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Kristen Conner Mystery #3
Cold As Ice
"Kristen Conner is no stranger to bad guys, big crime, and heart-pounding danger. In Cold As Ice, she packs some serious heat!" John Valeri, HARTFORD EXAMINER
WHEN THE RUSSIAN MAFIA WANTS YOU DEAD, THERE IS NO WHERE TO HIDE
What can go wrong on a run on in Central Park on your last day of vacation? Even if it is brutally cold? Everyone told Detective Kristen Conner to stay inside, which guaranteed she would go outside-and stumble onto a gang murder that puts her in the cross-hairs of a Russian "Red Mafyia" hit man.
Back in Chicago, murder strikes closer to home. Just down the street from where her mom lives, a popular schoolteacher, solid citizen, and great guy-he shovels snow for widows and volunteers to work with underprivileged kids-is found dead. It was supposed to look like an accident, but crime scene investigators discover more than one killing blow to the back of his head. When Conner lands the case, she knows from day one who the key suspect is. That's simple. The person most likely to kill you is someone close . . . someone you know and love. But his wife? The nice lady down the street? How could that be possible?
Kristen is about to discover there is more violence beneath the surface of the working-class neighborhood she grew up than she ever dreamed possible. She's also about to discover that when the Red Mafyia wants you dead, there is no place to hide. You better be ready to fight. Mix in her on-again, off-again relationship with FBI Agent Austin Reynolds, and Kristen Conner is once again swept into a world of danger, intrigue, and a confusing love life.
WHEN THE RUSSIAN MAFIA WANTS YOU DEAD, THERE IS NO WHERE TO HIDE
What can go wrong on a run on in Central Park on your last day of vacation? Even if it is brutally cold? Everyone told Detective Kristen Conner to stay inside, which guaranteed she would go outside-and stumble onto a gang murder that puts her in the cross-hairs of a Russian "Red Mafyia" hit man.
Back in Chicago, murder strikes closer to home. Just down the street from where her mom lives, a popular schoolteacher, solid citizen, and great guy-he shovels snow for widows and volunteers to work with underprivileged kids-is found dead. It was supposed to look like an accident, but crime scene investigators discover more than one killing blow to the back of his head. When Conner lands the case, she knows from day one who the key suspect is. That's simple. The person most likely to kill you is someone close . . . someone you know and love. But his wife? The nice lady down the street? How could that be possible?
Kristen is about to discover there is more violence beneath the surface of the working-class neighborhood she grew up than she ever dreamed possible. She's also about to discover that when the Red Mafyia wants you dead, there is no place to hide. You better be ready to fight. Mix in her on-again, off-again relationship with FBI Agent Austin Reynolds, and Kristen Conner is once again swept into a world of danger, intrigue, and a confusing love life.
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2015
27 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Gilroy
6 books128 followersMark "M.K." Gilroy is a veteran publishing executive who has acquired, developed, authored, and ghostwritten numerous books that have landed on various bestseller lists.
His newest novel, Cold As Ice, marks the return of Detective Kristen Conner, a character USA TODAY calls "Miss Congeniality meets Castle's Kate Beckett; a lethal, smart, and fun combo."
His first two novels in the Kristen Conner Mystery Series met with critical acclaim from national reviewers and readers. Both Cuts Like a Knife and Every Breath You Take were #1 bestsellers.
When not writing Kristen Conner novels, Mark creates and publishes book products for retailers, ministries, and businesses. He recently launched a new publishing company, Sydney Lane Press.
Gilroy holds undergraduate degrees in Speech Communications/Journalism and Biblical Literature, and two graduate degrees, the M.Div. and MBA.
The father of six adult children, he resides with his wife, Amy, in Brentwood, Tennessee.
His newest novel, Cold As Ice, marks the return of Detective Kristen Conner, a character USA TODAY calls "Miss Congeniality meets Castle's Kate Beckett; a lethal, smart, and fun combo."
His first two novels in the Kristen Conner Mystery Series met with critical acclaim from national reviewers and readers. Both Cuts Like a Knife and Every Breath You Take were #1 bestsellers.
When not writing Kristen Conner novels, Mark creates and publishes book products for retailers, ministries, and businesses. He recently launched a new publishing company, Sydney Lane Press.
Gilroy holds undergraduate degrees in Speech Communications/Journalism and Biblical Literature, and two graduate degrees, the M.Div. and MBA.
