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Avril Dahl #4
Cold Witness
A missing witness. A forgotten crime. A truth that won't stay buried.
When a notorious crime boss is shot dead outside a Stockholm courthouse, the case should be open-and-shut. But the star witness, his estranged daughter, disappears hours before she’s set to testify.
Former FBI Agent Avril Dahl is asked to track her down, but what begins as a manhunt quickly turns personal. The deeper Avril digs, the more she suspects the girl is not just missing, she’s running from something far worse than her father’s enemies.
As secrets unravel, Avril uncovers a chilling connection between the case and a sealed file from her early days in the Force. One that was never meant to resurface.
Now hunted by hired killers and betrayed by someone she once trusted, Avril must confront a new kind of killer—someone who hides in plain sight, and who’ll do anything to keep the truth buried.
But justice isn't the only thing on the line. Because this time, saving the witness may mean losing herself.
Cold Witness is a taut Scandi noir thriller with breakneck twists, morally gray stakes, and a heroine who refuses to let the past stay buried.
When a notorious crime boss is shot dead outside a Stockholm courthouse, the case should be open-and-shut. But the star witness, his estranged daughter, disappears hours before she’s set to testify.
Former FBI Agent Avril Dahl is asked to track her down, but what begins as a manhunt quickly turns personal. The deeper Avril digs, the more she suspects the girl is not just missing, she’s running from something far worse than her father’s enemies.
As secrets unravel, Avril uncovers a chilling connection between the case and a sealed file from her early days in the Force. One that was never meant to resurface.
Now hunted by hired killers and betrayed by someone she once trusted, Avril must confront a new kind of killer—someone who hides in plain sight, and who’ll do anything to keep the truth buried.
But justice isn't the only thing on the line. Because this time, saving the witness may mean losing herself.
Cold Witness is a taut Scandi noir thriller with breakneck twists, morally gray stakes, and a heroine who refuses to let the past stay buried.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2026
About the author
L.T. Ryan
811 books1,532 followersL.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
BOOKS IN THE JACK NOBLE SERIES
The Recruit (prequel short story)
The First Deception (prequel)
Noble Beginnings
A Deadly Distance
Thin Line
Noble Intentions
When Dead in Greece
Noble Retribution
Noble Betrayal
Never Go Home
Noble Judgment
Never Cry Mercy
Deadline
End Game
BOOKS IN THE BEAR LOGAN SERIES
Ripple Effect
Blowback
Takedown
Deep State (coming January, 2020)
BOOKS IN THE CLARISSA ABBOT SERIES
Beyond Betrayal
BOOKS IN THE MITCH TANNER SERIES
The Depths of Darkness
Into the Darkness
Deliver Us From Darkness (coming soon)
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
About the Author
L.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
BOOKS IN THE JACK NOBLE SERIES
The Recruit (prequel short story)
The First Deception (prequel)
Noble Beginnings
A Deadly Distance
Thin Line
Noble Intentions
When Dead in Greece
Noble Retribution
Noble Betrayal
Never Go Home
Noble Judgment
Never Cry Mercy
Deadline
End Game
BOOKS IN THE BEAR LOGAN SERIES
Ripple Effect
Blowback
Takedown
Deep State (coming January, 2020)
BOOKS IN THE CLARISSA ABBOT SERIES
Beyond Betrayal
BOOKS IN THE MITCH TANNER SERIES
The Depths of Darkness
Into the Darkness
Deliver Us From Darkness (coming soon)
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
About the Author
L.T. RYAN is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. The new age of publishing offered L.T. the opportunity to blend his passions for creating, marketing, and technology to reach audiences with his popular Jack Noble series.
Living in central Virginia with his wife, the youngest of his three daughters, and their three dogs, L.T. enjoys staring out his window at the trees and mountains while he should be writing, as well as reading, hiking, running, and playing with gadgets. See what he's up to at ltryan.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook (L.T. Ryan): facebook.com/LTRyanAuthor
Facebook (Jack Noble Page): facebook.com/JackNobleBooks/
Twitter: twitter.com/LTRyanWrites
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6151659.L_T...
Contact L.T. Ryan at contact@ltryan.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 5, 2026
I found this latest book interesting and I enjoyed reading.
