Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Original publication date
2022
Publication
Berkley (2022), 352 pages
Description
"A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel. 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 small 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?"--… (more)
Awards
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — Hall of Fame — March 2022)
Original language
English
Language
ISBN
0440000211 / 9780440000211
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User reviews
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
Here's the thing with me - and I can't blame it on age, I've always been this way - when I read a book that resonates with me, of course I look for more by that author, but I want some of the same ... template I got in the first story. I like the predictability; it's relaxing to a degree (any why I
With no other author has this been more true than with Simone St. James. I loved her first 5 books. They were spooky, don't-read-at-night ghost stories set in the interwar period. Then came Broken Girls and I got my feathers so ruffled over the change to a dual timeline, present/past format that I'd decided I wasn't going to read it. Nope. No way. Doesn't matter how long that lasted, because of course I caved and read it. And I loved it. So I eagerly bought The Sun Down Motel and liked it too, and when the announcement came out for The Book of Cold Cases, I pre-ordered it. Only to find out that she's messed with the format again.
The changes she made this time were more subtle. It's still a dual, present/past timeline, but this go-around both the characters are still alive and they're interacting, facing off in a weird frenemy sort of fashion - shades of Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale. There are definitely ghosts and at least one is malevolent, and the spookiness kicks off immediately. (What is it about turning around to find all the cabinet doors open at once that is so creepy and spooky?) What's most dramatically different though, it that although there is a definite resolution to the mystery the Lady Killer Murders, there isn't an ending to the book that wraps everything up in a neat, tidy package, with everyone getting the emotional release they want.
So did I like it? Well, yes, after I got done sulking through the first several chapters. The ghost(s) were unsettling, and St. James took the mystery in all sorts of jagged directions; both the reader and the MC had to pry the facts of what happened out of the story and Beth (the past's MC). I never knew what was happening until it happened, and the ending left me feeling unsettled, which I suppose is what a ghost story should do.
Did I like it as much as her previous books? No. It was good, but I still prefer the style of the first 5, and something about The Broken Girls felt edgier than this one, but I'm not sorry I read it or that I bought it. It's a solid, well told ghost story with a straight forward mystery.
I read this for Halloween Bingo 2022 for the Ghosts & Hauntings square.
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enjoy a good series so much). So, when I pick up an author's later books and they go and change it up, I did my heels in and become truculent.With no other author has this been more true than with Simone St. James. I loved her first 5 books. They were spooky, don't-read-at-night ghost stories set in the interwar period. Then came Broken Girls and I got my feathers so ruffled over the change to a dual timeline, present/past format that I'd decided I wasn't going to read it. Nope. No way. Doesn't matter how long that lasted, because of course I caved and read it. And I loved it. So I eagerly bought The Sun Down Motel and liked it too, and when the announcement came out for The Book of Cold Cases, I pre-ordered it. Only to find out that she's messed with the format again.
The changes she made this time were more subtle. It's still a dual, present/past timeline, but this go-around both the characters are still alive and they're interacting, facing off in a weird frenemy sort of fashion - shades of Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale. There are definitely ghosts and at least one is malevolent, and the spookiness kicks off immediately. (What is it about turning around to find all the cabinet doors open at once that is so creepy and spooky?) What's most dramatically different though, it that although there is a definite resolution to the mystery the Lady Killer Murders, there isn't an ending to the book that wraps everything up in a neat, tidy package, with everyone getting the emotional release they want.
So did I like it? Well, yes, after I got done sulking through the first several chapters. The ghost(s) were unsettling, and St. James took the mystery in all sorts of jagged directions; both the reader and the MC had to pry the facts of what happened out of the story and Beth (the past's MC). I never knew what was happening until it happened, and the ending left me feeling unsettled, which I suppose is what a ghost story should do.
Did I like it as much as her previous books? No. It was good, but I still prefer the style of the first 5, and something about The Broken Girls felt edgier than this one, but I'm not sorry I read it or that I bought it. It's a solid, well told ghost story with a straight forward mystery.
I read this for Halloween Bingo 2022 for the Ghosts & Hauntings square.
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Shea Collins is a medical receptionist by day and blog poster by night. Her blog, The Book of Cold Cases, talks about murders that have never been solved…especially the case of the Lady Killer in which two seemingly random men were shot in the face at point blank range in the sleepy little town
Beth Greer was a 23-year-old privileged rich girl at the time of the murders living alone in her childhood home after the death of her parents. She was charged with the murders even though there was no direct evidence of her committing the crime. Her distinctive red hair was one factor. The other is the fact that the gun used to kill the two men was the same gun that killed Beth’s father in the kitchen of their home four years earlier. Beth was acquitted of the murder and lived a reclusive life in the home she grew up in for the next forty years, declining all requests for interviews.
A chance meeting between these two people, prompts Shea to ask Beth if she can interview her and, surprisingly, Beth agrees; the location of the interviews to be at Greer Mansion. As Shea enters, she notices that the house hasn’t changed in the 40 years that Beth has lived there…even the magazines on the coffee table are 40 years old. Once there, however, Shea feels uncomfortable, hears noises and sees things that can’t possibly happen. But the pull of solving a 40-year-old cold case is stronger than the fear she has of entering the mansion.
As Beth begins to tell her story and Shea uses that information to start digging, secrets emerge, some forty years old, some newer than that. What also emerges are the forces that shaped both Shea and Beth and made them both what they are.
