Imagine investigating a deadly crime on a secluded island during the harsh winter where a small group of people overwintering are tight knit and deeply rooted in the Islands history. Imagine trying to break a wall of ice-no pun intended- of solving a murder under those conditions. No one can be trusted, no one is safe, everyone is keeping secrets and it is cold. Bone chilling cold. Yeah, that makes a great story-line.

Author Tessa Wegert does a brilliant job weaving all the senses of seclusion with an apocalyptic feel at times. Blended with psychological elements of the small Island’s community heightens the intensity of how vulnerable everyone is on the Island. This would also be the case for Shana Merchant and her team as they investigate the crime. You experience that with the characters throughout the book-particularly as the situation escalates.

Merchant’s backstory is an interesting one to say the least and this investigation is another test of her mental capabilities in solving the crime. I say this without reading the other books in the series, that is how well Wegert pens a good backstory.
This crime thriller takes dangerous conditions to a whole different level!

Stephanie Hopkins

Slow going to start, but didn’t stay that way luckily. This was my first book by this author and even though it was part of a series I feel it was fine as a stand alone. Loved the ending

I opened this book planning to just take a quick peek and get a feel for the story while planning out my fall reading list. That peek turned into me not coming up for air until I finished the book. This is a chilling, claustrophobic mystery that delighted me as a longtime fan of the series and will also work well as a standalone for new readers.

This 6th entry in the Shanna Merchant series takes her story in a new, fresh direction while also bringing closure to an ongoing story arc from past books. I loved the character growth and progression of Shana and Tim's story, The series feels like it has a lot of gas left in the tank and plenty of stories still to be told.

The Coldest Case is the ultimate binge read for those who love crime fiction with a remote setting and a small community of suspects. Add in a brutal winter setting and a blizzard further cutting our main characters off from the mainland and complicating their investigation, and the atmosphere is perfect to accentuate the tense storyline. This is easily one of my favorite entries in the series, and I'm excited to see where this series goes next.

I love this author and this series in particular. I recommend her to everyone I know! It’s that good. I think this might be my favorite installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for an eARC copy of The Coldest Case by Tessa Wegert.

Honestly, I had 100% bypassed the fact that this book was a part of a series. However, what I will say is that you don't have to start at the beginning to understand what is going on and past cases, etc., as they are backfilled rather well. It was also nice to read a book about some lesser parts of NY, so if you want to visit the Thousand Islands after reading this, you should book your trip.

This was a wonderfully well written mystery that will keep you turning pages until the very end.

Shana Merchant series #5. First of all, I have never read any of the others in the series, but back story was filled in quite effortlessly (no data dumps). There were ties to previous cases, but those turned out to be before the first book in the series as well, so I didn't miss a thing.
Merchant is a very pregnant Senior Investigator in the Thousand Islands who is learning to let her other detectives (like her husband Tim) handle the more physical stuff until after she gives birth. But when a man goes missing on one of the islands in the dead of winter, his partner will only talk to Shana, and Shana has to take the dangerous trip across the ice to the island to find out what's going on. Only a handful of people reside on the island year round, so once missing becomes murdered, the list of suspects are few. But they are diverse, and everyone is behaving in odd ways with motives abounding, so Shana and her crew have their work cut out for them. And it's winter, so no surprise, a storm is coming.
This was nice and twisty. The characters are all well-developed, the secondary characters as much as the primary, complex and distinct. You will not know who to trust. A case from her past comes to play as well, and manages to throw some more wrenches into the works. A very absorbing and exciting read. I will definitely be looking for her previous books.

👀GUESS WHO’S BACK 👀: Shana Merchant Edition

FINALLY the most bad ass Senior Investigator Shana Merchant returns in Book 6 of the series by Tessa Wegert, “The Coldest Case”!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Dangerous (and deathly) winter storms have reached the Thousand Islands and police are called to a small remote island called Running Pines. This island is home to six year round residents who are used to being cut off from civilization and bearing the freezing cold temperatures. This winter they are joined by two new comers (Sylvie and Cary) who are Instagram influencers documenting a year spent on the remote island.

Cary has gone missing while out ice fishing and the neighbours suspect that he has sunk to his death beneath the ice. His wife Sylvie REFUSES to help the police and will not speak to anyone BUT Shana. Shana notices that something is brewing among the island’s residents and it’s obvious that Sylvie isn’t tell her the truth. The clock is ticking as a sinister storm is on its way toward them as they fight to find out answers before Shana and her team get STUCK on the island!

OMG, THIS SERIES 👏!! I am telling you all that this is one of the best thriller series out there! The Thousand Islands setting is beyond perfect and who isn’t a fan of a small town mystery?! If you enjoy gritty police procedurals, fast paced thrillers and MCs haunted by their darkened pasts, then this book (and series) is for you to totally indulge in!

Thank you kindly to @tessawegert @severnhouseimprint @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on November 5, 2024!

A fast paced and twisty mystery set on a secluded island with a limited number of people.
Gripping, intriguing, it made me feel cold in summer.
Enjoyed it and had fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

It is always fun to pick up a new Shana Merchant book. This was a Sunday afternoon binge read, completely lost in this fast pace murder mystery. The setting of an isolated island with so much snow and ice was great and amped up the tension.

Shana is. Is 7 months pregnant and easing herself back from physical duty, much to her disgust. But when a witness asks for her especially she can’t refuse. A social media influencer has gone missing Running alone island and his girlfriend wants Shana’s help. At the same time we have a cold case that Shana has never been able to let go come to its conclusion with very surprising results.

If you haven’t read this series you need to change that immediately. Each book I feel can be read as a stand alone but why would you do that when this is such a great series.

Out on November 5th, thanks to Severn House for my advanced copy to read.

The Coldest Case by Tessa Wegert
No. 6 of 6 Det. Shana Merchant cases
Genre: Detective thriller
Length: 306 pages
Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024

Thank you SO very much to @netgalley and @severnhouseimprint for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions here are solely my own.

Synopsis:
Det. Shana Merchant finds herself called specifically to another Thousand Islands case on the remote island of Running Pine. Eight people are there overwintering and one has gone ice fishing and never returned.
Shana Merchant, her partner (now husband) Tim Wellington, and a third officer go to investigate. They find the missing man dead, but he has been murdered.

The suspects are few, and as the case progresses it seems to Shana that there is more to this murder and a secret that has been hidden for generations on Running Pine. Those who live there are interconnected in ways that make both everyone and noone seem likely suspects. Could it be the dead man's partner, Internet content creator Sylvie? Or is it one of the original island inhabitants who hate the newcomers and how they've brought thousands of Internet followers to their little slice of remote heaven?

Opinion:
It was awesome to see how this final installment of Det. Shana Merchant played out! I love how this book could easily be read as a standalone or as the final in the series. As usual, Tessa Wegert keeps you on your toes throughout with a setting that both chills and excites! I loved how there were actually a few different mysteries happening at once, one directly related to Shana's past, and also the murder at hand. The motive for the murder was very surprising and I would never have guessed the who or the why. I've truly enjoyed following this series and am sad to see it end. I can't wait to see what the author creates next!

Planted out in Thousand Islands, we are found in another Shana Merchant mystery. For many years, Running Wild has been an isolated small community off of Thousand Islands, a group of several families who stick to themselves. However, after influencers Cary and Sylvie arrive, things start to change, showcasing the remote Running Pine island, racing around to get the perfect photo, and hundreds of free gifts daily. Until one day, Cary is missing and Sylvie is convinced Shana is the only person that can help. Tormented by harsh weather, isolation, and hidden secrets, we follow as Shana and her team locate the truth!

I really loved this book and I am so sad I haven't read any other Shana Merchant mysteries! It was easy to read as a stand alone so if you haven't read the others like myself, don't feel like you can't pick up this one. However, I am planning to go back and read the others for sure! It was so immersive and I felt frustrated with the team struggles and happy with the team victories. I would recommend this book to any mystery lovers out there, along with everyone else!

It was an easy read for me and I did NOT expect that endings! Multiple surprises, which I absolutely love! 10/10

Thank you to Tessa Wegent and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of this book.

A solid entry in Wegert's Shana Merchant series, fans will eat this up and readers new to the series will want to go back and read the earlier entries. As a New Yorker who spends a lot of time in the NYS North County, I adore Wegert's settings in and around Alexandria Bay and the 1000 Islands, and this one is no different. Fans of fast-paced, semi-hard-hitting police procedurals will enjoy the ice-covered ride of this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of The Coldest Case!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🏝️ have ever wanted to live remotely
🕵🏻‍♀️ believe you’d make an excellent detective
🤰🏼 are pregnant but still doing dangerous things
📸 are an Instagram influencer

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Cary Caufield isn't the first man to go missing on an island, but when he doesn't return from ice fishing, his neighbors still fear the worst. Though Cary and his girlfriend run a profitable Instagram account about their year of living on a remote island, they don't understand the dangers of the ice. The tight-knit community of long-time islanders will tell you Running Pine can be perilous - especially for city slickers who'll do anything to get the perfect shot. Newlywed Senior Investigator Shana Merchant takes her own safety into her hands to help, but it soon becomes clear that Cary's disappearance is more complicated than she first thought. In a place where collaboration can save your life, the islanders are secretive, the newcomers aloof, and there's evidence of an outsider hiding somewhere in the snow.At the same time, aspects of the case remind Shana of a homicide she worked back in Manhattan, a murder that haunts her still. As she enters a new phase of her life, she's compelled to revisit the cold case, plunging headlong into the darkest part of her own past. And when a wind storm traps her on the island with a killer, she'll need to solve both crimes before she becomes the next victim. 

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Another fantastic police procedural from Tessa! I really loved that this one took place on an island where few people live. I had no idea who to trust or believe and I was genuinely surprised by who the killer turned out to be. I also liked the inclusion of a second mystery/murder that took place 4 years ago when Shana was still in NY. I didn’t see any of that coming as well. Overall, this has definitely been one of my faves! I can’t wait to see what happens next when Shana finally has her baby!

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

The Thousand Islands are icy, remote and incredibly wild in the winter months - few stay during that time. Heavily pregnant, Shana is called out specifically to search for a missing man who stars in an instagram account about living in the wild. His wife is frantic and believes Shana is her only hope. It's not long before many nefarious plans and people come to light and Shana needs to solve the case before her own life and the life of her baby are put in danger.

Great plotting and perfect setting. Loved this procedural and you will too - even if this is your first Shana story! #thecoldestcase #tesswegert #severnhouse

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Was kind of slow going and I didn't quite understand how the 2 timelines fit together, but the mystery and the twists were good. :) thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I enjoyed it!!!

I loved this book!! My love for the river runs deep and with each book set in the 1000 islandsI can see that love mirrored. The latest Shana book is full of twists and turns and suspense. I was all anticipation in waiting to find out how it would all play out. My new favorite book in the series! Thank you to Severn House and Tessa Wegert for the ARC!

A missing Instagram celebrity. A small frozen island community of just eight people and Senior Investigator Shana Merchant is back to investigate!

The remote island of Running Pine is cut off from the world, with most people returning to the mainland, leaving only eight people overwintering there. Then one goes missing. Cary - a social media sensation, out taking pictures, and his girlfriend, Sylvie, is terrified as to what may have happened to him. She only wants to talk to one person - Shana Merchant and she is keeping some secrets.
Meanwhile, Shana is also trying to dig into a cold case from years ago, that just won't let go.

I absolutely adore this series! The author has so many twists and turns, the return of supporting characters and some new introductions. There are so many obstacles and the old cold case adds another layer of complications.
This may be one of my favourite yet by the author. Highly recommend.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Severn House for this gifted review copy.

The Coldest Case certainly gives the reader chills with its winter setting and central plot. Shana Merchant and Tim Wellington are settling in to their lives as a married couple when they get the call that someone has gone missing from a small island called Running Pine. Since Shana is 7 months pregnant and the weather is treacherous Tim and the other local authorities go to the island to search while Shana digs into the missing man's personal life and the island's community. The missing man is Cary, one half of an Instagram famous couple who are documenting their year on the remote island. The more Shana digs, the more she realize how unprepared Cary and his girlfriend Sylvie were for the harsh winter. Pictures online have been staged to look authentic and Sylvie seems oddly unaffected by her boyfriend's disappearance. Eventually, Shana joins Tim and the others on the island, where she eventually finds out that the locals were not happy with the couple's presence. Tessa Wegert, as usual in this series, keeps twisting the plot to keep the reader off balance. I've enjoyed the evolution of the characters in the series, especially Shana. She's been through a lot and keeps going. I look forward to the next book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.