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    Cover of Snow: A Novel
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    Cover of Snow: A Novel
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    Cover of Snow: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    Cover of Snow: A Novel

    Written by Jenny Milchman

    Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

    3/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    WINNER OF THE MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD

    Jenny Milchman's Cover of Snow is a remarkable debut, a gripping tale of suspense in the tradition of Gillian Flynn, Chris Bohjalian, and Nancy Pickard.

    Waking up one wintry morning in her old farmhouse nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Nora Hamilton instantly knows that something is wrong. When her fog of sleep clears, she finds her world is suddenly, irretrievably shattered: Her husband, Brendan, has committed suicide.

    The first few hours following Nora's devastating discovery pass for her in a blur of numbness and disbelief. Then, a disturbing awareness slowly settles in: Brendan left no note and gave no indication that he was contemplating taking his own life. Why would a rock-solid police officer with unwavering affection for his wife, job, and quaint hometown suddenly choose to end it all? Having spent a lifetime avoiding hard truths, Nora must now start facing them.

    Unraveling her late husband's final days, Nora searches for an explanation-but finds a bewildering resistance from Brendan's best friend and partner, his fellow police officers, and his brittle mother. It quickly becomes clear to Nora that she is asking questions no one wants to answer. For beneath the soft cover of snow lies a powerful conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep its presence unknown . . . and its darkest secrets hidden.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJan 15, 2013
    ISBN9780385366212
    Unavailable
    Cover of Snow: A Novel
    Author

    Jenny Milchman

    Jenny Milchman is a USA Today bestselling author. She has won the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Silver Falchion Award. A member of the board of directors for International Thriller Writers, she lives in the Hudson River Valley with her family.

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    Reviews for Cover of Snow

