After surviving the Salt River Strangler, behavioral analysts River Ryland and Tony St. Clair leave the FBI to start a private investigation firm in St. Louis. Yet, as they take on their first case - a missing person who’s believed to have been taken by a serial killer - their pasts continue to haunt them. Both River and Tony must make peace with their pasts before another person goes missing - including themselves.🪦

Nancy Mehl is back with a thrilling start to her newest suspense series! I always appreciate a good psychological serial killer story, and the killer’s POV throughout the book really upped the suspense factor. I thought River and Tony were authentic characters with some great banter, and I thought the focus on mental health issues was interesting. I will say that some of the dialogue seemed a little stiff and was explaining too much at times and some of the spiritual content could seem contrived. But overall, I thought this was a strong start to the series, and I look forward to book 2 (especially with the cliffhanger!).👀

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bethany House Fiction for sending me a copy of this book!📘

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts above are my own.

If book 1 is any indication this is going to be an amazing series!

After near death experiences two former FBI agents from the BAU are trying their hand as private detectives.

But they soon learn danger is very near.

From the opening pages the author grabbed me with this story. The main characters, River and Tony were easy to connect with and the action, WOW!

Even in this first book there is a lot of character development, especially for River. She has a lot of baggage even beyond almost dying at the hands of a serial killer. It will be interesting to watch how she develops throughout the series.

With his strength of character, Tony was easy to love. He has his own baggage to deal with and not only from the night he almost died but I'm guessing there will be more to learn about our leading man.

The action was great, though for at least part of the storyline we knew who the antagonist was it was a very enjoyable read.

This story also shined a light on mental illness and the lack of the right types of services to help those who truly need it.

If you have enjoyed Nancy Mehl's recent stories this one is just as intense (and maybe more so). If you've not read Mehl's work before but enjoy Criminal Minds, this will be right up your alley!

I would like to thank the publisher Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and all opinions expressed her are my own.

Cold Pursuit is very well-written suspense that may give you goosebumps. I liked both main characters, Tony and River. River is dealing with almost being killed by a serial killer, living and caring for her mother with Alzheimer's, and her anger at God over her father leaving years ago. Can she handle any more? Tony is a strong Christian and a good partner for River in their fledgling PI business. I liked hearing from both main character's point of view and also the villain's. Author Nancy Mehl's writing style is easy to read, and the dialogue flows naturally. Matters of faith are woven in seamlessly. One of my favorite passages is, "The devil's playground was constructed of fear, deceit, unforgiveness, and resentment. And none of those elements were made of truth or light." The plot has enough twists and turns to keep me from guessing what all was going on. The case that River and Tony are working is wrapped up in this book, but there is something that isn't, and I look forward to reading Ryland & St. Clair #2.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and am sharing my opinion of this very exciting book.

Excellent suspense! I couldn't put this page-turning story down!

Ex-FBI profilers River Ryland and her former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair have just opened a private investigation firm called Watson Investigations (after his dog, I love it!) They moved from Arizona to Missouri so River could be with her mother who is at the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. River also still suffers from PTSD after a case that almost killed her and Tony. Their first case is a cold case that has them wanting to find closure for a mother who's son disappeared 4 years earlier.

What an addicting story that had me turning pages late into the night! Nancy Mehl is a talented writer and hooks you in from the first page!

Tony is a Christian, and River turned her back on God long ago, with firm plans to leave that door closed. It takes a frightening event to get her to rethink that.

My favorite quote: "The entire time she was ignoring God, He was still watching over her. Taking care of her. Putting Tony in her life. Even though she'd give up on Him, He'd never turned his back on her. How could she have been so blind?"

I highly recommend Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

There's a loose thread that is left for the next book which I cannot wait to read! And I also anticipate the furthering of the friendship and fun banter between River and Tony.

Review of eBook

Tricked into coming to the bank of the Salt River, FBI agents River Ryland and Tony St. Clair stand facing a killer. Miraculously, they both survive.

Now, still dealing with River’s post-traumatic stress and Tony’s nerve damage and memory loss, they’re private investigators, partners in Watson Investigations. And their first case is a mother in need of closure: Amy Stover’s son, Chris, vanished four years ago.

As River and Tony investigate, the case becomes more and more complex, putting them in the path of a murderer. Can they stop the murderer before he strikes again? Can they find the answers Amy so desperately needs?

=========

“Cold Pursuit,” first in the author’s Ryland and St. Clair series, throws the reader into the telling of the tale from the very first page. Strong, relatable characters populate this tale of serial killers, Alzheimer’s, synesthesia, and faith, keeping the reader guessing as the unfolding narrative provides unexpected surprises.

