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A review by nicolem_young
Running Cold by Susan Walter
3.0
Book/Story: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐.5
TRIGGER(S): INFIDELITY, MENTAL HEALTH, DEATH OF SPOUSE, SUICIDE, MURDER
POV: Multiple, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Safe or Dark: Dark (see trigger warnings)
Release Date: October 8, 2024
This is a quick read. The chapters are relatively short, and the writing is easy to follow. Although at times simplistic, it is still very engaging.
This story taps into the age-old fear of “how well do you really know someone?” especially your spouse. What kind of secrets are they keeping? Are you really as financially well off as a couple as you believed you were? Was your significant other really as wonderful as they seemed to be on the surface?
What happens when the life you thought you had built for yourself ends up being an illusion?
Most of the time, when something seems too good to be true, it is. The perfect relationship, life, or person often has cracks spreading beneath the surface.
The plot threads the feelings of grief, betrayal, and the idea of starting over again.
While for myself the book started off a bit slow (despite pretty much getting right into the meat of things), it was still intriguing, and I wanted to find out what happened next.
It’s rare that I pick up a book and end up liking all the characters. But somehow, I liked each person in this story. Even the murderer. They were all imperfect in their own ways, and all their imperfections were very believable. They all had flaws that we might even sometimes see in ourselves. I loved that both of the lead characters (Julie and the detective) were strong females.
I really enjoyed how, after Julie’s life fell apart, she didn’t wait around for someone to show up and fix it for her. She didn’t try to find someone to help her make things right again; she decided to do it herself. She was the one to determine the new course of her life. With many books I read now, that’s not the case with most female characters. Nine times out of ten, they wait for a man, friend, or family member of some sort to help them put their shattered pieces back together. So, personally, for me, this was a refreshing take on that scenario.
The killer is revealed at approximately a little over the halfway mark of the book. I was pretty sure I had figured out who it was early on in the story, and I did. It's not a big deal. While I liked getting their point of view, it did somewhat take away from the intensity of the story. It made things feel a little anticlimactic. But overall, the execution was done well. It didn’t kill the bigger picture for me. Especially since a lot more than just a murder was at play.
Remember to always keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But how do you know what to do if you can’t distinguish the two?
Susan Walter’s book [b:Lie by the Pool|62728456|Lie by the Pool|Susan Walter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680851990l/62728456._SX50_.jpg|93534107] has been on my TBR for some time now, and after reading this, I might have the encouragement needed to finally check it out.
TLDR: ENJOYABLE! WELL PACED STORY WITH LIKEABLE CHARACTERS! GIVE IT A TRY!
I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐.5
TRIGGER(S): INFIDELITY, MENTAL HEALTH, DEATH OF SPOUSE, SUICIDE, MURDER
POV: Multiple, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Safe or Dark: Dark (see trigger warnings)
Release Date: October 8, 2024
“Unfortunately, even tiny, well-intentioned lies are dangerous. Because they force you to tell bigger lies to cover them up.”
This is a quick read. The chapters are relatively short, and the writing is easy to follow. Although at times simplistic, it is still very engaging.
This story taps into the age-old fear of “how well do you really know someone?” especially your spouse. What kind of secrets are they keeping? Are you really as financially well off as a couple as you believed you were? Was your significant other really as wonderful as they seemed to be on the surface?
What happens when the life you thought you had built for yourself ends up being an illusion?
Most of the time, when something seems too good to be true, it is. The perfect relationship, life, or person often has cracks spreading beneath the surface.
The plot threads the feelings of grief, betrayal, and the idea of starting over again.
While for myself the book started off a bit slow (despite pretty much getting right into the meat of things), it was still intriguing, and I wanted to find out what happened next.
It’s rare that I pick up a book and end up liking all the characters. But somehow, I liked each person in this story. Even the murderer. They were all imperfect in their own ways, and all their imperfections were very believable. They all had flaws that we might even sometimes see in ourselves. I loved that both of the lead characters (Julie and the detective) were strong females.
“If she was grade A prime, I was Hamburger Helper.”
I really enjoyed how, after Julie’s life fell apart, she didn’t wait around for someone to show up and fix it for her. She didn’t try to find someone to help her make things right again; she decided to do it herself. She was the one to determine the new course of her life. With many books I read now, that’s not the case with most female characters. Nine times out of ten, they wait for a man, friend, or family member of some sort to help them put their shattered pieces back together. So, personally, for me, this was a refreshing take on that scenario.
The killer is revealed at approximately a little over the halfway mark of the book. I was pretty sure I had figured out who it was early on in the story, and I did. It's not a big deal. While I liked getting their point of view, it did somewhat take away from the intensity of the story. It made things feel a little anticlimactic. But overall, the execution was done well. It didn’t kill the bigger picture for me. Especially since a lot more than just a murder was at play.
Remember to always keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But how do you know what to do if you can’t distinguish the two?
Susan Walter’s book [b:Lie by the Pool|62728456|Lie by the Pool|Susan Walter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680851990l/62728456._SX50_.jpg|93534107] has been on my TBR for some time now, and after reading this, I might have the encouragement needed to finally check it out.
“Athletes are told, There’s no limit to how great you can be! Problem is, when the sky’s the limit, you never arrive.”
TLDR: ENJOYABLE! WELL PACED STORY WITH LIKEABLE CHARACTERS! GIVE IT A TRY!
I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.