over a period of time don't always manage to hold the reader's interest in the relationship and the developments that happen and the hurdles that they have to go through, but I think this author does a great job of it. The plots and the mysteries are very much grounded and real world, and that definitely fits a lot better with these characters than something more over the top or dramatic would have. Their jobs and how the mysteries fit into them are just so interesting. I think I liked this mystery most of all. Even though it wasn't very involved, it was personal and heartfelt from the very beginning. I like the community aspect of it and the side characters that were introduced.
And most of all, of course, I just loved Corey and Thayer together. They're so sweet and funny and their deepening relationship feels organic and wonderful. Thayer especially just feels like a really well realized character, and I love her. I hope the author has more in store for these two.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Lori Prince, and really enjoyed it as always. I really don't like her voice for Collier, or the voices that she does in general for gruff or tough men (they sound like cartoon characters), but otherwise, the narration is great. Her Thayer voice is soooo swoony. Looking forward to the next book, whenever that might be.
becsbookshelf's review
3.0
Corey and Thayer are now living together and are happier than ever. With the holidays in the horizons they are looking forward to sending much needed time with family and friends.
But their quiet winter get heated when Thayer discovers some connections in a murder of a public figure. Corey agrees to help and ends up in a bad situation.
I’m down to my last few letters on my A to Z book challenge for this year and Z have been my hardest to find something I’ll actually enjoy.
But their quiet winter get heated when Thayer discovers some connections in a murder of a public figure. Corey agrees to help and ends up in a bad situation.
I’m down to my last few letters on my A to Z book challenge for this year and Z have been my hardest to find something I’ll actually enjoy.
gracerichards11's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
judeinthestars's review
4.0
Edit: January, 17th, 2022, audiobook review: 4⭐️
I already reviewed the book so I’ll focus on the narration. This audiobook contains one of my most favourite and one of my least favourite voices by Lori Prince.
I’ll start with the latter so I can end this review on something that brings me joy. Corey’s voice. I didn’t remember Corey sounding so much like a fourteen-year-old boy (not the sweet, uncertain kind, the pushy and puffed up crowd). She’s too clever and strong to sound so nonchalant and obnoxious all the time.
Thayer, on the other hand… All my thoughts on that voice come in hot emojis and fainting gifs. I can’t be articulate about a voice like this one. All I want is to close my eyes and listen to it all day.
Narration isn’t all about voices, however. Once again, Prince nails the pace and general atmosphere. So while I’m not one hundred per cent wowed, I recommend this audiobook wholeheartedly.
------------------------------------------------
A quiet life doesn’t seem to be on the cards for Corey Curtis and Thayer Reynolds. Even when they’re not looking for trouble, it finds them. This time, trouble comes in the form of a torn prescription on a dead and frozen body. Guess who signed the prescription? And who is waiting for the body to thaw so that she can do the autopsy?
I really don’t recommend reading Zero Chill if you haven’t read (or, even better, listened to Lori Prince’s narration of) Gallows Humor and Dirt Nap. There’s a logical progression to the various relationships and character growth that you’d miss out on.
I liked Zero Chill a lot more by the end than I did at the beginning. I struggled a bit to get into the story, I’m not sure why. It felt slow, even though I was happy to get more Thayer and Corey. What I’m saying is if, like me, you’re not one hundred per cent in from page one, stick with it. In the foreword, the author explains that it’s her “Covid book” and I guess Covid took a toll on everyone.
For that matter, the pandemic isn’t absent from this book, it’s in the background, but it feels a little as if the author had struggled to make up her mind on whether to mention it at all. Thayer recommends wearing masks when going out at one point, and asks a patient about Covid-like symptoms (loss of taste and smell, among others) but beyond that, it’s business as usual with Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties, cheek-kissing and hand-shaking. I’m okay with stories set in a parallel Covid-free universe, I’m okay with stories including Covid, I’m okay with whatever choices authors make but this non-choosing confused me.
It’s a minor complaint, however, there’s a lot to love in this book. The best thing about this series is the characters. And while some might regret that the crime arc isn’t the strongest, I feel in return we get even more character development and I’m more than cool with that.
I’ll start with the main characters. I love Thayer and Corey. I love them individually and together. They’re flawed and complex and relatable. I love their banter and I love their difficult times, not only when they get hurt by outsiders, but also what they go through as a couple, how they grow together and with each other. In this instalment, Thayer is suffering from PTSD from the events in Dirt Nap and Corey, who isn’t perfect, is sometimes at a loss as to how to deal with it and support her. There are quite a few heartbreaking moments.
Probably the main reason why I love this couple so much is the chemistry between them. Whether it’s the small, intimate touches of daily life or the passionate ones, the tenderness, this absolute yet fragile knowledge that they are meant for each other, all the interactions between Corey and Thayer are perfect.
Elizabeth really writes excellent characters, which extends to the secondary cast. I would have loved a little more of Thayer’s grandmother Lillian but new characters made up for it. One in particular, Nora Warren, Kelly Warren’s sister (Thayer got to know Kelly when he looked after her in Dirt Nap), a reverend who will turn Rachel (Corey’s best friend) upside down. I enjoyed watching badass Rachel get all flustered and Nora really is a fascinating character. I hope we get to see more of her, and of them together, in a future book.
