COLD MALICE - Toni Anderson

#8 in the Cold Justice mystery series

ACTION-PACKED! - 4 STARS

Plot - 4 stars - Tess Fallon spent a lifetime trying to outrun her family's bigotry, but someone is using the anniversary of her father's death to carry out evil crimes and she's terrified her younger brother is involved. FBI agent Mac McKenzie is leading a task force investigating a series of malicious crimes in the heart of Washington, DC. His undercover work in an antigovernment compound twenty years earlier is related—as is the sweet, innocent girl he befriended back then.

Writing - 4 stars - This new-to-me author caught my attention early in the book and kept my interest throughout.

Characters - 4.5 stars - This is where the story shone for me. Tess Fallon spent her childhood in a family of White Supremacists, although she didn't share their beliefs. Now, as an adult, she shuns the spotlight and just wants to live a quiet life. Unfortunately, there's been a recent spate of murders that seem to copy the Pioneer group's manifesto, and she's under suspicion. Not only that, but she's also in danger because of her name, but the FBI isn't sure which side wants her dead. I like Tess because she's just a regular person who has been labeled and is now caught up in something that really has nothing to do with her. She has learned to defend herself and is smart not to trust anyone, but she's also very alone and vulnerable. I like her toughness and her common sense. Mac is the lead FBI agent on the case, but 20 years ago he was an undercover cop in the compound who befriended the little girl Tess was. They have feelings for each other, which complicates an already confusing issue. Mac is trying to do the right thing, but every time he backs off and focuses on his job, something happens to hurt Tess.

Title - 4 stars - All the books in the series have the word COLD in them, and this is no exception. Malice is appropriate because of the hatred shown by the White Supremacist group causing problems for the FBI.

Cover - 4 stars - One of the prominent covers shows a woman alone in a fog-shrouded scene, and this fits Tess and her situation very well.

Overall - 4 stars - Despite this book being out of my comfort zone, I found it exciting and was compelled to keep turning the pages. This is the first book in the series that I've read, but I had no problem understanding what was going on. If there were undercurrents from previous books, I didn't catch them and didn't miss them. This book was exciting and full of action. There seemed to be one thing after another, including murder, suspicion, suspense, infiltration, rebellion, not to mention love.

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I'm a huge fan of Toni Anderson's books but Cold Malice has to be one of my favorites! The past leading to the challenges and fears that Mac and Tess face in the present are so real and gut wrenching that I couldn't put the book down. Tess's upbringing in an anti government compound brings to light many of the issues our country is facing currently..
While Mac has a job to do, his feelings for the Tess he remembered as a young girl, can't get in the way of him doing his job. For Tess, she doesn't want the memories she has of Mac taking her back to the dark past of her family and her childhood.
A great book and a dark look into what lies behind closed doors!

Toni Anderson rights absolute thrillers! Great combination of suspense and heat in her Cold Series books. I read and reread these books just for the thrill sometimes. Even though I know what is going to happen, I always feel the suspense!

This is the 9th book in the Cold Justice series, and unfortunately I haven't read the previous books in the series. However I think this book read nicely as a standalone.
This was a entertaining read, I enjoyed every single page. Recommended.

I read this a while ago, but forgot to share my review - shame on me!

This book has everything I have come to expect from a Toni Anderson novel - fast moving action, good plot, three dimensional characters and a spicy romance element.

I've not yet come across one of these that I haven't loved from start to finish. Long may that trend continue!

Ive read and loved all of Toni Anderson's books so far and this is another fantastic read that will keep you hooked the whole way through! Tess was born into a family of white supremacists and when she was 10 herself and her little brother were saved by a man who worked for her dad at the time a man she has never forgotten and now 20 years later he is back in her life as they try overcome white supremacists, sleeper cells and solve murders while dealing with their own trust issues making this another cracking read full of all the ingredients we've come to expect and love from Toni Anderson!!!

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and Toni Anderson for the arc o Cold Malice my review is honest and unbiased in any way.

I loved the unique vibe of the book. Tess was one of the few survivors of a white supremacist group. She was 10 and her brother was a baby. Now, as an adult, she has done everything to distance herself from her horrible past. Of course, that can't happen! The action of the story was great-very fast paced. What killed it for me was how easily Tess forgave Mac. He was AWFUL to her and she just let it go. It was the most abrupt ending.

