Buffalo Cold Case Lauren Riley has been reassigned to Homicide while her partner Reese is recovering from the injuries he obtained during their last investigation. It's a snowy winter night when Lauren and her temporary partner Doug Sheenan are called in to investigate the murder of an Icelandic visitor. Gunnar Jonsson was bludgeoned to death in an alleyway near his hotel. Robbery was not a motive and the brutality of the killing suggests a more personal motive. His murder occurred during a full, cold moon which reminds Lauren of an unsolved cold case that has haunted her and the victim's family.

Why was Gunnar in Buffalo? Ancestry DNA test papers in his hotel room indicate he has blood relations in town. When Lauren goes to inform the family of Gunnar's murder, she meets dysfunctional Hudsons (father John, half-brother Ryan and sister Brooklyn), as well as John's protective caregiver Erna. Competition for a huge inheritance and obvious family frictions make the Hudsons prime suspects in Gunnar's murder.

Since Gunnar was a foreign visitor, the FBI get involved in the case. But before Lauren can get deeply into the investigation locally, their bosses send her and rookie FBI agent Matt Lawton to Iceland. While there, Lauren and Lawton are dependent on their Icelandic liaison for help in finding Steinarsson, a prominent Icelandic businessman who was in Buffalo at the same time as Gunnar's visit. When the trio almost become victim to a hit-and-run driver, they wonder if Gunnar's killer is trying to stop the investigation at any cost.

This was another riveting Cold Case investigation and this series gets better with each book.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Severn House Publishers with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

A great read for fans of procedurals! Lauren finds herself working cold cases because her regular partner is recovering from injuries suffered in the last installment in the series (don't worry- all is explained and this is fine as a standalone). They still talk, for sure, especially after she's assigned to the case of an Icelandic man murdered in Buffalo. The international implications mean that an FBI SA is assigned to work with her. Matt might look young and be inexperienced but don't pass him by. This moves from Buffalo to Iceland (love the settings!). It's just complex enough and the characters are wonderful. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Detective Lauren Riley from Buffalo, New York’s cold case squad is currently working in the homicide division. She is assigned investigate the murder of a citizen of Reykjavik, Iceland who is found dead in an alley close to his hotel. Lauren is committed to solving this murder, but is also still haunted by a cold case she has been working on for years. A possible lead on that case has to be put aside when Lauren’s bosses decide she and FBI agent Matt Lawton must go to Iceland to investigate the current homicide. Lauren tries not to take this case so personally, but the more she looks into the case, the more determined she is not to give up until it’s solved.

“A Full Cold Moon” is the fourth book in this series. I’ve not read any of the prior books in the series but have recently finished a standalone by the author that I loved. Even though I hadn’t read the first three books in this series, I had no problem following this book or connecting with Lauren. I would consider the book a procedural but it’s elevated above many I have read by the interesting, likable characters and the Icelandic setting in which much of the book takes place. I was engrossed in the story from beginning to end and enjoyed reading about both the current and the cold case.

Lauren’s personal life seems complicated, but I enjoyed learning about her and her colleague and friend Shane Reese and am interested to see what comes next for them as he continues to recover from his injuries. I like the FBI agent, too, but don’t know if he will appear in any future books. I love the ending of this book and hope the series continues. Those following this series as well as fans of Vicki Delany’s “Constable Molly Smith” series will enjoy this book. Lissa Marie Redmond is a relatively new author to me, but has become one I’ll be following in the future.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Severn House. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

I so enjoy Detective Lauren Riley. She is not a newbie, but a seasoned detective and a single mom with two college age daughters. Normally working cold cases, she has transferred to homicide during her injured partners absence. When a man from Iceland is found murdered during a full cold moon, it reminds her of a cold case that she had worked. In 1978, a young boy went missing and decades later she still hoped to solve his disappearance…for his parents. But first, she must find justice for this man who came to America and was murdered. Without her partner, she is assisted by FBI Special Agent Matthew Lawton. Their search will lead them from his family in America to his family in Iceland. As with all Ms. Redmond’s mysteries, she will lead you through the evidence to the person you never suspected. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a solid police procedural. While this is book four in the series, it works as a standalone. Any information I needed about the characters' relationships is clear. Redmond doesn't give much backstory, nor are there spoilers.

