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Romantic Suspense #16
Closer Than You Think
CLOSER THAN YOU THINK is the gripping first novel in the Cincinnati series and sees Sunday Times bestseller Karen Rose at her tense, tantalising and thrilling best. 'Intense, complex and unforgettable' James Patterson.
Deacon Novak has returned home. The experienced FBI Agent knows that his move to Cincinnati's Major Crime Enforcement Squad will be challenging, but the greater challenge will be saving his younger brother before he becomes the kind of criminal Deacon is chasing.
Faith Corcoran has escaped her identity. Being a therapist to victims of sex crimes was rewarding, but her work with their offenders has jeopardized her life. Her move represents a chance to build a new life in the empty old house her grandmother has left her.
What Faith doesn't know is that a killer has made the house his playground, taking girls into the basement and murdering them. And now Faith is about disturb his fun.
With a murderer focused on her, Faith is going to have to put her trust in Deacon if she's going to survive. Because this killer is always closer than she thinks....
Deacon Novak has returned home. The experienced FBI Agent knows that his move to Cincinnati's Major Crime Enforcement Squad will be challenging, but the greater challenge will be saving his younger brother before he becomes the kind of criminal Deacon is chasing.
Faith Corcoran has escaped her identity. Being a therapist to victims of sex crimes was rewarding, but her work with their offenders has jeopardized her life. Her move represents a chance to build a new life in the empty old house her grandmother has left her.
What Faith doesn't know is that a killer has made the house his playground, taking girls into the basement and murdering them. And now Faith is about disturb his fun.
With a murderer focused on her, Faith is going to have to put her trust in Deacon if she's going to survive. Because this killer is always closer than she thinks....
675 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2014
764 people are currently reading
5,452 people want to read
About the author
Karen Rose
58books5,264followersOFFICIAL WEBSITE:
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.�
Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.
Karen's books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia!
Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.�
Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.
Karen's books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia!
Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 968 reviews
October 18, 2021
The first in the series, author Karen Rose introduces us to psychologist Faith Corcoran and FBI agent Deacon Novak.
Both of the central characters inevitably have a lot of personal problems, which is how they have both returned to Mount Carmel, Ohio. Faith is there as she has recently inherited her grandmother’s long abandoned house, which she quickly discovers has been made a base for the local serial killer, who unsurprisingly, is annoyed that she wants to move into her house and spoil his fun. The serial killer has been kidnapping, torturing and eventually killing his victims, all of whom are buried under the floorboards of the basement. Deacon has returned home to tame his younger brother Greg who keeps getting into trouble at school, and their aunt who has been bringing him up is unable to control him.
We are immediately introduced to the serial killer’s latest victims, Arianna and Corinne, along with his servant Roza. Interspersed with the usual scenes of them attempting to outwit their abductor, are the usual scenes told from the killer’s point of view, where he mostly expresses frustration at either being outwitted by Faith, or his victims.
For the first half of the novel, we are led to believe that he is Peter Combs, a sex offender who Faith was responsible for sending back to prison, and who subsequently stalked her after his release. This part of the novel was the most plausible half of the novel, the second half where we discover that he is not Combs, being the least convincing.
I found the novel excessively long, which explains why the plot lost momentum for me. I found my attention wandering at several points in the novel, and was relieved to have made it to the end. It was an enjoyable, undemanding read, with good central characters. However the rest of the characters were not overly memorable, remaining shadowy and consequently difficult to remember. On the whole the plot was good, however it lost momentum in several places, and there were too many coincidences for my taste.
Both of the central characters inevitably have a lot of personal problems, which is how they have both returned to Mount Carmel, Ohio. Faith is there as she has recently inherited her grandmother’s long abandoned house, which she quickly discovers has been made a base for the local serial killer, who unsurprisingly, is annoyed that she wants to move into her house and spoil his fun. The serial killer has been kidnapping, torturing and eventually killing his victims, all of whom are buried under the floorboards of the basement. Deacon has returned home to tame his younger brother Greg who keeps getting into trouble at school, and their aunt who has been bringing him up is unable to control him.
We are immediately introduced to the serial killer’s latest victims, Arianna and Corinne, along with his servant Roza. Interspersed with the usual scenes of them attempting to outwit their abductor, are the usual scenes told from the killer’s point of view, where he mostly expresses frustration at either being outwitted by Faith, or his victims.
For the first half of the novel, we are led to believe that he is Peter Combs, a sex offender who Faith was responsible for sending back to prison, and who subsequently stalked her after his release. This part of the novel was the most plausible half of the novel, the second half where we discover that he is not Combs, being the least convincing.
I found the novel excessively long, which explains why the plot lost momentum for me. I found my attention wandering at several points in the novel, and was relieved to have made it to the end. It was an enjoyable, undemanding read, with good central characters. However the rest of the characters were not overly memorable, remaining shadowy and consequently difficult to remember. On the whole the plot was good, however it lost momentum in several places, and there were too many coincidences for my taste.
February 20, 2015
4.5, Roza with a "zed" stars.
Lost my original review. So this is a rehash of it.
Loved Deacon Novak. Anne OK's review brought this book to my attention and I really liked it.
The first description of Deacon. Seriously HOT.
Towards the end of the book, there was so much thrown at us that I sort of wondered would I downgrade my review to 4 but the writing was just so stellar and the plot line so good that I couldn't.
Parts of this book were quite gruesome and creepy.
Catholic guilt. Never fecking leaves you.
I really must check out more from this author. I think I read one of her books and it was an OK read. This one was great. This is the first in the series and it will be interesting to see who the follow up book will be about.
Lost my original review. So this is a rehash of it.
Loved Deacon Novak. Anne OK's review brought this book to my attention and I really liked it.
Psychologist Faith Corcoran is desperate to escape the stalker who’s made her life a nightmare for the past year—desperate enough to run to the one place that has been her nightmare far longer. Both boon and bane, her recent inheritance of her grandmother’s old house in Cincinnati offers sanctuary in which she can start her life anew, but requires that she face the dark memories that still resonate to this day.
He looked liked he stepped out of an action movie
"Miss Corcoran. I'm Special Agent Novak, with the FBI."
The first description of Deacon. Seriously HOT.
Follow the money
Towards the end of the book, there was so much thrown at us that I sort of wondered would I downgrade my review to 4 but the writing was just so stellar and the plot line so good that I couldn't.
"I was alone that day ... I've been alone for years."
Parts of this book were quite gruesome and creepy.
"And your family was more Catholic than the Pope ..."
Catholic guilt. Never fecking leaves you.
I really must check out more from this author. I think I read one of her books and it was an OK read. This one was great. This is the first in the series and it will be interesting to see who the follow up book will be about.
February 27, 2015
Closer Than You Think by Karen Rose
Story Rating ~ 5 Chilling Stars!
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Heroine Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Villain Rating ~ 5 creepy Stars!
Romance Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3 Stars
Suspense Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Ending ~ 5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 5 Stars!
It’s been a while since I've read a Karen Rose book. When I saw Closer Than You Think was about to be released and it was also start of a new series, I just HAD to read it.
This story has more twists and turns and kept me guessing as to who exactly was the villain until that person was revealed while I was reading. The story line moved along nicely and had the creep factor that I’m always wanting while reading a Karen Rose book.
My favorite character of this read was the heroine, Faith. She was very well thought out character, extremely smart, brave, courageous, protective, caring, and always willing to help even if it meant putting herself in danger. For me, she did not do a single thing to piss me off, I absolutely loved her.
The hero Deacon was also an excellent character. He was special in SO MANY WAYS! I loved the fact that his looks were different than any romance hero I’ve ever read about. He was also the perfect hero for this book in many ways.
