A dark, thrilling police procedural with a splash of domestic suspense, Cold Woods is chilling, eerie, and ferociously smart. The second in the Northamptom County series (the first one, last year’s River Bodies, was a bestselling hit), Cold Woods starts with a bang as mysteries and murder from past and present collide.

The story follows three women who were best friends when they were teenagers. Now, 30 years later, the remains of Trisha’s stepfather, Lester, have been found. And it’s the job of Detective Parker Reed to find out what the truth behind his murder really is. But the truth is never as clear as it seems, especially when nobody seems to remember things quite the same way.

With a horrific murder, chequered pasts and vivid characterization, this story is an atmospheric who-dunnit, with a palpable sense of tension, a steady pace, and a twist I genuinely didn’t see coming. I highly recommend Cold Woods for those lazy end-of-summer days; or, even better, those crisp autumn nights curled up in front of a fire.

When bones are unearthed in the cold woods of Bangor, Pennsylvania, they turn out to be those of Lester Haines, a man who disappeared three decades ago. An unpleasant, sleazy character, it was believed he'd run off, deserting his abused wife Sharon and teenage stepdaughter Trisha, who everyone thought were better off without him. However, when the forensic pathologist concludes that Lester was murdered, Sharon and Trisha are both under the spotlight as suspects.

Trisha has recently returned for the first time since she left at eighteen, to visit her mother and teenage friends Carlyn and Dannie. For the past three decades she's been living in Las Vegas where she married a very wealthy, but abusive controlling man. Although she has run away from him, she knows he will find her soon and drag her back.

Told in two time lines, the plot switches between the present day investigation led by Detective Parker Reed and the events in the 1980s leading up to Lester's disappearance and burial. A well written, twisty thriller that will keep you guessing as long held secrets unfold about what really happened.

Although this is the second book in the Parker Reed series, it works well as a stand alone.

I did not read book one in this series, but it was easy enough to pick right up with the fast moving book two. This book alternates between present time searching for Lester's killer after his bones are discovered, and years ago when a group of young girls were best friends. While many things have changed in their lives and they have lost contact to some degree, they have the common thread of their childhood. While the heart of this novel is a mystery, there is so much more going on with friendship layers, relationships and patterns that are passed on. There are plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing right until the end. A solid read and I will definitely check out more of Katchur's work.

Homicide detective Parker Reed is called in when the long-buried bones of a man are discovered in the Pennsylvania woods. He gets the call because he's his lieutenant's last choice. He's still dealing with the trauma of an earlier case.

Meanwhile Trisha Haines has fled her husband and life in Las Vegas to come home for the funeral of the mother of one of her best friends. She wants to try to rebuild relationships with her mother and the best friends she hasn't seen since the Spring of her Senior year.

When they bones are identified as Lester Haines - Trisha's stepfather, Parker is busy trying to find out what happened thirty years ago. We, however, have a pretty good idea because the story flashes back to the 1980s and tells how Trisha met her friends Carlyn and Dannie and what happened to Trisha's low-life stepfather. But maybe our idea is wrong...

We do know that Trisha was sexually abused by her stepfather and that abuse colored her self-image such that she looked for a husband who would continue on the abuse. We know that Trisha has carried the belief that she caused her stepfather's death. But, why are the police focusing more on her mother? And what secrets are her friends and their mothers holding close?

This was an engaging and twisty thriller. The characters were interesting and well-rounded - also, damaged in various ways. I enjoyed the story with all its twists.

This was an intensely emotional novel. All of the characters were so believable in all their many personality characteristics and flaws. As the story was told, the bonds between them all revealed the deep connection among them.. I started out by thinking I knew exactly what was going on, and then discovered I was completely wrong. The plot was clever. The suspense slowly built to the surprise resolution. The story is told in two different time periods, revealing the actions of the past as it continues forward in the present. I really liked the story with its unflinching look at abuse at several levels. I was emotionally wrung out by the book's end.

Detective Parker Reed has been assigned desk duty the last couple of months after getting into trouble with his lieutenant. He neglected to inform him that he had a relationship with a woman involved in his last case. Finally he is called back into the field along with his new partner Geena Brassard. It's a cold case - a skull was discovered in a wooded area - but at least he's not still stuck at his desk. The rest of the bones are dug up by the forensics team along with some other items that may be related to the crime. The remains are identified as a man reported missing thirty years ago. Parker Reed is determined to solve this cold case.

Cold Woods by Karen Katchur is the second book in her Northampton County series. The storyline is well-developed and the characters are well-defined. I found I really liked the good characters and really disliked the bad ones. The process of investigating and solving the murder was quite intertesting and intriguing.

There’s nothing like a short, creepy prologue to whet your appetite for what’s to come. One line sums it up nicely: “He had it coming”.

The story follows the relationships between a group of women in 2 time lines, one in the present & one from 30 years ago. It’s clear they share a huge secret stemming from traumatic events. When a body is found in present day, that past comes roaring back & forces them to remember what they’d sworn to forget. The thing is, not everyone’s memories are the same.

Parker Reed is a detective in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. After the fallout from his last case, he’s in the department dog house. So when a human skull is found near the Appalachian Trail, he’s the lucky guy assigned to freeze his butt off while forensic crews do their stuff. At least it gives him a chance to bond with new partner Geena Brassard. In some ways she’s the department’s other outcast. Her crimes? Too smart & too attractive. *sigh* The nerve of some women 🙄.

It’s a sparsely populated area where everyone knows your business. So it’s not long before they identify the remains. Lester Haines was a surly drunk who disappeared 30 years ago. Public opinion was he simply walked away from his wife & stepdaughter. Apparently it was a short walk.

