The Blood Runs Cold by Catherine Maiorisi is the second book in the Chiara Corelli Mystery series.
Chiara Corelli and P.J. Parker are still fighting with each other and they have to team up to do battle with the rest of the officers in the New York City Police Department. They are also tasked with solving the highly publicized murder of an affluent gay man who was found lying on his couch with rosary beads in his hands, the smell of incense enveloping the room and a calming Gregorian chant that keeps playing on a continuous loop.
Corelli and Parker are extremely busy with chasing down every lead and they are annoyed when Kate Burke, the lesbian Speaker of the City Council asks them to meet with her to discuss their progress on the investigation. Corelli thinks that Kate Burke is trying to use politics to get additional information on the case and she ignores her repeated requests to meet up. Things begin to fall apart because two other bodies are found and the victims and the rooms they died in were staged in the same manner as the first murder.
When Corelli’s chief intervenes and demands that Corelli pay Kate Burke a visit at her office, she reluctantly gives in and arranges to meet her. On the fateful day of the meeting, Corelli sees a group photo on Kate Burke’s desk and she is shocked when she recognizes the three victims. She believes the killer is targeting the group of friends and anyone else in the picture would be in danger. The case becomes personal when Corelli sees someone she loves dearly in the photo and she will do everything in her power to stop the killer and protect the remaining survivors.
Will Corelli and Parker be able to catch the killer before more lives are brutally snuffed out?
The Characters
Chiara Corelli and P.J. Parker are NYPD detectives and they are firm believers in honour and transparency. Even though Chiara and P.J. don’t always see eye to eye, this dynamic duo works tirelessly to rid the city streets of ruthless killers and anyone who tries to live outside of the law. At first, I wasn’t impressed or pleased with the way Chiara treated P.J. but I warmed up to her when I learned more about her past and all of the things she went through in her personal and professional life. On the other hand, P.J. stole my heart from the first time she was mentioned because she is such an understanding and compassionate person and she’s the kind of friend that anyone would be lucky to have.
The Writing Style
I think I’ve found a new favorite author! This is the first book that I’ve read from Catherine Maiorisi and I must say that she certainly has my attention because I’m a huge fan of her flawless and captivating writing. I couldn’t get enough of the vivid descriptions of New York City in all of its bustling glory and I’m sorely tempted to hop on a plane right now just to see everything it has to offer. Did I forget to mention how much I loved the sarcastic and witty dialogue between the awesome and unforgettable characters she created? Forgive me for being lax but I thought it was priceless!
The Pros
There are so many things that I love about this story! This story gave me bold and confident women in uniform, shifty suspects and a stream of chilling murders. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was running my own investigation into the killings without leaving my bedroom. Who says you can’t have it all? I have the best of both worlds—I’m a spreadsheet wizard by day and I’m an armchair detective by night!
The Cons
Why did this story have to end?
The Conclusion
I’m a die-hard mystery and thriller lover and this story has definitely given me everything that I could ever ask for because I got all the raw emotions, endless intrigue and excitement with a touch of romance. This enthralling story can be read as a stand-alone because the author does a fabulous job of filling in the gaps but if you want to have a better insight into the hearts and minds of the characters, then you should start with the first book in the series.
Excerpt from The Blood Runs Cold by Catherine Maiorisi
Being ostracized was getting old fast. At least for NYPD Detective Chiara Corelli. And maybe for the press, since they hadn’t shown up this morning. But from her vantage point in a car a block away from the station house, it was clear her colleagues were still in the game.
She hadn’t missed this while Parker was away. And she wouldn’t miss being tied to her desk now that Parker was back. “I’ve been going in alone for the last two weeks, Parker. No need to subject yourself to the gauntlet. You can follow later when it’s safer.”
“Damn you, Corelli, stop playing the martyr.” Detective P.J. Parker made no attempt to hide her anger. “Watkins told me the captain escorted you in while I was away so there was no gauntlet. But I’m back and so is the gauntlet. And just because they haven’t attempted to kill you up to now, doesn’t mean they won’t try today. So don’t even think about going into that crowd or anywhere else without me.”
“Kissin’ my ass won’t change my decision, Parker.”
“Treating me like the enemy won’t change mine. Besides, I’m anxious to get inside where I assume you’ll let me in on your decision about my future.”
Good. Parker isn’t taking my shit. That thought caught Corelli by surprise. She couldn’t remember ever treating anyone the way she’d treated Parker on the Winter case. Nasty wasn’t her style, yet the words slipped out before she could stop them. Parker thought she had PTSD. Could she be right?
Parker got out of the car then leaned in before closing the door. “Better hurry, your fan club is getting restless.”
As they approached, the crowd shuffled into two rows of uniforms back to back forming a gauntlet through which they had to pass to get into the station house. These were her colleagues. She used to trust them to watch her back. Now she had to trust Parker to protect her from them. And, this daily ritual of humiliation had replaced their respect. She hated it, but she’d known the consequences of going undercover to expose the ring of dirty cops. Each time she approached the mouth of the funnel, she remembered the video she’d seen of a snake swallowing a cow—whole. And each time she reminded herself that unlike the cow, she came out the other end a little battered but alive. She’d faced worse things in her life. And survived.
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Series
The Chiara Corelli Mystery Series
The Blood Runs Cold: Book 2
Bits and Bobs
- ISBN number: 9781642470260
- Publisher: Bella Books
- Catherine Maiorisi Online
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