Cold Pursuit - Nancy Mehl - 4.5 Stars, Rounding Up to 5 Stars - A spiritually uplifting Christian suspense novel that will leave you immersed from start to finish!

"And I will bring you through this storm. You are my beloved child, and I never left you."

I am not really a general suspense or thriller reader - but now I will be, as Nancy Mehl is now a new favorite author! WOW, I read this in 1 day ya'll. ONE. DAY. This was so close to a perfect read for me and I can't wait for book 2 as this ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger! It's fast paced, has great faith elements and discussions surrounding mental health (schizophrenia and synesthesia).

In the story we are following River Ryland and Tony St. Clair. They are now private investigators in their own practice and former FBI employees. River and Tony are great friends and now partners in this new practice together. As we see them start to work on getting new cases, there are remnants of a previous case that we see from the prologue still haunting them. They also have some personal issues they are each dealing with that bring emotional depth to the story.

As they get their first case to try and find a mother's missing teen that has been missing for 4 years, we get the perspective of someone named Brian - we know Brian is a killer but how is he involved in their case? Brian has schizophrenia and synesthesia - both mental illnesses that have went untreated for too long and he is suffering. Some parts of his POV as a killer were a little unsettling for me to personally read, but it really did add to the depth of the story and I understand why it was added. You have empathy and compassion for Brian because of what he is going through mentally, but you also don't excuse what he is doing because we know everyone ultimately is responsible for their own actions, regardless. We see how he is tied in with the case River and Tony are working through and it's all makes for an action packed story!

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, thrillers or suspense novels. I loved our characters and hope there will be a little bit of a romance form between them. I felt like it was hinted a little bit in book 1, so hopefully we will see more development there.

For content warnings: Clean read, but some of the killer POVs may be a little unsettling with mentions of the killings, blood, mental illness, etc. Also, River's mother has Alzheimer's so we see some of her struggles in that regard.

Thank you to Baker Publishing and Bethany House for providing a copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

COLD PURSUIT (Ryland & St. Clair Book #1) by Nancy Mehl is a fast paced and gripping Christian suspense and the first book in this new series. These stories feature ex-FBI profilers, River Ryland and Tony St. Clair who have left the FBI and are opening their own private investigation firm.

Watson Investigations is opened by River Ryland and Tony St. Clair in River’s hometown of St. Louis. River left the FBI with PTSD after her last horrific case and her mother needs her now after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Tony follows and has mild aphasia and some loss of feeling in his hand and feet after being shot four times by the same perp. The killer is now in prison, but the DNA is not only his and there may be a follower who wants to finish the job of killing River.

At the same time, they get their first P.I. case. A mother whose son has been missing for four years comes to them for help finding him. She knows he is probably dead, but she would like his remains to put him to rest. They begin the investigation and follow a convoluted series of clues and help from people in his life that lead them to a surprisingly close suspect who is determined to punish anyone who makes him mad.

This is an intense suspense read with well-drawn protagonists. Their introduction in the prologue starts you off with a bang and this is the over-arcing plot that will continue in the series and keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat even as you follow their first P.I. case from start to finish in this book. The evidence, clues and twists come at you quickly even as they intertwine so this book is difficult to put down. I read Christian suspense/fiction from other authors and do not mind religious dialogue, prayer, or religious references, but there is too much for me in this story. It pulled me out of the thrills and chills. Overall, I really did enjoy the cold case mystery, the potential of romance between the two protagonists, and the threatening serial killer in the background who we know will return in the future.

A great start to a new Christian suspense series.

What a thrilling read. 5⭐️s

Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl drew me in from the very first page. The book begins with River and Tony, FBI profilers, who have found themselves in an impossible situation at the hand of a criminal they have been profiling.

The story jumps forward to their newly opened private investigation firm where Tony and River meet a mother seeking answers in the disappearance of her son. A cold case from four years ago, Chris seemingly disappeared and was never seen again. The trail of evidence that unravels before them reveals there is much more to this case than they ever expected.
Also in this timeline is Brian, a troubled young man suffering from schizophrenia, his story is told from the first person point of view. The pain of his inner dialogue and a glimpse into the medical condition from which he is suffering allows the reader to watch his character fully develop from within his own thoughts.

I love cold case mysteries. The unraveling of this story was more complex than I initially expected. The faith content was written beautifully, and the multiple POV writing was so immersive. I cannot wait for the release of the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House for an advanced ecopy to honestly read and review. All opinions are my own. Publication date was July 11, 2023.

This suspenseful story hits the ground running with characters that fairly jump off the page!

