Frozen: Book Review

By Wendy Robards

Frozen, by Kate Watterson.

He was a ghost, a phantom, an evil presence in a beautiful place. As ephemeral as a delicate spider's web dusted with dew in the morning. Touch it and the whole thing disappeared. - from Frozen, page 53 -

Detective Ellie MacIntosh believes a serial killer is stalking the woods of a small Northern Wisconsin town, but so far she can't seem to find the missing women or get even a tiny lead to crack the cases. Then a fourth woman vanishes after sharing a few drinks with and getting a lift home from the handsome Bryce Grantham who has just arrived in town to spend some relaxing days at his family's cabin by the lake. When female remains begin turning up, Bryce becomes increasingly the focus of the investigation, especially because he seems to be the one finding the bodies. But Ellie is not completely convinced Bryce is their man -- he seems so sincere, so kind, not violent at all. As Ellie finds herself becoming more and more attracted to their prime suspect, she must either find evidence to exonerate Bryce or confirm her deepest fears.

If her instincts were worth anything, he had nothing to do with the disappearances or the strangulation of Margaret Wilson. But, she reminded herself as philosophically as possible, until they had the killer, she couldn't be sure of anything. - from Frozen, page 184 -

Kate Watterson's edge of your seat suspense-thriller Frozen is a good, solid read which I blew through in about 24 hours. Ellie MacIntosh is a strong female character with a gut-instinct even if she can't be 100% sure of her facts. Watterson amps up the suspense as the book moves forward, creating an almost unbearable tension.

Good thrillers keep their readers guessing to the end, and Frozen does just that -- hiding the identity of the killer right up until the final chapters. There are multiple likeable characters in the novel, including Ellie, the suspicious Bryce, and Ellie's partner Rick, a big and beefy man with a soft spot for the woman in his life.

It has been a long time since I've consumed a book in just one day, and reading Frozen reminded me again of why I enjoy well written suspense novels.

Author Kate Watterson is releasing her second novel featuring the feisty Ellie this spring (titled Charred) and I hope to snag a copy because now that I've spent a few hours in the dark woods of Wisconsin with this plucky detective, I am eager to go back!

Recommended for readers who like their novels fast-paced and chilling.

★ ★ ★ ★ : Four stars out of five.

FTC Disclosure: This book was sent to me by the publisher for review on my blog.

Catch all of Wendy Robard's reviews in her fabulous blog, "Caribousmom".