Multiple storylines keep the reader guessing; the Christian faith storyline is strong without being preachy, central to the characters, and presented as an integral part of the narrative. And, although many of the readers’ questions will be answered as the narrative reaches its denouement, some remain unresolved, presumably to be addressed in the following books in the series. For readers who enjoy Christian fiction, mystery, and suspense, this unputdownable book is sure to please.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program and am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Cold Pursuit" is a captivating read that explores themes of resilience, mental health, and the presence of evil. With well-developed characters and a gripping plot, Nancy Mehl has crafted a compelling start to an enthralling series. I highly recommend this book to fans of suspenseful thrillers and look forward to discovering what lies ahead in the next installment.

This was intense! And legitimately creepy. It provides an in-depth look into the mind of a serial killer. I didn’t enjoy it as much as have previous books by Nancy Mehl, but I think that may have more to due with the timing of it. I was in the mood for light and fluffy, and this book is full of heavy topics. The faith aspect was great though! In the darkest of times, the light shines brightest.

Huge thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Get ready to hold onto your seats folks!
What a fantastic journey with a little bit of everything mixed in! This book kept me turning the pages to see what happened next!
I love how Mehl grabs your attention from the beginning and doesn't let go .
Not even when the book is finished!
I loved Tony and River instantly and I found myself rooting for them all the way through. Especially River.
I thought they made a great team and the chemistry!
They made me giggle in a few places with their gentle banter. But other times I just SMH. When will River learn?
God is there for us all the time! I love the idea that He doesn't forsake us or leave us. I feel that most times He let's us make our own choices so that we might know to come to Him.
Lots of twists and turns along the way too which was definitely an adventure. I love those kind.
A wonderful story that I finished in one day. 5 stars for awesome characters and story. Well done!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Every time I read a serial killer book, I promise myself that I'll never read another one. Then Nancy Mehl, Lynette Eason, or another similarly gifted author will come out with a book that lures me into breaking that promise. As I read Cold Pursuit I kept asking why I always do this to myself, but when I got to the final chapter and took in the lesson that Mehl so deftly pulled together, I knew why. I do it because Mehl and other Christian authors are not focusing on just the emotions evoked by thriller type books, but on the hope God can offer even within the context of extreme tragedy. Isn't that what we are all called to do, to give a reason for our hope? In this book Mehl focuses on personal responsibility. We are personally responsible for our own choices, not the choices of others, and for seeing to the health of our relationship with God in order that we may give the reason for our hope, and share the love, grace, and mercy or our heavenly Father. The author works through some intense suspense, carefully placed information, tension between characters, and deep emotions to bring this theme to light. She does this very well.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Cold Pursuit from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This is book one in the Ryland and St. Clair series, so it is a perfect place to start. This book grabs your attention from the start. It is full of mystery, suspense, friendship, heartache and more. I love the writing style of Nancy Mahl, she does an amazing job at developing her characters, dialogue and plot. I look forward to reading more from this series. If you like a series that leads into another one you will love this one. If you like one to be all cleaned up and done, well.....I would suggest you wait till the next one comes out so you can just dive right into another book, which I know will also be great.
I loved getting to know River and Tony, both are imperfect and have struggles to deal with. I loved their working relationship and look forward to seeing were it will continue to develop. River and Tony need to try to find a killer before they are put in the line of fire.
I was given a copy for my honest opinion.

Zusammen mit ihrem Kollegen Tony St. Clair hat River Ryland eine private Detektei eröffnet, aber es mangelt ihnen an Fällen und untreuen Ehepartnern wollen sie nicht hinterher spionieren. Sie leidet immer noch heftig unter Albträumen nach dem letzten desaströsen Einsatz gegen den Salt River Strangler. Tony konnte da wohl mit seinem Glauben schneller wieder zur Ruhe finden. Bei River will nichts helfen auch keine Tabletten und keine Entspannungsübungen.

Nach einem Monat ohne Aufträge sucht eine Frau ihre Hilfe, deren Sohn seit vier Jahren als vermisst gilt. Auch wenn der 16-Jährige wahrscheinlich längst tot ist, nehmen sie den Fall an. Er hat mit einigen Freunden ein Konzert besucht und kehrte dann nicht heim. Vor einem Jahr wurde ihr anderes Kind eine Tochter im Polizeidienst im Einsatz getötet.