    3/5

    222 ratings67 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This book was quiet and a bit eerie for the first third (?), and it absolutely captivated me. Unfortunately as the plot continued on, that captivation dwindled. I did remain intrigued, though. The characters could have used some sprucing up, and I wasn't satisfied with the ending because of such a terrific build up, but again - I was still invested. In the long run, I think there were missed opportunities to make this an exceptional suspense mystery, but it was very good as a debut.Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy
    • 4/5
      Thanks to Allison @ The Book Wheel’s recommendation, I picked up Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman.Talk about a great psychological thriller/mystery! It reminds me of what I thought He’s Gone should have been.Nora Hamilton wakes up one snowy morning in a fog. As she comes to, she finds her husband’s dead body – a suicide. But there’s no note, and it’s very unlike-Brendan to have committed suicide. So what is going on?For the full review, visit Love at First Book
    • 1/5
      How did this book ever get published?? Perhaps it was through connections with her famous author friends, several of whom were quoted giving lavish praise in blurbs on the front and back covers. The story was so disjointed and confusing that I ended up with far more questions than answers when I was through reading. Horrible debut effort.
    • 5/5
      Disclaimer: I received an Early Reviewer copy (uncorrected proofs) of this book from the publisher through the Library Thing Early Reviewer program. My review is based on that copy.Cover of Snow is about a woman whose police officer husband commits suicide. (This is hardly a spoiler; it happens in the first chapter.) Nora is faced with coming to terms with what happend, but she is stuck on the question of "why?" and seeks answers as best she can. The facts she begins to dredge up add to her confusion and the sense of mystery, and cause her to question what she knew about her husband and about those close to him.While reading Cover of Snow, I was impressed by the quality of this author's first novel. It's was complex, but not too convoluted; it kept me turning pages, and really drew me in. I enjoyed the literary quality of the writing; one descriptive phrase early on caught my fancy and set the tone for my appreciation of Milchman's prose. I liked the protagonist, and was drawn into the web of confusion, pain, and fear she experienced in the story.Throughout the story, Milchman portrayed small-town clannishness, and the harsh winter of the Adirondack Mountains, with crystal-clear detail. I appreciated the little details that brought the setting to life for me as a reader, and made me almost feel the winter cold.It was after putting down the book that my critical sense asserted itself. I must say, there were a few to many threads, and the web they wove looks a little flimsy in retrospect. I've noticed lately that first-time authors seem to make this mistake -- trying to put too much into a first novel -- and I'm willing to give Milchman a pass on this. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read for a winter weekend, and I look forward to Milchman's next novel.
    • 3/5
      This is a decent debut that suffers from a lack of originality and likable characters. On the former front, it doesn't take long to pick up on the fact that the police force in a small, northern New York department seems to have no budget concerns, which makes some things rather obvious rather quickly. On the latter front, the protagonist, Nora Hamilton, is likable enough and proves to be quite capable of investigating her husband's death, but there really isn't much else there, save an autistic man who helps her out; a newspaperman with secrets of his own; and an in-law who is clearly keeping secrets of her own, as well. The rest of the in-laws and pretty much everyone on the police force is questionable on a good day. And the rest of the town? Well, we don't really meet them. At all. In the end, the resolution only reinforces the idea that there really wasn't all that much there to begin with, at least not beyond some crooked cops and a family secret. Milchman clearly has some talent as a writer, but her stories must become more intricate if she hopes to stand out from the crowd.
    • 4/5
      Jenny Milchman’s Cover of Snow is a good thriller that takes place in a small town in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. The focus of the story is on Nora Hamilton, a woman who has settled with her police officer husband in the snowy, apparently idyllic community of Wedeskyull. Nora spends her time in her start-up business refurbishing homes and is having some success working with the locals. Things go wrong quickly in the story when a terrible event occurs in Nora’s own home. It turns out Nora did not know the full background of her husband and must learn about his traumatic past after her personal tragedy.Nora takes on the role of amateur detective with the help of a local newspaper writer and an autistic man who she recognizes is a reliable witness of events in the small town past and present. There are many surprises and action filled scenes as Nora finds that the Wedeskyull Police Department is not just an organization that serves and protects the citizens. From the long-term Chief of Police on down the hierarchy, the Department seems to be self-serving and manipulating of the citizens in the town. Nora’s husband was a part of this martial law just below the surface of the picture-perfect town. What police secret is the fuel for the fire that suddenly rages out of control in Wedeskyull? If you like reading thrillers and discovering the underlying evil that can flourish in small towns, you will like Cover of Snow.