Cold Pursuit is the debut book in the new suspense series. Ryland & St. Clair, by veteran author Nancy Mehl, and was a welcome and exciting surprise for this first-time reader of the author’s work. With solid backstories for the main characters and an intricate and compelling plot, I was hooked by the story from the terrifying prologue to the final resolution.

The main characters, River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are well-developed, with complex and gutsy histories that made these two individuals matter to me at once. Both have struggles that are a result of a traumatic incident that occurred at their previous job. I found River’s family story equally compelling reading as the investigation storyline. Brian’s narrative was riveting.

The plot involves a cold case disappearance of a teenager, the two main characters establishing their private investigation firm and coping with the residual effects of their final case with the FBI, the lasting impacts of divorce, infidelity, and mental illness on families, drug use and overdoses, and the characters’ thoughts on their relationship with God. Some of these are difficult, tough subjects, and the author does a wonderful and sensitive job weaving them together to create a mesmerizing, edge-of-your-seat story. I can’t wait to see what the author follows up with in book two.

This suspenseful story hits the ground running with characters that come alive on the page. I recommend COLD PURSUIT to readers of thrillers and suspense.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ryder Ryland is drowning. She's been kidnapped, forced in a trunk and thrown in a river. Her partner Tony St. Clair was shot before her eyes. It seems like the end for both of them.

Nancy Mehl writes Christian fiction, and she does it well. I've read several of her books and I've liked them all. Her characters are not over the top self-righteous or preachy, she writes them as real people with everyday struggles that show their need for God.

This book is kept me wanting to know how it was all going to be tied up although I did end up figuring out who the killer was but there is a secondary story that I believe will continue on into a series.

I liked it very much and I will read the next one as soon as it comes out!

Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl First in a new series, Cold Pursuit introduces River and Tony, Private Investigators who were former FBI Agents. Tense, suspenseful mystery with unique characters, a bit of romance, and unexpected twists. Learned about synesthesia and more about schizophrenia which the author skillfully wove into the narrative.
Thank you to the author, Bethany House Publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I love all of Mehl’s novels. Great suspense and mystery in each of them. Also when she brings in behavioral analyists. In Cold Pursuit we have former FBI behavioral analysts River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are attempting to start their own business as private investigators after the devastating trauma of their final FBI case. Their first customer concerns a missing person which as they delve into happenings and incidents surrounding this person, other things began to come to light.

I love all of Mehl’s novels. Great suspense and mystery in each of them. Also I especially enjoy when she brings in behavioral analyists. In Cold Pursuit we have former FBI behavioral analysts, River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are attempting to start their own business as private investigators after the devastating trauma of their final FBI case. Their first customer concerns a missing person which as they delve into happenings and incidents surrounding this person, other things began to come to light. Mehl deals expertly with a neurological disorder known as Synesthesia (which I had never heard about). It was an interesting, albeit scary disorder. She expertly shows what can happen with a mentally challenged person who was bullied all his life. All in all, as all of Mehl’s books we have mystery, suspense, real action along with a serial killer. Very well formed and believable characters with descriptions of all scenes that you can see with the mind’s eye. What an interesting book! ….Thanks to Bethany and the author for a copy to read and review.

Cold Pursuit, by Nancy Mehl, is another tale from this author full of suspense, action and the unknown. Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland and her former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair, team up to discover the whereabouts of a young teenage boy who has been missing for several years. Will they be able to bring resolution to his grieving mother or have they stirred up a hornet’s nest that will bring danger from a new direction!

Hold tight for an ending full of surprises!

This is a well put together Christian story. I hope the word "Christian" doesn't put people off though. The story was SO well done with so much depth. Both in the main characters, River and Tony and the murderers as well.
I have to admit that this author did a good job when it comes to the creepy factor of the murders and attempted murders. Also there are several crimes that are revealed as River and Tony investigate their original assignment.
I enjoyed both River and Tony flaws and all. It was realistic that there are some physical things that they were dealing with along with so many strong recovery emotions as well. Adding River's mother added just one more thing to her already full plate.
Tony has been and continues to be River's best friend and he's been faithful to that friendship. Could there ever be more to that than friendship? Not sure about that yet. River is going through a crisis of faith though. Angry at God for the betrayal of her earthly father.
One thing I am sure of is that there is a satisfying conclusion to at least the assignment that River and Tony took on. They had to peel back the onion to get through the layers of deceit. However, there is one dangerous stalker who hasn't been caught. Yet.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Meet River and Tony, two ex-profiler FBI agents who have started a private investigation company. When a grieving mother asks them to help her find her son who has been missing for many years, they are unaware that this will lead to the uncovering of a serial killer. Will they find the missing teen, or will they be thrown into something more sinister?

