"wonderful romantic suspense"

Though his family owns a sizable part of Toussaint, Louisiana, not too many people are pleased to see Marc Gilbert return to town after a thirteen-year absence. Marc saw a picture of local singer Bonnie Blue in his hometown newspaper that he still receives. The accompanying article reports the death by accident of Bonnie. Marc believes that Bonnie is his missing older sister Amy.

Medical examiner Reb O'Brien has always had a crush on Marc that never really went anywhere especially after he graduated from Tulane as she was completing her freshman year there. Reb has no reason to conclude foul play occurred in Bonnie's death, but Marc ties the case back to two other murders two years ago, though the convicted killer resides in prison. Marc persuades Reb to help determine whether Bonnie was Amy and if someone, perhaps her married boyfriend, killed her.

COLD DAY IN JULY is a wonderful romantic suspense that provides the audience with growing intrigue that seems to grip all the residence of Toussaint, many of whom fear the return of Marc as a catalyst for trouble. The story line is fast-paced yet takes the time to enable the reader to feel the ambiance and the apprehension gripping Toussaint. Marc is a strong lead protagonist though why he concluded that Bonnie is Amy seems stretched, while Reb is a delightful local doctor trying to do the right thing even as she wonders what that is. Stella Cameron provides her fans with a wonderful reading day in September.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 22, 2002

Summary

Toussaint, Louisiana, a sleepy bayou town where people are accustomed to feeling safe among the cypress trees, the mist off sluggish waters and Spanish moss trailing from live oaks. Good time living to a zydeco beat. Yeah! Then, the body of singer Bonnie Blue is found, her neck broken. Local doctor Reb O'Brien doesn't believe the gossip--that Bonnie accidentally fell to her death. She remembers all too well the murders of two other woman a couple of years earlier. The killer was caught and placed behind bars. Now, what happened to Bonnie raises chilling questions about a case thought closed--and someone is trying to frighten Reb into leaving well enough alone.

Marc Girard believes the dead woman may be his missing sister and, though he vowed to stay away from his hometown of Toussaint, he comes back to search for the truth--even if it means joining forces with Reb, a woman he left behind along with his past. With only each other to trust, their mutual wariness gives way to a passion that marks them for gossip in a town ready to explode--and makes them vulnerable to the greatest betrayal of all.