Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Kate Hanson #1-5

Dr. Kate Hanson Cold Case Mysteries Books 1–5

Rate this book
In this five-book box set:

BOOK 1: THE COLDEST CASE
Forensic psychologist Kate Hanson knows as soon as she sees the body that she’s looking at Molly Elizabeth James. She was only eighteen when she disappeared from a shopping centre in Solihull five years ago. Then another young woman’s body is found. It’s a fresh kill. Same MO. This cold case just got hot.

BOOK 2: THE COLDEST CLUES
A mummified body is found in Birmingham’s Woodgate Country Park. The victim is Nathan Troy, an art student who disappeared two decades ago. Days later, a second body is found. This time it’s a fresh kill. It’s been twenty years, but after all this time, Nathan’s killer is back.

BOOK 3: THE COLDEST KILLER
It’s 1:23 in the morning when Kate gets the call. A body has been found in a shallow grave. It’s badly decomposed, but Kate is sure it’s nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Williams, a good student who simply disappeared a year ago. Then another young woman is attacked. Kate knows Elizabeth’s killer is still out there, and they’re not going to stop until they’re caught.

BOOK 4: THE COLDEST MOTIVE
Two teenagers discover a body locked inside a church crypt. The victim’s throat has been viciously ripped out. The dead man is quickly identified as the son of a wealthy businessman. He was reported missing a year ago. Then another young man’s remains are found. And Kates’s case takes an even darker turn . . .

BOOK 5: THE COLDEST DEATH
Ten years ago famous novelist David Lockman is convicted of murdering Della Harrington. He was sentenced to life in prison. But he’s just been released after the judge ruled miscarriage of justice. But if David didn’t kill Della, who did? Kate is determined to get answers. But her search for the truth will jeopardize everything.

1828 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2024

2627 people are currently reading
143 people want to read

About the author

A.J. Cross

20 books86 followers
A.J. Cross is a forensic psychologist and frequent court-appointed expert witness. She obtained her Masters Degree and PhD at the University of Birmingham, the latter relating to children as witnesses within the criminal court system. Her professional experience has included consultancy work for the Probation Service within its sexual offender unit in her home city. She currently lives in the West Midlands with her musician husband.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,050 (68%)
4 stars
714 (23%)
3 stars
161 (5%)
2 stars
43 (1%)
1 star
24 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Profile Image for Teresa.
1,908 reviews33 followers
June 11, 2024
I read this book set in a few days because I had nothing else to read and was stuck in another province.
The main character is a generally obnoxious person who cares little for anyone other than herself and thinks of no-one other than herself, and the only opinion she ever thinks has any merit is hers.
Of course everyone but her is a moron who couldn’t solve a murder if they watched the guy buy a gun.”9ad it and shoot someone

Thank god I am back in wifi land.
Profile Image for Janka.
511 reviews4 followers
September 1, 2024
Okay

So I was quite excited to read this boxset. First ever books by this author. And even though the stories are good they are very lengthy and slow. It takes ages for the story to develop, I'd get bored and read another book and then come back to this. And then you find out what actually happened last few pages of the book. And everything happens so quickly and I feel many questions raised in the stories remain unanswered.
Also I find the relationship between Hanson and Corrigan a bit unrealistic - what man would wait for years for a woman?
1,630 reviews
Read
April 23, 2024
In this five-book box set:

BOOK 1: THE COLDEST CASE
Forensic psychologist Kate Hanson knows as soon as she sees the body that she’s looking at Molly Elizabeth James. She was only eighteen when she disappeared from a shopping centre in Solihull five years ago. Then another young woman’s body is found. It’s a fresh kill. Same MO. This cold case just got hot.

BOOK 2: THE COLDEST CLUES
A mummified body is found in Birmingham’s Woodgate Country Park. The victim is Nathan Troy, an art student who disappeared two decades ago. Days later, a second body is found. This time it’s a fresh kill. It’s been twenty years, but after all this time, Nathan’s killer is back.

