Highly Anticipated Sequel in Paige Shelton's Alaska Wild Mysteries: COLD WIND

by Donna Huber

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

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

December 2020; Minotaur Books; 978-1250295316
audio, ebook, print (304 pages); mystery

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 (read my review), 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.

Buy Cold Wind at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up today! Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.