Glen Erik Hamilton’s ‘Hard Cold Winter’ Is A Twisty, Brutal Thriller [REVIEW]

Discharged Army Ranger Van Shaw finds himself embroiled in a deadly mystery in the Olympic Mountains.
(Photo by erase99, Flickr)

Glen Erik Hamilton’s sophomore title, Hard Cold Winter, will not disappoint fans of Van Shaw, the recently discharged Army Ranger introduced in the author’s 2016 Best First Novel Edgar® Award nominated debut, Past Crimes. 

William Morrow

This time out, Van encounters his grandfather’s old friend Will Willard, who is calling in a favor: to find his niece, Elana. She has not contacted anyone since leaving town to visit her boyfriend up in the Olympic Forest.

Although this seems like a rather simple task, Van’s journey to the mountain cabin unleashes a grisly chain of events that can’t be stopped. As the body count rises, Hamilton deftly ratchets up the novel’s tension, increasing the story’s pacing with so many twists readers will be sure Van has no way out.

One of the strongest points in this novel, however, is the way Hamilton weaves in the beautiful reminder that no one is an island, not even his wily protagonist. Enter Leo, a fellow Ranger from Afghanistan struggling with post traumatic stress disorder, who appears on Van’s doorstep.

Both men soon realize that the two of them are a formidable team, not only in dealing with bad guys, but in supporting one another with their reemerging symptoms of PTSD. I love how Hamilton addresses this controversial issue and reveals their strong bond in such an honorable and dignified way.

This friendship will resonate with readers, and the twisty, surprising, brutal mystery will keep them turning the pages at breakneck speed. Hard Cold Winter is destined to secure Hamilton’s ranks among thriller writers like Lee Child and Gregg Hurwitz. Order your copy today! The novel appears on bookshelves March 8.

Glen Erik Hamilton
(Photo by Michael Helms Photography)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A Seattle native, Glen Erik Hamilton grew up aboard a sailboat and spent his youth finding trouble around the marinas and commercial docks and islands of the Pacific Northwest.

His debut novel, Past Crimes, introduced readers to former Army Ranger Van Shaw and is a 2016 Best First Novel Edgar® Award nominee.

Glen now lives in California with his family, punctuated by frequent visits to his hometown to soak up the rain.

Visit him on his home on the Web at glenerikhamilton.com, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter.

HARD COLD WINTER
By Glen Erik Hamilton
320 pgs. William Morrow. $25.99