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The Jasmine Steele Mystery #4
Cold Steele
A SERIAL KILLER IS SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS... In the fourth installment of Kimberly Amato’s chilling hard-boiled mystery series, badass detective Jasmine Steele is back -- and shockingly, to herself most of all -- she’s as happy as she’s ever been.
She and her brilliant psychologist partner Frankie are planning a wedding that’s been years in the making, and she’s settled into a new chapter of life with her nephew-turned-adopted son, Chase. But the good life turns out to be more fleeting than the detective’s caffeine withdrawals.
Jasmine, or Jazz, to her friends, gets a rude awakening when a 3-year-old cold case comes back hot. New York City’s “Carnation Killer,” a serial rapist and murderer, leaves his fifth calling card on a woman named Emilia Smith. The calling card? A heart-shaped carving into the woman’s chest and a single white carnation.
On the creep spectrum, Jazz puts this killer somewhere between Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer. And her veteran right-hand man is on medical leave.
She’s joined instead by temporary partner Detective Sydney Locke, a welcome new character. Sydney’s pretty green but has a fiery determination and talent for the beat that Jazz recognizes within minutes. Soon enough, they’ve got a mentor/protégé thing going – which certainly comes in handy at their often patriarchal workplace.
And it turns out Jazz and Syd will need that and more when the military gets involved with the investigation -- because the victim is none other than the daughter of a high-ranking official, and the brass knows more than they’re saying.
What the team does know is that Emilia’s last night alive was spent at a college bar that sparks Jasmine’ least happy memory – the very same establishment that served as a backdrop to her own early adult years, a past defiled and traumatized by a dangerous man. Just as Jazz is finally ready to be happy, her bone-chilling trauma comes rushing back. And the Carnation Killer is still out there.
She and her brilliant psychologist partner Frankie are planning a wedding that’s been years in the making, and she’s settled into a new chapter of life with her nephew-turned-adopted son, Chase. But the good life turns out to be more fleeting than the detective’s caffeine withdrawals.
Jasmine, or Jazz, to her friends, gets a rude awakening when a 3-year-old cold case comes back hot. New York City’s “Carnation Killer,” a serial rapist and murderer, leaves his fifth calling card on a woman named Emilia Smith. The calling card? A heart-shaped carving into the woman’s chest and a single white carnation.
On the creep spectrum, Jazz puts this killer somewhere between Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer. And her veteran right-hand man is on medical leave.
She’s joined instead by temporary partner Detective Sydney Locke, a welcome new character. Sydney’s pretty green but has a fiery determination and talent for the beat that Jazz recognizes within minutes. Soon enough, they’ve got a mentor/protégé thing going – which certainly comes in handy at their often patriarchal workplace.
And it turns out Jazz and Syd will need that and more when the military gets involved with the investigation -- because the victim is none other than the daughter of a high-ranking official, and the brass knows more than they’re saying.
What the team does know is that Emilia’s last night alive was spent at a college bar that sparks Jasmine’ least happy memory – the very same establishment that served as a backdrop to her own early adult years, a past defiled and traumatized by a dangerous man. Just as Jazz is finally ready to be happy, her bone-chilling trauma comes rushing back. And the Carnation Killer is still out there.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2019
289 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Amato
14 books313 followersKimberly Amato crafts mysteries that explore social issues and the complexities of relationships through compelling characters and thought-provoking themes. As the author of the Jasmine Steele Mystery Series, she delivers gritty police procedurals from a unique perspective. Kimberly's novels offer readers a journey of self-reflection, inviting them to challenge their own perspectives and find connection in unexpected places. When not writing, she and her wife, Sheila, co-host Forever Fangirls, a TV/film review channel.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Want to read
March 5, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/5/2020)! 🎁
September 3, 2023
Detective Steele and the rest of the squad are still recovering from the controversy that came up from a previous case. The Brass dislike Steele and she would have been fired if her results came back bad.
A serial killer has returned. Steele is detirmined to find the deviant. But the murderer is meticulous. There are no leads, no clues and no forensics
Somehow, she and the rest of the team - physical forensics, tech forensics, and psych profile help them navigate through possible leads.
A serial killer has returned. Steele is detirmined to find the deviant. But the murderer is meticulous. There are no leads, no clues and no forensics
Somehow, she and the rest of the team - physical forensics, tech forensics, and psych profile help them navigate through possible leads.
June 24, 2019
Jazz
After reading Jasmine Steele's box set of books 1-3, I checked this book out of the KU library. It continues the overarching storyline that is Jazz's life as a NYC homicide detective, adoptive mother of her orphaned nephew, Chase, and partner of Frankie, a NYPD forensic psychologist. Her work partner, Will, is on desk duty as he continues to recover and Jazz has been assigned a temporary partner, just as a cold case heats up. The Carnation Killer seems intent on goading Jazz while she and her team try to put elusive pieces to get to uncover his identity. And in between, Jazz and Frankie plan their wedding.
This is a series that sucked me in and didn't let go. It needs to be read from the beginning to understand where Jazz comes from and the importance of the people around her. I can't wait for the next chapter of her life to begin with the release of book five.
After reading Jasmine Steele's box set of books 1-3, I checked this book out of the KU library. It continues the overarching storyline that is Jazz's life as a NYC homicide detective, adoptive mother of her orphaned nephew, Chase, and partner of Frankie, a NYPD forensic psychologist. Her work partner, Will, is on desk duty as he continues to recover and Jazz has been assigned a temporary partner, just as a cold case heats up. The Carnation Killer seems intent on goading Jazz while she and her team try to put elusive pieces to get to uncover his identity. And in between, Jazz and Frankie plan their wedding.
