Things are going well professionally for Lauren Riley. She recently accepted a job in the cold case division of the homicide bureau and she is enjoying the work. There is not as much time pressure and she doesn't miss being called out in the middle of the night to view a body with all the signs of violence a murder brings. She has a partner, Shane Reese, who she gets along with. At home, she has an empty nest as her daughters are grown and gone but she's learning to live with it.

One case that has haunted Lauren is that of a teenage immigrant who was shot and killed on the street a decade or so ago. The case was investigated closely at the time but no suspect was ever identified. Lauren and Reese are looking at the case. When Lauren stays late one night to work on it, she hears someone behind her. Before she can turn around, she is knifed, then kicked in the head as she falls to the floor.

When she wakes up in the hospital, she can remember little about her attacker. But who could it be in the middle of the police station? The files on the case she and Shane were working or what they call the murder book is missing from her desk. Why would that case be so important to someone else? Could her attacker be another policeman?

This is the second book in the Cold Case Investigations series. Lauren is an interesting woman, a professional who has put romance aside to concentrate on her career. It is a police procedural focusing on an area that many police units have created, the cold case area where cases from years ago can now be solved using modern police investigative tools and forensics such as DNA analysis that was not available at the time of the crime. The book also highlights the disgust that other police feel when they find a corrupt officer in their ranks. This book is recommended for mystery readers.

Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

4.5 stars - This book got my attention right from the very first chapter!! Trust me, you will get sucked in!

This is a typical police procedural, where the two main detectives are Lauren and Reese, two cold case detectives. I absolutely loved the relationship between Lauren and Reese. It’s complete platonic, at this point, but the way they interact as partners and are always there for each other, love love love! I will be reading the rest of the series, because YES it’s a series people! There are already 5 books. I’m behind.

This was a pretty short read, full of action and full of twists! I’m definitely a Lissa Marie Redmond fan now! BONUS: She is a retired cold-case homicide detective! This really adds an extra layer to the book!

Although I did not read the first book in the series, I promise to be such a well-written procedural that it was perfectly enjoyable as a standalone. An extremely well-written book with well Define characters and a solid plot, I enjoyed how nothing seemed to be what it first was. I enjoyed the protagonist Lauren Riley I felt she was a good main character. Intelligent and yet not too perfect. It has everything a mystery should have the characters mess together very well and the author added little bits of chaos here and there, but not too much to make it unbelievable. I definitely suggest this book.

This is a well written procedural where nothing is what it first seems. Although it's the second in a series, it's perfectly enjoyable as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

When I requested this book, I did not realize that it was the second in a series. I just knew that it sounded good and the cover was awesome so I had to request it. Thankfully, I didn't feel lost while reading. I enjoy police procedural type books so this book was a good fit. It was definitely a fast read, I didn't want to put it down. While it was good, I felt like it was just middle of the road in general. I liked the characters of this book. I will read the first book when I get the chance and will likely look for other books by this author.

“ Cold case detective Lauren Riley wakes up in the hospital certain of two things: she was stabbed and left for dead . . . and the person who did it was a cop.”
Lauren Riley must figure out what happened to her besides the author obvious. Someone stabbed her while she was working at her desk late at night. Lauren receives a message that has her requesting the help of a retired Lieutenant from the police department to track down a potential witness who by all accounts would love to stay out of sight. The witness is a police officer who has something to hide. I really thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has everything a mystery should have. Well written storyline with characters that mesh together perfectly. The author add some chaos but not too overdone that it is unbelievable.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun book! the pace was good, and I really enjoyed the plot and characters. The middle lost me a little bit in terms of holding my interest, but overall, this was an enjoyable read!

I’m always mad at myself when I manage to grab an advance reader copy of a book that isn’t the first in a series, but I really enjoyed this one!

Lauren Riley is a fantastic character, and Redmond’s writing grabbed my attention right away! Easy to read with a great plot line that doesn’t go to crazy to make it unbelievable The Murder Book was a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley & Midnight Ink for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cold case detective Lauren Riley, is left for dead and she is certain a fellow cop did it to her. A twisty turny mystery where friend and foe are unknown.

This should be a mystery about who stabbed a detective working on a cold case. The first 30% is the detective leaving the hospital and every person in her life saying “you look so much better.” I ended up not caring who stabbed her.

The Murder Book is the second installment in the Cold Case Investigation series by Lissa Marie Redmond. Lauren Riley, the protagonist, is a cold case detective, and although good at her job, makes mistakes. One of her most serious mistakes in this novel is that she discovers some dirt that happened in her own Buffalo police department, and when she pursues it (after repeatedly being warned off), ends up stabbed and hanging on to life. Lauren is stubborn and is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, as well as to find who tried to murder her. She is fairly certain her would-be murderer is a fellow cop, and treads on dangerous ground, almost getting herself, her partner, and others who are assisting her killed. In the first novel, as a PI, Lauren had worked with a difficult attorney to get his god son, David Spencer, off on a murder charge. She is successful, only to find that he may have been guilty after all. Lauren was previous engaged to Joe Wheeler, another police officer in the department, and a man who was abusive. He is murdered, and the other officers blame her. She is not popular.

