Oh, Rennie, never will you ever find a bigger fan of your John Madden series than am I. But you really lost your way with this one.

First, we have young, innocent, aspiring New York actress Addie. Then an entire grab bag of nefarious characters, the kindly couple (ha!) across the street, and annoying best friend, the potential boyfriend, and the understanding copper. Did I forget anyone. The problem is what I just wrote is a far more comprehensive summary than one would ever glean from the actual story which is told in snippets. About the only likeable character in the whole mess is the young DS.

And then, and then, about half-way through, not only did I put the plot together, I knew the location of the thing everyone was seeking. Could it have been more obvious? Yes, I cheated and looked. ARGH!

Sorry, Rennie. John, John is wonderful. This? Not so much.

I simply can't get into this one - too much happening and yet no discernible plot. The assassin character is cartoonish and unbelievable, and still, at 30%, I have no idea what he's attempting to achieve. So I'm afraid I'm abandoning it.

Cold kill felt like a patchwork - a jumble and a bundle of characters, situations, sub-plots and everything else in between.
Reader is left guessing most of the time trying to pick a thread of the plot, its beginning, middle and end. Characters keep dropping from the thin air with their stories and no backstories and explanation why they are in this novel at all.
Also, I found it to be a very negative experience when author decided to use caricatures of Big Bad Russians. I believe this book will never be sold in Russia and rightly so. If you are writing mystery set in 21 century, have some respect for villains, Russian or not.
All the other characters were created flat and unlikeable. What Addi was doing? She all this sweet and innocent and all over sudden she uncovers the whole plot.
I persevered with the book only because I wanted to prove to myself I can finish it... Very disappointing

I'm a long time fan of Rennie Airth and River of Darkness is one of my favorite mysteries. This is a stand alone departure from the John Madden books but it shows how well he can craft a mystery. With a contemporary setting - first Paris and then snowy London - he takes the main character, Adelaide 'Addy' Banks on a wild ride all due to her missing Aunt Rose. Addy has been invited to come from New York to stay with Rose in London but, when Addy arrives, no trace of Rose. She had said she was going to be in Paris but would be back before Addy arrived. Taken by surprise in more ways than one, Addy finds herself in Rose's home and being attacked by woman disguised in Arab garb who demands to know the whereabouts of Rose. Rescued by police who are called by the neighbors, Addy is at a loss as to what to do now. Rose holds the key but Addy has no idea how much both she and Rose are in. On the list of nasties are an assassin, ex-KGB operatives, a Japanese gangster set on revenge and some very, very rich Russians. What has dear widowed Aunt Rose gotten Addy mixed up in now?
There were twists and turns galore and the setting of London in Winter was perfect for this thriller. The writing style, as usual from Rennie Airth, was exceptional and I was never bored. Verdict - a very satisfying read.
My thanks to the publisher Severn House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A gripping and entertaining story that I liked.
The cast of characters is well written, the descriptions of London are vivid and enchanting, the mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I want to read other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Addie thought she was going to spend Christmas with her aunt Rose, not fight off intruders and assassins. She's a young actress not a ninja. Rose, who was supposed to be home from Paris, doesn't turn up and Addie finds herself staying with Rose's friend Molly. Who knows what? How on earth did Rose get tangled up with oligarchs and yakuza and all manner of bad guys? No spoilers. This is a tad implausible but it's high spirited and entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good quarantine read but also one that will be fine any time.

Rennie Airth, the author of the popular John Madden series, delivers a stand alone in Cold Kill. Addy, a young actress, received an invitation to spend Christmas in London with her Aunt Rose. The letter explained that Rose had to travel to Paris, but she would be back to greet her. When Addy arrives her aunt has not returned, but her neighbors provide a key for her. Unexpectedly, there are two visitors looking for Rose. The first offers to return when Rose comes home. The second bursts into the house and assaults Addy while demanding to know where her aunt is. Once again the neighbors come to the rescue and Addy is taken in by Rose’s friend Molly. What was Rose involved in and where is she? These questions plague Addy and she is determined to find answers.

