Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl was the first book I’ve read from her. The story was in full action from the get-go and I enjoy a good action/adventure. Former FBI profilers, guns, knives, and a killer on the loose. This is the first book in her Ryland & St. Clair series that you absolutely don’t want to miss!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

This book has so many themes or topics. It deals with alzheimers, abandonment, schizophrenia, synesthesia, serial killers, PTSD, grief, drug dealers, sexual harassment, faith, forgiveness, and more. I felt it could have had a tighter focus but I do realize that some of these will probably carry through all the books in the series.

It's always interesting to me to see how a couple of private investigators go about finding clues, and knowing which clues to pursue more deeply. It is satisfying seeing things come together. I enjoyed River's and Tony's friendship and the way they talk to each other. This book sets things up nicely for the series. I'll look forward to the next book.

I gave this book four stars instead of five because of the ending. There was a nice pace throughout the book and then it felt all rushed at the end. It also felt like there was too much of a "this is what I learned" discussion at the end. I felt it could have been woven in a little more to feel more natural. That's just my personal preference.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free copy of this book. I'd recommend it. All opinions are my own.

Cold Pursuit is the first book in the Ryland and St. Clair series by Nancy Mehl. This is such a good story! It is filled with action, suspense, and mystery. This story has so many twists and turns that I kept reading to see the results.

FBI partners River and Tony have left the FBI and have moved to St. Louis to start a detective agency and allow River to care for her ailing mother. Both have lingering effects from a case that went bad and are trying to work through the issues. While River struggles with PTSD, her mother struggles with memory loss. The first case the couple take is to find what happened to a young man years ago and find his body for a proper burial.

This is a very well written story that has a lot of suspense. While parts of the story are about the new agency, others are about a young man that suffers from being left at a home for his mental health and lost contact with his family. The home has closed and he is living on his own and dealing with his mental health issues. I appreciate how sensitive the author is to the topic of his mental health and explains it very well.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story, this is my honest review.

I really like this book. It moved quickly and had suspense. It revealed the criminal quite quickly and he had some interesting charter traits that keep me still wanting to read on and find out how he was going to be found out by the main character.

Nancy Mehl is a sweet looking lady who writes some of the most suspenseful, psychological thrillers that I have read. Cold Pursuit is book one in her newest series. In this book she introduces River Ryland and Tony St. Clair. Both are very strong characters, veterans of the FBI. I enjoyed reading about their first case as detectives. I have never been to St. Louis, so the setting was very interesting. Cold Pursuit was hard to put down and I am looking forward to book two.

Once you get your copy brew up some coffee, but make sure you keep it in sight while you read Cold Pursuit.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Nancy Mehl really is one of my favourite authors. She writes the way I like my books to read. She has such good descriptive skills that I can see the scenes in my head as they unfold. I enjoyed the first half of Cold Pursuit but for some reason slowly lost interest after that. Not my favourite book of hers for sure. Maybe because I was not in the mood for a sub-theme of caregiving for an Alzheimer’s patient.

Interesting relationship between the two main characters that I am sure will develop over the next instalment of the series. Am looking forward to what the Watsons investigative team will be up to next.

Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl is a great kick off novel for a new series – Ryland and St. Clair. Nancy does creepy serial killer stories so well. Readers will be sucked into the mind of a killer.
River Ryland and Tony Sinclair are private investigators and former BAU analysts with the FBI. They are each dealing with the fallout of an assignment gone bad, but their first case brings them right back into the world of behavioral analysis when they are asked to look into the cold case of a missing teen.

I love the suspense and intensity of this story. The romance is minimal (I assume will develop over the course of the series) but this story deals with River and Tony working to heal from their past traumas. River has to manage her mother’s Alzheimer’s as well as her new life as a PI. She and Tony also discover that the killer behind bars, the one that assaulted them, might not have worked alone.

