This page-turner will keep you up way past bedtime. Early on it seems like there isn't any mystery to the case. There is a lot of tension and action. I love Tori and Will so much, I was already invested in the story because of them. Then the author dealt a whammy and I was reminded why I love this series! The ending was perfect.

I like how I read this as the weather has shifted colder. Manchester Bay can keep the snow, but when I time reads like this, I feel a little more connected.

I’ve been reading popcorn thrillers as of late and really appreciated the complex layered case that Tori and Braddock are investigating. It was ever changing as they discovered clues and kept my interest from the first page through to the end. The tension was ratcheted up as they searched for a missing boy. This kept the pace moving along since time was critical. I knew all wasn’t what it seemed from the start since there were multiple points of view feeding my facts, but I had no idea what the reasons were for the kidnapping of Teddy.

Tori is a strong and determined woman and her vulnerabilities make her relatable. I rooted for throughout the book and there was a moment she might have needed it, but her capable skills help her see things that others don’t.

This one would work extremely well as a stand alone when it is well into the series. It seemed to be uber focused on the case and less on their personal lives which is the part that usually carries from book to book.

This is the first time I’ve listened to one in this series and Kate Handford did a great job narrating the book. She easily conveyed the urgency of the case and emotions that surrounded it. It worked great as an audiobook.

It’s another great addition to the series.

❄Great, thrill-packed plot😲

4.5🌟 stars
I loved this suspenseful story, though it did take me a while to get through it. Poor Teddy, the 10 year old who is kidnapped after seeing his mom killed on a snowy Minnesota morning, gets the tense story rolling. Tori, Braddock and their team meet the challenge of a) a monster of a blizzard and b) a hardened cell of anti-government radicals definitely up to no good and ready to spare no one to get what they want.

The plot is a winner and I loved the way author Roger Stelljes makes the rural, northern locale and the severe weather conditions key "characters" along with the good guys, victims and criminals.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Thank you so much @bookouture for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I reviewed and loved Book 6 in the Tori Hunter series last year, and was excited to see how Book 7 fared - Roger Stelljes is a maestro at spinning a twisted mystery/thriller which kept me on my toes!

When gunshots ring out from a family home, Agent Tori Hunter races through the gathering snowstorm to discover that ten-year-old Teddy Marist has disappeared. His mother and her new boyfriend are dead in the family kitchen, breakfast still cooking on the stove. And racing to track down Teddy’s father, Barry Marist, Tori finds he is missing too.

Local police are certain this is a simple case of a jealous ex-husband turned violent over his recent divorce. But interviewing everyone she can about Barry, Tori’s gut has her questioning if he would really kidnap his own child? When Barry's body is discovered at an abandoned holiday resort, Tori's worst suspicions are confirmed. With a blizzard looming that threatens to cut off contact, access and answers for Tori Hunter, the question is if she will be able to save Teddy in time and find the perpetrators behind the murders?

I was drawn in from the first page. Roger Stelljes is a powerful, convincing storyteller and is great at delivering beyond what it says on the packet; you will never be dissatisfied after reading his books. Be prepared for a fast-paced storyline, a slick writing style, memorable characters and drama and action that unfolds with each turn of the page! (At this point, I can safely say Roger Stelljes is the king of writing car-chases in fiction!) However, there was also a vulnerability and softness and Stelljes was able to capture this emotion through fantastic character development; I was really rooting for Tori, Braddock and the team to bring Teddy justice. I had my heart in my mouth and was gasping out loud at so many *shockers* - a thriller has to be unpredictable and engaging in equal parts which this book finally did for me. I know I want to read the other books in the series now and complete the set.

Highly recommend this one if you're a crime/thriller fan. You won't regret it!

Taken in the Cold (Agent Tori Hunter Book 7)
by Roger Stelljes

Know that you can read the books in this series as standalones but the books, characters, this world, all these things are so connected and fit so well in a "life goes on" way that I suggest reading (or listening to) the series from book #1 all the way through to book #7. Finally, after all the crime that Tori has seen since she was a teen, her nightmares are too much. She's had therapy, she continues to have therapy as needed, and now she's coming off an eight month vacation away from helping out law enforcement with criminal investigations. Tori has enjoyed this time off so much that she's thinking about expanding the teaching of one college class to taking on a full time job teaching at the local college. Life it good, having a home with Chief Detective Will Braddock and his son is good.

And then comes the call. There has been a double murder and it appears that a ten year old boy has been taken by the murderers. Crimes involving children are Tori's specialty and Will has always reserved the right to call Tori into duty for a case such as this one. Once the search has begun, the team is not only trying to figure out a very complex and convoluted investigative trail but they are trying to outrun weather that is already upon them.

As with the other books in this series, the action is mind boggling. Tori is in the middle of it so good thing she is a work out fanatic, she's going to put her body through the wringer once again. By the end of the book, Tori and company will be meeting people in high places what with the name she has made for herself over the series. It's funny to see various characters in this book searching the internet to read about all of Tori's exploits. Hopefully there will be another book or four coming in the future now that I've finished with all the published books in the series.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC.