BOOK 3: THE COLDEST KILLER
It’s 1:23 in the morning when Kate gets the call. A body has been found in a shallow grave. It’s badly decomposed, but Kate is sure it’s nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Williams, a good student who simply disappeared a year ago. Then another young woman is attacked. Kate knows Elizabeth’s killer is still out there, and they’re not going to stop until they’re caught.

BOOK 4: THE COLDEST MOTIVE
Two teenagers discover a body locked inside a church crypt. The victim’s throat has been viciously ripped out. The dead man is quickly identified as the son of a wealthy businessman. He was reported missing a year ago. Then another young man’s remains are found. And Kates’s case takes an even darker turn . . .

BOOK 5: THE COLDEST DEATH
Ten years ago famous novelist David Lockman is convicted of murdering Della Harrington. He was sentenced to life in prison. But he’s just been released after the judge ruled miscarriage of justice. But if David didn’t kill Della, who did? Kate is determined to get answers. But her search for the truth will jeopardize everything.
1828 pages, Kindle Edition

Very good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
19 reviews
August 26, 2024
Disappointed over all and glad to finish the series. Book 5 was probably the best. The main character was arrogant and self-centred with ill thought through actions as if she was the actual detective, and very hard to like. The two ‘bosses’ were stereotypically hard faced characters. The colleagues were clueless and seemed to add very little to the investigations progress. The daughter to me was irrelevant and the dynamic between mother a daughter boring. The father entering her life brought a softness to the books (as did the American character) which was much needed.
The stories lost their way a little and became repetitive at times with the endings sometimes rushed. However I do like the authors writing style and the actual plots were good, definitely kept you guessing. In fact the suspects were often the best, most interesting characters.
Profile Image for Dave Bate.
151 reviews2 followers
September 30, 2024
The UCU, (Unsolved Crime Unit), Consists of an ageing sergeant, (gets promoted to Inspector during this series), an American Lieutenant on secondment and Dr Kate Hanson, a forensic psychologist, (gets promoted to Professor during this series), Also ably assisted by one of Kate's PhD students who provides the it intelligence.
The books are a little slow but excellently written. I found the cases interesting and believable but maybe a little long, especially the first novel. Probably deserving nine out of 10 rather than four out of five on the star rating.
There is minor love interest between the prof and the Yank but you have to wait to the final page for it to be revealed. Don't worry, if you're not a 'luvvy' person it won't ruin the storylines. The usual twists at the end, some were obvious, others not so.
Overall I enjoyed the series.
Profile Image for Trish Goodgame.
517 reviews5 followers
June 23, 2025
Twists and turns aplenty

It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of these books, but once familiar with the style, I quite enjoyed them. Plenty of red herrings throughout each case, leaving one guessing, with the final revelations right at the end of the book. At times, I wasn't fond of Kate Hanson, the main character but she got the job done through sheer will and stubborness. I liked the characters of her colleagues, daughter & father. In the first books, the main characters were often referred to by their first names, but in the subsequent books they were mostly referred to by their surnames which I found a bit strange. Otherwise, great police procedural with forensic psychology input, reasonably fast paced, sometimes a little slower in the beginning but worth reading.
Profile Image for Candis Flesher-Dodds.
185 reviews
April 17, 2024
Okay A.J.Cross you are now one of my favourite authors.
I absolutely loved this series -The in depth behind the scenes research and police procedure was so well executed -You just know the legitimacy of Dr. Kate Hanson's expertise (AJ Cross) You get a sense of the complexity that is involved searching for answers in past data and behaviours.
I also felt the toll the job takes on the personal lives of the police and the forensic psychologist -their colleagues, and family.
You can't help but become immersed in their personal stories and cheer them on. The characters are very well fleshed out -as well as being likeable.
I will admit for the first time in a long time being hood winked -and not getting the perpetrator right off.
Brilliant series
75 reviews1 follower
Read
July 10, 2024
2.5*, rounded up. If you're looking for even a semi-realistic procedural series, stay away. Dr. Kate (stunning, brilliant, successful in everything) is not only a police psychology consultant, but also acts as an SIO,(gives the actual detectives their assignments, interviews witnesses etc) and directly does the work of detectives. Yet, she seems unaware that UK force phased out use of the term WPC (Woman Police Constable) decades ago. Pretty obvious resolutions(and I am not one of those people who actively tries to solve the case). Add in extensive brand name dropping (which to me is simply characterization laziness), and I just had to go directly from Vol. #1 to Vol. #5 to see if it got any better. Very disappointing.
27 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2024
good box set

Loved all 5 books of this set? All very different tales , all twisting and “misleading “ red herrings !
And no i didn’t guess “who done it” ! Got close but no cigar !!
Characters were good , new policing V old , plus an American officer.. so lots of conflicting views!
Kate and Joe .. please become serious bed fellows .. you’re made for each other,
Kates daughter and her estranged husband … the “parenting “ of the ex … spot on ! And of course the child takes the father’s side, as they do !
Watts .. I love his brummy down to earth attitude on policing .. the new age thinking so not his way ?!
One annoying thing in 4 of the 5 books … mom ? Mum please
Profile Image for Susan Lowe.
70 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2024
I didn't want it to end....

There's something to be said about being disabled. You get time on your hands. And reading for me is part of my therapy of diverting my few remaining brain cells🤔 I believe I am so lucky to have had the love of books since I was four years old, so I've read many thousands over my lifetime. That s series has been absolutely brilliant, I know I say that quite often, but this series was, is different. I have been laid up in bed for two weeks, so not able to read as I normally do, but I ended up Dreaming about the book !!! I have never done that before, and it fascinated me that I had that reaction.
Please keep writing so I can read some more xxx
28 reviews
June 23, 2024
Have began reading the first book in this series - The Coldest Case - which I think I'll continue despite what I'm going to write in this review. Wasn't sure initially because, once again, we have a single mother this time struggling with a stereo-typical, eye rolling, door slamming, thirteen year old daughter who's rude, sarcastic, disrespectful and incalcitrant as far as her mother is concerned. Altogether, so far, a very boring character.

Then there is DS Bernie Watts - a bullish character with a mouth like a sewer. While Inspector Furnam is an arrogant individual that many dislike, Watts' nickname for him is typical of the DS. I found this language unnecessary.

Two characters I've liked from first meeting are Phyllis, the housekeeper, who's not afraid to call a spade a spade, and Connie Chong, the Home Office Pathologist who knows her work and is sensitive to it.

As far as Kate Hanson is concerned, an intelligent woman, whom I admired, certain characters highlighted the dismissive thinking in some men about such women. I found her "lecture" at the beginning interesting, offering insights as to the why's and wherefore's of serial murderers, especially the possible reasons for their "rest periods".

Have now finished Book One - haven't changed my mind about the characters but enjoyed A.J. Cross' writing style. Hadn't a clue who the perpetrator was - right up to the capture, although I did find this disappointingly rushed after all the long scenes and discussions in UCU's office. The ending held promises though.
38 reviews
July 31, 2024
Great series of detective novels! Loved the main characters, Hanson, Corrigan and Watts. Also the slightly more peripheral characters, Julian , Connie Chong, Charlie and Maisie. All set in and around Birmingham. Each different book deals with a different cold case murder/ but i I still found them very addictive reading. Only one tiny ‘gripe’ the author uses the word Mom instead of Mum or mother. So it feels a tad Americanised. However totally forgiven as I’m guessing this would be for the market in the USA? Definitely recommend.
1 review
December 6, 2024
I'm almost through book one but the pacing is so slow and plodding, it feels like I've been reading it forever. Although I only paid 99p for the set (meaning it was worth the risk of not liking it) I won't be reading the other books in the series.
The characters are awful stereotypes and Kate's role totally unbelievable. Add that to the glacial pace and it's not a book I wanted to pick up every night, I'm just plodding through hoping to reach the end of the first book soon so I can delete the rest.
I can't not finish a book that I've started but this one is a struggle.
Profile Image for Dee Riley.
5 reviews
August 20, 2024
Five great books

I read all 5 of the Dr Kate Hanson Cold Case Mysteries one straight after the other. Each one kept me guessing almost to the end, so many red herrings. The characters were well worked and believable. The only thing that slightly irritated me was that in the first 2 books the main character was called by her first name most of the time and in the others mainly by her surname, but that might be just me.
7 reviews
Read
March 10, 2025
I really had to persevere with these books. They did get better as they went along, but the first one was hard work. It went on for far too long. I felt the author struggled on how to end it.
I liked the characters although I felt that Hanson really needed a good friend to tell her to let loose a bit. Give Corraigan a chance, and stop trying to be in control of everything and everyone.

