Lissa Marie Redmond

Lauren Riley is a thirty-eight-year-old twice-divorced mother of two college age daughters, working cold case homicides. She has a great, younger cold case partner, Reese, and carries a torch for her ex-husband, Mark. Meanwhile, her ex, Joe Wheeler, is a Garden Valley homicide detective and a total (excuse my language) a-hole, who brazenly punches Lauren in the mouth after learning she's working against him on a case. Lauren's working two jobs -- her daytime gig on cold cases and also as a show more certified Private Investigator (PI). Lauren is hired by her nemesis, attorney Frank Violanti, to work the high-profile case of David, who is accused of murdering Katherine Vine, the beautiful, younger wife of Anthony Vine, who runs a successful chain of gyms. Lauren knows taking the case could stir up some issues in her department, with the DA, and with Reese. But in her gut, she feels that David is innocent. Can she and Frank make peace and prove it?

I read a lot of mysteries and while there are thankfully more strong female detectives coming on the scene (see [a:Kristen Lepionka|15613182|Kristen Lepionka|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1480818152p2/15613182.jpg]'s Roxanne Weary and [a:Emily Littlejohn|14772246|Emily Littlejohn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1471351387p2/14772246.jpg]'s Gemma Monroe, for instance), they are still few and far between. While Lauren Riley may still be finding herself (there's a lot of side coverage of emotional entanglements and relationships here), I still love finding and championing a complicated, real, strong female detective.

Lauren's PI case is really the star of the show, and it's interesting and engaging throughout the entire novel. It keeps you guessing throughout, questioning whether David did it or not, and who else played a key role in Katherine and Anthony Vine lives. Nothing is cut or dried.

Also fascinating is Lauren's main cold case. While you could argue some of it ties up neatly, it doesn't go as expected, per se, if that makes sense, and the characters involved are intriguing and different. All the cases kept me interested as I read. A lot certainly happens in this novel, between Lauren's work and personal life. Nothing is boring, and there's never really a dull moment, especially once you get into the swing of things and realize that the book covers both her personal life and her work life in-depth. It also tells the story from more than Lauren's POV, even if she's the main focus, which works surprisingly well.

I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the book culminates in a trial related to Lauren's PI case, and it's a great, suspenseful, incredibly well-written piece of work. The courtroom scenes were so well-done and really had me on the edge of my seat. One of the things I loved about this novel was how I could so easily picture each of these characters-- each is well-described and fleshed out. Redmond writes darn good trial scenes (and a darn good book), and I was frantically flipping the pages to see how things would turn out.

It wasn't until I finished the book that I learned the author is a retired homicide detective, but it definitely shows as you read. The novel is written expertly in terms of police and courtroom procedure, but still enjoyable in terms of the characters. There is a lot of personal "stuff" in terms of Lauren; this will be a little different if you are used to the Bosch type of detective (the love of my life and my hero). Still, it's completely refreshing to see a complicated female lead detective, and, as mentioned, so nice to be reading more of these stories. I grew to really love Lauren.

The courtroom scenes are great, and a lot will keep you guessing. Sure, some of the cold cases wrap up what seem a little easily, but even Lauren addresses that as she works. I read some reviews that Joe Wheeler is a cliche character, and I guess I could see where people get that, but for me, society as of late seems to be showing us everyday that these sort of angry, abusive men truly exist. Everywhere. To me, Joe was a sadly realistic portrayal of a horrible man, and his slow, boiling anger only added to the tension of the entire novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It looks like it's going to be a series, and it ends with some unfinished issues that make me even more eager for book two. 4 stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 02/08/2018.

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google ~ Instagram show less

This, apparently, fifth installment in the, "Cold Case Mystery" series featured Buffalo, NY detective, Lauren Riley and her ever so handsome partner, Shane Reese. At no point did it feel as though pieces of the story were missing. Enough background material came into play throughout the story to assist the reader in catching on, no matter at what point they enter this series.

The writing is solid and the characters are interesting in their ongoing development. The mystery's supporting show more evidence may be considered a bit light but it's still an engaging and adventurous police procedural replete with bucolic country and oceanside scenes of Ireland.

