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Cold Press: A Gripping British Mystery Thriller - Anna Burgin Book 1 by [David Bradwell]

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David Bradwell

Cold Press: A Gripping British Mystery Thriller - Anna Burgin Book 1 Kindle Edition

by David Bradwell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

683 ratings

Book 1 of 5: Anna Burgin

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A fashion photographer. A cub reporter. The missing persons story of a lifetime…

London, 1993. Trainee investigative journalist Danny Churchill would do anything for his boss. And teaming up with her on what she promises will be the ultimate exposé has Danny’s pulse racing. But his excitement turns to dread when she vanishes and the detectives suspect murder.

Fashion photographer Anna Burgin has a secret crush on her flatmate, Danny. So when she feels his pain over his missing mentor, the feisty woman leaps in with both feet to help Danny crack the case. But she’s soon risking more than her heart when a hunt for clues plunges them both headfirst into danger.

Criss-crossing the country in search of his idol, Danny and Anna uncover a sinister trail of revenge. And just when they think they know which of her criminal enemies may be responsible, they find themselves targeted by corrupt police officials.

Can Danny and Anna break the story of the century before they end up in the obituaries?

Cold Press is the gripping first book in the Anna Burgin mystery-thriller series. If you like intriguing characters, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and surprise twists, then you’ll love David Bradwell’s spellbinding novel.

Buy Cold Press to put a killer on the front page today!

Cold Press is the gripping debut thriller by British writer David Bradwell - former winner of the PPA British Magazine Writer of the Year Award and writer for for publications as diverse as Smash Hits and the Sunday Times.

It's book one in the Anna Burgin mystery series.

Read the reviews on Amazon:

"I loved this book right from the very first chapter. The style of writing gets you involved very quickly and draws you in, so much so that you feel the excitement, the tense tingling sensation of mystery and the shock at 'I didn't see that coming'. A great read and one I would highly recommend."

"A very good read, many twists, both leading and misleading - but the surprise ending is a masterpiece."

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Print length

343 pages
Language

English
Publication date

May 13, 2017
File size

2493 KB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Bradwell grew up in the north east of England but now lives in Letchworth Garden City in Hertfordshire. He has written for publications as diverse as Smash Hits and the Sunday Times and is a former winner of the PPA British Magazine Writer of the Year Award. Aside from writing, he does the occasional bit of screen acting and runs a hosiery retail company with web sites at www.stockingshq.com and www.tightsandmore.com. For more information, please visit: www.davidbradwell.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

ASIN : B072LL25GF
Publication date : May 13, 2017
Language : English
File size : 2493 KB
Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 343 pages
Lending : Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #9,314 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #9 in British Humor & Satire Literature
- #27 in Humorous Dark Comedy
- #45 in Friendship Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
683 ratings

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5 star		55%
4 star		25%
3 star		12%
2 star		5%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Michael Elphick

More like a cute love story?

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2018

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This novel reads more like a fun love story than the "gripping mystery thriller" promised in its promotion. The only people killed are two-dimensional bad guys. We learn more about the cars they drive than the motivations for the killings. The author writes in tabloid press style, with lots of short words and short sentences. That's okay because it usually leads to high readership. And it is the style used by Hemingway and all my favorite pulp-fiction writers. However, unlike those authors, Bradwell didn't write a fast-paced page turner. And unlike the great mystery writers, his stuff is rambling and disjointed. Part of the problem is that he alternates between third person and first person narration. Also, he keeps stopping to review the whodunit scenario--giving us revised lists of suspects after one has been killed or has behaved in an unexpected way. So there is very little suspense. The most likely suspects, of course, are the ones with significant character development. This is definitely not a cliffhanger. Apparently it is the first book in a series. I don't think I shall buy any of the others--though they are attractively priced.

9 people found this helpful

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Sue

Mildly interesting-no mystery, no thriller. Don't bother

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019

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This book is mildly interesting. Several times I thought of stopping and finally did at 92%! That's how bad the ending was. There was two particularly irritating thing about the book (three counting the ending). First, the main characters drove everywhere over and over and over; here, there, everywhere with lengthy descriptions of every road and turn. I don't need to read ten pages of directions. The other irritating factor was the interaction between the police officer and main character. The main guy was an investigative reporter, and yet each time the cop showed up to his house to grill him, he let the cop in and at the officer's demand, fixed him tea and cookies. Really? I know this is a British book but even there they have certain rights when it comes to being questioned by the police. The cop shows up and goes through his apartment and yet Mr. investigative reporter did not once mention the word lawyer. I began to skip these conversations because they seem so unrealistic. Stop reading here if you plan to read the book. Then, at 92% they find the friend, who apparently decided to retire and move to another country and didn't tell anyone. Wow, big mystery, big thriller! At this point, I didn't give a darn why she did this because I was mad at myself for wasting my time with this book, only for it to be so mundane at the end. So yea, I stopped at 92%, which should tell you how bad the ending was. There are too many good books out there to waste your time with this one. If you like British mysteries, read the Celina Grace Kate Redman series. If you do, buy the collection because you'll want to read all eleven of them.

