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Louis Kincaid #2
Dead Of Winter
A vicious psychopathic killer stalks the streets of the quiet tourist town of Loon Lake, Michigan, leaving a series of victims and mysteriously coded death cards in his wake, and Detective Louis Kincaid must make a terrifying journey through the town's dark secrets into the mind of madman in order to stop the murders. Original.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
196 people are currently reading
1050 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Parrish
26 books270 followersP.J. Parrish is the New York Times bestselling author of ten Louis Kincaid and Joe Frye thrillers. The author is actually two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols. Their books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today best seller lists. The series has garnered 11 major crime-fiction awards, and an Edgar® nomination. Parrish has won two Shamus awards, one Anthony and one International Thriller competition. Her books have been published throughout Europe and Asia.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
January 22, 2025
At the beginning of the second P.J. Parrish novel in the Louis Kincaid series, “Dead of Winter”, Kincaid has just been hired on as a police detective for a small-town police department. He is hoping that the tourist town of Loon Lake, Michigan will provide him with the relative peace and quiet he needs after his harrowing, near-death experience in Mississippi, as described in the first book, “Dark of the Moon”. As a young black police officer, he thinks a change of scenery to the North will help him to avoid the deep racism and provincialism that he hated about the South. Sadly, while the racism may not be as overt, the provincialism is the same regardless of geography.
Kincaid’s arrival into the Loon Lake police force comes shortly after the murder of the police officer that Kincaid is replacing. That officer, Tom Pryce, was also a young black officer, the only black man on the force. Before Kincaid can even begin to think “token”, another murder occurs of another police officer. A serial killer is stalking Loon Lake, and he’s targeting cops.
Kincaid soon finds himself in over his head, dealing with a strangely dictatorial police chief, a partner with a hair-trigger temper, and a town full of secrets. Something bad happened in Loon Lake long before Kincaid arrived and long before the serial killer started picking off the town’s police force, but nobody’s talking. Officer Pryce may have been the only one who had put the pieces together, but he left behind notebooks of cryptic scribbles that Kincaid can’t decipher. The only clue Kincaid has to go on at first is a playing card left at both murder scenes. Kincaid is sure of two things: 1) the murders seem to be personal, and 2) the killer had military training.
Is the killer one of the survivalist militia freaks that have holed up in the woods? Is he a cop? Or is there something much more insidious going on here? What the hell did Kincaid get himself into by signing on for this job? It may not be Mississippi, but the cold Michigan nights and the secrets they hold may be just as deadly.
Parrish (the pseudonym of a writing team of sisters) is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of crime thrillers, and Louis Kincaid is at the top of my list of favorite literary detectives. Much on a par with Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series, Parrish’s series is equally well-written, suspenseful, and believable in its police procedural. Kincaid is also, like Bosch, a far more believable and realistic hero in that he is far from perfect. He makes bad decisions and mistakes that have serious consequences for himself and others, but he always owns up to them and tries to correct them, if he can. Kincaid is not a super-cop. Far from it. He is, however, that seemingly rarest of cops: honest and good and unwilling to compromise on his morality.
Integrity is what separates literary heroes like Kincaid and Bosch apart from so many others. That, and some damn fine mystery writing.
Kincaid’s arrival into the Loon Lake police force comes shortly after the murder of the police officer that Kincaid is replacing. That officer, Tom Pryce, was also a young black officer, the only black man on the force. Before Kincaid can even begin to think “token”, another murder occurs of another police officer. A serial killer is stalking Loon Lake, and he’s targeting cops.
Kincaid soon finds himself in over his head, dealing with a strangely dictatorial police chief, a partner with a hair-trigger temper, and a town full of secrets. Something bad happened in Loon Lake long before Kincaid arrived and long before the serial killer started picking off the town’s police force, but nobody’s talking. Officer Pryce may have been the only one who had put the pieces together, but he left behind notebooks of cryptic scribbles that Kincaid can’t decipher. The only clue Kincaid has to go on at first is a playing card left at both murder scenes. Kincaid is sure of two things: 1) the murders seem to be personal, and 2) the killer had military training.
Is the killer one of the survivalist militia freaks that have holed up in the woods? Is he a cop? Or is there something much more insidious going on here? What the hell did Kincaid get himself into by signing on for this job? It may not be Mississippi, but the cold Michigan nights and the secrets they hold may be just as deadly.
