I have read and enjoyed a lot of Karen Rose books now and she always does a great job with her police procedurals. Cop fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially when it’s combined with some sort of romance.
This story happens to be a second book featuring Kit and Sam and my hopes were definitely high. Continue for my complete review.
Cheater by Karen Rose
Publisher: Berkley (March 26, 2024)
ISBN-13: 978-0593548899
OVERVIEW:
Death is not an unfamiliar visitor to Shady Oaks Retirement Village, which provides San Diego with premier elderly support from independent retiree housing to full-time hospice care. But when a resident’s body is found brutally stabbed and his apartment ransacked, it’s clear there’s someone deadly in their community. Detective Katherine “Kit” McKittrick quickly discovers that Shady Oaks is full of skeleton-riddled closets, and most tenants prefer to keep their doors firmly closed to the SDPD.
A longtime volunteer at the retirement facility, Dr. Sam Reeves honors his late grandfather’s memory by playing the piano for the residents regularly. So it shouldn’t be such a surprise when Kit crosses paths with him during her investigation, after she’d avoided the criminal psychologist—and the emotions he evokes—for the last six months.
Sam’s rapport within the retirement village proves vital to the case, and the pair find themselves working together once again—much to Kit’s dismay. But she is determined to apprehend the shadow of death lurking around Shady Oaks…and equally determined to ignore the feelings she’s developing for a certain psychologist.
Cheater by Karen Rose Review
One thing to know about this author is that she writes long stories. But the cool thing about it is the plot engages you enough that the story moves rather quickly.
Cheater has a lot of different plot twists, some of which you see coming, but many are a surprise that adds layers to the story. Just when we think we’re figuring something out about the murder mystery, Rose brings another twist, and off we go in another direction.
This book has a lot of unique characters that add dimension and texture to the story. I did have some love-hate moments with the characters and with parts of the plot as well.
Sam is a sweet man, but he certainly has the patience of Job. Kit is great at her job but is absolutely terrified of any type of feelings. This makes the “romance“ in the story nonexistent.
We feel the tension and the yearning but it’s a bit wild that the term romantic suspense is how this book is classified because if you’re looking for romance in the story, you’re not going to find it.
If you’re classifying how good the book is in terms of the police procedural and murder mystery then I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has a big range of quirky characters, annoying characters, and a good balance of everything else besides the romance.
Overall, Cheater is a multi-dimensional book with a plot that is highly engaging and well-developed. The twists and turns alone make it well worth the read.
4 STARS!!
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.
One thought on “Cheater by Karen Rose: Review”
Great review. Too bad about the romance. That’s what I love about her earlier books so much.