Airth’s story involves a rogue agent, assassins, stolen funds and revenge. At first Addy seems unsure of herself, but as events spiral around her she rises to the occasion and becomes more confident and determined. She truly proves herself in a final confrontation that contains an incredible twist that left me stunned. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book for my review.

I've been a fan of Rennie Airth's John Madden series since River of Darkness debuted in 1999, so was curious to read this new stand-alone novel. I found a feisty female lead and a clever plot made even more captivating by the cast of memorable characters and a surprising ending. What a treat!

Airth steps away from Madden's post-WWI world and ventures into international intrigue with a modern story that is every bit as good, perhaps even better. I often envision stories on the screen, and could easily see John Madden in a BBC mystery series on television. Cold Kill, however, is a full-on, big screen spy thriller on par with the Bond and Mission: Impossible franchises.

Highly recommended.

A solid thriller with twists and turns. London is captured beautifully and atmospherically throughout the book!

Cold Kill is a dramatic shift in style and tone for Rennie Airth, who is best known as the author of the highly acclaimed Inspector John Madden series set in England during the inter-War years and into the 1940s.

In comparison to the beautifully detailed and carefully crafted Inspector Madden series, Cold Kill seems a much lighter novel, although it does contain more than its share of murder and mayhem and surprising acts of violence.

The story revolves around a young American actress, Addy, who comes to London to visit her aunt Rose, but finds that she is missing. Some dramatic early events drag Addy into a sinister plot involving a Japanese assassin out for revenge, the London head of a world-wide security network and some nasty ex-KGB types, all of whom are after Rose and something in her possession.

This easy flowing story opens well with an exciting episode in Paris before slipping into the engaging narration by the pleasant Addy, who over the course of the book proves to be more capable than she first appears. The pacing is a little uneven, with moments of quick violence buffeted by lengthy periods of exposition which slow the pace.

On the positive side, the descriptions of London in December are typically dark and gloomy and add to the story, with the frequent flurries of snow giving a surreal touch at times. The underlying plot is interesting and there are some surprising acts of violence as the book builds to a good climax.

In all, it is a solid thriller with some decent twists and a very engaging central character.

See my full review at https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/cold-kill-by-rennie-airth-severn-house/

Charon, the evil star of "Cold Kill," piles up a boatload of bodies in this furiously paced thriller.

Author Rennie Airth masterfully crafts his characters: the hellish Charon, a modern Samurai warrior, several Russian agents and 20-year-old Addy Banks, who hops a plane to London looking forward to a quiet Christmas with her aunt.

But her aunt isn't home. The first man who comes looking for her aunt is a dead ringer for Dracula. The second visitor is wearing a .hijab. Will anyone still be alive by the end of the book?

Airth, whose John Madden series includes a loving marriage and solid friendships, teaches readers not to trust anybody in this standalone. Assume nothing until you turn the last page!

‘He’d been watching the three workmen for an hour, though he wasn’t sure why.’

New York Actress Adelaide Banks travels to London to spend Christmas with her widowed Aunt Rose. But when Adelaide arrives at her aunt’s Knightsbridge home, her aunt is not there. Initially, Adelaide isn’t too concerned. She knew that her aunt was in Paris, perhaps she’s been delayed. Adelaide settles in … but then receives two unexpected callers. The second caller, dressed as an Arab woman, drags Adelaide through the house. The caller is looking for something. Fortunately for Adelaide, neighbours hear the commotion and call the police. Rose’s friend Molly also arrives.

What on earth is happening? Where is Rose? Who are these mysterious visitors and what are they looking for?

This is the beginning of a fast-moving, complicated story involving former intelligence staff, Russian oligarchs, hitmen and a Yazuka gangster seeking to avenge a death. There’s a missing USB stick containing details of offshore bank accounts. Adelaide gets caught up in all of this, and (initially, at least) it isn’t at all clear who can be trusted. And where is Rose?

There are plenty of twists in this mystery, and quite a few deaths. There are some dastardly villains, and a couple of (perhaps unlikely) heroes.

‘And they would never know.’