The Book of Cold Cases is told from Shea’s point of view in the present and Beth’s from the past, her life leading up to the time of the murders. Each has hurdles to overcome, secrets they’ve never revealed. It is a tense story made even more so by the supernatural element, which thankfully, doesn’t overpower the book. For lack of a better term, I’d classify this book as investigative journalism.
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of Claire Lake, Oregon, some 40 years earlier. A red-haired lady was seen running away from the scene of the second murder.Beth Greer was a 23-year-old privileged rich girl at the time of the murders living alone in her childhood home after the death of her parents. She was charged with the murders even though there was no direct evidence of her committing the crime. Her distinctive red hair was one factor. The other is the fact that the gun used to kill the two men was the same gun that killed Beth’s father in the kitchen of their home four years earlier. Beth was acquitted of the murder and lived a reclusive life in the home she grew up in for the next forty years, declining all requests for interviews.
A chance meeting between these two people, prompts Shea to ask Beth if she can interview her and, surprisingly, Beth agrees; the location of the interviews to be at Greer Mansion. As Shea enters, she notices that the house hasn’t changed in the 40 years that Beth has lived there…even the magazines on the coffee table are 40 years old. Once there, however, Shea feels uncomfortable, hears noises and sees things that can’t possibly happen. But the pull of solving a 40-year-old cold case is stronger than the fear she has of entering the mansion.
As Beth begins to tell her story and Shea uses that information to start digging, secrets emerge, some forty years old, some newer than that. What also emerges are the forces that shaped both Shea and Beth and made them both what they are.
The Book of Cold Cases is told from Shea’s point of view in the present and Beth’s from the past, her life leading up to the time of the murders. Each has hurdles to overcome, secrets they’ve never revealed. It is a tense story made even more so by the supernatural element, which thankfully, doesn’t overpower the book. For lack of a better term, I’d classify this book as investigative journalism.
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LibraryThing member Twink
Oh, I have been eagerly awaiting Simone St. James' newest novel - The Book of Cold Cases! I ended up devouring it in a day - her books are page turners that you just can't put down.
St. James again weaves a mixture of mystery, murder and … an otherworldly element. Seriously, does anyone else
Okay, so what's this latest about you ask? The lead character is Shea Collins, who works a mundane day job in an office. But, her true passion is blogging about true crime. Her site is The Book of Cold Cases. The 1977 case of the Lady Killer Murders in Shea's hometown of Claire Lake has never been solved. The lead suspect at that time still lives in Claire Lake in 2017. When Shea approaches Beth for an interview, she is surprised when she agrees. But something is off with Beth Greer - and her (creepy) house. But Shea can't help herself, she wants to know more...
Shea was a great lead character. She's suffered a childhood trauma that has affected her thoughts, actions and more. I was whole heartedly behind her. St. James fleshes out her personal life well. he supporting is a large part of that and they too were well drawn.
Oh my gosh. Creep factor of ten. That otherworldly feeling is insidious and will awaken your primal brain. The mystery of the murders is slowly unfolded through past and present chapters and the narrative changes from Shea to Beth. But the doubt is always there - what is the truth? Beth rarely gives Shea clear cut answers instead providing enigmatic clues or suggestions. The path to the final pages is winding and treacherous. And addicting!
St. James knows how to tell a story - hook the reader from the opening pages, keep the questions coming and the reader on the edge of their seat. Five stars for a fantastic read.
St. James again weaves a mixture of mystery, murder and … an otherworldly element. Seriously, does anyone else
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literally get goosebumps reading St. James?! (If you've read it already you'll get this - I will never look at an open kitchen cupboard door the same again...)Okay, so what's this latest about you ask? The lead character is Shea Collins, who works a mundane day job in an office. But, her true passion is blogging about true crime. Her site is The Book of Cold Cases. The 1977 case of the Lady Killer Murders in Shea's hometown of Claire Lake has never been solved. The lead suspect at that time still lives in Claire Lake in 2017. When Shea approaches Beth for an interview, she is surprised when she agrees. But something is off with Beth Greer - and her (creepy) house. But Shea can't help herself, she wants to know more...
Shea was a great lead character. She's suffered a childhood trauma that has affected her thoughts, actions and more. I was whole heartedly behind her. St. James fleshes out her personal life well. he supporting is a large part of that and they too were well drawn.
Oh my gosh. Creep factor of ten. That otherworldly feeling is insidious and will awaken your primal brain. The mystery of the murders is slowly unfolded through past and present chapters and the narrative changes from Shea to Beth. But the doubt is always there - what is the truth? Beth rarely gives Shea clear cut answers instead providing enigmatic clues or suggestions. The path to the final pages is winding and treacherous. And addicting!
St. James knows how to tell a story - hook the reader from the opening pages, keep the questions coming and the reader on the edge of their seat. Five stars for a fantastic read.
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LibraryThing member SilversReviews
Can it really be Beth Greer the Lady Killer?
Is she really granting me an interview after all this time when she wouldn't grant one to anyone else?
Shea Collins....receptionist by day and crime blogger of cold cases by night is thrilled that Beth is going to let her interview her.
She finds Beth to
This was going to be a welcome but tough case. Luckily a few other characters helped Shea with the case…Michael…a detective, and Winston Purrchill…a cat that was left on her doorstep.
