Ice Cold Liar By Cynthia Eden Book Review

I stayed up way too late finishing Ice Cold Liar by Cynthia Eden. If you love romantic suspense or cold case mysteries, this one grabs you fast. The plot moves quickly, the suspense feels real, and the characters have layers. Cynthia Eden always delivers, and this book proves it.

Key Takeaways

Ice Cold Liar is a fast and exciting story. It has a cold case mystery that keeps you interested the whole time.
The main characters are Eb and Naomi. They seem real and have many sides to them.
They have a strong connection that makes the romance more interesting.
This book is part of a series but can be read alone.
New readers can start here and not feel lost or miss anything important.

Book Details

I always check the basics before I start a new romantic suspense. Here’s what I found for this one:

Book Title	Author	Release Date
Ice Cold Liar	Cynthia Eden	24 June 2025

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Cold Case Mystery
Series: Ice Breaker Cold Case Romance (Book 14)

Cynthia Eden has a reputation for writing stories that keep me up way past my bedtime. She knows how to blend romance and danger, and I trust her to deliver a chilling ride every time. I have to give props to her for building suspense that feels real, not forced. If you’ve read her before, you know what I mean.

Series Placement

I always wonder if I need to read a series in order. For Ice Cold Liar, I checked where it lands in the lineup. This book is number 14 in the Ice Breaker Cold Case Romance series. That’s a lot of cold cases and a lot of tension. Here’s a quick look at the early books:

Book 1: Frozen In Ice
Book 2: Falling For The Ice Queen
Book 3: Ice Cold Saint

The series has a loyal following, and I see why. Each book stands alone, so you can jump in with Ice Cold Liar and not feel lost. I’ll be honest, I started here and didn’t miss a beat. Cynthia Eden’s style makes it easy to connect with new characters, even if you haven’t read the others.

Plot Summary

Main Characters

I always get hooked on a story when the characters feel real. In Ice Cold Liar, two leads pulled me in right away:

Eb Jones: He’s the cold case investigator with a reputation for never letting go. Eb has a tough shell, but I saw flashes of warmth and pain underneath. He’s haunted by old mistakes and driven by a need to set things right. I found myself rooting for him, even when he pushed people away.
Naomi Romano: Naomi is the survivor who refuses to be a victim. She’s smart, stubborn, and carries secrets that could break anyone. I loved how she stood her ground, even when the past tried to swallow her whole. Naomi’s strength isn’t loud, but it’s steady. She’s the kind of character who makes you want to keep reading just to see her win.

I noticed that Cynthia Eden builds her characters’ timelines like a puzzle. Each chapter drops a clue about their past, their fears, and what keeps them up at night. It’s like watching a timeline unfold, with every event adding a new layer to their story.

Central Conflict

The heart of this book beats with tension. Eb and Naomi both want answers, but the truth comes with a price. The story kicks off with a cold case that refuses to stay buried. Eb’s job is to solve it, but Naomi’s connection to the case makes everything personal.

The stakes keep rising. Every time Eb gets close to the truth, a new obstacle pops up. Naomi’s secrets threaten to blow everything apart. I felt the pressure build with each chapter.
The conflict isn’t just about catching a criminal. It’s about trust. Eb wants to protect Naomi, but he can’t do that if she keeps lying. Naomi wants to trust Eb, but her past taught her to keep her guard up.
The story follows a clear path: Situation, Complication, Resolution. First, we see the cold case and the pain it caused. Then, complications hit—old enemies, hidden motives, and betrayals. Finally, the resolution comes, but not before the characters face their worst fears.

I have to give props to Cynthia Eden for keeping the tension tight. The obstacles never let up, and the stakes always feel real. The conflict between Eb and Naomi isn’t just about the case—it’s about whether they can let down their walls and trust each other.

I couldn’t put it down. The plot moves fast, but every twist feels earned. I found myself gasping at the reveals and cheering for the characters to find some peace. If you love stories where the past refuses to stay buried, this one delivers.

Characters

Eb Jones

I have to admit, Eb Jones hooked me from the start. I found myself rooting for him, even when he acted like a total ice block. Eb is the kind of guy who walks into a room and everyone feels the chill. He’s a cold case investigator who never lets go of a mystery. I saw his tough side, but I also caught those rare moments when his guard slipped. That made him feel real to me.

Haunted by his past: Eb carries old regrets like heavy luggage. I could almost feel the weight on his shoulders.
Protective instincts: He wants to keep Naomi safe, but he struggles to trust anyone, even himself.
Hidden warmth: Every so often, Eb lets his softer side show. Those moments left me gasping, because I didn’t expect them.

To be fair, Eb isn’t perfect. Sometimes his stubbornness made me want to shake him. But I get it—he’s been burned before.

Naomi Romano

Naomi Romano is a survivor, plain and simple. I loved how she refused to let her past define her. She’s smart, quick on her feet, and never backs down from a challenge. Naomi’s strength isn’t loud, but it’s steady and real.

Secretive nature: Naomi keeps her cards close. I felt her fear, but I also saw her courage.
Emotional depth: She’s not just tough—she’s vulnerable. I found myself tearing up when she let her guard down.
Chemistry with Eb: Sparks fly between them. Their banter made me smile, even during tense moments.

