Cold Blooded

Cold Blooded
4 Stars

A new serial killer is roaming the streets of New Orleans and detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya receive a lead from the most unlikely of sources, Olivia Benchet, a woman who claims to have seen a murder in her dreams. Despite his skepticism, Bentz is ultimately convinced when a body is found fitting Olivia's description exactly. Is there a connection between Olivia and the killer?

Series note: The author's note at the end of the book indicates links between the New Orleans and Savannah series. For readers who prefer to read in order, the continuation is The Night Before.

An entertaining thriller with some surprising twists and turns.

Jackson's research is top-notch with interesting details on female saint show more murdered for their beliefs. It is clear that not much has changed in society when it comes to women being persecuted for rejecting male advances and attention. Moreover, the manner in which Jackson works the supernatural element into the story is compelling and makes the trope more believable in a fictional world that is not paranormal in nature. Although the plot moves along at a solid pace, there is one section just before the end that is overly drawn out, and the writing here could have been shorter and tighter.

Olivia and Rick's slow-burn romance is better than in the first book. Olivia is a particularly endearing character due to her feistiness and determination to get to the truth despite Bentz's doubts and suspicions. Rick is clearly conflicted in his feelings for Olivia, but his honesty, integrity and selflessness are evident throughout the book as details of his past are revealed. It will be interesting to see where Jackson takes this relationship in the future.

In terms of the secondary characters, I am still on the fence with regard to Bentz's partner, Montaya. He is often immature and makes too many sexist comments. Likewise, Bentz's daughter, Kristi, comes across as a spoilt brat and some of her actions make her unlikable. Both of them have their own books and will hopefully mature before their stories.

Overall, an enjoyable read, and I look forward to continuing with the series. show less

When Olivia Benchet has a dream about a violent killer, she knows it is more than just a nightmare. Detectives Ruben Montoya and Rick Bentz don't believe her story of "visions" until their notes of the events outlined by Olivia exactly match the details of a decapitated woman found in a burned out house. Going on the assumption that Olivia seems to have some knowledge of the crime, Rick spends time with her and finds himself overwhelmingly attracted, even if he doesn't believe in her visions. It isn't long before Bentz and Montoya realize that they are dealing with a serial killer, and Bentz fears that the clues they have found so far will lead them back to his own family.

Cold Blooded is very well paced, doling out just enough clues and show more intertwining them with the personal lives of the characters to keep the reader engaged throughout. Although there is a romantic subplot in the book, it never feels out of place and does not detract from the mystery. The religious aspects of the story have been thoroughly researched and add interest to the book. Some of the smaller plot lines are a bit of a distraction and the ending feels a little rushed, but overall, Cold Blooded is a worthy addition to the Bentz and Montoya series and is a generally enjoyable read. 4 1/2 stars show less

Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson
3.75 stars

This is the second book in the New Orleans series with detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya, and a serial killer who kills his victims in the way the saints were martyred. A woman named Olivia Benchet can see the murders happen, unfortunately the killer can see her too and now she is on his list of saints to kill.

At first skeptical, as time goes on Bentz and Montoya realize that Olivia is their best chance at catching the killer, something that becomes critical when they realize that Bentz's 19 year-old daughter Kristi is also on his list.

Jackson seems to have a 'formula' for her books, a ritual serial killer with a 'special name' in this case The Chosen One, a woman with a connection to the show more killer, a romantic interest for said woman and a dark secret from the past, usually also tied to the woman. Despite these similarities, Jackson keeps the stories interesting with the variations in her characters. The way each one reacts to the situations and suspects all around. In this case the killer has blue eyes and so do several of the male characters. And even when you know who the killer is, you still don't really know who he is, until the end.

This book kept me fascinated until the end. When the killer was revealed. You also learn more of Bentz past and a little about Montoya, also a fascinating character.

~ Suspense/Thriller ~ finished 7/15/2009 show less

i read this in paperback originally. I have not yet finished the series but that is my goal for this year. lisa jackson has the perfect way of blending romance and suspense.

I'm a big fan of Lisa Jackson books, and this one didn't disappoint. I was hooked from beginning to end. I can't wait for the next book to come out and see where the Bentz/Montoya storyline goes!

Kept me on my toes!! I thought I knew who it was and I'm thrown for a loop!!

Action and suspense were good. Setting was interesting. You sort of have to read the books in order if you want to understand the relationships.