Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Susan Walter for the ARC!

Walter’s previous book, “Lie by the Pool”, was one of my favorite books I read last year so I was pumped when we at The Pulse got her newest book too! ““Running Cold” wasted no time jumping right into the action. The shock Julie felt was palpable and I could relate to her wanting to return to the previous life she knew, when it felt like everything else around her was falling apart. Finding herself at a snowy resort opened the door to a whole new mystery when Julie was accused of murder! The fast pace, deeply atmospheric setting and twists kept me glued to the pages of this one, and I couldn’t guess who the true bad guy was.

“Running Cold” releases October 8, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly.

I loved the action, twists, and dual points of view. I thought all of the connections made sense which isn’t always a given in a thriller.

It’s written in four parts with titles such as ‘First To Die.’ which kept my curiosity peaked. There is a lot of foreboding threaded through as well.

If you are missing this Olympics, never fear, the main character of this book, Julie Adler, is a former gold medal winner as a biathlete.

As the summer heat lingers relentlessly and the Paris Olympic Games come to a close, this book is perfectly timed.

Set in the picturesque Canadian ski town of Banff, the story follows Julie, an Olympic Champion in Biathlon. After her husband's tragic suicide, Julie's world crumbles. She finds herself penniless, realizing her luxurious life was just a mirage. With her life in ruins, Julie decides to leave Los Angeles behind and return to Banff, seeking help from an old friend who offers her a job as a maid in his hotel.

However, trouble seems to follow her. A guest with whom she has a quarrel in front of the others is later found dead with Julie's rifle. What follows is a gripping tale as Julie races against time to clear her name, uncover the truth behind the murder, and evade both the police and a relentless killer.

I buddy read this with two of my favorite bookstagrammers, and we noticed an interesting quirk: the author ends each chapter with a hint of what's to come. Personally, I enjoy little spoilers, so it didn't bother me, but I can see how it might for some.

All in all, *Running Cold* is a must-read for thriller fans craving a fast-paced story set in a captivating location with a brilliantly woven plot. Prepare yourself for a heart-pounding adventure that will leave you breathless!

Thanks to @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for my ADC!

Another great thriller by Susan Walter! I just love the cover on this one also. Julie Adler seems to have it all. The perfect rich husband, the perfect mansion in sunny California and the perfect friends she can have a few drinks with. But when she finds her husband dead in their bathroom after returning from time out with the girls, she is devastated. What was wrong? Why didn't she see the signs? Was he really that depressed? Such a shock and knowing she cannot stay in that place where there are all the memories and also now nothing, so she heads back to home to Canada. Back to familiar territory and where no body knows the mess that Jeff left her with and where an old friend is more than willing to help her with no questions asked. Working as a housekeeper, Julie gets into a routine and enjoys the freedom of skiing once again. When her friends show up as a surprise during a blizzard, all hell breaks loose when the power to the city goes out and a dead body is found. This hotel guest last had a tiff about Julie's work and security cameras shows Julie was the last to visit her room just prior to her being shot. But the time line isn't making sense, the power outage cut out cameras for about an hour and now Julie knows that something more is going on. Did her husband really shoot himself? But now she is also connected to two deaths and is on the run for her life and not only from the police. Loved this one set in the mountains and how it all tied together. Another great read that Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse is excited for this fall! Thanks you to the author for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

Well written story, exciting plot, fun characters, and a wintry setting makes for an excellent mystery/thriller.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63277845

I flew through this book. I’m a huge fan of winter thrillers and this one was a knockout! The story starts with a shocking twist: Julia Adler's husband's suicide is just the beginning of her nightmare. His secret financial dealings leave her penniless and forced to flee their lavish life. Seeking solace in her hometown of Banff, she takes a job as a hotel housekeeper. But when a guest is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect.

This fast-paced thriller is a snowy, suspenseful adventure. I loved the multiple POV and the setting. The Banff setting is the perfect backdrop for a story filled with deception, grief and survival. I could feel how cold it was while reading. The author created a cast of intriguing characters that made each one of them a suspect and kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait to see what Susan Walter writes next!

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I hope to read more books by this author.