Parrish (the pseudonym of a writing team of sisters) is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of crime thrillers, and Louis Kincaid is at the top of my list of favorite literary detectives. Much on a par with Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series, Parrish’s series is equally well-written, suspenseful, and believable in its police procedural. Kincaid is also, like Bosch, a far more believable and realistic hero in that he is far from perfect. He makes bad decisions and mistakes that have serious consequences for himself and others, but he always owns up to them and tries to correct them, if he can. Kincaid is not a super-cop. Far from it. He is, however, that seemingly rarest of cops: honest and good and unwilling to compromise on his morality.
Integrity is what separates literary heroes like Kincaid and Bosch apart from so many others. That, and some damn fine mystery writing.
April 26, 2016
Louis Kincaid is hired by the Chief of Police in Loon Lake, Michigan, to fill a vacant position caused by the murder of a cop. If I'd had that job interview, I wouldn't have taken the job. The Chief tends to talk in riddles and uses stories to convey messages. He's also a hardass. There are only eight other officers on the force.
Louis's co-workers are eccentric. Ollie believes in magical gems, horoscopes, and readings. Dale is a neat freak and controls the evidence room and all files. Jesse has anger issues and easily flies off the handle.
While Louis investigates his predecessor's death and the death of a retired cop, he discovers some disturbing evidence.
This was an enjoyable second book in the series, and I do like Louis. I would have liked some indication of time passage. Some things seemed to happen too quickly. There was also an instance where I thought Louis jumped to a conclusion, and though it was correct, it was a little jarring to me. Jesse got on my nerves. I wanted to pull him out of the book, push him up against a wall, and tell him I've had enough!
When all is said and done, I think Louis isn't going to stay in this town. I'll find out in the third book.
Louis's co-workers are eccentric. Ollie believes in magical gems, horoscopes, and readings. Dale is a neat freak and controls the evidence room and all files. Jesse has anger issues and easily flies off the handle.
While Louis investigates his predecessor's death and the death of a retired cop, he discovers some disturbing evidence.
This was an enjoyable second book in the series, and I do like Louis. I would have liked some indication of time passage. Some things seemed to happen too quickly. There was also an instance where I thought Louis jumped to a conclusion, and though it was correct, it was a little jarring to me. Jesse got on my nerves. I wanted to pull him out of the book, push him up against a wall, and tell him I've had enough!
When all is said and done, I think Louis isn't going to stay in this town. I'll find out in the third book.
December 10, 2022
Loon Lake seemed like a good place for Det. Kincaid to get away from a bad situation. What he didn't know was that he was walking into a bigger nightmare.
Chief Gilbralter interviews Kincaid and gives him the job on the spot. Turns out a Detective was killed just a few weeks prior to this job opening. Although the Chief is pretty strange, Kincaid just wants to settle down. However, Kincaid gets curious about the unsolved murder of the prior officer and asks to take on the case. What is the reason Det. Pryce was killed? Why is the Chief acting so strange, in fact, this police department has a bunch of strange officers. As Kincaid digs deeper the body count starts to rise. A lead comes up, but Kincaid does not have all the facts and does something he should not have. Throw in a mysterious woman Kincaid meets near his cabin by the lake and the story just got more complicated. Truly enjoyed the read and and will look into the series further.
Chief Gilbralter interviews Kincaid and gives him the job on the spot. Turns out a Detective was killed just a few weeks prior to this job opening. Although the Chief is pretty strange, Kincaid just wants to settle down. However, Kincaid gets curious about the unsolved murder of the prior officer and asks to take on the case. What is the reason Det. Pryce was killed? Why is the Chief acting so strange, in fact, this police department has a bunch of strange officers. As Kincaid digs deeper the body count starts to rise. A lead comes up, but Kincaid does not have all the facts and does something he should not have. Throw in a mysterious woman Kincaid meets near his cabin by the lake and the story just got more complicated. Truly enjoyed the read and and will look into the series further.
October 11, 2015
I really enjoyed this. Louis Kincaid moves to Loon Lake to the small town police department to take the place of another officer (Pryce) who was recently gunned down. He is investigating the Pryce murder when another, recently retired, officer is found dead. It now looks like someone is targeting cops.