The research and the book move us back to 1960 when Beth was a child, then to 1977 when Beth was accused of the murder, and then to present day when Beth and Shea become friends and learn about each other and about the case.
Should Shea be careful around Beth, though, since she still wasn’t sure Beth was the killer and wrongly accused but acquitted...you never know.
THE BOOK OF COLD CASES moved slowly along, but the tension and underlying suspense ramped up when we met Lily. And just who is Lily?
Fans of Simone St. James won't want to miss her chilling, ghostly, can't-put-down newest.
Ohhhh so good. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Is she really granting me an interview after all this time when she wouldn't grant one to anyone else?
Shea Collins....receptionist by day and crime blogger of cold cases by night is thrilled that Beth is going to let her interview her.
She finds Beth to
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be very odd, and the mansion she lives in even more odd. It seems to have ghosts…things move around, noises appear out of nowhere, voices talk to you, and her parents’ things are still sitting where they left them.This was going to be a welcome but tough case. Luckily a few other characters helped Shea with the case…Michael…a detective, and Winston Purrchill…a cat that was left on her doorstep.
The research and the book move us back to 1960 when Beth was a child, then to 1977 when Beth was accused of the murder, and then to present day when Beth and Shea become friends and learn about each other and about the case.
Should Shea be careful around Beth, though, since she still wasn’t sure Beth was the killer and wrongly accused but acquitted...you never know.
THE BOOK OF COLD CASES moved slowly along, but the tension and underlying suspense ramped up when we met Lily. And just who is Lily?
Fans of Simone St. James won't want to miss her chilling, ghostly, can't-put-down newest.
Ohhhh so good. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member brangwinn
St. Simon has returned with another creepy psychological thriller. Claire Lake, Oregon an idyllic town on the Pacific coast was rocked by the cold-blooded murders of two men in 1977. The suspect, Beth, is a young woman who was seen at the site of one of the murders. She’s inherited a lot of money
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from her parents and can hire a lawyer who masterminded her acquittal. Fast forward to 2017 when Shea, receptionist by day and the creator of website, The Book of Cold Cases, by night, meets Beth. Beth agrees to be interviewed by Shea in the scary old home she’s basically kept as a museum of life in 1977. The ghost of Beth’s dead half-sister becomes involved, and the story really gets creepy and Shea finds herself in danger. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookappeal
Shea is obsessed with cold cases and gets access to Beth Greer, a woman tried but acquitted in the murder of two men in 1977, following the deaths of both her parents. Shea doesn’t know why Beth is suddenly willing to talk after years of silence and she should probably be afraid of this potential
I enjoyed this more than The Sun Down Motel because the characters were more distinct and complex even though the paranormal element was similar. The plot is constructed well without artificial twists and turns but is not chronological, using flashbacks to tell Beth’s story.
Not a page turner but engaging, suspenseful and sinister.
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killer but she can’t resist being drawn in by Beth and her creepy house. I enjoyed this more than The Sun Down Motel because the characters were more distinct and complex even though the paranormal element was similar. The plot is constructed well without artificial twists and turns but is not chronological, using flashbacks to tell Beth’s story.
Not a page turner but engaging, suspenseful and sinister.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
This book explores the elements of the human responses to trauma.... fear, guilt, and trust especially. The reader will also have to examine the "nature vs. nurture" of true evil. It has a deficient spooky vibe. If you've read Shirley Jackosn's Haunting of Hill House you'll have an idea of what
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awaits you. Characters are well defined but I found the back and forth conversation between the two main characters a bit distracting. If you are a fan of mysteries with a supernatural element and true crime...you will probably enjoy this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
This is a spooky story about Shea, who was traumatized as a child. She was kidnapped, yet escaped from the kidnapper. Since then, Shea refuses to ride in cars, and is obsessed with true crime. She keeps what she calls The Book of Cold Cases.
At her job, she recognizes someone from one of the cases,
St. James continues to haunt my dreams with her spooky stories!
At her job, she recognizes someone from one of the cases,
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Beth, and follows her, requesting an interview. Surprisingly, Beth accepts. Shea then becomes involved in a decades old murder mystery. What she discovers is very scary and there are ghosts!! Shea digs deep to determine what truly happened and puts herself in grave danger. St. James continues to haunt my dreams with her spooky stories!
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LibraryThing member khal_khaleesi
I love a thriller that involves a chilling ghost story, so when I heard about The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James, I knew I had to read it. (Plus, I loved her other book The Broken Girls.) I was heavily immersed in this novel from the beginning!
I was sucked into the plot of The Book of Cold
I felt that all the characters in The Book of Cold Cases were fleshed out enough to feel realistic whilst reading. I really liked Shea's interest in true crime since I can relate to that. I admired Shea's thirst for knowledge and how far she'd go to find out the truth of things she wanted to know. (I guess we both need closure!) I did feel like she got over her phobia a little too conveniently and quickly though. Beth was a wildcard for me throughout the book. I couldn't tell if she was guilty like many people believed or if she actually was a guilty party. I did like Beth though, and I loved her attitude she had when accused of murder. Lily was fabulously written, and I enjoyed reading about her too. I won't go into much more detail about her due to spoilers, but her part in The Book of Cold Cases was written well. The only character that kind of bothered me was Michael. I just felt like he was thrown in there as an easy way out. We're introduced to him from the beginning, and I kept waiting for some plot twist to happen involving him, but I was sadly disappointed. I just felt as if the book could have done without him.
