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author2223's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Rape and Misogyny
mondovertigo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Gun violence, Grief, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Pedophilia
Minor: Pregnancy and Infertility
taelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The first half of the book started out so strong. The mystery of the lady killer case mixed in with the creepy paranormal elements had so much potential. But the mystery was solved at literally 50% which was way too easy. After I reached 63% I was like please just end the book because it was so boring after that point.
Honestly the book should have either been much shorter. Most of the second half was just boring and felt repetitive as if the author was trying to reach some type of word count/story length goal rather than actually tell the story.
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Stalking, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Murder
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Shea Collins is a receptionist by day and a true crime blogger by night, her passion for crime stories fueled by her own experience surviving an attempted abduction as a child. When she convinces infamous suspected (but acquitted!) serial killer Beth Greer to sit down for an interview about the unsolved “Lady Killer” murders, Shea is unwittingly pulled into a web of murderous secrets and ghosts that won’t stay buried (literally!)
Simone St. James’s The Sun Down Motel is one of my all-time favorite books, so needless to say The Book of Cold Cases was one of my most-anticipated reads of 2022. It’s almost impossible for a book to live up to expectations as high as mine were, but this novel came *very* close. The spooky paranormal vibes were impeccable, and I loved the characters so much—Shea was endearing, Beth was intriguing, Michael was a gem, and Winston Purrchill the cat was, of course, a stand-out favorite. I did wish for a few more twists from the plot, which reveals its secrets fairly quickly (around the halfway point), but I am also someone who likes a lot of closure in a book and this one definitely delivered in that regard.
In short, The Book of Cold Cases definitely didn’t replace Sun Down Motel in my heart, but I also won’t stop thinking about it any time soon!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: true crime vibes; paranormal spookiness; layered and lovable characters.
CW: Death (including death of a parent); murder (including mentions of child abduction/murder); alcoholism; mentions of rape/sexual assault; mentions of infertility/miscarriage/pregnancy.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Car accident, Infertility, Pregnancy, Rape, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail