Review: Bitter Cold
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 30, 2013
**Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.**This was a very good book. It reminded me a lot of a Stephen King story, but maybe not quite that creepy! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and didn't want to put it down until I read the last page.April Murray is a hard nosed journalist who is on the trail of a killer story. A local nuclear plant is covering up what she thinks is a leak that is contaminating the area. However, when the bigwigs at NWP try to scare her into backing off the story, she suddenly ends up in danger....in more ways than one. Not only is there a possible nuclear radiation leak in the vicinity, there is also a strange "monster" that is traveling in the snow and devouring anyone that comes too close. She teams up with father and son duo, Jeff and Logan, when they take her in during a blizzard, and they witness first hand the gruesomeness of the oil-like "blob" when a teenage boy has his foot eaten off when he gets caught in it. From here it's a race against time as Jeff, April, Logan and a handful of neighboring survivors try to stay one step ahead of a certain death by the black snow.While this story is fast paced, anxiety inducing, and cringe-worthy at some points, it is has a few very sweet and touching moments that showcase both human bravery and selflessness, and that of man's best friend. There were two scenes with Sadie (a German Shepard) that actually brought tears to my eyes. I also admired how determined Jeff was to warn as many people as he could about the danger they were in, and his single mindedness when it came to protecting his son. April was also one tough cookie when faced with hard situations. She didn't back down from the black snow, or from the corporate bullies who were trying to threaten, and then kill, her.I thought that the idea of a oil-like blob that travels through the snow and dissolves people was equal parts horrific and brilliant. Definitely a very scary image to picture. I don't know what was more terrifying though, the thought of something like that ever happening, or the scenario that Jeff and April faced - they knew it was out there and how deadly it was, but no one would believe them!Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a well written, fast paced, suspenseful action/horror book, this one is definitely worth checking out!