Though the first three titles of the series had Lauren in the cold cases division, she's now been transferred to homicide while her work partner recovers from a major wound.  

Plot

Lissa Marie Redmond knows how to plot a solid mystery. She plunges us directly into the story on page one as Lauren and her partner examine the victim's body. The victim, Gunnar, has recently extended his stay in America. Though his reasons are believable, nothing else is straight-forward. No one is completely forthcoming, either. Lauren's warned not to trust certain people. Multiple people have reason to want this good-natured man dead. Just when she might get a grapple on the case, the federal government and the Icelandic government jump in. 

While some of the twists felt predictable to me, most weren't. In the end, the solution to the case is both shocking and realistic. 

Even during "slower" moments, the tension still ran high. The cold case that haunts Lauren involves a missing child. The coincidence that both Gunnar's murder and Billy's disappearance happened on a full cold moon makes her edgy and frustrated at her failures. 

Characterization

Lauren Riley is like many other cops in fiction: unafraid to go off on her own, haunted by past cases,  addicted to caffeine, and a bit mouthy. As my sister-in-law would say, she's got a 'tude. As well, she's uneasy about her growing attachment to her male work partner; again, nothing unusual in the friend-to-possible-lover idea. 

The one thing that stands out to me is the amount of respect her male colleagues give her. While there are the usual antagonistic minor characters, Lauren's current work partners treat her as an equal or even defer to her. That includes the fresh-from-academy FBI agent (Matt) and her close-to-retirement homicide partner (Doug Sheenan). And of course, her real partner--from cold cases--Reese is her equal in every way. Whether that way will include romance remains to be seen! Berg, the Icelandic cop tasked with helping her investigate, also treats her well. 

It's refreshing to see a female whose colleagues respect her, and treat her as "equal to" rather than "less than."

Investigative methods

All the investigative details make sense to me. The political and legal maneuverings between the Icelandic and American governments make sense as well. Nothing stood out as strange, though I can't verify whether this is "really" how things would happen under these circumstances. Given that Lissa Marie Redmond is a former cold cases homicide detective, I imagine that the details are correct. 

Investigations rarely go smoothly, though. There are the usual headaches of lying suspects, lack of information, and office politics. But even minor, seemingly unrelated things, stand in Lauren's way.

For example, her FBI colleague Matt has a teething baby at home; this personal issue means A) he's often sleep-deprived and B) his wife wants him back at home ASAP. Obviously, that's a bit of a distraction for him!

Her Icelandic police host cannot take her to his headquarters because his cousin--whom he barely knows!--has recently been implicated in political corruption; Berg's supervisor doesn't want him to have anything to do with the investigation, or even show up at headquarters. Of course this makes things in Iceland a bit more difficult for Lauren and Matt.

Small things. Big headaches. That's reality. 

Settings

The book changes location from Buffalo, NY to Reykjavik, Iceland, as Lauren and her FBI colleague Matt travel to Gunnar's homeland. 

Redmond lives in Buffalo, and her expertise shows. There are local details that only a long-time Buffalo resident could know. Like, say, how driving in the winter is practically an art form. Or how the city went from being a run-down declining place to one where construction projects fill downtown. It's the little details that stand out and make Buffalo come alive. 

Reykjavik is equally fascinating. Blackout shades for their 24/7 summertime, geothermal power for heating, special winter clothing for the brutal winters. (FBI guy Matt isn't prepared for that as he's only recently moved from Arizona.) And thirteen Santa Clauses! 

Recommended. This isn't groundbreaking work by any means. But it doesn't have to be innovative fiction to be enjoyable and well-written. Redmond knows how to tell a story and she does it well. I look forward to reading more about Lauren. 

Thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review will appear on my personal blog on April 13, 2020.

I rate this book pretty highly, it was a good story, which kept my interest throughout.
Snowy scenes in Buffalo and Iceland made the locations very interesting and interesting characters.
Very much enjoyed this book.