This is a murder mystery that I enjoyed immensely. Nancy Mehl was incredibly clever in how she wrote this book. She linked the killer from River and Tony’s past to the present really well. This gave the book a chilling aspect as I was not sure when the killer would strike. She also managed to write the main antagonist in a light that made my heart bleed for him. In the book, he suffered from schizophrenia and synesthesia. As a character, he brought to light how people with mental illnesses are treated by their loved ones and society. Another mental illness that was explored is Alzheimer’s. River’s mother suffers from this disease, and that, along with a complicated past causes many rifts in their relationship.

A strong trend throughout the book is the exploration of God. Nancy Mehl uses her writing to share that God will love, forgive, and guide us no matter what happens. She explores unbelief and questioning of God and what people blame Him for. She also explores repentance and reconciliation.

The relationship between Tony and River was written well. Their friendship and fierce protection of one another was beautiful. It showed the intricacies of true friendship and loving people through their brighter and darker moments.

If you are looking for a gripping book with a strong emphasis on faith and the humanness that affects this, you should read this book! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews. All views and opinions are my own.

If you are a fan of Nancy Mehl, you will probably enjoy this book as well. It is not my favorite by her, but I found it to be a good read. The ending left one thinking that there would be a sequel.

When I first stated reading this book the one word that immediately came to mind was sinister, then as I kept reading it was twisted and tragic. I can promise you if you start this book be prepared for a roller coster of thrills. This author takes you on a journey like non other from the view of the Killer to the way of the hero's. I felt like the author did a great job at catching the struggles of River and Tony and how with River's mom being sick and her fight to keep her mom safe to both River and Tony's struggle with being captured and hunted. I liked Tony he was the strong silent type but you could tell he balanced and kept River ground when it felt like her life was falling apart. Overall I can't say there was one thing I didn't like about this book and I can't wait for more from this Duo. It was well worth the read for sure.

Nancy Mehl’s latest, Cold Pursuit, is packed with twists and unexpected surprises. Tony St. Clair and River Ryland face their new careers as private investigators with the burdens of their damaging pasts. Additionally, she uses synesthesia—a neurological phenomenon where two or more senses cross. The combination of a cold case, powerful suspense, and a mystery creates a fascinating storyline. She addresses mental health issues with respect and utilizes anticipation to take the reader deeper into the current and cold case. I loved the profiling aspect that River and her partner Tony employ as they hunt for the killer. Cold Pursuit is a fabulous read!

This is a novel for readers who like more character thought and development than action and suspense. The novel starts with a very suspenseful scene but it is just a prelude to the later story. That later story is mostly Ryland and St. Clair getting used to working together, investigating their first case, and our discovering the personal issues they face. The plot moves along rather well in those areas and there is another spurt of suspense at the end.

We know who the villain is far from the end so there is no need to try to figure out the identity. Since the emphasis is more on character than action, there are several issues explored in the novel. There is Alzheimer's and elder care. There is PTSD. There is mental illness and a condition called synesthesia. There is also high school teacher misbehavior. Even though there is not suspense throughout, these interesting issues kept my attention. There is also a very strong and clear Christian faith message included.

All is not settled at the end of this novel and there is the potential for future suspense. I liked getting to know Ryland and St. Clair and will be watching for their next adventure.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Whenever I start a new Nancy Mehl suspense, I know there will come a moment when I’m absolutely gobsmacked by a twist I didn’t see coming. And even when I try to figure out the twist ahead of time (because I know it’s waiting for me), I rarely can. I’m still gobsmacked when it shows up even when I’m bracing myself for it. I don’t know how she does it so consistently but it’s always one of my very favorite parts of her stories, and that proved true for Cold Pursuit as well.

River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are former profilers with the FBI who left after a very traumatic experience that happened as they tracked a serial killer. Now they are partners in a private detective agency in a small St. Louis suburb while River cares for her mother who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. There’s a lot of family dynamics involved in River’s story, and I appreciated the emotional layers we unpacked in Cold Pursuit. I am also looking forward to further development of the existing layers – as well as exploring new ones – related to River’s family in the next books. River & Tony’s relationship is promising for romance potential as the series progresses, but right now they are just best friends and partners with the faintest stirrings of more. I suspect that Tony’s feelings have been leaning that direction a bit ahead of River’s, and I can’t wait to see who initiates any changes in their relationship status in later books.

BUT, first and foremost Cold Pursuit is a suspense novel that will have you on the edge of your seat as various threads intersect and separate and tangle together. River and Tony’s honed skills in behavior analysis serve them well in many ways in their new gig as private detectives, but their investigation into a missing son whose mother desperately wants closure stretches requires a different skill set as well. I enjoyed watching their sharp minds, intuition, and friendship work together on this case that takes them in directions they never imagined going, not to mention the twists that threw them – and me – for a loop. There’s an overarching plot thread that I suspect will carry across the series, and I can already tell that it will keep my heart in my throat until it’s resolved. I’m still shivering a bit when I think of a couple of scenes/revelations in this book!