When Julie Adler finds her husband dead on the bathroom floor, her whole life is turned upside down. She is overwhelmed and confused by this and what could have possibly made her husband want to end his life. Things only get worse when Julie discovers that all of the money has been drained from every account her husband had and she has no money to her name.

Julie decides to escape to the comfort of Banff, Canada where she used to live and where her her old friend, Remy, manages a hotel and gives her a job as a housekeeper. When one of the hotel guests turns up dead, all of the evidence points to Julie and she ends up in the fight of her life. In this story of survival, can Julie prove her innocence and do it before she becomes the killer’s next victim?

I loved the setting of this book. The isolated hotel, winter vibes and snowy mountains set the scene for this suspense-filled thriller. Told from multiple points of view, this was a quick enjoyable read filled with lies, deceit and twists! It would be the perfect book to snuggle up with over the upcoming winter season!

I thoroughly enjoyed this fabulous thriller! Set during winter in Banff, Canada, at the Banff Springs Hotel, the setting was so well described and woven into the story that I felt like I was there with the characters. I love when that happens! I could feel the chill in the winter air as I read this in 90 degree summer weather!!

Told in three viewpoints, there were twists and turns, betrayals, deception, tense scenes, and a satisfying ending. The main character, Julie, an Olympic biathlon champion, was likeable and vulnerable and I was rooting for her throughout.

Easy to read and well-paced with short chapters, I read this one in a little over a day. This is the first book that I read by this author but it definitely won’t be my last!!

Like my fellow Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse colleagues, I 100% recommend this great thriller read!

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

4.25/5
Hey hey hey it’s time for #pulsepoint #thepulse recommendations from all my thriller lovers @thrillerbookloversthepulse A huge thank you to @susanwalterauthor @lakeunionauthors for this gifted copy!

I am a HUGE fan of wintery cold books and this one definitely delivered! This one starts out with quite the jaw dropping moment! Julia Adler’s husband commits suicide and if that’s not terrible enough she soon realizes he left her with empty bank accounts. 💸 She is not only grieving but has no idea where all their money went. Feeling embarrassed and lost she leaves quietly in the middle of the night to return home to Banff where she feels most comfortable. Needing to make ends meet she starts working as a housekeeper at a hotel. When one of the guests turns up murdered all fingers point to Julia because she was the last in the room. Talk about bad luck! 😬 She claims she’s innocent and races to try and prove her innocence!

This one was such a wild and twisted adventure! First of all…the setting being in Banff made me envision such a snowy beautiful wonderland! I could picture this fancy hotel on the side of the mountain with snow capped trees and swirling snowflakes! YES PLEASE! ❄️ This book had so many great ideas surrounding deception, forgiveness, murder, survival, grief and thrill! There was not a single moment I felt bored because this was extremely fast paced and had me wondering who the culprit was! Susan does a spectacular job creating several characters that left me questioning if they were the bad guy! The ending unfolded perfectly and was satisfying and complex! I enjoyed this one greatly and can’t wait to see what Susan writes next!

I was totally hooked by "Lie by the Pool," so naturally, I had to dive into "Running Cold." It's a complete change of pace, but with the scorching summer heat, it's a relief to escape into cooler settings, even if it's just in a book.

The story follows Julie, a former Canadian Olympian who left her athletic dreams behind for love. When her husband Jeff, a wealthy tech company owner, tragically passes away, Julie's left in dire financial straits. She returns to her hometown of Banff, Canada, and takes a job as a chambermaid in a resort hotel. The author's descriptions make Banff come alive, almost like another character in the story.

Just when Julie thinks things couldn't get worse, a murder occurs at the hotel, and she becomes the prime suspect. The narrative unfolds from multiple perspectives, keeping readers on edge as we unravel the intricately tangled web of connections and motives. Oh wow! The eventual revelation of the culprit's identity adds to the intrigue, making it a compelling read.

#Running Cold #SusanWalter #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley

This one kept my attention from the start and held it! Walter's back and forth chapters from the three main character's point of view was a great way to fill in gaps as the story progressed. While the breadcrumbs at the end of chapters were a bit heavy handed, I appreciated how the story wrapped up and left me wanting more from this author.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Running Cold releases October 8, 2024

3.5

Former Olympian, Julie Adler, is left grieving and penniless after she finds her husband dead in their California home. In the thick of winter, she flees back to her hometown in Banff and asks her old friend, Remy, for a job at the hotel he manages.

