Murder Gone Cold (A Colt Brothers Investigation, 1)

First, although Murder Gone Cold is billed as a mystery/thriller, it also has a romantic suspense backstory, and it appears that this is the first book in what may be the start of a new series featuring the 4 Colt brothers, set in Lonesome, Montana. I don't know how B.J. Daniels does it, but she always manages to hook me from the first page to the last, and she did it again with this novel. I'm giving it 4 stars because I would have enjoyed a bit more romance between the two principal characters, James Colt and Lorelei (Lori) Wilkins. James and his 3 brothers all ride the rodeo circuit, but when 36-year-old James was injured during his last bronc ride, he returns home to rest and recuperate only to find that all that's left of doublewide trailer that had been home-base for him and his brothers, was nothing but ashes. He winds up moving into the small bedroom/bath in his late father's office, which his dad used to sleep in after working late. James' father was a private detective, who died before finishing his last case, the mysterious death of a 7-year-old boy whose body was found in a ditch just before it was about to be buried under concrete, nine years earlier. With not much to do but recuperate, James decides to look into the case, and that starts the ball rolling, because some of the people in Lonesome want the past to also be buried. James' father, Del Colt, also died under mysterious circumstances, a second mystery within a mystery. In addition to meeting the locals, getting his license as a private investigator, and starting to ask questions, James also meets Lori, a gal he went to high school with, and who now owns the sandwich shop next door to his dad's office building. While she carries a silent but weird chip on her shoulder since he ignored her during their school years while she crushed on him, she too gets involved in trying to help his investigation, not even realizing that she's putting herself in danger too, but she's about to find out that there are more secrets and intrigue in the small town of Lonesome than she ever realized. Clue by clue, Ms. Daniels leads us into the unsolved case (or it is two unsolved cases?), as well as the budding relationship between James and Lori, and as the secrets begin to unravel, there's danger lurking everywhere, and this is indeed a gripping thriller with one heck of a surprise ending. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am happy to recommend it. I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

I an never disappointed in reading a book by bj Daniel. Form first sentence the story draws me to the story. I dont want to put the book down. Always waiting for next new book. I

Murder Gone Cold is a fast-paced murder mystery with a bit of romance. The main characters, Lorelei and James are likable characters and I was rooting for them. As the story went on, I was pulled in so I didn’t put the book down until I finished. There were some twists and turns and a few characters who were hiding things. The killer was a surprise. I’m looking forward to the next book in this new series.

Murder Gone Cold is the first book in A Colt Brothers Investigation series. It pulled me in from the beginning and kept me riveted until the end. This page turner has twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. It has action, suspense and danger. I can't wait to read the next book.

I love a solid Intrigue by BJ Daniels, and in this book, I got two! Murder Gone Cold was a bit more of an imaginative stretch than Crossfire, but it was still well-written, intriguing, and made me curious about the Colt brothers. James Colt, injured in the rodeo, returned home to recover but found his home had been burned to the ground. Desperate for a place to stay, he went to his father's office and found the case he'd been working on when he had died. James, for some reason, decided he had to solve it. He had worked with his father and knew the PI business, but he wasn't sure he could solve a nine-year-old cold case. When he learned that his work neighbor was Lorelei, the girl he'd had a crush on in high school, he was more than willing to continue working next door to her just for the chance to see her. Little did he know how integral she would become to the case and his heart. My only complaint was the end of this book required more than suspension of reality. It was ridiculous and no one would do it, but maybe she was channeling some of those new TV shows that everyone loves. Regardless, I really enjoyed the book and I hope there are more books about the Colt brothers coming! Crossfire was SO good! Former lovers turned coworkers on the SWAT team put them in a dangerous situation, a place Flint never wanted to be with Anna. What I loved about this intrigue was, the characters remembered their past as a couple while they were in the middle of a tense SWAT situation. It wasn't done in a way that made you lose sight of the situation they were in. It was done in a way that made you root to get them out of the situation and back together. If I had to pick my favorite, I would say Crossfire was the one I loved the most because of the unique way it was written. I know there are going to be more of that series after reading the end, so I can't wait for those!