Auch wenn der Salt River Strangler nach seiner Verurteilung im Gefängnis sitzt, ist die Gefahr noch nicht vorbei. Die immer wieder eingestreuten Kapitel aus anderen Perspektiven legen nahe, dass es in diesem Roman sogar zwei Bösewichte mit sehr verschiedenen Beweggründen gibt. Bei Zweidrittel kommt es zu einem ersten dramatischen Höhepunkt, der für River zu einer erstaunlichen Wendung führt.

Es vergeht nicht viel bis zur nächsten überraschenden Entwicklung. Die Geschichte gewinnt an Spannung und Tempo, jetzt möchte man am liebsten in einem Rutsch zu Ende lesen. Bei 90% leitet ein dramatischer Fehler den Showdown ein. Doch auch nach Abschluss dieses ersten Falles ist die Gefahr nicht vorüber. Die Ereignisse werden noch mal von allen Seiten beleuchtet und es wird deutlich wie Gott oder Religion in schwierigen Situationen helfen können. Es wird ersichtlich, wie sich der Spannungsbogen in weiteren Büchern fortsetzen wird.

Die Geschichte ist spannend erzählt und liest sich flüssig. Das Schicksal von Rivers Mutter gibt Einblicke in das Familienleben mit einem Alzheimer Kranken. Zwischen den Protagonisten zeigt sie anschaulich wie Schwierigkeiten mit dem Glauben, Religion und Gott aussehen können. Beide Hauptfiguren sind trotz oder auch wegen ihrer Probleme sympathisch und handeln nachvollziehbar. Es wird eine tolle berufliche und menschliche Partnerschaft beschrieben. Besonders im Showdown kann man sich das Setting sehr gut vorstellen, eine alte leerstehende Klinik, heftiger Schneefall der Wind heult.

Der Roman konnte mich gut unterhalten und mit seiner Thematik ansprechen.

Can River & Tony survive all the twists & turns thrown their way?

Master Storytelller, Nancy Mehl, has created another Stupendous, Poignant, Engrossing, Exhilarating, Christian Thriller 💎, in "Cold Pursuit (Ryland & St. Clair Book #1)"! Tony & River were former FBI Profiler partners; & are now partners in a Private Investigator business.

NM skillfully weaves 4 main storylines together in this Awesome 📗. 1) What happened in the past, that caused River & Tony to leave the FBI? 2) What's happening now, as they seek to solve their PI Case? 3) How does God draw River to Himself? 4) How might someone with Synesthesia navigate life? I Highly Recommend You 📖 this 📗 to find the Answers!

Nancy Mehl is one of my Favorite Authors. She didn't disappoint me, in this Fantastic, 1st Story in her "Ryland & St. Clair" Series. I ❤️d it; & was Enticed to keep turning to the next Page. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lock your door, grab your covers and get ready for an intense, action packed thriller where nothing is what it seems. The author begins a new series with two characters that capture your attention right away. River is still reeling from something that changed her life forever as she agrees to open a private investigation firm with her friend Tony. They both were there together the night that is detailed in the opening pages of this story. I was on the edge of my seat as these two suffered at the hands of a monster. It is unnerving what they went through but now they are determined to make a fresh start at their new partnership.



River is someone who you may need to walk on egg shells around. She can be abrupt and rude at times but her heart is in the right place. I think I can say with confidence that she makes a great character because she still carries trauma from her past but tries to keep it buried. I expect any minute for her to explode and perhaps it may allow her to finally let go of the past. Sometimes we go to a dark place before we finally cry out to God. River has struggled with her lack of faith for a long time. I love when Tony tells her, “ God will lead you out.”

Tony is someone you definitely want as a friend. He is compassionate, determined and protective. I love how he watches out for River and is attentive to her mood swings. The case they are working on is bringing up sone bad memories and Tony is there to not only protect River but to put whoever is targeting them away. I like how the author weaves a story that keeps you guessing while witnessing the strong faith thread throughout the book.

I appreciate how the author gives us a glimpse into what a mentally challenged person deals with. I almost feel sorry for the person in the story because he couldn’t understand that he needed help. All the years he had been bullied really affected him and caused him to not trust anyone. With medication he could have a better life but he chooses to ignore everyone and the consequences are deadly. I love how the author leaves the door open for the next book in this series. I am anxiously waiting to see what happened next in this thriller that takes you deep inside the world of mental illness where danger lurks if help is not received.

I received a copy of this book from the author and also purchased a copy as well. The review is my own opinion.

