Absolutely gripping! 

Cat Kinsella has a boyfriend she keeps secrets from and a family she is keeping secret. She is also a detective investigating the murder of a young Australian back packer found dead in the room she’s renting from a former drug dealer. 

Full of twists and turns and families keeping secrets from each other. This is the start of a great new detective series.

I did quite enjoy this book although it seemed to drag a bit for me and I did get a bit confused about who the different characters were at times.  It was well written and overall a decent story but I didn't really like the ending and I'm not sure I'll be reading any more in the future.

A perfectly paced crime thriller, this 'whodunnit' is peppered with characters so well rounded you can almost believe you've met them in person. Everyone has secrets, everyone has a reason, and the main character - whose job it is to unravel all this - has secrets of her own.

A good story delivered well.

This is the second book in the series involving DC Cat Kinsella and although this is a stand-alone book it’s good to have read the first book Sweet Little Lies as there is a back story which continues in parts of this book which make more sense if you have read the first book. On saying that this is a good read. 
The story flows well and you can relate with some of the characters.

 Joseph Madden is a narcissist, he believes all women should fancy him. He asks Cat when she is buying coffee from what he makes out is his own business what he should do about his wife as he claims she is trying to try and frame him for something. Cat tells him he should go to his own local police station and ask there advice. She finds him creepy as he gives the big come on asking him to go away with him.  A couple of months later when a young woman is found murdered in her flat that things start to change. Joseph Madden is brought in for questioning and everything is pointing at him as the murderer. Cat has a niggling suspicion there is more to the case.  She does believe he is possibly capable of it and likes him even less. It’s just some things don’t add up. Is his wife lying? What about the sister in law! There are lots of different things going on in this story that will keep you wondering. Interwoven in the story is Cats relationship with Aiden whose sister was murdered which evolves from the first book. Cat is keeping their relationship secret from everyone or so she thinks. Uncle Frank pays Cat a visit and he is not the type of visitor she wants. Her relationship with her father has also had many ups and downs. This book does not disappoint and leaves you wanting more at the end. 

I would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC of this book to read all views and opinions are unbiased and all my own.

Stone Cole Fear is the second novel in the Cat Kinsella series.  This booked grabbed me by the second page and dragged me along.  When a young Australian woman is found dead, it's up to Cat and her partner to get to the bottom of the murder, digging deep into the lives of the Madden family.  But Cat is keeping secrets of her own.  I loved this novel and the last sentence had me begging for more.  Cannot wait to read book 3.  4 stars

A Detective murder mystery thriller written in such a wonderful way that it ticked every box for me. DC Cat Kinsella comes from a dysfunctional family herself and this crops up throughout the story which shows the human side of the police officer and also leaves us with questions about her. 
The storyline is  told through Cat's eyes as she endeavours to uncover the truth behind the murder of a young Australian girl. The suspect is arrested and witnesses including family members are questioned but Cat isn't convinced by all the statements made. Slowly more information and evidence begins to emerge. Has the right person been arrested or is this a set up? Up until the last few pages I was still not sure who the real killer was which is the real test of a good writer who is able to keep the reader dangling till the very end. This book is part of a series but stands well alone. The last line of the book shows though that there is more of Cat and her family to come.

This the second in a series and I’d read the first one and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like detective books and this detective is strong, female and feisty. Recommend (and recommend the first one too!). 
5/5 on goodreads.

**4.5 stars**

Stone Cold Heart is the second book in the Detective Cat Kinsella series (the first being the brilliant Sweet Little Lies) and it's published in paperback today! Wishing the author and Zaffre, the publisher, the happiest of publication days.  I received a free eARC of Stone Cold Heart but this has in no way influenced my review.

I loved Sweet Little Lies so I have been eagerly waiting for this follow up novel to appear on my bookshelf. And oh boy, it did not disappoint! Caz Frear's characters are utterly brilliant.  I fell a little bit in love with Cat Kinsella after reading the first book in the series but now, after book two, I'm totally smitten.  The way Frear writes her characters is so charming and with shedloads of warmth and humour that you can't help but fall in love.

The team are called in to investigate the murder of 22-year-old, Naomi Lockhart.  Naomi hasn't been seen since attending a fireworks party held by her boss at her home on Saturday night.  The team struggle to come up with any concrete links.  That is until Cat recognises a familiar face.  Joseph Madden, coffee shop owner and all-round creep.  Madden had cornered Cat earlier in the Summer and after his failed attempts at flirting with her, he confided that his wife was out to get him.  Cat, feeling it was no more than a lover's tiff, advised Madden to report the incident to his local police station before making her excuses and NEVER volunteering to do the coffee run again!  But now Madden is their only suspect in the murder of Naomi Lockhart despite his repeated claims of innocence.  Will Cat be able to tie together all of the loose ends and make sure a killer is brought to justice...?