Another very strong point is the science and how real Corey and Thayer’s professions feel. I’m in no position to judge how accurate Elizabeth’s descriptions of autopsies are, but they feel authentic and never, while reading, do I wonder whether she got a specific fact right or not.
Getting more time with Thayer and Corey is always a treat, Elizabeth writes them so well. I hope we get more of their shenanigans.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
I already reviewed the book so I’ll focus on the narration. This audiobook contains one of my most favourite and one of my least favourite voices by Lori Prince.
I’ll start with the latter so I can end this review on something that brings me joy. Corey’s voice. I didn’t remember Corey sounding so much like a fourteen-year-old boy (not the sweet, uncertain kind, the pushy and puffed up crowd). She’s too clever and strong to sound so nonchalant and obnoxious all the time.
Thayer, on the other hand… All my thoughts on that voice come in hot emojis and fainting gifs. I can’t be articulate about a voice like this one. All I want is to close my eyes and listen to it all day.
Narration isn’t all about voices, however. Once again, Prince nails the pace and general atmosphere. So while I’m not one hundred per cent wowed, I recommend this audiobook wholeheartedly.
------------------------------------------------
A quiet life doesn’t seem to be on the cards for Corey Curtis and Thayer Reynolds. Even when they’re not looking for trouble, it finds them. This time, trouble comes in the form of a torn prescription on a dead and frozen body. Guess who signed the prescription? And who is waiting for the body to thaw so that she can do the autopsy?
I really don’t recommend reading Zero Chill if you haven’t read (or, even better, listened to Lori Prince’s narration of) Gallows Humor and Dirt Nap. There’s a logical progression to the various relationships and character growth that you’d miss out on.
I liked Zero Chill a lot more by the end than I did at the beginning. I struggled a bit to get into the story, I’m not sure why. It felt slow, even though I was happy to get more Thayer and Corey. What I’m saying is if, like me, you’re not one hundred per cent in from page one, stick with it. In the foreword, the author explains that it’s her “Covid book” and I guess Covid took a toll on everyone.
For that matter, the pandemic isn’t absent from this book, it’s in the background, but it feels a little as if the author had struggled to make up her mind on whether to mention it at all. Thayer recommends wearing masks when going out at one point, and asks a patient about Covid-like symptoms (loss of taste and smell, among others) but beyond that, it’s business as usual with Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties, cheek-kissing and hand-shaking. I’m okay with stories set in a parallel Covid-free universe, I’m okay with stories including Covid, I’m okay with whatever choices authors make but this non-choosing confused me.
It’s a minor complaint, however, there’s a lot to love in this book. The best thing about this series is the characters. And while some might regret that the crime arc isn’t the strongest, I feel in return we get even more character development and I’m more than cool with that.
I’ll start with the main characters. I love Thayer and Corey. I love them individually and together. They’re flawed and complex and relatable. I love their banter and I love their difficult times, not only when they get hurt by outsiders, but also what they go through as a couple, how they grow together and with each other. In this instalment, Thayer is suffering from PTSD from the events in Dirt Nap and Corey, who isn’t perfect, is sometimes at a loss as to how to deal with it and support her. There are quite a few heartbreaking moments.
Probably the main reason why I love this couple so much is the chemistry between them. Whether it’s the small, intimate touches of daily life or the passionate ones, the tenderness, this absolute yet fragile knowledge that they are meant for each other, all the interactions between Corey and Thayer are perfect.
Elizabeth really writes excellent characters, which extends to the secondary cast. I would have loved a little more of Thayer’s grandmother Lillian but new characters made up for it. One in particular, Nora Warren, Kelly Warren’s sister (Thayer got to know Kelly when he looked after her in Dirt Nap), a reverend who will turn Rachel (Corey’s best friend) upside down. I enjoyed watching badass Rachel get all flustered and Nora really is a fascinating character. I hope we get to see more of her, and of them together, in a future book.
Another very strong point is the science and how real Corey and Thayer’s professions feel. I’m in no position to judge how accurate Elizabeth’s descriptions of autopsies are, but they feel authentic and never, while reading, do I wonder whether she got a specific fact right or not.
Getting more time with Thayer and Corey is always a treat, Elizabeth writes them so well. I hope we get more of their shenanigans.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
banrions's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This one, like the other two in this series, was just okay for me. I don’t find Corey (or Rachel) as charming as the women in their lives do, and the overarching mystery this time initially wasn’t doing it for me. Once the Nora character came onto the scene I found myself a little more invested (I adore the voices Lori Prince used for her, and her Thayer voice, tho unfortunately, her voices for Corey and Rachel, while feel very fitting to the characters, really grate on me and add to my annoyance of them as characters, too, I think). Overall this series isn’t my fav, but I love this narrator, and I always get a solidly okay I mostly enjoyed that out of them.
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