Cold case detective Lauren Riley wakes up in the hospital certain of two things: she was stabbed and left for dead…and the person who did it was a cop. After being brutally stabbed at her desk late one night, Lauren Riley works her way backwards through the haze to piece together who attacked her and why. A mysterious phone message forces her to enlist the help of a retired lieutenant to track … retired lieutenant to track down a witness who is desperate not to be found. As she digs into the Buffalo Police Department’s hidden past she uncovers a terrible secret, one a fellow officer would kill to protect.
Packed with suspense and featuring a detective who “relentlessly—and with morbid humor—gets the job done” (Booklist), The Murder Book continues a series praised by Kirkus Reviews as “an excellent police procedural combined with a psychological thriller.”
Praise for The Murder Book:
An Amazon and Barnes and Noble Bestseller
“A simply riveting read from cover to cover.”—Midwest Book Review
“Fans of contemporary police procedurals will want to see more of the plucky Lauren.”—Publishers Weekly
“A pulse-racing pace, well-chosen details of Buffalo’s mixed industrial landscape and characters to bleed for make this a stunningly good second book. Highly recommended.”—Kingdom Books
Praise for A Cold Day in Hell, Book 1 of the Cold Case Investigation series:
“Recommend this one to anyone who loves courtroom dramas where lawyers tear into witnesses like pit bulls. And to anyone hot for a police procedural where tired cops make mistakes but slowly, relentlessly—and with morbid humor—get the job done. Redmond delivers both in one package…The real attraction here is a keyhole view into a world that turns our expectations upside down—a world where a bullying, quasi-fascist cop can be the only one with a handle on reality. Keep your eyes on Redmond, a retired cop who knows how to write.”—Booklist
“Redmond, a recently retired Buffalo PD homicide detective, keeps everything moving nicely in this well-constructed crime novel.”—Publishers Weekly
“An excellent police procedural combined with a psychological thriller.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A Cold Day in Hell is a fine first novel and Lauren Riley is cool new addition to the world of PI and cop protagonists. A retired detective, Lissa Marie Redmond gives it to the reader without the sugarcoating and lifts the veil off how the system really works…or doesn’t.”—Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of What You Break
“Ex-cop Lissa Redmond has a sure hand with police procedure, which should be no surprise. The joy of A Cold Day in Hell comes from her equally sure hand with storytelling. This is a welcome new voice on the crime scene.”—SJ Rozan, bestselling author of Ghost Hero
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What an exceptional series this is! I thoroughly enjoy the cast of characters Redmond has set up – and it doesn’t hurt that it’s set in Buffalo, which is 20 miles away from where I type at this moment… In this second installment, Redmond picks up right where she left off – a fact that was confusing to me when I started reading, because the NetGalley blurb never mentioned that it was a second-in-series. Since I found myself confused, I looked the book up and lo and behold learned it was a series – then promptly requested the first book from my library and dove in. I’m glad I did and didn’t just give up – the series is great, with strong writing, an incredible protagonist, a great supporting cast, and excellently plotted main and sub-plot murder mysteries. But don’t try to read this one without the first (A Cold Day in Hell) under your belt or you’ll be utterly lost…
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.
Redmond manages to up the stakes in this installment of her Cold Case Investigation series. Lauren Riley is in deep and I love the tension it creates. I could not put this book down and cannot recommend it enough. Fantastic storytelling.
The Murder Book started off with a bang and didn’t let up. The story was pretty fast paced and had a solid police procedural plotline. I liked the character of Reese and loved his dog! The main character, Lauren, could be maddening at times with her decisions, but those decisions and her character rang as authentic. I enjoyed the relationship between Lauren and Shane also. The story was intriguing and had me guessing until the culprit was revealed. It ended on a cliffhanger, but this did not bother me and it ended well. I will check out the next book by this author.
This Case Gets a Little Personal with Detective Riley
The novel opens with Detective Lauren Riley is working late on a Friday night. Her partner, Detective Shane Reese announces that almost 12 hours is enough and is leaving; this also leaves Riley by herself. She hears the door open again and thinks that it is Reese. The next thing she knows is a blow to the right side knocking the wind out of her that is followed by a stomp to her head. She passes out. When she regains consciousness, she has problems breathing and is lying in a sticky pool spreading around her. As her vision fades, she sees a pair of city-issue police boots and her Murder Book. The main storyline moves to Riley’s recovery. Much of this part of the novel essentially is all B storyline. You will learn more about Riley and her relationship with her parents and children and more. While she is supposed to be at home recovering, Riley with Reese pursues who attacked her. All of the major players from the first novel, A Cold Day In Hell, join the storyline. Then, a murder occurs close to home for Riley and a possible break in a cold case. The novel takes off from here.
