When a woman and her boyfriend are murdered in cold blood, Tori and Will think it may just be another murder case, but when they realize a 10 year old boy is missing, the hunt begins. 10 year old teddy is missing, his father, is also missing. Did his father lose it, kill his ex and kidnap their child, Kris it something more deep and sinister?

Stellijes chooses to show both detective and criminal perspective in his stories. I found it harder this time around to see how the cops were getting from A to B on their own, because as the reader we already know something to be true. It’s definitely a different take on a police thriller and I’m sure you either love it or hate it.

Always action packed and a wild ride.

Book Review: Taken in the Cold by Roger Stelljes

Rating: 4 Stars

So, I just finished Taken in the Cold, and what a ride! Roger Stelljes really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Let me give you a quick rundown of the story. It kicks off with ten-year-old Teddy getting a classic mom reminder to bundle up for school because a blizzard is headed their way. Sounds pretty typical, right? Well, it takes a dark turn when Teddy’s mother is found dead in their home, and Teddy is nowhere to be found. Talk about an opening that grabs you by the collar!

Agent Tori Hunter jumps into action as she races against time and the blizzard to find Teddy. The situation escalates quickly as it becomes clear that there’s more to this tragedy than meets the eye. While local police are leaning toward a jealous ex-husband theory, Tori’s instincts tell her otherwise. The plot thickens when she discovers that Teddy's father is also missing, leading to a shocking revelation that adds layers to an already complex story.

What I love about this book is how Stelljes masterfully blends suspense with character development. Tori is such a compelling protagonist—determined and resourceful, yet vulnerable in her own way. And as she digs deeper into the case, we uncover some chilling secrets surrounding the abandoned vacation resort that tie everything together.

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoy the hell out of this series. The writing is top-notch, and the pacing is just right—never too rushed or too slow. The plot is intricately woven with great character arcs that keep you invested from start to finish. I mean, it really does have it all!

If you’re a fan of thrillers with well-developed characters and gripping storylines, I can’t recommend Taken in the Cold enough. I’m already itching to dive into the next book in the series. So, if you haven't picked it up yet, what are you waiting for? Grab a cozy blanket (because, you know, blizzard vibes) and get ready for a wild read!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Taken in the Cold is a narrative that explores survival, human resilience, and the complexities of the human psyche when faced with dire circumstances. Set against a backdrop of a harsh and unforgiving winter, the story unfolds as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the lengths people will go to protect themselves and their loved ones. The story revolves around the experience of being caught in a life-threatening situation, where the chilling cold serves not only as a physical barrier but also as a metaphor for isolation and despair. The characters are forced to make difficult decisions that have far-reaching implications, not only for themselves but for those around them. This moral complexity adds layers to the story, challenging readers to consider what they might do in similar situations. The cold, both a literal and figurative representation of hardship, urges the characters to confront their fears and make choices that will determine their fates.

What a wild ride this book was! A snow storm and a missing kid = Tori Hunter at her crime fighting finest. I have enjoyed the evolution of Tori throughout this series. While she’s always been a rockstar crime fighter seeing her evolve has made her all the better.
Truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one in this series.

Roger Stelljes delivers another thrilling installment in the Tori Hunter series with Taken in the Cold. This seventh book showcases the author's signature fast-paced and descriptive writing style while immersing readers in a chilling blizzard-bound mystery.

As someone who read the first book in the series and jumped ahead to the seventh, I was excited to dive back into Tori Hunter’s world. Thankfully, it is written in a way that makes this book accessible as a standalone novel. While I didn’t read books two through six, I never felt lost, as the story stands on its own without relying too heavily on prior installments.

This book is a classic "follow the money" tale, steeped in mystery and danger. Although well-executed, this theme didn’t captivate me as much as the classic murder investigation from the first book. As a result, I found myself less invested in this story.

One critique I had of the first book also applies here: the story felt drawn out. At nearly 500 pages, I believe Taken in the Cold could have been 100 pages shorter without losing its impact. A tighter narrative might have helped sustain my attention in the middle sections.

