The Book of Cold Cases

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The Book of Cold Cases
By: Simone St. James
"In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect--a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.
Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases--a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea's surprise, Beth says yes.
They meet regularly at Beth's mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?"

If you've been around here for a while, you know that I am very much a mood reader so when the seasons change I crave stories that capture the new season.  Fall is heading our way so I find myself reaching for mysteries, thrillers, and of course a bit of horror.  The Book of Cold Cases dabbles in all of these categories plus a large portion of the timeline is in September and October so it naturally set the stage for me.  Simone St. James created a murder mystery with a bleak, cold, and creepy mansion on a cliff and threw in some paranormal activity which lands this book squarely in the "fall" category for me.

~ The Pairing ~

The main character, Shea, states in the book that chicken tetrazzini is one of her favorites so if you wanted to make a meal then that would be your best bet, but I think any number of fall baked goods would make cuddling up with this book even more enjoyable.  'Tis the season for everything pumpkin spice and cinnamon!

I, however, am keeping my pairing simple today.  Maybe I'm channeling my inner Beth Greer, 

"I don't cook, I don't make coffee, and I don't have servants, so bring your own sh*t."

Beth has an on again off again relationship with alcohol.  At the time of her interview she had been sober for 8 years so her drink of choice is grapefruit juice and soda.

"Get me a drink in the kitchen while you're up, if you don't mind.  Grapefruit juice and soda, with ice."

I loved her no-nonsense, bordering on offensive manner.  In a roundabout way Beth reminded me of Evelyn Hugo from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in that they are both blunt and unapologetically themselves.  It could also be that both books are about novice journalists interviewing strong women that made my brain connect them.  Either way, I know Beth and Evelyn did some awful things, but I also can't help but like them.  Perhaps that's just me.

~ The Review ~

The Book of Cold Cases: ★★★★☆

The cover itself puts off a chilling and eerie vibe which is exactly what you'll get throughout The Book of Cold Cases. The mansion is beyond creepy and Simone St. James has a knack for describing things in a way that make you feel like you are there.  I could taste the salt water blowing through the town.  I could see the rooms throughout the Greer mansion stuck in the '70s.  I could also taste the grapefruit and soda, but that was more me than the author. Ha!
I enjoyed the mystery and the dash of paranormal activity, but it is definitely more of a slow burn than an all out thriller. I ended up getting a little bored with the 1970's flashbacks when it focused mostly on Beth's family and their life because I was hooked on the murder investigation and the paranormal activity and I was desperate to get back to the excitement.
All in all, it was a great addition to my fall reading list and I will definitely be picking up some more of Simone St. James' books.

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