Allreaders.com
Author Maggie Shayne booklist (click here)

Book Review By Andi Puntoriero
Colder Than Ice by Maggie Shayne

When ex-attorney and white-collar criminal, David Quentin Gray Jr. escapes from prison, wheels are set into motion that had paused 18 years before. That was when a botched raid on a madman's compound had sent a young girl to the hospital and a supposed death. That girl was Elizabeth Marcum now (Beth Slocum), the madman- Mordecai Young and the unfortunate FBI agent, Josh Kendall.

Now 18 years later, Elizabeth Marcum has reinvented herself as Beth Slocum, a young attractive high school teacher who is taking some time off and tutoring to supplement her income. She keeps mainly to herself and runs everyday. Nothing earth shattering or eye catching, until her picture is caught in the small town's newspaper, thus Mordecai Young's eye as well.

Private Investigator/FBI Agent, Josh Kendall arrives on the scene, under cover as Maude's (Beth's best and only friend) grandson, to protect Beth. Unfortunately, Young's voices get him to kill Maude, thus sending into motion a series of disastrous events all aimed at forcing Beth back into the arms of Young.

The romantic tension between Beth and Josh adds sizzle ! I don't know about you, but sex on a couch in front of a fireplace has always been one of my secret fantasies!


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 30 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 %
Crime Thriller Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - crazed lover/family member

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
The antagonists are: - cults
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Explicit sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - licking - actual description of sex - descript. of breasts - descript. of other female areas - descript. of male nudity
Unusual forms of death - poisoning
Unusual form of death? Yes
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Back To Main Menu