Lauren Riley Now Working A High Profile Murder with International Scope

The novel opens with the heroine, Buffalo Police Detective Lauren Riley, at the scene of vicious murder of an Icelandic native. Riley has been moved to the Homicide Squad while her regular partner is still recovering at her home from injuries received in a confrontation with her former husband. The victim was visiting Buffalo because a recent DNA profile identified his biological father living in Buffalo. The victim was visiting the father who is dying and was the recipient of a double-digit million dollar settlement. His son and daughter-in-law are not happy in the prospect that their inheritance may be significantly reduced. Riley soon discovers that the victim had a male traveling companion who returned to Iceland the night of the murder. This case quickly gathers the intense attention of the DA, mayor, local FBI and the Icelandic government. The FBI assigns a young special agent, Matt Lawton. He looks like he is twenty years old and inexperienced. The novel proceeds from here.

The main storyline moves quickly as the investigation develops. My interest was quickly captured and held until the last page. I just could not stop reading. When I did, I started as soon as possible. I completed reading this novel in near record time for me. I enjoyed the two new characters. The straight-laced Lawton turned out to be quite a gem who was not ready for a winter in Buffalo or Iceland. The Icelandic liaison officer, Detective Berg Arnason, was another gem along with his wife and blunt daughter. These characters increased my enjoyment in reading this novel.

The B-storyline was rich and well integrated into the flow of the main storyline. Riley’s recovering partner, Reese, provides a sounding board for Riley’s frustrations. There are many personal level communications between Riley and Lawton and Arnason that provide more insight to the side of her personality that she makes public. The author uses much insight into her inner personality thought her through her thoughts. Lastly, the victim’s biological father reminds Riley of the father of her first cold case victim that still remains unsolved. She had promised that she would solve that crime. That unkept promise weighs heavily upon her.

There were no sex scenes at all. Violence and language issues were barely registered on my meter. These should not be an issue for the vast majority of readers. This book is fourth book in the series. This book can be the first that you read as all the references to events in the previous books are explained.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. As explained at the start of my review, the main storyline is a significant shift from the previous novels that was refreshing. It met all my requirements for the five star rating that I am giving it. I can’t wait for the next novel in this series.

I have received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This is such a great series - and this was one of my favorite books within it. Once again we see Detective Lauren Riley throwing caution to the wind as she seeks justice for the murdered - this time, an Icelandic native killed in a hotel in her hometown of Buffalo. I enjoyed seeing Lauren take on a current, as opposed to cold, case this time. It shifted the focus just a little and it was entertaining to see her in the thick of things in a new setting - even if it seemed rather unlikely that she would have actually been sent to Iceland herself in the *real* world, it added a very cool element to the story and I enjoyed watching her navigate her way through literal new territory. I did also like the way a lingering cold case was worked into the narrative. It felt wholly organic, not at all forced around the current storyline, and added a depth resonance to the tale that helped explain Riley's commitment this time around.

I liked her replacement partners (one in Homicide, one from the FBI). They were a great way to introduce new characters to the series while still allowing the recuperating Reese (seriously injured in the last book) to stay in the picture - and letting Riley continue trying to figure out what, exactly, their partnership means.. The mystery was, as always, engaging and tricky. The supporting characters served as great foils for Riley (I particularly liked Berg, her Icelandic counterpart!) and the pacing was, as usual, spot-on.

All in all it was another great installment in a fantastic series...

An excellent mystery, gripping and solid.
It's full of twists and turns and the solution came as a surprise.
I liked the character development and the plot that flows.
An excellent mystery, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A Full Cold Moon is the fourth novel in the Cold Case Investigation series by Lissa Marie Redmond. Released 31st Jan 2020 by Severn House, it's 240 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a nicely written, taut, and well plotted procedural with one foot in the American cop/FBI genre, and one firmly fixed in ScandiNoir. Although it's the fourth book in the series, it worked well enough as a standalone for me since I had no familiarity with the series beforehand. The author is adept at providing background without spoon-feeding, and I didn't feel the lack of prior engagement with the characters too keenly. I found it intriguing enough that I do intend to go seek out the prior books.

