Running Cold

By: Susan Walter

Narrators: Selah Victo, Erin Moon, Jess Nahikian, Braden Wright

Brilliance Audio

ISBN: ‎ 978-1662515354

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 10/08/2024

Format: Other

My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)

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In this heart-pounding story of deception, murder, and survival, a former Olympian retreats to the Canadian wilderness for a fresh start, only to find out that the past will always catch up to her.

Julie Adler’s perfect facade is shattered by grief when her husband commits suicide. His death reveals that their luxurious California life was a house of cards, and his secret business dealings have left Julie penniless.

As she strikes out on her own, Julie feels drawn to her old stomping grounds in Banff, a charming and isolated ski town where she once trained for the Olympics. She finds work as a housekeeper at a luxury resort, but just as she starts to piece together a new life, an eccentric guest turns up dead. And Julie, the last person seen in her hotel room, is the prime suspect.

The evidence is stacked against her, but even in the encroaching blizzard, Julie knows her way around these mountains. She just needs to evade the police long enough to find the truth behind the murder…and before the real killer finds her first.

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Praise

“Set in a stunning but unforgiving landscape, Running Cold is chilling―both literally and figuratively. This twisty tale of murder, secrets, and exceptional human grit had me flying through the pages!”

―Robyn Harding, bestselling author of The Drowning Woman

“When Julie’s life is ripped apart by her husband’s untimely death, it’s just the beginning of the journey that will lead her into her dark past and the secrets that swirled around her, sight unseen. A taught page-turner that draws you in and never lets go...”

―Catherine McKenzie, USA Today bestselling author of I’ll Never Tell

“Like an avalanche roaring down a mountain, Running Cold will ensnare you and not let go until the nail-biting finish. Walter masterfully explores the triumph of grit, the bonds of friendship, and the majesty of nature.”

―Lori Brand, author of Bodies to Die For

“Running Cold starts with a memorable protagonist: a former Olympian put to the ultimate test in the wake of her husband’s death. What begins as a fight for answers turns into a fight for survival―but through it all, she's tough as nails, easy to believe in, and fun to cheer for. Susan Walter delivers a satisfying race to the finish.”

―Jessica Strawser, USA Today bestselling author of The Last Caretaker

“With top-grade plotting, breakneck pacing, complex female friendships, and a setting that’s as ruthless as a hard-hearted killer, Running Cold is the murder mystery/thriller mashup of my dreams.”

―Tessa Wegert, author of The Coldest Case

“Heart-racing, action-packed suspense, Running Cold takes you from the sunny splendor of California to the frigid Rocky Mountains…I could feel the snow chilling my skin and the adrenaline rushing through my veins as I turned every page of this cunning, spellbinding read.”

―Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and #1 international bestselling author of A Friend in the Dark

“With Running Cold, Susan Walter solidifies her place as an expert teller of twisty, surprise-packed, enormously entertaining mystery-thrillers. Set mainly in wintry Banff, Canada, this one moves like a shot as it snowballs into an involving tale of murder, crossed allegiances, double-dealings, and startling revelations.”

―Gary Goldstein, author The Last Birthday Party and Please Come to Boston

“Running Cold is an atmospheric thriller packed with sharply drawn characters and breakneck twists, but it’s the rich details that really set it apart. They make you feel like you’ve been air-dropped into the story, racing for your life right alongside the protagonist.”

―Jess Lourey, Edgar-nominated author of The Taken Ones

“Running Cold is a read-in-one-day kind of book that pulls you in from the opening pages and won’t let go. Thrilling, fast-paced, atmospheric, and with a heroine you’ll cheer for, this story will keep you entertained until the satisfying ending. Highly recommended.”

―Hannah Mary McKinnon, international bestselling author of Only One Survives

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My Review

Bestselling author Susan Walter (a favorite author) returns following Lie By the Pool with her latest RUNNING COLD —a former Olympian escapes to the Canadian wilderness for a new start in this intense and entertaining action-packed murder mystery thriller.

About....

Julie Adler, a former Olympic gold medalist, learns her perfect life is now imperfect. Her world begins to crumble when her husband commits suicide and reveals his dark secrets. Their luxurious California life is a lie, and now she is penniless.

She leaves alone and is embarrassed to tell her close friends how she could have been so clueless. She retreats to a place she knew from the past in Banff, an isolated ski town where she once trained for the Olympics.

Her friend helps her land a housekeeping job at a luxury resort, keeping her head down until a guest winds up dead. Julie is the last person to see her alive in the hotel room. Who is setting her up and why?

In the meantime, her friends came for a surprise visit, thinking she was on vacation at this luxury resort and not working there as a housekeeper. Nothing is as it seems.

The evidence does not look good, and Julie decides to escape again until she discovers the truth about what happened. Now, out in the vast mountains with an incoming blizzard. Will the real killer find her before she has proof of what happened to clear her name?

My thoughts...

RUNNING COLD is a spellbinding, action-packed, twisty, well-written murder mystery thriller full of suspense and tension! Atmospheric and chilling, it delves into the dark secrets of the past and leads to a shocking murder.

Susan Walter is a master storyteller, and in RUNNING COLD, she draws you into Julie's world with rich detail and a stunning setting. The protagonist's fight for survival is a gripping journey that keeps readers glued to the heart-pounding narrative from the beginning to the satisfying ending. Exploring complex female friendships adds depth to the story, and I loved the short cliffhanger chapters!

I enjoyed the Epilogue, the author's notes, acknowledgments, and the background of Banff Springs Hotel and its alluring, mysterious past.

Recs...

RUNNING COLD is for fans of the author and those who enjoy books by Hannah Mary McKinnon, Robyn Harding, Wendy Walker, Kaira Rouda, and Samantha M. Bailey. If you're a fan of these authors' suspenseful and thrilling storytelling, you'll find similar elements in RUNNING COLD.

Thanks...

I want to express my sincere thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a gifted advance reading copy of RUNNING COLD for an honest opinion of this thrilling tale.

@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars

Pub Date: Oct 8, 2024

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About the Author

Susan Walter is the author of Lie by the Pool, Good as Dead, and Over Her Dead Body. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After being given every opportunity―and failing―to become a concert violinist, Susan attended Harvard University. She had hoped to be a newscaster, but the local TV station had different ideas and hired her to write and produce promos instead. Seeking sunshine and a change of scenery, Walter moved to Los Angeles to work in film and television production. Upon realizing writers were having all the fun, Susan transitioned to screenwriting, then directing. She wrote and made her directorial debut with the 2017 film All I Wish, starring Sharon Stone.

For more information about the author, visit www.susanwalterwriter.com.