Cold

                                           



Cold by Stella Cameron introduces Alex Duggins (aka Alex Bailey-Jones) as she deals with a series of horrific events taking place in the normally peaceful and picturesque village of Folly-on-Weir.  A grim discovery embroils Alex in a murder investigation that threatens the peace of mind that she has sought to regain after her personal tragedy yet it also forces her to interact with others, among them a personable veterinarian named Tony Harrison and a couple of delightful canines.  As events continue to intensify, Alex discovers that there is a chilling purpose to all of the villain’s actions, and she seems to be the focus of that person’s attentions.   Will the investigators Detective Inspector O’Reilly and Detective Sergeant Lamb be able to get past the insular villagers’ distrust in time to solve the case?  Or will Alex have to take matters into her own hands?

This entertaining mystery evokes the charm of a small village in the Cotswolds yet cloaks it in the chilling aura that this author creates so well.  The action nicely escalates yet is tempered by the vignettes that feature the four-footed companions of various characters.  It would be nice to have a bit more depth to the main characters but I suspect that the gradual exposition of their pasts will take place over the course of several novels in the series.  There are plenty of fascinating secondary characters who provide great color and background to the story and the snippets of information revealed such as the artistry that goes into creating lace are enlightening both in terms of the mystery itself and as a way of detailing some of the fascinating resources that can be found in these quiet villages.  An enjoyable light read that will make one grateful for a way to warm blanket to snuggle into.

© Night Owl Reviews

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Cold, Introducing Alex Duggins  (Amazon link)






Additional note:  It is my understanding that the author is hard at work on the next book in the series so stay tuned for more of Alex's adventures!

Cold by Stella Cameron

I am delighted to feature Stella Cameron's newest book, Cold
It is on my review pile and I am anxious to get to it!  I am delighted to be able to share some information that was provided to me.

Introducing Alex Duggins


Stella Cameron is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.

With over fourteen million copies of her books in print, Cameron is now turning her pen to mysteries and independently publishing COLD, introducing Alex Duggins. She draws on her English background for this new, already critically acclaimed mystery series.

Atmospheric, deeply character and relationship driven, COLD reveals the power of old secrets to twist the present. Cameron's reputation for using her backgrounds to add tension and allure to her stories is heightened again.

Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community.  She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.


FAQ for COLD, Introducing Alex Duggins

Why did you choose the Cotswolds as the setting for COLD?

The Cotswold Hills are a treasure trove of mysterious villages with cottage windows that cry out for me to tell stories about the folks who live in them. History doesn't have to be searched out, it's stamped on the faces of churches, shops, pubs, tithe barns, markets still held where they have been for hundreds of
years, cobbled alleys and streets, and even in the cadence of the people's voices.

This is a place rich with atmosphere, it's a haven for someone like me who sits quietly, observes and spins tales. I think the Cotswolds chose me to tell the story in COLD.


All of the characters in this book are memorable, but Bogie really stands out. What can youtell us about him?

Bogie, who becomes Alex Duggins’ dog, is named after a dear reader's dog. I held a sweepstakes to find just the right name and along came Bogie who was randomly selected from hundreds of entries. Even more lucky, I have now met this lovely little furry boy, taken him on a walk, sat with him on my lap while I told him how handsome he is! After spending time with him, I knew he had to have more than just a walk-on part in COLD.


Many readers may recognize you from your successful career as a romantic suspense writer. Why the switch to mystery?

I've never written a book that has no mystery/thriller elements. When a story develops for me, a mystery wraps itself around the plot and the mystery and thriller threads not only demand equal time with a romance but I make a conscious effort to balance the two. Romantic suspense is wonderful to work with but I'm a very natural mystery writer and I'm ready to devote myself to the genre.


After so many years of writing under contract, why have you decided to independently publish COLD?

Stereotyping doesn't just happen in the acting world, it's rife in publishing. If a writer is successful, as I am, in one genre, traditional publishers are reluctant to take on what is essentially a total makeover of an author. Since I have no such hangups and I've gathered an accomplished support team around me, all I
feel is excitement at the challenge and confident I'm making the right choice.


Coming in September from easyepublish
Available in eBook and Print On Demand * 254 pages * eISBN
978-1621810858
* $5.99 (eBook)

Amazon purchase link


Cold

Introducing Alex Duggins

Blurb:

Starting over is never easy but there's nothing like discovering a dead body to really complicate things. Alex Duggins left London to return to the small town where she grew up. Now she finds herself a suspect in the mysterious death of a stranger.


When she launches her own investigation the killer sets out to make her the next victim.