I have to give props to Cynthia Eden for making Naomi feel like someone I could meet in real life. She’s complicated, but I wanted her to win.

Themes

Suspense & Romance

I have to say, suspense and romance made me want to keep reading. My heart beat faster when a new clue showed up. The tension between Eb and Naomi pulled me in even more. Here are some things that stood out:

Clues matter: Most readers, about 58%, think clues make stories more suspenseful. I agree with them. Every hint in this book made me want to solve the case before Eb did.
Timing is everything: Some people like to know the ending early. I like it when the answer comes slowly. This book gave just enough clues to keep me guessing.
Empathy boosts suspense: When I cared about Naomi and Eb, the suspense felt stronger. Studies say that caring about characters makes suspense higher. I felt that a lot—sometimes I had to remind myself to breathe!

Danger and romance together made every scene feel important. I could not stop reading. I wanted both the case and the couple to win.

Trust & Deception

Trust is a big problem in this story. Eb and Naomi both keep secrets, and I wondered who would tell the truth first. The book shows how hard it is to trust when secrets can ruin everything.

I saw these ideas in every chapter. Trust felt weak, and deception was always close. That made the story feel real and made me want to keep reading.

Author’s Style

Pacing

I have to admit, I lost track of time while reading. Cynthia Eden’s pacing always pulls me in. She keeps chapters short and scenes tight, so I never feel bored. My heart raced during the big reveals, then slowed down just enough for me to catch my breath.

Fast cuts and quick scenes: The story jumps from clue to clue, like a movie with lots of quick edits. I noticed the tension spike during the most important moments, then ease up when the characters needed a break.
Emotional highs and lows: The action scenes felt intense, but the quiet moments gave me space to connect with Eb and Naomi. I liked how the story balanced danger with softer scenes.

Research backs this up. Studies show that stories with fast pacing and more scene changes keep readers hooked, especially during the most exciting parts. Movies use similar tricks—more cuts and darker scenes during the climax, then lighter scenes at the end. Cynthia Eden nails this rhythm.

Twists

I love a good twist, and this book delivered. Just when I thought I had the mystery solved, a new secret popped up. Cynthia Eden drops clues like breadcrumbs, but she never makes it too easy.

Surprise reveals: I gasped out loud more than once. The twists felt earned, not random.
Layered secrets: Every character hides something. I found myself second-guessing everyone’s motives.

Stylometric studies say authors have unique ways of surprising readers. Cynthia Eden’s style stands out because she mixes suspense with real emotion. I felt every shock and every heartbreak. That’s what kept me turning the pages.

Series Context

Connections

I always look for how a book fits into a bigger story, especially with a long-running series like this one. Ice Cold Liar lands as book 14, but it still feels fresh. The series uses a mix of cold case mysteries and romance, so each book brings something new. I noticed a few things that help tie the series together:

Returning characters pop up, giving me a sense of community.
The cold case team works like a real group, with teamwork and shared goals.
Each story shows how the past shapes the present, which keeps the series feeling connected.

I’ve read that in big series, success depends on how well the stories link together. Some experts say that strong leadership and teamwork help make these connections work. The Ice Breaker Cold Case Romance series does this by letting characters grow and by showing how their lives overlap. It’s not just about solving cases. It’s about how everyone’s story fits into the bigger picture.

Standalone Value

I started Ice Cold Liar without reading the earlier books. I worried I’d feel lost, but I didn’t. Here’s why:

Each book has its own main couple and mystery.
The author gives just enough background so I never feel confused.
I could jump in anywhere and still care about the characters.

Some studies say that readers like when stories have a clear path but still let them join at any point. This book does that. The story stands on its own, but if you’ve read others, you’ll catch extra details. I like that I can pick up any book in the series and still get a full story. That makes it easy for new readers to join in, and it keeps longtime fans happy.

Strengths & Weaknesses

What Works

I have to give props to Cynthia Eden for nailing the things that matter most to me as a reader. Here’s what stood out:

Fast-paced suspense: The story never drags. Every chapter brings a new clue or twist. I found myself flipping pages way past midnight.
Complex characters: Eb and Naomi feel real. Their secrets and struggles made me care about what happened next.
Romance with real tension: The chemistry between the leads kept me hooked. I wanted them to trust each other, even when it seemed impossible.
Standalone story: I jumped in at book 14 and didn’t feel lost. That’s rare for a long series.
Clues that matter: Each hint felt important. I tried to solve the case before the characters did, which made reading more fun.

Studies show that features like the number of clues and strong character traits make stories more exciting. I noticed this book uses those features well, just like top-rated suspense novels.

What Could Improve

No book is perfect, and I noticed a few things that could be better:

Some predictable moments: A couple of twists felt familiar. I guessed one reveal early, which took away a bit of the surprise.
Shorter emotional scenes: Sometimes, the story moved so fast that I wanted more time with the characters’ feelings.
Side characters fade: The focus stays on Eb and Naomi. I wanted to know more about the team.

I finished Ice Cold Liar feeling breathless. The suspense kept me guessing, and the romance felt real. Fans of cold case mysteries and slow-burn chemistry will love this.

I rate it a solid 7/10—worth your late-night reading session.