Cold Island

Detective Tommy Kelly #1

by Peter Colt

When the remains of a young murder victim on Nantucket Island are discovered after thirty-five years, a detective begins to unearth the dark secrets of a community gone silent.

Massachusetts State Police detective Tommy Kelly is called to Nantucket Island, where a boy’s skeletal remains have been discovered at a construction site—interred for thirty-five years. The crime is especially gutting for Tommy, the father of two boys. It’s also the beginning of a grim mystery. Because no child during that period was even reported missing.

Tommy is partnered with Nantucket PD’s best detective, Jo Harris, who first chafes at the idea of a mainlander encroaching on her territory. And their work together is only raising more troubling questions. Then a possible link is found to the decades-old case of a serial killer—a vigilantly hidden part of the past that this tight-knit community would prefer to forget and never speak of again.

The secrets in their silence are so shocking they soon pull Tommy into a very dark place. Suddenly, offseason on Nantucket has never felt so cold, so isolating, or so dangerous.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Summer, Contemporary

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2025

About the author

Peter Colt is currently a police officer in a small New England city where he has worked since 2007. He spent over twenty years in the Army reserve and was deployed to Kosovo in 2000, where he was attached to the Russian Army. He was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and again in 2008. He was fortunate to get to know many Vietnam vets and U.S. Army Special forces soldiers. He lived on Nantucket Island from 1973‑1986. He’s currently working on the next Andy Roark mystery.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. This book sounded great and I am so disappointed that it wasn't. A lot of this book is rather boring as the detectives search through old files of missing boys, trying to identify the bones. There's also a lot about Kelly exercising and eating that wasn't necessary. It finally picks up once the Chief arrives and the remains are identified. I was enjoying it from that point on, and I also enjoyed the flashback scenes throughout. Then a stupid twist ruins the whole thing. So most of this book was Kelly going through old reports trying to identify the remains, yet he knew who it was the whole time?? Just, no. Also, him suddenly hallucinating Bilbo was ridiculous. Other than the terrible twist there were some editing issues as well. Early on, Kelly won't eat a tuna sandwich because of the mercury, yet a little later he has a couple tuna sandwiches for lunch then goes grocery shopping and buys tuna to put on his salad. So, does he have a problem with tuna or not? I also thought having a cop named Jo and a cop named Joe was a weird decision. I imagine that would be confusing in an audiobook. Then there were repetitive scenes like Jo asking Kelly why he didn't hang up on his wife, he explains, then a little later she asks him again. Still, I thought the overall story was interesting enough that I was prepared to give Cold Island 4-stars, until the dumb twist ruined it. I would not recommend this book.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the skeleton of a child is found on Nantucket, State Police investigator Tommy Kelly and local detective Jo Harris are faced with a series of decades-old abductions and the possibility of a killer who was never brought to justice. Gritty, authentic, and brimming with New England atmosphere, Peter Colt’s excellent COLD ISLAND asks what happens when a cold case hits home and a community closes ranks. Jane Harper fans, welcome to your new obsession.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

weak plot

In the first half of the book, a body is found. That is all. The characters spend too much time eating, drinking, and flashbacking. When the solution happens, there is no surprise. The lead character's family problems take place off stage.
The more I think about 3 stars seem too generous. Maybe 2.3 stars.

[Morgan Noel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Went in really wanting to enjoy this book but found most of it quite boring until the last 25%. Some of the issues I had with this book was the constant use of the word dick. Maybe I’m missing a context for it but it just felt like the word was used over and over and over again when other words could’ve been used it it’s place. I also found many repetitive lines in the story. It happened a few times and I would end up having to go back and reread certain pages because I was thinking, “wait didn’t I already read this??”. Also, the hallucination of Bilbo at the end of the book was ridiculous. I understand him seeing Bilbo when he was a kid, but the adult hallucinations just felt forced and out of place. Also, I made the connection between Albie and Kelly before halfway through the book. I wanted to like it more than I did, but just felt like it fell short in a lot of places.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric, dark crime thriller.

Massachusetts State Police detective Tommy Kelly is sent to Nantucket Island to work with Nantucket police after discovery of remains at a construction site. The bones and detritus are thought to be about 35 years old, so Tommy and Detective Jo Harris try to sift through old missing persons reports to see if they can find a match to their victim — apparently a male child. Strangely enough, they can’t find anything that helps them to identify this boy. As they probe deeper, secrets that this small community have kept for years come to light.