I love Cat Kinsella, I think I've already made that clear.  But I also love her supporting cast - particularly her DS, Luigi Parnell and her DCI, Kate Steele.  They are a brilliant team and one I want to return to again and again.  Parnell and Steele have a lot of history between them and it shows.  The way they both keep an eye out for newcomer, Cat, is just wonderful to witness.  Frear's books have so far had brilliant plots to keep the reader gripped but oh boy, her characters are a delight.  It's not just these three though.  Joseph Madden and his sliminess ooze from the page.  Cat's father and her 'uncle' Frank both play a pivotal role in the book and you're never really sure how much to trust either of them (definitely don't trust Frank!).  And Cat's gorgeous yet exasperated boyfriend, Aiden Doyle, who shows us Cat's softer, more vulnerable side.  What a superb cast of characters!

This book can be read as a standalone.  However, there are several mentions made of Maryanne Doyle and the focus of the first book in the series, Sweet Little Lies.  The reader isn't really given any details about this case but those involved are highlighted.  It doesn't interrupt the flow of the story and if anything it will make you want to read Sweet Little Lies if you haven't already done so!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Stone Cold Heart and Sweet Little Lies are both strongly recommended by me.  Frear has a way of writing believable characters, people you would want to hang out with at the pub after work (well, some of them anyway!).  I had a great time playing amateur detective with this one and, in the end, got it completely wrong...sort of.  I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling, character-driven police procedural and, if you're a fan of crime fiction, I suggest you get yourself a copy and meet the brilliant DC Cat Kinsella for yourself.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Stone Cold Heart.  The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4

DC Cat Kinsella #2

Joseph Madden owns a coffee shop. In the first book in this series his wife is threatening him and ask Cat Kinsella for help. Now, fast forward a bit and Joseph appears in Cat's life again. This time he's the suspect in the death of a houng girl. The evidence all points to him, but he claims that he's innocent. But his wife does not corroborate his alibi. There is something not quite right for Cat, but she can't quite put her finger on it. 

The story is told from Cat's point of view. I have not read the first book in this series but I think that it can be read as a standalone. This has an extremely well written and thought out plot, and I liked the authors style in writing. The characters are true to life. It's a bit of a slow burner but with all the twists, the pace is set right. Cat's family are a bit dysfunctional. I will have to read the first book in this series now. A great read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and the author Caz Frear for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this series and whilst some books can be read as stand alones, I felt I was missing quite a lot by not having read the first book. 
This is my fault so had no reflection on my rating of the book itself. 
Cat is called to a murder scene where a girl is found dead and as the investigation gets underway it’s clear there are a few suspects that had been with her at a party the night before. 
The story twists and turns and we find out more about the complicated lives of the people at the party.
The lead up to the arrest is gripping and I didn’t guess who the murderer was. 
This book had me hooked all the way through so thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I finished Sweet Little Lies and I absolutely loved it. So I was very excited that Caz Frear was releasing a new novel. I loved Stone Cold Heart and can’t wait for more novels by Caz!

Brilliant book, really enjoyed the way the plot unfolded. The twists of the storyline kept the reader hooked from the very first page. Highly recommended. Five stars 

Many thanks to Netgalley and Caz Frear for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