Trigger warnings for The Book of Cold Cases include violence, murder, profanity, sexual abuse of a minor (not graphic), and kidnapping.
Overall, The Book of Cold Cases is a thrilling read with a fantastically chilling plot. With a spooky ghost story and an intriguing mystery, St. James has a real winner on her hands. I would definitely recommend The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James to those aged 17+ who love being scared and intrigued at the same time. You won't be disappointed.
I was sucked into the plot of The Book of Cold
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Cases right away. St. James gets right down to the nitty-gritty in the very first chapter. This book instantly grabs you and doesn't let go until the very last page. I was instantly transported to this small town in Oregon where I was right with the characters. As with her previous books, Simone St. James tells the story from more than one characters' point of view. We are told the story from Beth's, Shea's, and Lily's viewpoint. There was plenty of action and mystery to keep me intrigued throughout my reading journey. My favorite scenes in the book were the ones that involved the supernatural. I loved reading about how Greer mansion was haunted and about what supernatural activities were happening there. I also enjoyed the semi-big plot twist towards the middle of the book. However, I kept expecting an even bigger plot twist towards the end that never came which left me feeling a bit disappointed. However, this didn't really take away from the overall story that much. Something I could have done without was the romance in the book. It wasn't a major thing, but I just felt like there wasn't really a need for it. Other than that, I truly enjoyed this novel. Everything fit together really well (minus the romance), and the story was all tied together by the very end.I felt that all the characters in The Book of Cold Cases were fleshed out enough to feel realistic whilst reading. I really liked Shea's interest in true crime since I can relate to that. I admired Shea's thirst for knowledge and how far she'd go to find out the truth of things she wanted to know. (I guess we both need closure!) I did feel like she got over her phobia a little too conveniently and quickly though. Beth was a wildcard for me throughout the book. I couldn't tell if she was guilty like many people believed or if she actually was a guilty party. I did like Beth though, and I loved her attitude she had when accused of murder. Lily was fabulously written, and I enjoyed reading about her too. I won't go into much more detail about her due to spoilers, but her part in The Book of Cold Cases was written well. The only character that kind of bothered me was Michael. I just felt like he was thrown in there as an easy way out. We're introduced to him from the beginning, and I kept waiting for some plot twist to happen involving him, but I was sadly disappointed. I just felt as if the book could have done without him.
Trigger warnings for The Book of Cold Cases include violence, murder, profanity, sexual abuse of a minor (not graphic), and kidnapping.
Overall, The Book of Cold Cases is a thrilling read with a fantastically chilling plot. With a spooky ghost story and an intriguing mystery, St. James has a real winner on her hands. I would definitely recommend The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James to those aged 17+ who love being scared and intrigued at the same time. You won't be disappointed.
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LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
Finally, a decent story! The murder mystery, supernatural element and even the autumnal atmosphere of the Oregon setting were all on point here - and the cat wasn't mistreated in the slightest! Bonus point!
Shea Collins, who narrowly escaped being murdered herself as a child, runs a blog called the
I absolutely loved the first half of the story, with Shea's combination of curiosity and neuroses driving her interest in the lives and deaths of other people, and the classic haunted house tropes at the Greer house. Beth is also a fascinating character, a recovering alcoholic battling personal demons - literally - but who faces the world with a cool manner and a blank expression. Like Shea, I was in awe of Beth's style and power too.
The identity of the Lady Killer, a plot twist saved only by the supernatural subplot of the novel, didn't work as well for me. The psychopathic behaviour of the killer fell flat against the deeper characterisation of Shea and Beth, although I'm glad that the author didn't force the whole 'traumatic childhood' angle as an excuse.
The perfect novel for the cold, dark nights of Halloween season, which will have readers feeling cold drafts and checking the shadows!
Shea Collins, who narrowly escaped being murdered herself as a child, runs a blog called the
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Book of Cold Cases. Top of her list is the 'Lady Killer' case of 1977, when a young heiress was accused of being a female serial killer after two men were shot by the roadside. Beth Greer was arrested for the deaths but later released due to lack of evidence, yet the town of Claire Lake still believes she is guilty. When Shea meets the elusive Lady Killer in the doctor's surgery where she works, she bravely asks to interview her - and Beth agrees. But why? And what dark secrets is she hiding at Greer mansion, long thought to be haunted?I absolutely loved the first half of the story, with Shea's combination of curiosity and neuroses driving her interest in the lives and deaths of other people, and the classic haunted house tropes at the Greer house. Beth is also a fascinating character, a recovering alcoholic battling personal demons - literally - but who faces the world with a cool manner and a blank expression. Like Shea, I was in awe of Beth's style and power too.
The identity of the Lady Killer, a plot twist saved only by the supernatural subplot of the novel, didn't work as well for me. The psychopathic behaviour of the killer fell flat against the deeper characterisation of Shea and Beth, although I'm glad that the author didn't force the whole 'traumatic childhood' angle as an excuse.
The perfect novel for the cold, dark nights of Halloween season, which will have readers feeling cold drafts and checking the shadows!