This was written a bit differently than I’m used to reading. Lots of minute details about the island, the food eaten, and other tidbits that immediately made me wonder if all of that is being used as misdirection. Turns out, it was. Seems that there is a huge secret just waiting for a big reveal during the last part of the book that took me by surprise. But it did kind of seem like a gotcha and I was afraid that the story was going to go off the rails for a minute until it got back on track. Still not quite sure how I felt about that. But, the basics of this plot were good though I was caught off guard. As far as the characters, well, I need to think about them. Some of what happened was predictable and I guess I’ll need to read the second book in the series to see what happens next. And I did like this well enough to want to do that.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Chris Ciulla, is a Boston native so his accents were perfect in this book. He gave the appropriate dramatic flair to the personalities and characters. His performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the story and provided an immersive experience.

[Scott R Ficarra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. Why? Because many pages were spent describing in great detail the geography of Nantucket. And not just the topography but street by street. I didn’t need to know the each street by name when Kelly went for his morning runs. So I skimmed and didn’t miss a thing.
About 70% of the book was about the protagonist, Kelly. His failing marriage, his daily runs, what he was eating and where and of course the all too anticipated affair with the local female detective he was assigned to work with. Very little about the actual plot.
But finally the last quarter of the book became focused on the story and thankfully there was a nice twist at the end.

[Sam Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don’t know how i feel about this book. i picked up on the twist pretty early on which i never do, but was the twist good?? im not sure. i’ll leave it at 3 stars for now.

also why was he hallucinating bilbo baggins. that wasn’t necessary

overall was a fast paced book that kept me interested but i’m not sure i would recommend

[Sue Dix · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in a new series, I can’t wait for the second. This novel went to a place I could not foresee. Talk about being blindsided. Detective Tommy Kelly is sent to Nantucket Island to oversee the discovery of a child’s body. The case is more than cold and there seems to be no chance of solving it when he and the local detective Jo Harris get a series of lucky breaks. This novel will flip you on your head. A great series beginner.

[Tracey J Siegel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will not be reading anymore books by this author

I love police proceduals , but this is definitely not Bosch. A quick summer read and after you leave the beach, forgettable.

[JoyReaderGirl1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

When human remains are discovered on a Nantucket Island construction site, Massachusetts State Trooper Tommy Kelly is dispatched from Plymouth to head the investigation in Peter Colt’s dual-timeline murder mystery, “Cold Island,” and discovers more than old bones as he searches for the truth.

On island, Kelly is paired with a smart, by-the-books female detective, Jo Harris, and her father-figure mentor, the hands-off local police chief, also named, Joe.

Trooper Kelly is a disciplined fitness and health food fanatic who runs daily; shuns sugar, fat, and red meat; yet frequently over-indulgences in good Scotch to drown his personal demons ~ and he’s got a few.

Also, Kelly and other male cops in this book seem to have a limited vocabulary when it comes to descriptive nouns for law enforcement officers like themselves ~ other than the word, “dick.”

This is the 21st Century and that language is inflammatory, sexist and just plain offensive!!!!! Come on now. This is not a script for a 1930s B gangster movie.

Cold Island is a quick read that kept me engaged, yet annoyed. After much subterfuge, timeline and character development, the plot unravels in a few expected threads, as well as several unforeseen reveals that were surprising.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks AmazonFirstReads, Author Peter Colt and Publisher Thomas & Mercer.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wavered between 2 and 3 stars. The big plot twist (SPOILER ALERT HERE) was one that is one of my big peeves when I encounter it in a book or movie. I know it is not uncommon so a lot of people may be OK with it.

I consider a plot device unfair when it is revealed at the climax that the point of view character, who has been sharing their thoughts with the reader throughout the book, has not shared exceedingly important information about their own past which is integral to the plot. In Cold Island, there is no book without that device.

[quinnster · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was terrible. First of all, I thought a 70 year old man wrote it, but it seems no? Also a third of the book is about Tom’s exercising and food intake (I am not kidding). It almost seemed like the author wanted readers to know how mind numbing police work could be because this explored that theory in detail. Then the twist and Tom’s hallucinations. Just not. This was a throw everything at the “wall and see what sticks” sort of book.

[Diane L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read with a surprise ending.

This book got off to a slow start, but by half way through, I couldn’t put it down. It kept me guessing until the end. All the pieces came together as the mystery was masterfully unraveled. The unexpected surprise revelations, all made sense. I will read another by this author.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read with a creative story line. State Detective Tommy Kelly is ordered by his boss to go to Nantucket to help with an investigation. A child's skeleton is found buried during construction work. He is paired up with Detective Jo Harris, who of course isn't thrilled with the State coming in.
Nice twists in this story with a surprise ending. Very good.