An outstanding story.
I really enjoyed this story . It's an amazing suspense/romance story .
The moment I started reading I was captivated . The storyline is intense and also very interesting , absolutely suspenseful . The story is very emotional somewhat dark . It definitely as twists and turns . The story has you on the edge of your seat and flipping the pages wanting more answers .
It's such a fantastic story . So well written I felt like I was there . I'm sure my heart rate increased . The characters are great . They range from dark and deranged to loving and brilliant . Tess is
a brilliant , strong , kick butt woman my favorite character in this book . Mac is a close second . He's caring , take charge true alpha hero . I highly recommend reading this fantastic story . I will definitely be reading more from author .

.“Both fast-paced and thought-provoking,
[Anderson] keeps the reader guessing right to the end.”
Highly recommended !

Brilliant read with all the things I enjoy in a book with a brilliant storyline and characters and I will look forward to reading more from you from this author thank you for my arc

Not my favorite in the series. It was a little all over the place for me and I have to admit I did not get Mac and Tess together they just did not fit I think she deserved someone who would put her first and that was never going to be him.If you have read the previous books in the series then you will want to give this a go

love it can't wait to read more of this series , with that said thanks Netgalley for letting me read and finally starting a series ive been wanting to start for a while , also thanks for letting me read it and review it in a change for my honest opinion

I so love everything that Andersen writes. Her kick ass herojne's manage to combine perfect feminity with awesome self defence and an ability to protect and defend themselves at all cost. Tess Fallon is no exception. Whilst her heroes gave the delicious ability to all alpha, and pure sex appeal. Again Mac is no different. The story is perfect blends of genres as the romance and attraction are enough to heat the pages whilst the suspense and thrill are enough to keep you engaged and guessing.
Can't recommend it enough

Theresa Jane Hines and her brother Bobby through a whispered word from a cowboy at the compound, escape a raid by the government and flee. They are now known as Tess and Cole. After being raised by a white supremacist extremist, Tess wants to build a safe and secure life for her and her brother.

Now, 20 years later, someone is bringing fire and brimstone back and Tess is once again sucked into this dangerous world as killings have once again sprung to the forefront.

Steve McKenzie (Mac) is now an FBI Agent. He was the new recruit at the compound that was instrumental in helping to take down the white supremacist group. Tess assumed Mac, then Kenny, was killed at the raid and is shocked to find out he was an undercover agent and not one of the cowboys that make her knees go weak.

Now Tess and Mac are working together and they are combustible.

Another wonderful romantic suspense book in the series by author Toni Anderson.

4.5 stars

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

Toni Anderson has written a gritty, taunt thriller this time around. Her hero is ambitious and her heroine has a family that casts a long shadow over her. These two are one of her most wonderful couples.

Theresa Jane Hines was 10 years old when the Pioneers compound was raided. She and her baby brother, Bobby, survived because she did exactly what Kenny Travers, a kind, cowboy, undercover recruit to her father's cause, told her to do. David Hines and his wife, Francis, the leaders of the white nationalist group, died that night, but their evil hate filled doctrine lives on.

20 years later Tess Fallon is now an accountant. Her brother, Cole, is a college student. They have changed their names and Tess has done everything possible to bury their past with the Pioneers. Unfortunately, some secrets just won't stay where you put them.

FBI ASAC Steve (Mac) McKenzie is on his way up the career ladder. His goal is to be a Special Agent in Charge (SAC) by the time he hits the big 4-0. The way his career is going, he just might do it. His new assignment is to the FBI HQ in Washington, D.C., a rung up that ladder after his success on a high profile case. He has come a long ways from his rookie undercover days as Kenny Travers with the antigovernment group which started his rise in law enforcement.

When high profile murders start taking place around Washington, D.C., Mac has the eerie feeling that this has a connection to David Hine's manifesto. He tracks down Theresa Jane, now Tess, and finds a beautiful young woman with nothing to hide, or is she? Mac is career focused, but Tess is awakening feelings in him. Feelings that, given who she really is, could destroy his career. Tess fears her brother, Cole is involved, but she needs to trust Mac or this new group could destroy them both.

Toni Anderson is an expert at writing well-written stories full of suspense, romance and interesting characters and this book was no exception. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. Tess had been part of a cult until she was 10 years old - when the FBI had raided the compound and her entire family except her and her baby brother had died. Her family life growing up had been full of punishments and chores. She didn't know a loving home life until her and her brother had been adopted after the raid. At the time of the raid, Mac had been undercover investigating the cult. The police had made it seem like he'd died in the raid, so when he shows up on Tess's doorstep years later as an FBI agent investigating hate crimes eerily similar to those her dad had promoted in his manifesto, it comes as a big shock to her. Mac feels in his gut she's not responsible for the crimes and the two grow closer as they interact trying to solve the case before the signal for revolution her dad had preached about - bombing the FBI building - happens. When the clues start to point to Tess's little brother, the two must make some tough decisions. And eventually Mac must decide between being with the love of his life or leaving her to advance his Bureau career.

