Cold Day in Hell, A

Fans of Michael Connelly and Steve Cavanagh’s courtroom dramas with plenty of twists and turns will love this first entry in the Cold Case Investigation series.

It’s an understatement to say Cold Case Detective Lauren Riley and defense attorney Frank Violanti don’t get along. While on opposite sides in the courtroom Frank’s called Lauren a sloppy cop he doesn’t trust. She considers him an obnoxious bully. Now Frank needs her help: he wants to hire her as a private investigator.

Frank’s eighteen-year-old godson, David, is accused of the rape and brutal murder of a local woman. Frank’s convinced David’s being set up and he needs Lauren’s help to prove it. Lauren doesn’t want to get involved in another jurisdiction’s homicide case, but things change when she learns the arresting officer is the one man Lauren hates more than Frank . . . her abusive former fiancé, Joe Wheeler.

After meeting David, Lauren’s determined to prove his innocence and stand up to Joe in one fell swoop.