Redmond has emerged as a serious thriller writer; the first book in the series is fascinating and suspenseful, with a shocking ending, and this second book in the series will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The novel is well-written, and the suspense begins immediately; suspense builds throughout and makes the novel very difficult to put down. The characters are well-developed and seem human due to the fact that they make mistakes and have flaws. Lauren isn’t particularly liked in the Buffalo Police Department, and as she makes progress in her own small cold case department, the resentment from the other cops is evident. The fact that she is persistent shouldn’t make trouble, but when it threatens the jobs of the others and threatens to expose some heinous crimes within the department, Lauren becomes a pariah.

The Murder Book is highly recommended for all thriller aficionados, and it is also suggested that readers start with the first book in the series, A Cold Day in Hell to get the background on Lauren et al.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a cop stabbed in the back
by another cop
in the station

all hell breaks loose...who could it be..nobody is above suspicion...and then the murder book is reported missing on all the cold cases that have happened over the years

this was a well written book that had you at the edge of your seat trying to figure out the hows the whys and the whens....

cant wait to read the next one in this series..this author knows how to grip you and keep you reading right to the end...

This second book about Lauren Riley and the Cold Case Division of the Buffalo, NY homicide division is intense and ends with a cliff hanger. The story opens with the anonymous stabbing of Lauren, who is working late in the Cold Case office. All she sees is city-issued police boots and uniform pants, as she is stabbed, stomped, and left for dead. If it were not for her faithful partner, Reese, she would have died on the floor by her work desk. She awakens in the hospital, where all those who love her are gathered, thankful that she is still alive. Surrounded by her family (i.e,, parents, sister, daughers, and partner), Joanna must recuperate from serious injuries, while she pieces together the mystery of her assault and the death of her former lover, who was also on the job. Learning that all of this violence is connected to a cold case murder, Joanna reconnects with an old, retired colleague to solve the mystery that has left her a weakened victim. Between enjoying her time with her daughters and appreciating her partner, Reese, who moves into her house to protect her, Lauren puts herself and her job at risk to find the true criminals. The suprise element is that this crazy experience is also linked to her PI case in the first book and the obvious psychopath she helped to avoid prison for a murder, which she is now convinced he committed. This one-time suspect has developed an unhealth fixation on Lauren, and the resolution will not be found in this book. I am waiting for the next episode with baited breath.

A great follow up to A cold Day in Hell, Lissa Marie Redmond brings us back to the cold case room where the story kicks off with a violent attack on our heroine. She wakes in the hospital with more mysteries to solve.
The author's descriptions of the people and scenery are so well done that it's very easy for the reader to picture themselves in the story. She's obviously done research and enjoys her craft.
As the story progresses, we'll see the good guys work through the clues to find answers that they did not know they needed until violence happens again and again. Do not try and watch TV while reading this book. Your attention will be totally focused on the book!

Enjoyed this crime thriller book which is a series of books. Did not read the first one but this did not detract from this book. I might read the first one now and will definitely have to read the third!!

Cold case detective Lauren Riley wakes up in a hospital bed certain of 2 things: she was stabbed and left for dead, and it was a fellow cop who did it. From the very first page of The Murder Book, Lissa Marie Redmond keeps you on the edge of your seat, trying to piece together Lauren's attack and why it happened. She works her way backwards, involving a retired lieutenant in her search for the truth. 

This was a fun read! Quick and easy, but also suspenseful and edgy. It's book 2 in the cold case series, and I definitely plan on reading more in the series!!

I really enjoyed this book.

Smoothly written police procedural as a cold case is being solved. I didn’t read the first book of the series but I did not feel lost. I will probably go back and read it though because this one was good. Crisp writing with distinctive characters. Twists and turns to keep you entertained. Recommend this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

The books starts with a bang and the intrigue never lets up from that point on. Detective Lauren Riley decides to stay a few minutes late in the cold case room working on a file, when she hears a noise, she assumes it is her partner who has forgotten something, as her has just left minutes before; she is attacked and left for dead, but as her assailant leaves, she sees the police issue boots and the corner of her murder book leaving the room. As luck would have it, her partner, Shane Reese did forget his ball hat and comes back just in time to save her life.

When she comes to in the hospital, all she wants to do is solve this case, her case, but who can she trust; only her partner, and through hard work, luck and a few old contacts, they figure out what cold case the assailant was after. Solving this case will take a lot of luck and a little bit of being rogue cops; together with a retired officer, Riley and Reese get to the bottom of things and find not only a dirty cop, but the leak in their department, and leaves everyone speechless.

This was the second book in the Cold Case Investigations series, and the first book that I have read, I have already put the first book on my wish list and cannot wait for the next book to come out. The characters were well written and it is nice to have partners with such a close relationship, that does not have romantic undertones; they are more like family. Throughout the book, we learn more about a character that was introduced in the first book and I feel like we will see much more of this character as the series goes on.

I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next in the series.