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LibraryThing member Cherylk
Author, Simone St. James does it again with her newest book. Podcast thriller stories are the latest obsession. I have read a handful and this book is up there on my list of ones that I really enjoyed. I have not been disappointed yet on a book that I have read by this author.
Both Claire and Shea
Each time that I was brought back to the past with Claire, I grew more intrigued by her story. To be honest, I did not see the big reveal coming until the author wanted me to. Fans of this author will be pleased with this book.
Both Claire and Shea
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are engaging characters. The past and present blend very nicely and transition smoothly between the different time periods. Which is something that I hate is when different time periods do not blend well together. Each time that I was brought back to the past with Claire, I grew more intrigued by her story. To be honest, I did not see the big reveal coming until the author wanted me to. Fans of this author will be pleased with this book.
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LibraryThing member Sensory
I'd seen this book recommended in a FB group I'm in, as a consequence of someone asking for books with ghosts. The same author was mentioned over and over again, Simone St. James. So I looked her up and here we are. The Book of Cold Cases is nicely written, but not heart-stoppingly creepy, but
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enough to make you keep reading if that's your thing. The story is intriguing as well. I liked the main protagonist (well, both of them) and I liked most of the side characters too. The author manages to make most of them sympathetic, if not likeable. I'd read another by this author. Show Less
LibraryThing member Anniik
TW/CW: Murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, paranormal creepiness, ghosts
RATING: 4/5
REVIEW: The Book of Cold Cases is the story of Shea Collins, a true crime blogger who manages to get an interview with Beth Greer, a woman who was tried for a double murder forty years before. Although she has always
This book is really creepy. About halfway through, I had to put it down because it was nighttime and I was starting to hear things in my house! St. James does a really good job with the creepy atmosphere and ambience, although this isn’t really a paranormal story.
Well written and interesting, this book was a fast read and held my attention to the end. I did figure out what happened a little early, but it was still fun seeing the different pieces falling into place.
I recommend this book to people who like creepy mysteries.
RATING: 4/5
REVIEW: The Book of Cold Cases is the story of Shea Collins, a true crime blogger who manages to get an interview with Beth Greer, a woman who was tried for a double murder forty years before. Although she has always
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been obsessed with the case, the personal connection opens her eyes to a whole world she didn’t know, and dangers she didn’t know existed.This book is really creepy. About halfway through, I had to put it down because it was nighttime and I was starting to hear things in my house! St. James does a really good job with the creepy atmosphere and ambience, although this isn’t really a paranormal story.
Well written and interesting, this book was a fast read and held my attention to the end. I did figure out what happened a little early, but it was still fun seeing the different pieces falling into place.
I recommend this book to people who like creepy mysteries.
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LibraryThing member SpaceandSorcery
When I encountered the synopsis for this novel I was immediately captivated by the story’s potential, and once I started reading I enjoyed the double-timeline, double perspective narrative, which managed to fuel the tension that runs throughout most of the book.
Shea Collins holds a
The small town in which Shea lives is usually a quiet place, but forty years ago the community was shaken by the case of the Lady Killer: two men had been viciously murdered by a woman leaving cryptic messages on the scenes, and since rich heiress Beth Greer had been seen fleeing the area of one attack, she ended up being investigated for both murders. Worse still, the ballistic exam matched the bullets of both homicides with the ones that killed Beth’s father in his own home, a few years before the Lady Killer started her spree.
Lack of any incriminating evidence ultimately led to Beth’s acquittal, but the small town never forgot, and Beth’s detached, unconventional behavior never helped clear the suspicion hanging over her.
One day, Beth comes for a doctor’s appointment where Shea works, and once the younger woman recognizes the famous patient, she asks for an interview for her blog and - quite surprisingly - Beth agrees, starting a series of encounters between them that take place in the old Greer mansion, a place that seems frozen in time to a few decades prior, and where weird phenomena cast a creepy pall over an already uncomfortable setting. As the meetings progress and the two women form a sort of bond (calling it ‘friendship’ would indeed stretch the truth), Shea understands that Beth is hiding something, maybe manipulating her for some mysterious reason, and at the same time, the flashbacks into Beth’s past show the evidence of a very unhappy family and one burdened by secrets and unspeakable truths…
The Book of Cold Cases started a bit slowly, and at times it lagged a little, but it never failed to keep me intrigued and compel me to get to the bottom of the mystery: the story is a very atmospheric one, in both temporal lines. The present, where Shea keeps pursuing her investigation with dogged determination, is dominated by the relationship between these two women who might appear quite different on the surface, but in reality have had to deal with traumatic events that have changed their perspective on the outside world. The past, where we learn about Beth’s previous life, blends her personal history (and that of her family) with the media’s intense focus on the murders and Beth’s alleged guilt: in this instance, particularly, one can see how public opinion can be influenced by circumstances to the point that they set themselves in the role of judge and jury. In the late ’70s - the time in which the murders occurred - a young woman, and a rich one, living alone and minding her own business was evidently too unconventional not to attract automatic suspicion and cast Beth in the role of murderer, and the “help” from the press, with the plethora of copies-selling misinformation bandied about, was certainly instrumental in establishing that image.