From the moment Faith looked into Deacon’s eyes I could feel the connection between them. I felt the struggle Deacon was going through knowing he should not let his feelings for Faith loose. I have to say it was a losing battle that I very much enjoyed reading about. There was not too many love/sex scenes added to this book, but what we did get was very sensual and downright HOT! I felt that just the right amount of heat was added any more it would have taken away from the story.
One of things that keeps me coming back for more of Karen Roses books are her villains. They are always so darn evil, twisted, crazy, violent, psychotic but most off all they are very smart and calculating. I love how we are always in the dark, not knowing who they are, keeping you guessing over and over again. The whole time I kept think WHO IS DOING THIS?!
The ending played out perfectly, there was just one thing I felt was missing and that is an epilogue. I’m hoping this means that we will be reading more about Faith and Deacon in the next book in this series to be released in 2016.GOSH that seems like such a long wait but I’m sure it will be worth it.
I highly recommend Closer than you think to everyone who enjoys a chilling romantic suspense. I do need to warn you, if you don’t like violence in your romances then this is not a book for you.
Story Rating ~ 5 Chilling Stars!
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Heroine Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Villain Rating ~ 5 creepy Stars!
Romance Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3 Stars
Suspense Rating ~ 5 Stars!
Ending ~ 5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 5 Stars!
It’s been a while since I've read a Karen Rose book. When I saw Closer Than You Think was about to be released and it was also start of a new series, I just HAD to read it.
This story has more twists and turns and kept me guessing as to who exactly was the villain until that person was revealed while I was reading. The story line moved along nicely and had the creep factor that I’m always wanting while reading a Karen Rose book.
My favorite character of this read was the heroine, Faith. She was very well thought out character, extremely smart, brave, courageous, protective, caring, and always willing to help even if it meant putting herself in danger. For me, she did not do a single thing to piss me off, I absolutely loved her.
The hero Deacon was also an excellent character. He was special in SO MANY WAYS! I loved the fact that his looks were different than any romance hero I’ve ever read about. He was also the perfect hero for this book in many ways.
From the moment Faith looked into Deacon’s eyes I could feel the connection between them. I felt the struggle Deacon was going through knowing he should not let his feelings for Faith loose. I have to say it was a losing battle that I very much enjoyed reading about. There was not too many love/sex scenes added to this book, but what we did get was very sensual and downright HOT! I felt that just the right amount of heat was added any more it would have taken away from the story.
One of things that keeps me coming back for more of Karen Roses books are her villains. They are always so darn evil, twisted, crazy, violent, psychotic but most off all they are very smart and calculating. I love how we are always in the dark, not knowing who they are, keeping you guessing over and over again. The whole time I kept think WHO IS DOING THIS?!
The ending played out perfectly, there was just one thing I felt was missing and that is an epilogue. I’m hoping this means that we will be reading more about Faith and Deacon in the next book in this series to be released in 2016.GOSH that seems like such a long wait but I’m sure it will be worth it.
I highly recommend Closer than you think to everyone who enjoys a chilling romantic suspense. I do need to warn you, if you don’t like violence in your romances then this is not a book for you.
August 4, 2016
2.5-stars
Suspense? Yes. The primary plot of catching the serial killer and solving decades old mysteries was an interesting part of the story, but it was often disrupted by repetitive information and unnecessary drama.
Romance? Meh. Deacon’s first appearance stood out, but his character quickly bored me. Faith was too perfect to be true. The explicit sex scenes were more like cheesy fillers in the story.
A proliferation of characters, contrived subplots and inconsequential details made this book an exhausting read for me:/
Suspense? Yes. The primary plot of catching the serial killer and solving decades old mysteries was an interesting part of the story, but it was often disrupted by repetitive information and unnecessary drama.
Romance? Meh. Deacon’s first appearance stood out, but his character quickly bored me. Faith was too perfect to be true. The explicit sex scenes were more like cheesy fillers in the story.
A proliferation of characters, contrived subplots and inconsequential details made this book an exhausting read for me:/
June 28, 2017
This story was a whopping 28 hours long...and I couldn't stop listening.
Psychologist Faith Cochran has changed her identity to escape a stalker who happens to be a serial rapist. He's her former patient and now it appears he's out to kill her. When she returns to her hometown in Cincinnati, total chaos erupts, all unforeseen. FBI Special Agent Deacon Novak has moved back home to Cincinnati from Baltimore to care for his troubled teenage brother. He's assigned to a joint task force with the agency and the Cincinnati Police Department and lands the case involving Faith.
What a crazy ride! The tension starts immediately as you're drawn into the drama of two abducted women and whether or not they get rescued. By now, you know the author guarantees nothing so you can't take for granted who'll survive and who won't. Yes, the body count is still awful but the mystery is just as big of an element as the suspense. You might recall Deacon from an earlier story. He's the guy with the white hair and strange colored eyes and his history is just as fascinating as Faith's troubled past. I really liked them both and their relationship ramps up quickly and hotly.
The narrator, Hillary Huber, shows some serious skills as her performance is just spot on. I liked her character depictions, especially Faith's voice. It's a big commitment to listen to a book of this size but I never gave it a second thought. It was worth every single minute.
Psychologist Faith Cochran has changed her identity to escape a stalker who happens to be a serial rapist. He's her former patient and now it appears he's out to kill her. When she returns to her hometown in Cincinnati, total chaos erupts, all unforeseen. FBI Special Agent Deacon Novak has moved back home to Cincinnati from Baltimore to care for his troubled teenage brother. He's assigned to a joint task force with the agency and the Cincinnati Police Department and lands the case involving Faith.
What a crazy ride! The tension starts immediately as you're drawn into the drama of two abducted women and whether or not they get rescued. By now, you know the author guarantees nothing so you can't take for granted who'll survive and who won't. Yes, the body count is still awful but the mystery is just as big of an element as the suspense. You might recall Deacon from an earlier story. He's the guy with the white hair and strange colored eyes and his history is just as fascinating as Faith's troubled past. I really liked them both and their relationship ramps up quickly and hotly.
The narrator, Hillary Huber, shows some serious skills as her performance is just spot on. I liked her character depictions, especially Faith's voice. It's a big commitment to listen to a book of this size but I never gave it a second thought. It was worth every single minute.
May 7, 2015
Closer Than You Think is the first in the new series from Karen Rose featuring Faith Corcoran as a central character. This was also my first Karen Rose book read ever (I know, how shameful being a crime addict!) so I was expecting to get blown away. Well I wasn't. I really liked this book but it was not the five star read I had been expecting from this highly praised author.
Let me explain once we get past the blurb...
Deacon Novak has returned home. The experienced FBI Agent knows that his move to Cincinnati's Major Crime Enforcement Squad will be challenging, but the greater challenge will be saving his younger brother before he becomes the kind of criminal Deacon is chasing.
Faith Corcoran has escaped her identity. Being a therapist to victims of sex crimes was rewarding, but her work with their offenders has jeopardized her life. Her move represents a chance to build a new life in the empty old house her grandmother has left her.
What Faith doesn't know is that a killer has made the house his playground, taking girls into the basement and murdering them. And now Faith is about disturb his fun.
With a murderer focused on her, Faith is going to have to put her trust in Deacon if she's going to survive. Because this killer is always closer than she thinks...
With a very snazzy sounding plot I thought this would be good, and it was but the plot was not as fast paced and as tight as I would have liked for this book genre. For a crime book to work well it's got to have a very tight plot. This is a long book, too long in my opinion by at least 200 pages.
It starts off brilliantly, we meet Faith who is an interesting character as she peruses from the outside the rambling old family home she has inherited from her Grandmother. At the same time we meet the serial killer in the story, hear from his perspective and meet one of his victims currently being tortured. Bloody good stuff! Here we go!