The father of six adult children, he resides with his wife, Amy, in Brentwood, Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 24, 2015
My Review:
No one should ever be out at four a.m. in below zero weather, in New York City. You could slip and fall and become injured, or worse, you could die. One man finds the truth in that, but let's just say he had a little help in the dying department.
Detective Kristen Conner was only in New York for vacation, and nothing more. But after one really early morning run in Central Park, she finds herself at the scene of a murder. But it turns out this is no ordinary murder, no, this is a murder committed by a Russian "Red Mafyia" hit man. And there most defiantly had to be a reason behind this, even if no one seems to think so.
Back in Chicago, there’s another murder, but this one hit’s everyone with great devastation. Who would kill someone so kind, and so close to everyone. With his wife as the suspect, Kristen must find a way to determine the truth in it all.
Cold As Ice is book three in the Kristen Conner Mystery series. M.K. Gilroy is an epic writer. I enjoyed this mystery greatly and I look forward too reading his other books.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from CFBA.
No one should ever be out at four a.m. in below zero weather, in New York City. You could slip and fall and become injured, or worse, you could die. One man finds the truth in that, but let's just say he had a little help in the dying department.
Detective Kristen Conner was only in New York for vacation, and nothing more. But after one really early morning run in Central Park, she finds herself at the scene of a murder. But it turns out this is no ordinary murder, no, this is a murder committed by a Russian "Red Mafyia" hit man. And there most defiantly had to be a reason behind this, even if no one seems to think so.
Back in Chicago, there’s another murder, but this one hit’s everyone with great devastation. Who would kill someone so kind, and so close to everyone. With his wife as the suspect, Kristen must find a way to determine the truth in it all.
Cold As Ice is book three in the Kristen Conner Mystery series. M.K. Gilroy is an epic writer. I enjoyed this mystery greatly and I look forward too reading his other books.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from CFBA.
May 15, 2017
I read this book the same week that President #45 fired the FBI Director because of the Russian investigation, held a press conference where only Russian media was allowed to attend, and the country is talking about Russian involvement in American voting.
This book is not about any of that, but it is about Russia and mentions Putin's power and interest in the US. So that is a weird tie-in.
I really really like Kristen Conner. I really enjoy Mr. Gilroy's writing and his storytelling. But this book is not as good as Book #1 and Book #2. I feel this way for several reasons.
1. The majority of the chapters have multiple storylines, rather than having one storyline per chapter. I don't enjoy these short bursts of storyline. Timewise, it works. But for keeping things straight in my head and for taking time to enjoy the story, I don't like it. At the end of the book where there is a lot happening at once, I can handle that type of storytelling. But not throughout the book, please.
2. There are a lot a lot a lot of characters in the beginning. There are so many characters that have similar names (a cheating husband and an FBI Psychologist have similar names, two characters have the same name) and it's hard to keep track. Kristen actually makes a comment about this later in the book about how she can't keep the Russian names straight. Yup!
3. The point of view voicing changes and is inconsistent a lot in this book. For example: Kristen is always told from first person. In Chapter 42 and a other points, she is suddenly told from third person. Most other characters are told from third person, and then suddenly they get first person voicing. To me this poor editing. And the inconsistency of the voicing made it difficult to know who was speaking.
4. Speaking of editing, this book needs another proofreading. There are a lot of missing words. In Book 2, there were a few times words were missing. In this book, there are a lot. So many I felt it necessary to say something about it.
5. I wish the two murders had a bit more to do with each other (the NY murder and the Chicago husband murder). I don't feel like the resolution to the Chicago husband murder was handled well. There was a killer POV told in first person italics that was not officially revealed. Perhaps his voice was lost because the Cutter Sark's voice was also present throughout the book.
Overall, Kristen is great. Her family is great. Austin is great. The bones of the book still work. But the lack of cleaning up really bothered me. It left me disappointed. I will buy and read Book 4, but I am really hoping that I am not disappointed by the lack of tight editing/proofreading.
This book is not about any of that, but it is about Russia and mentions Putin's power and interest in the US. So that is a weird tie-in.
I really really like Kristen Conner. I really enjoy Mr. Gilroy's writing and his storytelling. But this book is not as good as Book #1 and Book #2. I feel this way for several reasons.
