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Van Shaw #2
Hard Cold Winter
Former Army Ranger and thief Van Shaw is thrust into danger as lethal and unpredictable as the war he left behind in this emotionally powerful and gritty follow up to the acclaimed Past Crimes.
When an old crony of Van Shaw’s late grandfather calls in a favor, the recently-discharged Ranger embarks on a dangerous journey to the Olympic Mountains, in search of a missing girl tied to Van’s own criminal past. What he finds instead is a brutal murder scene, including a victim from one of Seattle’s most influential families.
But the dead bodies are only the start of Van’s troubles. A fellow Ranger from Afghanistan turns up at Van’s doorstep, seeking support from his former sergeant even as Van wrestles with his own reemerging symptoms of PTSD. The murder investigation leads to heavy pressure, with a billionaire businessman on one side and vicious gangsters on the other, each willing to play dirty to get what they want.
The price of his survival may be too high, demanding moral compromises that could destroy Van’s relationship with his iron-willed girlfriend, Luce. And when a trusted friend’s betrayal pushes him to the edge, Van has to enlist help from some unexpected places—including someone he believed was lost forever.
The Ranger will need every ally he can get. A powerful, unseen player is about to unleash a firestorm on Seattle that will burn Van and his people to ashes—and it will take a miracle to stop it.
When an old crony of Van Shaw’s late grandfather calls in a favor, the recently-discharged Ranger embarks on a dangerous journey to the Olympic Mountains, in search of a missing girl tied to Van’s own criminal past. What he finds instead is a brutal murder scene, including a victim from one of Seattle’s most influential families.
But the dead bodies are only the start of Van’s troubles. A fellow Ranger from Afghanistan turns up at Van’s doorstep, seeking support from his former sergeant even as Van wrestles with his own reemerging symptoms of PTSD. The murder investigation leads to heavy pressure, with a billionaire businessman on one side and vicious gangsters on the other, each willing to play dirty to get what they want.
The price of his survival may be too high, demanding moral compromises that could destroy Van’s relationship with his iron-willed girlfriend, Luce. And when a trusted friend’s betrayal pushes him to the edge, Van has to enlist help from some unexpected places—including someone he believed was lost forever.
The Ranger will need every ally he can get. A powerful, unseen player is about to unleash a firestorm on Seattle that will burn Van and his people to ashes—and it will take a miracle to stop it.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2016
293 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
April 15, 2016
This is the second Van Shaw novel – I love these, intelligent and atmospheric thrillers with enticing plots and some great characters, having been a fan of Past Crimes I was very pleased to see Van Shaw returning.
Hard Cold Winter is a fast paced, addictive read that leans towards some dark themes and has the benefit of being entirely engaging throughout – it has a gorgeous past/present vibe of the type that I love and a brilliant sense of place when it comes to Seattle so you get a real feel for everything going on.
Once again Glen Erik Hamilton connects his main protagonist to the ongoing events with a personal touch – in this case a girl from his past – Van is intriguing, flawed and kind of gets thrown into things rather than actively seeking them out which gives the books a deeper sense of reality.
The fact that our hero has a criminal background as well as being an ex army ranger really keeps things fascinating – in this case he is also struggling with PTSD whilst chasing after some very dangerous people. It is exciting (and emotive) and cleverly constructed to keep you turning those pages well into the night.
Author interview can be found on Liz Loves Books here.
http://lizlovesbooks.com/lizlovesbook...
Hard Cold Winter is a fast paced, addictive read that leans towards some dark themes and has the benefit of being entirely engaging throughout – it has a gorgeous past/present vibe of the type that I love and a brilliant sense of place when it comes to Seattle so you get a real feel for everything going on.
Once again Glen Erik Hamilton connects his main protagonist to the ongoing events with a personal touch – in this case a girl from his past – Van is intriguing, flawed and kind of gets thrown into things rather than actively seeking them out which gives the books a deeper sense of reality.
The fact that our hero has a criminal background as well as being an ex army ranger really keeps things fascinating – in this case he is also struggling with PTSD whilst chasing after some very dangerous people. It is exciting (and emotive) and cleverly constructed to keep you turning those pages well into the night.
Author interview can be found on Liz Loves Books here.
http://lizlovesbooks.com/lizlovesbook...