That said, the real strength of this series lies in its characters. Tori Hunter is as compelling as ever, and her character development from book one to book seven is a highlight. I particularly enjoyed seeing her relationship with Will evolve into something more solid and meaningful, adding a humanizing layer to the story’s high-stakes action.

Overall, while this book didn’t grip me as much as the first, it’s still a well-crafted mystery that will satisfy fans of the series. I look forward to catching up on the other books and continuing to follow Tori’s journey in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! Book 7 in the Toni Hunter series and each book is better than the last. This book had me glued to the pages to the very end. Lots of twists that kept me guessing. Highly recommend this series. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for my arc.

Brilliantly phenomenal. This fast paced thrill ride picks up from page one and justs blasts you through terrifying twists and turns. This page turner will keep you up way too late because you need to know what’s happening. Incredibly woven characters that you come to know and love make this book extra special. Absolutely horrifying plot and my mama heart was pounding from cover to cover.
A must read

A child should never have to undergo what Teddy did - see his mother and step father being killed, being kidnapped - and one could not be braver as he paid attention to what people said, tried to understand what was being played, recognized voices. Tori, Braddock and their team never stopped investigating the case even after Teddy was found - what was the end game and why? Another great story in the series, Taken in the Cold, has a very good plot, it's fast-paced, and well-written. Highly recommended!
I thank the author, his publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

It took me a little time to get into this book. I love that all the characters are growing. Especially Tori, with her troubled life. This was such a wild ride. I found the premise for this one to be similar to the times.

I have liked every book in this series. This one is no exception.

It's got everything you could want in a mystery/thriller book. Murder, kidnapping, suspicious people, plenty of suspects.

I really enjoyed catching up with Tori and the gang. Even with how great all the regular characters are, I have to say Teddy was the star of this one. I loved how he was portrayed and the role he had in the entire book.

I cannot wait until another book comes out.

I alternated listening to the audio book and reading the print book, depending on where I was at the time.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.

Taken in the Cold by Roger Stelljes and narrated by Kate Handford is the amazing 7th book in the excellent Agent Tori Hunter series and I was so lucky to get a chance to read and listen to WoW this excellent audiobook. This book has been a completely addictive and I have loved it - It was great, that I had a chance to listen to audiobook 1 Silenced Girls recently which I enjoyed as well. I'm going back to purchase the other 5 audiobooks.
This was the same as the first book, fast paced and full of great twists and turns throughout and a great story......Agent Tori Hunter is a brilliant character: I just wished i read them all before when I had a chance.

The narrator by Kate Handford was excellent.

I appreciate the ARC courtesy of Netgalley! The book's grip on me was initially firm, but its ending felt slightly extended. Teddy, a 10-year-old, witnessed his parents' brutal murder. While initially seeming financially motivated, it encompassed more. Kidnapped and freed by one captor, he was rescued by an FBI agent, who diligently connected the dots to save others.

Book 7 in the Agent Tori Hunter series.

When Brodick is called out to a double murder Tori is called in to help when he realises a 10 year old boy is missing. And after further investigation they realise his father is too. Did he murder his ex wife and new partner and take his son? If so, why?

What follows is a fast paced plot with plenty of action to keep the pages turning.

I loved this book and can't wait to read more in this great series

If you enjoy mystery books full of twists and turns where you find yourself turning the next page instead of turning
down your bedsheets , unable to stop reading , then this book is for you
Whilst this is book 7 in the Tori Hunter series , in my opinion it can be read as a standalone
Called to the scene of a double murder Agent Tori Hunter soon realises that 10yr old Teddy is missing
from the scene .............. where is he ? has he been kidnapped ? His father's car was seen speeding away from the scene
Whilst the local police are convinced the Teddy's father is guilty of the murder of his ex and her new husband Tori
is not convinced . She is soon proved right when Teddy's father is found dead at an abandoned vacation resort - where
is Teddy ? who has him and why ?
There is more at play here with this case and as Tori starts to unravel what is going on she receives a phone call -
if she wants to save Teddy and possibly others she must meet the killer alone !
This is a fast paced thriller , full of twists and turns , a real page turner - I enjoyed this book so much that I went out
and bought the previous 6 books - I look forward to the next in the series

