Blood Runs Cold [Paperback]

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007268459
• ISBN-13: 978-0007268450
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,493,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2.0 out of 5 stars Less convincing than Scooby Doo, September 28, 2011

By 

Craobh Rua "Craobh Rua" (N. Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Runs Cold (Paperback)

Alex Barclay was born in Dublin in 1974 and studied journalism at university. After a spell working as a fashion and beauty journalist, she quit her job to work on her debut novel, "Darkhouse". "Blood Runs Cold", first published in 2008, was her third book and introduces the FBI's Agent Ren Bryce.

Ren's first appearance in the book sees her waking up beside the toilet bowl, the morning after a heavy night on the lash. After a quick wash, she stumbles downstairs and straight into an argument with her limp and clingy boyfriend, Vincent - who, before the chapter's out, has flounced off into the sunset vowing that he won't be back. (Sadly, it's not his last appearance in the book...and, bizarrely, Ren seems reluctant to let him go).

Ren is based in Denver, working with the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force - a multi-agency team set up by Gary Dettling. When the body of another FBI Agent, Jean Transom, is found in Breckenridge, the pair are sent over to help with the investigation. Following an anonymous tip, Jean's body had been found in Quandry Park - a mountain that, since it's the coldest January in fifty years, is currently playing host to a great deal of snow. Unfortunately, a careless skier manages to start an avalanche - which swept Transom's body away as it was being examined. However, Denis Lasco (the county coroner) is pretty sure it was a murder - as he and the body were being swept away, he got a close-up view of gunshot wound.

A hugely disappointing book overall. Some of the dialogue was appalling, the plot was disjointed and incoherent and there were too many one-dimensional and unconvincing characters - Ren herself was little more than an irritation. The biggest surprise I got was discovering a follow-up had been published. Best avoided.