An intriguing, multi-layered, cerebral whodunit with bursts of vicious action, Cold Fear brings murder and mayhem – violently erupting like a volcano – to the idyllic, picturesque, and peaceful capital of Iceland. The writing duo of Brandon Webb and John David Mann deliver another compelling and fast-paced thriller filled with stimulating characters, captivating mysteries, riveting action and fascinating outcomes.
Finn travels to Iceland on the hunt for members of his former Navy SEAL unit in a desperate attempt to figure out what happened on a mission in Yemen that left him disgraced, his best friend dead and innocents murdered. While his usually flawless memory has little recollection of the events that night, his powers of observation and investigation are still strong. In the process of putting these elite skills to use, he is drawn to an investigation into the mysterious death of a woman found under the frozen surface of a lake, surreptitiously assisting a brilliant Icelandic detective while trying to convince her he’s not a suspect. And then more bodies start to drop in a place renowned for its lack of violent crime. Turns out, Finn isn’t the only one on the hunt. A dangerous contract killer is out to silence Finn before he can find the truth. Will Finn be able to clear his name and fulfill his personal mission find those responsible for the reprehensible actions in Yemen and hold them to account? Or will he be silenced before the truth can be made public?
At its heart, Cold Fear is a character driven novel. It starts with Finn, an enigmatic man with a strong moral code and innate curiosity that leads him to want to help others, even when it takes him away from his primary focus. He can’t help himself. He’s drawn to service and it’s in his nature to solve mysteries by leveraging his training to bring answers to those who seek them. Then there’s Detective Krista Kristjánsdóttir, a formidable and brilliant woman who uses a combination of experience, intuition and an unrelenting pursuit of justice to move an investigation forward despite facing monumental challenges. She’s incredibly impressive and one of the top female characters I’ve read recently. Next we have Boone, a former Navy SEAL and hyperaware, immoral psychopath on a mix of pharmaceuticals that make him immensely dangerous to anyone and everyone he encounters. This dude is crazy and capable, a dangerous combination. And finally, there are several wonderfully developed supporting characters that add so much to the story through their appearance and personalities. It’s a cast of characters that bring a perfect balance to this story.
I’m immensely impressed with Brandon Webb and John David Mann. The transition from writing non-fiction to fiction is not an easy one to pull off, yet two books into this series it’s clear they have conquered this feat with aplomb. Steel Fear was a blindsiding hit for me last year and Cold Fear is a pleasant surprise as a wonderfully satisfying sequel. When the third book in this burgeoning series is released next year, I will not be shocked at how good it is. Because it’s clear, without a shadow of a doubt, that these guys have the goods to deliver distinctive, top-notch thrillers year in and year out. Now’s the time to get into this series because it’s about to take off!
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