    • 2/5
      When Nora wakes up one morning, she discovers her cop husband, Brandon, has killed himself. Nora had no idea this was coming, and she must find out what led to it. While doing so, she uncovers not only personal secrets her husband kept from her, but also some disturbing things covered up by the small local police force. I listened to the audio, and sadly, the narrator had a very monotone voice that did not keep me interested at all, though it sounds like something that should be interesting. I did hear some of the secrets that were uncovered at the end... maybe they were meant to be exciting twists and turns, but I missed so much in between that it just wasn’t all that interesting. It started interesting -- and even having now finished it – I do wonder what led Brandon to kill himself...? I’d kind of like to just find a summary with all the spoilers.
    • 4/5
      A pretty good debut novel. Holds your interest with twists and turns. Surprise ending!
    • 3/5
      ***Review Copy***Not the best suspense novel I've ever read but certainly not the worst. An ok read.
    • 5/5
      Nora Hamilton went to bed one wintry evening married to a wonderful man named Brendan - a man who loved his wife dearly, valued his profession deeply, and had an unwavering affection for his quaint hometown nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Nora Hamilton woke up the next morning in her old farmhouse, to find that overnight her world had effectively shattered into a million pieces. Her husband, Brendan Hamilton - the trustworthy, by-the-book police officer - had committed suicide. Nora is left feeling bereft and thoroughly confused.Then a disturbing awareness slowly settles in: Brendan left no note and gave absolutely no indication that he was contemplating taking his own life. So, why then would a rock-solid policeman with such an unswerving devotion to his wife, his job, and his community suddenly choose to end it all? Unraveling her husband's final days, Nora searches for an explanation - but seems to be meeting with an extraordinary amount of resistance that she can't seem to penetrate, no matter how hard she tries. It seems utterly bewildering to Nora that everyone she speaks with - from Brendan's best friend and partner, to his fellow police officers, to his brittle mother - are remarkably reticent about speaking to her. It quickly becomes apparent to Nora that she is asking questions no one wants to answer; looking for answers that no one is prepared to give. For beneath the soft cover of snow lies a powerful conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep its presence unknown...and its darkest secrets hidden.First of all, let me say that I really enjoyed reading this book. The mystery was interesting, intriguing and full of dramatic twists and turns. It was certainly a remarkably good story, and I was drawn into the plot right from the beginning. It was well-written and dramatic, and I found myself really connecting with the characters. I must say that I was enthralled and wanted to know what would happen next. This was the debut novel written by Jenny Milchman and, even though I believe that I have at least one more book by this author somewhere on my bookcase, Cover of Snow: A Novel is the first book by this author that I've read. I will say that despite the fact that the book was very good - and it held my attention all the way through the story - I found the mystery just a bit too complex; it was slightly more complicated than I thought it would be. There were also details about the plot that I, personally, found a little implausible. I read best with the theory that 'Simplicity is the Best Policy' securely in my mind; although I would still give Cover of Snow: A Novel by Jenny Milchman a definite A! I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
    • 4/5
      There is a secret in this town, and it is an old one. A coverup decades old is exposed and the result is tragic. Author Jenny Milchman writes a tale of mystery and suspense with twists along the way that will keep you turning pages. Nora's husband has hanged himself, an act that Nora can't reconcile, and in searching for reasons, discovers corruption in the small town she now calls home. A good read, the story bogs down a bit in the second half and there are still some questions left unanswered.
    • 2/5
      Confronted within minutes with characters named Teggie and Club, and dog named Weekend, I anticipated little joy from Jenny Milchman's first efforts as a mystery novelist. The good news is that it wasn't as bad as I expected, but since I expected it to be abysmal, that isn't saying much. (There are spoilers after this point)