1. The majority of the chapters have multiple storylines, rather than having one storyline per chapter. I don't enjoy these short bursts of storyline. Timewise, it works. But for keeping things straight in my head and for taking time to enjoy the story, I don't like it. At the end of the book where there is a lot happening at once, I can handle that type of storytelling. But not throughout the book, please.
2. There are a lot a lot a lot of characters in the beginning. There are so many characters that have similar names (a cheating husband and an FBI Psychologist have similar names, two characters have the same name) and it's hard to keep track. Kristen actually makes a comment about this later in the book about how she can't keep the Russian names straight. Yup!
3. The point of view voicing changes and is inconsistent a lot in this book. For example: Kristen is always told from first person. In Chapter 42 and a other points, she is suddenly told from third person. Most other characters are told from third person, and then suddenly they get first person voicing. To me this poor editing. And the inconsistency of the voicing made it difficult to know who was speaking.
4. Speaking of editing, this book needs another proofreading. There are a lot of missing words. In Book 2, there were a few times words were missing. In this book, there are a lot. So many I felt it necessary to say something about it.
5. I wish the two murders had a bit more to do with each other (the NY murder and the Chicago husband murder). I don't feel like the resolution to the Chicago husband murder was handled well. There was a killer POV told in first person italics that was not officially revealed. Perhaps his voice was lost because the Cutter Sark's voice was also present throughout the book.
Overall, Kristen is great. Her family is great. Austin is great. The bones of the book still work. But the lack of cleaning up really bothered me. It left me disappointed. I will buy and read Book 4, but I am really hoping that I am not disappointed by the lack of tight editing/proofreading.
August 27, 2015
Oh it s cold alright! Ice cold, too cold, and yes - very hot too. Was that conflicting? Not if your reading this book! Detective Kristen Conner has fallen into a major murder case. A "whale" that she wasn't fishing for.
Enter the Russian mafia in a way you didn't expect to read about. Kristen, insecure yet smart, had some hang ups. One is she is doing a few things her way, including jogging in killer cold weather in New York City! That was how she wound up trying to save a life, and setting into motion a huge pendulum of events.
These men from Russia, now calling the USA home, brought their mob and mafia with them. The turf wars were one thing, but this was about a whole lot more. Seemingly small things are leads to much larger issues at stake. Kristen's father's murder became a cold case, and to top that off, a serial killer she caught might get off the hook. Wait until you read why! With each page I was more drawn in, and I wasn't sure I would be to start with.
Kristen has been hurt, over and over, but she is so strong that she has pulled through it all. Will this be the case that breaks her? Is her Mom's neighbor also a murder too? Is more than one person she loves in danger?
While not preachy, this book was real, and still had a God core. This is the first book I have read by this author, and the only one I have read in the series so far. I have already remedied that. This book stood alone just fine, but made me want to read the other books as well.
My copy came from CFBA in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
Enter the Russian mafia in a way you didn't expect to read about. Kristen, insecure yet smart, had some hang ups. One is she is doing a few things her way, including jogging in killer cold weather in New York City! That was how she wound up trying to save a life, and setting into motion a huge pendulum of events.
These men from Russia, now calling the USA home, brought their mob and mafia with them. The turf wars were one thing, but this was about a whole lot more. Seemingly small things are leads to much larger issues at stake. Kristen's father's murder became a cold case, and to top that off, a serial killer she caught might get off the hook. Wait until you read why! With each page I was more drawn in, and I wasn't sure I would be to start with.
Kristen has been hurt, over and over, but she is so strong that she has pulled through it all. Will this be the case that breaks her? Is her Mom's neighbor also a murder too? Is more than one person she loves in danger?
While not preachy, this book was real, and still had a God core. This is the first book I have read by this author, and the only one I have read in the series so far. I have already remedied that. This book stood alone just fine, but made me want to read the other books as well.
My copy came from CFBA in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
August 24, 2015
This is the third in a series, and though I never read the first two I did not feel lost or confused. Reference was made to things that happened in other books, but it was pretty easy to pick up on what was going on, as most of the book was a whole new story.
As far as suspense goes, this is a great book. There were a couple of mysteries going on at the same time, and I was kept guessing to the identity of the murderer in the one case, and it had a lot of twists and turns.
Kitsten Conner is the main character in the series, and I found myself liking her a lot with the other characters. The police work was well written and believable, and the end result was a great suspense novel.