Three decades ago Trisha Haines left town in a hurry. That’s no surprise in itself. It’s one of those places you either never leave or never come back to. She cut all ties with her mother & friends Danni & Carlyn. Now she has no choice but to return. Danni’s mother has died & a funeral is the perfect opportunity to remind her old friends to keep their mouths shut about the body.

That’s it, no more yakking about the plot. Best to let you draw your own conclusions as both time lines unfold. I loved the historical side of the story. Trisha, Danni & Carlyn are typical teens dealing with all the usual issues brought on by high school drama & raging hormones. Two of them live with single moms. Danni’s mother has given up & never leaves the house & Carlyn’s works the night shift, leaving her to raise herself.

Only Trisha has a father figure in her life. Her real dad left when she was a baby & her mother soon remarried. Sadly, she’s an alcoholic who is unaware of what’s happening in her own home. Which brings us to Lester. Drunk, despicable Lester. Most of this side of the story is alluded to, leaving the reader to imagine the worst. But the effect on those involved is very well portrayed.

As we follow the 3 families through these years. I was struck by a couple of things. First, with the exception of Parker, few men in this story come off very well. Second, the women are a wonder. Each of them suffers with poverty & abuse or abandonment. But there’s a resilience, the ability to make do with the hand they’re dealt & support each other as best they can. There’s an ominous undertone that builds as these chapters progress. We know Lester is going to meet his maker. The question is who & how.

The present day time line also has an edge but most comes from a separate subplot. I fared less well with this side of the story. Meeting all the characters decades later reveals some long held secrets as they deal with the police. But there’s a middle section where the story, like the investigation, slows down & not much happens. At one point we get some info about Trisha’s real father & how he shaped her current life but I wanted more detail as it had huge significance (trying not to give too much away here).

As they reach for the end, both story lines will have you guessing. Some of mine were spot on, some weren’t even in the same time zone. But when it’s all said & done you might find yourself thinking back to that line from the prologue & agreeing.

3.5 stars

(4.5)My first book by Karen Katchur. It will not be my last. I had not read book 1, so this can be read as a stand a lone, but I would still recommend reading book 1 first, since Parker is a continuing character. I love suspense, thrillers, mystery's and of course some romance thrown in is a cherry on top. This was a dark thriller, but based on realities that take place in life, that it makes you step back an think. There is abuse, several forms. There is deep friendship, there a mystery that I willingly followed down the wrong path. Twists, turns, and the ending....I was not prepared for, which in my book, makes it a rocking good read. This is told from several points of views, but extremely well. It also jumps back and forth in time which I so dislike, its jarring to me. I usually will not read a book if I find out it has time jumps, I did not read any feedback previously so I asked for the book, I am glad I did not prejudge and lose out on this book. Lesson learned! Kudos to the author for this intense thriller. Thank you Thomas and Mercer, thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this arc. All thoughts an opinions are my own and were unsolicited.

A well constructed story line with a twist at the end. Keeps you guessing right until the end. Highly recommended.

A five star rating for this very enjoyable book, a riveting read.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of Karen Katchur's books and I was excited to get this one. I'll admit that initially the description of the novel didn't reel me in. It sounded kind of generic and too similar to other mysteries I've read. However, in Katchur's capable hands, COLD WOODS turned out to be a real winner. Expertly plotted, nicely paced, and well-written. The setting is particularly evocative. I loved this opportunity to get to know the character of Parker Reed better and look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Death, crime and friendship in a small town in the depths of a miserably cold winter. The story is well-written - for the most part - and evokes the bleakness of the setting very well. This was the first book I read by this author, so I was missing some of the backstory of the main character, which was a bit irritating at times. After starting well, the middle part of the book lagged a bit, and was very foreseeable. Mild snd satisfying twist at the end.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

Loved River Bodies, the first in this series, and this one is even better now that we know Parker Reed a little more in this second outing. Katchur knows her neighborhood area and her characters are real, flawed and impeccably written. While the detective story is satisfying I really enjoyed the overall story of the women’s involved in this 30 year old case. You won’t want to stop until it’s over!

I will review this on Amazon Aug 13. 2019

I received the ARC of Cold Woods from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This was the first book I have read from this author, I found it to be very well written. The storyline is told in several different timeframes, and different points of view. The book could trigger some because it does contain abuse in various forms. I thought I have it figured out, but was surprised by the actual killer. This was a chilling storyline, and I would certainly recommend it to those that enjoy suspense/thrillers.

Karen Katchur is amazing and I love this series. I actually live a few blocks up from where this takes place.

A body found in the woods thirty years later. Abusive relationships. Who could have done it. You won't know until the end.

Told from multiple points of view, and popping neatly back and forth between the present and the past, Cold Woods is a fast-pace story highlighting abuse (in many forms), friendship, and how deep love runs. Ms. Katchur does a fantastic job weaving this tale around a trio of life-long friends... giving glimpses as to where their friendship started and how connected they are in the present. It's truly wonderful.

Wow! I'm so glad I got to read this. I freaking loved this book. I stayed up all night just to finish it. I was not disappointed. I wish I had read the first book before this, but it wasn't hard to get into. Definitely a new favorite.

Thank you Netgalley, author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story brings up secrets from the past. I must suggest you read #1 in this series. " River Bodies" I had a great emotional connection with the characters. This book was dark and creepy. It was a real page turner. I am hoping she releases #3.

This book took off like a rocket and had me turning the pages quick! I read it in a day! Wow! I thought I had the book figured out within the first fifty pages but the ending surprised me! I thought it was really good! I need to read the first one in the series and look forward to the next! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

Winter cold and homicides, what could be better than a cold murder?
Very good book, with a good plot and nice constructed characters.

COLD WOODS is a great novel by Karen Katchur. I am glad I was picked to read this one because it is amazing. It has bit of everything, suspense, heart and great characters.