Detective Riley has been placed on, "Injured On Duty" status for six months with the recommendation that she rest and build up her pulmonary strength (after having punctured a lung in the line of duty). Not being one to sit idlely by, she renews her private investigor's license and is soon hired to procure a Picasso painting, stolen twenty years previously. Well, she's the queen of cold case work. So how hard could it be? Plus, she gets a free trip to Ireland with a lovely stay at a cottage B&B. Of course, Detective Reese has plenty of banked vacation time and rides shotgun alongside Lauren. It doesn't take long for the bodies to begin piling up. As they have no jurisdiction, Riley and Reese are cautioned to stay out of the matter. Yet, the homicides appear to be instrinsically connected to the theft. Such a conundrum and Lauren is rather known for not taking instruction terribly well.

The mystery had a number of red herrings, charming characters for the most part and beautiful Irish country scenery to enjoy throughout the story. This was certainly a lovely diversion for a hot summer's day. show less

A blizzard in the ski area outside of Buffalo strands Lauren Riley and her partner and housemate, Shane Reese, in an upscale spa. It all started when Lauren and Shane are lunching at a local restaurant. In walks Chris Sloane, one of Reese’s high school friends. Sloane is on the verge of opening a luxury spa and has invited ‘the gang’ from way back when to critique the resort. The group hasn’t spoken to each other since high school graduation, 17 years earlier. The reason being they show more were all interviewed and were prime suspects in the murder of their friend, Jessica Toakese that summer, a murder that has gone unsolved all these years.

As expected, conversation at the spa turns to the murder. Reese, being a homicide and then cold case investigator, has spent years trying to solve the murder without success. But apparently one of the friends has a good idea who the murderer is and plans to announce it publicly on her true crime podcast. Will she survive the weekend? Obviously not or there wouldn’t be a book.

This is a classic closed room mystery, up there with the best of them. Everyone, except possibly Lauren Riley, is a suspect in the current murder all having means, motive and opportunity. Lauren has to keep the situation under control and find the killer as the snow piles up outside and the tempers rise inside.

There’s a lot in this book to like. Firstly, the relationship between Riley and Reese, more than just partners but less than lovers, continues. Secondly, the plot draws you in. There is enough action as well as clues and red herrings to satisfy all mystery readers. And finally, the blindingly beautiful snow is a character unto itself.

You don’t need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy Catch Your Death. It is available in regular print. I hope you read it and enjoy it. And, if you’re particular to mysteries set in Buffalo, I’d suggest Stephen Talty’s Black Irish and Hangman. show less

Lauren Riley is on a 6 month medical leave, having not sufficiently recovered from a knife in her chest, which occurred in the last Cold Case Investigation book. Not one for sitting around doing nothing, she renews her Private Investigator license and puts an ad in the newspaper. She wants something interesting so she turns down the ‘follow my husband’ or ‘scamming the disability insurance company’ cases and she finds it when Sharon Whitney calls.

Sharon was married to the rich, show more possibly mob-connected Howard Whitney. Twenty years earlier, a small Picasso painting Howard bought for his bride, was stolen and Howard brutally beaten. They collected $3 million in insurance proceeds, which was split between them. Their high-profile divorce was not amicable. They’ve spent the last 20 years fighting with each other.

The prime suspect in the robbery, although there was no evidence and thus no charges were pressed, was an employee, James Breen. Shortly after being cleared of the crime, he moved back to the small Irish town Keelnamara. When Sharon learns of Breen’s death, she immediately buys the small cottage he lived in so it could be searched, hopefully producing the painting. She’d like Riley to take on that task, with quite the hefty fee promised. Riley persuades Reese to use some accumulated vacation time to join her and off they go on what promises to be a working vacation, with lots of down time.

Sharon’s ex-husband, though, has the same idea. He’s been paying Shamus Gordon, a local PI and disgraced garda, to keep tabs on Breen these past 20 years. Gordon’s hot on the trail to find the painting as well, using any means possible, including following Lauren and Reese.

However, trouble follows Riley wherever she goes. An autopsy reveals the Breen did not die of natural causes. Additionally, Breen was known for talking about the painting, making the townsfolk think he had it, even though he denied it. When Breen’s cottage as well as the guest house Riley and Reese are staying in are ransacked, the duo realize there’s more than meets the eye. Suspects abound.

There’s a lot in this book to like. Firstly, the relationship between Riley and Reese, more than just partners but less than lovers. Secondly, the plot—art theft and murder---draw you in. The characters range from exceedingly nice to exceedingly shady. There is enough action to satisfy all mystery readers. And finally, both the beautiful and sometimes rough Irish scenery and the wildly varying Irish weather are great for armchair travelers.

You don’t need to have read the other books in the series, to enjoy The Parting Glass, the name coming from a famous Scottish and Irish song about farewells. show less