THE BOOK OF COLD CASES

4 stars out of 5

Stories that go bump in the paranormal night (or even touch upon it) aren't my usual fare, but this one sounded intriguing so I went for it. Now that I'm done, I don't hesitate to recommend it to fans of the genre as well as those like me who normally prefer their thrillers a little less spirited.

In Claire Lake, Oregon, by-day medical receptionist Shea Collins is an after-hours operator of the Book of Cold Cases, a true crime website. Her interest in the topic was prompted by a horrific childhood experience - escaping an attempted abduction that could have proved deadly. When a patient named Elizabeth (Beth) Greer comes into the medical office one day, Shea recognizes her from a much-publicized and never forgotten incident in 1977, when Beth, the beautiful and eccentric daughter of wealthy parents, was charged and subsequently tried for the savage murder of two men. No motive was found - the murders were thought to be random - and ultimately, jurors found her not guilty. Since then, she's led a secluded life in the garish mansion in which she grew up with unloving, always fighting parents - a father who was murdered in cold blood and mother who later died in an accident.

Intrigued but not hopeful for success, Shea contacts Beth to ask for an interview. To her surprise, Beth agrees - allowing Shea to visit her in the family mansion. And therein lies a problem; every time Shea visits, strange things happen; faucets turn on, cupboard doors open and objects move around - kinda cool, I suppose, except that no one but Beth and Shea are in the house at the time. For her part, Beth seems to accept what's going on around her; Shea, though, isn't quite so comfortable.

Still, she refuses to stop investigating, connecting with several people involved in the years-ago case and even Beth's longtime family attorney - most of whom agreed to provide insights and information at Beth's surprising request. Chapters shift from what's happening in the here and now to Beth's and Shea's childhood experiences, all shedding light on what really happened that formed the women they've both become. For the record, neither Shea nor Beth was particularly likable despite their youthful circumstances; only two characters, a police officer and Shea's private investigator, came across as "normal" (for wont of a better word). And while the supernatural elements weren't overly obtrusive, I kept waiting for a plausible explanation that (understandably) never came.

So here's the skinny from my perspective: If you like your thrillers sprinkled with Twilight Zone dust, this one should be right up your alley (hey, if a nonbeliever like me can enjoy it...) And also for the record, I think this would make a great movie or TV series. Whether or not that happens, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. That I failed to finish it by the release date is on me - and for that I apologize profusely.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (Berkley, March 2022); 350 pp.