This is a series that sucked me in and didn't let go. It needs to be read from the beginning to understand where Jazz comes from and the importance of the people around her. I can't wait for the next chapter of her life to begin with the release of book five.
August 13, 2024
New investigation and coworker
I'm addicted to this series! It's almost 2AM and I'm ready to dive into book 5.
Jasmine gets to know the new captain better because of his involvement in the latest case. Will is still recovering, but he's basically on desk duty. Frankie's father and brothers come for a visit and it doesn't go well because her dad doesn't want her to be a lesbian, nor does be like how Jazz bailed on her when she got custody of Chase. The serial killer is very intelligent and he has an unusual calling card. Book 4 is the first in the series that ends with a little bit of a cliffhanger that will start the next investigation.
I'm addicted to this series! It's almost 2AM and I'm ready to dive into book 5.
Jasmine gets to know the new captain better because of his involvement in the latest case. Will is still recovering, but he's basically on desk duty. Frankie's father and brothers come for a visit and it doesn't go well because her dad doesn't want her to be a lesbian, nor does be like how Jazz bailed on her when she got custody of Chase. The serial killer is very intelligent and he has an unusual calling card. Book 4 is the first in the series that ends with a little bit of a cliffhanger that will start the next investigation.
July 26, 2020
Is a case ever really cold when a serial killer is involved? Probably only if the perpetrator or dead or imprisoned for some other crime.
Jasmine Steele has the Carnation Killer from her past. She was with her first partner at the time of the first Carnation Killer victim. Now he is about to come back. Jasmine's current partner is still not back to active duty. She will have to deal with a new partner, and a much more volatile situation during this new victim's investigation.
Kindle Unlimited edition
Jasmine Steele has the Carnation Killer from her past. She was with her first partner at the time of the first Carnation Killer victim. Now he is about to come back. Jasmine's current partner is still not back to active duty. She will have to deal with a new partner, and a much more volatile situation during this new victim's investigation.
Kindle Unlimited edition
September 21, 2019
Jazz is back at her ala mater giving a talk on the Carnation Killer. Then this cold case comes back to haunt her. At a time when the wedding is finally being planned. Her partner Will is on desk leave. With a new partner, who has determination to learn and help. Another good case to see if Jazz finally gets these gruesome killer.
March 20, 2020
It was an ok book , jumped into conversations scene s with no warning I felt I was trying to figure out
Where or who I was with in storey sometimes, could not really connect to characters so did not grab me in page turning or storey
Sorry for not great review but I love a good crime storey and this one did not do it
Where or who I was with in storey sometimes, could not really connect to characters so did not grab me in page turning or storey
Sorry for not great review but I love a good crime storey and this one did not do it
March 8, 2020
Jasmine Steele awesome individual
Love this series. Characters were realistic and the criminal and law enforcement situations are well researched and we'll written. Getting ready to read the next book.
Love this series. Characters were realistic and the criminal and law enforcement situations are well researched and we'll written. Getting ready to read the next book.
March 9, 2020
A must read ....
Just as thrilling as the others an exciting adventure and thrill ride. With each book I believe Detective Steele gets stronger and better emotionally . What a great way to finish with a wedding. Bravo !!!
Just as thrilling as the others an exciting adventure and thrill ride. With each book I believe Detective Steele gets stronger and better emotionally . What a great way to finish with a wedding. Bravo !!!
April 26, 2020
Engaging read...
Was only going to read a few chapters before bed but I was trapped by some good plot twists and turns! Next thing I knew, I had read the entire book!! Great read and can't wait to read the next Steele book.
Was only going to read a few chapters before bed but I was trapped by some good plot twists and turns! Next thing I knew, I had read the entire book!! Great read and can't wait to read the next Steele book.
February 18, 2021
Once you get the characters and relationships down
Its a good book. In fairness, I may have been distracted by the world in general , rather
Than a fault of the author.Interesting story line.
Its a good book. In fairness, I may have been distracted by the world in general , rather
Than a fault of the author.Interesting story line.
April 6, 2021
Another Interesting Read
I read this out of order so some plot switches were confusing. But it didn't stop the flow of the story. Tied up all the loose threads pretty quickly, almost too neatly.
I read this out of order so some plot switches were confusing. But it didn't stop the flow of the story. Tied up all the loose threads pretty quickly, almost too neatly.
June 17, 2021
Excellent
Very good story - didn’t expect for the lead suspect to get murdered ! I was hoping Spencer would be alive,but no such luck . I like Captain Zeile- I think he will make a great teammate for Jazz .
Very good story - didn’t expect for the lead suspect to get murdered ! I was hoping Spencer would be alive,but no such luck . I like Captain Zeile- I think he will make a great teammate for Jazz .
October 1, 2019
The best story yet. A serial killer, a new rookie partner with attitude and an unsolved case of her own, and the military with interests in both cases.
Want to read
March 4, 2020TheFussyLibrarian
October 27, 2021
Great police thriller
Love these stories with Jasmine as the main character. I've read many of this authors books but they never disappoint you.
Love these stories with Jasmine as the main character. I've read many of this authors books but they never disappoint you.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews