“We’ve got two muddy, silent mystery girls and a dead body. It all makes for some real concern.”—said by the laconic Police Chief Gril of remote Benedict, Alaska in Cold Wind.

It isn’t as if Beth doesn’t have enough going on already. Chased by her memories of an earlier kidnapping, Beth has left the lower 48 and moved to a remote Alaskan town. With her former captor still free, Beth is afraid and hiding. In addition, she is writing a thriller under a pen name and running, and writing, the local newspaper, the Benedict Petition. However, her strange facility with crime scenes encourages Gril to bring her along to a bizarre crime scene.

A huge mudslide brings a backwoods shed into the open. Inside, a nude and frozen woman is found. It appears she was murdered, frozen elsewhere, and then dumped in the shed. When Gril and Beth find a wood cabin nearby, the obvious suspect is the backwoods owner. But what, if anything, do the two silent young girls have to do with the crime?

There are three mysteries within Cold Wind: the dead woman, the two girls, and Beth’s still uncaptured kidnapper. All three are compelling plots. However, Beth’s plot is mostly backburnered here. The other two tales are intriguing and a challenge to solve. 4 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

My Thoughts

Cold Wind takes us back to Alaska where Beth continues to hide from her kidnapper who has still not been found. We learned a lot about the kidnapper in the first book, so I was so excited to start this one! While we do learn more about him including his real name and how he may be linked to Beth's past, that's it.

With that said there is still plenty going on in Benedict, Alaska. A women's frozen body is found that may be linked to the body that washed up on shore, two missing girls appear out of nowhere and multiple missing persons cases to solve in book #2!

This book ended with a huge cliff hanger and there is no third book release date yet! Yes, that is me being impatient. So many clues uncovered by Beth's mom, but nothing solved. I need closure people! So I'm hoping this series is only three books long!

This one is out today! Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the #copy!

Book Rating: 4/5

Wine Pairing: Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon

As the second book in the Alaska Wilds series, Beth Rivers' arrival in Alaska to hide from a kidnapper is a continuing thread. In Paige Shelton's first book in the series, Thin Ice, we met Beth when she left St Louis to escape a stalker/ kidnapper. She feels safer here where you recognize every face you see on the street. This is the backstory thread that will bridge the series together. In the mean time....

Beth has managed to make it through the summer months in Benedict, Alaska. Small town Alaska is a completely different experience but she has come to love the community and the residents. Mystery #1 happens when two young girls find their way to her door, she works with the locals to identify them. Mystery #2 happens when a mudslide uncovers a cabin hidden in the woods with a woman's frozen body tied to a sled parked next to it. While Alaska is known for cold, it has not been cold enough to freeze her this season. These two threads will twist and turn until Beth finds a long buried story that places her in more danger.

A great mystery/ thriller set in a beautiful background. Paige Shelton has done an excellent job of blending the two to keep this reader happy.

Beth is starting to feel at home in Benedict, Alaska, getting back into a routine that makes her feel more like herself again. Then a mudslide exposes secrets that have been hidden for a very long time. Beth is determine to find answers to the questions that arise, no matter the consequences.

This is the second book from the Alaska Wild series, and I'm happy to say I liked it as much as I did the first. Once I started reading, it was very hard to put the book down. The mystery was well done, with lots of suspects, twist and turns to keep the reader guessing. Ms. Shelton's writing paints a vivid picture of life in a small, remote town in Alaska and creates a lot of suspense at the same time. The characters are well-drawn, and I was happy to see Beth recovering more of her memory of the events in St. Louis which led to her escape to Alaska in the first place. I look forward to learning even more in the next book in this series.

A good follow-up to book 1. Definitely recommend reading in order.

Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC.

This is the author’s second book in the Alaska series. I really like a good backstory with a current book mystery. And this one kept me guessing. I fell for all the red herrings and that is unusual for. me. I really liked the rustic setting. The book is told in a no nonsense matter and I could relate to Beth, the main character. I also felt like I was a part of the town and its cast of characters.

I think anyone who likes mysteries in a unique setting will like this book. And while I didn’t read the first book in the series, I had no trouble following the storyline.

Cold Wind by Paige Shelton was my most anticipated new novel for December. It definitely lived up to expectations.

