Ice Cold Murder (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries) by Michele Pariza Wacek | Review and Guest Post

When the concept for The Murder Before Christmas dropped into my head, it didn’t come alone. It brought more ideas with it, including Ice Cold Murder and A Grave Error, which is a novella prequel.

So, from the beginning, it was clear this was supposed to be a series.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t resist it at first. I was in the middle of writing my second standalone, and had a few more ideas for more waiting in the wings. (My standalones ARE loosely connected, as they take place around Redemption, Wisconsin, which is the main world I write in, so it’s not like I’m writing completely unrelated books.)

I was never one to think in terms of series. When I started writing It Began With a Lie, the first book in my Secrets of Redemption series (which is the series that The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries spun off from), I was convinced that It Began With a Lie was going to be one book.

Well …

About six months in, I was despairing. It was SUCH a complicated storyline, which made me worry not only about the book ending up huge, but that it would also take me forever to write.

But then, I got the hit that it was actually two books, and so began the painstaking process of splitting the book into two.

From there, I figured if I was going to write two books, I might as well write three and have a trilogy. And then Charlie stepped in, and I ended up writing her story, which turned into Books 4 and 5.

You get the idea.

So, having a series show up rather than my normal standalone book idea was a different experience for me. And it was a little stressful … as in, what if I commit to multiple books and the series flops?

Well, Charlie isn’t taking “no” for an answer, so here we are with Ice Cold Murder. Murder Next Door, which is Book 3, is on its way to an April release.

I loved writing Ice Cold Murder. I always wanted to write a mystery where all the suspects were trapped in a house while a winter storm raged outside. I especially like REALLY cold settings for these kinds of mysteries, like in the Artic or Antarctic. (The Thing, anyone?) Although when I read those, I like to be curled up on the couch, covered with several blankets and a hot cup of tea in my hand.

Anyway, Ice Cold Murder isn’t nearly as cold as either of those places, nor is there any sci-fi alien monster running around. It’s a twisty cozy mystery that takes place in the 1990s.

I also always loved the closed–circle or small–group–of–suspects trope, which was perfect for this trapped-in-a-house-in-a-snowstorm mystery.

And, lastly, family secrets are a regular theme in my work. I always love the idea of secrets hidden in the past that impact what’s going on in the present.

Want to know more? Check out Ice Cold Murder and see what you think.

Ice Cold Murder Book Review

I really enjoyed Ice Cold Murder! Though I’ve never read the Secrets of Redemption Series, in which Charlie appears, I had no trouble with jumping right into the story. In Ice Cold Murder, Charlie joins her friend Claire to Claire’s grandmother’s house. Claire’s grandmother has died, and the will stipulates that the family gather together in the house one last weekend. This is an unusual request given that the family haven’t spent time together in the house for many years. Charlie only agrees to go because she’s worried about Claire who hasn’t looked well in a while.

As the story unfolds, you’ll really get to know the characters. The way the author helps us get to know the characters is the way in which I prefer. She weaves bits and pieces of their personalities and appearances into the book. It bothers me when an author spends a lot of time describing physical attributes of the characters. I’d rather form my own picture in my head. I was able to do that with this book, and I appreciate that.

Charlie is such a great character. I love that she runs a tea shop where she makes her own blends. She also can give you the tea you need when you tell her how you’re feeling. Of course, some people spread rumors that she’s a witch since she can concoct the perfect blend for you. And she lives in a “haunted” house. What is this? Salem, Massachusetts? I thought that was so funny. I’d totally be shopping at her place a lot! I always need a concoction!

Since this is set in the 1990s, there are some references that those of us who are old enough to remember the 90s will appreciate. I also loved the fact that Claire’s grandmother’s house was “modernized” probably in the 1960s or 1970s. We know what that style was! Go watch The Brady Bunch reruns if you don’t!

When the murder occurs, and the power goes out, things really get going. This murder mystery’s plot flows smoothly, and if you really follow the clues, you may just solve the mystery. I can honestly say that I only sort of suspected the character, so the reveal was exciting.

Ice Cold Murder is an exciting, charming cozy mystery with wonderful characters and a thrilling mystery. I definitely recommend it!