October 20, 2020
Van Shaw has just returned to Seattle from his time in the Army Rangers when Willard, one of his grandfather’s friends, asks for a favor. Willard is concerned about his niece, who went to her boyfriend’s cabin and hasn’t been heard from since. Van goes out there and discovers a grisly scene. It looks like a murder suicide, but Van begins to investigate anyway. He soon finds himself facing more danger than he bargained for. Will his Ranger training keep him alive? Or are the forces at work too great for him?
After enjoying the first book in the series, I was anxious to revisit Van. He was just as great a character this time around, and I enjoyed watching him grow a bit and interact with the characters, both old and new. The plot just continues to build until we reach the satisfying and explosive climax. The series is darker than I normally enjoy, and that did bother me a little, but that is completely on me. I do appreciate how Van’s past, both before the Army and as a Ranger, is worked into the story, and the light it shines on the struggles vets face when they return to civilian life. I will be picking up the third book soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
After enjoying the first book in the series, I was anxious to revisit Van. He was just as great a character this time around, and I enjoyed watching him grow a bit and interact with the characters, both old and new. The plot just continues to build until we reach the satisfying and explosive climax. The series is darker than I normally enjoy, and that did bother me a little, but that is completely on me. I do appreciate how Van’s past, both before the Army and as a Ranger, is worked into the story, and the light it shines on the struggles vets face when they return to civilian life. I will be picking up the third book soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 2, 2023
This was not bad, but not nearly as easy to read as the Jack Reacher books people compare it to. I can see some similarities, and I'm not saying one is necessarily better than the other, but they're different. More complicated, more characters, and the main character is not quite as law-abiding, using a lot of his criminal background to break into places, associate with criminals both past and present, etc.
One thing that was repeated from the previous book is the way the author alternates between the past and the present. I'm not really crazy about it, as it makes it a little harder to follow, and keeps interrupting the flow, for me. But hey, you get two stories in one!
But when all is said and done, it was a pretty good read, and may get better as the series progresses.
One thing that was repeated from the previous book is the way the author alternates between the past and the present. I'm not really crazy about it, as it makes it a little harder to follow, and keeps interrupting the flow, for me. But hey, you get two stories in one!
But when all is said and done, it was a pretty good read, and may get better as the series progresses.
July 11, 2018
Hard Cold Winter was an extremely solid four stars. The comparisons between Glen Erik Hamilton's Van Shaw and Lee Child's Jack Reacher are pretty obvious. Both are ex servicemen who work outside the law when it suits them, for instance. However Hamilton can write while Child cannot, and that makes all the difference. This was an exciting fast paced book and I look forward to hunting down more of Hamilton's work.
July 5, 2017
This second book of the Van Shaw series starts with a crony of Van's father asking him for a favor. His daughter is missing, but he can give Van directions.
Van goes to the remote cabin, and finds a gruesome murder scene. As the daughter was a friend of his from childhood, Van starts poking around. He finds a whole lot of crime and violence.
Great stuff, very hard boiled.
Van goes to the remote cabin, and finds a gruesome murder scene. As the daughter was a friend of his from childhood, Van starts poking around. He finds a whole lot of crime and violence.
Great stuff, very hard boiled.
February 1, 2019
Notice in this series, as in the ones by Nick Petrie how the protagonist gets compared on the jacket blurbs to the Lee Child character Jack Reacher? Sometimes, even by Child himself. At any rate, the "white knight" veteran springing to the rescue seems to be a popular theme. Seems to me, however that one of the major undercurrents in these type of books is the fact that so many suffer from PTSD which keeps them from settling down in "normal society". Of course as one of the characters in this story comments it can be a bit hard to keep it together when someone's insides are on your outside.
On the plus side, interesting and twisty plot so a quick absorbing read. Just not sure I need yet another series in the Reacher vein.
On the plus side, interesting and twisty plot so a quick absorbing read. Just not sure I need yet another series in the Reacher vein.
March 30, 2016
This is a cracking thriller written by an accomplished writer. This is the first book I have read in the series and it works well as a standalone. It has Van doing a favour for a mate of his grandfather to find Elena, his granddaughter. She is missing at a cabin in the Olympic Mountains.
When Van arrives there, he finds two bodies that have been gruesomely murdered, one of which is Elena. A shocked Van sets out to discover exactly what has happened. This is a courageous act as Van is still suffering from PTSD and he refuses to listen to the many attempts to dissuade from looking into the murders. Van embarks on what is a dangerous and twisted trail. An old army friend of his, Leo, arrives on the scene.
The author is very good at character development and in plotting this complex, intricate thriller. The suspense driven narrative is compelling and keeps the reader avidly turning the pages. The book is full of great descriptions that lend a credible sense of place to the story. This is a novel that I happily recommend to others. Thanks to Faber and Faber for an ARC via netgalley.
When Van arrives there, he finds two bodies that have been gruesomely murdered, one of which is Elena. A shocked Van sets out to discover exactly what has happened. This is a courageous act as Van is still suffering from PTSD and he refuses to listen to the many attempts to dissuade from looking into the murders. Van embarks on what is a dangerous and twisted trail. An old army friend of his, Leo, arrives on the scene.
The author is very good at character development and in plotting this complex, intricate thriller. The suspense driven narrative is compelling and keeps the reader avidly turning the pages. The book is full of great descriptions that lend a credible sense of place to the story. This is a novel that I happily recommend to others. Thanks to Faber and Faber for an ARC via netgalley.
June 18, 2018
Another high-energy, tension-ridden story of Van Shaw as he comes to grips with his past and how he is going to make it in the real world of Seattle with all its memories.
This is the second book in the series and I find them very satisfying.
This is the second book in the series and I find them very satisfying.
April 20, 2019
Picked up this book because J.A. Jance said it was as much fun to read as Jack Reacher. She was right. I like this Van Shaw character. This book was non-stop action. Hamilton is one fine writer.
February 11, 2016
I won this book through Goodreads First reads. This was a murder mystery. Nothing was clear in the story. It became boring. I did finish the book.
March 18, 2016
Last year’s debut thriller by Glen Erik Hamilton showed without a doubt that an amazing new talent had arrived. Past Crimes (2015) was a runaway bestseller and nominated for an Edgar Award. Now Hard Cold Winter makes it plain that Hamilton isn’t any one-hit wonder. With Van Shaw he presented a tough, likable character that has readers pulling for him from start to finish. Shaw is a far from perfect disillusioned Army Sergeant who is simply trying to get by.
Giving me special pleasure in Shaw’s second adventure is the author’s sense of place - his descriptions of Seattle are spot-on. I could see Pike Place Market in my mind’s eye through his text, and could almost smell the flowers. Another plus for me was the introduction of Leo Pak, one of Van’s Army buddies who shows up for a visit and stays. For this reader Hamilton’s character development is topnotch as at first I was leery of Pak but later appreciated him and hope he’s in the next Van Shaw tale.
However, re this one Van has returned to his home in Seattle after the death of his grandfather who raised him. Flashbacks to when Van was 17 and he and his grandfather were breaking and entering are not to be missed. When one of Van’s grandfather’s oldest friends asks for a favor Van is quick to say yes. He’s asked to go into the forest of the Olympic Mountains to a remote cabin in search of a missing girl, Elana. Van remembers her well from his youth. What he will not and cannot forget is what he finds there - a horrific murder scene. Elana is dead as is the son of a prominent Seattle family.
As dreadful as this is it’s only the beginning as Van is fighting with his symptoms of PTSD, and the murder investigation finds him caught between a billionaire businessman on one hand and vicious thugs on the other. Before long Van realizes Elana may have become involved in an illegal scheme that tops by far anything he and his grandfather ever attempted. Yet no matter the cost Van is determined to find out the truth - what a journey that is!
Stayed up until all hours unable to put down Hard Cold Winter, and now all I can do is eagerly await the next from Glen Erik Hamilton!
December 26, 2015
Glen Erik Hamilton is a busy guy who handles writing like a business. He writes tremendous stuff then sells it. Some authors who produce exemplary works simply hunker down and write some more, not enthusiastic about doing the leg work necessary to get their product read and talked about. Take a look at his website. He’s everywhere; reading, talking, socializing.