I've read a few books by Paige Shelton, mostly her cozy mysteries, but last December, I discovered her new series Alaska Wild Mysteries. In Thin Ice, Shelton took a darker turn with her mystery writing and I absolutely loved it. I couldn't wait for book 2.

In book 2 Cold Wind, Beth Rivers is trying to make a life for herself in the small town of Benedict where she is hiding from her abductor. Only one resident knows her secret, the police chief Gril. However, she suspects that other residents have figured out that she's hiding something. But probably more than a few of the residents have secrets they're hiding. Her hiding out isn't the only secret Beth is trying to keep; she's also a famous crime novelist. Thankfully she writes under a pen name and the trauma of her kidnapping has altered some of her physical features. When drug addict Ellen arrives at the halfway house where Beth mistakenly booked a room and recognizes her, is it time to come clean to the good people of Benedict, Alaska?

If Beth was looking for a quiet, off the grid place to hide she was only half right when she chose Benedict. It's off the grid with spotty cell service and the only reliable internet is at the library or local airport. The wilds of Alaska is anything but quiet. If the cold and wild animals don't get you, then you might just wind up murdered. The bodies have been mounting in Benedict since Beth arrived.

In this installment, the frozen, naked body of a woman is found in a trapper's shed. When two mute 8-year-old girls show up on the doorstep of the local newspaper Beth manages she can't help get involved in the mystery.

While Cold Wind is a sequel, it isn't absolutely necessary to have read Thin Ice before starting on this one. I do think it will be more enjoyable because you will know the backstory of some of the characters but as I've forgotten a lot of the details of book 1 it won't have an impact on your understanding of the story.

I loved the mystery in this book but I also liked that we got more details on the investigation of Beth's abduction case. Actually, I felt we got quite large discoverings and it has me wondering how many books are planned for this series. Perhaps, after her case is solved, Beth will remain in Benedict solving murders which would keep the series going. Or the trail in her case will grow cold. Either way, I do hope there are many more books in the series.

I love the cast of characters and the writing is just chilling enough to make for a great suspense novel without being super dark. Cold Wind will give you hours of fun reading during the cold, dark nights of winter.

My review is published at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/12/highly-anticipated-sequel-in-paige.html

As much as I enjoy the cozy mysteries author Paige Shelton has written, I prefer this new Alaska Wild series. Although these books still retain many aspects that cozy readers demand, they are edgier and have a distinctly different tone.

There are a lot of components to the mystery in Cold Wind, and I really liked how they all fit together. Readers also learn more about the man who kidnapped Beth in Missouri, and wondering where he's at and what he's up to ratchets up the suspense. Beth is a character who's easy to care about, to feel protective of. She's also got the background to be a first-rate sleuth: not only is she a bestselling thriller writer-- which means she has a tendency to see things differently than the rest of us-- she also worked for her grandfather who was the sheriff of their hometown.

Beth sometimes does risky things, and when she's getting ready to do so readers may be rolling their eyes and mentally calling her an idiot, but Shelton lets us in on the character's thought processes. Beth does assess the risks, and she does think things through before she goes ahead. It's this letting readers in on what the character is thinking that makes her such a sympathetic character-- even more so than just knowing what prompted her running away to Alaska.

Another thing to like about Shelton's Alaska Wild series is the setting itself. As Beth learns about the land and the people of Benedict, so do readers. A land that's tucked away from the rest of the world. Where cell phones don't work very well and landlines are a must (and sometimes extremely difficult to get to). Of people living off the grid and neighbors allowing them to do so without question. Of a place where people have a tendency to pick and choose the laws they obey. It's a different world up there, and Cold Wind lets readers take a good look at it as Beth becomes accustomed to her surroundings.

Yes, Paige Shelton's Alaska Wild series is what I call "more-ish"-- I want more of Alaska, I want more of the people of Benedict, and I want more of Beth Rivers. Trouble is, now I have to wait for the next book. Woe is me!