Then we meet Agent Deacon Novak as his path crosses Corcoran's. He has white hair, two-tone eyes and wears a long black leather coat and the book makes no bones about him being as sexy as hell. Cue the sparks that fly between the two of them, you just know something will eventuate.
My main complaint with this book is that in the longer, drawn out parts of the hunt, the interviewing of suspects that dragged on and on I was...bored. Yes bored.
I just felt it was words filling in space. Then the book would skip back to a really good read, but then the boring filler stuff around the relationship between the two, police procedural stuff and just general speculation. It kept losing the momentum it was giving, it was like being on a roller coaster. Some scenes were outstandingly good and others very ho-hum.
Apart from that, it's a good book, the romance between the two is weaved in quite well, the main characters are excellent, the peripheral ones are a bit insipid and too many of them for my liking however. The plot is brilliant in parts and lacking in others. I do think it comes down to this being too long and some editing is required to tighten it up.
All in all, 3.5 stars from me. I liked it, but did not love it. I would try the next in the series and more from Karen Rose.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks.
Let me explain once we get past the blurb...
Deacon Novak has returned home. The experienced FBI Agent knows that his move to Cincinnati's Major Crime Enforcement Squad will be challenging, but the greater challenge will be saving his younger brother before he becomes the kind of criminal Deacon is chasing.
Faith Corcoran has escaped her identity. Being a therapist to victims of sex crimes was rewarding, but her work with their offenders has jeopardized her life. Her move represents a chance to build a new life in the empty old house her grandmother has left her.
What Faith doesn't know is that a killer has made the house his playground, taking girls into the basement and murdering them. And now Faith is about disturb his fun.
With a murderer focused on her, Faith is going to have to put her trust in Deacon if she's going to survive. Because this killer is always closer than she thinks...
With a very snazzy sounding plot I thought this would be good, and it was but the plot was not as fast paced and as tight as I would have liked for this book genre. For a crime book to work well it's got to have a very tight plot. This is a long book, too long in my opinion by at least 200 pages.
It starts off brilliantly, we meet Faith who is an interesting character as she peruses from the outside the rambling old family home she has inherited from her Grandmother. At the same time we meet the serial killer in the story, hear from his perspective and meet one of his victims currently being tortured. Bloody good stuff! Here we go!
Then we meet Agent Deacon Novak as his path crosses Corcoran's. He has white hair, two-tone eyes and wears a long black leather coat and the book makes no bones about him being as sexy as hell. Cue the sparks that fly between the two of them, you just know something will eventuate.
My main complaint with this book is that in the longer, drawn out parts of the hunt, the interviewing of suspects that dragged on and on I was...bored. Yes bored.
I just felt it was words filling in space. Then the book would skip back to a really good read, but then the boring filler stuff around the relationship between the two, police procedural stuff and just general speculation. It kept losing the momentum it was giving, it was like being on a roller coaster. Some scenes were outstandingly good and others very ho-hum.
Apart from that, it's a good book, the romance between the two is weaved in quite well, the main characters are excellent, the peripheral ones are a bit insipid and too many of them for my liking however. The plot is brilliant in parts and lacking in others. I do think it comes down to this being too long and some editing is required to tighten it up.
All in all, 3.5 stars from me. I liked it, but did not love it. I would try the next in the series and more from Karen Rose.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks.
June 20, 2017
Just when I think I've got the baddie nailed, something pops up and puts them off the list. Kinda like Wack-A-Mole, except with the baddie, they just keep popping back up as suspects. At times I thought she threw it all in a blender just to see what came out. Characters, motives and victims all mixed up and coming out completely different than you thought it would. This one drove me crazy. Everything is up for grabs, except who the intended victim is and who the hero is. Because Karen Rose writes her books with such a short time frame, you just have to get over the insta-love thing. Faith and Deacon have an instant connection that puts him on the other opinion side from his cousin and others on the case.
Faith has endured over a year of being stalked and several attempts on her life. The Miami police don't take her reports seriously because she is therapist who treats the sexual animals who prey on young girls and the "alleged" stalker is a former client. Oh, and her ex, a Miami policeman himself, basically called her claims crazy. He called Faith crazy too. She flees, selling her car, changing her name, everything. She wanted to disappear without a trace. She ends up in Cincinnati at a remote property she inherited from her grandmother that no one has lived in for over 23 years. She intends to live there as she has no where else to go. She doesn't know it but a serial killer has taken up residence and he is not happy that she is trespassing at "his" house. Lots of family tragedy and secrets surround this place and Faith is not happy that she has to live here, but she figures that she will at least be safe here.
Deacon is an FBI agent with family woes of his own in the form of a 15 year old brother who is nothing but trouble right now. Deacon had to move back to Cincinnati and leave a job and friends he loved in order to try and straighten Ben out. He loves Ben, but he's a handful right now. Deacon meets Faith on a road leading to the property where Faith has come across a victim of our Baddie's, nude and bleeding from cuts all over her body. Deacon is used to using his unusual appearance to shock and unsettle people. Faith looks at Deacon's eyes and calls them "beautiful". Deacon looks at Faith and, even battered and bruised from the accident she has to avoid hitting the girl, thinks she is beautiful too.
Lots of bodies, a staple of Karen Rose, both old and new begin appearing. Tons of suspects and no clear leads. More twists and turns than a switchback road up a mountain. More attempts on Faith's life and lot's of wonderful, hot, steamy romance.
Faith has endured over a year of being stalked and several attempts on her life. The Miami police don't take her reports seriously because she is therapist who treats the sexual animals who prey on young girls and the "alleged" stalker is a former client. Oh, and her ex, a Miami policeman himself, basically called her claims crazy. He called Faith crazy too. She flees, selling her car, changing her name, everything. She wanted to disappear without a trace. She ends up in Cincinnati at a remote property she inherited from her grandmother that no one has lived in for over 23 years. She intends to live there as she has no where else to go. She doesn't know it but a serial killer has taken up residence and he is not happy that she is trespassing at "his" house. Lots of family tragedy and secrets surround this place and Faith is not happy that she has to live here, but she figures that she will at least be safe here.
Deacon is an FBI agent with family woes of his own in the form of a 15 year old brother who is nothing but trouble right now. Deacon had to move back to Cincinnati and leave a job and friends he loved in order to try and straighten Ben out. He loves Ben, but he's a handful right now. Deacon meets Faith on a road leading to the property where Faith has come across a victim of our Baddie's, nude and bleeding from cuts all over her body. Deacon is used to using his unusual appearance to shock and unsettle people. Faith looks at Deacon's eyes and calls them "beautiful". Deacon looks at Faith and, even battered and bruised from the accident she has to avoid hitting the girl, thinks she is beautiful too.
Lots of bodies, a staple of Karen Rose, both old and new begin appearing. Tons of suspects and no clear leads. More twists and turns than a switchback road up a mountain. More attempts on Faith's life and lot's of wonderful, hot, steamy romance.
November 19, 2015
DNF @80%.
This was one very long ass story. I didn't really care about the whodunit after page 500 (only 73% of the book). Everybody just talked too much, about the same things over and over. Very tiring.
And the hero's family drama was kinda unnecessary IMO. Two family drama in one suspense book makes it too much.
So tired, can't even rant proper. Karen Rose, me won't read you again.
This was one very long ass story. I didn't really care about the whodunit after page 500 (only 73% of the book). Everybody just talked too much, about the same things over and over. Very tiring.
And the hero's family drama was kinda unnecessary IMO. Two family drama in one suspense book makes it too much.
So tired, can't even rant proper. Karen Rose, me won't read you again.
November 26, 2017
What happened while I read that can vouch for it being an amazing thriller?
