The Coldest Case certainly gives the reader chills with its winter setting and central plot. Shana Merchant and Tim Wellington are settling in to their lives as a married couple when they get the call that someone has gone missing from a small island called Running Pine. Since Shana is 7 months pregnant and the weather is treacherous Tim and the other local authorities go to the island to search while Shana digs into the missing man's personal life and the island's community. The missing man is Cary, one half of an Instagram famous couple who are documenting their year on the remote island. The more Shana digs, the more she realize how unprepared Cary and his girlfriend Sylvie were for the harsh winter. Pictures online have been staged to look authentic and Sylvie seems oddly unaffected by her boyfriend's disappearance. Eventually, Shana joins Tim and the others on the island, where she eventually finds out that the locals were not happy with the couple's presence. Tessa Wegert, as usual in this series, keeps twisting the plot to keep the reader off balance. I've enjoyed the evolution of the characters in the series, especially Shana. She's been through a lot and keeps going. I look forward to the next book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Despite this being the sixth book in the Shona Merchant (and my first book by Tessa Wegert), when I read the synopsis, I just had to give it a go! I picked up the character of Shona – here she’s pregnant - just fine and want to read more in the earlier series now too.

Five things appealed to me initially about this novel:
1. I love a book where it’s a ‘locked room’ approach and a remote island has the cut off/locked feel I enjoy.
2. There’s something fascinating about remote islands (I have read a few murder mysteries set on them previously and watched documentaries about families who live in such places in Scotland etc).
3. It said it was ‘perfect for fans of Agatha Christie’ – that’s me.
4. I knew that I would appreciate cooling off by reading it!
5. The cover! I am regularly drawn in by an appealing cover.

Overall, I found Wigert’s writing style strong and thoroughly enjoyed how she ended chapters as it left me wanting more…and often reading another chapter (or more) when I had intended to stop.

There’s a good balance between dialogue, action and description. The latter was very well used, and I could really picture everything happening. Dialogue seemed appropriate with distinct characters and the action was exciting!

Shana is a great detective, and I will be interested in seeing how her character evolves beyond this story in the series. My detective skills, however, were lacking and I did not solve the case. Did I mind? No…it added to my enjoyment as the reveals were worth the suspense (and not guessing correctly).

With thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the chance to read eARC.

This was my first read by Tessa Wegert, the 6th in the Detective Shana Merchant series. Can be read as standalone.The book kept me at the edge of the seat.The author has written a detailed investigation, she has set up a perfect atmosphere for the thriller.I couldn't guess the killer till the end.Thank you net galley and Severn house for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
This was my first book by Tessa Wegert, the sixth in the
detective Shana Merchant series.
I thought it was easy to read as a standalone.
Shana is expecting a child, but when a man goes missing on an island that has only 6 permanent households Shana and her husband, as well as the rest of their unit travel there despite the dangers - it's bitterly cold and very treacherous.
It's a good, tense mystery with a great ending, but I couldn't help worry about the baby with all the risks Shana took!

This is the sixth book in the Shana Merchant series. Publication is not until November, but to me, this was the perfect cold setting on a sizzling summer afternoon.
Eight people, six locals and two influencers, Cary and Sylvie are on the remote island of Running Pine. It is February and the weather is brutal. When Cary is reported missing, his girlfriend only wants to speak to one person, Shana Merchant.
And so, begins another life-or-death quest full of lies and deception. The relationship between the locals and the influencers seems to have soured. But why. As Shana tries to dig through the lies and misdirections, a storm traps her and her team on the island. I will not say much more for fear of falling into a spoiler covered snow drift. But, when everything was revealed, it was a perfect mix of the past and the present. I did not even come close to guessing what led to Cary’s disappearance and what the remaining seven people were hiding. Another page flipper in this engaging series.
If there’s another book in the series, there will be some interesting changes in Shana’s life. 🤐

This was a great mystery! The writing style really made the setting become immersive for the reader and the book had so many intensely suspenseful moments. I love the Shana Merchant series in general but this installment is definitely my favorite.

I absolutely love this entire series. Wegert's writing reminds me of Louise Penny as the setting always comes alive. Loved the premise of social media influencers living on an isolated island along with a past unsolved murder.

Running Pine is a tiny frozen island where only a handful of people live year-round. It makes an excellent setting for this tale of wannabe celeb adventures gone wrong.

This year the half-dozen year-rounders are joined by a couple of social media influencers who are determined to barter their Instagram celebrity into gifts, endorsements and cold hard cash. Not to mention, a whole slew of new followers!

But as investigator Shana Merchant soon discovers, Sylvie and Cary may just have bitten off more than they can chew with this wilderness adventure of theirs, because Cary fails to return from a fishing expedition one day.

And the real question is, did he succumb to the hostile natural surroundings, or was there foul play? Also, why does his partner Sylvie refuse to speak to anyone but Shana?

A taut gripping thriller with a unique and atmospheric setting, this story is worth reading - an easy 3.5 stars.

Tessa Wegert writes a great series about Shana Merchant.

Thriller, detectives, murderers, family, and so much more are involved in this series.
You will love Shana and how she fights for what’s right.
I love strong female characters and Shana Merchant is exactly that.
A must read series for sure.

This book was a masterpiece!

This was my most anticipated book of 2024 and I am so grateful for having this opportunity to read this ARC.

I have read and loved all of the other books on this Shana Merchant series, but this book #6 “The Coldest Case”, in my opinion, was perfection!

It was tense and the suspense got me hooked since the first chapter. It left me turning the pages quickly and kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending was so surprisingly shocking!

In a secluded island in middle of winter, Tessa’s imagination went above and beyond creating an atmospheric mystery that will leave you breathless. At the same time, revising an old cold case, that completes the perfection.

Shana’s character is very smart and confident. She’s so determined to help and trusts her instincts that you will love her. All of the characters are very well written and Tessa did a great job.

If you haven’t start this series yet, I highly recommend.

Thank you so much Tessa Wegert, you are so kind and amazing. Also, thank you NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC.

Publication day 11/05/2024.

I’m so happy we get to catch up with Shana Merchant. In Tessa Wegert’s newest book, The Coldest Case. she continues her series in the most entertaining way!

Thousand Islands is composed of small pockets of community. Running Pines is a popular summer island however, a small group remains there year round. They are cut off from civilization, as the weather turns worse the hopes for assistance grows smaller. When an Instagram couple moves to the island, the residents are unsure. When the young man, Cary goes missing, the girlfriend, Sylvie believes only Shana can solve the mystery. Fighting against frigid temperatures and alliances the team must find out what's really going on at Running Pines. Shana and the team must work quickly to avoid becoming collateral damage. The case draws Shana into revisiting an old case that has haunted her for years. Which case is more dangerous and can she solve both before the next round of bitter storms hit?

I love Shana Merchant. She is truly one of my favorite detectives in a series. Shana is confident and stubborn, she doesn't hold back and continues to risk herself for others. The arc of these characters has been so well written. They are all haunted by their past and must overcome that. I want more Shana. I would read this series forever. Thank you Tessa for this series and thank you Netgalley and Severn House for the advanced copy of this book.