I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman seeking her biological father must unmask a killer in a small town full of secrets in author Abby Rice’s “Stone Cold: A Southern Mystery Novel,” the first book in the Zoe Nichols Van Life Series.
The Synopsis
A quiet Southern town. A stow-away kid. A page-turning mystery!

After DNA results turn her whole world upside down, Zoe Nichols traces her mysterious biological father to a small Georgia town. But a shocking murder the day she arrives and a stow-away kid catapult Zoe into a search for the killer. In a small town brimming with secrets, can Zoe unmask a murderer and clear an innocent boy – before she becomes the killer’s next victim?
This is the first book in the Zoe Nichols Van-Life series. A fun Southern mystery with a female amateur sleuth and a splash of romance!
The Review
This was such a compelling and gripping story. The fast-paced narrative was balanced with rich character development, which quickly drew the reader in and connected them with the characters. The mystery was well-developed, lined with realism as it captured both small-town life and the intricacies of murder investigations. The powerful imagery really brought this small Southern town to life, allowing readers to engage with the story fully.
The powerful, multi-tiered story and the rich themes surrounding justice really made this story what it was. The murder mystery took center stage, but still left enough breathing room for readers to engage in this personal mystery of Zoe’s father and who he is. The examination of the justice system and how young teens considered “at risk” are often forgotten or used as scapegoats for crimes, and the need to explore all options in an investigation is crucial to the truth.
The Verdict
Fast-paced, entertaining, and thrilling, author Abby Rice’s “Stone Cold” is a must-read cozy mystery thriller. The infusion of small-town murder mystery and romance, filled with shocking twists and turns, makes this story a great introduction to the larger Zoe Nichols Van Life series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today.
Rating: 10/10
About the Author

Abby Rice’s life has been as adventure-filled as her heroines’. Abby spent nine months on a square-rigged sailing ship and once rode cross-country on her motorcycle. She’s built houses — and wired them, too. And in her alter ego role as an attorney, she’s battled bad guys and sought justice for victims of crime.
But first and foremost, Abby’s always been a writer. She cut her teeth in the magazine market, with over two hundred national and trade stories in print. She transitioned to nonfiction books, with two dozen now behind her. History was Abby’s primary book niche, and she especially enjoys tales of the Victorian era and Comstock Lode. And most recently, she’s ventured into historical romance.
These days when Abby’s not dreaming up new stories about hidden history and feisty heroines, she can be found scanning 1860s newspapers for forgotten bits of Victorian gossip.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stone-cold-abby-rice/1144388206?ean=2940186082576



