Forsaking much needed sleep ===> � check
Missing bus stops ===> � check
Cancelling outings ===> � check
Reading almost 700 pages without feeling bored ===> check
Staying on edge filled with uncertainty ===> � check
Feeling like watching the best ever crime TV Series ===> � check
�.
�
Forsaking much needed sleep ===> � check
Missing bus stops ===> � check
Cancelling outings ===> � check
Reading almost 700 pages without feeling bored ===> check
Staying on edge filled with uncertainty ===> � check
Feeling like watching the best ever crime TV Series ===> � check
�.
�
February 14, 2015
And yet again, Karen Rose delivers a total thrill ride in her latest and the beginning of a brand new series. Absolutely outstanding!
Faith is an amazingly strong and smart heroine. She's had a rough ride for the last few years, and she hasn't run far enough yet to escape more of the same pulse-pounding suspense and spine-tingling acts of criminal injustice from the deranged psychopath who is hot on her trail to exact pain and revenge.
Deacon, the FBI agent and hero, is absolutely one of the best drawn characters Ms. Rose has ever written. He's in a class above all others. His past is filled with hard times and sadness that only makes him more remarkable. I was overcome with emotion when the mere use of the word "beautiful" by Faith with regard to Deacon nearly brought him to his knees.
So happy and thrilled to find this favorite author continuing once again to up the balance of top quality romance to another brilliant page-turner filled with suspense and intrigue. It just doesn't get much better than this.
Faith is an amazingly strong and smart heroine. She's had a rough ride for the last few years, and she hasn't run far enough yet to escape more of the same pulse-pounding suspense and spine-tingling acts of criminal injustice from the deranged psychopath who is hot on her trail to exact pain and revenge.
Deacon, the FBI agent and hero, is absolutely one of the best drawn characters Ms. Rose has ever written. He's in a class above all others. His past is filled with hard times and sadness that only makes him more remarkable. I was overcome with emotion when the mere use of the word "beautiful" by Faith with regard to Deacon nearly brought him to his knees.
So happy and thrilled to find this favorite author continuing once again to up the balance of top quality romance to another brilliant page-turner filled with suspense and intrigue. It just doesn't get much better than this.
November 12, 2021
For English version please scroll down
**
Seichter aber spannender Thriller mit haarsträubendem Plot
Die Therapeutin Faith Frye zieht von Miami nach Cincinnati, um einem Stalker zu entkommen, der ihr nach dem Leben zu trachten scheint.An ihrem neuen Wohnort hat sie einen Unfall und trifft auf einen Polizisten, bei dem sie auf den ersten Blick hin und weg ist. Ihm geht es genauso und natürlich sind beide Protagonisten in ihren Fähigkeiten und ihrem Aussehen dem Durchschnittsbürger weit überlegen.
Weiter braucht man auf die Story eigentlich nicht eingehen, denn sie ist zu 100 % klischeebeladen und vollkommen austauschbar. Man muss der Autorin jedoch zugute halten, dass sie es exzellent versteht Spannung aufzubauen. Der Plot ist zwar vollkommen an den Haaren herbeigezogen, dafür aber wirklich rasant und ungemein spannend.
Ich würde das für ein Buch halten, mit dem man nach einem harten Arbeitstag auf die Couch sinken kann, wenn man einfach nur anspruchslos unterhalten werden will, denn der Roman erfordert keinerlei gedankliche Eigenleistung des Lesers. Leider hat die Autorin in sehr regelmäßigen Abständen billige erotische Szenen eingestreut, die ich persönlich sehr ärgerlich und unnötig und zusätzlich völlig unglaubwürdig fand. Andererseits ist das Buch in der der Reihe Romantic Suspense erschienen, so dass ich das hätte erwarten müssen. Ich bin wohl nicht die geeignete Zielgruppe.
Wegen Spannung und Unterhaltungswert gibt es aber immerhin noch 2 Sterne.
-----------------
Shallow but exciting thriller with an outlandish plot
Faith Frye, a therapist, moves from Miami to Cincinnati to escape a stalker who apparently tries to kill her. At her new location she has an accident and she and one of the police officers experience a case of feverish insta-love. Of course both protagonists are far superior to the average citizen in terms of their abilities and their appearance.
One doesn’t really need to go into the story any further, because it is 100% loaded with stereotypes and completely interchangeable. However, the author has to be credited for her excellent ability to build suspense.The plot is completely far-fetched, but it is really fast and extremely exciting.
I would consider this a book you can sink onto the couch with after a hard day at work, if you just want to experience some undemanding entertainment, because the novel does not require any intellectual input from the reader. Unfortunately, the author interspersed cheap erotic scenes at very regular intervals, which I personally found very annoying and unnecessary and, in addition, completely untrustworthy. On the other hand, the book was published in the series Romantic Suspense, so I should have expected that. I guess am not the suitable target group.
Because of the excitement and entertainment value, I still assigned 2 stars.
**
Seichter aber spannender Thriller mit haarsträubendem Plot
Die Therapeutin Faith Frye zieht von Miami nach Cincinnati, um einem Stalker zu entkommen, der ihr nach dem Leben zu trachten scheint.An ihrem neuen Wohnort hat sie einen Unfall und trifft auf einen Polizisten, bei dem sie auf den ersten Blick hin und weg ist. Ihm geht es genauso und natürlich sind beide Protagonisten in ihren Fähigkeiten und ihrem Aussehen dem Durchschnittsbürger weit überlegen.
Weiter braucht man auf die Story eigentlich nicht eingehen, denn sie ist zu 100 % klischeebeladen und vollkommen austauschbar. Man muss der Autorin jedoch zugute halten, dass sie es exzellent versteht Spannung aufzubauen. Der Plot ist zwar vollkommen an den Haaren herbeigezogen, dafür aber wirklich rasant und ungemein spannend.
Ich würde das für ein Buch halten, mit dem man nach einem harten Arbeitstag auf die Couch sinken kann, wenn man einfach nur anspruchslos unterhalten werden will, denn der Roman erfordert keinerlei gedankliche Eigenleistung des Lesers. Leider hat die Autorin in sehr regelmäßigen Abständen billige erotische Szenen eingestreut, die ich persönlich sehr ärgerlich und unnötig und zusätzlich völlig unglaubwürdig fand. Andererseits ist das Buch in der der Reihe Romantic Suspense erschienen, so dass ich das hätte erwarten müssen. Ich bin wohl nicht die geeignete Zielgruppe.
Wegen Spannung und Unterhaltungswert gibt es aber immerhin noch 2 Sterne.
-----------------
Shallow but exciting thriller with an outlandish plot
Faith Frye, a therapist, moves from Miami to Cincinnati to escape a stalker who apparently tries to kill her. At her new location she has an accident and she and one of the police officers experience a case of feverish insta-love. Of course both protagonists are far superior to the average citizen in terms of their abilities and their appearance.
One doesn’t really need to go into the story any further, because it is 100% loaded with stereotypes and completely interchangeable. However, the author has to be credited for her excellent ability to build suspense.The plot is completely far-fetched, but it is really fast and extremely exciting.
I would consider this a book you can sink onto the couch with after a hard day at work, if you just want to experience some undemanding entertainment, because the novel does not require any intellectual input from the reader. Unfortunately, the author interspersed cheap erotic scenes at very regular intervals, which I personally found very annoying and unnecessary and, in addition, completely untrustworthy. On the other hand, the book was published in the series Romantic Suspense, so I should have expected that. I guess am not the suitable target group.
Because of the excitement and entertainment value, I still assigned 2 stars.