“Hard Cold Winter” is worth talking about. It’s clever, timely, well written, and definitely an attention grabber. It hasn’t been extensively reviewed and reviewers have not been particularly slobbering over its charisma. Maybe I’m weird, but I find it’s low visibility baffling.
Hamilton takes a well-oiled situation, rich folks hobnobbing with Russian gangsters in a plot that will destroy most of a large city while reaping a huge monetary reward, by using an off-kilter, indestructible protagonist to disrupt a similarly indestructible team of maniacs. The author does it with skillful writing that keeps things uncomplicated but brimming with action, conflict, atmosphere, and characters whose realistic attributes create interest.
The protagonist, Van Shaw, is an impressive type of hero, forged from a criminal and military past. He is flawed but desperate to extinguish the fires of his youth. He thrives through much adversity because of his toughness and determination; the will to survive digs deep. His mistakes serve as fuel for his drive.
Shaw’s settings, mostly in soggy and atmospheric Seattle, have the reader reaching for a waterproof parka and slogging up and down the countless hills of the evergreen city. While still catching one’s breath, the chase descends to the harbor and gets enveloped in ripe waterside scenarios. Along the way are shootings, beating, explosions, and torture that all add to the thrill of the chase. The story is neatly bundled up at the end by the author’s narrative in case the reader lagged behind.
I found a lot to like about this book and the author’s handling of the story. I recommend that you read it. It’s a great look at a new author.
February 17, 2016
I really loved this book. Just so you have my yardstick in advance, I look for well-drawn characters who are engaging and whose actions are believable (even when they’re making choices they shouldn’t), great pacing that keeps me turning the pages, a good sense of place, and a writing style that is engaging and makes the story easy to follow. I found all of these in Cold Hard Winter.
Donovan “Van” Shaw is a terrific protagonist, a former Army Ranger with a criminal past who has returned home to Seattle after the death of the grandfather who raised him. Family ties meant a lot to Van’s grandfather, even when that family was criminal in origin. So when one of his grandfather’s oldest (criminal) friends asks Van to go to a remote mountain cabin to check in on his niece Elana, Van does, only to find both Elana and the son of one of Seattle’s wealthiest families shot dead.
But things aren’t as they seem, and Van soon realizes that Elana may have gotten herself involved in a criminal scheme that surpasses anything her uncle or Van’s grandfather ever attempted.
Or did she? Van is determined to find out, one way or another.
I loved all the characters, especially Leo Pak, one of Van’s Army buddies who shows up and ends up getting involved in the case. (I hope he reappears in a future book!) And the flashbacks to Van’s teenaged years work extremely well in explaining his willingness to put himself at risk in order to find out what happened to Elana.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and can heartily recommend it.
Donovan “Van” Shaw is a terrific protagonist, a former Army Ranger with a criminal past who has returned home to Seattle after the death of the grandfather who raised him. Family ties meant a lot to Van’s grandfather, even when that family was criminal in origin. So when one of his grandfather’s oldest (criminal) friends asks Van to go to a remote mountain cabin to check in on his niece Elana, Van does, only to find both Elana and the son of one of Seattle’s wealthiest families shot dead.
But things aren’t as they seem, and Van soon realizes that Elana may have gotten herself involved in a criminal scheme that surpasses anything her uncle or Van’s grandfather ever attempted.
Or did she? Van is determined to find out, one way or another.
I loved all the characters, especially Leo Pak, one of Van’s Army buddies who shows up and ends up getting involved in the case. (I hope he reappears in a future book!) And the flashbacks to Van’s teenaged years work extremely well in explaining his willingness to put himself at risk in order to find out what happened to Elana.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and can heartily recommend it.
April 15, 2016
This is the second Van Shaw novel – I love these, intelligent and atmospheric thrillers with enticing plots and some great characters, having been a fan of Past Crimes I was very pleased to see Van Shaw returning.
Hard Cold Winter is a fast paced, addictive read that leans towards some dark themes and has the benefit of being entirely engaging throughout – it has a gorgeous past/present vibe of the type that I love and a brilliant sense of place when it comes to Seattle so you get a real feel for everything going on.
Once again Glen Erik Hamilton connects his main protagonist to the ongoing events with a personal touch – in this case a girl from his past – Van is intriguing, flawed and kind of gets thrown into things rather than actively seeking them out which gives the books a deeper sense of reality.