The overall picture is indeed an engaging one, but in my opinion it was marred by two factors which spoiled my enjoyment a little: one is the supernatural component, which to me seems… pasted on, for want of a better word, and adds little or nothing to the tenseness of the story. True, the scary manifestations described in the book - the faucets that open on their own, the appearance of blood on the kitchen’s floor where Beth’s father was killed, and so on - add a chilling element to the story, but they are not fundamental in the solution of the mystery, nor do they truly serve to enhance the weirdness of Greer House, whose function as a portal to times past comes from the frozen quality of its decor and furnishings. The other problem came for me from the too-early discovery of the killer’s identity: given the successful creation - up to that point - of a mood of suspense and mounting dread, this untimely revelation robbed the story of some of its momentum and left me a little disappointed.
Still, since the novel hinged on the interactions between Shea and Beth and the almost osmotic relationship established by their meetings, I found enough material in this novel to keep me engaged until the end, and - more important - to kindle my curiosity toward this author, whose other works I intend to explore in my next reading forays.
Shea Collins holds a
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run-of-the-mill job as a doctor’s receptionist by day, while at night she indulges her passion for unsolved crimes, managing a blog called The Book of Cold Cases, where she explores those crimes in well-researched detail. Shea’s keen interest might look somewhat obsessive on the outside, but the readers’ perspective changes once they discover that she survived a brutal assault in her childhood, one that left its mark on her and her ability to connect with strangers. The small town in which Shea lives is usually a quiet place, but forty years ago the community was shaken by the case of the Lady Killer: two men had been viciously murdered by a woman leaving cryptic messages on the scenes, and since rich heiress Beth Greer had been seen fleeing the area of one attack, she ended up being investigated for both murders. Worse still, the ballistic exam matched the bullets of both homicides with the ones that killed Beth’s father in his own home, a few years before the Lady Killer started her spree.
Lack of any incriminating evidence ultimately led to Beth’s acquittal, but the small town never forgot, and Beth’s detached, unconventional behavior never helped clear the suspicion hanging over her.
One day, Beth comes for a doctor’s appointment where Shea works, and once the younger woman recognizes the famous patient, she asks for an interview for her blog and - quite surprisingly - Beth agrees, starting a series of encounters between them that take place in the old Greer mansion, a place that seems frozen in time to a few decades prior, and where weird phenomena cast a creepy pall over an already uncomfortable setting. As the meetings progress and the two women form a sort of bond (calling it ‘friendship’ would indeed stretch the truth), Shea understands that Beth is hiding something, maybe manipulating her for some mysterious reason, and at the same time, the flashbacks into Beth’s past show the evidence of a very unhappy family and one burdened by secrets and unspeakable truths…
The Book of Cold Cases started a bit slowly, and at times it lagged a little, but it never failed to keep me intrigued and compel me to get to the bottom of the mystery: the story is a very atmospheric one, in both temporal lines. The present, where Shea keeps pursuing her investigation with dogged determination, is dominated by the relationship between these two women who might appear quite different on the surface, but in reality have had to deal with traumatic events that have changed their perspective on the outside world. The past, where we learn about Beth’s previous life, blends her personal history (and that of her family) with the media’s intense focus on the murders and Beth’s alleged guilt: in this instance, particularly, one can see how public opinion can be influenced by circumstances to the point that they set themselves in the role of judge and jury. In the late ’70s - the time in which the murders occurred - a young woman, and a rich one, living alone and minding her own business was evidently too unconventional not to attract automatic suspicion and cast Beth in the role of murderer, and the “help” from the press, with the plethora of copies-selling misinformation bandied about, was certainly instrumental in establishing that image.
The overall picture is indeed an engaging one, but in my opinion it was marred by two factors which spoiled my enjoyment a little: one is the supernatural component, which to me seems… pasted on, for want of a better word, and adds little or nothing to the tenseness of the story. True, the scary manifestations described in the book - the faucets that open on their own, the appearance of blood on the kitchen’s floor where Beth’s father was killed, and so on - add a chilling element to the story, but they are not fundamental in the solution of the mystery, nor do they truly serve to enhance the weirdness of Greer House, whose function as a portal to times past comes from the frozen quality of its decor and furnishings. The other problem came for me from the too-early discovery of the killer’s identity: given the successful creation - up to that point - of a mood of suspense and mounting dread, this untimely revelation robbed the story of some of its momentum and left me a little disappointed.
Still, since the novel hinged on the interactions between Shea and Beth and the almost osmotic relationship established by their meetings, I found enough material in this novel to keep me engaged until the end, and - more important - to kindle my curiosity toward this author, whose other works I intend to explore in my next reading forays.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
The Book of Cold Cases is not my Simone St. James novel. I loved the true crime bits and the actual murder mystery. However, I was not a fan of the Gothic element. I don’t feel that story needs it. In fact, it feels like an easy solution to a plot issue, and I don’t like it. Ms. St. James
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usually puts out excellent stories, but this, to me, fell short of the mark. Show Less
LibraryThing member Micareads
Shea Collins is a medical assistant by day and a true-crime blogger by night. In order to deal with her own trauma after a run-in with a serial killer when she was 9, Shea writes a blog about other serial killers. One day, she is given the opportunity to interview a local woman, Beth Greer, who was
When Shea visits Beth at her mansion, she starts to realize that not everything is as it seems. She begins to hear voices and knows that Beth isn't telling her the whole story. Slowly, Beth begins to open up to her, and Shea figures out that while Beth did not commit the murders she was accused of, she does know who did it and wants Shea to figure out who it is. Shea faces down the murderer and learns not just how but why they committed the murders - but she will never be able to explain how she knows.
