This is a gripping thriller set in a small town and filled with twists, complex characters, and a slow-burn romance. The eerie premise, combined with Ivy’s bravery and the novel’s unpredictable turns, makes for an unforgettable read. For lovers of suspenseful mysteries this is a treat.

Ivy, a high school literature teacher living a quiet life in Blue Water County. She is an active member of the local book club and a Murder Club, where fellow writers discuss crime fiction. When members of the group start turning up dead, her peaceful routine is shattered with the murder victims linked to her while the deaths, mirroring plots from their books.

Scott Evans, lead detective on the case had not expected to see Ivy again, that too in the middle of the investigation. He is forced to confront the ghosts of their past and Ivy's connection with every victim.
As the two work together to unravel the mystery, old feelings resurface under the shadow of a killer who seems to be watching every move.
Works well.

Cold Query, the third book in the Blue Water Mystery series by Ivanka Fear, is a twisty, riveting thriller that is sure to send chills down the spine of anyone who has or has thought of writing a mystery novel.
Set in the fictional yet familiar Blue Water County, the book centres around school teacher, writer, and widow Ivy Rose, who is thrown into a murder investigation when a fellow writer and member of her town's "Murder Club" turns up dead on the beach. It soon becomes obvious his death wasn't an accident, throwing into doubt a growing list of accidents throughout the county. In the process of the investigation, Ivy is reunited with a police detective who is an old friend and potential love interest, and sparks fly both figuratively and literally as the two work towards discovering who is killing off local writers and using their books as guides in how to do the dirty deeds.
The concept is as brilliant as it is chilling, and Fear presents it in a tense and suspenseful manner that keeps you turning the pages anxiously to the very end.
Thank you to the author and #NetGalley for the ARC of #ColdQuery. #mystery #writers #murderclub

Thank you to NetGalley and Ivanka Fear for a copy of Cold Query, the third in her Blue Water mystery series. I had not read the previous books, but the author included enough back story for me to follow the current plotline. My only question was: how did Ivy's children react to their mother changing her name and appearance to escape her past? (Since neither of them changed their names.) But that didn't affect my enjoyment of this mystery.
The story is told partially in first person, through the POV of the main protagonist, Ivy Rose. Ivy is a widowed English teacher and aspiring mystery author living in the quiet Canadian town of Port Ripley. Other chapters are told in close third person, from the POV of Detective Scott Evans, an old friend of Ivy's and part of her past. Scott is on loan to Port Ripley law enforcement after a spate of suspicious "accidents" turn out to be murders. Interspersed are a few chapters from the POV of the anonymous killer.
The investigation is complex because there are multiple victims, and, on the surface, they do not appear to be connected. However, it turns out that many of the victims write murder mysteries, although not all of them are published. Many belong to the local book club (more accurately named the murder club, since its members write about murder. They've all been beta readers for each other). Each of the deaths (and near misses) resembles a murder described in one of the novels from the murder club. At times, it appears Ivy could be involved because she has a connection with each of the victims. She's either a suspect or a target.
As Scott and Ivy work together to unmask the killer, their romance blossoms, which adds some extra depth to the story. The author did a great job of keeping the reader guessing whodunit until the end.

Cold Query by Ivanka Fear (Mystery/Thriller)

Ivy Rose leads a quiet and predictable life as a high school literature teacher at Blue Water High. She’s an active member of the local literary community and a book club in Blue Water County. But when people in the small town start turning up dead, her peaceful life is shattered. The murders stir up haunting memories from her past—memories tied to someone she once knew.

Scott Evans arrives to investigate the killings, only to find Ivy, the woman he once loved, at the center of it all. As he digs deeper, he realizes that Ivy is connected to every victim. But is she a target in need of protection, or does she have secrets of her own?

This small-town murder mystery is packed with twists, numerous deaths, and a long list of suspects. The slow build-up and strong world-building make for an immersive read. The subtle romance adds an intriguing layer to the story, and the author skillfully keeps readers questioning Ivy’s role in the mystery. The unpredictability of the murders—where victims don’t always fit the apparent motive—adds to the suspense.

My favorite part was Ivy's bravery towards the end. The novel keeps you guessing, and I highly recommend it to all mystery lovers!

This was a tough read for me with way too many people/names to remember!
I only realized halfway through the book, this was a 2nd book of a series, should have read them first, because it would have made more sense!
Although far fetched, written well!

It’s murder by the books. Belonging to a book club and being part of the literary community in Blue Water County can be deadly! Great read! This book had thrilling suspense, murder, mystery, intriguing, a great who done it and a few shocking twists! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!