I did have some difficulty with the writing style. It was written in the first person point of view, and would go to the third person point of view for the other characters. That isn't uncommon, and works fine most of the time. However, this book would bounce back and forth between the first and third person pov for the secondary characters, and I found it confusing, added to it was two criminals who would be first person pov in italics, but I wasn't always sure which criminal it was since it didn't indicate. Other readers might not have the same confusion I did, and other than that and a couple of words that don't belong in a Christian book, it was a good read that I didn't want to put down.
As far as suspense goes, this is a great book. There were a couple of mysteries going on at the same time, and I was kept guessing to the identity of the murderer in the one case, and it had a lot of twists and turns.
Kitsten Conner is the main character in the series, and I found myself liking her a lot with the other characters. The police work was well written and believable, and the end result was a great suspense novel.
I did have some difficulty with the writing style. It was written in the first person point of view, and would go to the third person point of view for the other characters. That isn't uncommon, and works fine most of the time. However, this book would bounce back and forth between the first and third person pov for the secondary characters, and I found it confusing, added to it was two criminals who would be first person pov in italics, but I wasn't always sure which criminal it was since it didn't indicate. Other readers might not have the same confusion I did, and other than that and a couple of words that don't belong in a Christian book, it was a good read that I didn't want to put down.
January 1, 2016
Gilroy has once again crafted a compelling page turner featuring cop Kristen Conner. I fell in love with this series from Book 1, Cuts Like a Knife, and I look forward to each new offering. Cold as Ice takes us deep into the underbelly of Chicago and its Russian mafia ties. Kristen is right in the middle of it all, but there are more scenes with the crime bosses and their minions than with Kristen. I wish there had been a little more emphasis on Kristen and her involvement in the mystery, but there's a reason we're following so many characters. Gilroy skillfully brings it all together and manages to craft a tale without language or too graphic scenes, something I admired in his writing from the beginning.
December 21, 2015
An electronic copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Cold as Ice was my first read by MK Gilroy & my introduction to Detective Kristen Conner. The storyline was full of suspense & twists that included information concerning the Russian mafiya. There was also a good introduction to Conner's family, law enforcement & friends. Though this was the 3rd book of the series & I had no previous knowledge of Conner, enough valuable information was provided for me about this detective to make me feel as if I had read her previous capers. As a fan of mysteries, I thought this was a great read & I look forward to reading more of his series.
August 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this novel, though the multiple POVs made it a little jarring at time. As the book progressed, that use of different characters' perspectives picked up the pace. At the beginning it made it hard to track who was doing what. This is a good crime novel with an international thread. There's the teeniest hint of moving the romance from the prior two books forward. There's also the complex family dynamics at work. If you haven't read the first two, you would still be able to follow along with this one.
December 31, 2016
Best out of the three
I've enjoyed reading all of the Kristen Conner books but, this one by far has been my favorite. I practically read the entire book in one day because I could not put it down!
I've enjoyed reading all of the Kristen Conner books but, this one by far has been my favorite. I practically read the entire book in one day because I could not put it down!
July 20, 2017
I liked this series of books, I'm a Christian and I didn't mind the religious factor in the book although I read reviews of people who didn't like it so it's to each its own. I read the first 3 books and I have to tell you if I had known I couldn't get the 4 th book I wouldn't have read this series, there are questions to be answered in the 4 th book called Under Pressure and I can't find a copy of it anywhere, so now I'm upset because I can't finish the story. I'm one of those people who like to finish a story to the end so I'm disappointed in this series only because I can't finish it.
July 14, 2025
Fine conclusion to a fine trilogy. (Though it ended on a cliffhanger, implying more, but after 10 years, I don't think any more is coming.)
There were a couple of significant typos of characters' names, and it was tough enough keeping track of all the Russian and Serbian names without throwing in typos. There was also an incredible lack of commas (and a few hyphens) making interpretation of certain sentences unclear.
Overall, I don't regret reading it, but it's not something I'd recommend.
There were a couple of significant typos of characters' names, and it was tough enough keeping track of all the Russian and Serbian names without throwing in typos. There was also an incredible lack of commas (and a few hyphens) making interpretation of certain sentences unclear.
Overall, I don't regret reading it, but it's not something I'd recommend.
May 26, 2025
only Kristen Conner could take a long weekend and start a war Looked for book 4 in this series to see what happens with her relationship with Austin but it is nowhere to be found oh well
December 19, 2016
The third in the Kristen Connor series.