Book 7 in the Agent Tori Hunter series…..I’ve been patiently waiting for more Tori and Braddock :). Can this be read as a standalone? I recommend reading the series in order. There is so much back story to all the characters that is important to know.

Taken in the Cold is an intense read that takes us on a roller coaster ride of suspense and intrigue! It’s always great to catch up with Tori and Braddock. Can they figure out what is going on before it is too late? It seems there is more going on than they first thought.
Kidnapping
Hostage
Murder
Embezzlement
Bombing
Assassination
With so much going, you can’t help but be engaged throughout the story.
A solid read once again from author Roger Stelljes.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Taken in the Cold is book 7 in the amazing Agent Tori Hunter series by my absolute favorite Roger Stelljes.
This has got to easily be one of the best series out there. Over the past 6 installments I have slowly fallen in love with each of the characters and their stories.
I have read all of the books in the series and each one just gets better and better.
The very first chapter immediately draws you into the story and from then onwards it just keeps getting better and better developing into a great thriller that you just can't seem to put down.
A great plot, with a lot of action and mystery.
My favorite crime series to date!

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This was my first read by this author. It definitely had your heart stopping from the first page kidnapping of a little boy will do that to you.
This is part of a series and this is the first one I read I did not feel lost. Like I said it get you from the first page very tragic start. A lot of twist and turns definitely keeps you thinking.
Tori Hunter definitely keeps you thinking can just see her wheels turning.
If I had to say anything bad, it would be a little bit much with the dramatics of the gun scenes

This is book 7 in the Tori Hunter series but it’s my first. I didn’t feel I missed out on the backstory from not reading the others but it has definitely intrigued me. I found it to be extremely long and dragged out for the first half of the listen to the point I found my mind wandering and constantly had to drag myself back. It’s a great storyline once it gets going but it was just too slow paced for this kind of storyline. I really liked the characters and found them an endearing bunch. The narration was engaging for the most part but found the gunfire scenes annoying. The second half of the listen really ramped up and I really enjoyed how it unfolded. I would be interested to read others in the series.

3.5/5 🌟🌟🌟/🌟

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review #TakenInTheCold

Action packed crime thriller!

Even though this is the 7th book in the series and only the second installment I’ve read (just #1), I can say that this is definitely one of the better ones out there. I enjoyed the plot and how the investigation came together with all of its twists and turns. I like the characters, especially Tori Hunter and Chief Detective Braddock. Despite the gap between 1 and 7, I never felt lost as there was plenty of backstory and I was able to catch up quickly.

Though this involves domestic terrorism and also a few other issues like embezzlement and kidnapping, it all flows well and moves quickly. I like the writing style and also the vivid descriptions of the Minnesota weather and the lakes areas.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC (both provided by the publishers) and I highly recommend you do that if you can. The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters and adding an appropriate amount of dramatic flair to the story. Listening while reading definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Can’t wait for the next in series. Only sorry that I missed 2 through 6! I’ve given up on many series lately but I’m making an exception with this one.

It starts out like any other morning, but soon two will be dead and a child will be missing. When Tori and Braddock arrive on the scene of the homicide, they realize a child is missing. To further the mystery, his father is missing as well. The question on everyone's mind is did he kill his ex-wife and her lover and take his son? Well you will just have to read it to find out. You will also need to fasten your seatbelt for a thrilling wild ride of a much more complex mystery than it first appears.

The suspense is off the charts. The pace is relentless as I tried to get to the root of where this book was headed. Nothing is ever as easy it appears, and that is certainly true in this taut mystery/thriller. Agent Tori Hunter is quickly becoming another one of my favorite fictional characters. I need a break now.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Part of a series featuring Detective Will Braddock and Tori Hunter,works as a standalone. Gripping thriller with many twists and turns,didn't know who dunnit till the end.

Acting as a consultant, Tori Hunter jumps in to help Will Braddock with a fast-moving case concerning the abduction of a child after the murder of his parents. As if the abduction wasn't pressing enough, Hunter & Braddock must race against the incoming blizzard, chasing unknown assailants across a treacherous snow-covered landscape of northern Minnesota.

I really enjoyed this one! As with each of the books in this series, you could definitely read as a standalone and not feel lost but as a fan of the series I enjoy knowing all of the backstory with the characters. I enjoy all of the books in this series but this one I especially loved for the setting. The incoming blizzard was written so vividly it could have been another character. It reminded me a lot of the way Ragnar Jonasson writes his books about Iceland and I absolutely loved it. I was reading this in New York in the warm beginning of fall but at certain points could feel like cold of Minnesota winter. Just really well done. I also really liked the layers of this case and how it took off in a direction I wasn't expecting. The only thing I didn't love was that it definitely felt like the first half of the book was almost completely separate from the second half in the way they each had their own complete arcs, it could almost have been two books. Still, it was really well done and kept me interested the entire time. If you're not already reading this author you're missing out, definitely pick up this series!