Mr Airth kept me guessing for quite a while, trying to work out the puzzle. While this novel is very different from Mr Airth’s John Madden series, it is clever and held my attention until the end.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Mystery And Mayhem....
Enjoyable standalone from Rennie Airth. Christmastime, Actress Adelaide Banks leaves behind her native New York to stay with her widowed Aunt Rose in London. Upon arrival there is no sign of Rose. Adelaide suddenly finds herself entangled in mystery and mayhem, assassins and espionage. Well written, in the authors trademark style, albeit a departure from the norm and an all round entertaining read with a likeable protagonist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for an eGalley of this novel.

I'm a fan of the Rennie Airth series featuring John Madden so I was understandably interested in reading this novel which is, at least at this point, a stand alone book. It was an okay read for me, but I did get impatient with seeing 20 year old Addie make some really poor choices which spoke to me as being signs of her immaturity. Maybe she was just supposed to represent an intrepid heroine and I missed that meaning. But...I'm the type of reader who doesn't like intrepid heroines when they show a lack of logical and common sense. Right from the very first clue (which I can't mention because it would be a great big old spoiler) Addie misses all the obvious clues which should have made alarm bells begin to clang in her head. Intrepid heroines don't pick up on clues until they cause some sort of catastrophic incident and then they try to convince me they saw it coming all the time. Then why go ahead and make a hash of it?

This book was not enough of a success for me that I will ever want to read it again. That doesn't mean I'm sorry I read it, but it does show me that Addy and I are not right for each other and if she comes up in another book she will have to get out of her silly scrapes without my help.

4 stars

Adelaide “Addy” Banks is a New York actress who travels to London to visit her Aunt Rose. However, when she arrives at Rose's charming little bungalow, Rose is not home. Rose told her that she was visiting in Paris but expected to be home when Addy got there. Instead, Addy is surprised and frightened to receive two separate threatening visitors.

When the police arrive, called by the concerned neighbors, so does Rose's friend Molly. As the days pass, Addy wonders just what is holding up Rose's arrival.

This twisty mystery is gritty in its realism. The reader is introduced to Russians, Japanese, spies, killers, missing money, betrayal, some serious backstabbing and some actually kind people.

The book is very well written in Rennie Airth's usual style. While it is a departure from his usual characters, it is still a very good stand alone novel. I truly enjoyed it. Addy seems a little meek at the beginnnig of the story, but she shows her true mettle at the end. She is made of much sterner stuff than even she thought she was. I will anxiously await Mr. Airth's next book.

I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this exciting book for me to read, enjoy and review.

An outrageous tale and at its centre the fact that even those you are closest too are not always as they seem. Adelaide "Addy" Banks, a young American actress, arrives in London to spend Christmas with her favourite person, her widowed Aunt Rose. Rose had sent an invite to her niece saying she was in Paris but that she'll be home by the time Addy flies in from New York.
But on her arrival at Rose's fashionable mews home in Knightsbridge, her aunt isn't there. As she settles down to wait, Addy receives two unexpected callers.
The second one - disguised as an Arab woman - attacks her, dragging her through the house and upstairs bedrooms, seemingly searching for something that Addy knows nothing about. Luckily she's rescued by neighbours who have heard the commotion and called the police.
And that's just the beginning of Addy's world being turned completely upside down!
What follows is a fast moving plot involving the London head of a worldwide security network, ex CIA men and former KGB agents working for megarich Russian oligarchs. There's also a Yakuza gangster out to avenge the death of the woman he loved and the infamous Charon, a freelance hitman who's planning to escape his life as a paid assassin.
And there's a missing USB stick containing details of offshore bank accounts worth a billion dollars which the Russian oligarchs want returned to them.
Somehow, the author Rennie Airth keeps all these threads spinning out until drawing them all together as the body count rises and Addy - with the aid of a London policeman she finds very attractive - tries to figure out what exactly is happening to her and why.
This is a powerful standalone story with a complex plot that demands the reader's attention. Oh - and there's a brief diversion about a much loved teddy bear.
Despite the deaths and mayhem, this is a fun read and recommended to anyone who enjoys a puzzling mystery thriller.
My thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.