7 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Cold Press a gripping thriller

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2018

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This title just jumped at me. Having lived for twentyone years with the press as a bedfellow i recognized the quirks being used with Clare And Danny! And all the characters as they emerged fit the story so well! Reading it was like walking a tightrope to places unknown and finding the story intriguing. Any of the characters could be someone i had met. the trail to truth more complex than truth itself!

5 people found this helpful

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COLD PRESS has everything I adore about great British mysteries!

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2020

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This book has everything that makes me love a good British Mystery.

COLD PRESS Is a complicated mystery with two thoroughly likeable, witty, charming, characters searching for a missing journalist. It has laugh out loud moments and lots of action and dangerous situations, as the two sleuths follow a trail of clues left for them by a mystery woman.

I am an American and the further I got into it, the more hilarious and charming I felt the uniquely English sarcasm and expressions to be. I started reading parts out loud to my husband which is always a sign I am really engaged with the story.

This is a great mystery. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery with a little humor, and characters they can really root for and fall in love with. Kudos to the author, David Bradwell! He is a class act and someone who I will never tire of reading.

I suspect there will be comments about language but the "F" bombs are sparse, totally appropriate for the circumstances, and almost always accompanied by an apology from the character who uttered them. There is a fair amount of misogyny, countered by accomplished, strong female characters. There is zero sex and a sweet budding romance.

There will also be people who felt there were too many characters or clues, or who had trouble following the story. I get that. It is a complicated, very complex mystery that will require the reader to pay attention, in order to follow the clues; I was so engaged, I never felt lost. I couldn't tear myself away. True mystery fans will love COLD PRESS

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Kindle Customer

Astonishing ending!

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2019

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I love mystery thrillers! I love reading the clues, searching through the leads and misleads, and sometimes figuring out the "who done it" before the ending. I love using my mind in these books to try to beat the author to the reveal. Many times I am successful, sometimes not One of the most successful writings, to me, is when I am wrong; but the most powerful writing, to me, is when I have no clue. This novel is one of those! Kudos to David Bradwell! I'm hooked, looking forward to more of your work. Success is a given it you keep on this path. Best wishes to you.

2 people found this helpful

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Cole's Mom

Book 1 of a fantastic series

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2019

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Anna Burgin is a budding photographer. Her flatmate and friend, Danny, is a researcher for one of the top investigative journalists in the country. Their lives are turned upside down when Danny's boss, Clare, goes missing. Her car is found abandoned. She had hinted she was working on a big expose, but no one knows more than that. Danny and Anna go looking for Clare, unaware of how truly dangerous this adventure will be. Full of surprising twists, the book will keep you engaged to the very end, and you will likely be ordering Book 2 as quickly as you can get your hands on it.

One person found this helpful

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Lady Silverlocks

Had It’s Moments

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2018

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I really wanted to like book this more than I did. I think the shifting viewpoint detracted tremendously from the flow of the story. I frequently had to check to see who was was saying what. And the ending left a lot to be desired. I saw it coming from miles away and really didn’t care for a character getting off scot free.

5 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Sharpie

Decent theme but far too long winded

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2018

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The books starts promisingly enough, written in the third person. After a couple of chapters it switches to the first person (Anna) and swaps between the two styles for the rest of the book, which at 335 pages is about 135 too many. The theme is decent enough it just takes an age to get anywhere. I read about 40% of the book then jumped to the final half dozen chapters and it still all made perfect (if unlikely) sense. The whole book need tightening up which would have moved the story forward better. As a free book I can hardly complain but won't be bothering with further books in the series.

3 people found this helpful

Mrs. Bruce

A bit "Boys Own" + lots of F-words

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2018

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Top journalist Clare was missing with her car abandoned by a motorway. The corrupt DCI March immediately
accused her colleague, Danny, of murdering her with with very scanty "evidence" - i.e. no alibi and his
fingerprints on her car. So what? What was unbelievable was that March didn't interview the rest of the
newspaper staff and in fact for over 7 days even Clare's Editor wasn't told she was missing!