Thank you, Roger Stelljes, Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Tori Hunter is called back to work, after taking a few months off, when Teddy Marist's mother and her boyfriend are killed, and Teddy is abducted. The team looks at Teddy's father, Barry who seems to have taken off, thinking this is a divorce gone wrong, but they quickly realize this is about more. In the middle of a snowstorm, with whiteout conditions Tori fights off the abductors, on her own with no backup in sight. This book is non-stop action. Bullets aplenty, extremist groups that don't like or respect the government. A highly recommended series.

I had forgotten about Agent Tori Hunter so I've missed a lot of her story. It did not make this book at all hard to follow. Tori was back where she feels the most at home. She is trying to save a child. The kidnapping of the boy is only a part of this story. The action in the first half of the book was non-stop. And then you think you can relax but realize there is still a lot of story to be told.

Roger Stelljes is a new to me author, and one I intend to continue reading more of his books after getting into the Detective Tori Hunter series. Tori is called in to help her boyfriend Will and his police force find a missing child after they find Teddy’s mother and boyfriend murdered. Not only do we get the police perspective of tracking down Teddy and the murderers, we also get the perspective of the crew that had Teddy. I enjoyed getting both sides of the story in that fashion. I attempted to solve the murder right along with Will and Tori.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

Now I have been engrossed in every installment of this series, but wow, did this one pack a punch. Personally, this one felt slightly different, don't get me wrong, the story was there, the characters were ever present and the plot was as encapsulating as always BUT the action that came with book #7 was superb.

In the chlling atmosphere of a Minnisota witer, ten year old Teddy Marist witnesses his step father and mother killed before he is then abducted but not before he makes a phone call to his father Barry Marist, a local bank worker.

Former FBI Agent Tori Hunter has been on leave since her last harrowing case with her colleague and partner,, local Sheriff Braddock, unsure whether she has it in her to take on any more cases when Braddock calls. Knowing she has to help, missing children being her speciality, Tori jumps straight into the case.

With local police believing its a simple case of a jealous ex-husband, killing his wife and kidnapping his own child, they are ready to close the case, but Tori's gut is telling her otherwise. When Barry's body is then found in an abandoned holday resort, a resort that used to belong to his late father, Tori knows her gut was right.

Who has Teddy, and can they get to him in time?

This is a tale packed to the rafters with action ,suspense, intrigue, revenge, and secrets. Stelljes is a master at storytelling in a way that has you gripped from the very first pages. A complex, multi layered plot that left me gasping outwardly at points and holding my breath at others!

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

This page-turner will keep you up way past bedtime. Early on it seems like there isn't any mystery to the case. There is a lot of tension and action. I love Tori and Will so much, I was already invested in the story because of them. Then the author dealt a whammy and I was reminded why I love this series! The ending was perfect.

I like how I read this as the weather has shifted colder. Manchester Bay can keep the snow, but when I time reads like this, I feel a little more connected.

I’ve been reading popcorn thrillers as of late and really appreciated the complex layered case that Tori and Braddock are investigating. It was ever changing as they discovered clues and kept my interest from the first page through to the end. The tension was ratcheted up as they searched for a missing boy. This kept the pace moving along since time was critical. I knew all wasn’t what it seemed from the start since there were multiple points of view feeding my facts, but I had no idea what the reasons were for the kidnapping of Teddy.

Tori is a strong and determined woman and her vulnerabilities make her relatable. I rooted for throughout the book and there was a moment she might have needed it, but her capable skills help her see things that others don’t.

This one would work extremely well as a stand alone when it is well into the series. It seemed to be uber focused on the case and less on their personal lives which is the part that usually carries from book to book.

This is the first time I’ve listened to one in this series and Kate Handford did a great job narrating the book. She easily conveyed the urgency of the case and emotions that surrounded it. It worked great as an audiobook.

It’s another great addition to the series.