I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of Stone Cold Heart, the second novel to feature DC Cat Kinsella of the Met.

When Joseph Madden approaches Cat in his coffee shop she thinks he’s being creepy but it turns out that he wants advice she’s unqualified to give, he thinks his wife Rachel is threatening him. Months later the team are investigating the murder of Naomi Lockhart, a young Australian working in London and discover that Joseph Madden may have had something to do with it.

On the whole I thoroughly enjoyed Stone Cold Heart. It is told in the first person by Cat Kinsella and she has a wonderful voice. There is nothing unfiltered about it so the reader gets her thoughts, editorials on events and decision making in an authentic tone which is warm and inviting. For that alone I would have given the novel five glorious stars but there is a downside. Something Cat did in the previous novel, which I have read but after so much time and so many books I can’t remember what, drives much of her current personal behaviour. As it is never spelled out it gets a bit annoying so I would recommend reading the books in chronological order and close together.

The plot is very clever. Mostly it is a case of he said/she said with some excellent characterisation thrown in to muddy the waters. Cat spends most of her time trying to unravel fact from fiction and deciding who to believe. As a result it is not a fast moving read but it is quietly compulsive as the lies are uncovered and the solid ground slowly becomes a quagmire.

None of the family the novel revolves around is particularly likeable but nobody really is under the microscope of a murder enquiry. They are all well drawn and I really liked the gradual unveiling of their true character. Nothing should be taken at face value.

Stone Cold Heart is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

5/5 I read Sweet Little Lies last year and absolutely loved it. The follow-up was no different. I was hooked on all the twists and turns.

My favourite part of the book was undoubtedly DC Cat Kinsella - jaded and flawed but so very relatable.

My only recommendation to readers would be to read Sweet Little Lies first. Although this book could stand alone I liked that I had a bit more background to the characters and relationships. Plus Sweet Little Lies was a fantastic book too!

Cat Frear's second novel, ‘Stone Cold Heart’ has returned DC Cat Kinsella to us in another stand alone novel and I enjoyed it as much as the first. I can see why her debut was Richard and Judy's Bestseller of choice.

Cat goes for the stations coffee order from the local cafe and is approached by whom she believes to be the owner, Joseph Madden. He says he needs advice about his wife who he says has turned on him and is behaving in a bullying manner towards him. Cat directs him to his local station advising him to talk to someone about the new law regarding psychological abuse, and disregards it.

Naomi Lockhart, an employee of Joseph's sister-in-law is found dead after going to a party attended by Joseph and his wife Rachel. and when Cat and Luigi investigate they uncover a tangled mess of affairs and lies mostly connected to Joseph Madden..There were many twists and turns; the writer certainly knows how to send us off in different directions and ramp up the suspense and there were moments when I suspected everyone. Eventually the ending didn't come as too much of a surprise but it didn't spoil it for me as I was well into the book by then. Caz Freer is a very talented capable writer who knows how to keep us on tenterhooks. My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre, Caz Freer and NetGalley for my ARC for which I have left an honest and unbiased review.

Really enjoyed this book, though I'm a sucker for a crime novel set in London!

Really like the main character and her shadow-y past, entertaining story - think I read this in less than a day. Really want to read more by this author!

Only half way through this novel..... and loving it!! Brilliantly well written with humour,great characterisation and intriguing plot line. Loved Big little Lies ..... this is up there !! Can’t wait to finish it and find out ‘who dunnit’

This book kept me up until almost midnight for two consecutive days, until I have finished it (and I am someone who loved her sleep!). A satisfyingly complex plot plays with the reader's preconceptions, until we really don't know who or what to believe. DC Kinsella is a great character, and it is a nice change not to have any deeply troubled detectives with drink/relationship problems. My only criticism is that the characters of Joseph and Marcus don't really ring true, but the story is so compelling that the reader doesn't really notice.

I enjoyed this book very much, it's not a psychological thriller that is the norm for every other book published these days, more of a slow burner. I strongly felt that it was let down by one thing only, Cat's family background, which was a tad unreal, her relatives more like fictional characters in a soap opera than genuine people. We're obviously supposed to be intrigued by what happened in the past with Maryanne, but to be honest, I didn't care. By the time I got half way through I was starting to scan a few pages but then once we were on track again with the main story I kept going and was glad that I did. The police procedures and interviews were excellent and I, for one, didn't work out who was the guilty party until the very end when all was revealed. I'm assuming that cat's family play a bigger part in her next book which, to be honest, has put me off. Without all those irrelevant interruptions in Stone Cold Heart nothing would have been lost. It was also strange that her boyfriend disappeared off the scene for a while then was suddenly there on her birthday with no explanation of what went on in between. It was also a bit annoying that Cat acted up like a lot of heroines in psychological dramas, in that she ignored her Dad's phone calls, never got round to calling him back. We know from experience in other story lines that this usually is not a good idea and often leads to trouble, in this case it led to nothing. Why didn't she just ring him back, there didn't seem to be any drama from the result. As for uncle Frank, well he is straight out of Eastenders. I'm sorry to be so critical about this because I truly think it spoiled a very good book, but otherwise I couldn't put it down and thought it was an excellent read.

I really enjoyed this book - it has a great plot, excellent main characters and is a real page turner. I would highly recommend this book.

An absolutely outstanding read. I’ve been looking forward to this for forever and it was so completely worth the wait. Stone Cold Heart see the return of the amazing DC Cat Kinsella. She’s feisty and funny and her relationship with her police partner DC Parnell is superb. Just beautiful to read. We read about Cat’s sad and dysfunctional family and upbringing and are aware of how important this relationship is in her adult life. Caz Frear has an incredible wit and ear for dialogue, which makes this story stand out from all the other Police/murder mystery tales out there.
A compelling mystery with a kick ass protagonist, talented prose and clever characters. This is a must read. Highly recommended xx

A fantastic and gripping crime thriller. Stone Cold Heart will keep you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend Caz's work (I've just bought Sweet Little Lies!). Believable characters, a dark setting and lots of betrayal and secrets....what more could you ask for!

‘Stone Cold Heart’ sees the return of the inimitable DC Cat Kinsella. This is Caz Frear’s second novel and Cat was the main character in the first, although it is a stand alone for those who haven't read the previous book. Personally I enjoyed this one more than the first (only slightly) although they are both excellent.

A routine coffee collection from her local cafe, one morning, Cat is approached by Joseph Madden, who she believes is the owner, asking advice about a problem hinting that his wife is bullying or threatening him. As a detective on the murder squad (MIT) she diverts him to his local police station, thinking no more about it.

However, a young woman, Naomi Lockhart, is found dead after going to a party attended by Joseph and his wife Rachel. Now it becomes complicated as MIT investigate. Joseph has had a multitude of affairs and the inference is that this was yet another one.

DC Cat Kinsella’s character has a special appeal to me as she is not even close to being perfect with a shady background and the ending left me wanting to read the next novel. I am a sucker for a classy ending and this had it in abundance because it opened up as multitude of options for the future.

What I really found exceptional about this book was the style of writing and the way the author kept me hooked. Talented prose with clever characters combined with a complex family interaction. Brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and Caz Frear for my ARC of ‘Stone Cold Heart’ in return for my honest review.

A must read for any fan of crime/psychological thrillers. Highly recommended.