December 15, 2016
The story begins when we meet Psychologist Faith Corcoran. Faith is on the run from a serial stalker. One who has made numerous attempts on her life. Faith inherits her grandmother's old homestead, and the timing couldn't be better. She changes her name, sells her car and leaves her old life behind. She Relocates to Cincinnati taking a position outside of her profession in hopes to begin anew. But TROUBLE is following her, and she is in more danger than she knows. When she almost hits a naked woman in route to her grandmother's house, it is just the beginning of her nightmare.
FBI Special Agent Deacon Novak is called in when the girl is identified as one of two missing college students. As Faith sits in the ambulance having her wounds checked from the car accident she thinks she is hallucinating when Novak comes into view. Clad in a leather jacket and wraparound glasses this white haired hulking man moves towards her like something out of a movie. When he pulls off his glasses, she is mesmerized by his strange eyes. Their first interaction was intense and I liked the undercurrent and awkwardness. Novak knows she is hiding something and Faith is leery of law enforcement, but the two soon find themselves working together because someone desperately wants Faith dead.
Faith proved to be a competent, complex heroine and I admired her guts and level-headedness. She faced some serious scrutiny and handled things with surprising fearlessness. I admired Agent Novak and appreciated his uniqueness. Novak and his siblings share a rare genetic disorder and Rose brought attention to this disease. The romance that develops between them was intense, and despite how quickly it progressed physically and emotionally the author made it feel realistic.
The story is presented using different perspectives from Novak, Faith, the serial killer and a current victim. These were clearly defined and done in such a way that it pulls the reader in, amps up the suspense and allows them to feel like an engaged participant. The novels length of six hundred and eighty-eight pages allowed Rose to develop the storyline entirely. I found no lulls or unnecessary meandering as events unfolded. Each thread was sound and pulled me further into the story creating an authentic feel to the case and characters.
The thriller/mystery aspect was complex and intense. Firs,t we have the young naked woman, who leads us to the discovery of bodies and a serial killer. Then we have Faith who's linked to those bodies and has someone attempting to kill her. Rose presented a well-developed mystery with a complex cast of suspects. Secondary characters from other FBI agents to Deacon's family brought additional threads and ramped up the suspense.
Copy provided by publisher.
FBI Special Agent Deacon Novak is called in when the girl is identified as one of two missing college students. As Faith sits in the ambulance having her wounds checked from the car accident she thinks she is hallucinating when Novak comes into view. Clad in a leather jacket and wraparound glasses this white haired hulking man moves towards her like something out of a movie. When he pulls off his glasses, she is mesmerized by his strange eyes. Their first interaction was intense and I liked the undercurrent and awkwardness. Novak knows she is hiding something and Faith is leery of law enforcement, but the two soon find themselves working together because someone desperately wants Faith dead.
Faith proved to be a competent, complex heroine and I admired her guts and level-headedness. She faced some serious scrutiny and handled things with surprising fearlessness. I admired Agent Novak and appreciated his uniqueness. Novak and his siblings share a rare genetic disorder and Rose brought attention to this disease. The romance that develops between them was intense, and despite how quickly it progressed physically and emotionally the author made it feel realistic.
The story is presented using different perspectives from Novak, Faith, the serial killer and a current victim. These were clearly defined and done in such a way that it pulls the reader in, amps up the suspense and allows them to feel like an engaged participant. The novels length of six hundred and eighty-eight pages allowed Rose to develop the storyline entirely. I found no lulls or unnecessary meandering as events unfolded. Each thread was sound and pulled me further into the story creating an authentic feel to the case and characters.
The thriller/mystery aspect was complex and intense. Firs,t we have the young naked woman, who leads us to the discovery of bodies and a serial killer. Then we have Faith who's linked to those bodies and has someone attempting to kill her. Rose presented a well-developed mystery with a complex cast of suspects. Secondary characters from other FBI agents to Deacon's family brought additional threads and ramped up the suspense.
Copy provided by publisher.
December 11, 2020
Get it here:
*
Audio read 12/11/20
*
Audio read 12/11/20
March 30, 2016
The end of this audiobook was indeed closer than I thought because I'm pulling the plug with 19 hours left in this 28.5 hour(!) gasfest. This has to be the slowest moving, most painfully detailed, boring "thriller" ever written. I don't give a sh*t what happens to Faith, Deacon, the crazy stalker, or any of the characters because it is clearly going to bore me to tears before I find out. I think that even if there is an abridged version, that version will need an abridgment. Very few books deserve to be this long. Next!
December 15, 2016
I know many say these books are very long but I loved it and listened to it in just over a week - 23 hours! As I had read #3 the characters were familiar and I did not have difficulty following them, even if I hadn't been introduced to them I think I would have coped.
What a suspense, oh my the body count was horrific. The characters were great and the best of it I have the next book on my shelf to read this time. I thought the narrator was so-so, no character differentiation, however she didn't detract too much from the book, just didn't give it added value. 4.5 stars.
What a suspense, oh my the body count was horrific. The characters were great and the best of it I have the next book on my shelf to read this time. I thought the narrator was so-so, no character differentiation, however she didn't detract too much from the book, just didn't give it added value. 4.5 stars.
May 16, 2015
Karen Rose is my favourite romantic suspense writer and I've read most of her books. I absolutely loved this one and it's my new favourite, although she's had some really good ones. The balance of suspense and romance is just perfect and the suspense part had me on my toes. I thought it was really clever (I'm not going to say why as that would spoil it and you will have to read it to figure it out) and I didn't guess anything till I was supposed to. I waivered a lot changing my mind so many times. It is quite a long book, yay, and there wasn't a spare word in it, it bounced along at a really rapid pace and I wasn't the least bit bored at any time. In fact I just couldn't put it down. It was really hard to work while I wanted to get back to this. Luckily I work for myself so I can't get sacked!
The hero is Deacon and he was an interesting character - and a very nice hero. The heroine is Faith and she's had a pretty rough few years. She and the hero are a great match, I loved them together, and I was pleased to see that she had absolutely no TSTL moments. She was smart and had a lot of guts. Yay, Faith. In fact, all the women in this book were great.
This is the first book in a new series, but as always there are mentions of characters from older books. You don't have to have read the previous books to read this one, although I would recommend it highly just because they're good. The mentions, though, are nothing that would worry you about getting into this book. There were a few choices for who the next book/s will be about and I will enjoy seeing which characters she chooses next and who their partners will be.
Can't wait for the next one.
The hero is Deacon and he was an interesting character - and a very nice hero. The heroine is Faith and she's had a pretty rough few years. She and the hero are a great match, I loved them together, and I was pleased to see that she had absolutely no TSTL moments. She was smart and had a lot of guts. Yay, Faith. In fact, all the women in this book were great.
This is the first book in a new series, but as always there are mentions of characters from older books. You don't have to have read the previous books to read this one, although I would recommend it highly just because they're good. The mentions, though, are nothing that would worry you about getting into this book. There were a few choices for who the next book/s will be about and I will enjoy seeing which characters she chooses next and who their partners will be.
Can't wait for the next one.
Read
January 3, 2016No rating. I got to 8% which is 55 pages considering this book is 688 pages, and I couldn't read anymore. Too brutal, too much in the killer's POV and dragging on too long. Not for me.
June 30, 2018
A woman stalked by a serial killer and a tough FBI agent head up this thrilling, twisty, dark suspense tale and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the story. This book had so much going on and so many suspects and chilling moments along with some serious scorching bedroom action that I do believe I've found a new author and series to pursue.
Story opens with Faith Corcoran fleeing Miami to get a fresh start away from a bad reputation that wasn't earned, a cheating ex, but most especially a deadly stalker. Only the trouble is that when she runs to her mother's old family home that Faith inherited on the death of her grandmother, Faith runs smack into a horrid, sordid new set of troubles. The FBI find the coincidences that pile up around her and her family too much particularly when the past she tried to keep hidden may have bearing on the present.
