Can you believe Cold Blood is Detective Erika Foster book five? It’s doesn’t seem that long since I was introduced to Erika yet she feels like an old friend. Anyway today I’m thrilled to be sharing my review as part of the incredible 3 day blog blitz arranged by bookouture and huge thanks go to them for the arc and opportunity in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
She fell in love with a killer, now she’s one too.
The suitcase was badly rusted, and took Erika several attempts, but it yielded and sagged open as she unzipped it. Nothing could prepare her for what she would find inside…
When a battered suitcase containing the dismembered body of a young man washes up on the shore of the river Thames, Detective Erika Foster is shocked. She’s worked on some terrifying cases but never seen anything like this before.
As Erika and her team set to work, she makes the link with another victim – the body of a young woman dumped in an identical suitcase two weeks ago.
Erika quickly realises she’s on the trail of a serial killer who’s already made their next move. Yet just as Erika starts to make headway with the investigation, she is the victim of a brutal attack.
But nothing will stop Erika. As the body count rises, the twin daughters of her colleague Commander Marsh are abducted, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Can Erika save the lives of two innocent children before it’s too late? She’s running out of time and about to make a disturbing discovery…there’s more than one killer.
Released 20th September 2017 and available to purchase now.
My review
Anyone who follows my blog will know I’m a huge fan of the Detective Erika Foster series so when I saw Cold Blood was due for release I’ll admit I let out a little (ok big) squeal.
Having read all the books in this series I knew when I picked up Cold Blood I had to have plenty of time to read it, you can’t pick up one of Bryndza’s books and say I’ll just read a couple of chapters before bed time. No, you just can’t because before you know it the sun is rising and the birds are tweeting. I know this from experience.
Cold Blood opens with Erika being called out after a suitcase is found washed up on the shore of the River Themes, when it’s finally opened Erika is shocked to find the dismembered body of a man. With no identification Erika and her team are set to work and when their investigation leads them to a similar case Erika knows she’s on the hunt for a serial killer.
While investigating the murder, Erika’s life is as complicated as ever. Her love life especially, I was really hoping Erika had found her match but then that would probably be boring, wouldn’t it. Things aren’t helped when she is the victim of a brutal attack and ends up having to take time off work. Erika is so head strong, determined and it’s a nightmare for her not being able to lead the investigation. I feel really sorry for Erika, she never seems to get a break, but she never lets it get her down. If anything it makes her more determined. She’s just such a great character, I think I can safely say she’s one of my favourite detectives.
Like expected this isn’t a comfortable read, in fact it really gave me the chills. Max and Nina especially, Max is a right psychopath and I certainly wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark ally. At times I felt sorry for Nina, as we got to read some chapters from her it gives us an insight to how things have unfolded and how she became involved. At times I could have given her a kick up the bum for being so naïve.
Cold Blood is another absolute cracker from Robert Bryndza, it’s tense, gripping and had the hair on my arms on end yet again. I’m not sure how Bryndza does it, I wonder if he gives himself nightmares the way he does his readers. So would I recommend Cold Blood, I certainly blooming would. I wouldn’t recommend it as a stand alone though, you really need to follow the story from the beginning and honestly you wont be disappointed at all.
About the author
Robert Bryndza is the author of the international #1 bestseller The Girl in the Ice. The Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller is the first book in the Detective Erika Foster series.
The Night Stalker, Dark Water and Last Breath are the second, third, and fourth books in the series, and the fifth book, Cold Blood is now available to pre-order.
Robert’s books have sold over 2 million copies, and have been translated into 27 languages.
In addition to writing crime fiction, Robert has published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels.
He is British and lives in Slovakia.
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