Review: Cold Cold Heart by Tami Hoag (audio)

Title: Cold Cold Heart   

Author: Tami Hoag    

Narrator: Julia Whelan   

Published: January 2015, Brilliance Audio    

Length: 12 hours 20 minutes  

Source: Publisher 

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag delivers a shocking new thriller

Dana
Nolan was a promising young TV reporter until a notorious serial killer
tried to add her to his list of victims.  Nearly a year has passed
since surviving her ordeal, but the physical, emotional, and
psychological scars run deep.  Struggling with the torment of
post-traumatic stress syndrome, plagued by flashbacks and nightmares as
dark as the heart of a killer, Dana returns to her hometown in an
attempt to begin to put her life back together.  But home doesn’t
provide the comfort she expects.

Dana’s harrowing story and her
return to small town life have rekindled police and media interest in
the unsolved case of her childhood best friend, Casey Grant, who
disappeared without a trace the summer after their graduation from high
school.  Terrified of truths long-buried, Dana reluctantly begins to
look back at her past.  Viewed through the dark filter of PTSD, old
friends and loved ones become suspects and enemies.  Questioning
everything she knows, refusing to be defined by the traumas of her past
and struggling against excruciating odds, Dana seeks out a truth that
may prove too terrible to be believed…

My thoughts: I was really excited for this book to come out – I’ve really come to enjoy Tami Hoag’s books. In fact, she’s become one of my auto-authors – I see she has a book coming out and it automatically goes on my list. She’s also an author who’s books I find work really well on audio, so whether it’s through my audio contacts or my audible subscription or the library, I know I’ll be in for a great listening treat, and this one was no exception.

This book really could have been a continuation of the last Kovac/Liska book, The 9th Girl, as Dana was the 9th victim of that serial killer. This explains why Kovac and Liska were involved, as Dana is the only victim to survive, but they really only play a small part in the beginning of the book. Not really sure if this is all needed, but it does tie it all together, especially if you’ve read the other book. (I did and I highly recommend it!!!) 

What follows is a remarkably chilling thriller. Dana is dealing with the physical and emotional wounds from her ordeal, along with major PTSD. She is definitely not the person she was before she was attacked and is struggling to come to terms with that, as is her family. As she convalesces, she becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to her long lost best friend when a familiar face strikes a cord and reminds her of the past.

What I love about Tami Hoag’s books is that I am constantly guessing as to who the killer is. Every time I think I have it, I am foiled. She introduces us to such rich, developed characters, some immediately likeable and some immediately unlikeable and suspicious. It was so hard to know who was trustworthy and who wasn’t and I kept wavering on some of the characters, which kept me hooked on the story. I wanted to know who the bad guy was so bad and was so anxious for Dana as she got more and more involved in finding out what happened to Casey.

Another great story from Tami Hoag and I can’t wait to dig into the next. Have you read any by her? If so, what’s your favorite?

Audio Thoughts: Julia Whelan does a great job with the narration of this audio book. She is able to give each character their own unique voice and infuse just the right amount of tension and fear in the voices when needed. I find that really enhances mystery/thriller books.