Cold Blooded

Written by Lisa Jackson

Narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan

Best-selling author of Hot Blooded, Lisa Jackson reunites detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya in this gripping psychological thriller. As a serial killer terrorizes New Orleans, the detectives enlist the aid of psychic Olivia Benchet. As the beautiful Olivia paints a vivid portrait of the man they seek, Bentz finds himself thinking of nothing but seducing her. But as the killer claims yet another victim, Bentz realizes that both Olivia and his daughter Kristi are the next targets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781436182997

Lisa Jackson

When asked what has inspired her to write more than 50 novels brimming with adventure, intrigue, hot passion, and high emotion, bestselling Oregon author, Lisa Jackson gets a mischievous smile on her face. Then the words flow as fast as her fingers fly on her computer keyboard when she writes. Her eyes sparkling with memories, she tells stories of her youth, stories of a Huckleberry Finn childhood in the small lumber town of Molalla and on her grandparents' nearby farm in the hilly region of western Oregon. There in the old growth timber, Lisa rode bareback and raced along the ages-old sheep, cattle and deer trails. In the nearby river, she skinnydipped and caught crawdads in her bare hands. An inventive child, she sneaked out of the house and rode her bicycle or horse in the moonlight and dreamed up childish pranks that would have done Tom Sawyer proud. "Nobody could have had a better childhood," Lisa remarks, her twinkling eyes and got-away-with-something-grin giving her a youthful appearance that defies the fact that she is in her mid-40s and the mother of two college-age sons. "My childhood was enchanted. We were a small, tightly knit family. My mum and dad were and still are my greatest supporters." Why then does Lisa write lousy dads and conniving relatives into the plots of books that regularly earn berths on such national bestseller lists as USA Today's and Waldenbooks'? "I think the deepest angst people can experience is what can develop among family members, because our emotions run so deep there," Lisa replied. "Deep down, we care about these people, but being related doesn't mean we think alike or want the same things. I also think manipulative people are fascinating. Characters like those help me to keep the readers' interest. I love it when readers write me to complain that they didn't get any sleep the night before because they had to finish my book." Lisa studied English Literature at Oregon State University for two years before she married. In 1981, when her younger son was a year old, she began writing novels. But she decided she needed a steady income and landed a nine-dollar-per-hour bank job. Before she could begin work, however, her supervisor was arrested for embezzling. "About then I sold my first book, A Twist of Fate, which — guess what! — was about a woman suspected of bank embezzling. It was purely coincidental. The story came out of my background in banking," Lisa provided. "But I guess you could say, if not for a bank embezzler, I might not have made it as an author." In addition to suspenseful contemporary page-turners, Lisa also delivers medieval romances set in eleventh and twelfth century Wales. "I enjoy doing these medieval period pieces, because women were so trod upon then. By nature of their lot in life, I can generate empathy or sympathy for the medieval heroines. They're underdogs from the get-go. Tell me what woman doesn't root for the underdog!" Britannia Roads, a creative Lansing, Michigan tour packager, read the first in Lisa's medieval trilogy and loved her writing so much that she designed a tour of Wales, with Lisa as the featured guest. Tour members will visit some of Princess Diana's favourite places to stay in Ruthin Castle. They'll be in for a treat when Lisa regales them with author stories during the tour, for she is as talented at public speaking as she is at writing novels. When not writing, Lisa enjoys spectator sports, reading, watching The X-Files and socialising now that she's a single mum. Her favourite authors include Pat Conroy, Nelson DeMille, Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell, Dick Francis, and other authors who also write compelling page-turners.

Reviews for Cold Blooded

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cold Blooded
4 Stars

A new serial killer is roaming the streets of New Orleans and detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya receive a lead from the most unlikely of sources, Olivia Benchet, a woman who claims to have seen a murder in her dreams. Despite his skepticism, Bentz is ultimately convinced when a body is found fitting Olivia's description exactly. Is there a connection between Olivia and the killer?

Series note: The author's note at the end of the book indicates links between the New Orleans and Savannah series. For readers who prefer to read in order, the continuation is The Night Before.

An entertaining thriller with some surprising twists and turns.

Jackson's research is top-notch with interesting details on female saint murdered for their beliefs. It is clear that not much has changed in society when it comes to women being persecuted for rejecting male advances and attention. Moreover, the manner in which Jackson works the supernatural element into the story is compelling and makes the trope more believable in a fictional world that is not paranormal in nature. Although the plot moves along at a solid pace, there is one section just before the end that is overly drawn out, and the writing here could have been shorter and tighter.

Olivia and Rick's slow-burn romance is better than in the first book. Olivia is a particularly endearing character due to her feistiness and determination to get to the truth despite Bentz's doubts and suspicions. Rick is clearly conflicted in his feelings for Olivia, but his honesty, integrity and selflessness are evident throughout the book as details of his past are revealed. It will be interesting to see where Jackson takes this relationship in the future.

In terms of the secondary characters, I am still on the fence with regard to Bentz's partner, Montaya. He is often immature and makes too many sexist comments. Likewise, Bentz's daughter, Kristi, comes across as a spoilt brat and some of her actions make her unlikable. Both of them have their own books and will hopefully mature before their stories.

Overall, an enjoyable read, and I look forward to continuing with the series.

[ftbooklover · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Olivia Benchet has a dream about a violent killer, she knows it is more than just a nightmare. Detectives Ruben Montoya and Rick Bentz don't believe her story of "visions" until their notes of the events outlined by Olivia exactly match the details of a decapitated woman found in a burned out house. Going on the assumption that Olivia seems to have some knowledge of the crime, Rick spends time with her and finds himself overwhelmingly attracted, even if he doesn't believe in her visions. It isn't long before Bentz and Montoya realize that they are dealing with a serial killer, and Bentz fears that the clues they have found so far will lead them back to his own family.

Cold Blooded is very well paced, doling out just enough clues and intertwining them with the personal lives of the characters to keep the reader engaged throughout. Although there is a romantic subplot in the book, it never feels out of place and does not detract from the mystery. The religious aspects of the story have been thoroughly researched and add interest to the book. Some of the smaller plot lines are a bit of a distraction and the ending feels a little rushed, but overall, Cold Blooded is a worthy addition to the Bentz and Montoya series and is a generally enjoyable read. 4 1/2 stars

[oodsatemydingo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a big fan of Lisa Jackson books, and this one didn't disappoint. I was hooked from beginning to end. I can't wait for the next book to come out and see where the Bentz/Montoya storyline goes!

[camethyste_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down near the end...I wanted to see what was going to happen! I definitely enjoy this author.