Review of The Blood Runs Cold by Catherine Maiorisi, Audiobook narrated by Abby Craden
I came late to the party but finally, I’m catching up with The Chiara Corelli Mystery Series now that they are coming out in audio narrated by the fantastic Abby Craden. As I said in my review of the first book in the series, I used to be a fan of Agatha Christie and this series remind me of those types of mysteries. I’m glad that book 3 is coming out in audio in December, and book 4, Legacy in the Blood, is coming out in paperback in February 2022.
When the body of a gay man appears in his apartment killed by a single shot in the head, Chiara and PJ are called to investigate. The diseased was the son of a prominent Italian politician, so there might have been political motivations. While Chiara and PJ are investigating, the appearance of a new murder seems to suggest that a serial killer is on the loose.
The Blood Runs Cold is another “whodunit” police procedural, the second book in the series which I recommend reading in order. Each case is developed and solved in a single book so technically they are standalone novels. However, if you don’t read them chronologically you will miss the overall arc in the series, the part that follows the trials and tribulations of Chiara and PJ’s personal lives.
A word of warning, I suggest not to read the book blurb as I think it gives away too much of the plot. Suffice to say that, like in book one, there are a good number of murder suspects and Chiara and PJ have to proceed with caution while navigating the turbulent waters of politics inside and outside NYPD. Once again, as in the first book, the killer isn’t an obvious suspect.
Like in book one, don’t expect much in the romance department, this is mainly a mystery, but I think that the author is preparing the terrain for a love story slowly but surely. Let’s hope that we have good news for Chiara in book 3 or 4. This seems to be a bridging book in the series (not sure if it will end in book 4).
The audiobook is narrated by Abby Craden whose performance is extremely good as usual. There are a good number of different characters, between the mains, the secondary, and the murder suspects, but Ms. Craden made them sound all distinct and credible. Her narration pace is spot on, as usual. The audiobooks are doing justice to the series so far. Can’t wait for audiobook three. 4.5 stars.
Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