The fact that our hero has a criminal background as well as being an ex army ranger really keeps things fascinating – in this case he is also struggling with PTSD whilst chasing after some very dangerous people. It is exciting (and emotive) and cleverly constructed to keep you turning those pages well into the night.
Author interview can be found on Liz Loves Books here.
http://lizlovesbooks.com/lizlovesbook...
Hard Cold Winter is a fast paced, addictive read that leans towards some dark themes and has the benefit of being entirely engaging throughout – it has a gorgeous past/present vibe of the type that I love and a brilliant sense of place when it comes to Seattle so you get a real feel for everything going on.
Once again Glen Erik Hamilton connects his main protagonist to the ongoing events with a personal touch – in this case a girl from his past – Van is intriguing, flawed and kind of gets thrown into things rather than actively seeking them out which gives the books a deeper sense of reality.
The fact that our hero has a criminal background as well as being an ex army ranger really keeps things fascinating – in this case he is also struggling with PTSD whilst chasing after some very dangerous people. It is exciting (and emotive) and cleverly constructed to keep you turning those pages well into the night.
Author interview can be found on Liz Loves Books here.
http://lizlovesbooks.com/lizlovesbook...
March 5, 2016
Ex-Ranger and...... thief Van Shaw is asked by his Grandfather's friend , Will Williad to check on his granddaughter , Elana and her boyfriend , Kend. They had gone off to a cabin in the mountains near Seattle. When Shaw gets there he finds both dead! And Kend's body is being eaten by a bear. Elana is dead in the cabin , the result of 2 bullets.
I expect this story to get better but it is hard to cheer for a thief ! It is a slow beginning with a lot of confusing characters ...and it takes some time to start to put the pieces together. An ex-Ranger buddy of Van , Leo shows up and begins to help Van find out why Kend and Elana were killed. Both Van & Leo suffer from PTSD to various degrees and they are not always able to communicate well with others. Together , though, they understand what they had been through.
It turns out that Elana and Kend may be deeply involved with gamblers for big stakes and big plans and their deaths may be tied into the 'mob' in the Seattle area. The story all comes together at the end but.....to me this tale is a little to convoluted and often it is difficult to tell the 'bad' guys from the 'good ' guys.
I expect this story to get better but it is hard to cheer for a thief ! It is a slow beginning with a lot of confusing characters ...and it takes some time to start to put the pieces together. An ex-Ranger buddy of Van , Leo shows up and begins to help Van find out why Kend and Elana were killed. Both Van & Leo suffer from PTSD to various degrees and they are not always able to communicate well with others. Together , though, they understand what they had been through.
It turns out that Elana and Kend may be deeply involved with gamblers for big stakes and big plans and their deaths may be tied into the 'mob' in the Seattle area. The story all comes together at the end but.....to me this tale is a little to convoluted and often it is difficult to tell the 'bad' guys from the 'good ' guys.
July 11, 2016
So pleased I have found this author and right from the start of a series too, so there is always a new book to look forward to.
When Van Shaw is asked to look for a missing girl, who also happens to be a childhood friend of his, his search takes him to the remote forest of Olympic Mountains. There he discovers a brutal murder scene, and he is soon caught between vicious gangsters and a billionaire businessman. In order to survive and figure out what is going on he has to keep himself alive long enough to have the chance.
I said it before but I will say it again, perfect for fans of Jack Reacher.
When Van Shaw is asked to look for a missing girl, who also happens to be a childhood friend of his, his search takes him to the remote forest of Olympic Mountains. There he discovers a brutal murder scene, and he is soon caught between vicious gangsters and a billionaire businessman. In order to survive and figure out what is going on he has to keep himself alive long enough to have the chance.
I said it before but I will say it again, perfect for fans of Jack Reacher.