Simone St. James writes a ghost story like no one else. There is always a story within the haunting that keeps the reader interested. I found her an extremely easy author to read and managed to get this book done on a Sunday when I had nothing but time. Any time spent reading a Simone St. James book is time well spent.
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accused of and then acquitted of murdering two men. When Shea visits Beth at her mansion, she starts to realize that not everything is as it seems. She begins to hear voices and knows that Beth isn't telling her the whole story. Slowly, Beth begins to open up to her, and Shea figures out that while Beth did not commit the murders she was accused of, she does know who did it and wants Shea to figure out who it is. Shea faces down the murderer and learns not just how but why they committed the murders - but she will never be able to explain how she knows.
Simone St. James writes a ghost story like no one else. There is always a story within the haunting that keeps the reader interested. I found her an extremely easy author to read and managed to get this book done on a Sunday when I had nothing but time. Any time spent reading a Simone St. James book is time well spent.
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LibraryThing member terran
I wanted to like this better but the "supernatural" elements turned me off. Otherwise, the writing style and story details were very much to my liking.
LibraryThing member BONS
My first of St. James and I was hooked from the first page. If you are reading this please don't let the word ghost cause you to not try this book. Gothic in nature so you are feeling edgy and it's somewhat unsettling. I actually liked the ending very much or rather how the plot with one character
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was completed! I'll be see more of Simone St James. Show Less
LibraryThing member kayanelson
A page turner and the ghost aspect was interesting.
LibraryThing member Romonko
This book is a good ghost story, but I didn't enjoy it as much as The Sun Down Motel which seemed much more believable somehow. The story is about a young woman named Shae Collins. Shae is a young woman who has a horrific backstory from her childhood, and has just gotten a divorce and is living on
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her own in Claire Lake, Oregon. She works as a receptionist at a doctor's office during the day and on her online blog about unsolved cold murder cases. At work, Shae comes across Beth Greer who had been arrested as the Lady Killer in Claire Lake back in the 1970's. Beth was acquitted, but she contacts Shae and asks her to look into her old unsolved case. Shae, along with her private detective Michael, dig into the case. This is a chilling story and Shae's visits to the Greer mansion become more and more dreaded as she senses an aura of evil at the mansion--taps turning on, lights going off and on, cold drafts in enclosed rooms. This was a good book for the season (Hallowe'en) and Ms. St. James writes a good story with plenty of tension that doesn't let up and lots of paranormal activity. Show Less
LibraryThing member CassiesBooksReader
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James is Thriller Suspense Fiction. When I first looked at this book I wasn’t sure if it was for me. I should have known better, I have read every book by this author and enjoyed each one.I read into the second chapter, and I could not stop reading until I
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
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finished it. Her characters as usual are just a little odd, some creepy and always mysterious. The Book of Cold Cases is a must read, I loved it! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
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LibraryThing member srms.reads
Twenty-nine-year-old Shea Collins, resident of Claire Lake, Oregon, is a receptionist in a doctor's office by day and a true-crime blogger by night. With a traumatic experience in her childhood and a recent divorce behind her, she mostly keeps to herself, occasionally visiting her sister, but
In the course of her day job she meets Beth Greer, the prime suspect of the "Lady Killer" murders of 1977 in which two men were shot dead at point-blank range in separate incidents and one person identified Beth, who he witnessed leaving the scene of one of the murders, as the perpetrator. The case remains unsolved and even though Beth was acquitted she was still suspected to be guilty. Shea, intrigued by Beth’s past and in awe of Beth’s poise and gravitas, requests an interview for her blog to which Beth surprisingly agrees. As Shea is permitted to dig deep into Beth’s world, she passionately pursues the cold case interviewing not only Beth but also the police officer assigned to her case many years ago and other people who figured as a part of Beth’s life. Her research takes her into the history of Beth’s family which has its share of secrets and much tragedy in the past. Her visits to Beth’s home, the Greer family mansion, are also not without incident and Shea encounters more than she bargained for. As she gets closer to unraveling the events from 1977 and unmasking the killer, she becomes more aware of a mysterious presence surrounding Beth and the house – a force that makes its presence felt to her as well, often thwarting her efforts and threatening her in the process.
“Something about the Greer mansion stifled laughter and killed happiness. It might sound dramatic, but anyone who had lived there knew it was true."
Why did Beth, who refused to talk about herself for so long, agree to talk to Shea? What is the mystery surrounding the Greer family and its house which has been preserved like a “museum” with nothing changed from the 1970s? Will Shea be able to solve this murder case from so long ago and if so, at what cost?
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St.James is an intense and gripping read with a well-paced narrative with an atmospheric setting (with a paranormal element thrown into the mix), well-written characters and an absorbing plot. The narrative is shared between Shea and Beth, with Beth’s narrative split between her past and present. Though much of the mystery is revealed a little over the halfway mark, I did not lose interest and enjoyed how the remaining story played out. This is my first Simone St.James novel and I am duly impressed and do intend to read more of her work.
“There’s a moment where you have the power of life and death, and then you realize it doesn’t make you any different than you were before.”