      One snowy, bitter cold morning, one were there is a cover of snow and the air is quite frigid, our heroine Nora awakes late to find her husband has committed suicide in the dank, chilly attic she has been remodeling. As she pursues the reason behind his out of character choice, she meets resistance where ordinarily she would expect help while finding help in unlikely places.

      The biggest problem with the book is that it is bloated. The main reason that it is bloated is the protagonist's ineptitude. And too much snow. How many times do you open a box that has a lid that catches before you decide to figure out why? Me? One! Then the bad guys who the readers are to believe have held sway over the the town are equally inept. If you are searching a car for a fairly thin item, would you go through a box, dump it's contents ignoring the fact that for some reason the lid catches? Not me! I would have torn the thing to pieces. Poor Nora rarely finds a clue on her own. She has nearly every one of them presented with a bow on top, then promptly fails to follow through in any effectual way.

      At the beginning the hints and pacing are well handled to create plenty of suspense. However, as the story progresses there are just too many odd angles that never are fully resolved. Red herrings are part of the trade, but eventually their context needs explaining.

      The next complaint must be filed under frivolous. This book has too much snow. Long ago I despised reading books set on boats. They made me claustrophobic. I got over it. Then, books set I deserts proved problematic. Mostly over that. Books with insistence on the snow and cold I just do not adore. I suppose we all have our peculiar book turn offs. No doubt you can guess my least favorite of Laura Ingalls Wilder's output. If Milchman could go more than a page without mentioning the temperature or snow it would have helped. The book club discussion on this one will go thusly, "Why didn't you like the book, Lisa?" There is too much snow." Promises to be a brilliant discussion.
    • 3/5
      Young wife awakens to an empty bed, only to find her policeman husband dangling from a rope. It is quickly declared a suicide, but Nora Hamilton has her doubts. There are many characters in this book -- a malign mother-in-law, officious policemen, distant family, snoopy journalist, autistic mechanic -- but none more pervasive than the cold, small town, upstate NY Winter. I suspect we were to find this suspense every bit as chilling as the weather. I found myself fairly frustrated with our young bride --somethings were just too obvious to miss. Nevertheless, a good first outing for author Jenny Milchman.
    • 4/5
      Nora's husband had been a policeman in the small town where they live. In her quest to learn why he committed suicide, she learns some disturbing secrets about the police department. She also finds out more about her husband's past and how both his secrets and those of the police department are linked.Although it has some faults, this book really grabbed me. That is, it kept me reading instead of eating and late into the night. I didn't want to put it down.That grab-me factor is the biggest test of a good book but not the only one. While it seemed to me that Jenny Milchman was careful not to overwrite, go on and on when a simple sentence or two will do, I sometimes wished for more description. For example, her emphasis on the cold and the small-town surroundings were excellent, but some of Nora's findings about her husband's past and the people from his past were a little confusing.Also lacking are good transitions from present to past and vice versa, differentiation between the past of 25 years ago and more recently, and careful use of pronouns. But these are not overwhelming and just mean the reader sometimes had to read sentences more than once.
    • 3/5
      First of all, thank you Library Thing for letting me read and review this book early!This was a straight up mystery but it was a little depressing. There were twists which I love but I really wanted to LOVE this book and I never got there. I felt I was left with a lot of loose ends and that's one thing that drives me crazy!
    • 1/5
      I can't do it. This book makes no sense what so ever.
    • 2/5
      Title - Cover of SnowAuthor - Jenny MilchmanSource - Scottsdale Public LibrarySummary -Nora Hamilton woke up to the cold morning to notice her husband Brendan was not in bed with her. They lived in his Aunt's home in the mountains, Brendan a member of the local police force would often keep odd hours. Nora rose, feeling drowsy still and went about the house, but still could not find her husband. She walks up the back stairs to what had once been the servant's room and when she opens the door. She finds her husband."...I stared at her, ruing the expression of incomprehension I knew must be on my face."Unhappy men commit suicide, Nora. And what makes a man unhappy-especially one who is widely known to love his job?" She spoke quickly now, words gathering momentum, like a train. "Why, trouble at home, of course. With his marriage. His wife..."Nora begins to question her husband's death. She begins to question the life she and Brendan lived. Why would a policeman who knew all the ways to kill himself with a gun, hang himself? Why did her mother-in-law hate her and Brendan so much. And what did it all have to do with the death of a young child twenty five years before? Twenty five years to the day of Brendan's death."...You're looking for how comes and there aren't any here," the police chief told me gruffly. "Brendan died and I'm mad as hell, like you, but no good comes from wondering why..."Slowly, Nora begins to find more pieces to a puzzle that simply don't fit. And she cannot let her husband's suicide go. Is she grieving, blinded in her anguish to make out the simple truth of Brendan's death. Or is there much more going on in this sleepy snowed in mountain town. If she is right, how much more time will she have before she also goes missing or dead.Review - I had a tough time enjoying this one. The pace was incredibly slow and the characters overall did not endear you to them. Nora is torn between anger and grief. But she doggedly pursues her obsession that there is much more to her husband's death than what appears on the surface. Going between feeling for him and anger at him.The Police Department, though central to the story, are not very developed here and its difficult to understand their motivation. In fact it seems that the only crime in the town in the crime they commit themselves.For me, though the story was good, the pace and characters brought down and already weak plot.Okay but not on par with alot of other books out there.
    • 2/5
      I thought the book was drawn out and left some loose ends. Why did the mother have a secret creepy room??...what's the purpose and the new kid in the pic in the middle of the novel really threw me off, even when I found out who it was! It seemed like it was a second thought or something. Found immediately while hiding in the crawlspace? Ned???? The autistic man who's mother was over protective one minute and then willing to put him away the very next in order to help Nora? And my biggest question is why would her husband feel the need to commit suicide? Realistically he would have spoke to his wife about some of this first especially since he was portrayed as such a strong man and cop. It all seemed unbelievable to me. Also if I was Nora I would have went to the FBI early on instead of couch crashing and leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. The narrator didn't help the author either, she was extremely dull and irritating to me. Now that I sound like I a total bitch for tearing apart an authors first novel I must add that it has lots of possibilities and writing style is good,
    • 3/5
      It was awful but it took a lot of chapters for me to actually get into it. her parents are horrible her husband's mom is a bitch. and goodness the police men remind me of theses killer cops in the news
    • 4/5
      (Fiction, Suspense)Nora Hamilton wakes one winter morning to find that her husband has hanged himself, leaving no note or explanation. When Nora starts asking questions, she is stonewalled at every turn.I could recognize that this was a well-done suspense tale, although suspense isn’t my favourite genre. I did guess the “villain” of the conspiracy early on and was quite frustrated at how Nora kept missing it.3½ stars
    • 2/5
      Nora Hamilton wakes up one morning to find Brendan, her police officer husband, missing. She discovers him hanging, an apparent victim of suicide. She is determined to find out why he chose to end his life without any warning. Her mother-in-law is pure evil and the rest of the town, including the police, seem to be withholding any information she needs for her own investigation. It's not long before she realizes she knew nothing about her husband.