A crime boss, is killed and now his daughter has gone missing
A FBI agent is hired to find the daughter. It soon became apparent
she is running from someone or something .
I recommend this book as well as the many others
these authors have written.
A crime boss, is killed and now his daughter has gone missing
A FBI agent is hired to find the daughter. It soon became apparent
she is running from someone or something .
I recommend this book as well as the many others
these authors have written.
April 12, 2026
Hours before she’s set to testify against her powerful mob boss father, his estranged daughter is kidnapped—turning a high-profile case into a race against time.
Former FBI agent Avril Dahl is tasked with finding her, and early leads suggest the trail is still warm. But as Avril and her team close in on the girl’s whereabouts, the case begins to shift, revealing layers far more complex—and far more dangerous—than anyone anticipated.
Digging deeper, Avril uncovers disturbing links to a past investigation she thought was long buried—one that now places her squarely in the crosshairs. With every revelation, the stakes escalate, and the line between hunter and target begins to blur.
Packed with sharp twists, mounting tension, and relentless pacing, this gripping thriller keeps the pressure on from start to finish. For fans of high-stakes action and suspense, it’s a must-read that never lets up.
Former FBI agent Avril Dahl is tasked with finding her, and early leads suggest the trail is still warm. But as Avril and her team close in on the girl’s whereabouts, the case begins to shift, revealing layers far more complex—and far more dangerous—than anyone anticipated.
Digging deeper, Avril uncovers disturbing links to a past investigation she thought was long buried—one that now places her squarely in the crosshairs. With every revelation, the stakes escalate, and the line between hunter and target begins to blur.
Packed with sharp twists, mounting tension, and relentless pacing, this gripping thriller keeps the pressure on from start to finish. For fans of high-stakes action and suspense, it’s a must-read that never lets up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Biba Pearce has long been one of my favourite authors and teamed with L.T. Ryan the results are dynamic. This story could be read as a standalone but I would seriously urge reading the whole series, you won't be disappointed.
Former FBI Agent, Avril Dhal, was back working as a detective in her native Stockholm, she was working alongside her best friend from childhood, Krista Jansson.
When jet setting philanthropist, Livia Vukovic was kidnapped, the Stockholm PD went into crisis mode, they were at the point of bringing down a powerful cartel, the man that they had in custody, high powered, wealthy Marco Vulkovic, was going to turn state evidence but the kidnapped girl was his daughter, this couldn't be coincidence, they had to find her before her father could change his mind.
Avril and Krista were ordered to find her, this was the start of a journey that will have you on the edge of your seat and reading fast, it is a complex story with surprising twists and red herrings by the bucketful, the action is fast and furious, Krista was injured but it wasn't going to prevent him from having Avril's back.
The relationship between Avril and Krista is complicated, it is obvious that they both want more, Avril is afraid to follow her feelings, Krista had been her best friend forever and she couldn't bear to damage the friendship, but neither could she bear to think of him with someone else.
This is a brilliant story, the cold, dark Stockholm winter is palpable, the characters are diverse, well rounded and likeable, the plot is complex and well though out, I thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to reading more about Avril and Krista. A well deserved five stars.
I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary
Former FBI Agent, Avril Dhal, was back working as a detective in her native Stockholm, she was working alongside her best friend from childhood, Krista Jansson.
When jet setting philanthropist, Livia Vukovic was kidnapped, the Stockholm PD went into crisis mode, they were at the point of bringing down a powerful cartel, the man that they had in custody, high powered, wealthy Marco Vulkovic, was going to turn state evidence but the kidnapped girl was his daughter, this couldn't be coincidence, they had to find her before her father could change his mind.
Avril and Krista were ordered to find her, this was the start of a journey that will have you on the edge of your seat and reading fast, it is a complex story with surprising twists and red herrings by the bucketful, the action is fast and furious, Krista was injured but it wasn't going to prevent him from having Avril's back.
The relationship between Avril and Krista is complicated, it is obvious that they both want more, Avril is afraid to follow her feelings, Krista had been her best friend forever and she couldn't bear to damage the friendship, but neither could she bear to think of him with someone else.
This is a brilliant story, the cold, dark Stockholm winter is palpable, the characters are diverse, well rounded and likeable, the plot is complex and well though out, I thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to reading more about Avril and Krista. A well deserved five stars.
