Cold Conviction

Cold Conviction by Daryl Wood Gerber is the 3rd An Aspen Adams Novel of Suspense. It can be read as a standalone, but I believe you will understand Aspen (and the other characters) better if you read the books in order. Aspen Adams is a complex woman with a big heart. Aspen is a private investigator working for her Aunt Max and raising her niece, Candace. Candace is doing much better now that she has a stable home life, but she does not give up hope that her mother will change. The author has created realistic, developed characters. I thought Cold Conviction was well-written with steady pacing. The mystery is multifaceted with the suspense ramping up as Aspen gets closer to the solution. Aspen went about the investigation in a methodical manner. The details are revealed a little at a time. I enjoyed following Aspen as she worked to resolve the case making sure to leave no stone unturned. The reveal scene was action packed and I liked how everything came together. I was, though, left with an unanswered question or two. I was able to arrive at the resolution for this whodunit early in the book because the evidence pointed in one direction. As more details were revealed, it confirmed what I had deduced. I would have liked for the mystery to be more of a challenge for the reader to solve. As Aspen was away from Lake Tahoe for most of the book, I missed the interactions between her and the other characters. They appear now and then plus there are phone calls, but it is not quite the same. I am a fan of Aunt Max and Candace. Aspen’s relationship with Nick is progressing nicely. Nick is so different from Aspen’s ex-husband, Damien who makes an appearance. He is sleaze with a capital S. I loved the descriptions of Grandma Patrice’s artwork especially her puzzle boxes. Cold Conviction is my favorite book in this series. I look forward to Aspen Adams next adventure. Cold Conviction is a dynamic tale with a strident sister, a nasty neighbor, melancholy memories, a benign beau, storage shed mementoes, a controlled killer, and a determined daughter.