I enjoyed this well written story. However it felt to be developed slowly and it didn’t wow me - most reviewers on Netgalley love this though, so this is just my personal opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review

Cold Blooded Liar is the first in an exciting new series by Rose, the San Diego Case Files, and what an explosive start it was!

Its fast action plot draws you in and holds you in its grip right till the last page is turned. The story is well written, the characters are well developed, credible and made for an engaging, entertaining read.

The story is told from the perspectives of Detective Kit McKittrick and psychologist Sam Reeves. I haven't read many of Roses books, but I'm on the understanding there are several cross overs within the book where characters from other books make an appearance.

Cold Blooded Liar was a book I fast found myself invested in and I'm already looking forward to the second in the series.

Many thanks to Headline Books for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The first book in the writer’s San Diego Case Files series featuring Detective Kate (Kit-Cat) McKittrick and Dr Sam Reeves. I’ve read a lot of this authors book and this is one of the best. Kit became a detective following the murder, 16 years earlier, of her fellow foster “sister” Wren whose murderer has never been found. Kit is feisty and hardworking and very good at her job. Sam is a nice guy, caring and compassionate who has to balance his chosen career and the confidentiality it requires with his conscience.

Briefly, psychologist Sam has a client who is a compulsive liar. However, after one session Sam believes his client has murdered a young girl so anonymously contacts the San Diego Police. The case is passed to McKittrick and her work partner Baz Constantine. When a body is found Sam becomes a suspect but as more bodies are discovered, going back many years, McKittrick realises that she is up against a very clever serial killer. However, suspicion remains on Sam who is working to clear himself.

Karen Rose really blends all the threads together well leading to some startling conclusions as McKittrick has to race against time to prevent another killing. A really well written and plotted thriller, tense and exciting with some great twists and turns. I loved the book and can’t wait for more from Kit and Sam

Karen Rose is back with another brand new series (I hope she’ll still dip back into her older series too sometimes, as I do miss the old gang!), so let’s get to the review! Allons-y!


TRIGGER WARNINGS


Murder - adults & minors
Child abuse
Sexual abuse
Foster system
Abuse of power
Grief and trauma

Cold Blooded Liar is the first book in the San Diego series, which is Rose’s second new series in a row following the debut of her New Orleans series last year. I reviewed the first book, Quarter to Midnight, last August and you can read that here. The second book in the New Orleans series, Beneath Dark Waters, is expected to be released on the 17th August this year, so I’ll be looking forward to that! Here’s the blurb for Cold Blooded Liar…

⚡️’Colton Driscoll is a compulsive liar. But there's one thing his psychologist Sam Reeves fears he is telling the truth about: murder. Concerned his patient has committed an awful crime and that the life of another girl could be under threat, Sam calls in an anonymous tip to the San Diego Police Department.

Detective Kit McKittrick works homicide in the hope that one day she will find out what happened to her foster sister, Wren. When a tip comes in from an anonymous caller it leads her to the body of a girl whose murder has the hallmarks of a serial killer that has been at large for almost twenty years. It also leads her to the source of the information: Dr Sam Reeves.

Will Kit be able to crack the cold case in time to stop another murder being committed? And is Sam Reeves being a concerned citizen trying to help, or is there another more sinister reason he has so much information?’⚡️


I expected the usual Karen Rose formula, fast paced, high stakes suspense with a huge dollop of romance and spice - the spice isn’t usually my thing, but I always love the storylines and characters and root for them to get together, so I don’t mind it in her books. It’s mostly intense build up anyway, which helps to build the intensity of the suspense leading to thrilling, ahem, conclusions, all round! This book was different though, there was the mildest hint of something that could become romance at some point - if you’ve read her other books think Dani and Diesel - but zero romantic tension or spice, which was an interesting shift in style. This shift really does change the feel and pace of the book, yet Rose’s writing is still just as good and keeps the intrigue going strong.

I love the character of Kit. She is strong, relentless, caring, yet she is profoundly damaged by her childhood. She is woman who has suffered an unimaginable tragedy, just as she was starting to settle into a family who welcomed her. Kit is driven by the ghosts of her past, becoming a formidable homicide detective and complete workaholic who is seemingly unable to make time for herself, and certainly not for romance. She still has that wonderful family, who took her in and raised her and showed her over and over again what real love is. She is a very layered character and I’d love to get to know her more, and I certainly want to see her romance progress! I won’t say more than that though so that I don’t spoil anything!

The storyline, like the characters, is pure Karen Rose. Twisting and turning, gruesome and disturbing, but, as always, there is more depth than a lot of other murder mystery/suspense/police procedural books. Rose likes to play around with ideas of trust, ‘who can you trust?’, ‘who am I trusting that I shouldn’t be?’, she seems to particularly enjoy questioning those in power - how they got their power, how they keep their power and so on and so forth - and that is displayed here to maximum effect.