Kincaid is walking a tightrope between a partner given to fits of rage and a really strange police chief he can't quite figure out. As things hot up Kincaid feels increasingly that the Chief is out to get him. He also starts to get a handle on what may be behind this rash of violence. In an increasingly untenable situation Kincaid struggles to remain professional as he discovers dark and dangerous secrets from the past. An excellent story with good pacing, plenty of drama and the horns of a dilemma.
Kincaid is walking a tightrope between a partner given to fits of rage and a really strange police chief he can't quite figure out. As things hot up Kincaid feels increasingly that the Chief is out to get him. He also starts to get a handle on what may be behind this rash of violence. In an increasingly untenable situation Kincaid struggles to remain professional as he discovers dark and dangerous secrets from the past. An excellent story with good pacing, plenty of drama and the horns of a dilemma.
April 4, 2020
The accusatory finger points at the ex-con, then the cop, ex-con, cop and so on. Very well played.
February 24, 2017
Kincaid may have come to Loon Lake looking for a job and to forget his time in Mississippi, but this picture perfect little village has something sinister going on. We know right away that there is a ruthless, coldblooded killer on the prowl, but finding out who that killer is and if Louis will survive the investigation is not so clear.
I have come to the conclusion that Louis does not play well with others. He is smart but sometime not smart enough to keep his mouth shut. All said and done Louis causes a lot of his own problems. I really like him, but he is carrying around some major baggage that helps to make his life difficult.
I saw a violent of Louis in this book that was not present in the previous one, I'm not to sure I like it. We'll see what happens in "Paint It Black".
I have come to the conclusion that Louis does not play well with others. He is smart but sometime not smart enough to keep his mouth shut. All said and done Louis causes a lot of his own problems. I really like him, but he is carrying around some major baggage that helps to make his life difficult.
I saw a violent of Louis in this book that was not present in the previous one, I'm not to sure I like it. We'll see what happens in "Paint It Black".
October 13, 2016
Broody young cop makes life difficult for himself in snowy small town Michigan. All his co-workers are deranged (except for Florence the receptionist, who is happy with her novels), which seemed odd. The fact that someone is killing them may have something to do with it, but still. This appears to be the second installment in a series, and if Louis finds a healthier workplace, I may give him a second chance.
April 13, 2015
I just started reading this author series of Louis Kincaid ,and like it.
The stories take place in Michigan small towns.
It's crime /detective , easy read.
I will read all of them. It's nice when one finds a new author to like and read.
The stories take place in Michigan small towns.
It's crime /detective , easy read.
I will read all of them. It's nice when one finds a new author to like and read.
February 11, 2013
This was my first read by these authors and I really liked it. I will be seeking out more by these 2 sisters.
November 10, 2016
A real who done it
I enjoyed this book but it took a long time to get into it. I never thought it would come out like it did. Very clever story.
I enjoyed this book but it took a long time to get into it. I never thought it would come out like it did. Very clever story.
June 14, 2017
First line: "It was just a dull thud, a sound that drifted down to him as he lay in the deepest fathoms of his sleep."
It's funny how a decade can make you forget everything that happened in a book you've already read. This was the book that propelled my binge-reading of the Kincaid series, and I'll be forever thankful for it. It's also spurred a re-reading of other books I've read and loved in the past, so this should be interesting coming back to them so many years later.
Dead of Winter is a solid sequel to Dark of the Moon. In this follow-up, Louis Kincaid gets hired onto a police force that has just lost an officer killed in their own home. Louis takes an interest in the case but of course, things are never as they first appear. He's also dealing with the ramifications from the tragic events in Mississippi. His mental state is not in the best condition and he does some things that, though maybe understandable, are unexpected for his character. He is, and will always be one of my favourite characters, but he seriously needs to unload some of his baggage. I also forget to keep in mind that he is super young right now and has already been dealt a worst hand than some people get in a lifetime.
Between the first two books, there are a lot of very bad cops. I'm getting burnt out by the constant distrust but from what I remember, the next books change it up which I'm grateful for.