Kristen always seems to attract trouble, even when she is doing something as innocuous as jogging in Central Park on a cold, wintery day.
As Kristen comes to the aid of a man attacked in Central Park, she sees someone fleeing the scene. Although she isn't close enough to identify this person, others believe she can and thus starts a series of events that causes stress to all those people with whom Kristen is involved - Reynolds, her FBI boyfriend, Don, her partner, and everyone else in her precinct and the FBI detailed as her bodyguard.
Without trying, Kristen gets into more trouble in her professional and personal life.
As a result of the aftermath of previous cases, Kristen has to see a psychiatrist. This helps her to realize how she keeps people at a distance and how she has difficulty letting down her defences and allowing herself to show her vulnerability.
3.5 stars
Kristen always seems to attract trouble, even when she is doing something as innocuous as jogging in Central Park on a cold, wintery day.
As Kristen comes to the aid of a man attacked in Central Park, she sees someone fleeing the scene. Although she isn't close enough to identify this person, others believe she can and thus starts a series of events that causes stress to all those people with whom Kristen is involved - Reynolds, her FBI boyfriend, Don, her partner, and everyone else in her precinct and the FBI detailed as her bodyguard.
Without trying, Kristen gets into more trouble in her professional and personal life.
As a result of the aftermath of previous cases, Kristen has to see a psychiatrist. This helps her to realize how she keeps people at a distance and how she has difficulty letting down her defences and allowing herself to show her vulnerability.
3.5 stars
January 28, 2016
At 4am in New York, a businessman wants to catch a cab but can't find the cab driver so he decides to cut across Central Park on foot. The cab driver has instructions where to take the businessman but he loves his vodka and must take a leak in Central Park. Detective Kristen Conner decides on an early morning run in Central Park and so sets the stage for her to witness a murder. Of course, the killer decides he cannot let the witness live. When Kristen goes back to her hometown of Chicago, the killer pursues her. Meanwhile, a murder of a teacher has occurred on the street where Kristen grew up and she is assigned to work on the case. She is unaware that murder and mayhem are about to occur in her life.
Several passages in the book allude to a serial killer that apparently was in a case in a previous book in this series. I haven't read the earlier books and I was able to follow this story just fine, but readers might want to read the previous Kristen Conner books to fully understand the context.
Several passages in the book allude to a serial killer that apparently was in a case in a previous book in this series. I haven't read the earlier books and I was able to follow this story just fine, but readers might want to read the previous Kristen Conner books to fully understand the context.
December 5, 2015
The Trifecta of Writing is Hard to Find
Mark Gilroy successfully hits the trifecta - an engaging suspenseful storyline, great three dimensional characters, as opposed to flat and boring, and a moral foundation anchored by the family's' faith.
I highly recommend the Kristen Connor Mystery Series and can hardly wait to see what Gilroy has in store for us next!
Mark Gilroy successfully hits the trifecta - an engaging suspenseful storyline, great three dimensional characters, as opposed to flat and boring, and a moral foundation anchored by the family's' faith.
I highly recommend the Kristen Connor Mystery Series and can hardly wait to see what Gilroy has in store for us next!
November 30, 2015
Best Yet!
I loved the first two Kristen Conner books but this one is special. Not sure why. Perhaps the author is getting into the hearts of the characters a little more. There are some great twists and turns along with some humor to lessen the blow of the violence. Looking forward to the next book.
I loved the first two Kristen Conner books but this one is special. Not sure why. Perhaps the author is getting into the hearts of the characters a little more. There are some great twists and turns along with some humor to lessen the blow of the violence. Looking forward to the next book.
February 15, 2016
I only read about 15% of this one. I found it very irritating to have scene after scene of different unnamed characters' stream-of-consciousness ramblings. I never knew whose thoughts I was reading at any given point or what that character had to do with any other character whose uber-dramatic ramblings had been presented previously. I hope this was one of my free downloads.
February 11, 2016
I have stopped reading this book 10 pages from the end knowing that the deeply unpleasant heroine (and her mom and her wise preacher brother in law) will survive.....and I will not be able to get over my disappointment.
January 10, 2016
Great detective story. I liked the characters. I loved the action and watching it all unfold. I will be looking for others in this series.
March 30, 2016
A great book that kept you wondering what else would happen! A little romance and lots of mystery, that included the Red Mafia.
April 12, 2016
very good
November 7, 2015
Can't wait till the next installment!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews