Catch Your Death - A Review

 Review

CATCH YOUR DEATH by Lissa Marie Redmond
The Sixth Cold Case Investigation Mystery 

A wintry weekend at a high end resort in the Southern Tier should be a relaxing respite for cold case detectives Lauren Riley and Shane Reese. Except for the fact that it's a soft opening as well as a mini high school reunion for Shane. A reunion of people who haven't been together since the murder of their classmate seventeen years ago. And the fact that Lauren is fairly certain one of the guests is a killer.

Being trapped by a blizzard in a high end resort doesn't sound so bad, after all the power is still on and there's plenty of good food and drink. Unfortunately, there's also a killer. This sixth Cold Case Investigation has Lauren Riley questioning everything she knows about her partner, the man who's had her back and saved her life more than once. 

Tensions run high as old classmates revert back to their teenaged personas and anxiety is ratcheted up when one classmate deliberately provokes everyone else. I love the combination of an old cold case murder directly tied into a new one, especially when Shane is intimately involved with all of the suspects. I also enjoy how Lauren makes due with her limited resources, keeping in touch with the state police, and going a bit rogue while stringently following police procedure in other matters.

The Lauren Riley we see in CATCH YOUR DEATH is quite changed from the Lauren Riley we are introduced to in the first Cold Case Investigation Mystery. She's played and been played. Physically she's gone through hell and isn't quite back. She's grown.

CATCH YOUR DEATH is an atmospheric police procedural that brings closure to the ultimate high school drama. It's a perfect read for a snowy day, preferably cuddled up in a blanket with a warm drink at hand!

Currently Reading...

I just started reading Catch Your Death by Lissa Marie Redmond. This book is the sixth in the Cold Case Investigation Mystery series.

A wintry weekend at a high end resort in the Southern Tier should be a relaxing respite for cold case detectives Lauren Riley and Shane Reese. Except for the fact that it's a soft opening as well as a mini high school reunion for Shane. A reunion of people who haven't been together since the murder of their classmate seventeen years ago. And the fact that Lauren is fairly certain one of the guests is a killer.

The Parting Glass - A Review

 Review

THE PARTING GLASS by Lissa Marie Redmond
The Fifth Cold Case Homicide Mystery 

Lauren Riley is not one to sit still and relax, so when the cold case homicide detective is placed on medical leave she quickly renews her private investigator’s license. Lauren’s interest is eventually piqued when a wealthy woman asks her to go to Ireland to find a painting. Remembering the headlines when the Picasso was originally stolen Lauren accepts the case, figuring it for an easy job. After all, it’s practically a vacation with her partner, Shane, along to assist. However, nothing is ever easy for Lauren. Soon the search for a missing painting turns into a murder investigation. Off duty, with no authority, and way out of their jurisdiction, Lauren and Shane leave the murder to the locals, however, the Buffalo pair find themselves embroiled in the case. Will they find the painting or a killer?  

As much as I love Buffalo, I enjoyed seeing Lauren and Shane out of their element, exploring a bit of Ireland. I appreciate their witty banter and how their different styles not only complement each other, but bring out the best in one another. The vivid descriptions of this small Irish town made me feel as if I was driving down those winding roads with them, steeped in a sea of green, eager to have a pint, although I'm partial to lager, not Guinness.

THE PARTING GLASS is a unique mystery that constantly evolves, tricking readers as well as Lauren. What should be simple isn't and nothing is ever cut and dry. A variety of interesting characters inhabit the pages. Some capture the warmth of Irish hospitality, some are more distant, while others are unscrupulous and greedy blackguards. All prove to be an integral component of the story.

THE PARTING GLASS is a riveting mystery filled with emotional pitfalls. Friendships and family are tested, and not all are able to be saved.

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading The Parting Glass by Lissa Marie Redmond. This book is the fifth in the Cold Case Investigation Mystery series.

Lauren Riley is not one to sit still and relax, so when the cold case homicide detective is placed on medical leave she quickly renews her private investigator’s license. Lauren’s interest is eventually piqued when a wealthy woman asks her to go to Ireland to find a painting. Remembering the headlines when the Picasso was originally stolen Lauren accepts the case, figuring it for an easy job. After all, it’s practically a vacation with her partner, Shane, along to assist. However, nothing is ever easy for Lauren. Soon the search for a missing painting turns into a murder investigation. Off duty, with no authority, and way out of their jurisdiction, Lauren and Shane leave the murder to the locals, however, the Buffalo pair find themselves embroiled in the case. Will they find the painting or a killer?

A Means to an End - A Review

Review

A MEANS TO AN END by Lissa Marie Redmond

The Third Cold Case Investigations Mystery

Cold Case Homicide Detective Lauren Riley has been through a lot. Recovering from a stab wound, her obsession with David Spencer, the man she unwittingly helped beat a murder charge, is going into overdrive. When another missing woman's body is found, Lauren is positive David is the killer. Several agencies come together to work the crime, but as positive Lauren is that David is to blame, several other officers think she's not only deranged, but guilty. With a new woman gone missing Detective Riley will pull out all the stops to finally stop Spencer, no matter the cost.

The third Cold Case Investigations Mystery continues to show the gritty world of police detection in Buffalo, New York. The dark wintry atmosphere of a never thawing Spring in Buffalo emphasizes the desperate nature of the characters here. Detective Riley has changed, not only mentally, but physically. No longer the attractive woman, her cases have been draining the life out of her, literally as well as figuratively. Forced to fight for her own good name as well as to prevent more deaths Lauren Riley will go to any end, by whatever means necessary. While her shining armour and bright idealism had long been tarnished by the reality of decades of real police work, she's now entered the no man's land.

In A MEANS TO AN END all of the loose pieces from the first two books in the Cold Case Investigations series are tied up as Detective Riley finally finds vindication. The final scene between Lauren and David is a culmination of their fascination, attraction, and mutual obsession. Their lives entwined in such a way so as to ultimately lead to their destruction.

A MEANS TO AN END is a heart pounding journey into the dark side of human nature. Stark realism is captured as one women is forced to decide to what lengths she'll go to to find justice.

A Means to an End - An Interview

I'm so happy to welcome Lissa Marie Redmond back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Lissa writes the Cold Case Investigation Mystery series. A MEANS TO AN END is the third book in the series and will be released this Sunday!

Kathy: In A MEANS TO AN END Detective Riley has to pursue a man who got away with murder. How does knowing he escaped justice before affect her pursuit of him?

LMR: Lauren definitely feels responsible for the fact that he is out on the street. Her guilt is very a much a driving factor in the book. And she feels a sense of urgency to put him behind bars before he can hurt more people.


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

LMR: There wasn’t a specific thing that inspired this story. At the start of every book I ask myself, what are the worst things that can happen to my characters and how would they respond to those things? It’s interesting, as a writer, to see how the different characters handle the situations. Just like real people, they have their own motivations for doing the things they do.


Kathy: Setting plays such an important role in a mystery. How has Buffalo influenced your series?

LMR: The city of Buffalo plays such an important role in my series. From the weather, to the architecture, to the politics, I try to bring as much of the city as I can into the stories. The city itself is changing and reinventing itself so fast even I have trouble keeping up with it. After I retired from the police department four years ago Police Headquarters moved and I had to set up a guided tour of the new police headquarters because I’d never been inside of it!


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Detective Lauren Riley?

LMR: All I can say is A MEANS TO AN END is not the last time you’ll see Lauren Riley.


Kathy: How has your journey as an author changed since your first Cold Case Investigation was published?

LMR: I think I’d like to branch out at some point into other genres besides mystery. I’ve always had a soft spot for science fiction, and I’d love to try to write something along those lines.


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

LMR: I love going to libraries and book clubs. I’ve met so many fantastic people and made a lot of new friends. Also, I’m always on the hunt for character names, so if I meet you and like your first or last name it could end up in my next manuscript!

There’s really not anything I dislike about marketing, because most of it has to do with connecting with people, which is what being a writer is all about anyway.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

LMR: Crooked Lane Books is publishing a stand-alone novel of mine called THE SECRETS THEY LEFT BEHIND in April of 2020. This book features a brand-new cast of characters and a different setting than my Cold Case Investigation series. I’m very lucky and excited to be working with Crooked Lane on this project.


*************************************************************************

You can keep up with Lissa using these links:

Website: https://lissamarieredmond.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LissaMarieRedmond/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lissa-marie-redmond
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2282595.Lissa_Marie_Redmond 
Twitter: @Lissa_Marie_Redmond
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-They-Left-Behind-Mystery/dp/164385299X
https://www.amazon.com/Means-End-Cold-Case-Investigation/dp/0738754285 

****************************************************************************

Be sure to come back to the blog tomorrow, Saturday, September 8, 2019, to read my review of A MEANS TO AN END. In the meantime check out this cover of Lissa's next book!

The Murder Book - An Interview & Review

I'm pleased to welcome Lissa Marie Redmond back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Lissa writes the Cold Case Investigation Mystery series. THE MURDER BOOK is the second book in the series and will be released February 8, 2019.

