Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Her Cold Heart by Pamela Fagan Hutchins is a tense atmospheric read where snow appears everywhere.
The plot opens with Delaney and Leo on the ski slopes. As they are about to get on the ski lift a shot rings out and a young woman is shot and killed. Delaney and Leo know they must pursue whatever leads there are and jump on snowmobiles, hoping to catch the shooter. After they find out that there is more than one person involved, they decide to separate. As she pursues one of the people of interest, she loses him and decides to find Leo to assist. In tracing his tracks, she realizes he has been in an accident and has been taken by the suspects. The suspects have ulterior motives to kidnapping Leo. They want Delaney to do their dirty work, which she does, after getting a proof of life video.
It is this part of the story where readers are treated to Delaney returning to her old roots as she must become a rig driver again. To complicate matters one of her adopted daughters, Kat, is sent a cell phone message that appears to be from Delaney’s mother. Now Delaney must wonder if there are those from her family that are involved in this plan to have her follow orders. She plays along to try to rescue Leo and to catch the killers.
This story is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that is full of action and twists.
Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?
Pamela Fagan Hutchins: I spaced the books 3 to 4 months apart, so the season was snow for this one. I really love snow adventures. I wanted to put Delaney back on the road and Sherrif Leo in the crosshairs. I also wanted to progress the story of Delaney’s mom returning to her life and what happened to her brother.
EC: Why did you have Delaney go back to her trucker roots?
PFH: This was her one last great ride with the rig Gabrielle. In the future it will be her adopted daughter Carrie’s turn. She will mentor Carrie as she moves into that world. Although she is a rugged individualist it is not something she wants to see come out in her daughters.
EC: What about the relationship between Leo and Delaney?
PFH: It progressed in this book, yet throughout most of the book they were physically apart. I am not ready for them to have a peaceful life. I wanted it to be something to fight for.
EC: Are Leo and Delaney different in they way they professionally act?
PFH: Delaney is more of a risk taker, more physical, more likely to push rules to their limits, and will mold rules to make sure she gets the right result. Leo is more reluctant to stretch the structure. He seems to always be trying to keep her out of trouble, which is what happened in this book. Leo is more likely to feel his emotions, handle them, and have an appropriate outlet. Delaney fears her emotions, so she pushes them away. She believes in pursuing what is right, while he believes in pursuing justice within the structure of the system. I will continue to push/pull them in future books.
EC: What about how Freddy was treating Kat, Delaney’s other adopted daughter?
PFH: “No” really did not meet “no” with him. He used guilt to try to get his way with her. For me, this brought back so many experiences I had as a girl dealing with hormonal boys. They did not know when to tell themselves to stop and was not taught by their mother what was the appropriate place to stop. Freddy lost his male role models, and his mother is not nurturing. Hopefully, Freddy will learn to grow and learn.
EC: What about the role of Delaney’s mom?
PFH: I have known for a long time she is real. But in this book readers will wonder if the person Delaney is dealing with is her mother. The mom had been manipulated by her son and the religious cult she joined. Will she mend some fences with Delaney plus how will she influence Delaney’s life in the future?
EC: What about her brother?
PFH: I love how the author Kathy Reichs created this super villain who always seems to come back. For me Delaney’s brother is the super villain who they must battle wits with. Their mother does love him and will not always be fair in the sibling’s relationship. There will be a lot of fun angles to play with so readers should expect to see more of him.
EC: Next book(s)?
PFH: We are in the pivot zone in the next Delaney books. I am writing two other types of books. Another series I have written is the Patrick Flint series, a 1970s adventure mystery with a strong family drama. It features a doctor, his teenage children, and his wife. They are based on my family. The next book will have a mountain climbing element. It will probably be out in July 2026.
The other book is another novel in the Jenn Herrington Wyoming series. It is a romantic legal mystery with a thriller element. It will be published in February and is titled Red Grade. The plot has someone dying from the polo community and they must try to figure out if it is murder or not. The suspicion falls on someone who Jenn cares a lot about. Also, she is a criminal defense attorney but decides to run for the county prosecutor.
EC: THANK YOU!!
