A Cold, Cold World (Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery, #2) by Elena Taylor 

Wow! Complex characters and complicated circumstances! 

A Cold, Cold World is the second book in author Elena Taylor's Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery series, and readers are beckoned back to the small mountain town of Collier, Washington, and the secrets it hides. As a massive snowstorm pummels the little town, Sheriff Bet Rivers is confronted with a possible murder, a missing father and daughter, and a blood-soaked sleeping bag, all of which may be related. 

I really enjoyed Bet, the main character, who's gotten her feet under herself a little more firmly since the events in book one. Still, she retains some feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty and projects a vulnerability that makes her so very realistic and human. However, she's smart and makes better decisions than she realizes. In such a small town, she's investigating incidents that involve neighbors and lifelong friends, people who watched her grow up, and others she has witnessed do the same. What happens in this town is personal for her, and that takes its toll. She's also working under a lot of stress, with little sleep or time to eat properly as the storm descends. Clayton, her full-time deputy, is unavailable and in another town, as his wife goes into labor with their first child. 

The action takes place as great amounts of snow bury the town, bringing down trees and power lines and covering up footprints, tire tracks, and other possible clues critical to solving the ongoing investigations. The descriptions of the storm and crime scenes are vivid and atmospheric. I could feel the chill as I read. Each call for service brings with it a level of urgency that Bet must prioritize, but she's still pulled in several directions at once, even when she gets a little extra help. The story is a complete surprise as it unfolds. 

With its absorbing plot, eerie and dangerous snowstorm of a setting, and impressive main and secondary characters, I recommend A COLD, COLD WORLD to readers of mysteries, police procedurals, and thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.