Agent Deacon Novak is called in on a crime involving a tortured woman who claimed to escape a sadistic, mad killer and asks for Faith. Deacon doesn't know what to think of the beautiful woman who claims her presence with the injured woman was a coincidence even though the woman escaped from the basement of her family home and knew to ask for Faith. He wants to believe her, but he can tell that she is hiding something. It becomes complicated fast when some of her secrets come out. Now he's not sure what they're dealing with. Did her stalker follow her? Did he have help? Does Faith's family have a part in all this? Meanwhile the killer continues his work. Deacon and the rest of the local police taskforce soon realize they are dealing with someone truly evil who is still killing to cover his tracks and seems to have his sights set on Faith.
Faith offers to help because another woman is still trapped with this fiend and she feels guilt for so many victims the killer has claimed simply because they have been associated with her. She wanted to hate and mistrust all cops, but Deacon's trust and belief and his dedication to his job and the victims gives her hope and a determination to find the killer and help stop him right alongside Deacon.
This book had so much going on that my summary is barely adequate. I didn't want to giveaway any of the really good stuff or a hint to the truth. It was exciting and quite the nail-biting. There is a large body count and the killer is terrifying in his thought processes. Yes, the killer got narrative parts right along with Faith and Deacon and a few moments with the victims. This story was ponderous in its page count, but it never felt like it with all that took place. I must have suspected at least three people and I was right about one of them, not that this made a difference the way the action sequences went.
The character development and the romance were a nice balance with all the violence of the suspense side. The author took the time to build up good backstories for Faith and Deacon. There was lots of scene time with Deacon and Faith's families that were mostly local. Faith's family was mostly estranged and- well they were strange too so made for good suspects. Deacon's family situation was tough and endearing. Loved his sister and brother and his desire to make them a family after all they had been through. Another fantastic interaction was with Deacon's law enforcement team. The camaraderie was tight and good stuff. Would love to see more of all the characters in future books.
Deacon and Faith's attraction came on fast and they got hot and heavy too. It's so hard to put a romance with this sort of suspense because it seems weird having two people fall in love when there is this horrific killer slaughtering people and targeting the heroine all while the hero and heroine are falling in love. Now that's not a complaint. Done well, I like that stuff if for no other reason than it gives a good note to all that darkness. The romance was a good one for me though I'm glad this was a long book and there was lots of scenes with Deacon and Faith. Some of it was the 'we survived and I need to celebrate that' sort of thing, but some of it was finding someone who saw the flaws and cared anyway. They were both smart people and handled things well under the circumstances. Gotta say that the physical description of Deacon was striking. Whew boy! That man sounds hot. Larger than life and superheroe-ish are pretty apt descriptions.
All in all, it was a powerful start to a new series that kept me on my toes through almost 700 pages of a nice balance of spicy romance and thrilling suspense. Those who enjoy their romantic suspense on the darker side should give this a try.
My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Story opens with Faith Corcoran fleeing Miami to get a fresh start away from a bad reputation that wasn't earned, a cheating ex, but most especially a deadly stalker. Only the trouble is that when she runs to her mother's old family home that Faith inherited on the death of her grandmother, Faith runs smack into a horrid, sordid new set of troubles. The FBI find the coincidences that pile up around her and her family too much particularly when the past she tried to keep hidden may have bearing on the present.
Agent Deacon Novak is called in on a crime involving a tortured woman who claimed to escape a sadistic, mad killer and asks for Faith. Deacon doesn't know what to think of the beautiful woman who claims her presence with the injured woman was a coincidence even though the woman escaped from the basement of her family home and knew to ask for Faith. He wants to believe her, but he can tell that she is hiding something. It becomes complicated fast when some of her secrets come out. Now he's not sure what they're dealing with. Did her stalker follow her? Did he have help? Does Faith's family have a part in all this? Meanwhile the killer continues his work. Deacon and the rest of the local police taskforce soon realize they are dealing with someone truly evil who is still killing to cover his tracks and seems to have his sights set on Faith.
Faith offers to help because another woman is still trapped with this fiend and she feels guilt for so many victims the killer has claimed simply because they have been associated with her. She wanted to hate and mistrust all cops, but Deacon's trust and belief and his dedication to his job and the victims gives her hope and a determination to find the killer and help stop him right alongside Deacon.
This book had so much going on that my summary is barely adequate. I didn't want to giveaway any of the really good stuff or a hint to the truth. It was exciting and quite the nail-biting. There is a large body count and the killer is terrifying in his thought processes. Yes, the killer got narrative parts right along with Faith and Deacon and a few moments with the victims. This story was ponderous in its page count, but it never felt like it with all that took place. I must have suspected at least three people and I was right about one of them, not that this made a difference the way the action sequences went.
The character development and the romance were a nice balance with all the violence of the suspense side. The author took the time to build up good backstories for Faith and Deacon. There was lots of scene time with Deacon and Faith's families that were mostly local. Faith's family was mostly estranged and- well they were strange too so made for good suspects. Deacon's family situation was tough and endearing. Loved his sister and brother and his desire to make them a family after all they had been through. Another fantastic interaction was with Deacon's law enforcement team. The camaraderie was tight and good stuff. Would love to see more of all the characters in future books.
Deacon and Faith's attraction came on fast and they got hot and heavy too. It's so hard to put a romance with this sort of suspense because it seems weird having two people fall in love when there is this horrific killer slaughtering people and targeting the heroine all while the hero and heroine are falling in love. Now that's not a complaint. Done well, I like that stuff if for no other reason than it gives a good note to all that darkness. The romance was a good one for me though I'm glad this was a long book and there was lots of scenes with Deacon and Faith. Some of it was the 'we survived and I need to celebrate that' sort of thing, but some of it was finding someone who saw the flaws and cared anyway. They were both smart people and handled things well under the circumstances. Gotta say that the physical description of Deacon was striking. Whew boy! That man sounds hot. Larger than life and superheroe-ish are pretty apt descriptions.
All in all, it was a powerful start to a new series that kept me on my toes through almost 700 pages of a nice balance of spicy romance and thrilling suspense. Those who enjoy their romantic suspense on the darker side should give this a try.
My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2015
AMAZING!! I was on an emotional rollercoaster the entire time!! A must read!! MUST!!!
February 29, 2024
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
‘[…] If I burn out, I’ll do something else. But I won’t do this job by stripping the victims of their humanity. It was stolen by their killer. I won’t do the same to them, or to myself.�
Karen Rose does romantic suspense so damn well. Even when you get the bad guy’s POV, you’ll still be left questioning things until the very end when everything gets wrapped up in the most satisfying way. This author’s ability to craft an interesting story with tons of factors and connecting timelines is amazing. This book, as a lot of hers tend to do, only spans a few days. However, it’s written in a way where it feels like the story spans way longer. I really enjoy how it doesn’t really skip any of the steps. You get the entire case from start to finish, and we get to see it from all of the POVs that matter.
It’s definitely a book that’s heavier on the plot and suspense than the romance, but sometimes that’s exactly what I want. There’s still romance and spice, but it feels more like the cherry on top of an amazing crime-solving novel, and it just adds that little extra something something. I really struggle with reading something without any romance at all, but I don’t always want it to be the main focus either. Deacon and Faith have amazing chemistry that adds this other element and makes it a great book and not just an entertaining crime.
