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A review by thephdivabooks
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
5.0
“But I’ve always believed that murder is the healthiest obsession of all.”
If you’re new to Simone St. James, expect her books to be atmospheric with a gothic-feel, twisty, and vaguely supernatural. Her books are rarely full-on ghost stories, but they walk the line of the unexplained. They have many events based firmly in reality, but her stories always have a haunted feel. Are there supernatural forces at play, or have the characters found themselves haunted? It’s up to each reader to decide.
Shea Collins is receptionist in doctor’s office and she is also the writer behind a true crime website on cold cases. Shea is a loner—she has some events from her past that were traumatic and have led her to worry about her safety. She has a close friend over the internet named Michael who is a former cop and who she’s never met. This obviously had my radar up! I was super curious if Michael was who he said he was.
“Am I bitter or am I sweet? Ladies can be either.”
When Shea happens to meet Beth Greer—a local “celebrity” who was accused of murdering two men in the 1970s—she jumps at the chance to speak to her. Beth Greer is a fascinating and elusive character. The two men were both shot by Beth’s father’s gun and a witness claimed to have seen the second murder (though he had been drinking so his testimony was discounted). Many (including Michael) are convinced Beth Greer committed both murders even though she was acquitted and maintains her innocence.
As Shea gets to know Beth, the case gets more and more curious. Beth largely stays at the stately home she inherited from her parents. The house is like stepping back into the 1970s. When Beth talks about the murders and the trials, she mentions that her parents had just died and she was partying a lot to escape. This combines with her wealth and beauty made her an easy figure for people to suspect of the murders. There were rumors surrounding Beth and the trial, and it is easy to see why the public was so obsessed with her and the case.
I loved the setting in Beth’s home Greer House (in both timelines), and the flashbacks to the 1970s. The house is dark, and it’s size makes it feel particularly empty. Strange things happen there, and Beth haunts the halls like a ghost though she is very much alive. Greer House added a gothic feel to the novel that worked well and heightened the tension of the plot.
As the book goes on, the story is about more than just the two murders Beth was accused of. St. James adds many twists and turns to the story and I had many theories, most of which were wrong! The story alternates between the past and present and between the stories of Beth and Shea. At it’s core, this is a book about women—bitter and sweet. Ladies can be either, as Beth reminds us.
This book is absolutely gripping. The supernatural events are light enough that the book will appeal to most readers, even those who don’t prefer a paranormal element. Gothic, atmospheric, twisted, and dark—this is another outstanding psychological thriller from Simone St. James!
If you’re new to Simone St. James, expect her books to be atmospheric with a gothic-feel, twisty, and vaguely supernatural. Her books are rarely full-on ghost stories, but they walk the line of the unexplained. They have many events based firmly in reality, but her stories always have a haunted feel. Are there supernatural forces at play, or have the characters found themselves haunted? It’s up to each reader to decide.
Shea Collins is receptionist in doctor’s office and she is also the writer behind a true crime website on cold cases. Shea is a loner—she has some events from her past that were traumatic and have led her to worry about her safety. She has a close friend over the internet named Michael who is a former cop and who she’s never met. This obviously had my radar up! I was super curious if Michael was who he said he was.
“Am I bitter or am I sweet? Ladies can be either.”
When Shea happens to meet Beth Greer—a local “celebrity” who was accused of murdering two men in the 1970s—she jumps at the chance to speak to her. Beth Greer is a fascinating and elusive character. The two men were both shot by Beth’s father’s gun and a witness claimed to have seen the second murder (though he had been drinking so his testimony was discounted). Many (including Michael) are convinced Beth Greer committed both murders even though she was acquitted and maintains her innocence.
As Shea gets to know Beth, the case gets more and more curious. Beth largely stays at the stately home she inherited from her parents. The house is like stepping back into the 1970s. When Beth talks about the murders and the trials, she mentions that her parents had just died and she was partying a lot to escape. This combines with her wealth and beauty made her an easy figure for people to suspect of the murders. There were rumors surrounding Beth and the trial, and it is easy to see why the public was so obsessed with her and the case.
I loved the setting in Beth’s home Greer House (in both timelines), and the flashbacks to the 1970s. The house is dark, and it’s size makes it feel particularly empty. Strange things happen there, and Beth haunts the halls like a ghost though she is very much alive. Greer House added a gothic feel to the novel that worked well and heightened the tension of the plot.
As the book goes on, the story is about more than just the two murders Beth was accused of. St. James adds many twists and turns to the story and I had many theories, most of which were wrong! The story alternates between the past and present and between the stories of Beth and Shea. At it’s core, this is a book about women—bitter and sweet. Ladies can be either, as Beth reminds us.
This book is absolutely gripping. The supernatural events are light enough that the book will appeal to most readers, even those who don’t prefer a paranormal element. Gothic, atmospheric, twisted, and dark—this is another outstanding psychological thriller from Simone St. James!