Despite having a backlog of books to read and review, I accepted the author's offer to tackle this book - mostly because a) it sounded interesting and b) I'm always on the lookout for a new series to follow. This one is the second in the series - the first is Cold Comfort, released last year. I didn't read that one, and while I always recommend starting any series at the beginning, I didn't feel at a disadvantage here.
Hartbourne Metro Police rookie detective Bridgette Cash has been given an assignment to investigate the disappearance of fellow police officer John Tyson, last seen working for the police in Sanbury, a couple of hours away. The job is considered a bit of a respite for Bridgette, who apparently narrowly missed being killed off in the first book. But early on, she runs afoul of the Sanbury police when she tries to defend (and befriend) Hughie, a mentally challenged man, when officers use excessive force to get him to the police station. The police chief further resents Bridgette's intrusion on the gone-missing Hartbourne officer (that's putting it mildly; he sticks his foot in her way - and often in his own mouth - every time they meet and is a totally unlikable person. For the record, just about every person she meets in this town seems to be a jerk, a lecher, or worse).
Meanwhile, the town itself is in the midst of building a high-stakes ski resort that's expected to be a big boost to the economy. As she begins her investigation (trying to work around the local police), Bridgette manages to get on the bad side of one of the project's big investors, making her stay - and progress toward finding the missing officer - even more difficult. Complicating things still more is the threat of a huge snowstorm that could bring everything, most notably Bridgette's investigation, to a halt for several days.
It doesn't take long, though, for her to conclude that officer Tyson was murdered. But just like the woman Hughie is accused of murdering years ago, there's no body to be found. Bridgette finds who she hopes is a friend in a local man who was close to Tyson, and together with him and Hughie, she tries to get to the bottom of things without landing in jail or the hospital. And as she discusses progress with her chief back in Hartbourne, she gets even more distressing news: It's likely that one of her co-workers had a hand in her near-murder. But who?
As is typical in books like this, the heroine - Bridgette - comes off as super-human at times (reminding me a bit of Nora Roberts' Lt. Eve Dallas, who somehow survives injuries that would put any other woman down for the count). And I must point out that the characters here use each other's names in their conversations way, way more than "normal" people do, nearly driving me buggy at times. Still, it's a solid plot, and while the ending isn't a cliffhanger, it does leave open the door for the next installment (reportedly Cold Hard Cash).
I'll be waiting!
Cold Trail by Trevor Douglas (independently published, January 2018); 323 pp.
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