Cold to the touch
3.5 stars
I thought this was a pretty good detective novel and loved that one of the homicide detective’s names was Beans. I just thought the name added some character to the book. Anyway, I did feel like I needed a bit more from the book overall. I thought the character development for Beans was well done, but the other characters seemed a bit superficial. One thing I noticed and couldn’t quite get away from was the talk about ethnicities. I understand that it played a part in the storyline, but it felt awkward and forced in the beginning. There was also a lot of focus on appearances, which felt unnecessary.

Therese narrator did a nice job and was engaging.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape media for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a written review.

Fast paced thriller! I love the setting in Alaska and the challenging environment. This was very police heavy so if you're not into those storylines it's not for you. I could see this becoming a series! Narrators were easy to understand.

Cold to the Touch by Kerri Hakoda
Narrated by Eric Fox & Abigail Reno
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: April 9, 2024

Cold to the Touch is a standalone mystery by Kerri Hakoda. I really enjoyed this one and hope it becomes a series! I loved the characters and thought the book was brilliantly written! The crime solving was fascinating. I enjoyed the glimpse into Alaska policing and the people there.

I thought the narration by Eric Fox & Abigail Reno was really good. I enjoyed how they brought the characters to life!

I definitely recommend reading Cold to the Touch! I look forward to reading future books by the author!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In Anchorage, Alaska Detective Beans has been called to the scene of a dead body. The body has been dumped alone in the wilderness and has been torn apart by predators which hinders the detective from finding clues to who could have done this to her. Beans is devastated to realize he knows the victim, a young woman, Jolene, that he would buy his morning (or afternoon) coffee from.
He vows to find her killer, but after a second and third victim turn up Beans is desperate to solve the case. After a fourth girl goes missing the clock is ticking to find her and the murderer before it is too late.

Cold To The Touch had a true crime feeling as the story unfolds. I felt that it has a good pace and I was invested in the story. I enjoyed the location and its descriptions as I’ve never been to Alaska but would like to visit. I enjoyed the main character Beans and learning about his backstory. I would definitely read more is this we’re to become a series just because of how interesting Detective Beans, his family relationships and their backstory was. I would like to read more about that. I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrators did a great job.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kerri Hadoka, and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC in exchange for my review.

Kerri Hakoda's Cold to the Touch is a decent novel, however it didn't really bring anything new to the genre. I chose to listen to this audiobook through NetGalley mainly because it promised an intriguing cold and stark atmosphere, set in an Anchorage winter. On that, it delivered satisfyingly.

The more-honest-than-most introspection from our fallible protagonist, Beans, was refreshing. Getting to know him felt true, somehow, more real than most characters we meet in police procedurals. He had the no-nonsense cop edge, but he also allowed himself to feel, sometimes a little too much, with a warmth that made him approachable.

As believable as Beans was, the serial predator's backstory felt much less so. The end reveal of the how and the why of the murders was not particularly convincing, but everything did wrap up satisfactorily. I appreciate that there was no huge cliffhanger begging me to read the next in a potential series.

As for the narration, it was okay, but the male reader, Eric Fox, must have been reading this stone cold, with only one take, because he has some doozies of mispronunciations and odd pauses that yanked me right out of the story. Mis-chee-vee-ous was hard to hear, as were bow-kay (bouquet) and cream (crème) brûlée. There were countless times when I thought, "Why didn't they have him re-read that, it's so awkward?" I have not heard of him as a narrator, so perhaps it was just rushed production and newbie mistakes? In any case, if there were time to re-read, I'd say that would be time well spent.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
The description of this book sounded very interesting. I was excited to read it! Unfortunately, it wasn’t a fav for me. While it was interesting and kept a fairly quick pace with some surprises along the way, it seemed like this was written with a lot of police procedural. While I don’t mind some, it was in so much of the storyline and that was my biggest dislike. Some people may love books written that way, but it’s not for me. Overall, I did enjoy the book, just wasn’t a big fan of the writing style.