When I got the first book in this series, I had no idea it wasn't a cozy [as I have read Ms. Shelton's other book series, that are in the Cozy Mystery genre] and was a little hesitant because I am just now getting into the regular mystery genre. And then I started the book and was sucked in and now I am officially hooked [which is just a way of saying that Ms. Shelton knows her way around her genres and knows what and how to write a REALLY good book]. I was so excited to see that the second one was due and that I got it from NetGalley and I couldn't wait to dive in and immerse myself back in the world of Benedict, Alaska [a place that, for me, is great to read about and one I would never, ever go to]. And this book did not disappoint. I am not sure that I will sleep real well tonight after that last 15%. And that end? Boy-howdy. WHOOSH.
I never saw ANY of this coming. NONE. OF. IT. Which is just absolutely glorious. I read a lot of cozies and other "mild" mysteries and so I have gotten good and figuring stuff out - when I cannot, well that book goes to the top of the list and stays there.
Beth is a great main character and while her backstory is always there [it kind of has to be], it doesn't always interfere with the here and now [though sometimes it does, but it never feels like a plot device, it just feels like Beth trying to deal with the crap that life has dealt her] and you just keep rooting for her to get ahead and move forward. I love her interaction with Gril and Donner and Viola and Orin and how even though they don't know her well, and she has only been there a short time, they all trust each other [as much as one can, and needs to in the middle of freaking BFE] and as each day passes, she trusts them all a little bit more and that is a good thing. I hope. EEK. CANNOT. GO. THERE.
The mystery was good, but there is no way to break this down without a crapload of spoilers, so I will just say that if you are looking for a good read, like grittier mysteries and are fascinated by the wilds of Alaska [I'd prefer to NOT be eaten by a bear, so I am not that into it except by book], then this is the book [and series] for you. I am NOT looking forward to the possible year wait for the next one!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Shelton, and St. Martin Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cold Wind is another chilling story set in Alaska. This will keep you on the edge of your seat, as Beth helps solve the dicovery of two missing little girls and dead bodies. She also is trying to hide and find her kidnapper. You'll enjoy all the suspense.

I loved this book! It grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go until the very end. I love the small town Alaskan setting. I liked getting to know more of Beth and how she is recovering from her past traumas. The mystery was well written and kept me guessing until the very end. This book can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading Thin Ice, the first book in the series, where we were introduced to Beth and why she is in Alaska.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and St Martin's Press in return for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

Beth, a novelist, is living there under an assumed name- in hiding from the man who kidnapped and held her back in St Louis, leaving her with TBI and PTSH. The only one who knows her secret is the police chief but now she's beginning to think others might have figured it out. More urgently however is the mystery of the frozen woman found in a shed and two small mute girls who turn up at Beth's doorstep. The girls are quickly claimed by Tex, their Tlingit father but no one is certain he's the bio dad. Who is the dead woman? That's a question that takes Beth and others in Benedict down s an ice cave and into the woods. This has terrific atmospherics (oh the snow and mud) and wonderful characters. Beth's struggles with her issues as well as with her mom (geez) are nicely described. The solution to the mystery might leave you scratching your head a bit- know that it's complicated and, I supposed, fitting for an area where rugged outsderism (I know that's not a word) rules. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This was a wonderful read which will be fine as a standalone and given the final page- I'm really looking forward to the next one.

Beth is living in Benedict, Alaska in hiding from the man who stalked and kidnapped her. She is settling into her new life quite well. But suddenly two mud covered and silent little girls show up on her doorstep and plunge her into unraveling a mystery that keeps becoming more complicated rather than clearer. I loved the character development and atmospheric storytelling as I was thoroughly creeped out and intrigued by this page turner.
This is the second book in a series and when I finished it I was so in love with all the characters and the setting that I had to go back and read the first one!

Paige Shelton book two in her Alaska Wild Mysteries series keeps readers going as Beth isn't ready to move forward. The author is able to keep readers up to date even if this is your first time reading her books. The story is easy read with a mystery that will keep readers wanting more from Paige Shelton.

At times readers will wonder if they are reading a different story as the book has three different story lines going on but soon the readers is able to tie everything together bring the story to a amazing end.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of Paige Shelton Cold Wind.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Beth Rivers is still hiding out in Alaska because the man who kidnapped her has yet to be apprehended. She is getting more comfortable in her surroundings and is writing again.

