Unearthed buried bones also expose old secrets and past traumas.

It's December and Pennsylvania Homicide detective Parker Reed has been called to the scene of a "cold case" when a dog unearths bones. When Parker and his partner identify the bones as a man who disappeared thirty years ago.

Trisha has returned home. There she is reunited with her Mother Sharon, and her childhood best friends, Dannie and Carlyn. She has spoken to any of them since she left town when she turned eighteen. Before they all get the chance to become reacquainted, Detective Parker Reef and his partner show up and inform Sharon that the remains found have been identified as her long missing husband, Lester. Trisha and her friends were just teenagers when Lester went missing.

This is the second book in the Northampton County series. It will work as a stand-alone novel but there are some parts that will be more understandable if you read the first book in the series, River Bodies first. Either way, this book was good, as in I-sat-and-read-it-in-one-sitting-good! I enjoyed reading more about Parker Reed and watching him investigate this cold case. But this book isn't entirely about him, the reader is shown the lives of Trisha, Sharon, Carlyn, and Dannie as well. Katchur gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of these characters to show their motivation, their relationships, their emotions, hardships, and thoughts.

I enjoyed the Detective work done in this book. It was believable and well thought out. Katchur provides the reader with the detective’s thoughts and theories and why they made the decisions they did. I found this to feel very authentic and added in my enjoyment of the book. I always enjoy doing my own detective work while reading. I also love a good mystery. Buried secrets - bring them on! I'm in!

Captivating, well written, perfectly paced, well developed characters and with an interesting plot, this was a fantastic edition to the series. I have a feeling that Katchur is just getting warmed up. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Childhood friendships are often a touchstone in our adult lives. This particular small town cop and mystery novel builds upon those friendships, something that happened to several of the friends, and how it impacted their life choices. Strong characters and good pacing make this an enjoyable read, once you get past what one parent is/does.

Cold Woods offers a different take on mystery/crime in a couple of ways. You would think the main character would play a larger role but instead, the author concentrates on the three friends and their families...and this makes the mystery more interesting. What actually happened to Trisha's stepfather? There are a number of secrets that come to light as the novel unfolds. The conclusion was also a bit unusual, but I liked it.

Read in March; blog review scheduled for July 30, 2019.

NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer
Mystery/Crime. August 13, 2019.

It’s been three decades since Trisha’s father disappeared. Only a teen at the time, there was little she could do, but she never believed he walked away voluntarily. Now remains have been found, remains that prove to be those of Trisha’s long missing father. Homicide detective Parker Reed is assigned the cold case and begins his investigation close to home, with Trisha and the home she grew up in. I’ve read that people who have a loved one disappear feel like they die a little more with each days that passes with no word about what really happened. So is it better to get the worst possible news, that your loved one is truly dead, or to wait (and hope) for a happier outcome? In Katchur’s book, not knowing may have been the better choice for many concerned in this dark and twisted tale

COLD WOODS is Katchur's second novel featuring detective Parker Reed. But the real star of the story is Trisha, a hardened woman in her forties who returns to her hometown to attend the funeral of a family friend, but when recently discovered bones are revealed to be those of her stepfather, Trisha does her best to control the situation, not wanting past secrets to ruin her life. Trisha is also trying to escape her abusive husband, but a person can only do so much ... Great characters, great plot, sophisticated writing. I really enjoyed Katchur's previous book RIVER BODIES and COLD WOODS was even better. Can't wait for the next one.

This was a book that covered family, friendship, trauma, and survival. It also had murder, suspense, and touched on some uncomfortable subjects. I thought the author did a great with the way the story was developed and the subjects were covered. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.