A COLD DAY IN HELL

A detective’s complicated past catches up with her when she investigates a murder.

Together with her partner, Shane Reese, Detective Lauren Riley of the Buffalo Police Department has a great record clearing cold cases. Now a hot one is about to change her life. Frank Violanti, a cocky lawyer who’s been her enemy in many a court proceeding, begs her to use her PI license to investigate the murder of Katherine Vine, which took place outside of the Buffalo police jurisdiction. His godson, David Spencer, who admits to having had consensual sex with Katherine in her car, parked near the store where he works, shortly before she was strangled with her own scarf, has been arrested for the murder. Since Lauren’s two daughters from her youthful first marriage are both in college, she has some time on her hands. Against her better judgment she takes the case, at least in part because the arresting officer is Joe Wheeler. During the short time she dated him after her first husband bailed, she realized that Wheeler was a bad cop who was physically abusive to her. Unchanged by time, he expresses his rage over her interference after the first court hearing by punching her in the face. Although Lauren divorced her second husband, Mark Hathaway, for cheating, their sexual chemistry flares up when they meet again despite Lauren’s reservations. After Mark, who runs with the same crowd, tells Lauren that Katherine’s wealthy, well-connected husband has been having an affair, she comes up with plenty of information casting doubt on the case against David but also learns a few unsettling facts about his past. Stalked by a furious Wheeler and harassed by the unhappy district attorney, Lauren has all she can do to keep her life together.

The first in a planned series by Redmond, a retired police detective, is an excellent police procedural combined with a psychological thriller.