Not long after Julie gets settled into the hotel as a maid, things start to go awry when a casual weekend visit from her friends turns into a disastrous city-wide power outage amidst a blizzard, all while Julie becomes the prime suspect for the murder of the hotel’s penthouse guest.

First and foremost, I loved the Canadian setting. I kept picturing Remy as Michel from Gilmore Girls because of his French accent, which made things all the more entertaining.
While the plot was quite predictable, the writing was straight forward and very easy to read. With short chapters and multiple perspectives, this is the perfect mystery to cozy up with on a cold day.

cw: mentions of cheating

Susan Walter just may be the BEST author, that you haven’t yet read! SERIOUSLY.
Good As Dead
Over Her Dead Body
Lie By the Pool and soon…
Running Cold -expected publication date : October 8, 2024

Described ACCURATELY as a heart-pounding story of deception, murder, and survival- It’s the story of former Olympian, Julie Adler, who won the Gold 🥇 in the Biathlon-skiing and target shooting, before giving up the limelight and moving to Sunny California with her new husband, Jeff.

Life was good until Julie came home one day to find her husband dead in their bathroom-an apparent Suicide. But, that would not be the only shocking discovery that she would make. The other one-he has left her penniless.

Confused and heartbroken, Julie doesn’t want to admit all of this to her friends, Izzy, Christa and Suki, so she decides to return to the picturesque ski town of Banff, Canada where she trained for the Olympics.

Remy Delatour is an old friend, who happens to be the manager of the historic Banff Springs Hotel, so he is able to give her a room to live in, and a job as a housekeeper, to tide her over until her house in California can be sold.

But her bad luck will follow her.

A “difficult” guest, turns up dead, and Julie was the last person seen in her hotel room, and therefore the first suspect that Detective Monique Montpelier will focus on.

The story unfolds from the alternating first person POV’s of Julie, Izzy, Remy, and Monique, over 4️⃣ parts-beginning with “THE FIRST TO DIE”.

The evidence may be stacked against her, but Julie is determined to prove her innocence and discover the truth about what happened to her husband Jeff. Her only obstacles? Evading police and the real killer-while outrunning a blizzard.

The tension is palpable, and the setting is oozing in atmosphere! I could feel the chill and I even wrapped up in a blanket while reading this despite the 106 F degree temperature outside my door!

You can tell that Susan Walter was a screenwriter as every one of her books could easily translate to movies. I would love to see this one optioned as Banff and the Banff Springs hotel are actual places and there is even a story of a Murder-Suicide taking place in room 873 according to the Author’s Acknowledgments at the end of the book!

Can't you just picture the treacherous snowy mountains and the Castle like hotel on the big Screen? I can hear the audience cheering now! 🍿

I can’t wait to read whatever Susan Walter pens next! She is 4 for 4 for me!

Thank You to Lake Union Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

So atmospheric, tense and twisty!
Mainly set in a small ski town, this is perfect to read cozied up with a blanket.
Julie is a former Olympian who moved to California to be with her husband. When she comes home from lunch to her husband dead from suicide and their bank accounts drained.
She goes back to what she knows, a small ski town where she used to live and stays and works at a high end hotel where her old friend Remy manages.
She wants to find answers but then finds herself fighting for her life.
So tense and thrilling that you won’t want to put this one down!

I read Running Cold in a matter of HOURS. I really couldn’t get enough of this story. There was so much drama and twist after twist that I just had to keep reading until I got to the end. This is an excellent thriller to read by the fire on a cold winter night with a cozy blanket and your hot beverage of choice.

I found this book to be a mixed experience. If you don't mind a predictable story where much is revealed by the halfway point, you might enjoy it. The pacing is brisk, making it a quick read, which I appreciated. However, I struggled to connect with the characters. They felt somewhat one-dimensional and didn't evoke much empathy or interest from me.