New York Times Bestselling romantic-suspense novelist Stella Cameron turns her pen to the mystery genre with brilliant success, drawing readers into the secretive world of Folly-on-Weir in the English Cotswolds.


Praise for COLD

“an intriguing cast of characters laden with dark histories. A thrilling conclusion, combined with cliffhanger chapter endings, guarantees readers will be flipping the pages late into the night.” --Library
Journal

"Cameron digs deep into the dirt of an idyllic English village when the past comes back to haunt the present for the sharply-etched townsfolk in this chilling tale of murder." --Bestselling Author Mary Daheim

"COLD is fast-paced, edgy, and wonderfully atmospheric." --New York Times Bestselling Author Jayne Ann Krentz

 *******************


NOTE:  If you are fond of giveaways (and who isn't?), please scroll back a few posts and look for the various tours that I am part of...there are several books and other prizes available!

Cold by Stella Cameron

Cold                                         


by Stella Cameron

Coming Sept 1

 Introducing Alex Duggins

You can’t outrun the past…

…and tripping over a frosted corpse is a complication that could destroy Alex Duggins’ attempt to restart her life.

The discovery of a murder victim threatens to unearth some old secrets, including her own.

As the tiny town of Folly-on-Weir braces for a chilling winter and snow blankets Britain’s Cotswold Hills, a killer faces a deadline. A terrible crime was believed to be safely hidden, but time and conscience can wear on a secret.

The clock ticks and with the police breathing down her neck, Alex knows she’s at the top of the suspect list.

Desperate to clear her name and find the real murderer she begins to peel back the layers of deception that have long-concealed one of the town’s darkest secrets.

But time is also running out for a killer who has nothing left to lose. What’s one more murder? Someone intends that Alex will be the next snow-covered body found in the beautiful hills above the town.


Excerpt:

     When they had started up the stairs, cold hit Alex's spine in what she thought of as the start of a premonition. The prickling of a thousand pins started climbing until they covered her back and sprayed over her scalp.

     She turned around slowly, slowly.

      Glass panels flanked the heavy front door with a fanlight above.

     All the panes in the fanlight were green, not what she would have chosen and she intended to replace some of them with other colors to warm the light when it came through.


     Her scalp contracted even more. Her face felt tight.

      The dog had stopped beside her and he, too, stared toward the front of the house. His hackles had risen and his lips were pulled back from his teeth, but he didn't make a sound.

     The motion sensors came on and a green glow washed over the hall floor.

     She couldn't move, or breathe.

     Call the police.

     They won't get here in time. In time for what?

      The lights went out. Air rushed from her lungs. There was a wind with the snow. It could easily have blown a fallen limb across a beam and triggered the lights.

Darkness Bound: Forever's Paranormal Blog Tour, Part 2

Stella Cameron invariably writes a gripping tale and her foray into the paranormal world is no exception.  Darkness Bound is the first in the ‘Chimney Rock’ series that centers around a group of werehounds...yes, canids, but not of the lupus variety which tend to be deadly enemies.  A group of these remarkable creatures are living in the town of Chimney Rock, located on an island and they are growing desperate as their race is destined for extinction unless they can find the few rare mates that will live through pregnancy and childbirth.  Widow Leigh Kelly returns to the island determined to make a fresh start but she is very wary of strangers even though her dog Jazzy seems to have no reservations about most of the people she is meeting, including Niles Latimer and his canine companion Blue.  Mysterious disappearances on the island lead Leigh to wonder who she should trust despite Niles’ attempts to ensure that he the one that she turns to.  A complex and convoluted power struggle is being conducted between vampires, werewolves, werehounds and the fae and somehow Leigh has ended up being a central figure in the struggle even though she has no idea that the strange color streams that she can see indicate that she is very special.  It’s up to Niles to keep her safe and convince her to become his mate but he must deal with both her insecurities and his own self-doubts as well as the external threats.  Fortunately, he has a pack that has been through the trials of military life as well as other allies if only he can discern everyone’s true motives.

I usually enjoy Stella Cameron’s tales and I was intrigued by this foray into a different genre.  She normally blends investigative techniques with suspense-laden action to craft an intriguing tale and this story demonstrates that skill but I think it had a bit too much thrown in at once.  There are so many different backstories that the action got a little frenetic as multiple new characters suddenly appeared and disappeared without one ever knowing what their purpose was or why certain allies did or did not work together.  I am sure that more will be unveiled as the next books in the series are released but there are quite a few dangling threads to resolve and I felt that the relationship between Niles and Leigh is a bit awkward and erratic.  The overall story is enjoyable but a bit uneven and I look forward to obtaining more pieces to the complicated puzzle surrounding the werehounds in future novels, starting with Sean's story in Darkness Bred.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review