While there are many threads, the author weaves them into a storyline that finally captured and kept my attention. I say finally because it did not happen until after Riley was back in action. The author from this point maintains a very good level of suspense. There are not all the twists and turns in a normal police procedural, but this novel was more a thriller and a cat and mouse chase.
There just a few F-bombs and some lesser vulgar language. When I was reading I really did not notice this language. There are not any graphic sex scenes. So, I believe, most people should be able to read this novel without any reservations for language and sex. While all of the main characters from the first novel are here, I believe that the author fills in enough background that you can read this novel without having read the first novel.
This novel did capture my attention which is my major criteria for a high star rating, but that attention capture was not immediate as explained above. I would recommend not giving up early in reading this novel. Also, the ending is what I call Who Shot JR from the Dallas TV series. I personally do not like this type of ending as I believe they should be at the start of the next novel to set the hooks into the reader’s attention vice as a teaser at the end of a novel. In this case, it was a little necessary because it would have left a loose end. I did enjoy this reading this novel and do recommend it, but with a four star rating. Personally, I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Midnight Ink with a request for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Midnight Ink for the opportunity to read this novel early.
I love this book. I could not put it down.
3.5 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for allowing to to read an advanced copy of this novel for a fair and honest review.
I didn’t know that this was the second book in a series (The first being “Cold Day in Hell”) when I requested it but, I really don’t think it hindered my enjoyment of the book as Redmond gives us plenty of backstory and she does it in a way that was not intrusive or boring. I never felt lost during any point in the book.
We kick right into the story as Lauren, a Cold Case detective is stabbed within the first few pages of the book. She has no idea who stabbed her but she does know one thing, it was a cop as she recognized department issued boots right before she faded out. when Lauren awakens she informs her partner Reese and the detectives working her case that she knows it was someone from the force. The only other clue to why Lauren was stabbed is the missing murder book which contains all of the information for the cold case Reese and Lauren were working on at that moment.
There are some wonderful action scenes and Lauren is a very likable protagonist. Her relationships with her partner and her children is well written and the chemistry between Reese and Lauren is well written.
The only thing that keeps me from giving this novel a solid 4 stars is because there were parts that seemed to lag a bit. The story tended to get a little bit too descriptive and wordy. I actually like those things but in this novel it began to slow down the story a little bit.
If you are looking for a new series to jump into I would suggest giving this one a go.
While working at her desk, late at night, Lauren Riley is viciously attacked from behind…stabbed, with a head injury and left for dead. Lauren is a cold case detective with the Buffalo Police Department and was attacked at the department. An outstanding beginning to an amazing police mystery as Lauren knows one thing for sure, her attacker was a cop. She also knows that her attacker stole the murder book that she uses to research cold cases, but has no idea why. Lauren is a forty-ish old school detective, a single mother with two college age daughters. She will use her need to solve her case and her sense of humor to get her through her recovery and back to work. She and her partner, Shane Reese, will work tirelessly to investigate who would have wanted the murder book and what they have to hide. I read the first book in the series “A Cold Day in Hell” before I knew it was a series and was hooked on Ms. Redmond’s writing. She is a retired homicide detective and her writing brings grit and realism to police work. There will be a third book in the series and I will be looking forward to it as well as anything else Ms. Redmond writes. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
I really enjoyed this book. It drew you in from the beginning and never let you go. There was pretty much nonstop action along with some funny banter between lots of the characters. Even though this is the 2nd book in a series I didn’t feel like I missed anything by not having read the 1st book. I would like to go back and read it just to learn more about Lauren, the main character. The book didn’t leave you hanging either. While it did leave off knowing there was more to come it wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger. They wrapped up all of the mysteries in this story while letting you know what was coming in the next one. Will definitely be adding this author to my list of favorites.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and am giving my honest review voluntarily.
The Murder Book (Cold Case Investigation #2) by Lissa Marie Redmond
February 2019
Suspense, fiction
I received this digital arc from NetGalley and Midnight Ink in exchange for an unbiased review.
I was excited to read this new installation of the series since I was able to preview the first book!
This is not a “stand alone” novel so I suggest reading the first book to appreciate the story as there is a third book being prepped for publication.
