Layers of historical and social context deepen the allure of this icy murder mystery set in North Wales. When Rhys Lloyd's dead body is discovered during the traditional New Year's polar swim in the village of Cwm Coed, it quickly becomes apparent that there is no lack of suspects; many people wished to see him dead. As the owner of The Shore, a new resort community, Rhys was a polarizing figure despite having grown up in the village. As the lake and the new mansions lie right on the border between England and Wales--and represent the fraught history of these countries--police officers from both sides are assigned to the case: Ffion Morgan, a local girl trying to live down her own history as "Ffion Wyllt" (Wild Ffion) and get back on her feet after a divorce, and Leo Brady, haunted by a decision he made that may cost him joint custody of his young son. Neither are they exactly strangers to one another, having spent one night together that was never supposed to mean more than that. Ffion and Leo must navigate their own tension--sexual and otherwise--as well as the historic tension between their countries and the extreme hierarchy of social class as it pertains to both their wealthy victim and their suspects. Mackintosh offers multiple perspectives as the chapters both move forward from New Year's Day and back into the past. As with most successful mysteries, the identity of the murderer, once revealed after a few red herrings, is both stunning and tragically logical. While the movement through time and perspective can sometimes be a little jarring, and makes the novel read slowly at first, the resolution--of not only the mystery, but also the relationships and side plots--offers a deep acceptance of human fragility and complexity. Come to meet the interestingly dysfunctional characters; stay to cheer them on with a full heart. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

On the Welsh side of Mirror Lake, New Year's means the annual plunge into the freezing lake for all the villagers. On the English side, the wealthy residents of The Shore, a luxury development of lakeside lodges, celebrate New Year's Eve with a party, inviting their village neighbors from Cwm Coed. When Rhys Lloyd, owner of The Shore, is found floating in the water on New Year's Day, all the local residents are suspects. The villagers resent the development, and blame Rhys, who already had a reputation as the local bad boy. Detective Constables Ffion Morgan and Leo Brody are assigned the case. But everyone has secrets, including Ffion, and her secrets could sabotage the investigation. While the police seem to find Rhys's killer in just two weeks, the effects of accusations and rumors, affairs and broken marriages, and drugs and booze, could change lives forever. Neither police officer comes out of the investigation unscathed, but Ffion's secret from her past results in several shocking developments. VERDICT The author of Hostage launches a police procedural series featuring well-developed, complex characters. The format alternates between the party and the investigation in a gripping story with twists and turns.--Lesa Holstine

This superb blend of psychological thriller and police procedural from bestseller Mackintosh (Hostage) begins with the discovery of Rhys Lloyd's body on New Year's Day in freezing Mirror Lake, which straddles North Wales and England. Rhys grew up in the village of Cwm Coed on the Welsh side, where he became disliked for building a luxury vacation development on the British side that the villagers believed would spoil the area and price them out. The case falls to Det. Constable Ffion Morgan of the North Wales Police and Det. Constable Leo Brady of the Cheshire Constabulary. Their working relationship doesn't start well because on New Year's Eve they had a one-night stand using fake names. Awkward doesn't begin to describe the situation, but the two professionals find their investigative skills complement each other. Ffion was raised in Cwm Coed, an advantage and drawback, as she knows everyone, including their secrets, while Leo's outsider status allows him to be more objective. A gripping portrait of two fractured people merges with believable plot twists, and the author perfectly captures the ennui of a small town where gossip can destroy lives. Mackintosh consistently entertains. Agent: Sheila Crowley, Curtis Brown (U.K.). (Nov.)