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The Cold Read: A Twisty Locked-Room Suspense Novel

by Tara Laskowski

A film reunion with a buried past

Critically Recognized
Regular price $18.12 USD
Regular price $30.21 USD Sale price $18.12 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Praise from Alma Katsu

    Praise for The Cold Read: "Tara Laskowski gives readers their very own slasher movie! With one diabolical twist ...

AlbakiReads Editorial

A film reunion with a buried past

A decade after a horror film made its young cast famous, four former castmates return to the remote ski resort where it was shot to discuss a sequel and see its screenplay. Their reunion is shadowed by the death of a friend on set, a history each has tried to leave behind, and a disturbing incident at the fan announcement that brings a long-buried secret back into view. The setup links the pressures of a public comeback with the private consequences of a shared past, as the cast members each have reasons to conceal something and a weekend to survive.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers who enjoy domestic thrillers built around secrets among a small group.
  • Fans of suspense set at an isolated resort.
  • Readers interested in stories about film casts, reunions, and the aftermath of a tragedy.

Themes

Reputation and fameSecrets and revengeGrief and a shared pastPerformance and concealment

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
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Customer reviews

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AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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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

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Olivia

Smooth.