She wasn’t the kind of woman who granted second chances…

No matter how much he might want one

Sparks fly when former lovers, BIA Agent Shilah Parker and private investigator Brannon Ventura, are thrown together to reinvestigate a twenty-five-year-old murder case.

The case is especially personal for Brannon, who believes his biological father was wrongly convicted of the crime. But uncooperative police and local townsfolk create challenges at every turn—complications that pale in comparison to their lingering feelings.

Until they uncover a corrupt secret society that has Shilah in their crosshairs. They must confront their painful past to find justice—and a second chance at love.

Titles in the Big Sky Justice series include: Danger in Big Sky Country ~ Her K-9 Protector ~ Cold Case Secrets ~ Cold Case Kidnapping ~ Cold Case Reckoning ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Cold Case Reckoning
Series:  Big Sky Justice #5
Author:  Kimberly Van Meter
Published:  July 29, 2025
Publisher:  Harlequin Romantic Suspense
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Cold Case Reckoning is the fifth title in the Big Sky Justice series, bringing us Shilah’s and Brannon’s tumultuous relationship that has already been through some hard knocks.

Shilah takes the lead position on this new cold case investigation, although it’s more than a little puzzling since the man held responsible for the crime is already in prison.  Sometimes things aren’t always what they seem.  The last person she expected to be partnered up with was Brannon.  The private investigator is a flash from her romantic past, one that should have stayed in that past.  Yet, Brannon is convinced that his father did not commit the crime he’s in prison for… and needs to prove it.  Working together isn’t going to be easy, but then neither will getting to the truth of this mystery.

I enjoyed Cold Case Reckoning by Kimberly Van Meter so much.  It’s well-written, drawing me in from the opening scenes.  The tensions between Shilah and Brannon leap off the page.  Perhaps that past attraction isn’t so over and done with as Shilah might have believed.  The investigation takes several twists, some that caught me totally off-guard.  The danger is high, the characters believable, the villains are vile, and the conclusion is completely satisfying.  If you love solving puzzles, seeing romance rekindled, and love watching a couple finding their way back to each other for a second chance to get their love right, then you’ll love this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)