Cold Heart Creek

Name: Cold Heart Creek
Author: Lisa Regan

Crime Fiction Suspense Thriller Mystery Thriller

In the stark light of dawn, the young couple are laid out on their backs by the dying campfire, their hands clasped between them. Their eyes are open, but their hearts are cold…

When a park ranger stumbles across the bodies of Valerie and Tyler Yates by a creek in the small town of Denton, Detective Josie Quinn is first on the scene. Still reeling from the news that her abusive mother is dying, Josie suspects this is more than just accidental poisoning, and she’s right: someone jammed a crudely carved pendant necklace down Valerie’s throat before she died.

Combing the area, Josie’s team discover a third sleeping bag indicating there could have been an extra guest around the fire that night. A lucky escape? A missing victim? Or a suspect on the run? Finding this person is the key to the entire investigation…

Trawling the couple’s photo albums for clues, Josie can’t imagine why anyone might want to harm these smiling, carefree young lovers. Until a face in one of the pictures stops her in her tracks and leads her to a farmhouse hidden deep within the forest – a special place where people go to escape, and to hide. There they meet a young girl with frightened eyes and bandaged wrists who knows more than she is saying. But the next day she’s found dead, choked with a matching necklace…

With her mother’s life hanging by a thread, Josie has an impossible decision to make. But first she must find the meaning of the pendant and catch this twisted killer before another innocent life is taken. Is she already too late?

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Published: April 13, 2026

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Detective Josie Quinn

The series

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In the heart of Lisa Regan's Detective Josie Quinn series, there lies a woman who’s as relentless as she is empathetic, a detective whose fight for justice is driven not just by duty, but by a personal quest for redemption. Josie Quinn isn’t your typical detective. With a past full of secrets and scars, she’s determined to solve cases that not only test her intellect but challenge her emotional limits. Each case she faces pulls her deeper into a world of danger and deception, but it’s her vulnerability, her humanity, that makes her more than just a crime solver—she’s a beacon of hope for those who’ve been overlooked, discarded, or lost.

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Set against the backdrop of small-town America, the series invites readers into a tense, unpredictable world where every murder, disappearance, and mystery carries its own chilling weight. Through each gripping novel, Josie Quinn confronts not just criminals, but her own demons, making for an intimate and deeply emotional ride. With every twist and turn, the line between right and wrong becomes harder to distinguish, but Josie’s determination to uncover the truth remains unwavering.

What makes this series stand out is its ability to blend heart-pounding suspense with profound psychological depth. The mysteries are compelling, but it’s the characters—flawed, real, and often struggling with their own battles—that anchor the story. Each installment in the Detective Josie Quinn series is more than just a crime thriller; it's a journey of self-discovery, healing, and the pursuit of justice against all odds.

As Josie unravels complex cases that stretch her abilities and force her to confront her darkest fears, readers are pulled into a series of tightly-woven mysteries that never fail to surprise. Whether she’s chasing down a killer or facing her own complicated history, Josie Quinn is a detective you’ll root for, and one whose journey will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and crime procedurals, the Detective Josie Quinn series is a must-read for anyone who loves their suspense with a side of emotional depth and relentless determination. If you're ready for a series that’s equal parts mystery and raw emotion, Josie Quinn’s world awaits.