      I didn't care much for this book, but that is often the case with a debut author's first book. I liked the premise and some of the cliffhanger aspects to build tension. I felt like there were some dangling loose ends and I wondered what happened to some of the characters that just disappeared. Overall, while it wasn't my favorite book this month, I would give the author a second try to see if she's improved between books.
    • 4/5
      COVER OF SNOW. Wow, what to say about this book? Parts of it, especially early on, were a struggle for me, and I almost gave up a couple of times. However, the puzzling mystery and the uber-creepy atmosphere of the story kept me hanging on, and I'm glad I did.Nora and her husband Brendan live in an old farmhouse in the remote mountain town of Wedeskyull, NY (pronounced weeds-kill). Brendan is a cop, and Nora restores old homes. Their marriage is a happy one, so Nora is in absolute shock to wake up one morning and discover Brendan had killed himself.Nora wants answers to why this happened, so she starts asking questions, only to run up against brick walls at every turn. Brendan's friends and fellow cops, his mother, and others in town seem to be discouraging Nora from discovering the truth any way they can, until she meets an unlikely ally with the keys to unlock Brendan's past.So, there were things about this book that troubled me, and most of it occurred in the first half. First, the prose didn't click with me. Descriptions of relief being like "thick soup" and a trendy coffee shop being like a "prison camp" where just odd to me. I also thought some of the dialogue was awkward. There were conversations that went nowhere, or were a struggle to get out. Finally, I thought some of what went on just wasn't plausible, especially Nora's troubling lack of knowledge of her husband's past. I just didn't believe it.But, in spite of the book's flaws, I would still recommend this book to mystery/suspense fans. Why? Because the mystery itself was just THAT good, and the overall tone of the book was bone-chilling! I haven't felt such an eerie sense of foreboding while reading a book in a very long time. *shudders* The ending was amazing, so much so that I can forgive what I didn't like and give COVER OF SNOW 3½-stars!Source: I won an Early Reviewers copy of this book from LibraryThing.
    • 4/5
      AUTHOR: Milchman, JennyTITLE: Cover of SnowDATE READ: 10/17/14RATING: 4/BGENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS Suspense/2013/Random House/320 pgs SERIES/STAND-ALONE: SATIME/PLACE: Present/Adronidacks, NYCHARACTERS: Nora Hamilton/widow -- home re-furbisherFIRST LINES: My husband wasn't in bed w/ me when I woke up that January morning.COMMENTS: Suspenseful: Yes -- couldn't piece it all together, had bits & parts but not quite the whole story. Atmospheric: Yes, great descriptions of a small, isolated, mountain town in the midst of winter in upstate NY. Developed Characters: yes, a variety of psychological make-ups from the police department to in-laws and relatives. My quibble: Nora is a seemingly happily married woman -- there was never any indication that she wasn't. Granted, she discovers she didn't know her husband deeply and there was a past she knew nothing about … but still she didn't seem to be angry about this, more curious and persistent in continuing to pursue why her husband died, despite threats to stop her. All this & I never really felt much sorrow or grief from her at the loss of her husband. Of course, we all have our own ways and timelines to grieving, I am well aware of this. And I also understand her course of detection could serve as a possible distraction from feeling her grief but I just did not get that in this case. And as a recent widow, I am more than hypersensitive to this so it may not deter another reader from enjoying the book more. Her relationship w/ Ned also seemed too quick for me. My personal issues aside, I would read another book by Jenny Milchman, esp. since I have won the book Ruin Falls.
    • 3/5
      “AUDIO
      The story was ok. ....the experience was just ok.....
      I felt like I had heard some of it before and there was a certain predictability.

      Basically I enjoyed the female narration; but occasionally, delivery was too dramatic for me.
      However, there were a number of female characters and a plethora of emotions.
      This may account for the drama.
      I felt the male characters were a bit awkward and there were a number of them.
      I sometimes have a problem with a woman attempting too many male voices in a production.
      Because of this, I had trouble taking it seriously.
      There were 10 discs and I tired here and there...so perhaps a bit more concise, please.

      get my drift?
      It may have had a different effect in print....

      This was a debut....
      I'm allowing that things can be a little rough around the edges in a debut.
      I'll try her again...just to see how I feel.