The author is adept at plotting and the technical aspects of writing compelling and realistic dialogue and characterization. This is a very readable book. The action is split between Buffalo and Iceland and is richer and more nuanced for the dual settings. The plot is also split between the current murder of an Icelandic tourist in Buffalo, and the long-ago cold case disappearance and murder of a young boy in 1978. Main character Lauren is also trying to navigate her relationship with her work colleague who suffered a job related head injury and has moved into her house (with his dog, Watson).

I like that Lauren is intelligent and well spoken as well as a bit of a badass. She has a moral compass and is mature and strong. She's loyal and driven and a good protagonist.

The action is brutal and bloody in some places and the language is also raw and rough. 'R'-rated, more or less. The book includes some more mature themes such as violence against homosexuals, drug use, etc.

This is a well written modern procedural with a satisfying (if melancholy) denouement. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Jealousy will always get in the way. Detective Lauren Riley has just been given a new case a tourist has been murdered in their city and it is a race to find out who killed him. Gunnar Jonsson had travelled from Iceland to Buffalo to see his father after doing a genealogy test and he had only been here a couple of days until he landed up murdered in an alley. Who wanted him dead? His new siblings who were scared that their father was going to give away their inheritance or was it just a random crime? But once Lauren finds out about his travelling companion do things start heating up. The FBI has gotten involved and Agent Matthew Lawton is her new partner on this case. He is a likeable fellow that still has lots to learn but they get on well. And now that they have to travel to Iceland to find out what Gunnar's travel companion as he is a well-known figure in Iceland and they need to find out the truth. But nothing goes according to plan, their main suspect Ragnar Steinarsson is on the run and they feel that there is so much more to their story. Why would Ragnar kill the man that he was supposed to be in love with? And what is the story between him & his wife, did she know about their affair? Will they be able to find out the truth before it is too late? Will they be able to get justice for Gunnar and be able to give his family some peace? Will Lauren finally realize that she wants more from her partner Reese and that she should just go for it? A great interesting read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honset review.

Fabulous book, started great and continued with excellent characters and story development. What a twist at the end, didn’t even consider the murderer throughout the whole book. Found this extremely well written and finished it really quickly. Thoroughly enjoyed all the way through definitely would recommend.

This is the latest in the series featuring Buffalo, NY police detective, Lauren Riley, but it does well as a stand alone. An Icelandic man is murdered on the streets of Buffalo. The story takes place in Buffalo, and in Iceland. I am a fan of this series and of Lissa Marie Redmond, a terrific writer. Recommended for fans, as well as new readers of Ms. Redmond.

Lauren Riley is a detective who works cold cases in Buffalo, NY. But, since her partner is on leave while he recovers from injuries in the line of duty, Lauren has been reassigned to the homicide division. When a murder occurs on the night of a Full Cold Moon, she is reminded of the first cold case she was assigned and has yet to solve, and she vows it won’t happen again. Since the murdered man is from Iceland Lauren travels there to solve her case and finds much more than she bargained for.

I have enjoyed all the books in the Cold Case series and this one is no exception. It’s a bit different, since Lauren is investigating an active case and the investigation takes her to Iceland – well out of her comfort zone. I especially enjoyed the new setting and learning a little more about Iceland. This change of venue also allowed the author to introduce several characters that greatly enhanced the story. I particularly liked Berg, an Icelandic detective that aids in the murder investigation.

A Full Cold Moon is a good police procedural with interesting and varied characters, as well as a tight plot. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Detective Lauren Riley is temporarily assigned to homicide while her partner Reese recovers from a job-related injury. She is assigned the murder of an Icelandic man, who had traveled to Buffalo to meet his wealthy biological father. The killing took place during a full cold moon, just like an unsolved cold case that still haunts her. Due to the victim’s international citizenship, Lauren is assigned a straight-laced FBI partner and is sent to a Iceland to follow a lead. The suspect list keeps growing, but Lauren is determined to bring the murderer to justice no matter what.