I just wanted her to enjoy life a bit more. All round worth a read.
27 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2024
Enjoyed this box set very much. Compelling plots, engaging settings & stories. Highlights the problem of juggling high powered jobs with family life.

I liked most of the characters but admit to not much sympathy/empathy for Hanson herself. Can't explain it! Also, why does her daughter call her 'mom' as opposed to 'mum'?

Overall, good reads! More please.
16 reviews
August 7, 2024
Book 1: really enjoyed this book. It's an easy read though I did think sometimes it lacked direction and I kind of wondered where the plot was going. But equally, I wanted to keep reading it enough so either way, I enjoyed it. It's just not the book for you if you like the plot to be well defined. There were times when it just sort of drifted for a while.
6 reviews
August 31, 2024
Kate a little overboard

First 2 books were great, the characters were called by their first names, the reader feels them. The last 3 books the characters were referred to by their last names. It felt very impersonal, you no longer felt a part of the story. Like being on the outside and looking in!
Profile Image for Jill.
149 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2024
Disappointing. Kate Hanson is supposed to be a psychologist working with the police but seems to take a far more active role in the investigations than is credible in my opinion. My main gripe is that in every book, she at some point goes it alone and puts herself in mortal danger only to be rescued by her colleagues. Her character is just not credible.
4 reviews
March 13, 2025
In my humble opinion anyone who can write a book deserves a medal. There are reviews that criticise the writing, procedures and the actions of the principal character; who cares? Books are written for entertainment and this series entertained me, which is my principal reason for reading, hence five stars.
36 reviews
May 26, 2024
Brilliant psychological series

First date series couldn't put it down .unsolved crime looked at forensically with a super intuitive psychologist as a team member .I'm hoping for more
5 reviews
August 14, 2024
The 4 Star rating was given for the entire series, some worth 3 and the final one definitively a 5 (even though the ending left some questions to be answered)
Interesting characters and I would certainly buy further ones if they were to be published.

30 reviews
August 18, 2024
Loved the series

But wanted to kill the heroine of the piece for being incredibly stupid, at times. Blundering along and thinking no harm would come from just "checking one detail" is how cemeteries stay in business and a criminal psychologist would know the danger....dah.
2 reviews
October 30, 2024
Fantastic Could not put down

Kept its suspense throughout. Great central characters. Excellent storylines. Excellent reading geometry to finish
Just unable to put down. Fantastic story



1 review
April 23, 2025
Keeps you guessing

There was only 1 of the 5 books that I worked out “who dunnit ”. There was no overly romantic scenes, only typical British‘swearing’. All in all a good read from start to finish
9 reviews31 followers
May 27, 2025
Absolutely unable to put them down. So very good.
They are easy reads but so fascinating. Having finished the last of the 5 books at lunchtime today, I am still thinking about its ending.
But, I have to find my next read. Any suggestions?
2 reviews
May 27, 2025
Keeps one in suspense

This series is 1 of the best mysteries I've read this year The plots are very good and the characters seem real. Very hard to put the book down once you start reading.
5 reviews
September 21, 2025
I enjoyed all the books in this series. They were well written and kept you guessing to the end. Had a hard time putting the books down they were fascinating to read. Well done by the author she must have done a lot of research. Thank you for doing so
Profile Image for Sheila.
18 reviews
April 6, 2024
Need more

Amazing, compelling. Couldn't put this set of books down. What an author! We need more from A.J. Cross. Love the main characters.
15 reviews
April 27, 2024
Gripping

Loved this series. Got my attention from page one, and did not disappoint right to the very end. Highly recommended
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.