Bottom Line: Riveting suspense. Unique characters. Layered relational dynamics. Realistic explorations of faith issues. A hint of romance. And those stunning twists. These are all trademarks of a Nancy Mehl novel and, in particular, of Cold Pursuit. You will find yourself unable to put down this story until you’ve reached the end and then you’ll inevitably start stalking the internet for word of book two. I look forward to watching Ryland & St. Clair’s relationship develop in future stories and also watching how the author resolves the series arc that had me on the edge of my seat throughout Cold Pursuit. Is it 2024 yet?!? Pick up Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl if you’re in the mood for an intriguing read that’s part psychological thriller and part cold case mystery with romance potential and a sweet message of faith.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This is not a positive review of this book. I did not enjoy it for quite a few reasons--the Christian elements just didn't work for me. The mystery elements here meant much of the needed information came to the investigators coincidentally, literally knocking on the door. The writing was boring and felt like the author was trying to convince me of the reality of the story--more telling than showing. The characters, despite what they'd been through previously, didn't have a lot of depth. The disability trope is waved around, but not a lot of meat on the bones here.

River and Tony are both suffering from the after affects of their last case as FBI agents. They both about died. River decided to move to St. Louis because her mother is suffering from Alzheimer. Tony decides to move there also. He's never had a different partner than River and didn't want to start now. So they decide to open a PI office. A mother comes to them and wants her to find her son. He's been missing for four years. She just wants closure.

This is a fast paced mystery that will keep you guessing and kept me reading. There are several sub plots in the book as well. Interwoven is a mystery that doesn't get solved. River and Tony aren't even aware of what's going on. But they will.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

After surviving the Salt River Strangler, behavioral analysts River Ryland and Tony St. Clair leave the FBI to start a private investigation firm in St. Louis. Yet, as they take on their first case - a missing person who’s believed to have been taken by a serial killer - their pasts continue to haunt them. Both River and Tony must make peace with their pasts before another person goes missing - including themselves.🪦

Nancy Mehl is back with a thrilling start to her newest suspense series! I always appreciate a good psychological serial killer story, and the killer’s POV throughout the book really upped the suspense factor. I thought River and Tony were authentic characters with some great banter, and I thought the focus on mental health issues was interesting. I will say that some of the dialogue seemed a little stiff and was explaining too much at times and some of the spiritual content could seem contrived. But overall, I thought this was a strong start to the series, and I look forward to book 2 (especially with the cliffhanger!).👀

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bethany House Fiction for sending me a copy of this book!📘

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts above are my own.

If book 1 is any indication this is going to be an amazing series!

After near death experiences two former FBI agents from the BAU are trying their hand as private detectives.

But they soon learn danger is very near.

From the opening pages the author grabbed me with this story. The main characters, River and Tony were easy to connect with and the action, WOW!

Even in this first book there is a lot of character development, especially for River. She has a lot of baggage even beyond almost dying at the hands of a serial killer. It will be interesting to watch how she develops throughout the series.

With his strength of character, Tony was easy to love. He has his own baggage to deal with and not only from the night he almost died but I'm guessing there will be more to learn about our leading man.

The action was great, though for at least part of the storyline we knew who the antagonist was it was a very enjoyable read.

This story also shined a light on mental illness and the lack of the right types of services to help those who truly need it.

If you have enjoyed Nancy Mehl's recent stories this one is just as intense (and maybe more so). If you've not read Mehl's work before but enjoy Criminal Minds, this will be right up your alley!

I would like to thank the publisher Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and all opinions expressed her are my own.

Cold Pursuit is very well-written suspense that may give you goosebumps. I liked both main characters, Tony and River. River is dealing with almost being killed by a serial killer, living and caring for her mother with Alzheimer's, and her anger at God over her father leaving years ago. Can she handle any more? Tony is a strong Christian and a good partner for River in their fledgling PI business. I liked hearing from both main character's point of view and also the villain's. Author Nancy Mehl's writing style is easy to read, and the dialogue flows naturally. Matters of faith are woven in seamlessly. One of my favorite passages is, "The devil's playground was constructed of fear, deceit, unforgiveness, and resentment. And none of those elements were made of truth or light." The plot has enough twists and turns to keep me from guessing what all was going on. The case that River and Tony are working is wrapped up in this book, but there is something that isn't, and I look forward to reading Ryland & St. Clair #2.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and am sharing my opinion of this very exciting book.