When gunshots shatter the calm of an exclusive family home, Detective Will Braddock responds to the scene to find ten-year-old Teddy missing and his mother and her new boyfriend dead. Tori is called in as a consultant, and police are quick to suspect Teddy’s father, believed to be bitter over the divorce, may have killed them and fled with Teddy.

As Tori interviews everyone who knew Teddy’s father, her instincts tell her he's not the killer. Her worst fears are confirmed when his body is discovered, leaving Tori devastated but more determined than ever. With a deadly blizzard bearing down on Manchester Bay, Tori and Will race against time to track down Teddy and the kidnappers before it’s too late.

This is a fast-paced, addictive read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait to follow Tori Hunter and Will Braddock in the next installment of this fantastic series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and author Roger Stelljes for the opportunity to review the advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm sitting in my bed reading on a warm summer night when I stood to refill my water. I 1000 percent expected to see mounds of snow covering the ground with near white out conditions still falling from the sky. Roger Stelljis and his character Tori dragged me from my real world and into one of money, murder, an unyielding blizzard and a brave young boy! Taken in the cold gripped me from the beginning to the surprising killer reveal at the end! I was so enthralled in the book I found myself so deep in I could hear the gunfire and feel the fear eminating from the characters. The only downfall of this book I could find was that it ended and forced me back into the real world to impatiently await Tori's next adventure!

This is the kind of series where you can step in at any moment, but once you read one, you'll definitely want to read the entire series.

In Taken in the Cold, the first few pages set the tone for the rest of the book. We start with the murder and the kidnapping of a young boy. Tori, Braddock, and the rest of the team have their work cut out for them trying to figure out what the motive could be and how they are going to get the boy back alive and hopefully unharmed.

With literal nonstop action from start to finish this one kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see what is going to happen next for Tori and Braddock what kind of crazy case they will end up in the middle of.

There are only a few thriller series that I religiously keep up-to-date with, and this is one of them! From the first book, I've always looked forward to catching up with Tori and Braddock. And Taken In The Cold is another action-packed and engaging thriller, with a snowy setting perfect for the colder months!

I usually read these books on my Kindle, but I opted for the audiobook this time, which was brilliantly narrated. It kept me invested throughout and made for a great listen on a lazy day at home, meaning that I could read it all in one go!

Stelljes is a great writer and I love that you can vividly picture every scene with his words. I wouldn't say that this is the most exciting book in terms of plot in the series so far, as many of the others have much more shocking twists and emotional investigations, but this instalment definitely works as a standalone, so it would work as a great teaser to the series. You're sure to want to go back to the start to see how it all began for Tori anyway! And I can't wait to see what happens to her next.

I have been waiting a long time for the new book in the adventures of Will Braddock and Tori Hunter. Sadly, this one didn't do the trick for me. Although it starts off with a bang and keep going on with many twists and turns, I just could not relate to the fact that the identity of the bad guys was revealed early on and the book seems to drag on as to understand the reason for the whole thing to have happened. I love this series and I hope to see more of Will and Tori though! Thank you NetGalley for the pleasure of an advanced review of this book.

</b>Former FBI agent Tori Hunter is back in another gripping mystery.</b>

4.5 stars rounded up.

When shots ring out at a posh mansion, two adults are found dead on the scene, and a ten-year-old boy is missing just before a huge winter storm is supposed to hit Manchester Bay, Minnesota, Tori Hunter, though now retired from the FBI, quickly jumps back into action and joins forces with her partner / local Sheriff Braddock to solve the mystery and try to find the child.

I only recently listened to "Silenced Girls", the first book in this series, and fell in love with Tori, Braddock and their local gang of crime-solvers in Manchester Bay. "Taken in the Cold" is book no. 7 in the series, but it works well as a standalone (I didn't have time to read books 2-6, though they are high on my TBR list, and I followed along any new developments just fine; plus, the necessary character backstories from book 1 get covered, helping anyone who is completely new to this series).

Overall, I'm still very much taken by the series. Tori is as fearless, capable and feisty as ever, and she and Braddock once again work well together. I was also totally sucked in by the mystery in this book, and flew through it in a single sitting because it kept me engrossed, though the ending felt a bit lackluster, maybe because of the books very eerie and sinister beginning that had me expecting the end of the world.

What I absolutely did not like about this particular book - and this is a small issue on my part - is that a lot of pages were wasted just repeating (mostly gunfire) sounds - i.e. "Pang pang pang!". I was willing to overlook it once or twice, but it was used so often in a few scenes that it started to grate on my nerves, and felt a bit like lazy writing (why not describe what the gunfire sounds like instead of simply printing the actual noise?).

Other than that, this was a near-flawless mystery in an excellent series that will have me coming back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Taken in the Cold" is slated to be released on November 1, 2024.

Another excellent Tori Hunter book. I flew through this book and had no idea til it was revealed who'd done it. I feel like Braddock and Tori are getting close to sealing the deal on their relationship too! Loved the character of Teddy in this story and how Tori related to him through her own past. Overall great book 5 stars!