An intriguing mystery of secrets and lies. A good premise and well written. Keeps you guessing throughout . Look forward to her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This is the second book in this series and as usual I would recommend reading book one, Sweet Little Lies, first. It's always good practice to do this as there is backstory and character development carried through series books but, in this case, I think is it more important as MC Cat Kinsella is a bit more on the complex side than most and there is a fair bit of fallout from book one in this, her second outing. 
Cat first meets Joseph Madden in a coffee shop he owns. He knows she's police and, one day, takes her aside and asks for her help. believing that his wife is threatening him and he's worried. Not being one of her specialisms, she advises he reports his concerns to his local station. Fast forward a bit and he pops up in her life again, this time as a suspect in the death of a young Australian girl. All evidence points to him even though he insists he is innocent, claiming he was at home at the time, an alibi that his wife does not corroborate. The case builds up but something isn't quite adding up for Cat, there's just something she can't put her finger on, something not quite right with how it is all stacking up. But as she is juggling quite a bit in her personal life, can she really rely on her own gut?
The main crux of this book is a story of he said / she said. Actually it's also a bit she said, then she said something different. That feeling continues throughout the story, skirting the truth and trying to wheedle out the lies. No wonder Cat gets in a pickle with it all. This all spills over to the reader as it is told wholly by Cat, so we get her inner thoughts thrown into the mix too. She really has got a bit of a busy head but it's worth all that for some of her wonderful observation and a musings!
Plotting is tight, pacing is perfect. Ongoing series characters are developing well and those added for this book are well formed and easy to connect to. Cat's personal journey is still complicating and threatening her professional life but it just manages to stay beyond the line of overshadowing the main plot of the book. Her relationships both with peers and bosses add colour to the proceedings, especially with partner Luigi. 
All in all, a cracking follow up book which held my attention throughout and left me satisfied at its conclusion, I'm now hanging for book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A fairly formulaic police procedural novel with flawed officers trying to rewrite their history while solving a murder. However, Ms Frear's writing and particularly her ear for dialogue elevated this to a book I really enjoyed reading and getting to know the characters. I hadn't realised this was the second book about Cat Kinsella so did struggle with the plot at times, but this is obviously my issue rather than the writer, and normally I really dislike cliffhanger endings but I feel invested enough in the characters to look out for the next book.
Thanks to netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book

Taut and dark with a wise and witty female cop protagonist, the only thing stopping me from awarding five stars was what I felt to be an ill-judged last sentence which felt entirely at odds with the character. Unless a sequel is being set-up, which still doesn’t help redeem it for me. 
That said, there was some good, gritty drama here and I don’t usually like crime novels. I’d give the potential sequel a go though!

This is the second book by Caz Fear featuring DC Cat Kinsella that I read as a stand-alone. I had intended to start with book one - Sweet Little Lies - but even so, this was a fabulous read! 

Stone Cold Heart was a superb story, written with great skill, cleverness and style. Caz Frear has created a simply wonderful, believable, though flawed character in Cat Kinsella.  Cat was absolutely perfect as the narrator. This was a gripping page-turner full of fascinating individuals and an enthralling and twisted tale of murder, cover-ups, secrets and guilt with added snippets of humour.  This thriller/ mystery was excellently paced thereby keeping my attention throughout. This novel is very highly recommended and should not be missed.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bonnier Zaffre via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

With thanks to Bonnier Zaffire & NetGalley for the ARC.

DC Cat Kinsella returns in this excellent, twisted and totally absorbing novel.

Kinsella is approached for advice by a coffee shop owner because he is concerned about his wife's behaviour. There's not much Cat can do so she quickly forgets about it.

Shortly after this encounter a girl is found murdered and as the investigation gets underway, the team quickly encounter the coffee shop owner again as he was at the same party as the murdered girl on the night she died.

The story twists and turns through the messed up lives of the people at the party.
The inter-relationships, the sex, the fights and of course, the secrets.

A brilliantly plotted book that kept me interested all the way through.

I haven't read the first book in the series yet, I will soon, because there is plenty of intriguing references to it sprinkled through here. It in no way detracts from this book but definitely makes me want to go back and read it.

Cat Kinsella is a brilliant and intriguing heroine. Her messed up family life and her back story are fascinating. The more we can read about her the better.

Highly recommended.

# Stone  Cold Heart # Netgalley 
Not a bad read although not has gripping as I thought it would be. The characters are good and believable. it’s a well written book. Quite a few twists and turns, with unexpected outcome. A few surprises on the way that really wasn’t expected. At one point I thought the ending was going to be very predictable. What a mistake I made, as I think everyone would. The ending was such a shocking surprise you genuinely do not see coming. It left me with my jaw dropped, also I kept thinking about the ending for a good few hours later because it was so cleverly done. When I said not a bad read, it definitely was a book I actually needed to finish, although it didn’t grip me on the way some books do. This one once you start it you actually need to know the outcome no matter what. I overall enjoyed the book and would recommend you read it.

Well done Caz Frear! Having loved ‘Sweet Little Lies’, the first Cat Kinsella book, I couldn’t wait to read the second in the series. I was not disappointed. 
Cat remains as likeable as before, a good police officer, she is human, she has her flaws, she believes in justice but is by no means perfect at upholding the law in every situation....
When she is asked to interview a murder suspect she is afraid of the reaction she will get from her boss DCI Steele, when she has to admit that she knows him. Will she be taken off of the case?
A brilliant case, so well written and the plot is just so expertly developed.
It can be read as a stand alone novel, as there are enough reminders of important plot lines from book one for first time readers, but as ‘Sweet Little Lies’ is such a great book, I’d strongly advise you to read that as well!
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.