The Book of Cold Cases

By: Simone St. James

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley, Kirsten Potter, Robert Petkoff

A Most Anticipated Novel by PopSugar * Crime Reads * Goodreads *

A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect—a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.

Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases—a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea’s surprise, Beth says yes.

They meet regularly at Beth’s mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she’s not looking, and she could swear she’s seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn’t right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?

Critic reviews

“Lovers of true crime will get a kick out of this thriller that oozes atmosphere.”
—Silvia Moreno-Garcia, New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night

“Simone St. James knows how to haunt you. The Book of Cold Cases is St. James at the top of her game,expertly weaving the past and the present to reveal a chilling tapestry of real world mystery and supernatural suspense that will have you turning pages well past your bedtime and jumping at every little sound.”
—Jennifer McMahon, New York Times bestselling author of The Drowning Kind

“No one writes a ghost story like Simone St. James, whose uniquely spooky thrillers are as chilling as they are captivating, and The Book of Cold Cases is St. James at her best.Steeped in atmosphere and spine-tingling chills, this gripping mystery will haunt you from the very beginning.”
—Laura McHugh, award-winning author of What's Done in Darkness

“This modern Gothic triumph is a cross between your most bingeworthy true crime podcast and The Haunting of Hill House. It’s compulsively readable...but don’t read it at night. The hauntings in this story scared me, and I write this stuff for a living.”
—Wendy Webb, author of The Keepers of Metsan Valo

“Prepare to lose some sleep when you dive into The Book of Cold Cases...[A] creepy thriller.”
—Pop Sugar

“You will sink into this novel faster than you would a peat bog.
—Crime Reads

“[A] chilling paranormal thriller...St. James keeps the suspense high.”
—Publishers Weekly

“St. James is particularly gifted at doling out twists.”
—New York Times Book Review

“St. James’ 2020 novel The Sun Down Motel was a master class in the dread, as is the terrific The Book of Cold Cases.”
—Sun Sentinel

“St. James delivers another superbly entertaining, genre-blending delight…When it comes to sending shivers down readers’ spines, St. James gives Shirley Jackson a run for her money, and her latest addictively readable novel will have one sleeping with the lights on.”
—Library Journal, starred review

“A twisty and satisfying paranormal mystery you won’t want to read alone at night.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“St. James’s signature ability to tell connecting stories across decades is on display here…in a gripping tale that will appeal to fans of crime fiction tinged with the supernatural.”
—Booklist, starred review

Absolutely Awesome

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. So far, this is my favorite of all Ms. St. James' books but I look forward to many more to come.

Love it!

What a great story! If your in to true crime with that paranormal. This is your kind of book!

Very addicting

I loved this book! It drew me in and I just had to listen to it and finish it even though it is 10 hrs long it’s so good.

Not her best

This was overly long and boring. The plot "twist" was in the middle of the book, so the second half just dragged. Had to bump the playback speed up to 2.95 to get it over with.

author seems unfamiliar with the Oregon coast

I am surprised by all the great reviews. The story was a bit messy and unbelievable.

So good!!!

Simone St. James is so talented - she can write in the present or past and her stories are rich and engrossing. The dynamic between the two (..or three) main characters is brilliant. I love the inclusion of the supernatural in her novels, and this one doesn't disappoint. The Broken Girls is still my absolute favorite, but The Book of Cold Cases is right behind it. Great narration. I will read this one multiple times.

Profoundly exciting and gripping

What a ride reading this book was! Unnerving and yet complicated enough emotionally to keep my feelings on a roller coaster ride. The supernatural elements were at first nuanced and almost background noise. But as the story progressed I could often feel the hair on the back of my neck rise.

Loved it

This book kept my attention unlike anything I’ve listened to before. I loved the writing style, the narration, and the story. It was a perfect combination of mystery and supernatural. A very enjoyable experience.

Great read.

I’m a fan of Simone St. James and will always read her new releases. This story perfectly incorporates “true” crime and the supernatural, while beautifully telling the story of two haunted female leads.

Long book but worth the investment

A murder mystery mixed with the macabre that will keep you intrigued and invested. The book started slowly for me, but gradually I found myself falling into the chilling story trying to piece together the details.