While I don't need to love every book I read, I felt let down by the story in particular. Key events and twists felt rushed, and as a result, the narrative lacked the impact it could have had with more development. Despite these shortcomings, the book has its moments and might appeal to readers looking for something light and easy to get through. However, for those who seek a deeper connection with characters and a more nuanced storyline, this book might fall short.

Book/Story: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐.5

TRIGGER(S): INFIDELITY, MENTAL HEALTH, DEATH OF SPOUSE, SUICIDE, MURDER

POV: Multiple, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Safe or Dark: Dark (see trigger warnings)

“Unfortunately, even tiny, well-intentioned lies are dangerous. Because they force you to tell bigger lies to cover them up.”
 
This is a quick read. The chapters are relatively short, and the writing is easy to follow. Although at times simplistic, it is still very engaging. 

This story taps into the age-old fear of “how well do you really know someone?” especially your spouse. What kind of secrets are they keeping? Are you really as financially well off as a couple as you believed you were? Was your significant other really as wonderful as they seemed to be on the surface? 

What happens when the life you thought you had built for yourself ends up being an illusion? 

Most of the time, when something seems too good to be true, it is. The perfect relationship, life, or person often has cracks spreading beneath the surface. 

The plot threads the feelings of grief, betrayal, and the idea of starting over again. 

While for myself the book started off a bit slow (despite pretty much getting right into the meat of things), it was still intriguing, and I wanted to find out what happened next. 

It’s rare that I pick up a book and end up liking all the characters. But somehow, I liked each person in this story. Even the murderer. They were all imperfect in their own ways, and all their imperfections were very believable. They all had flaws that we might even sometimes see in ourselves. I loved that both of the lead characters (Julie and the detective) were strong females. 

“If she was grade A prime, I was Hamburger Helper.”

I really enjoyed how, after Julie’s life fell apart, she didn’t wait around for someone to show up and fix it for her. She didn’t try to find someone to help her make things right again; she decided to do it herself. She was the one to determine the new course of her life. With many books I read now, that’s not the case with most female characters. Nine times out of ten, they wait for a man, friend, or family member of some sort to help them put their shattered pieces back together. So, personally, for me, this was a refreshing take on that scenario. 

The killer is revealed at approximately a little over the halfway mark of the book. I was pretty sure I had figured out who it was early on in the story, and I did. It's not a big deal. While I liked getting their point of view, it did somewhat take away from the intensity of the story. It made things feel a little anticlimactic. But overall, the execution was done well. It didn’t kill the bigger picture for me. Especially since a lot more than just a murder was at play. 

Remember to always keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But how do you know what to do if you can’t distinguish the two? 

Susan Walter’s book "Lie by the Pool" has been on my TBR for some time now, and after reading this, I might have the encouragement needed to finally check it out. 

“Athletes are told, There’s no limit to how great you can be! Problem is, when the sky’s the limit, you never arrive.”

TLDR: ENJOYABLE! WELL PACED STORY WITH LIKEABLE CHARACTERS! GIVE IT A TRY!

I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.

When former Olympian Julie Adler loses her husband to suicide, she flees their California home for the comfort and familiarity of her former training grounds in Banff, Canada. Living and working at a resort run by an old friend, Julie tries to settle in while still seeking answers about what could possibly have driven her husband to kill himself. Shortly after she starts her new job, an extremely wealthy guest dies and the police start to wonder about Julie's proximity to two different deaths so close together leaving Julie racing to find the killer and clear her name before she ends up being the next victim.

This one took me a minute to get into because I didn't love Julie Adler or any of her friends. I always love the depth Susan Walter brings to her characters so I was disappointed to find these fell flat for me, at least initially. That being said, once things got going I was drawn in and the back half of the book- once the Detective is introduced- absolutely flew. The setting delivers in a big way and provides an awesome backdrop for a crazy story of survival. The end was definitively more predictable than the other books by this author, but it was still compelling. Overall I definitely recommend this one (and everything else by this author)!!

I really enjoyed RUNNING COLD. I was hooked from the start. The pacing and twist throughout the book made it hard for me to put it down. Run, don't walk to grab yourself a copy!!

Many thanks for my gifted copy.