June 12, 2020
Hard Cold Winter by Glen Erik Hamilton is a well-written, well-developed thriller. I had never read a book in the Van Shaw series, but this one worked as a stand-alone. Van Shaw, who is a former Army Ranger, grew up as a thief who worked with his late grandfather. Will Williard had been a friend of his grandfather and was there for him during his last days, so Van feels an obligation to help him when his niece, Elana, goes missing. To make it even more important to Van, he and Elana go back to their school days. The last Williard heard from Elana was that she was going to the woods of the Olympic Mountains with Kendrick Haymes, the heir to one of Seattle's wealthiest families. When Van arrives at the remote cabin where they were staying, he discovers a gruesome scene. A bear is outside mauling a dead man, and there is a murdered female inside the cabin. This starts a series of events in which Van attempts to explain what happened and why. What follows is a powerful and gritty, hard-edged thriller. The characters are believable and intriguing and the plot is tightly woven and plausible while maintaining a high interest level. The result is a mystery story full of thrills which is fast paced and held my interest throughout.
June 8, 2017
A solid second book in this series
The Van Shaw series is a delight to find. Reviewers often describe Shaw as a "Jack Reacher type", and while there are surface similarities, I find Shaw the more complex and rewarding character. While Reacher roams the country, never able to stay in one place, Van Shaw has returned to Seattle determined to make it home even though his prior life there was anything but ideal.
Van Shaw is not an idealized Army veteran. He has moral gray areas from his early life, despite the Army life that helped him find a straighter path. He has morals and a code, but you can feel the tension in this character as his life puts him into situations where crooked beckons for what seems the straightest of reasons.
I like this nuanced portrait of a Ranger veteran of modern war. It's neither stereotypical nor overdone, respectful but not cloyingly gung-ho.
The plot, backstories, and supporting characters are well-done. Dialogue flows naturally. There's plenty of action that balances nicely with Van's more introspective moments.
I'm looking forward to #3 due out this summer, and I've pre-ordered it, which I don't often do.
The Van Shaw series is a delight to find. Reviewers often describe Shaw as a "Jack Reacher type", and while there are surface similarities, I find Shaw the more complex and rewarding character. While Reacher roams the country, never able to stay in one place, Van Shaw has returned to Seattle determined to make it home even though his prior life there was anything but ideal.
Van Shaw is not an idealized Army veteran. He has moral gray areas from his early life, despite the Army life that helped him find a straighter path. He has morals and a code, but you can feel the tension in this character as his life puts him into situations where crooked beckons for what seems the straightest of reasons.
I like this nuanced portrait of a Ranger veteran of modern war. It's neither stereotypical nor overdone, respectful but not cloyingly gung-ho.
The plot, backstories, and supporting characters are well-done. Dialogue flows naturally. There's plenty of action that balances nicely with Van's more introspective moments.
I'm looking forward to #3 due out this summer, and I've pre-ordered it, which I don't often do.
August 14, 2017
This was such a fast read, and in some ways, it absolutely lived up to the first book in the series, which I adored. In some other ways, I was hoping for more, I admit.
Hamilton created such a great character in Van Shaw--he drew me into the first book from page 1, and kept me hooked. Although he was part of what kept me involved with this second installment, though, I guess I wanted more development, and instead he felt pretty unchanged. I don't want to say he was flat, because he felt real and complex, but I guess I wanted to see him more affected, or at least at some point struggling on more than a superficial level. As with the first book, I loved the glimpses back into his past, and when it came to character, those were the best parts of the book.
But all that said, the plotting and the storyline were great here, as before, and they kept me engaged. If anything, there might have been one twist too many because it moved so incredibly quickly, but it was an action-packed ride that I couldn't put down, so I really can't complain on this front.
All told, there's no doubt that I'll continue with the series, and absolutely recommend it to others.
Hamilton created such a great character in Van Shaw--he drew me into the first book from page 1, and kept me hooked. Although he was part of what kept me involved with this second installment, though, I guess I wanted more development, and instead he felt pretty unchanged. I don't want to say he was flat, because he felt real and complex, but I guess I wanted to see him more affected, or at least at some point struggling on more than a superficial level. As with the first book, I loved the glimpses back into his past, and when it came to character, those were the best parts of the book.
But all that said, the plotting and the storyline were great here, as before, and they kept me engaged. If anything, there might have been one twist too many because it moved so incredibly quickly, but it was an action-packed ride that I couldn't put down, so I really can't complain on this front.
All told, there's no doubt that I'll continue with the series, and absolutely recommend it to others.
