Ep 19. The Edge of Winter

The Edge of Winter is the nineteenth episode of Criminal Minds season 9, which first aired on April 2, 2014. In this episode, the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is called to investigate a series of murders taking place in rural Virginia during the dead of winter.

The episode begins with a man named Frank Cosgrove frozen to death on a snow-covered road in Virginia. The BAU is called in to investigate, and they soon discover that Frank is just one of several victims who have met a similarly gruesome fate. The killer, who is dubbed the "Ice Truck Killer" due to the way he stores his victims in ice, appears to be targeting people who are stranded in the snow.

As the team begins to investigate, they realize that the killer is likely a truck driver who is using his job as a cover to commit the murders. The team also learns that the killer has a history of childhood abuse and has been traumatized by the death of his own daughter.

The BAU eventually tracks down the killer and confronts him. During the confrontation, the killer reveals that he has another victim who is still alive and trapped in a freezer truck. The team races against time to find the victim before it's too late.

Overall, The Edge of Winter is a tense, atmospheric episode that takes full advantage of its rural setting and winter setting. The killer's method of storing victims in ice is particularly chilling, and the episode does a good job of building suspense and keeping audiences guessing until the very end.

As with many Criminal Minds episodes, The Edge of Winter also delves into the psychology of the killer and tries to understand what drives him to commit such heinous acts. The team's profiling work is typically well-done and adds an interesting dimension to the episode.

The cast of the episode is also solid, with the usual Criminal Minds cast members delivering strong performances. The guest actors who play the killer and his victim are also notable, with both delivering performances that are both chilling and sympathetic.

Overall, The Edge of Winter is a strong episode of Criminal Minds that will satisfy fans of the show and the crime genre in general.