A Wicked Snow

Author: Gregg Olsen 

Pages: 400
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
First Published: 1995
Book Description (from Good Reads): Hannah Griffin was a girl when tragedy struck. She still remembers the flames reflected against the newly fallen snow and the bodies the police dug up--one of them her mother's. The killer was never found. . ..
Twenty years later talented CSI agent Hannah is investigating a case of child abuse when the past comes hurtling back. A killer with unfinished business is on the hunt. And an anonymous message turns Hannah's blood cold:
Your Mom called.

• Characters: 8.0
• Hannah is not perfect, she pretends to have it all under control and tries to forget about her past but she is still deeply affected by it. It is not surprising at all. She is too distrustful, of everyone, has no friends and can't even open up to her husband who should be her strength and main support. The husband is at times understanding and at times he's very much all against her and the search for her mother. They reflect a good example of a couple, very realistic.
• The detective who all those years ago was involved in the search for her mother, he's determined and cares a lot for Hannah.
• There is very little character growth and some of them seem to be there simply for the movement of the plot but oh well.
• Logic: 7.5
• The way Hannah lives makes perfect sense, she can't fully accept her past and has a slight obsession with her mother which will not let her move on.
• The way someone can vanish and be invisible for so long is not unrealistic. In real life that has happened. 
• Also, the way the police needs to act seems very realistic you cannot act upon suspicion without much proof. Though surviving at freezing temperatures while in the Arctic sea, well that seems a bit too much like a stretch. 
• Plot: 8.0 
• It has a semi-fast pace with a few twists that you do not seem coming. It builds a lot of tension because there are plays that cannot be explained until a bit further along. Unfortunately, some things did seem a little too convenient but oh well, the mystery had to be solved right? And people are always out to get vengeance in one way or another. 
• Writing Style: 7.5
• The story is not told linearly, it has some flashbacks to Hanna's life, the night of the tragedy and of her life before it. She had suppressed her memories so we were finding out of things in snip bits. It became a bit annoying because at the time it feels like we're wasting precious time from the current events of the hunt for the serial killer woman (yeah her mother). But all in all it was still enjoyable, after a while you realize that the memories do contain useful information, but still in this particular book I did not enjoy too much the recollection of the past. 
• The end was completely not to my liking and it was the part that did not make much sense, it is not realistic. 
• Intrigue: 8.5
• The mystery is building up from the beginning, at first very subtle but as the first fourth comes to a close the story just gets much more interesting. The whole book you just need to know where the woman is and why. It was well done, the build-up is such that I got annoyed at myself for taking so long to get through to the end. That happens with a lot of mystery/thrillers, that might be why I do not read as much of them.
• Intention: 8.5
• The main take away we have in this story is that we need to accept our past or it will control our whole lives. Fortunately, the things that haunt us will not be so macabre as the past haunting Hannah was. Also, it is very important to trust and allow the partner to know the truth otherwise they will not be able to support or understand the struggle and then problems begin. It is very difficult to open up to people but the only way to get out is to have something to hold on to, what better than to have your partner to be that which helps you. He/She will not be the only reason for you to be able to move on, they should be supportive, they can lend an understanding hand.
• Enjoyment: 8.0

Total score: 56.0

Average: 8.0

Star Rating: 4.0

This book was used to complete the challenges:

• Cosyathon. Read a book with cold in the cover.