Danny, risking the sack, ignored work for 7 days and rushed up and down the country with his flatmate,
Anna, on the flimsiest of clues. Half the story was told in the first person by Anna, who fancied Danny,
but he treated her like a best friend. They spend a lot of their own money on the chase to find Clare and three
properties get wrecked by the baddies, but no mention of Danny getting any recompense!
March harrassed Danny often and insulted him verbally - yet Danny didn't ask for a solicitor and even
made March a cup of tea when he "invaded" his flat! Also March knew some things about Danny and his
friends'actions which he couldn't have done.

There were a lot of F-words (including from Anna), but no sex. There WAS a twist towards the end, which is
why I have given this 3 instead of 2 stars, but I won't be getting any more in the series.

One person found this helpful

Paul S

An intriguing, if slightly implausible, crime mystery with which to wile away a few hours.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2018

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'Cold Press' is an intriguing crime mystery that should appeal to armchair detectives who love to try and work out who is the villain and what was their motivation for their criminal activities. The plot contains quite a number of twists and turns as it heads to its dramatic, if slightly implausible, climax. Furthermore, there are quite a number of characters to keep track of, all of which make this quite an engaging novel for readers who like to get immersed in a story.
However, while there is much to enjoy about this story, four aspects of it tested my patience. Firstly, there are two story-tellers; Danny, whose story is told in the third person and Anna, whose story is told in the first person. At first I found this a little confusing. Secondly, some of the main characters are just a mite unbelievable (e.g. Danny and his reactions to the treatment he receives at the hands of D.C.I. March; Danny and Anna's reactions to various events they encounter; Mike Walker's actions - or lack of them - when one of his key investigators disappears while another starts ignoring his requests and refuses to keep him informed of developments, etc.). Thirdly, after the opening chapters, which set the scene in quite a dramatic fashion, I suddenly found myself having some difficulty in following the plot with its myriad of twists and turns, and began to tire of the seemingly endless series of events that were driving the plot & investigation along. In this respect, it would have been better if I could have set aside some larger 'blocks' of time to fully immerse myself in the story. Finally, I found the climax, while clever, was just a mite too contrived for my liking.
So, while certain aspects of this novel irritated me, overall I actually quite enjoyed the story and definitely wanted to see how it would end (hence the four star rating) ... and it has intrigued me sufficiently to download the next book in the series!

One person found this helpful

D. Elliott

Disappointing Denouement

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2021

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With its constant atmosphere of suspenseful twists and turns and red herrings the denouement of ‘Cold Press’ is clearly what author David Bradwell was aiming for, but I was left feeling that it had to finish the way it did because there was nothing else. I was disappointed how a 5-star read led me to a 4-star review.

A ‘Prologue’ in 1985 introduces Clare Woodbrook as the up and coming special investigations journalist who disappears in 1993 which is the timing of the main story. This is less hectic than today before mobile phones, at a time of first Access credit cards, and when there was reliance on fluorescent lights in kitchens. It is firmly presented as a welcome British thriller as opposed to American cops and gangsters, which is fine but the setting partly in Sunderland places it in Durham and not Northumberland.

Clare goes missing and takes little part from then on as the story is a quest to find her with clues taken up by Clare’s main protagonist researcher Danny Churchill assisted by his flatmate Anna Burgin. Clare had been looking into corruption in the police with a main suspect for her exposé suddenly turning out to be in charge of investigations into Clare’s disappearance and viewing Danny as a suspect for abduction of Clare. Phew – this is complicated – but it makes a great story as Danny and Anna are sucked into the search for Clare, and they face great dangers.

There is much humour and a bit of romance, and there is scintillating dialogue, and I suppose the denouement sets up a series, but what loose ends remain, and how can it end. For me this loses a star – hence 4-star rating.

Jonathan Killin

An Engaging New Novel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2018

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For various reasons, I bought and read this book a year ago. To cut to the chase, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has a very British feel which captured my imagination as one used to Scandi noir..
The author asked me to write a review, which I am happy to do (this is it). I had to do a not so quick re-read. I see that I gave it 4* last year. On re-reading I may have gone for 5. The characters are well constructed. Having Clare be central to the early part of the book drew me in and I was a bit surprised when Anna turned out to be the central heroine. Danny, the driving character was perhaps a little less believable than Anna, but that may be because the tale is told through Anna as subject. Or maybe I don't find journalists believable!
The denouement is particularly effective, if a little 007 ish. I'm lining up the next one, Out of The Red in anticipation. I'm already thinking of Anna and Danny as positive characters in my literary world.

4 people found this helpful