Author: Karen Rose
Series: New Orleans #4
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Date of Publication: August 12, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose comes another "intense, complex, and unforgettable”* novel.
Officer Naomi Cranston was framed for stealing cocaine from the evidence locker and coerced—through threats to her young son—into not fighting the charges. After five years in prison, she has tried to put the ordeal behind her, but the crooks who framed her have returned, this time demanding she move drugs along with her flower shop’s deliveries. They threaten her son once again, but this time she’s not capitulating quietly. She hires Broussard Investigations to protect her and her son, to prove her innocence, and to put the real bad guys away.
As a former cop, Burke Broussard is well aware of the corruption in the New Orleans police department. He had always believed Naomi Cranston to be guilty and isn’t inclined to take her case. Until he sits down to listen to her side of things. Until he sees her tortured innocence written all over her beautiful face....
A relationship born amid an investigation is a fragile thing. Will it survive the danger and the threats? Will it survive the truth?
*James Patterson
MY THOUGHTS:
Officer Naomi Cranston has been released from prison after seven years. Naomi was unable to prove her innocence for the charge of stealing cocaine from the evidence room. In all actuality, she didn’t even fight the charge, as threats against her young son terrified her. Now released, whomever it was that set Naomi up isn’t done with her, and again, concern for her son is paramount.
Naomi was quiet before, but not this time. Yes, her son might be in the crosshairs, but hiring Broussard Investigations to unbury the incredible corruption that played a part in her conviction, and is continuing today. Burke Broussard is the one that will be working with Naomi, and as a former cop, is not surprised when she tells him why she is sure corruption in the force is behind all that has been going on.
At the outset, however, Naomi and Burke clash, but Naomi won’t take no for an answer, despite the ever growing danger she and her son are facing. With Naomi having a strong conviction for stopping all of the dangers that the corruption delivers, Burke does indeed take the case. In fact, almost in the nick of time. Burke work’s hard to keep both Naomi and her son safe.
Every book by Karen Rose that I have read has been a solid read, and this book definitely rates as one of her best. I love the determination that Naomi has and am glad that I was able to also read the previous books in the series.
Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Internationally bestselling 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 more than fifteen novels and two novellas. Her twenty-sixth novel, QUARTER TO MIDNIGHT, will be released in 2022.
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! To date, her books have been translated into more than twenty languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than thirty years.
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