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.

A fractured marriage. A silent family. A secret that connects them all......
Having read and loved Caz Frear's first novel "Sweet Little Lies" I was very much looking forward to meeting DC Cat Kinsella again in "Stone Cold Heart".
"When DC Cat Kinsella is approached by Joseph Madden for help with his wife Rachel, there's not much she can do. He claims that Rachel has been threatening him, but can't - or won't - give Cat details as to why. Dismissing it as a marriage on the rocks, Cat forgets about it. That is until Naomi Lockhart is found dead after a party attended by both Joseph and Rachel and Joseph is arrested for the murder. Joseph says his wife is setting him up. His wife says he didn't do it.
Adulterer. Murderer. Victim. Who would you believe......?"
I just love Cat, she's such a likeable main protagonist. Although not flawed, she isn't perfect either and her whole tough demeanour is a refreshing change to the troubled and 'poor me' female characters you so frequently meet in other police procedurals.
In fact all the characters are convincingly portrayed and the storyline is knockout brilliant. The relationship between Cat and her Sergeant, Luigi Parnell was truly wonderful to read but even better was the relationship between DCI Kate Steele and her team, realistic humour, excellent leadership and a perfectly believable working scenario.
I enjoyed this fantastically plotted story from the very first page, with relevant twists and turns and with frequent forays into Cat's personal life, this made for very impressive reading and one that I found very hard to put down. All through the story I felt I was a part of the hard working team solving the murder, so good was the author in engaging the reader every step of the procedural way.
This is the second in the DCI Cat Kinsella series and by no means do you need to read the first one, as this works just as well as a standalone. Although for personal enjoyment and to fully engage with the superb characters, you may want to read "Sweet Little Lies" first. The last sentence leaves a fantastic opening for book three which I'm now eagerly anticipating for the future, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this seriously addictive series, the author Caz Frear, or DCI Cat Kinsella herself. If you're a crime fan you shouldn't be disappointed!

An amazing five stars for a read that kept me thoroughly entertained!

The book starts off with an odd conversation between DC Cat Kinsella and the owner of a bougie coffee shop. It isn't until a few months later and Cat is investigating the murder of a young woman that the significance of the encounter becomes apparent. It's a great investigation to get to the truth about what happened to the murdered Naomi that involves an entire family who have more skeletons than most in their closet. Whilst the case is ongoing Cat struggles with her relationship with Aiden and the secret she is keeping from him, and old family 'friends' rear their unwelcome heads.
I really enjoyed the slightly slower pace of this book compared to a lot of police procedurals. I really felt like I was able to get to know the characters, but also feel the frustration of the investigating team as each new discovery about the case seems to just muddy the waters. Cat is a great character as well, and I genuinely worried for her each time Uncle Frank turned up. The conversation she has with her Dad at the end of the book about these visits was such a great cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

I read this book completely unaware that this was the second in a series. This didn't mar my enjoyment of this book, but I would now like to go and read 'Sweet Little Lies' to understand the dynamics of Cat's family and exactly what happened to MaryAnne.

My thanks go to Net Galley and the publishers for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

An interesting thriller with alot of information about police procedures. Lots of twists and turns when an Australian lady is murdered. Thanks to Netgalley for an Arc.

Stone Cold Heart is an excellent second novel from Caz Frear, it is the first book I have read and enjoyed it so much I have now purchased her first novel in the Cat Kinsella series. a great story that moves at a relaxed pace without stagnating. I could not put this down once I had gotten into the story. it would have helped to have read stone cold lies first however but I wouldn't say it was required. the characters were realistic as was the plot with plenty of twists and turns.

I really enjoyed this book . The plot line had many twists and turns making the book difficult to put down. From personal experience I can say that the content was really well researched which only added to how good this book really is .
An excellent read.

Enjoyed the twists and turns around the ‘who dun it’ element of the story and didn’t guess the culprit, which I always like in a crime story. The underlying/parallel personal storyline of the main character and her problematic relationships with family members added depth and I guess provides some potential for future novels in the series.

A flirty barista, Joseph Madden confides in DC Kinsella that he is being threatened by his wife, Rachel. DC Cat Kinsella works out of the Police station near Joseph's coffee house. With no further details supplied, DC Kinsella thinks nothing of it. The information soon becomes relevant when DC Kinsella's team has to solve the murder of 22-year-old Naomi Lockhart. Joseph and Rachel Madden were at the same party Naomi Lockhart attended hours before she was found dead. "One Person can spin you a lie but it's hard for two to stay completely in step". Joseph Madden is subsequently arrested and his wife has provided an alibi for him.
The book draws you in from the start and introduces you to different characters all of whom you can point the finger of suspicion at. Supposedly buried secrets are unearthed that could prove to be relevant or not to the present. Altogether a good read with the relevant twists that you will expect from this genre.

Detective Constable Cat Kinsella and her partner Luigi Parnell have a crime to solve. A young Australian woman is dead and all clues point to a man named Joseph Madden. But as further details come to light, Kinsella and Parnell discover there’s more to this investigation than meets the eye.

I didn’t know when I read this book that it’s actually the second of a series. Thankfully, it didn’t matter, and I thoroughly enjoyed it regardless. Cat is a fantastic protagonist. Down to earth and completely normal with flaws and secrets like anyone else. She’s smart with a dark sense of humour and I really enjoyed the first person narrative.

The plot had lots of twists and red herrings. The relationship between Cat and ‘Sarge’ was wonderful. The love and respect between them was such a great, heart-warming part of the story. Cat’s backstory (which I now know is book one) is hinted at but never fully revealed and I kind of enjoyed the whole guessing what happened part. However, the book just ended too abruptly for me. I will probably pick up the first book now though. Definitely recommend!

Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for the free eARC.

Maybe next time around we’ll come back as normal people. Just normal folk with normal problems...

Stone Cold Heart is an excellent second novel from Caz Frear, in what may well be my favourite genre - the police procedural. Frear is a new author to me - I haven’t read her first book, Sweet Little Lies, though I probably should have done as I rather suspect Stone Cold Heart of containing significant spoilers for that first outing, courtesy of young DC Cat Kinsella, our narrator. That won’t stop me going back to read it, though.

When she’s called to the murder scene of twenty-two year old Naomi Lockhart - a young Australian newly in London, noticeable for her long lilac hair - Cat is determined to bring the perpetrator to justice. (I really liked the care and commitment shown by all the police officers here to the victim and her family.) It’s a surprise, though, to find that one of the main suspects - Joseph Madden - is someone Cat knows slightly, albeit only through his employment at a local coffee shop - and the fact that not long ago he rather creepily asked for her advice on his wife Rachel’s strange behaviour. Joseph is certainly an unpleasant character, but is he also a murderer?

Stone Cold Heart is an extremely well written and sharply plotted story, and Cat was a very engaging narrator. Altogether a really enjoyable read. The only issue I had was the very end - which I appreciate was presumably to set up a future plot line, but I didn’t at all like the way this was done. Apart from that, though, I loved it.