I still love Say You’re Sorry by Karen Rose the most, but this one is pretty great too.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Romantic suspense
Serial killer
Police procedural
FBI agent MMC
Whodunnit
Multiple POV
Fast burn
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphic violence
Serial killing
Kidnapping
Captivity
Child captivity and abuse
Torture
Drugging
Gun violence
Mentions of pedophilia
Child sexual abuse (past, off page, not detailed)
Mentions of parent suicide
Death of side characters
Past and present murder attempts on MCs
Graphic murder scenes
Brief mention of alcoholic parent (past)
Child abuse: physical and verbal (on page)
Brief mentions of cheating ex husband
Car accident
Mentions of side character being raped (no details, off page)
Stalking
Severely injured MC
Mentions of homophobia
*This book deals heavily with the theme of sexual abuse of children. Never on page and not detailed.
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi POV
Genre: Romantic suspense, MF
Main characters� age: 32 and 33
Pages: 594
‘I keep expecting robotic arms to pop out of your coat pockets like Inspector Gadget. What else do you have hidden?�
His imagination had already conjured an entire collection of images that would make it very embarrassing were he to need to stand up any time soon.
Ms Pohl, Principal. Deacon stared at the nameplate on the door, summoning his courage. He’d faced killers without breaking a sweat. Surely he could handle one very old woman.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well:
‘[…] If I burn out, I’ll do something else. But I won’t do this job by stripping the victims of their humanity. It was stolen by their killer. I won’t do the same to them, or to myself.�
Karen Rose does romantic suspense so damn well. Even when you get the bad guy’s POV, you’ll still be left questioning things until the very end when everything gets wrapped up in the most satisfying way. This author’s ability to craft an interesting story with tons of factors and connecting timelines is amazing. This book, as a lot of hers tend to do, only spans a few days. However, it’s written in a way where it feels like the story spans way longer. I really enjoy how it doesn’t really skip any of the steps. You get the entire case from start to finish, and we get to see it from all of the POVs that matter.
It’s definitely a book that’s heavier on the plot and suspense than the romance, but sometimes that’s exactly what I want. There’s still romance and spice, but it feels more like the cherry on top of an amazing crime-solving novel, and it just adds that little extra something something. I really struggle with reading something without any romance at all, but I don’t always want it to be the main focus either. Deacon and Faith have amazing chemistry that adds this other element and makes it a great book and not just an entertaining crime.
I still love Say You’re Sorry by Karen Rose the most, but this one is pretty great too.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Romantic suspense
Serial killer
Police procedural
FBI agent MMC
Whodunnit
Multiple POV
Fast burn
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphic violence
Serial killing
Kidnapping
Captivity
Child captivity and abuse
Torture
Drugging
Gun violence
Mentions of pedophilia
Child sexual abuse (past, off page, not detailed)
Mentions of parent suicide
Death of side characters
Past and present murder attempts on MCs
Graphic murder scenes
Brief mention of alcoholic parent (past)
Child abuse: physical and verbal (on page)
Brief mentions of cheating ex husband
Car accident
Mentions of side character being raped (no details, off page)
Stalking
Severely injured MC
Mentions of homophobia
*This book deals heavily with the theme of sexual abuse of children. Never on page and not detailed.
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi POV
Genre: Romantic suspense, MF
Main characters� age: 32 and 33
Pages: 594
‘I keep expecting robotic arms to pop out of your coat pockets like Inspector Gadget. What else do you have hidden?�
His imagination had already conjured an entire collection of images that would make it very embarrassing were he to need to stand up any time soon.
Ms Pohl, Principal. Deacon stared at the nameplate on the door, summoning his courage. He’d faced killers without breaking a sweat. Surely he could handle one very old woman.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well:
November 1, 2014
ARC generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
RATING ~ 4.25 Stars.
The story follows Dr. Faith Corcoran and the FBI Agent Deacon Novak in their investigation to find the missing girls in town of Cincinnati.
Faith:
Deacon:
Dr. Faith Corcoran is a thirty-two year psychologist or she was until her she got a stalker who made several attempts on her life. Faith used to be a therapist to criminals until one of them decides to stalk her. Fed up that the local police was not taking her seriously, she decides to change her identity move back to her hometown and to a house (left to her in by her late grandmother) she hasn't visited since she left twenty-three years ago when her mother died. She just gets back into town that trouble has found her again. This is how I imagine the somewhat looks like house:
Agent Deacon Novak has also just returned to town and joined the task force there because of his troublemaker younger brother who no longer listens to his uncle and aunty. Deacon parents died young, he and his siblings were forced to sell their home and move in with their aunty and uncle. He’s bought in when the trouble comes knocking.
Faith and Deacon were both very strong characters with very interesting background. Faith and Deacon’s relationship was also great, it was a slow build up where they went from being strangers to trusting each other to being together as a couple. They also had a definite connection which I always like in my hero and heroine. I thought they were great together.
I don’t want to give away too much but the story follows the investigation of the missing girls and Faith’s stalker/ attempted murderer which leads to pain and old secrets being revealed.
This book is about 700 pages long but you don’t feel that, the story flows smoothly in a typical Karen Rose fashion with twists and turns and mayhem just around the corner. I really enjoyed the suspense and figuring out who-dun-it part of the book and of course faith & Deacon together.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series which I believe also has Faith and Deacon as protagonist, cannot wait for more of their story to unfold.
Karen Rose writes really amazing romantic suspense books, if you have not read any of her books you definitely should. Happy Reading!
P.s Yes I thought them as anime characters because why not?
Review posted 31 Oct'14
Originally posted:
RATING ~ 4.25 Stars.
The story follows Dr. Faith Corcoran and the FBI Agent Deacon Novak in their investigation to find the missing girls in town of Cincinnati.
Faith:
Deacon:
Dr. Faith Corcoran is a thirty-two year psychologist or she was until her she got a stalker who made several attempts on her life. Faith used to be a therapist to criminals until one of them decides to stalk her. Fed up that the local police was not taking her seriously, she decides to change her identity move back to her hometown and to a house (left to her in by her late grandmother) she hasn't visited since she left twenty-three years ago when her mother died. She just gets back into town that trouble has found her again. This is how I imagine the somewhat looks like house:
Agent Deacon Novak has also just returned to town and joined the task force there because of his troublemaker younger brother who no longer listens to his uncle and aunty. Deacon parents died young, he and his siblings were forced to sell their home and move in with their aunty and uncle. He’s bought in when the trouble comes knocking.
Faith and Deacon were both very strong characters with very interesting background. Faith and Deacon’s relationship was also great, it was a slow build up where they went from being strangers to trusting each other to being together as a couple. They also had a definite connection which I always like in my hero and heroine. I thought they were great together.
I don’t want to give away too much but the story follows the investigation of the missing girls and Faith’s stalker/ attempted murderer which leads to pain and old secrets being revealed.
This book is about 700 pages long but you don’t feel that, the story flows smoothly in a typical Karen Rose fashion with twists and turns and mayhem just around the corner. I really enjoyed the suspense and figuring out who-dun-it part of the book and of course faith & Deacon together.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series which I believe also has Faith and Deacon as protagonist, cannot wait for more of their story to unfold.
Karen Rose writes really amazing romantic suspense books, if you have not read any of her books you definitely should. Happy Reading!
P.s Yes I thought them as anime characters because why not?
Review posted 31 Oct'14
Originally posted:
May 8, 2020
After several attempts on her life, Faith Corcoran changes her identity and moves from Miami to Cincinnati, planning on living in her Grandmother's house which she recently inherited. When the key will not open the door, she is a bit relieved because she does not have good memories of this house. Faith doesn't know that the home is being used by a serial killer who kidnaps and tortures blonde women. When two college students are reported missing, FBI Special Agent Deacon Novak is assigned to the case. His path quickly crosses with Faith who he finds intriguing. Deacon soon realizes that Faith may have some answers from her past that will help him catch this killer.