I’ve read the other books in the Cold Case series. This one was especially fun because in addition to great series regulars like Reese, Lauren also works with FBI agent Matt and Berg, a police detective in Iceland. The trip to Iceland also provides a great opportunity to show the culture of the country as well as give the flavor of its residents. I’m hoping we see more of Berg in future books, because he is such a fabulous character. He personifies hospitality by showing Lauren and Matt the sights and introducing his family, while being a solid investigator to help solve the murder. I also really liked how Lauren and Matt quickly evolve from strangers to partners.

FULL COLD MOON is a well written police procedural with great characters and a multifaceted mystery plot. I look forward to seeing where the series takes Lauren next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to the NetGalley and Severn House Publishers Limited for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

This is the fourth book in this series but can be read as a stand alone. This author has changed publishers and this book is a little shorter on page count. This story has two parts. The first part is set in New York and the second part is set in Iceland. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Iceland and the people there. That was my favorite part of the book. The mystery was well written and I enjoyed it very much

Lauren Riley is assigned to homicide while her cold case partner recovers from their last case. She and her soon to retire partner catch a murder of man who turns out to be from Iceland.

The story is broken into two parts. The first is the investigation done in Buffalo who then eventually leads to the FBI getting involved and the investigation moving to Iceland.

This book had a slightly different feel to it maybe because it changed from cold cases to an active homicide case and its also now under a new publisher. Lauren is still a tenacious investigator and the parts in Iceland were the best. Some of my feelings may also come from the arc that ran through the first three books was completed in the last book and this was a fresh start along with Shane not playing a big part due to his injuries. Hopefully future books get back to the feel of the first three.. Overall a good police procedural as usual.

I loved reading this. It was a tense police procedural that was intense and atmospheric. I really enjoyed that half the story was set in Iceland. It added a different edge to the story and kept me hooked.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

With her current partner Reese out of action due to an on the job injury, Detective Lauren Riley is temporarily partnered with Doug Sheehan an about-to-be retired detective when they get a call about a murder in an alley. Gunnar Jonsson is beaten to death in an alley in Lauren's city of Buffalo.

It turns out that Gunnar was the son of a very wealthy man living in Buffalo who has two grown children who are less than respectable. When he was in Iceland in the service, he met a woman. It was only a one night stand. He had no idea that he had another son. Lauren is partnered with Matt, an FBI Agent, when the case gets political.

Iceland has perhaps two murders per year, so one of their citizens getting murdered in Buffalo really set the government of Iceland alight. Lauren and her FBI partner Matt are ordered to Iceland to investigate a mysterious man who was with Gunnar in his hotel room, his Icelandic brother and so on.

Ms. Redmond does it again! This book is a wonderful addition to the series.The writing and plotting are excellent. The pace of the book is steady. The characters are interesting and colorful. Lauren needs to give herself a break; she is too hard on herself. All in all, a very good book. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

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

4.5 stars, rounded up.
This is the fourth in this series and, as per usual, it's best to start from book one and read in order. That said, as the main story is self-contained, at a push you can read this stand alone.
After the events of their previous outing, Lauren is partnerless and so she has been moved from the Cold Case squad to Homicide. She is called to the scene of the murder of a foreign visitor close to the hotel in which he was staying. Closer inspection reveals his nationality to be Icelandic and also his reasons for being stateside. More used to the pace of Cold Cases, Lauren finds working this case hard, especially when she realises that it was committed on the night of a Full Cold Moon which takes her back to one of her old, still unsolved cases. But she is gritty and determined so, together with her new partner, cracks on with the investigation and the strange path it takes her on...
This series has had a publisher change. The new publisher appears to prefer shorter books in general so, if you check out the page count for previous and compare to this one, it has gone down considerably. Where I did enjoy this book, well I have rounded up, I do feel that it wasn't quite as good as those which have gone before. Now that could also be due to the fact that it is a current and not a cold case that Lauren is investigating but I also feel that parts of it were a little rushed and could have done with a bit more expansion.
The Icelandic element of the book was brilliantly handled and I enjoyed those parts very much. I also really loved the plotting and misdirection that the author delivered quite skilfully. New characters were well drawn and Lauren is as she should be.
All in all, a good addition to an already well loved series. I'm hoping that things get fully back on track for the next one... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.