Wow, what can I even write that will do this book justice. It was a thrilling, riveting read, from beginning to end, and I really enjoyed it. This is the second book in the series, and I can't wait for book 3 in the series.
Recommended.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bloodhound Books and the author, Tony J. Forder, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Cold Winter Sun in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
The storyline was well thought out and gripping with engaging characters that you just want to know more about. I have to admit, while I did like this book, I didn't think it was good as the first one in the series. Would definitely read this author again. 3.5 stars.

This book is the sequel to Scream Blue Murder, and while it could easily be read as a stand-alone, I strongly recommend reading that one first, primarily because it’s a fantastic thriller, but also because this one has some serious spoilers for it, that would remove much of the tension if you wanted to read it later. I will confess that I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much, but it is still a solid 4 star novel by an accomplished writer.

Set about six months after the events of SBM, Mike has physically recovered and got his head sorted, dealing with his alcoholism and emotional issues by doing some extreme camping. When he receives a call from LA to say his ex-wife’s new husband’s nephew has gone missing, he doesn’t hesitate to go and help, recruiting his former colleague from the marines Terry as before. A simple missing persons case turns sinister when the young man’s car is found close to the famous town of Roswell, and they soon discover that they are not the only ones hunting him...

This is very different to the first book in several ways. While SBM (I’ve still not worked out the significance of the title) was about a man on the run, defending himself against fake charges and people who want to kill him, here Mike and Terry go in as the aggressors, heavily armed and willing to kill to find their man. This sat a little uncomfortably with me as in the beginning they didn’t actually know who or how bad the baddies would turn out to be. Lots of people die and he’s all “oh well that’s a shame, too bad”...

I’ve read a few series now which have started in the UK then moved to the USA in subsequent books, which I don’t mind, and I assume the authors are keen to break in to the American market, but they need to decide if they are writing in British or American English as I found the mash-up a bit jarring. Aside from this, I like Forde’s writing style which has just the right amount of description and scene-setting without that becoming a distraction.

The plot got quite complicated with a lot of different moving pieces and I found it hard to remember who was who at times, thank heavens for the “search” button on my Kindle. It did all come together nicely at the end even if it was all a bit convenient. There’s no great twist, it’s not that kind of book. There’s lots of action, explosions and gun-toting, and no, there aren’t any aliens.

Overall this was a good follow up and I hope that Mike and Terry will be back.
My thanks to the author, Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, and my apologies for missing the publication deadline. Cold Winter Sun is available now.

If you have read other books by this author then welcome to this next chapter in Mike Lynch's life. If you are new to him then sit back and enjoy this twisty, turning adrenaline packed novel.
Following on from the dark days he experienced after his fight to protect the innocents in the last few months Mike has taken him self off the grid in order to gain back his equilibrium and sanity. That is until his ex-wife reaches out to ask a favour, her new husbands nephew has gone missing and she needs Mike's help. He takes up her call for help and after a swift call to his best friend and the man who saved his life Terry Cochran they take a plane out to L.A.
After an emotional reunion with his daughter the pair are soon on the road to where the missing mans car was left, a deserted roadside in New Mexico.
What follows is a thrilling road trip interspersed with great descriptive commentary of the surroundings that makes it seem you are there with them on their journey to find the missing man. Mike and Terry are faced with various obstacles as they try to make sense of the clues left behind . Who are the fake cops working for ?. What has got the F.B.I so interested ? Keep the guys company as they travel to Roswell and Area 51 in their quest to find the missing man as it becomes more and more obvious there is more to the search than even they first thought.
Whoever is also looking for the same missing man is serious in their intent to track him too, so serious that they kidnap Mikes ex-wife and daughter to use as leverage to get their man. As Mike and Terry race against time to save all involved the reason behind it all is revealed. Money the root of many evils and there are certainly some very evil men involved in this race to the finish line.
A story that accelerates its pace and drags you further into the life and trials of Mike Lynch, a man filled with torment and pain but who only ever wants to do the best he can within the life he leads. A character brought to life brilliantly by the author. This book was written as a follow on to Scream Blue Murder but can be easily read as a stand alone and one I hope turns into a series of stories as I want to carry on learning more about Mike.

I was so excited to receive the ARC for Cold Winter Sun by Tony J Forder from NetGalley. Tony Forder is one of my favorite writers writing the DI Bliss series which I love.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book as much. It is a very different writing style from the DI Bliss series. At times I thought it was meant to be comic with everyone chasing each other. You would never think you were in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico!

I would not recommend this book and rate it a 3 star.

Mike Lynch and his former forces colleague Terry are called to the states by Mike’s ex wife Donna who is now remarried to Drew and living there happily with Mike’s daughter Wendy. That is until Drew’s nephew Vern fails to return from a camping trip to Vegas. Local police and even a private investigator fail to find out much, and what starts as a missing person enquiry soon escalates into a full on race across the desert involving gangsters, gunfights a plenty, Native Americans, UFO enthusiasts, FBI agents and the local Sherriff. The plot isn’t bad, although it didn’t grip me quite as much as I would have liked, however the book is well written and there is a nice little twist at the end.

Cold Winter Sun is a riveting read - and Mike and Terry are a special kind of soldiers, ones who owe their loyalty to each other and their allegiance to the side of right. I very much enjoyed their interactions and the way they were able to read one another without words. This was a tight, well paced tale with interesting protagonists and mile-a-minute action. Our Brits find their way to LA and then New Mexico as they search for a missing young man, the nephew of Mike's ex-wife Donna's new husband Drew, stepdad to his daughter Wendy. And they find themselves tangled up in cyber crimes, grand theft, torture, and murder. They find themselves working for or against Roswell police, one County Sheriff, the FBI and possibly Reservation cops as well before it is all over. And what about the little green men in their UFO's? I will have to find and read Scream Blue Murder - and I very much hope to visit with Mike and Terry once again in the future. Please bring them back.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Tony J. Forder, and Bloodhound Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

Cold Winter Sun is an excellent crime thriller, and a tribute to my personal stomping grounds - Otero, Lincoln and Chaves Counties, New Mexico. It was a special treat to find local haunts in this British novel. I hope you were able to spend some spring joy and summer heat with us as well!

Cold Winter Sun is the second in a series, but I haven't read the first one.

Description: "A missing man. A determined hunter. A deadly case.
When Mike Lynch is contacted by his ex-wife about the missing nephew of her new husband, he offers to help find the young man with the help of his friend Terry Cochran.

Arriving in LA to try and track down the young man, the pair are immediately torn away when the missing man’s car shows up, abandoned on the side of a deserted road in New Mexico.

When two fake police officers cross their path, Terry and Mike know there is more to the case than meets the eye, and soon they find themselves asking exactly who it is they are really looking for…"

This is one of those books that I didn't want to put down, but didn't love. Reasonably likable, if stereotypical characters in Mike and Terry, but the plot didn't work all that well for me. I notice most reviews are quite positive, so maybe I was expecting something a little different.

NetGalley/Bloodhound Books
Thriller. Nov. 1, 2018.