I was a bit intimidated by the size of this book and thought it would take a long time to read. Well, that wasn't the case. This book is 678 pages of fast-paced suspense and romance. There was so much going on, it was hard to put this book down. I loved the new characters and know that this author will have a story for them in the future. The mystery was very detailed with a lot of twists and turns. I highly recommend this book. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
I was a bit intimidated by the size of this book and thought it would take a long time to read. Well, that wasn't the case. This book is 678 pages of fast-paced suspense and romance. There was so much going on, it was hard to put this book down. I loved the new characters and know that this author will have a story for them in the future. The mystery was very detailed with a lot of twists and turns. I highly recommend this book. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
February 11, 2015
This book has to be my favourite Karen Rose book, and I have read them all. I always like her characters, but this time she outdid herself. Faith was strong without being stupid, Deacon was wonderfully different, and the whole cast of secondary characters fulfilled the roles they had been given.
This author doesn't hide from the minds of some very disturbed individuals, and I appreciate that. It helps me become fully engrossed in the whole story.
This book has a lot of pages, and I loved every one of them. Now I just have to wait for the next book in this new series.
This author doesn't hide from the minds of some very disturbed individuals, and I appreciate that. It helps me become fully engrossed in the whole story.
This book has a lot of pages, and I loved every one of them. Now I just have to wait for the next book in this new series.
July 24, 2019
Just a quick review.
First time reading a Karen Rose book. I really enjoyed it. It was suspenseful and kept me guessing right up until the end.
I thought the hero Deacon was great. The heroine Faith was fabulous. They made a great couple/team. Strong secondary characters too. All and all a great read.
Looking forward to reading more by her.
April 2, 2022
2,5/5 🌟
November 20, 2014
Faith Corcoran is on the run. Forced to change her name to escape a stalker who seems hell bent on killing her she has returned to the house that blighted her childhood and still brings chills all these years later . With a sense of dread Faith goes to the house she has recently inherited but the nightmares of her past fail to compare to the horror that awaits her, Someone has been very busy kidnapping and torturing young women and when Faith discovers a tortured and traumatised young woman she takes a stand and calls for help but when the police show up it's Faith who they seem the most interested in !
Agent Deacon Novak is one scary individual . He's big, he's buff and he's almost an albino with unique eyes that startle many. Used to the reactions his appearance garners he has found his own personal niche in the world but his younger brother needs him and so Deacon has relocated to be there for him. When a call comes in that there's an accident involving a missing student and a stranger in town alarm bells start ringing but when Deacon realises that the driver Faith is hiding secrets his curiosity knows no bounds. It's soon apparent that there's more than one victim and it's somehow all connected to Faith. The clock is ticking as there's still another missing student to be found and Faith is the only link they have. It's time to go back to the house where it all began but it's a very tangled web of lies and deceit and in the middle of it all a cold hearted killer lies in wait and this time his target is Faith!
I enjoy reading the dark twisted and often macabre books that this author writes and although I hadn't read anything by her recently was quite keen to read this book. It's a very long book which I usually like but I did feel that possibly some of the scenes could have been tightened up a little . As it's a murder case there's quite a large team involved so that meant a lot of characters to get straight in my head but it doesn't stop there. No,there's also Deacons family and then of course the heroine Faith has relatives who may or may not be involved. Red herrings abound throughout this story but I did spot the moment when a fatal error occurred and found myself shouting at a character who really should have known better, no spoilers but come on follow up leads and don't be fobbed off !
As I really don't wish to spoil the book for other readers I will say no more about the actual plot but it's quite a convoluted one and at times it's a tad implausible as Faith seems almost impossible to kill! She's possibly a little too perfect for my taste but I could not fault her bravery nor her taste in men as Deacon Novak sounds mighty fine to me! Yes there's romance added to the mixture which may or may not please other readers. I enjoy romance in books I read but have to admit everything happens very quickly here but when faced with horror and death I guess it makes sense to celebrate living so will forgive the instant lust .
So in conclusion both Faith and Deacon have an awful lot of backstory and have both had very emotional lives. Tragedy has marred both their lives but it's about to get a lot worse! Those who enjoy a thriller will like this story with it's twists and turns and working out exactly who to trust is all part of the fun. Another good book from Ms Rose and I'm hoping that Deacons cousin Adam might get his own story told soon.
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Agent Deacon Novak is one scary individual . He's big, he's buff and he's almost an albino with unique eyes that startle many. Used to the reactions his appearance garners he has found his own personal niche in the world but his younger brother needs him and so Deacon has relocated to be there for him. When a call comes in that there's an accident involving a missing student and a stranger in town alarm bells start ringing but when Deacon realises that the driver Faith is hiding secrets his curiosity knows no bounds. It's soon apparent that there's more than one victim and it's somehow all connected to Faith. The clock is ticking as there's still another missing student to be found and Faith is the only link they have. It's time to go back to the house where it all began but it's a very tangled web of lies and deceit and in the middle of it all a cold hearted killer lies in wait and this time his target is Faith!
I enjoy reading the dark twisted and often macabre books that this author writes and although I hadn't read anything by her recently was quite keen to read this book. It's a very long book which I usually like but I did feel that possibly some of the scenes could have been tightened up a little . As it's a murder case there's quite a large team involved so that meant a lot of characters to get straight in my head but it doesn't stop there. No,there's also Deacons family and then of course the heroine Faith has relatives who may or may not be involved. Red herrings abound throughout this story but I did spot the moment when a fatal error occurred and found myself shouting at a character who really should have known better, no spoilers but come on follow up leads and don't be fobbed off !
As I really don't wish to spoil the book for other readers I will say no more about the actual plot but it's quite a convoluted one and at times it's a tad implausible as Faith seems almost impossible to kill! She's possibly a little too perfect for my taste but I could not fault her bravery nor her taste in men as Deacon Novak sounds mighty fine to me! Yes there's romance added to the mixture which may or may not please other readers. I enjoy romance in books I read but have to admit everything happens very quickly here but when faced with horror and death I guess it makes sense to celebrate living so will forgive the instant lust .
So in conclusion both Faith and Deacon have an awful lot of backstory and have both had very emotional lives. Tragedy has marred both their lives but it's about to get a lot worse! Those who enjoy a thriller will like this story with it's twists and turns and working out exactly who to trust is all part of the fun. Another good book from Ms Rose and I'm hoping that Deacons cousin Adam might get his own story told soon.
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
September 6, 2016
Grundgeschichte toll, zwischendurch ziemliche Längen
October 29, 2019
Giving this one a 3.5 it was a good story and sure it’s romantic suspense too so the connection between Deacon and Faith must be in that kind of way. Though it wasn’t too much of the sexual stuff between. Still it not got me in that kind of fever if you know what I mean not to creepy not to excited hunting a murder.
June 10, 2016
4.25/5 stars. writes an amazing romantic suspense book. This book kept my attention for the whole 28 hours and 36 minutes of the audio performance (at 2x speed); I was kept guessing who the villain is even though the book's title is already the first clue. The experience is enhanced with superb audio performance by .
If you are like me, a fan of romance and gritty thrillers, a fan of 's Lucas Davenport series, be sure to check out this author. Happy reading! Happy listening!
If you are like me, a fan of romance and gritty thrillers, a fan of 's Lucas Davenport series, be sure to check out this author. Happy reading! Happy listening!
March 31, 2016
4.5 stars. I loved it! Great characters and a terrific plot with lots of twist & turns and a bad guy I couldn't guess ahead of time, which is rare. Hell, I suspected almost everybody *who wasn't law enforcement* at one point.
I love finding a new favorite series and I look forward to reading more of this one!
I love finding a new favorite series and I look forward to reading more of this one!
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