Author: Karen Rose
Series: The San Diego Case Files #4
Publisher: Berkley Books
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 528
Date of Publication: March 31, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
The fourth nerve-shattering installment of the San Diego Case Files from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose sees Kit McKittrick’s sister caught in a maelstrom of deadly family secrets.
As an infant, Kit McKittrick’s foster sister Akiko was abandoned at a firehouse. Now 32, Akiko has received an unsettling phone call from a woman who says that she knew her birth mother but refuses to divulge any details except in person. Akiko is nervous but also thrilled at the prospect of finally learning about her blood relations.
Kit has a bad feeling about this and insists on accompanying Akiko to meet the woman. Sure enough, as they stand on Mary Sherman’s doorstep, shots are fired and Kit is hit...and inside the house is a corpse: Mary Sherman herself.
Although she’s on medical leave and forbidden to work the case, Kit cannot rest. With police psychologist Sam Reeves, she undertakes a covert investigation into the mysterious Mary Sherman. Was she Akiko’s birth mother? Why did she reach out after all these years? And who had a motive to kill her?
As more bodies pile up, Kit starts to put together the pieces of the frightening puzzle that is Akiko’s birth family, and she’ll come to wonder whether some secrets should stay buried after all.
As an infant, Kit McKittrick’s foster sister Akiko was abandoned at a firehouse. Now 32, Akiko has received an unsettling phone call from a woman who says that she knew her birth mother but refuses to divulge any details except in person. Akiko is nervous but also thrilled at the prospect of finally learning about her blood relations.
Kit has a bad feeling about this and insists on accompanying Akiko to meet the woman. Sure enough, as they stand on Mary Sherman’s doorstep, shots are fired and Kit is hit...and inside the house is a corpse: Mary Sherman herself.
Although she’s on medical leave and forbidden to work the case, Kit cannot rest. With police psychologist Sam Reeves, she undertakes a covert investigation into the mysterious Mary Sherman. Was she Akiko’s birth mother? Why did she reach out after all these years? And who had a motive to kill her?
As more bodies pile up, Kit starts to put together the pieces of the frightening puzzle that is Akiko’s birth family, and she’ll come to wonder whether some secrets should stay buried after all.
MY THOUGHTS:
Kit McKittrick, a homicide detective, has dedicated her life to justice after her adopted sister’s murder. Despite her career’s occasional deviations, she’s built a stellar record. Now, she’s faced another crisis when one of her adopted sisters, Akiko, is in danger. Akiko, like many foster children, is eager to meet her birth mother.
Kit’s protective instincts kick in when Akiko decides to meet her mother. However, things take a turn for the worse when they arrive at the house. Shots ring out, and Kit is shot. The woman, Mary Sherman, is found dead. Kit feels that the sudden contact between Akiko and Mary Sherman, coupled with Mary’s murder, is not a coincidence.
Kit’s injury leads to her being placed on medical leave and is also forbidden from any involvement in the case. But Kit’s determination knows no bounds. She risks her career by delving deeper into the investigation, uncovering shocking revelations about Akiko’s natural family. Kit’s quest for answers is not in vain; she has the support of police psychologist Sam Reeves, who helps her navigate the complexities of the case. Together, they hope to find the truth and bring Akiko the closure she deserves. All the while, their relationship deepens during this intense time Kit, Akiko and their family is experiencing.
Tragically, the murder of Mary Sherman marks the beginning of a series of unsettling events. Other murders follow, and somehow, they all converge on Akiko’s birth family. Family Lies is an utterly captivating read that delves into both emotional and hard-hitting themes. Kit’s unwavering love and determination for Akiko are palpable, and their bond is as strong as any sisterly relationship. When Akiko finds herself entangled in danger while exploring her roots, Kit’s love and resolve shine through.
This fourth book in the San Diego series is just as intense and emotionally compelling as its predecessors, with the tension never wavering. Readers are left eagerly anticipating the next installment in this gripping series.
Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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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