I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a great series! Avril Dahl is now working with her childhood best friend, Krister Jansson, both investigative detectives in Stockholm’s Serious Crime Unit. Barely surviving her recent undercover assignment with a terrorist leader named Odin who was leading a violent environmental fanatics, she and Krister are now on the trail of assassins who murdered the crime boss of a Swedish crime syndicate who is ready to name names of other crime syndicate bosses. The murder takes place in a safe house the day before he was to testify in the criminal trial. As the murders start to grow in numbers, the clues and suspects begin to pile up as the conspiracy grows. The crime boss’s daughter is kidnapped, Avril and Krister are blamed for the assassination and put on leave with internal affairs after them, and the terrorist, Odin, reappears to terrorize Avril. Endless twists and turns and, in the middle of it all, Avril and Krister determine that there is a mole in the police department...there is too much being disclosed that shouldn’t be, even involving a crime hidden in an old, sealed file, bringing them into the cross-hairs of the same assassins. These are fantastic stories and keep you up all night. Looking forward to the next in this series.
May 17, 2026
We start with the kidnapping in Monaco of Livia Vukovic, the estranged daughter of a Swedish crime boss Marko Vukovic, which leads to an exciting and intriguing investigation by Avril Dahl, now working in the Serious Crime department of the Stockholm Regional Police force. Having only just survived an undercover role which led to her disgrace with the FBI in Washington, Avril is reunited with her childhood friend Krister Jansson of the Stockholm Regional Police. Krister was recently wounded in the line of duty which brings in another twist along the way! The story takes the reader to different countries, as Avril becomes engrossed in the kidnapping, especially after Marko Vukovic is murdered before he can be a witness for the prosecution in a major gangland trial. There are twists and turns galore as the story progresses and treachery from within, and then Avril’s nightmares from the past are raised again.
Despite both Avril and Krister being sidelined on leave with pay, they continue to investigate and the case comes to an unexpected conclusion ending when Odin, from Avril’s past, assists and in fact saves Avril from a violent death. An entertaining read which is highly recommended.
Despite both Avril and Krister being sidelined on leave with pay, they continue to investigate and the case comes to an unexpected conclusion ending when Odin, from Avril’s past, assists and in fact saves Avril from a violent death. An entertaining read which is highly recommended.
May 6, 2026
“ A Tense ending that Up’s your heartbeat!”
This is the fourth Avril book in this series; it opens with a notorious crime boss being shot dead outside a courthouse with the star witness being his own estranged daughter. Shortly afterwards she suddenly disappears just prior to testify.
Former FBI agent Avril Dahl Enters takes the case to investigate and to track her down and to save her and the prosecution case. The case turns the case quickly turns personal to and becomes a race against time with the missing girl running from something far worse than her father’s killers. Avril with help from her boss and childhood best friend Krister follow the clues. While all this is going on Avril is constantly being wary of her nemeses Odin who had taken her hostage in a failed terror attack in Stockholm and vowed to kill her after she escaped his clutches. As they follow the clues and dig into the case they are always seem to be one step behind questioning have they a mole?
The ending few chapters is so tense that it up’s your heartbeat until you realise that you’re holding your breath! An ending you certainly don’t see coming.
This is the fourth Avril book in this series; it opens with a notorious crime boss being shot dead outside a courthouse with the star witness being his own estranged daughter. Shortly afterwards she suddenly disappears just prior to testify.
Former FBI agent Avril Dahl Enters takes the case to investigate and to track her down and to save her and the prosecution case. The case turns the case quickly turns personal to and becomes a race against time with the missing girl running from something far worse than her father’s killers. Avril with help from her boss and childhood best friend Krister follow the clues. While all this is going on Avril is constantly being wary of her nemeses Odin who had taken her hostage in a failed terror attack in Stockholm and vowed to kill her after she escaped his clutches. As they follow the clues and dig into the case they are always seem to be one step behind questioning have they a mole?
The ending few chapters is so tense that it up’s your heartbeat until you realise that you’re holding your breath! An ending you certainly don’t see coming.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Avril Dahl series has four great reads. That’s especially true of Cold Witness, book 4 in the series. I hope there will be a lot more!
I enjoy the main character, Avril and her childhood friend, Krister, who is also one of her colleagues. I like the way each book seems to build from one discovery to another and another. As the discoveries increase, the challenges increase and become bigger and bigger threats and/or dangers. By the time all the dangers are eliminated, I love seeing the connections between various parts of the plot.
You could read these books as standalone novels, but why would you? They are too good to miss one of the investigations! If you like police procedurals and exciting action , I encourage you to read Cold Witness.
I read this book’s as an ARC. The fact that I got to read it for free and agreed to write a review about it
did not influence my rating or review.
I enjoy the main character, Avril and her childhood friend, Krister, who is also one of her colleagues. I like the way each book seems to build from one discovery to another and another. As the discoveries increase, the challenges increase and become bigger and bigger threats and/or dangers. By the time all the dangers are eliminated, I love seeing the connections between various parts of the plot.
You could read these books as standalone novels, but why would you? They are too good to miss one of the investigations! If you like police procedurals and exciting action , I encourage you to read Cold Witness.
I read this book’s as an ARC. The fact that I got to read it for free and agreed to write a review about it
did not influence my rating or review.
May 6, 2026
A captivating page turner which had me totally absorbed. A young woman who is the daughter of a crime boss, is suddenly kidnapped. Her father is a star witness against a powerful crime boss but gets killed in an ambush when Avril and Krister visit him for information. Avril and Krister nearly lose their lives. Since Krister is severely injured, Avril is assigned to find the kidnapped girl. What she discovers is shocking and unbelievable. A suspense filled thriller which is mind-boggling and highlights the fight against corruption and greed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a fantastic series, each story getting better than the previous. Avril and Krister make a great team. They are tasked with finding the daughter of a crime boss who has been kidnapped. Something doesnt seem right though with this case. It is a wild ride right from the beginning which will keep you turning the pages. They need to uncover the deeper plot before more people are killed. A fantastic fast paced read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
An interesting case where all is not as it seems. Great character development, and some unusual clues as more is occurring than can be seen by the police. A police procedural but with a few twists well concluded as some of the speculation materializes into fact. Well recommended read.
May 8, 2026
So, book four in the series and it’s a little cracker. I do so love the way these authors craft their stories in this way, they pull you in and the you are fully engrossed in it. I loved it cannot wait for book five. Highly recommended.
May 20, 2026
CC1
Another great Avril Dahl chapter . Avril found Odin was back. Odin ended up needing Avril help to get revenge on Vukuvic for killing his family. It àlso ended up them finding the male. 10 stars 🌟 plus!!!Thanks Carl Clause
Another great Avril Dahl chapter . Avril found Odin was back. Odin ended up needing Avril help to get revenge on Vukuvic for killing his family. It àlso ended up them finding the male. 10 stars 🌟 plus!!!Thanks Carl Clause
June 6, 2026
Good story
The story can be hard to follow in places if you are trying to figure out the language. Otherwise I really like the dynamic between the characters in the police department. Its a surreal situation in another country, so that makes the mystery even more puzzling.
The story can be hard to follow in places if you are trying to figure out the language. Otherwise I really like the dynamic between the characters in the police department. Its a surreal situation in another country, so that makes the mystery even more puzzling.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed this book. Lot of twists and turns, lots of different characters, an edge of the seat page turner
May 20, 2026
Great read
This story kept growing and kept me glued to it with anticipation. April is a wonderful cop and person and I love reading about her adventures.
This story kept growing and kept me glued to it with anticipation. April is a wonderful cop and person and I love reading about her adventures.
April 14, 2026
Avril and Kirster are involved in a case to locate a kidnapped girl. Will they find her in time?
Review of advance copy received from Author
Excellent series!
This is an excellent series where each book seems better than the last. In the thriller/police procedural genre this duo of authors is among the very best. Avril Dahl is a unique character who first became an FBI agent to pursue her mother's murderer. Now she's back home in Sweden, investigating serious crimes with her childhood friend. Each book is well plotted and can be read alone but are greatly enriched by reading in order.
This is an excellent series where each book seems better than the last. In the thriller/police procedural genre this duo of authors is among the very best. Avril Dahl is a unique character who first became an FBI agent to pursue her mother's murderer. Now she's back home in Sweden, investigating serious crimes with her childhood friend. Each book is well plotted and can be read alone but are greatly enriched by reading in order.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews