 The song received critical acclaim from contemporary music critics . Kitty Empire of The Observer wrote that while most R & B ballads are woeful , " Cold Case Love " " at least has the wit to sustain a plot " . About.com 's Bill Lamb declared Rihanna 's vocals to be among the " most beautiful " she has recorded and noted that " they are in the service of a very dark , bleak statement " . HitFix reviewer Melinda Newman wrote that it is impossible to listen to the song and not filter it through " that horrific context whether that is how they are meant to be heard or not " . Both Newman and Benjamin Boles of Now cited " Cold Case Love " as a highlight of Rated R. 
