The Dead Cold Series: Books 11-13

A Dead Cold Box Set, Volume 4

By: Blake Banner

Narrated by: Adam Grupper

Books 11-13 in the USA Today best-selling Dead Cold series from two-million best-selling author Blake Banner.

• Murder Most Scottish (book 11)
• The Butcher of Whitechapel (book 12)
• Little Dead Riding Hood (book 13)

When detectives John Stone and Carmen Dehan, who run the Cold Cases Department at the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx, choose their honeymoon together, there are three things they are very clear on: There must be good steak and whisky, it must be remote, and they must forget about work, cold cases, and murder for two weeks.

So a small island off the north coast of Scotland in a 16th-century castle seems to be just the job. After all, two out of three isn’t bad. At first, the place seems idyllic–the wild landscapes are breathtaking, the northern lights otherworldly, and the fireside talk, fuelled by good whisky and good Angus steak, is fascinating.

Maybe a bit too fascinating when it leads to a 40-year-old mystery about a man murdered, shot with a .38 in a locked room in circumstances that are, quite simply, impossible. And when the island is cut off by a storm and an identical murder is committed, well, what are two cold case cops on honeymoon to do?

©2018 Right House (P)2023 Right House Audio

just as good as the rest

I can't get enough of this series. the stories keep me guessing I have the answer only to be foiled 8n the end.

great narrator story

all of these books are great. I love the little mysteries and trying to figure out where Stone deductions has lead him.

Great as all the others sets!

The narrator is wonderful. He made a story come alive. And he’s very entertaining with many twists.

There’s a lot to like.

I’m now on book 14, so clearly there’s a lot to like. The main characters are fairly well developed, and a lot of effort is put into designing fresh mysteries for the detective pair to investigate. I’ve noticed a bit of self-indulgence by the author, though, who can over invest in unimportant tangents or annoying affectations (like the nutty people in the Red Riding Hood book; I get it, they’re mentally unstable). These detract from
The quality of the story.

Another great read. 😄

I just love the partnership between John and Carmen. And the intricate way his mind works.
The books are filled with Intrique and mysteries.

sweet title...wow a real who done it superb

love all of them, can't get enough of Stone and Dehan. already on to trick or treat. these would be great on TV!

Serious problems

1) I don’t really like John Stone. And with this narrator’s obnoxious nasal voice trying to sound tough transposed onto him, he’s just an annoying old man on a power trip. He doesn’t deserve Carmen.
2) There’s so much repetition of certain phrases, adjectives, etc it doesn’t reflect well on the authors level of education or intelligence. His attempts to be poetic and profound are unwelcome and extremely amateurish. He described something as “liquid silver” more times than I can count. It’s like he knows one thing… like punching or kicking in the “floating ribs” and inserts it over and over. Better to leave it out if he can’t find a replacement. He’s always saying “he/she leaned his/her ass…”. Every car engine gets “fired up” and “killed”.
3) The romance aspect is absolutely misguided and unwanted. It IS possible to have sexual tension and flirting continue on for years without having to take it to the next level. It also just makes these books even more unrealistic. You can’t just do that as a police officer. With your partner. Their dynamic as a couple is gag worthy while their banter as partners was reassuring.

There’s a lot more but I’m tired. The plots are decent and you can’t beat the price. So I’ve been listening and if I can handle it, I’ll finish the series.