Review of Cold Money

Stephanie Runyon · Post by **Stephanie Runyon** » 07 Jan 2025, 22:40

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Cold Money" by J. J. Fauser.]

3 out of 5 stars

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Cold Money features J.J. Fauser investigating an international human trafficking organization. EUSAOCT sent J.J. and his partner, Greta, to the United States to gain information about Klaus Hefele, also known as “Prince Pimp.” Hefele was connected to human trafficking and money laundering after he had made a fortune from running German brothels. When J.J. and Greta meet with Elvis Gambiano to exchange information, three armed men kill Elvis. J.J. and Greta are arrested; however, their boss vouches for their presence during the shooting.

J.J. and Greta have both received WhatsApp messages threatening their family members. Their technology guru, Olek, has used AIDA, an artificial intelligence system, to find out who sent the messages. The Russian mafia is connected to the messages, but nobody knows how they received information about J.J. and Greta’s investigation. They meet with the FBI and receive some support to do surveillance on Hefele. During their investigation, J.J. is struck in the head, and Greta is taken captive. When J.J. wakes up, he discovers his hands and feet are bound. Nearby, he sees a cliff, and two men are carrying him toward it. Will J.J. be able to convince them to spare his life? What has happened to Greta?

Cold Money contents have elements of intense suspense, espionage, international travel, adventure, and science fiction. The plot is unpredictable, and the revelations place J.J. and Greta in constant danger. The twists increase the suspense, and the original investigation evolves into a mission of personal vengeance. Both of characters have likable traits and are flawed like normal people. There are no superhero attributes given to anyone. Trust becomes paramount in every group mission. EUSACOT agents don’t follow normal law enforcement rules. Every scene is depicted in vivid detail; it was easy to envision every moment.

Another round of editing would enhance the quality of Cold Money. I found over ten grammar errors. Words like roll were spelled as role; these could be remedied easily. Several terms like OC, AISE, and BKA were difficult for me to understand. I was also curious to know what EUSACOT was in relation to the law. Several of the methods that J.J. and Greta used to gather information, such as hacking into private databases and using illegal surveillance tactics, were morally questionable.

I rate Cold Money three out of five stars. The editing and terminology hindered my enjoyment of the book. The action, exceptional detail, and narrative from J.J.’s point of view are appealing points in the story. Just when I thought I had figured out the case, another clue would drop and prove me wrong. This held my interest in the story throughout the book.

Fans of international crime stories will enjoy Cold Money. The profanity, violence, and death could be overwhelming for some readers. Human trafficking of young women is a weighted topic; therefore, this novel is better suited for an adult reader.

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Cold Money
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Post by **patricia MGBEMENA** » 10 Jan 2025, 06:52

The message received by both J.J. and Greta on Whatsapp threatening the family members is really alarming but I would love to find out if Olek was able to find out the source of the messages.

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 15 Jan 2025, 09:51

Cold Money contents have elements of intense suspense, espionage, international travel, adventure, and science fiction. The plot is unpredictable, and the revelations place J.J. and Greta in constant danger. The twists increase the suspense, and the original investigation evolves into a mission of personal vengeance. Both of characters have likable traits and are flawed like normal people. There are no superhero attributes given to anyone. Trust becomes paramount in every group mission. EUSACOT agents don’t follow normal law enforcement rules. Every scene is depicted in vivid detail; it was easy to envision every moment.

Flawed characters make the best characters, in my opinion. It's hard to relate to someone perfect or to someone completely evil. We are all nuanced creatures. And I think adding a personal element to the revenge always adds extra depth to these stories.
Great review!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 25 Jan 2025, 07:43

This is the sequel to Family Business, a novel I reviewed in 2023. The author was recorded as James Jack Fauser for that novel in OBC's database, so the connection got lost. I appreciated the first novel pretty much for the same reasons why you appreciated this sequel and both of them need proper proofreading. Thank you for your great review!