Having read many thrillers I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy this book. However, far from being predictable, it kept me guessing right to the end. I enjoyed the layers the author added, mystery upon mystery that would lead you in one direction only to do an about face and take you down another path. I also wanted to know more about the mystery surrounding Cat, the main character and whilst one narrative was tied up at the end, that mystery remains unsolved and left me wanting to read more. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy a mystery/thriller. Very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and Caz Frear for my ARC of ‘Stone Cold Heart’.

Never a good idea though to start at book Two in a series as this is the second featuring DC Cat Kinsella. There is a back story from book One that is left tantalisingly unanswered, although Stone Cold Heart can be read as a standalone. A pity that it has taken me so long to read; other priorities got in the way. So, I rather lost the thread of what is, in most respects, a fine police procedural.

The murder of Naomi Lockhart takes centre stage. Investigated by Kinsella and her sergeant Luigi Parnell with DCI Kate Steele very much in charge. The investigation is constantly thwarted by a silent family, protecting each other it seems from prosecution. And a secret from way back that connects them all. Difficult to know who to believe but Kinsella is a tenacious investigator. Will she finally reconstruct what actually happened? Will her judgement be clouded by past events in her life - a past where she had always suspected her dad knew something about the disappearance of Maryanne Doyle - a teenager from the wast coast of Ireland? Will we ever know for sure?

Perhaps book Three will reveal more? I am sure there will be a book Three given the cliffhanger of an ending in Stone Cold Heart!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.
A book that sort of took me on a bit of roller coaster ride towards the end, so many twists and turns. I found the main character a bit loopy and I wouldn't like to be her colleague.............

Having really enjoyed ‘Sweet Little Lies’ I was really pleased to learn there was a second novel featuring Cat Kinsella. This didn’t disappoint at all. A gripping page turner that kept me guessing until the end. When the end came it was convincing and left me feeling very sad for all the innocent lives that had been ruined. Exactly what a good detective novel should do!

The focus this time round is mostly on the case rather than Cat’s family but they are still there in the background. The ending left me pleased to know that more novels are planned and that the situation with Cat’s family will continue to develop.

If you enjoyed Sweet Little Lies you will love this novel.

As a huge fan of the first Cat Kinsella novel, I was really looking forward to Stone Cold Heart. I am pleased to report that I was not disappointed. It’s a new case and this time, Cat doesn’t have a connection to family history to worry about not declaring to her colleagues. She does however continue to reflect on her choices in the last novel and themes of family, honour and the things we do for love continue to wind through Stone Cold Heart as she empathises with the family at the centre of this new murder investigation. Cat’s character development takes less of a centre stage position in this book than the previous one, which means that it would work well read as a stand-alone intricately plotted and expertly delivered police procedural but if you haven’t read Sweet Little Lies, I would recommend that you read that first to fully understand (at least as much as she does), Cat’s complex and intriguing character!

I love the way this story unfolded - no-one is a suspect then everyone is, and the result will have you aghast. It’s a tantalising narrative with an interesting sub-text. Although this story stands alone, I can’t wait to read the next book by Caz Frear.

I enjoyed this book. It had some interesting characters and some very dysfunctional families with all sorts of problems of their own, even before a murder takes place! DC Cat Kinsella sets out to find the killer - lots of twists and turns, this kept me entertained throughout.

I really enjoyed this book but I think you should read the first one to get some context. Loved the twist and my home city being mentioned. I think this is definitely going to be a great series of good versus bad and family ties and the pull they can be. #NetGalley#AStoneColdHeart

A young Australian woman is found murdered in London and DC Cat Kinsella and Sergeant Luigi Parnell are on the case. Evidence points to the dysfunctional Madden family, one of whom, Joseph, is known to Cat; he had approached her a few months earlier, claiming that his wife was threatening him. Cat and Luigi’s investigation triggers blame and counter blame within the Maddens. Is one of them guilty? Are they all guilty? Are they all innocent?

The novel is told in the first person by Cat and she gets all the best lines, although DCI Kate Steele isn’t far behind. Cat is a real character and her observations of her police colleagues, the Maddens and life in general are very witty and exceedingly funny. The whole dynamic is excellent, especially that between Cat, Luigi and Steele.