There was a recent mudslide that has shaken the town up a bit. Two young girls are found. They can hear but they don’t talk. Their mud-covered state leads everyone to believe they have been out in the elements awhile. The mudslide also opened up a path to reveal a house in the woods and a shack with a dead body. The woman is frozen stiff and while it is chilly in Alaska it is not cold enough to freeze a body solid and keep it frozen.

Is there a connection between the woman and the girls? or just crazy incidents happening at the same time? Beth is very drawn to the girls and needs answers, so she inserts herself into another investigation that could make living in the lower 48 staying a step ahead of a kidnapper safer than the wild winds blowing through Benedict Alaska.

I was thrilled to receive an early copy of the first book in this series, Thin Ice, and have been waiting somewhat impatiently for this book but let me tell you it was worth the wait.

Just like Thin Ice, Cold Wind grabbed me right away and the book was impossible to put down. Many authors have a descriptive writing style but Ms. Shelton’s is unique in that she takes us on the scene like we are watching a movie. She is able to paint pictures with her words without getting overly wordy. The scenes came alive in my mind in living color and the story just flowed. There are several suspenseful scenes intermixed with some milder ones but the pages seemed to fly at breakneck speed. I had to know what was going to happen next.

I was very impressed with the way Beth is evolving as she remembers more about the trauma she survived that had her landing in Alaska. She really is a strong woman because life in Alaska isn’t easy especially after all she has been through. She is surrounded by a very interesting group of supporting characters. We met several more in this story. Some who escaped to Alaska for their own reasons.

Cold Wind actually gave me shivers and chills. Beth Rivers is a powerful character and I am so enthusiastic about this series and to see her story continue.

To really appreciate this story you should read Thin Ice first to understand Beth’s journey, plus it is an awesome story too! Look for Cold Wind on my Best Reads of 2020 list.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book in this series about Beth Rivers, mystery novelist, who has moved to very small Benedict, Alaska, to hide out after a traumatic experience that has left her physically and emotionally traumatized. She needs to hide out and heal. I was really looking forward to this second book.

Benedict is an interesting setting and full of wonderful characters. The atmosphere is so intriguing and well presented. In this story two lost young girls turn up at Beth's door. They do not speak and have not been reported missing. The town springs into action. A dead body is found in an abandoned shed. It has been frozen for years. Who would keep a body frozen and who is it?

Beth helps the law investigate and runs into an assortment of characters who live off the grid and are quite quirky. The problem I found is that Beth is quite annoying in this story. First of all, it's weird that the police take her along on the investigations. She blabs things to other residents a lot. She doesn't mind sharing. She breaks into people's homes. She questions people relentlessly. Why would anyone answer her intrusive questions? She puts herself in really dangerous situations. She is really quite annoying in this book. Still there is something likeable about her.

It is a wonderful mystery to escape in if you don't use too much logic. Benedict and its citizens are fun. You don't have to have read the first one to enjoy this as the author does a good job of catching you up. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I love books set in Alaska, the Last Frontier, because the lifestyle is so different. Shelton shows you how different and introduces her characters as how they survive. This book is very well written with great characters. Adventure and intrigue abound. Enjoy!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.

Paige Shelton's Alaska Wild series is not a cozy series but rather excellent character-driven thrillers featuring an intriguing group of individuals and their life in the Alaskan wilderness. Please see my detailed review on www.reviewingtheevidence.com in January 2021.

I enjoyed this book! Going into it, I didn't realize it was the second in a series but I wasn't lost at all. There was so much detail from the first book, I wasn't lost at all. The only character that must've been explored more in the first book was her mom.

I thought this book was very easy to read and grabbed my attention pretty quickly. It felt like there were 3 different storylines that weren't connected in the beginning so it was fun watching them come together.

I enjoyed the setting in Alaska. Alaska doesn't seem that distance or far away from the rest of the US, but it's interesting how it actually is. It's so remote and it's possible for people to live off the grid out there.

I liked Beth, the main character, but I also felt like she was a little flat as a character. While she is a writer, it was interesting to see how she didn't have too much personality and was more of a reporter, in my opinion. There were times she just gave information instead of reacting with any sort of emotion.

I'd give this 3.5 stars out of 5. I enjoyed it and I'd recommend it to people who love mysteries.

This author is a beloved cozy writer but she has proven herself a thriller writer with this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.