[David N. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Pretty Good Read

Probably one of my favorite books of the year. A good story, familiar characters and a neat twist at the end. This is Peter Colt’s first Detective Tommy Kelly book. Will I read number 2? Yeah, I like the guy and am eager to see what he gets himself into next.

[Hope Benfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay?? It feels like a typical guy book that my husband would read if he read.

[Mary L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago.

I ended up finishing this book much quicker than I had expected to. I hit the can't stop reading much earlier than usual. Don't like to spoil it for other readers but I really liked his make believe partner.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start, but worth finding out what happened. A solid beach read and move on.

[Paul Maximilian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get into this book. I didn't find the protagonist to be particularly likeable.

The majority of the book feels like filler with a lot of it detailing Tommy's rigorous workout routine, more than moderate consumption of cheap Irish whiskey, healthy diet, and his ill feelings towards his father Tom Sr.

The last quarter of the book was much more enjoyable.

[MARISSA · Rating 2 out of 5]

a little too slow for me 🙃

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I have to give it a 2.5⭐️

Plot was a bit elementary. I won’t say it was predictable but het it wasn’t surprising.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strained dialogue. The characters personalities don’t make sense. The “twist” is unbelievable. Timeframes switch between past and present in the middle of a character reminiscing and then come back to present in a confusing way. Not a fan.

[Ary.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold Island delivers an atmospheric, slow-burn mystery set against the chilly, off-season backdrop of Nantucket. The discovery of a boy’s skeletal remains after thirty-five years sets Massachusetts State Police detective Tommy Kelly on a collision course with the island’s buried secrets. Partnered with local detective Jo Harris, Tommy faces initial tension, deep mistrust, and a web of silence that the tight-knit community has carefully maintained for decades.

The premise is gripping, and the setting is vividly drawn—you can almost feel the isolation and cold wind whipping off the ocean. The mystery builds steadily, with well-placed twists and a satisfying sense of unease. However, the pacing occasionally drags, and certain plot threads feel underdeveloped or resolved a bit too neatly.

Still, for fans of procedural mysteries with a strong sense of place, Cold Island is an engaging read that blends small-town secrecy, long-buried crimes, and layered characters. It’s a solid entry in the detective genre, though I wanted just a bit more tension in the middle stretch to keep the momentum high.

[JoHanna Gaige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

I pretty sure Peter Golf's books are winners!! Cold Island moved at a readable pace. Made for I need to read one more chapter before bed!! Looking forward to book2!!

[Chris Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a rough read, the characters experience a lot of tough situations. They are human and believable, I enjoyed spending time with them. Might be worth spending more time with Detective Tommy Kelly.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a lover of mysteries, so let me state that first. This was the Amazon book of the month choice for me. At the beginning I "sort of got into it" so I did finish the book. My objection (and I am NOT a writer so I have no right to criticize ) is that there were too many 'turned down A street, crossed the cobblestone and took a left on B street" for me. At the end there was a surprise out of the blue that seemed unfair to the reader. If I read a mystery I want to be able to go back to the beginning and see how I "missed the hints" and there were none for that last reveal. The author plans a series, apparently, so I hope he will omit the Mapquest parts of future stories and not add out-of-the-blue surprises in the future. Will read more of his books? Probably not, the writing was ok but I was just left with "you cheated by not telling me that fact earlier on". I hope this makes sense. Remember, too, that I am not a mystery lover. Thank you to the author who spent his time giving us entertainment.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well placed mystery in an interesting setting

I thought the story built up nicely and at a good pace. The characters were interesting, and there weren't too many ancillary unimportant ones. I liked the story line, with a good, note too way

[Liz Kledhans · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent Read

This was an excellent book with plenty of unforeseen twists. This book really made you think about life and consequences of certain actions.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just Wow!

Plot twists that you never see coming, extremely well written. I could not put this book down. The story is the stuff of nightmares yet it is all too real in today's world. Hug your children close. This is a fantastic thriller of a novel. If you like psychologically scary stories, don't hesitate to read this book. It will not disappoint you.

[Miriam Salvemini · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had me at the first ferry whistle

A great page turner which develops to a well plotted ending. Fun to recall some of streets of Nantucket when reading. Great characters, believable setting.