The plot is clever and I was left guessing until very near the end as to who was the perpetrator. There were plenty of twists and turns and you really get to know the characters and the London background. Well written, realistic and highly entertaining; if you like a police procedural with a difference, you will love this. There is a tantalising cliffhanger at the end which I can’t wait to see pan out in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cat Kinsella is a police detective with a past that threatens both her job and her relationship with Aiden Doyle ( or Mr X as he’s known to her colleagues, as she can’t admit the truth about who she’s with to them). She’s flawed but strong, and makes a very interesting protagonist.
Her back story and a threatening familiar from her past weave around the plot of this book- a murder of a young Australian, and an investigation leading to a family with some serious relationship issues going on and buried secrets galore.
This is a police procedural with plenty of twists and blind alleys. I felt drawn into the team , given the time for figuring out the significance of every new piece of evidence,speculating, turning ideas over but I still didn’t work out what had actually happened. That’s a rare gift from this kind of book. It finishes on a cliffhanger, so you’ll want to read the next book to find out how things play out.
I discovered over halfway through this book that it’s the second in a series, so the backstory hinted at here might be evident in the first book, ‘Sweet Little Lies’. I’ve bought that one now, as I’d like to know more. However it certainly didn’t stop me enjoying this book, or frustrate me that I’d missed out on something, so it makes a good standalone novel. Probably even better read in order however!
My thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and Caz Frear for an ARC of ‘Stone Cold Heart’ in return for my honest review.

This book was a real mixed back for me. Having read the first book in the Cat Kinsella series, I knew that I really loved the group of characters and was looking forward to being reacquainted. Cat is someone you really root for and even Parnell and Steele I'm quite fond of. But the story itself simply didn't thrill me. I enjoy a whodunnit but the book felt quite slow and I didn't race to pick it up. Maybe this was simply down to the fact more time was spent on other aspects of Cat's life like her relationship with Aidan and her family, which I did actually like but the case itself wasn't particularly riveting. Admittedly, I hadn't guessed what the outcome was going to be and there was a couple of small twists that were nicely done, but I simply wasn't wowed. Frear's writing is to be applauded though and I still look forward to the next instalment because the characters are so strong, especially after the last sentence!

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC of this book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is the second in the series of DC Kat Kinsella and although not read the first book it did not really matter. I really liked the character and cannot wait for book No. 3

This review has been posted on the Goodreads website

This book has a good tempo throughout keeping you guessing right until the end. My mind changed several times throughout the book as to who I thought was responsible and it felt like I was on the team with the officers trying to work out what had happened.

I haven't read the first book in this series but it didn't hinder the read at all. There seemed to be more than enough information to cover any previous issues covered in the previous book.

I thought this was very well written and kept my attention the whole way through.

This is a good read. It's got police procedural, murder mystery and alongside, the complex family relationships of the lead character, DC Cat Kinsella. This is the second book in a series and although it stands alone, I'd definitely recommend reading book one as there are references that would be difficult to understand without having done so. It's a pacy read with some good humour mixed in.

Slightly confusing at times it maintains interest and certainly has a 'hook' for book 3.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

An excellent crime thriller. Although this is the second book featuring Cat, I have not read the first so can confirm that the book works well as a stand-alone novel. I will certainly be on the lookout for both the first book and any others that might come along.

The story opens with the discovery of the murder of a young attractive Australian woman and follows the investigation into her death. It is told in the first person from the point of view of Cat and alongside the main investigation, we get an insight into Cat's personal life with her family and her own fears stemming from events in her past. These do not detract from the main story and are a good way to flesh out her character.

The investigation is solid and has to follow a number of twists and turns. The investigation features most heavily around a single family group before finally revealing the killer in a twist in the closing pages.

The storytelling is witty but does not detract from the seriousness of the crime and those affected by such crimes. Makes it seem very real life.

A highly recommended read.

Every now and again you find a book that leaves you stunned. This is one such book.

It is a crime book, a whodunit that throws clues around but the reader has no chance of getting it right. Very well written with a dark subtext, this book will challenge the reader to dare to guess the outcome of the main story, as well trying to understand the subplot.

Thoroughly recommended.

This was original and interesting with a good female detective that jumped off the page. It is the second book and I felt a bit left out of the back story although it is explained, but that aside, I really enjoyed it, found it fresh and gripping and look forward to more.

A thoroughly riveting but somewhat confusing story line, one murder, four suspects to begin with, non of whom are the murderer. A surprising and intriguing end to this case and leading to the closure of a cold case murder. Well recommended.

Loved the second book in this series - the characterisation of the police officers are great, and the plot is interesting. A real page turner. You don't necessarily need to have read the first to enjoy this one.

This is a crime lovers dream! Caz has done it again with Stone Cold Heart. The plot twists and turns make this book a brilliant read! I hadn’t read Caz’s first book but I’m going to now, this was an exciting ARC. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in return for this honest review.