Home › Domestic › The Cold Read

The Cold Read

by Tara Laskowski

A reunion with a dangerous past

Critically Recognized
Regular price $24.93 USD
Regular price $41.55 USD Sale price $24.93 USD
Save 40%

Hardcover New

Format

Print BookCurrently viewing Hardcover $24.93 USD$41.55 USD
Print BookAvailable Paperback $18.12 USD$30.21 USD
Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.

Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Praise from Alma Katsu

    Alma Katsu praises the book as a slasher-movie-like reading experience and says its twists will keep readers gue...

AlbakiReads Editorial

A reunion with a dangerous past

A decade after a horror film made its cast famous, four former castmates return to the remote ski resort where it was filmed to launch a sequel. Their reunion is tied to a friend’s death on set, a history each has tried to leave behind, and different reasons for coming back. When a disturbing incident at the announcement revives a buried secret, the weekend’s professional opportunity becomes entangled with the cast’s unresolved past. The setup brings the mechanics of a film reunion together with a confined thriller setting, where old secrets and present-day stakes converge.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Fans of domestic thrillers built around secrets and interpersonal tensions.
  • Readers interested in stories set during a reunion at a remote location.
  • Those drawn to thrillers involving a film cast and a past tragedy.

Themes

Fame and its aftermathHidden secretsUnresolved grief and the pastReunion and reinvention

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

"Tara Laskowski gives readers their very own slasher movie! With one diabolical twist after another, The Cold Read will keep you guessing until the very last page."
--Alma Katsu, author of
Fiend

They're there to make a sequel. But someone came for revenge.

A decade ago, the release of the horror film No One Can Hear You Scream catapulted a young no-name cast into Hollywood fame. But below the surface, they were dealing with the fallout of their friend's tragic death on set.

Now the cast is reuniting at the remote ski resort where the movie was filmed to announce the sequel and get a first glimpse of the screenplay. Cassidy, Jake, Ben, and Ruby--they've all followed different paths over the years, and each has their own reason for agreeing to return to a place they had sworn to leave behind.

At first everyone works hard to ignore the shadows of the past and focus on the opportunity ahead. But the reunion takes a dark turn during the midnight announcement to fans when a disturbing incident stirs up a long-buried secret.

Each of them has something to lose. Each of them has something to hide. And if they want to survive the weekend, they'll have to deliver the performance of a lifetime...

"A witty, wicked thriller packed with juicy secrets." --Andrea Bartz on The Mother Next Door

"Will keep you obsessively reading well past your bedtime." --Paul Tremblayon One Night Gone

"A riveting puzzle for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware." --Hank Phillippi Ryan on The Weekend Retreat
Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

O
AlbakiReads
Olivia

Smooth.