Kathy: It's pretty much common knowledge that cute pets in books increase sales. While A COLD DAY IN HELL was critterless, THE MURDER BOOK introduces Watson, an adorable dog. What made you decide to add this furry companion?

LMR: I definitely wasn’t jumping on the trend bandwagon. I started writing A COLD DAY IN HELL eight years ago and in the book my main character, Lauren Riley, debates whether she should get a puppy now that both of her daughters are away at college. She is going through a very tough empty nest period and has suffered a traumatic injury when her partner shows up with his dog, Watson. He really fills a void in her life she didn’t realize she had.


Kathy: They say life imitates art. They also say art imitates life. Will you share some other ways that your books impacted your life and vice versa?

LMR: After I finished THE MURDER BOOK my own two daughters wore me and my husband down and we got a puppy. Boy, those first three months were tough, it was like having a baby again, but now Millie is a huge part of our family.

I talk about Buffalo Police Headquarters moving from Franklin Street in both books. There had been rumors of a move since I got on the job in 1993. Then in September of 2018 they actually did pack up and move. I often wonder if some of the cockroaches managed to make their way into the new building, but I suppose only time will tell with that one!


Kathy: Many people don't realize the wonderful history and amazing architecture to be found in Buffalo, NY. I'm pleased that you talk about a Buffalo landmark in THE MURDER BOOK, Our Lady of Victory Basilica. This gorgeous building is truly amazing. What are some of your favorite Buffalo buildings?


LMR: In the last ten years Buffalo has gone through an amazing rebirth: Canalside, the new arena, development of the Old First Ward. It has become a mix of modern glass and steel alongside classic brick and wood. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin house stands out. As well as Buffalo City Hall, which has been called an art deco masterpiece. If you’ve ever seen the inside of the Ellicott Square Building (and you might have, if you’ve ever seen the movie The Natural) you’d know why people take side trips from their visits to Niagara Falls just to enjoy the architecture.


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

LMR: The inspiration was police headquarters itself and all the long nights I spent there over the years. In those late-night moments, the writer in me would ask, what if? And a hundred different scenarios would play out in my head.


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Detective Lauren Riley?

LMR: She had some unfinished business in book one. Most of it comes to a conclusion in book two, except for one very important thread.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

LMR: A MEANS TO AN END comes out September 8th, and that last thread definitely gets tied up.

*************************************************************************

You can keep up with Lissa using these author links:

Website: https://lissamarieredmond.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LissaMarieRedmond/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lissa-marie-redmond
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2282595.Lissa_Marie_Redmond 
Twitter: @Lissa_Marie_Redmond

****************************************************************************

Review

THE MURDER BOOK by Lissa Marie Redmond

The Second Cold Case Investigation

Detective Lauren Riley is working late when she is stabbed from behind and beaten. Lucky to have survived, the only thing she knows is the person who attacked her was a cop. A police officer is never truly off duty and as Lauren recovers she also tries to investigate who tried to kill her and why. Things seem to be hinged on a cold case, but which one? With the Murder Book gone, Lauren calls on her old lieutenant for help. Unfortunately, he's not the only person from her past who's returned. In finding her attacker will she be able to see justice served, or will she become a victim once again?

I really enjoyed this second ride out with Detective Riley. The mystery is an intricate puzzle that leads to an exciting caper culminating in a pulse pounding chase over an iconic Buffalo roadway in the dead of winter! The addition of Watson was a great move and I enjoyed watching Lauren's devotion to the little guy. He is much better, and infinitely healthier, to be around than the males she usually picks!

As a former police officer myself, I really appreciated the on point depiction of the cops, including attitudes, relationships, and, most of all, humor. I especially love the camaraderie between Lauren and Reese as well as Lauren and her old lieutenant, which comes across so naturally. The community of police is a special world that only those in it can truly understand, but Lissa Marie Redmond shares it in a way that readers can glimpse what it's like and, for a moment, be a part of it.

THE MURDER BOOK is a gritty police procedural that takes an unflinching look into the world of cops. But, ultimately, this book is about love and family; what you will do to protect those you love as well as what lengths you'll go to prove your love.

Currently Reading...

I actually just finished reading The Murder Book by Lissa Marie Redmond. This book is the second in the Cold Case Investigation Mystery series and will be released February 8, 2019.

Detective Lauren Riley is working late when she is stabbed from behind and beaten. Lucky to have survived, the only thing she knows is the person who attacked her was a cop. A police officer is never truly off duty and as Lauren recovers she also tries to investigate who tried to kill her and why. Things seem to be hinged on a cold case, but which one? With the Murder Book gone, Lauren calls on her old lieutenant for help. Unfortunately, he's not the only person from her past who's returned. In finding her attacker will she be able to see justice served, or will she become a victim once again?

Death in Brittany - Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book on my TBR pile. While normally I'm a stickler for reading series in order, even when it's said that it's not necessary, sometimes I make an exception. This book is a case in point. I was so intrigued when the publisher asked me to review the third book in the series, I said yes. You can read my review of  The Fleur de Sel Murders here. I really enjoyed it, so I intend to read the first two. The first in the series is Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannalec. It was originally published in Germany in 2012.

From the back cover:

Commissaire Georges Dupin, a cantankerous, Parisian-born caffeine junkie recently relocated from the glamour of Paris to the remote (if picturesque) Breton coast, is dragged from his morning croissant and coffee to the scene of a curious murder. The local village of Pont-Aven-a sleepy community by the sea where everyone knows one another and nothing much seems to happen-is in shock. The legendary ninety-one-year -old hotelier Pierre-Louis Penned, owner of the Central Hotel, has been found dead.

A picture-perfect seaside village that played host to Gauguin in the nineteenth century, Pont-Aven is at the height of its tourist season and is immediately thrown into an uproar. As Dupin delves into the lives of the victim and the suspects, he uncovers a web of secrecy and silence that belies the village's quaint image.

A delectable read, Death in Brittany transports readers to the French coast, where you can practically smell the sea air and taste the perfectly cooked steak frites in an expertly crafted, page-turning mystery perfect for fans of Martin Walker.

A Visit & Giveaway with Lissa Marie Redmond

I'm pleased to welcome Lissa Marie Redmond back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Lissa's first full length novel, A COLD DAY IN HELL, was released in February. It is the first in the Cold Case Investigation Mystery series.

Kathy: A COLD DAY IN HELL was your first full length novel. How has life changed for you after its publication?

LMR: It’s been a very eye-opening journey. I was overwhelmed by the support of my family and neighbors here in the city of Buffalo, my new online friends, and in the writing community. Changing speeds from cop to writer has definitely improved my health, helped me make new friends, and has broadened my world.


Kathy: In regards to writing, what's the best thing that has happened to you since being published?

LMR: I appreciate all the people I have gotten a chance to meet at book signings, libraries, and book clubs. I still can not believe they want to hear what I have to say! But I also enjoy listening to my readers' stories as well. I’m amazed at the different ways readers have connected with my characters. I love to hear what they took away from my book. It’s the ultimate compliment to a writer.


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

LMR: I don’t mind making appearances, doing book signings, or being a guest on blogs (although I have a comma problem that I’m very self-conscious about and try to run everything through a second reader). The only thing I dislike about marketing is there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to get everything done.


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?

LMR: My first book, A COLD DAY IN HELL, was totally by the seat of my pants. Book two, which I’m working on, is a little less so, but book three has already been plotted out. So I’m evolving from a pantser to a plotter as I go.


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Detective Lauren Riley?

LMR: Lauren has at least two more appearances in two subsequent books. She seems to attract a lot of trouble where ever she goes, so there may be even more stories in the works for her. She’s a fun character to write, because she is so unlike me. I get to take some risks with her that I wouldn’t take myself. And I love to take her in some totally new directions.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

LMR: The second book in my Cold Case Investigation series is set to come out in February, 2019. Lauren and many of the characters from A COLD DAY IN HELL make it into the book, but I can tell you they don’t all make it to book three!


Kathy: What's one piece of advice you'd give to an aspiring writer?

Write every single day. Even if it’s only a paragraph. Even if you don’t feel like it. Even if you don’t think you’ve got anything to say. Get in the habit of writing and the words will come. Will everything you write be a masterpiece? No, but you’ll learn something from it, even if it’s what not to do. And don’t give up. Writing is a tough business. You have to believe in yourself and your work.

**************************************************************************
Keep in touch with Lissa Marie Redmond with these links:

website: http://www.Lissamarieredmond.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LissaMarieRedmond
Twitter: @Lissa_Marie_Redmond

**************************************************************************
One lucky reader will receive an autographed copy of A COLD DAY IN HELL. (Sorry, due to postal costs US addresses only.) Simply leave a comment on this blog post no later than 11:59pm EDT Wednesday, May 16, 2018 answering the following question: Since Detective Lauren Riley has such a rotten love life, should she keep looking for Mr. Right or get a dog? Be sure to include your e-mail address so that I can contact you should you win.