The Ice Maiden: A Britt Montero Mystery (Britt Montero Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Edna Buchanan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Britt Montero Mysteries | Publication Date: November 25, 2003

Fourteen years ago, two teenagers on a Christmas Eve first date were abducted, and only one lived through the ordeal. The lone surviving victim, Sunny Hartley, became a wealthy sculptor, but the reclusive “ice maiden” will not talk about what happened that terrible night. Now a chance encounter in the Miami morgue between reporter Britt Montero and a petty thief, bizarrely electrocuted during the commission of a crime, has placed the still unsolved kidnapping/murder on the front burner of Sgt. Craig Burch's Cold Case Squad. But Britt and Burch are about to discover that the price of justice can be too dear to pay; that when you start turning over rocks, sometimes something truly ugly slithers out.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Miami crime reporter Britt Montero, the Cuban American with Latin passion and Yankee perseverance, gets involved with members of the Cold Case task force that's reopened an old case involving the murder of a high school senior and the rape and near-death of his girlfriend, who's now a sculptor with an unusual specialty--ice carving. Unmasking the killers requires Sunny Hartley's cooperation, but even Britt's blandishments can't convince her to help the task force bring her attackers and her boyfriend's murderers to justice. And it doesn't help any that the head of the force, who has her own reasons for pulling her men off the investigation, seems to have something romantic going with homicide cop Kendall MacDonald, Britt's old (but hardly forgotten) lover. As usual, Edna Buchanan delivers a denouement that's full of bittersweet tricks and turns in this latest outing for her popular series heroine. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Buchanan's alter ego, Miami crime reporter Britt Montero, returns as the protagonist of an eighth fast-paced detective thriller (after You Only Die Twice). The Miami police's cold case squad (which investigates long-unsolved crimes) catches a break when an electrocuted burglar proves to be a vital link in solving a 14-year-old murder. Two affluent teenagers on their first date were abducted, assaulted, shot and left for dead. Despite a massive reward and a multi-state manhunt, the police were never able to find the attackers. The girl, Sunny, survived and has become a reclusive sculptress unwilling to revisit the past. But the reopening of the case attracts the attention of some who are willing to kill again, and Sunny finds herself pulled back in. As always, Buchanan packs her tale with fascinating secondary story lines, including a baby trapped in a well, a friend involved in domestic violence and Britt's on-again/off-again romance with detective Kendall McDonald. The somber shadow of September 11 hangs in the air throughout (Britt is plagued by nightmares; McDonald volunteers at Ground Zero). In addition to clever plotting, Buchanan's strong suit is once again her empathy: she always focuses on the devastated family and friends who survive each murder victim. Few will guess the final triple-twist ending of this exceptionally dark and moving entry in a series that never fails to please.achievement in journalism-in addition to an earlier Pulitzer Prize for crime reporting.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Avon (November 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380728346
• ISBN-13: 978-0380728343
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,555,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER WINNER FROM THIS WHIZ BANG AUTHOR, November 16, 2002

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ice Maiden: A Novel (Britt Montero Mysteries) (Hardcover)

When it comes to crime novels Buchanan's the best. After almost 20 years of covering the police beat for a Miami newspaper she knows her subject and suspects well. She's a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter with insider knowledge, and potent pen.

"The Ice Maiden" is heroine Britt Montero's eighth spin, and it is a pulse pounding thriller. She's right there when Andre Coney, a would-be robber, is discovered after being electrocuted by a jewelry store booby trap. A quick thinking detective with a full memory bank ties the deceased to a 14 year-old murder case in which two teenagers on their first date were ravaged - the boy was fatally shot and the girl was raped and beaten.

Britt attempts to interrogate the girl, Sunny, hoping that she might recognize any of Coney's fellow thugs as one of the men who had attacked her. Understandably, Sunny wants no part in reopening past trauma.

However, the frightened young woman has no choice as others who may harm her focus on what was thought to be a cold case.

As always with Buchanan, subplots flourish and fascinate while readers are propelled by surprising secrets revealed. One more winner for this whiz bang writer.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Story! Ice Maiden Sent Shivers Through My Spine!, December 4, 2002

By 

Patricia (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ice Maiden: A Novel (Britt Montero Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Not since the very first book in the Britt Montero series, have I ever been so entranced with a story. I absolutely could not put it down. Ice Maiden is a fantastic read with all the ups and downs that you expect to get with an Edna Buchanan roller coaster ride. But just when you think you've got it figured out, she throws in another turn in the track. Congratulations to Edna. One of the best crime/ Mystery writers that I have ever had the pleasure to read. I just hope another book is in the works. Don't let it end like this for Britt!!!...

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining, easy read, November 16, 2002

By 

"sarahboop" (Athens, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ice Maiden: A Novel (Britt Montero Mysteries) (Hardcover)

As always with Edna Buchanan's Britt Montero novels, this one is a fun read, quick and easy, and not exactly thought-provoking. Though the plot isn't as strong as some of her other books, the ending is powerful, and the characters are as interesting as ever. However, if you haven't read her other Britt Montero books, I wouldn't start with this one. Buchanan doesn't bother with very much character development for the main figures, and this isn't one of her strongest books.