Books › The Book of Cold Cases
The Book of Cold Cases
368 pages
A chilling, atmospheric dive into a cold case that blurs the line between true crime obsession and supernatural terror.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like listening to your favorite true crime podcast alone in a dark, drafty house where the shadows seem to move. It masterfully blends the addictive, investigative pull of a cold case with the creeping, claustrophobic dread of a ghost story. The narrative shifts seamlessly between past and present, pulling you deeper into a decaying mansion that feels as much a character as the women inside it. There is a palpable sense of female rage and lingering trauma woven into the suspense, giving the scares an emotional weight. It is a propulsive, spine-tingling experience designed for readers who love morally ambiguous suspects, haunted spaces, and mysteries that refuse to stay buried.
- Mood
- eerie
- claustrophobic
- dread-soaked
- shadowy
- Tone
- suspenseful
- chilling
- inquisitive
- atmospheric
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- true crime obsession · lingering trauma · female rage · the weight of the past · haunted spaces
- The writing
- Sharp, accessible, and highly atmospheric, the writing builds a creeping sense of unease while keeping the pages turning effortlessly.
- The arc
- Begins with a spark of morbid curiosity that slowly morphs into suffocating dread, culminating in a cathartic confrontation with both literal and metaphorical ghosts.
- Who it's for
- Perfect for true crime junkies who love a side of the supernatural and readers who devour dual-timeline mysteries featuring haunted mansions and morally ambiguous women.
Content notes
- murder
- attempted child abduction
- trauma
- supernatural elements
- violence
About the book
A true-crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the author of The Sun Down Motel.
In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect - a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.
Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true-crime website, the Book of Cold Cases - a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea's surprise, Beth says yes. They meet regularly at Beth's mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a small girl outside the window.
The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?
Description from Open Library.
Books like The Book of Cold Cases
See why they match
The Sun Down MotelSimone St. JamesA deliciously creepy, neon-lit ghost story wrapped around a gripping true-crime mystery.
All Good People HereAshley FlowersA claustrophobic, true-crime-infused thriller that peels back the veneer of a picture-perfect small town to reveal the rot underneath.
The Overnight GuestHeather GudenkaufA claustrophobic, snowbound thriller where the ghosts of a gruesome past collide with a terrifying present.
The Lies I TellJulie ClarkA slick, cat-and-mouse psychological thriller where the line between predator and prey blurs into a satisfying tale of feminist vengeance.
The End of HerShari LapenaA claustrophobic plunge into domestic paranoia where exhaustion blurs the line between truth and deception.
The It GirlRuth WareA claustrophobic dive into the dark, lingering shadows of a toxic college friendship and the deadly secrets left behind.