With a dramatic Alaskan backdrop this story creates an aura of suspense right from the start and does not let up. Horrific murders and disturbing truths unfold with the wintry cold swirling through the characters. Wildlife influences and corpses in strange locations lead the police in a various directions leading to a chase in the wilderness - Enjoy!

Thank you to @dreamscape_media, @netgalley, and the author for a chance to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my #honestbookreview! All thoughts are my own. Preorder now - this is available April 9.

This was a race against the clock, can’t put it down type read! Detective Beans (yes, Beans!) is investigating the disappearance of a local barista when another body turns up and they realize they’ve got a serial killer on their hands. With shifts of POV from Beans to victims and more, this book’s quick chapters and fast pace keeps you on edge also giving you a leg up on the characters as the reader. This had some solid twists, shocking motivations, and the potential for a series of the like based in Alaska. I highly recommend for those looking for a good thriller!

TW: k*dnapping, SA, CA, dr*gging, t*rture, st*lking, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5

There's a series of murders in a small town in Alaska, and the victims seem to all have one thing in common--they are young women employed as baristas. Haviland Beans rushes to solve the case, before there's another victim.

I really liked the narrators of this audiobook. The pacing of the story was good, and overall it was a fun listen.

I really liked this one! I was surprised when I looked the author up to find what else she had written and this is the debut. I think this has the potential to be a great, long running detective series and I will read every single one. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators (especially the male) were fantastic! Highly recommend this one for this who enjoy detective/murder mysteries as much as I do.

<b>An outstanding new voice in thrillers.</b>

4.5 stars rounded up.

While reading „Cold to the Touch“, I was astonished to realize this was the author‘s debut novel. The characters were so well-developed and had such rich backstories that I even considered if this might be a later release in a whole series! Seeing as it isn‘t, I‘m holding out hope this might in fact be the start of a new thriller series featuring Alaskan homicide detective DeHavilland Beans.

In „Cold to the Touch“, Beans is in pursuit of the killer of a local barista. It‘s not long before the body of a second young woman is discovered, arousing fears of a serial killer at work in the cold.

As mentioned, the characters were full of depth and remarkably well fleshed-out. The whole story worked very well as a classic thriller, following mostly Bean‘s efforts to catch the killer while sometimes also adding insights into the minds of the young women who were kidnapped, making the reader carry about them even more.

While the setup was flawless and the writing outstanding, the book fizzled out somewhat in its final quarter, once a suspect was identified and pursued; it then seemed to be almost too full of backstory and explanations.

Nevertheless, „Cold to the Touch“ is a formidable debut by an exciting and talented new voice in the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I listened to the audio version, which was excellent.

„Cold to the Touch“ is slated to be released on April 9, 2004.

I just listened to the audiobook "Cold to the Touch" by Kerri Hakoda. I loved this book! It isn't the genre that I usually find so enjoyable. It's murder mystery crime procedural, but a lot of things contributed to making it exceptional. It is fast-paced and almost impossible to put it down. It's an easy one to binge read!

The plot was great. The main character, DeHavilland Beans, is relatable and likable. The cat, Archie, and how "Beans interacts with him is humorous and heartwarming. The dogs and puppies were sweet and a good contrast to the negative parts regarding the murders.

The chapters that are the victims' points of view and read in the voice of a woman are really poignant and got me very invested in their stories. The inclusion of Cameron, a character with Asperger's syndrome (a mild form of autism), is nice, especially showing how helpful he can be to the investigation.

The dialogue seems very authentic. The narrators, Eric Fox and Abigail Reno, did really great jobs! Eric's voice was very easy to listen to.

This seems like the set up to a series, and I hope it will be. It is set in the present day in Anchorage, Alaska.
I highly recommend this book to thriller and murder mystery lovers!

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 5/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 5/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and author Kerri Hakoda for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Good book club selection. The story is a by the book thriller but has many events good for discussion. The setting was under discussed but the characters were great.