Thanks to Bethany House for the free book.
I always know when I get into a Mehl story, I will be sneaking in pages whenever I get a free minute. I liked River and Tony and their private investigations firm. Their background of being former FBI agents kept me interested to see how they would use this knowledge in their new jobs. Mehl does such a great job of creating layers to her mysteries and stories. It unfolds at just the right pace that I am always wanting to know what comes next, but I also leave her stories satisfied. I also love the St. Louis settings because it's where I live. The faith elements felt real and not cheesy or too preachy. I respected how River and Tony respected each others faith differences. I can't wait to see what these two do next!

A start of a new series in which readers who love mystery and suspense will find hard to put down. Lots of difficult subjects are addressed; PTSD, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and synesthesia. The story is fast paced with twists and turns along the way to keep the reader's attention. Loved the characters. The cliffhanger ending will have readers anxiously waiting for the next in the series. Highly recommended!

Loved this book. I love thrillers and it makes it even better when there’s a lesson on how to trust God.

With edgy and fast-paced suspense, this book had me hooked from beginning to end. The author includes a compassionate and sensitive exploration of mental issues that was informative as well as thoroughly researched. I enjoyed the sharp writing in the plot and the rich story of two former FBI agents who start their own detective agency. River Ryland has PTSD due to her near-death experience with a serial killer. Her partner Tony St. Clair suffers from memory loss from the same encounter with a man who personifies evil. The book is addictive and action-packed as River and Ryland throw themselves into a case looking for a young teen who disappeared after a concert. There are a lot of twists and some brilliantly written red herrings in this intricately woven plot. As River and Ryland search for Chris, they are also evading a serial killer who is targeting them and the danger seems so realistic that it is terrifying at times. I thoroughly enjoyed the tight plot that crackled with tension and the insightful look at synesthesia and aphasia. The novel is also infused with faith and is a clean read that is thought-provoking and fascinating. Since this is the first book in a new series featuring River and Tony, I am really looking forward to the other ones already! This riveting page-turner has me ready for more of this dynamic duo!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Bethany House Publishing via Netgalley as well as a hard copy. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This was a fast-paced book that I had a hard time putting down. The first sentence grabbed my attention, and I was immediately hooked. There was a ton of suspense and intrigue that kept ramping up, and there were multiple times where my anxiety rose so high that I could hardly catch my breath.

I quickly came to care for both River and Tony. I liked the fact that they were both former Behavior Analysts. That job fascinates me, so it was really interesting to see them use the skills from their previous job in their new roles as private investigators. And while River annoyed me a time or two in the beginning, I was still fully in her corner and rooting her on, hoping she'd get past her issues and see the glorious light of God.

The bad guy was very unnerving. He made the hair on the back of my neck stand up several times. I had literal shivers running down my back a couple of times too. Chilling! 

There were multiple mysteries, and a lot was going on, but I never found it to be confusing or too much. While the main mystery was solved, there's another one that, I'm guessing, will continue throughout the whole series, which I'm very eager for. The next book can't come out soon enough!

I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

I wish I hadn’t read this book so I could read it again for the first time. Christian fiction without being preachy. I couldn’t put it down. It grips you from the start and continues to hold you until the end.

** “That’s who (God) is, River. No matter what you do, He’ll always take you back.” **

Nancy Mehl delivers an incredible thriller with “Cold Pursuit,” a story dealing with forgiveness, overcoming fear, and mental health issues.

River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are still dealing with a near-death experience with The Strangler. Having left their jobs as FBI profilers, they are now working together as private investigators. When a mother hires them to find her son, Chris Stover, who has been missing for four years, they never dreamed of the road their first case would take them down.

As they work to find out what happened to Chris, they never imagine how close danger is to them. Will they be able to solve the case, and keep themselves safe?

Featuring a character suffering from Alzheimer’s and one with Synesthesia (“Synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which the stimulation of one sense triggers an instantaneous and involuntary experience in another. In other words, it causes two or more senses to cross. People with Synesthesia may be able to ‘hear’ color, or ‘taste’ sound”), Mehl takes on complex medical conditions, creating intriguing and enigmatic characters. She develops other characters with relatable flaws that must grow in their personal journeys.

She also fills “Cold Pursuit” with several great themes, like feeling broken and relying on God for healing; forgiveness can be extremely difficult and sometimes we need God’s help to forgive; and God will bring us through the storms.

Fans of authors like Carrie Stuart Parks, Lynette Eason and Terri Blackstock will love this book, which is due out July 11.

Five stars out of five.

Bethany House Publishers provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.