Cold Trail: The Jeri Howard Mystery Series Book 11

THE MORGUE.

THE LAST PLACE JERI HOWARD WANTS TO BE – ESPECIALLY IF THE BODY SHE’S THERE TO IDENTIFY IS THAT OF HER KID BROTHER.

Missing.

That’s not a word the Oakland private eye Jeri Howard wants to hear about her brother Brian.

He’s been gone four days. And that body in the morgue? It was found on a burned-out boat at a marina with a dicey reputation - along with Brian’s MedicAlert bracelet.

The trail is getting cold. Jeri’s upset and anxious. So is her family. Her divorced parents draw together, seeking comfort from each other. Her aunt has been a source of strength. But her sister-in-law Sheila’s reaction to the crisis has Jeri wondering what the hell is going on.

Jeri thought everything was fine in Brian’s life. But it’s not. Deep cracks have appeared in his marriage. Sheila is angry – about Brian’s sudden job change, about the move from their pleasant house in Sonoma to a small rental in Petaluma. And she has her suspicions about Brian’s friendship with a free-spirited potter who calls herself Willow.

Jeri goes looking for reasons, tracking down Brian’s friends and colleagues – and Willow.

Is Brian involved in a murder? Or is he a victim?

The clock is ticking. Jeri races against time to find her brother. Before murder finds him.

"There is a great deal of underlying tension and suspense in Cold Trail as Jeri searches for her brother... The pacing of the narrative is relentless as Jeri, together with the reader, fears the worst. With sharply drawn characters and vivid settings, this solidly plotted mystery is a strong entry in this series." -- Mysterious Reviews

"Cold Trail brings Northern California's wine country so alive you'll want to pack up and move there... Dawson knows how to blend real history and real crime into an intriguing mystery about a missing man and the people, and the land, he loves." --Betty Webb, Mystery Scene

"The eleventh of the series continues to thrill by helping set the standard for female private investigators. The California setting comes alive as well: Dawson has perfected the private detective procedural mystery, and watching Jeri methodically track down her brother using her intelligence and information she receives is a true delight . . . This is a strongly plotted mystery and is sure to satisfy longtime fans of both Jeri Howard and her always-dependable author." -- Cynthia Chow, Kings River Life

"An intriguing, modern, and very believable mystery... the book is intelligent, articulate, and engaging." -- Over My Dead Body