Cold Blood

Detective Erika Foster investigates after a young boy discovers a woman's frozen body beneath the ice of a South London pond. The case leads Foster into the world of online dating, where she must track down a killer who uses digital platforms to stalk victims. The investigation forces Foster to confront her own personal struggles while managing complex relationships within her team. Her determination to catch the perpetrator puts her at odds with her superiors and places her in dangerous situations. The novel explores themes of isolation in the digital age and the masks people wear in their online personas versus real life. It raises questions about trust, intimacy, and the dark possibilities that exist when technology intersects with human vulnerability.

Readers praise the fast pacing, complex investigation details, and Detective Erika Foster's character development. Many note the book kept them guessing until the end, with mentions of "unexpected twists" appearing frequently in reviews. The London setting and winter atmosphere receive positive comments. Common criticisms include too many coincidences in the plot resolution and unrealistic police procedures. Some readers found the violence graphic and disturbing. Several reviews mention the romantic subplot feels forced. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (32,000+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.4/5 (2,900+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Strong female lead but some plot holes" "Better than book 1 in the series" "Too much focus on Erika's personal life" "Great suspense, weak ending" "Unnecessarily violent scenes" Most readers recommend continuing with the series despite their critiques of individual plot elements.

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons A female detective hunts a killer who buries victims in a children's home garden while confronting her own dark past.

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison FBI agents investigate a collector who kidnaps women, tattoos them as butterflies, and preserves their bodies in glass cases.

The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza Detective Erika Foster tracks a serial killer who leaves young women frozen beneath London's winter waters.

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter Two sisters uncover a connection between their missing sibling and recent murders while exposing family secrets.

The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney Detective Lottie Parker investigates bodies found in a cathedral, leading to a trail of missing children and religious institutions.

🔍 "Cold Blood" is the fifth book in Robert Bryndza's Detective Erika Foster series, which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. 🌍 Though the book is set in London, author Robert Bryndza wrote it while living in Slovakia with his Slovak husband Ján. 🎬 The Detective Erika Foster series has been optioned for TV development, with significant interest from production companies in both the UK and US. ❄️ The book features a particularly gruesome discovery of two bodies in a London park's pond during winter, inspired by Bryndza's fascination with how cold weather can preserve evidence. 📱 Before becoming a crime novelist, Bryndza was a successful self-published romantic comedy author who made the transition to crime writing after noting the growing popularity of psychological thrillers.