I really enjoyed this book! While the premise is not necessarily “new” it’s still a great thriller and a fun read. I loved the location in Alaska and how they incorporated many different types of characters. It seems this might be set up to become a series? If so, I’d definitely read the second!

I received this as a audiobook arc. All thoughts are my own 💕

Really liked the characters in this book especially Beans and his sister. Hope they appear in other books. The Alaska setting is great and the coffee barista murders reminded me of the book American Predator which I would rather not be reminded of as it was so chilling. Well written and involving story complete with a long ending that tied up any loose ends. Narrator did an amazing job.

A well-written, fast-paced thriller set in Alaska, where young women baristas are disappearing and turning up dead. Local policemen and feds have little time to find the killer before another girl is taken. I was lucky enough to be given access to the well-narrated audiobook on Netgalley and thoroughly enjoyed it.

On the one hand, this is a solid mystery. On the other hand, it doesn't really distinguish itself from all of the other solid mysteries.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Cold to the Touch" is a riveting mystery, with well-developed and interesting characters. A 5 - star rating from this enthusiastic fan; I look forward to reading more from this skilled author.

In the icy heart of Alaska, where snow blankets the landscape and secrets lie buried beneath the frozen ground, Kerri Hakoda weaves a chilling tale that will leave you breathless. "Cold to the Touch" is a taut, ticking-clock of a thriller that grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go.

When the body of a young barista named Jolene is discovered in the pristine Alaskan snow, Anchorage homicide detective "DeHavilland Beans" is shattered. He had known Jolene—a bright college student working her way through school—and her murder hits close to home. But this isn't an isolated incident. Women are vanishing, with their young lives ended in the unforgiving Alaskan winter.

Beans teams up with wildlife expert Raisa Ingalls, his ex, to unravel the twisted web of clues.

Scavengers ravaged the crime scenes, leaving little evidence behind.

As another woman's body surfaces, the hunt intensifies.

The FBI joins the investigation, and the clock ticks relentlessly with more murders on everyone's mind. With each passing moment, the killer grows bolder, and Beans races against time to stop the spree.

Kerri Hakoda masterfully describes the stark Alaskan landscape—the biting cold, the long darkness, the eerie silence... Her prose is as sharp as an ice pick, cutting through the tension and revealing the raw emotions of her characters.

Beans, haunted by his own demons, is a flawed yet determined detective. Raisa, equally complex, brings her expertise to the table, and Raisa's and Beans' shared history adds intrigue.

The pacing is relentless, mirroring the urgency of the investigation.

Hakoda deftly balances suspense with heart-wrenching moments, making us care deeply for the victims as the killer remains elusive, leaving breadcrumbs that lead to only dead ends.

"Cold to the Touch" delves into the darkness that lurks beneath the snow, where evil thrives in the shadows. The Alaskan wilderness becomes a character in itself—a silent witness to the gruesome murders.

Hakoda's attention to detail immerses us in this bone-chilling world.

If you're a fan of intricate plots, police procedurals, or the mysteries of Lisa Gardner and similar skilled writers, you don't want to miss reading this novel.

Note: I received this book in audiobook format, for review, and the talented narrator is extremely well-matched to the novel's characters. With excellent pacing and clear enunciation, the narrator added to my enjoyment of this story.

Excellent narration!!
The deep voice of Detective Beans pulls you right in to this icy cold Alaskan police procedural mystery. An unrelenting serial killer is murdering young sexy baristas and the clock is ticking for the detective. This story has you guessing right up to the end. It is fast-paced and the narrative is very well written. No concerning trigger warnings here, just a solid listen.
I highly recommend this audiobook purchase!!

It’s not that this was a bad story, it is just an overdone storyline. I was hoping for something a little different. I got so far in that I had to finish. I thought it was very slow and I was ready for it to be done. The narrator in the audiobook was good.