Toni Anderson continues to be one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, and I can't wait to read additional books in the Cold Justice series.

I struggle to find good romantic suspense novels. This one was decent and held my interest. Tess is the daughter of the leaders of a white supremacist cult (The Pioneers) that was raided 20 years ago. Tess was adopted, changed her name, and created a life far from the hatred that her childhood centered around. Now someone is using her father’s manifesto to commit a series of murders in an attempt spark a revolution.

Mac was fresh out of the police academy when he went undercover to help take down The Pioneers. He's worked his way through the FBI and landed the job of ASAC, leading the task force created to find the people behind the string of murders. He reconnects with Tess and together they try to figure out who’s behind these current murders. Along the way they fall for each other which adds to the angst since some think Tess may have followed in her father's footsteps.

Tess Fallon is the daughter of one of the most extremist families! Her dad and his Pioneer followers make Neo Nazis look tame by comparison. But when a young member saves her during a raid, she and her baby brother escape and leave all the hate behind them.

Fast forward 20 years and Tess is now an accountant and after the death of her mixed race foster mother, she again looks after her little brother who is now an undergrad. But their birth family and their minions are waiting in the wings to tamper with her happy little bubble!

At the very beginning of his law enforcement career Steve McKenzie went undercover in the Pioneers as Kenny Travers. Kenny inserted himself into the Hines family and did his best to protect Tess from her brothers incestuous advances. But once the raid went down he disappeared, without ever telling Tess he was a cop. But now Steve is going to smash back into Tess' life when hate crimes, just like those listed in her fathers manifesto, occur.

OMG this was a fascinating and spine chilling story! The whole bible bashing, gun toting, hate filled family made intriguing reading. Tess is very much a case of nurture overcoming birth nature. I was flapping in the wind trying to figure out who was on what side! I did however suss out who the "inside man" was - props to me! The added layers to the story including Steve's enmity with his ex-wife and the flashbacks to Tess childhood will make you gasp, scream and cry!

Steve still can't help jumping to some conclusions about Tess even as he realises she is not involved. Tess for her part does play things very close to her chest, but after her tumultuous childhood you can't help but understand why she does! Fabulously taut and tense thriller!

Once again Toni Anderson has written a very engaging novel of romantic suspense. Fortunately it was heavier on the suspense than the romance because I have to say I wasn't all that fond of the hero. Agent Steve McKenzie, while trying to be a dedicated FBI agent, was more often than not a jerk and not always the best agent. So if it hadn't been for Tess's previous history with the agent, I sincerely doubt that there would have ever been a romantic attraction between the two. That said, the mystery portion of the novel was gripping and caught my attention from the very first page. Definitely looking forward to more in this series simply because Toni Anderson does a great job with creating suspense and usually very interesting/likeable characters.

What a reminder that hate comes in many different forms, and can inhabit those we would never suspect….

Never has a book been so aptly named, as the malevolence permeating this story will sent a chill up your spine like no other! Tess Fallon was born into a white supremacist cult, but even as a young girl she didn’t belong in that world. When a Federal raid left her and her baby brother orphans, the two were adopted by a single woman and raised to be loving and inclusive. As Tess became an accountant and strove to eradicate her family’s legacy, that past seems to come back with a vengeance. As the anniversary of her father’s death approaches, someone is murdering people in the DC area who are in the news and are people of diversity. Who is trying to bring David Hines and the Pioneers hate-driven agenda back to the fore? And is her younger brother involved?

Whoa, this is one intense story! And sadly, one that in this day and age can be just too realistic. Ms. Anderson has written a plot inhabited with characters both noble and evil; it is a tale filled with hate, love, betrayal and loyalty, sometimes inhabiting the same characters, depending on which side you are viewing them from! FBI Agent Steve McKenzie saw the Pioneers up close and personal when he was a new officer working undercover at their compound years ago. He protected Tess then, and that bond continues to link them. As the two of them reconnect after all those years to figure out who is resurrecting the anti-government, white nationalist agenda of the Pioneers, the crimes and tension ratchet up. The mystery was excellent and kept me guessing until the end. The romance was real and a touch gritty, much like Mac himself. Our FBI agent hero here was rough around the edges, but like Tess I too fell for him. As always, this author delivers a powerful, well-written, engrossing novel!