Their Cold Hearts (Detective Gina Harte #13) by Carla Kovach
Genre: Crime thriller, Crime fiction, Police procedural
Read: 22nd April 2023
Published: 19th April 2023
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
She shuts the door behind her, relieved to be in the safety of her own home. But tonight her house is the most dangerous place she could be. Someone has been waiting for her, and they know she’s home alone…
Sasha loves her job finding accommodation for homeless people, and she’s proud of the small but cosy apartment she rents on the good side of town. She’s worked hard to leave her dark past behind her and make amends for the accident that still haunts her memories. She knows she was innocent, though she’s still careful about who and what she tells of her old life. But not all secrets stay hidden forever…
When her phone rings loudly in the middle of the night, Sasha fears what she’ll hear when she picks up – a deathly silence. It’s happened every night for weeks. Is it a childish prank, or a chilling warning that someone has uncovered her secret?
But the news of a body found at a local shelter means her worst nightmare has come true. It can’t be a coincidence that evidence related to the victim has been found at the same location where the most devastating moment of Sasha’s life took place.
Days later, a second body is found and Sasha’s heart pounds wildly as she takes in the victim’s unforgettable green eyes. She hasn’t seen her in a long time, but she’d know her old friend anywhere. She was the only other person who knew Sasha’s secret, so how can Sasha prove her innocence now?
Sasha doesn’t know who’s coming for her, but she’s certain of one thing: she’s next on the list…
Fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh will love Their Cold Hearts – a totally thrilling and addictive crime thriller that will have you up all night!
MY THOUGHTS:
"Someone is watching you...they know your secret..."
We're back with DI Gina Harte who is very much looking forward to spending time with her granddaughter Gracie while her daughter Hannah is taking a much-needed holiday in Paris with her partner. However, as luck would have it, in the midst of building a den with Gracie she receives a call to brutal murder scene...despite being booked on holiday leave. Gina is torn. She knows this will cause yet more friction between her and Hannah, after finally gaining her trust back, and yet she cannot let a murderer remain loose on the streets of Cleevesford. So she accepts the case and leaves Gracie in the capable hands of her boss and on-and-off-again lover DCI Chris Briggs, who later informs Gina that Gracie has had the the best time having dressed up in an oversized stab vest sporting a police had and arresting half of the relief. But none of that will wash with Hannah, Gina knows, but resolves to face that later. Right now, she has a killer to catch.
The body of a homeless man, Wesley Reid, has been found in the hostel in which he has been staying by one of the other residents and soon everyone staying in the Cleevesford Cleaver want to be relocated - NOW! But there is little anyone can do with no space available, which is what Sasha Kennedy faces daily in trying to find suitable premises for those who need it. Sadly, there are never enough rooms or flats available and the homeless community is endless. But Sasha does her best with what little resources she has...sometimes even paying for a hotel room for the odd one on occasion out of her own pocket. She just wishes there was more that she could do.
When Sasha recognises the murdered man she begins to wonder if the past is coming back to haunt her. Particularly as she has been targeted by a youth on an electric scooter outside her own flat with the odd flat tyre, messages pushed through her mailslot and more recently a written message in graffiti in one of the older buildings set to be reopened for community housing.
"I will make you pay."
Meanwhile, 18 year Macie Perrin is a true-crime YouTuber wanting her own fifteen minutes of fame. She gets herself caught up in the mystery and finds herself talking directly with the killer. She is so excited that this will mean big things for her! But is she getting in over her head?
And then there is Gina. When a second victim is discovered, her team are busy trying to find the common thread linking them with so few clues. A one pound coin and the smell of burning sage.
"When is a pound not a pound or a herb not a herb?"
Added to all this is her dilemma with Gracie. She is meant to be looking after her and, despite the whale of a time Gracie is having with her colleague's wife Mrs O, her greatest fears are realised when her ex-mother-in-law sees her working when she should be looking after Gracie...and is on hand to swoop in and take over when Hannah gets wind of it all.
This series has always been one of my favourites and I've always loved the camaraderie between Gina and her team. There is a hint of what went on before between her and Briggs, their on-and-off relationship once again seemingly lingering in the background, though Gina is far from forgiving of Brigg's past behaviour and to be honest I can't say that I blame her in this instance. And then there is Hannah. That girl got on my nerves in the early part of the series and finally I thought we were past all that. But no. One wrong move and she is quick to judge her mother once again, forgetting all the sacrifices "she" made as a single mother for her laying all the blame squarely at Gina's feet. And still, after placing Gracie in Hetty's care she STILL blames Gina for what happened! Yet Hetty was the one who supposedly had care of the child! That really annoyed me and I'm so peeved at Hannah who really cannot give her mother a break. Ever. And Gina? She knew how Hannah would react so why did she take the case? She was on leave. She was entitled to that leave so why just say "thanks but no thanks"? Because Gina must single-handedly bring down all of Cleevesford's killers, no matter what. Sorry Gina, but family come first...always.
Although I thoroughly enjoy this series, I admit to being completely frustrated by the behaviour of some of those once again...for reasons I state above. That aside, this is one of the best series out there and I can't wait to see what's in store for Gina next. I hope she gets her personal life sorted between Briggs and Hannah's bad attitude.
Overall, a good solid thriller and addition to the series but it is recommended, if coming in late to the party, to start from the beginning to appreciate the characters and the series in full...complete with the underlying backstories.
I would like to thank #CarlaKovach, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheirColdHearts in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Since then she has written & produced several stage plays, has four self-published books, has acted in several independent films and is currently in the final stages of production of her feature horror film, Penny for the Guy.
She now writes full time as well as co-owning a film, photography & video production company located in the heart of Redditch town centre.
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