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spends most of her evenings devoted her blog ”The Book of Cold Cases” where she researches unsolved cases.In the course of her day job she meets Beth Greer, the prime suspect of the "Lady Killer" murders of 1977 in which two men were shot dead at point-blank range in separate incidents and one person identified Beth, who he witnessed leaving the scene of one of the murders, as the perpetrator. The case remains unsolved and even though Beth was acquitted she was still suspected to be guilty. Shea, intrigued by Beth’s past and in awe of Beth’s poise and gravitas, requests an interview for her blog to which Beth surprisingly agrees. As Shea is permitted to dig deep into Beth’s world, she passionately pursues the cold case interviewing not only Beth but also the police officer assigned to her case many years ago and other people who figured as a part of Beth’s life. Her research takes her into the history of Beth’s family which has its share of secrets and much tragedy in the past. Her visits to Beth’s home, the Greer family mansion, are also not without incident and Shea encounters more than she bargained for. As she gets closer to unraveling the events from 1977 and unmasking the killer, she becomes more aware of a mysterious presence surrounding Beth and the house – a force that makes its presence felt to her as well, often thwarting her efforts and threatening her in the process.
“Something about the Greer mansion stifled laughter and killed happiness. It might sound dramatic, but anyone who had lived there knew it was true."
Why did Beth, who refused to talk about herself for so long, agree to talk to Shea? What is the mystery surrounding the Greer family and its house which has been preserved like a “museum” with nothing changed from the 1970s? Will Shea be able to solve this murder case from so long ago and if so, at what cost?
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St.James is an intense and gripping read with a well-paced narrative with an atmospheric setting (with a paranormal element thrown into the mix), well-written characters and an absorbing plot. The narrative is shared between Shea and Beth, with Beth’s narrative split between her past and present. Though much of the mystery is revealed a little over the halfway mark, I did not lose interest and enjoyed how the remaining story played out. This is my first Simone St.James novel and I am duly impressed and do intend to read more of her work.
“There’s a moment where you have the power of life and death, and then you realize it doesn’t make you any different than you were before.”
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LibraryThing member Headinherbooks_27
A modern gothic crossover between the Haunting of Hill House and the episodes of the Cold Case series. Creepy, mysterious, and captivating. Read it in less than one day.
LibraryThing member gpangel
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James is a 2022 Berkley publication.
Like others who have become obsessed with true crime, Shea had a near miss as a child, escaping from a kidnapper. Now, in her off hours, she writes a true crime blog. When she recognizes a woman who was accused of being a
Surprisingly, Beth Greer agrees to be interviewed. Once Shae enters the old mansion where Beth has lived in secluded notoriety after her acquittal, she realizes Beth’s story is much more complicated than anyone would ever know…
If you are at all familiar with Simone St. James, then you know you will get a double dose of chills and thrills with her books. Paranormal or supernatural tales are normally a hard sell for me, but I love this author’s blend of ghostly elements with a good mystery.
Unfortunately, I’m an outlier with this one. The story didn’t grab me in the same way as SSJ’s other books have. I have no explanation for that because cold cases are usually my jam, as is true crime, and ghost stories are my favorite supernatural trope- so by all accounts this book should have been an automatic five-star read for me.
Yes, there were a few spooky chills here and there, but while it was interesting enough to hold my attention throughout, the atmosphere just was not there, and the plot was a little too predictable. There was no guessing game, no real procedure. There was some tension and suspense, but I guessed very early on how things would turn out- though the ending was still a nice touch. That said, the story is okay- I liked it- but it didn’t meet the expectations I had for it.
Overall, a good story- but not a great one.
3 stars
Like others who have become obsessed with true crime, Shea had a near miss as a child, escaping from a kidnapper. Now, in her off hours, she writes a true crime blog. When she recognizes a woman who was accused of being a
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female serial killer, many years ago, Shae approaches her and asks for an interview. Surprisingly, Beth Greer agrees to be interviewed. Once Shae enters the old mansion where Beth has lived in secluded notoriety after her acquittal, she realizes Beth’s story is much more complicated than anyone would ever know…
If you are at all familiar with Simone St. James, then you know you will get a double dose of chills and thrills with her books. Paranormal or supernatural tales are normally a hard sell for me, but I love this author’s blend of ghostly elements with a good mystery.
Unfortunately, I’m an outlier with this one. The story didn’t grab me in the same way as SSJ’s other books have. I have no explanation for that because cold cases are usually my jam, as is true crime, and ghost stories are my favorite supernatural trope- so by all accounts this book should have been an automatic five-star read for me.
Yes, there were a few spooky chills here and there, but while it was interesting enough to hold my attention throughout, the atmosphere just was not there, and the plot was a little too predictable. There was no guessing game, no real procedure. There was some tension and suspense, but I guessed very early on how things would turn out- though the ending was still a nice touch. That said, the story is okay- I liked it- but it didn’t meet the expectations I had for it.
Overall, a good story- but not a great one.
3 stars
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LibraryThing member Kristelh
Reason read: f2f bookclub, April 2023
Interesting combination of mystery and ghost story. This is a story of an amateur real crime blogger. Peoples obsession with real crime is a real thing. This character also had her own crime trauma. The story is good but not sure that I really like the ghost
Interesting combination of mystery and ghost story. This is a story of an amateur real crime blogger. Peoples obsession with real crime is a real thing. This character also had her own crime trauma. The story is good but not sure that I really like the ghost
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part of the story but without the ghost would there, could there even be a story? Not sure I liked this one. Show Less