COLD TO THE TOUCH hits like an Alaskan winter storm. Thrilling and bone-chilling, this debut by Kerri Hakoda is impressive, descriptive, and highly entertaining.

It’s December in Alaska, where the days are short and the temperatures are freezing, and Alaskans love their coffee. When a young barista is kidnapped from the Snow Bunny Baristas coffee stand and brutally murdered, homicide detective DeHavilland Beans knows his holiday season is going to be short-lived.

Beans recognizes the first victim as Jolene Nilsson. Jolene served him coffee most mornings, and her death cuts him to the quick. The killer left a single white rose beside Jolene’s body, but otherwise, the evidence is scarce. Bean’s ex-girlfriend and wildlife expert, Dr. Raisa Ingalls, confirms scavengers attacked the body. Yet, a tiny, triangle-shaped wound on Jolene’s back wasn’t made by animals. Soon after, another barista is taken and found dead, and then a third. As Beans works the case, the pressure is mounting, and Beans struggles with childhood nightmares and conflicting feelings for Raisa. He and his partner, Ed Heller, are not always on the same page, and the FBI has been called in to help profile the monster. When a fourth barista goes missing, the clock is ticking, and Beans will do everything he can to stop the killings.

COLD TO THE TOUCH is a stunning debut. With its rugged Alaskan backdrop and shortened daylight hours, the setting is perfect for an ice-cold killer to stalk his victims at coffee stands. Beans is a likable character with his love for his family and his dedication to the job. He’s married to his work and struggles with feelings for his ex-girlfriend, while also meeting a potential new love interest. He’s gaining the admiration of his colleagues, making the necessary connections, employing new ideas, and tapping resources to get the job done. The mystery is well-plotted with descriptive crime scenes and secondary mysteries that add unrelenting suspense and tension. I especially liked a gifted but socially awkward young man’s assistance with the investigation in tracking down an important clue. The ending is a pulse-pounding ride as one girl escapes, setting up a chain reaction of events that has Beans closing in on a killer. A stellar debut with a great ending. Here’s hoping we see Beans again in a follow-up mystery.