It's funny how a decade can make you forget everything that happened in a book you've already read. This was the book that propelled my binge-reading of the Kincaid series, and I'll be forever thankful for it. It's also spurred a re-reading of other books I've read and loved in the past, so this should be interesting coming back to them so many years later.
Dead of Winter is a solid sequel to Dark of the Moon. In this follow-up, Louis Kincaid gets hired onto a police force that has just lost an officer killed in their own home. Louis takes an interest in the case but of course, things are never as they first appear. He's also dealing with the ramifications from the tragic events in Mississippi. His mental state is not in the best condition and he does some things that, though maybe understandable, are unexpected for his character. He is, and will always be one of my favourite characters, but he seriously needs to unload some of his baggage. I also forget to keep in mind that he is super young right now and has already been dealt a worst hand than some people get in a lifetime.
Between the first two books, there are a lot of very bad cops. I'm getting burnt out by the constant distrust but from what I remember, the next books change it up which I'm grateful for.
January 27, 2020
A blog friend, Mae Clair, recommended the authors--PJ Parrish--to me, two sisters who write mysteries together. And boy, was she right! Dead of Winter was a great book! Louis Kincaid is a black cop who takes a job in a white, Michigan community. The people try not to be racist, but he doesn't exactly fit in. And he discovers that he's replacing the last black cop who was killed with a shotgun inside his house's front door. That murder, Louis discovers, is only the tip of the iceberg for the problems to come. A retired cop's body is discovered under the ice of the frozen lake near where he's rented a cabin. Both bodies are found with playing cards, with a skull and bones and a number, tossed near them. He learns that's an old Vietnam trick soldiers used at a kill, which makes him think the killer is ex-military, and he's settling a vendetta. Everything gets worse the longer Louis tries to solve the murders. His police chief is openly hostile to him, bordering on cruel, maybe crazy. His partner is losing it. Louis discovers an old case that ties into the new one. As more officers die, the men in suits come to take over the case, and they're worse than the chief. The tension cranks up page by page. A taut thriller.
October 19, 2018
Pretty much every book I have read where it is centered around a detective portrays the protagonist has a macho badass. You know the standard action-hero with super strength and invulnerability. This book does the opposite of that.
The strengths and weaknesses of our protagonist Kincaid made it for me. He is actually a human that has real human problems.
Parrish was excellent in making my mind turn to solve the mystery. Kincaid is working in a new department way up north in a new state. He doesnt know anyone and has to make “friends” up there. What I mean by this is he doesn’t know that, for example, Frank is an office pranker or Shella likes to stay an extra three hours working when everyone else is at home eating dinner. He is new to the area as we are too. I can spot clues in an instant but the murder case had me analyzing clues.
This is the first Louis Kincaid novel I have read so coming from knowing nothing about character to highly reccomending this novel and series. I will definitely read more of his adventures! church around
4.5/5 stars
The strengths and weaknesses of our protagonist Kincaid made it for me. He is actually a human that has real human problems.
Parrish was excellent in making my mind turn to solve the mystery. Kincaid is working in a new department way up north in a new state. He doesnt know anyone and has to make “friends” up there. What I mean by this is he doesn’t know that, for example, Frank is an office pranker or Shella likes to stay an extra three hours working when everyone else is at home eating dinner. He is new to the area as we are too. I can spot clues in an instant but the murder case had me analyzing clues.
This is the first Louis Kincaid novel I have read so coming from knowing nothing about character to highly reccomending this novel and series. I will definitely read more of his adventures! church around
4.5/5 stars
August 28, 2023
This was one strange book. There were no happy endings. When I say strange, I mean there were so many false fronts from people we should have trusted. But it gripped me until the finish.
I have read these Kincaid book out of order as I have found them in various places as used editions. His character intrigues me in that he never catches a break. When things should turn out well for him, they don't. It is very evident in book two of this series.
You have a small Michigan town police department with a pompous, controlling chief, a high-strung officer, and a couple of weaker officers. Kincaid joins this weird mix of staff and soon realizes things are not so hunky dory after all. Other cops are being murdered, and it could be all connected to a five year old case.
All of these cops have personal histories that make you raise an eyebrow. That goes for Kincaid, too.
I wasn't sure whether I should sympathize with them or wish them ill will. That's what made the book intriguing to me. I liked it quite a lot and finished it in one day. I am seeking out the others.
I have read these Kincaid book out of order as I have found them in various places as used editions. His character intrigues me in that he never catches a break. When things should turn out well for him, they don't. It is very evident in book two of this series.
You have a small Michigan town police department with a pompous, controlling chief, a high-strung officer, and a couple of weaker officers. Kincaid joins this weird mix of staff and soon realizes things are not so hunky dory after all. Other cops are being murdered, and it could be all connected to a five year old case.
All of these cops have personal histories that make you raise an eyebrow. That goes for Kincaid, too.
I wasn't sure whether I should sympathize with them or wish them ill will. That's what made the book intriguing to me. I liked it quite a lot and finished it in one day. I am seeking out the others.
December 21, 2021
You know you've found a 'goodie' when everyday life is interrupted often by thoughts of the book you are reading. I finally gave up today and just sat down and finished it. Louis Kincaid is a policeman with a past. He lands a job in Loon Lake, Michigan and he's grateful for the quiet and the solitude. And he's soon looking for a serial cop killer. PJ Parrish crafts an infectious story with fascinating characters and an ambience so real you can truly feel like you are there. I'm off now to find Parrish's first book which I hope will hold me until the 3rd one comes out.
May 14, 2017
Second book in the series, but third for me since I read the last book in the series first. I am totally hooked and will keep going until the end. In this one Louis is back in Michigan, after leaving Mississippi, and still trying to find his place as a police officer on this small, crazy force. Many twists and turns again for his love life and the mystery of who killed the officer he replaced at Loon Lake. Can't wait to see where he goes next.
July 11, 2017
Injustice
We know that some people have all the bad luck through no fault of their own and other people are, well, getting away with murder. This is a good series no matter what order I have read the books. Personally I would have liked more closure in this book but there never is closure when injustices prevail, is there?
We know that some people have all the bad luck through no fault of their own and other people are, well, getting away with murder. This is a good series no matter what order I have read the books. Personally I would have liked more closure in this book but there never is closure when injustices prevail, is there?
December 18, 2020
There's a lot to like about this book but it can be frustrating as well. There were several interesting turns of events, not all believable. Louis just seems to get in over his head no matter what part of the country he's in. The chief was really off from the get-go. Heck, the whole department was off.
December 24, 2021
I love Louis and really like the author. I read this series all out of order (starting with an Unquiet Grave which was one of the best books I’ve ever read), so I found the first two recently. This second one wasn’t my favorite, but it was still OK. They get better later. Louis’s character builds up a lot more.
February 1, 2018
I read this as a read along with a friend, and come to find out, crime fiction is just not my preferred genre. It's an easy read, the writing is a little prosaic and the plot a little thin and predictable.
October 18, 2018
Great story about a cop from Mississippi is on the case of two cops murdered. His Chief is on his back constantly anytime things go wrong. But Louis more then he leads on, until one day the real murderer of the cops is killed by Louis himself
February 3, 2019
Hooked from Page One
Excellent plot, endearing characters, stellar writing, and more twists than a corkscrew. Loved every page! If you're searching for a unputdownable thriller, don't overlook Dead of Winter. Highly recommended!
Excellent plot, endearing characters, stellar writing, and more twists than a corkscrew. Loved every page! If you're searching for a unputdownable thriller, don't overlook Dead of Winter. Highly recommended!
April 28, 2020
After reading the first book, it was easier to get into his second of the series. I find it a mystery series but it is read with a different emotion. Maybe because he is a bi-racial cop that reflects on various issues that have always been around - whether the 1950s or 2000s. Sad but true.
May 19, 2017
Another great read in the Louis Kincaid series....highly recommend if you haven't read these books.
September 9, 2017
Love this series!
March 19, 2018
It was an easy read, but I couldn't relate to the behaviour of the characters.
July 27, 2018
Really enjoyed this book, first I've read by this author(s). Kincaid is a great character, the mystery kept my attention and the payoff was solid.
August 24, 2018
3.5 stars
February 19, 2020
Always a good read. Love how she writes. She's a Floridian and I lived in Florida for a few years so many of her cases are relatable.
May 28, 2021
There's plenty of action here but I couldn't fully engage with the characters and admit to skipping past some of the violence.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews