If you’re looking for adventure and suspense, Cold Light of Day sweeps you up like an avalanche. From the very prologue, I was left wondering about the mystery, and I was surprised how everything came together at the end! It’s also always been my dream to visit Alaska, so to be able to read about it is just awesome to me!

Before we get into the review, here are some more details about the book:

Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in the quiet Alaska town of Shadow Gap when an unexpected string of criminal activity leaves her with a wounded officer, unexplained murders, and even an attack on her own father. Despite her mistrust of outsiders, she turns to Grier Brenner, a newcomer who seems to have the skills and training Autumn needs to face this threat to her community.

Grier is in Alaska for the same reason so many others are–to disappear–when Chief Long enlists his help. He emerges from the shadows and proves his mettle, but his presence in her life could be a deadly trap for them both. If his secret is exposed, all will be lost. And he’s not sure even Autumn could save him.

As the stakes rise and the dangers increase, Autumn and Grier must rely on each other to extinguish the deadly threats.

Rating for Cold Light of Day

Overall Rating: 5 stars

Action/Adventure: 

I loved how the setting of the novel, Alaska, played such a strong role in the action of this novel. It was bad enough that they’re dealing with an unknown threat to the town, but the wilderness was another element of danger for Autumn and Grier. 

Autumn Long was a great character, with such a heart to serve her people even though the town politics are fighting against her keeping her job as police chief. She is strong, and doesn’t like asking for help, but she knows her limits. Meanwhile, Grier is a solid counterpart, all mystery and secrets, and always somehow nearby when the next threat attacks the town, or Autumn. Yet, I loved how even though Grier needed to keep himself hidden, he risked exposure numerous times to save lives. He was willing to sacrifice his own safety instead of standing by and letting people perish in the crossfire. 

In terms of romance, Autumn and Grier make a great pair. While there is mention of physical attraction, they also fall in love with each other’s qualities, their courage and determination. The romance does apparently take place over the course of a few months, though you as a reader only meet the characters at the tail end of that time (so it came across a bit rushed). Also, you’ll see about a half a dozen almost-kisses in high-tension circumstances.

Worldview/Religion: 

This is a Christian novel, with God being mentioned multiple times by characters. The characters pray silently in moments of peril. One character has the urge to run into the chapel and fall on their knees in prayer (but they don’t follow through). There is a strong theme of making righteous decisions in every circumstance, even when your opposition isn’t acting fair. 

Content: 

From the beginning, it’s clear that the Alaskan wilderness is a force all its own, with many mentions of missing people. Throughout the course of the novel, numerous bodies are recovered (3+), though none are described in detail (beyond the knowledge that the individuals were shot point-blank). Some characters we meet throughout the course of the novel are wounded and others are fatally shot, all with minimal description. 

There are mentions of an extra-marital affair (it is explained as having occurred in the past, and no details are provided), but by the end there is forgiveness and resolution. 

There are many moments of tension and danger, such as dealing with freezing water, chasing suspects and dodging shots, and characters are held at gunpoint. One character is also tortured on-page via waterboarding (a short scene, approximately one or two pages interspersed with dialogue). 

Final Thoughts: 

I started Cold Light of Day and found myself racing to the end within a few days. The tension was stellar, and I was super surprised by the ending and the great themes of acting justly even when others aren’t. While some books aimed for adults can be enjoyed by older teens, this novel is firmly for adult readers due to the content mentioned above.

If you’re looking for other suspenseful reads that may be appealing to older teens, I highly recommend the Lake City Heroes series. You can check out my review for Double Take (book 1) here.