October 5, 2017
An ex Army Ranger with a criminal past comes home to Seattle to live in his grandfather's house. The house was left to him when the grandfather died. He is involved with a woman who owns the bar that previously belonged to his grandfather. He gets mixed up looking for the niece of one of his grandfather's friends. He knew her when he was younger.
The story swaps back and forth between the present and a time in the past that describes his association with the girl and a little about some of his criminal activities. His efforts lead him into trouble as he gets mixed up with loan sharks and Russian mobsters and deals with a rich family and their unscrupulous employees.
An old Army buddy shows up and they help each other thru some difficult times. He relies and some connections from his past anf a friendly cop. Along the way his house is destroyed and het gets beat up. Both he and his buddy still have lingering issues from their time in the service
An action packed thriller.
The story swaps back and forth between the present and a time in the past that describes his association with the girl and a little about some of his criminal activities. His efforts lead him into trouble as he gets mixed up with loan sharks and Russian mobsters and deals with a rich family and their unscrupulous employees.
An old Army buddy shows up and they help each other thru some difficult times. He relies and some connections from his past anf a friendly cop. Along the way his house is destroyed and het gets beat up. Both he and his buddy still have lingering issues from their time in the service
An action packed thriller.
October 17, 2020
It's a special pleasure when an author's sophomore effort lives up to the promise of the first book. We met Van Shaw in Past Crimes when he was an Army Ranger walking a fine line between being AWOL and helping his grandfather, and now Van's back, out of the Army but still at loose ends. He's the kind of character who appeals to Jack Reacher fans and others who like a solid mystery with a stand-up hero, or in Van's case, edging toward skirting-the-law anti-hero. Ex-Sgt. Shaw is the kind of guy who you'd want at your back in a fight, and he doesn't let his friends down.
I'm enjoying these action packed novels and look forward to more of Van Shaw's adventures in the Pacific NW. He clearly has enough sketchy people in his troubled past to provide plenty of suspense and excitement, the escape we all need right now.
I'm enjoying these action packed novels and look forward to more of Van Shaw's adventures in the Pacific NW. He clearly has enough sketchy people in his troubled past to provide plenty of suspense and excitement, the escape we all need right now.
July 19, 2017
Back in Seattle after being recently discharged from the Army, former Ranger Van Shaw is trying to decide what to do with his life when a friend of his grandfather asks if he would travel to the Olympic mountains to find his missing niece. Van discovers a murder scene and gets involved with the investigation involving a billionaire businessman and his family, an old Ranger buddy, gangsters, and ties to Van's own criminal past. I enjoyed the flashbacks to Van's former life as a teenage criminal as well as the mix of Ranger skills and criminal training that makes Van a likeable character and helps him navigate the criminals, the police, and the world of the upper crust of Seattle. I would rate this book 3.5 stars if Goodreads allowed half stars. I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Read's Giveaways.
December 31, 2018
The Van Shaw series this is the second of three books) is driven by an interesting main character. Shaw is an ex-Ranger who comes from a criminal family. His skill set from both aspects of his past is useful. At loose ends on leaving the military (honorably), looking for training work (executive survival, police training, etc.), looking to avoid the criminal past, Shaw is prone to get in trouble. In this case a long-term family friend has been killed, together with her well-connected but screwed up boyfriend. As Shaw noses around to find out whether the victims were suicides (sold by the young man's relatives) or murder victims, Shaw runs into some bad people. He is backed up by Leo, an old Army buddy at loose ends himself. The bad people come to realize that Shaw means very real and unforgiving trouble for them.
June 20, 2025
I had a bit of trouble getting into the book and characters. So the main character is Van. He is an ex-soldier and trying to deal with his new regular live. But then the niece of Will Willard goes missing who was very close with Van shaw's late granddad. Will asks Van to find her, because Van and Elena (the missing niece) were both friends as teenagers. But Will also knows where she was headed and gives this information.
So Van goes to the cabin, the cabin on Elena's rich boyfriend: Kend. And he hikes there, there he finds Kend first, who's been half eaten by a bear at that point and inside he finds Elena, also dead. What was the motive? Who killed them? Van hooks up with a former ranger Leonard Pak to learn why they were killed and by whom.
It's a decent read now I have finished it, but won't fall in my top reads of 2025.
So Van goes to the cabin, the cabin on Elena's rich boyfriend: Kend. And he hikes there, there he finds Kend first, who's been half eaten by a bear at that point and inside he finds Elena, also dead. What was the motive? Who killed them? Van hooks up with a former ranger Leonard Pak to learn why they were killed and by whom.
It's a decent read now I have finished it, but won't fall in my top reads of 2025.
February 25, 2019
It's hard to put into words why I liked this book so much. I guess it's the way author, Glen Erik Hamilton characterizes Van Shaw. It does it through an economy of words and plenty of action. Shaw is a character in which you really can relate and sympathize. The supporting cast is also well done, portrayed as interesting and not too one dimensional.
The mystery is good, but I have to admit a little anticlimactic and underwhelming. "Hard Cold Winter" moves fast, but the pace isn't too fast to not allow you to soak in the dialogue and wonder about the possibilities. Not just the possibilities of whodunit, but the possibilities of Van Shaw's actions and the consequences they bring.
The mystery is good, but I have to admit a little anticlimactic and underwhelming. "Hard Cold Winter" moves fast, but the pace isn't too fast to not allow you to soak in the dialogue and wonder about the possibilities. Not just the possibilities of whodunit, but the possibilities of Van Shaw's actions and the consequences they bring.
September 10, 2024
I loved the first Van Shaw novel, and this one takes it up yet another notch. Van’s discovery of two dead bodies while looking for the missing niece of his late grandfather’s pal Willard opens up a nest of violence, intrigue, and interesting character development. A subplot involving Van’s Ranger buddy Leo and their shared post-traumatic issues from Afghanistan are handled in a tasteful manner that adds another layer to Van. Glen Erik Hamilton doles out just enough of Van’s backstory to keep us eagerly awaiting future developments. And now I’m eagerly awaiting a chance to crack open the third book in this series.
February 3, 2021
A strong 4 stars. I like Hard Cold Winter even more than I like Past Crimes. A sophomore effort sometimes disappoints but not in this case. Good job, Mr. Hamilton.
Nice to see characters from the first book: Willard; a brief appearance by Hollis; elderly neighbor Addy; and Detective Guerin. Two characters that I hope show up in future Van Shaw books: Leo and Elana.
Recommend: Yes to the series. I suggest you read Past Crimes first.
Nice to see characters from the first book: Willard; a brief appearance by Hollis; elderly neighbor Addy; and Detective Guerin. Two characters that I hope show up in future Van Shaw books: Leo and Elana.
Recommend: Yes to the series. I suggest you read Past Crimes first.
December 21, 2021
After Hamilton's first in this series, I was looking forward to the second. But, alas, there will be no third. The plot is just too convoluted and about 2/3rds into it, I realized that I just didn't care at all. On the up side, his books take place in Seattle and he's very good at keeping the store geographically placed. It was fun and interesting to know exactly where everyone was. He took two characters to one of my very favorite (and not very well known) restaurants and he described it perfectly. That much I enjoyed a lot and will miss when I pass on the next installments.
July 15, 2017
This second book was a follow up to "Past "Crimes". I don't think you have to read them in sequence, but I liked the flow from the first book to this book.
This book kept your attention. I have enjoyed the secondary characters from Addy Proctor, Willard, Luce, Hollis, Det. Guerin to Leo. The author has done a great job of making these guys come alive.
Great series and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.
This book kept your attention. I have enjoyed the secondary characters from Addy Proctor, Willard, Luce, Hollis, Det. Guerin to Leo. The author has done a great job of making these guys come alive.
Great series and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.
June 8, 2019
Van is a sympathetic character. Grew up trained in crime honed his skills in the Army Rangers. Now medically discharged and at loose ends finds himself in Seattle and called to help find a lost member of the loose knit group of criminals he grew up with.
Lots of twisty turns that invoke Van's intelligence, wit and knowledge. Quick and fun - warning. you must have a tolerance for off-the-charts crazy Russian mobsters by the end.
Lots of twisty turns that invoke Van's intelligence, wit and knowledge. Quick and fun - warning. you must have a tolerance for off-the-charts crazy Russian mobsters by the end.
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