I highly recommend Cold Pursuit. The book moves a little deeper than most as far as the characters coming to terms with their pasts and with their spiritual journeys. But the intensity of having a serial killer on the loose makes this a nail-biter. Much of the point of view is in the killer’s mind, making the story more creepy and intriguing

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Don’t read this one at night! The suspense levels are incredible. They are in a race against death, and the killer is closer than they realize. Epic romantic suspense that I will be recommending to all my reading friends.

Really well written. Grabs & hooks you from the beginning. I wasn't confused as I read it...even though there were several separate plot lines to keep track of. This is the first book I've read by this author & I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!

Trigger warning: deals with death, mental illness, Alzheimer's, lots of family drama, but in the end there is redemption.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Former BAU specialists, River and Tony have left the bureau after both were almost killed by the Salt River serial killer. Starting their own PI Agency is next for their careers. Their first case is one for the cold case files, but searches and clues make the case heat up quickly. A fast paced book, with hidden agendas make this book a good read. Thank you Netgalley and Bethany books for the arc. These comments and review are my honest opinion.

Former FBI Behavioral Analysists River Ryland and Tony St. Clair move to St. Louis, Missouri, to open their own private investigative firm. After narrowly escaping the notorious serial killer, the Strangler, River and Tony need time to recover from their physical and psychological wounds.

River moves in with her mother, who has recently received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Between the stress of dealing with her mother and PTSD from her near-death experience, River wonders if she’ll ever find peace. Without her best friend and partner, Tony, River knows she’d sink and never recover.

Their first client has a four-year-old case with few clues. A teenage son missing from a local concert. Even though they’ll probably never bill the client, River and Tony want to help the grieving mother find closure.

They must use all their skills to tease out clues from the witnesses of the cold case. All along, the suspect is closer than they ever imagined. When they start feeling safe from the Strangler, they discover he had an understudy. One who might lurk nearby and seek revenge at any moment.

What I Liked About This Book

Mehl provides a primer for schizophrenia and synesthesia and shows the importance of an early support network for those with neurodiverse conditions. Failing to provide support, education, and understanding can turn out deadly.

The first in a new series, Cold Pursuit, introduces two memorable protagonists whose teasing banter provides comic relief for the tension of this fast-paced thriller.

Giddy with thrills!! This book was a fantastic thrill ride!! I love how this Author writes a storyline that makes you feel that you are there and you are actually one of the characters!! Her books get better and better!! Run! Don't walk to the bookstore for this thriller!

Generally I write a thorough review but this book is so messed up and mind blowing. Different backstories of characters are interconnected with secrets of their own and the interwoven mystery in the plot. The author has done a great job. It kept me guessing till the end and one of my prediction was right so the other one was wrong. I wonder how the author has created such a powerful and poignant backstory of each character. The ending was twisted. There is a huge twist that you will not see coming but when it will come, it is certain to shook you. And the beginning is so heart aching. Truth is hidden in the facades and one has to peel off the layer one by one.

River Roland and Tony St. Clair opens a private investigation firm as River wanted a fresh start and Tony is her best friend. So one day Amy Branford approach them to find out about her son Chris who vanished four years ago or if at-least she could get a closure. Though the case of disappearance of Chris is more complicated and messed up then it seems to be. So many threads are connected to his disappearance and as soon as they tried to untangle them, it becomes more perilous for them with a killer on the loose. The author has shared detailed insight about investigation and slowly and gradually encapsulated the intricate mysteries embedded in the plot with some family issues and secrets too.

Thank you Netgalley, Bethany House and the Author.

This book was everything and more.

Wow!!! I loved how the author wrote this book. The suspense, the intrigue, the details were amazing. I just wanted to continue reading. The pace of the book was perfect.

I loved how the author wove the characters' faith into the story with very beautiful illustrations. I saw trust in God during very dire circumstances beautifully illustrated. I saw love for one's family even in situations that are not ideal.

I admired the friendship between Tony and River . Everyone needs that kind of friendship in their lives.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

I was immediately captivated by this book right from the first page. It is a thrilling mystery that is both intense and gripping, with an unforgettable cast of characters. It has a great plot that is full of heart and depth and a powerful Christian message that emphasizes the importance of God's protection and forgiveness. I sincerely hope that there will be more novels in this series.

Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case that went horribly wrong. Needing a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and opens a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair. They're soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenage son who disappeared four years ago. River knows there's almost no hope the boy is still alive, but his mother needs closure, and River and Tony need a case, no matter how cold it might be.

This book covers a lot of ground, with River's mother's struggle with Alzheimer's, and both River and Tony grappling with the aftermath of a past case. It's a captivating, intricately woven story that moves at a brisk pace and keeps the reader engaged. The writing is skillful and deliberate, making it difficult to step away from the narrative. With many surprises and unexpected events, the book poses the question of whether River and Tony's relationship is purely professional or something deeper.

I received a complimentary copy from the Publisher. All opinions are my own.

Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl is very intense and chilling as a psychological thriller. There are unexpected twists and turns throughout the book as River and Tony work to solve a cold case involving a 16 year old boy. The character development of River and Tony added depth to the story, along with the devastating effects River’s mother was dealt with the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. This is a good book for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

Cold Pursuit was everything the title implies. It's the story of Tony and River, ex FBI agents turned private investigators. Their first case involved the disappearance of Chris. His mother, Amy, believed he was dead but wanted to find his body and needed a closure.

A schizophrenic custodian of Tony and River's building named Brian was suspected of killing not only Chris, but others. Brian's father, Edmund, went to Tony and River and told them that he suspected Brian had killed an insurance man who worked in their office building. But there was no forensic evidence of the murder of the insurance man nor of the murder of Chris. That Brian did it was only a guess.

Tony and River had worked in the Behavioral Analysis Unit for the FBI. Their job there was to create profiles of suspects. So they created what they called an assessment of Brian. The assessment was for Arnie, the chief of police.

When Brian was young, his parents did not understand him so they sent him to a mental institution. The institution had gone under, but Amy learned that the records were still there, so she went there to find records about Brian. When she got there and found the records she phoned River and asked her to please join her there. Tony had left River in the office and told her not to go anywhere, but she was concerned about Amy. So she went to the institution to get Amy to leave the building. Tony had left his cell phone in the office. River phoned him to tell him where she was going. When she realized his cell phone was in the office, He'd she left him a voicemail detailing what she was doing.

When Tony got to the office and found his cell phone, he listened to River's voicemail and took off for the institution. When River had arrived and saw that Amy was not in her car, she called the police for backup. What happened there is the stuff a good mystery is made of.

This book was full of intrigue and suspense. Exactly what I look for in a good murder mystery. Also, there was a belief in God that was woven throughout the book. I liked that. And I thought the author didn't excellent job developing characters. I gave this book five stars.

"Cold Pursuit" by Nancy Mehl was sooo good! I characters are well developed and I loved the main characters, River and Tony. This book had me guessing and there are twists that I never saw coming. This book solved a mystery yet still had a cliffhanger. I like when books keep you guessing and you want to come back for more! I can't wait to read the next one! Nancy Mehl continues to be one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend this book!

I received this book through the publisher from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

AHHHHHHH! The suspense is killing me! So this is going to be one of THOSE series, huh?

I quickly took a liking to River and Tony and their good friendship. Even though Tony believes and River doesn't, that isn't an issue and that was nice to see. The mystery was quite convoluted and I got a little lost but I think I got it in the end.

As weird as it sounds, I sometimes find myself feeling sorry for villains who are mentally ill and not really in control of themselves or are fighting their bad side because it seems like they are more childlike and not really wanting to kill. I don't know. Anyway, I found myself feeling a little bad for this one.

Synesthesia is featured in this book, which is cool because it doesn't get a lot of mainstream attention. I've never seen it done in this way before, but I guess why not?

Another small thing that really made this book for me was the movie quotes. I love quoting movies myself so that made me smile. And they used my favorite line from White Christmas!!!!!

There is a TERRIBLE cliff-hanger so you may want to wait on this series until it's all released. Just a thought.

This book has me in the edge of my seat and wondering what was going to happen next!! Nancy Mehl is an incredible author and I can’t wait to read the next book!! 😀