Lauren Riley is a cold case detective working with her partner Shane Reese. Divorced with two adult daughters, she takes on cases as a private investigator on the side. She has a complicated relationship with her ex-husband Mark who is an accomplished attorney.
In the first book, she agrees to take on a PI case for attorney Frank Violanti, with whom she has been adversaries on many cases. She is annoyed to discover that Joe Wheeler, a former fiancé, is involved with this high profile case. Lauren ends up seeking assistance from unlikely sources to assist her investigation. Ultimately, she is left frustrated and dissatisfied with the results of acquittal in the Katherine Vine murder trial.
Next, a year later, Lauren is stabbed in the back while working late at the Precinct. Her partner Shane Reese had just left the office and returned to retrieve his baseball hat when he finds her bloody body on the floor. It seems pretty obvious that the crime was an “inside job” since the cold case files were kept in a secure location.
Why would anyone want to steal the Cold Case Murder Book? It seems there is a “mole” leaking information regarding investigations. Being a victim doesn’t stop Lauren from investigating her own case. She won’t stop until the person is apprehended unfortunately cases aren’t as cut and dry as Lauren would like. This book ends with another question mark regarding the involvement of a former client who was acquitted in his murder trial. Why does he continue to taunt Lauren? What is his end game?
THE MURDER BOOK by Lissa Marie Redmond
The Second Cold Case Investigation
Detective Lauren Riley is working late when she is stabbed from behind and beaten. Lucky to have survived, the only thing she knows is the person who attacked her was a cop. A police officer is never truly off duty and as Lauren recovers she also tries to investigate who tried to kill her and why. Things seem to be hinged on a cold case, but which one? With the Murder Book gone, Lauren calls on her old lieutenant for help. Unfortunately, he’s not the only person from her past who’s returned. In finding her attacker will she be able to see justice served, or will she become a victim once again?
I really enjoyed this second ride out with Detective Riley. The mystery is an intricate puzzle that leads to an exciting caper culminating in a pulse pounding chase over an iconic Buffalo roadway in the dead of winter! The addition of Watson was a great move and I enjoyed watching Lauren’s devotion to the little guy. He is much better, and infinitely healthier, to be around than the males she usually picks!
As a former police officer myself, I really appreciated the on point depiction of the cops, including attitudes, relationships, and, most of all, humor. I especially love the camaraderie between Lauren and Reese as well as Lauren and her old lieutenant, which comes across so naturally. The community of police is a special world that only those in it can truly understand, but Lissa Marie Redmond shares it in a way that readers can glimpse what it’s like and, for a moment, be a part of it.
THE MURDER BOOK is a gritty police procedural that takes an unflinching look into the world of cops. But, ultimately, this book is about love and family; what you will do to protect those you love as well as what lengths you’ll go to prove your love.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Detective Lauren Riley works late .. going over records on a cold case she is investigating. When she next opens her eyes, she finds herself in the hospital. She was stabbed, hit in the head, and left for dead. It was only because her partner returns to retrieve a hat he had left in the office.
Lauren remembers three things … it was a man, he was holding one of the cold case files, and it was a fellow cop.
As she recuperates, she and her partner quietly go about trying to discover who they can trust ..and who they can’t. As she digs into the Buffalo Police Department’s hidden past she uncovers a terrible secret, one a fellow officer would kill to protect.
Highly suspenseful, this page-turner has many twists and turns before coming to a conclusion. Warning: there is a bit of cliffhanger. I look forward to the next in this series. The author is a retired homicide detective and her diligence and experience show in the credibility of her story telling.
Many thanks to the author / Midnight Ink / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
3 stars
Did I read the same book as the other reviewers?
Lauren Riley and partner Shane Reese investigate her stabbing at the police department. She knows one thing though it was a cop who did it. So begins a story of a police investigation into who stabbed Lauren, left her for dead and why?
This book follows the investigation closely, along with two other detectives. Through moments of tense anticipation and some action-filled scenes, the reader follows the search for answers.
The writing is competent and the plotting is good. One event follows another in a logical progression. There are many places in this book in which the wrong word was used, or the word used was no word at all; many grammatical (spelling?) errors. When I was finished with the book, I still felt like I didn’t know Lauren as well as I wanted. Sufficient information was given about her background to satisfy the reader, but it wasn’t so much that it intruded on the story line. I liked the way she and her partner Shane teased one another.
I want to thank NetGalley and Midnight Ink for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.