      3★
    • 4/5
      Jenny Milchman’s Cover of Snow is a good thriller that takes place in a small town in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. The focus of the story is on Nora Hamilton, a woman who has settled with her police officer husband in the snowy, apparently idyllic community of Wedeskyull. Nora spends her time in her start-up business refurbishing homes and is having some success working with the locals. Things go wrong quickly in the story when a terrible event occurs in Nora’s own home. It turns out Nora did not know the full background of her husband and must learn about his traumatic past after her personal tragedy.Nora takes on the role of amateur detective with the help of a local newspaper writer and an autistic man who she recognizes is a reliable witness of events in the small town past and present. There are many surprises and action filled scenes as Nora finds that the Wedeskyull Police Department is not just an organization that serves and protects the citizens. From the long-term Chief of Police on down the hierarchy, the Department seems to be self-serving and manipulating of the citizens in the town. Nora’s husband was a part of this martial law just below the surface of the picture-perfect town. What police secret is the fuel for the fire that suddenly rages out of control in Wedeskyull? If you like reading thrillers and discovering the underlying evil that can flourish in small towns, you will like Cover of Snow.
    • 2/5
      One of my biggest pet peeves is when a young widow (who literally just buried her husband) is being hotly pursued by a brand new suitor. I don't buy into that scenario and frankly, its disrespectful. It makes me loathe the character and from there, the whole novel is a lost cause.Another huge disappointment for me was the lack of atmosphere and setting. I love a good frozen, cold, hostile environment and for me, the story fell flat in this respect as well.
    • 2/5
      It was interesting enough that I wanted to finish it, but it certainly doesn't compare to the authors/novels the description mentions (well, especially not Gillian Flynn...)!For the last few pages, I thought the end might pick up the pace a bit, but the suspense just wasn't there.
    • 4/5
      Book: Cover of SnowAuthor: Jenny MilchmanGenre: Mystery, Suspense, ThrillerLength: Approximately 338 PagesRelease Date: January 15, 2013As a wife for 34 years myself, the beginning of COVER OF SNOW by JENNY MILCHMAN reached out and grabbed me by the throat and squeezed tightly. I couldn't put it down. Nora, after a beautiful night spent with her husband, wakes to find that he has killed himself and left no note explaining his actions. The emotions that Ms. Milchman takes the reader through are so raw, so mind-numbing that it took my breath away. Through Ms. Milchman's words, I could feel the deep sorrow that Nora was going through and my heart ached for her. What an amazing start for a book. If you're looking for a light read, this is not the book for you. You will find yourself getting very emotionally involved, very quickly.Brendan and Nora had moved back to the small town he grew up in several years ago from the big city so he could realize his dreams of coming home again and working in law enforcement. After Brendan's funeral, Nora starts to try to unravel what happened with her seemingly perfect husband, marriage and life. How could something have been so wrong with her husband, and she, the closest person to him, not know anything was wrong? Nora starts asking questions and is getting nothing but resistance from everyone, including the officers Brendan had worked so closely with. As a matter of fact, at times, Nora feels threatened by those that worked in law enforcement with her beloved husband. How could that be? Was her mind in its current state not working properly, possibly playing tricks on her? Was she misinterpreting what was being said to her?Nora starts to uncover secrets in the small town that span all the way back to 25 years prior to the date of her husband's death. The more information she uncovers, the more danger she finds herself in.This book is full of twists and turns. I couldn't stop reading because I just had to know what was going to happen next. COVER OF SNOW is an amazing page turner with a well thought out plot that has the reader sitting on the edge of their seat from beginning to end.My only criticism of COVER OF SNOW was that I had a difficult time following the dialog in places. At times it was difficult to know who was talking. That could be, however, because I was reading it so fast to find out what was going to happen next that I just wasn't able to keep track of who was talking at the time.If you like a good mystery, suspense, thriller that leaves you on the edge of your seat and unable to put the book down, then COVER OF SNOW by JENNY MILCHMAN is a great book for you. I highly recommend it.
    • 4/5
      I was a little confused with the jumping around of the story but it all made sense when you finally came to the end. I was almost getting frozen myself with all the descriptions of running around in the snow and the ice and the cold relatively uncovered--it did NOT make the little town sound very appealing as a place to live even without the focus of the story! It's a fast read and moves right along.
    • 4/5
      I love to discover a new author to rave about. Jenny Milchman is one such writer. Her debut novel grabbed me from the opening sentence, and kept me involved until the very end. In fact, I hadn't intended to finish it as quickly as I did, but it quickly became apparent that I was not going to be able to put this one down.Set in the frigid winter of the Adirondacks, the story is about the mystery surrounding the suicide of Brendan Hamilton. His wife Nora awakes one January morning to find her husband - a member of the Wedeskyul police force - missing, and a sense of foreboding hanging in the air. When she discovers his body, she immediately calls on his partner and other policemen to help.As she struggles to deal with Brendan's death, she searches for reasons, all the while facing a stone-wall of hatred from her mother-in-law, and another solid wall of non-cooperation from the police chief and several of his minions. As more and more "accidents" begin to happen to her and her friends, she begins to suspect that something vital is being kept from her.The reader quickly grasps that there are hidden secrets, there is corruption, that something is rotten here in this small town, but Milchman's skillful writing keeps the suspense building until the very end. That makes it hard to tell you about the book without spoiling it for you, but it also makes it very easy for me to recommend it highly, and to hope that Ms. Milchman is hard at work on another book. She certainly has shown she has what it takes to give us a good story.