This book is much shorter than her usual books, so I’m guessing all the tension from her usual reluctant romances take up a lot of space in the book! Can’t imagine how much room the spice takes up, but I’m guessing A LOT!!

Another hit for me from Karen Rose. I’m also intrigued by the change in her writing, cutting out all the tension of a romantic relationship started under intense pressure, and all the spice/steam/smut - whatever your choice of term, the only author that I read with any of it is Karen Rose so I’m not au fait with it all! - that are usually her hallmarks. I still enjoyed the story, but I did miss the thread of tension that I’m used to from her. Although there is still the tension of ‘will they, won’t they?’ which helped a little. If it weren’t for the murders I’d say it was a gentler entry, if you pardon the phrasing there, in the Karen Rose bibliography!

This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me, not one of my favourite Karen Rose books, but it’s still a Karen Rose book therefore it’s still great! I have yet to read a Karen Rose book that I would rate lower than a 4⭐️ read, she is so consistent.

Thank you to Karen Rose, Headline Books and NetGalley for giving me and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As always, my opinions are my own.

As a psychologist who treats court-ordered clients. What would you do when one of them starts revealing plausible details about a long unsolved serial murder case?

That's the problem facing Doctor Samuel Reeves. Who knows his client is a pathological liar. But he occasionally says something that raises the hairs on his neck and feeling he has no choice, Sam has to act.

So he reaches out anonymously to Detective Kit McKittrick. A homicide cop with an uncanny ability to solve cold cases and a history that makes her the perfect choice to help.

Only thanks to client confidentiality Sam can't reveal his client's name. Which immediately makes him Kit's number one suspect.

And as the investigation unfolds and the stakes rise. Sam starts to believe his only option is to hunt for answers himself.

But Kit is one determined detective and will stop at nothing to uncover a killer who has been active for at least twenty years.

And with extremely intriguing and likable characters. A complex, captivating storyline. Not to mention twists and turns. This was a fantastic read and introduction to a new department and city and I'd one hundred percent recommend it to others.

this was the start of a new series and what a. Start . I loved it. . It was a good story line , fast paced and thrilling and had me engrossed in it . I loved the characters I felt you got to know them . Including main character Kit who also had a good back ground story . It has everything you want In a thriller . I can't wait for the next one

Romantic Suspense #27 San Diego Cold Case #1

Sam Reeves is a kindhearted psychologist who treat court-ordered clients. After one of his patients - a pathological liar - starts revealing plausible new details from a long-unsolved serial murder case, he's compelled to report anonymously to the SDPD tip line, though his attempt to protect patient confidentially land him facedown and cuffed by the aggressive (and cute) Detective McKittrick. San Diego homicide detective Kit McKittrick loves the water. she lives on a boat, and when she's not solving crimes with the SDPD, she's assisting her foster sister with her charter fishing business, scuba diving, or playing with her poodle. But there's nothing intrigues Kit more than a cold case, so when an anonymous caller leads her on the path of a wanted killer, she's determined to end the decade-long manhunt.

This is a complex case. The characters are well developed, and the main characters are likable. The pace is fast, its action packed, and filled with twists. This is an easy book to read. I was pulled into the story after a few pages, I was hooked and didn't want to put the book down again. Its tense and the suspense builds throughout. I liked the authors style in writing this book. The plotline is intricate. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Headline and the author #KarenRose for my ARC of #ColdBloodedLiar in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Headline and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Cold Blooded Liar’ by Karen Rose in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Psychologist Dr Sam Reeves believes that his patient Colston Driscoll is responsible for the deaths of teenage blonde girls and anonymously phones the San Diego Police Department to tell them of his fears. When Detectives Kit McKittrick and Baz Constantine arrive at his house they arrest him as a potential suspect and although they keep him under investigation Kit believes he’s innocent of any wrong-doing. By arresting Colston Driscoll will they finally catch the serial killer they’ve been searching for over the last twenty years?

‘Cold Blooded Liar’ featuring Detective Kit McKittrick and Dr Sam Reeves is the first in an exciting new series by this very talented author and bodes well for the future of the series. From page one I’ve been caught up in the ingenious plot with characters who aren’t just believable but likeable too. The story contains a plethora of intrigue, suspense, drama and twists and turns, all the ingredients needed to keep me glued to my Kindle and unable to stop reading as the plot becomes more involving. As it reaches its final pages there’s a humdinger of a climax that prepares the way for the two main characters to work together in the future.. I’m so looking forward to reading more of Kit and Sam and their lovely dogs and have no hesitation in recommending this brilliant book that’s worth far more than five stars.

Karen Rose's 'Cold Blooded Liar' is a thrilling addition to the Romantic Suspense series, with a unique focus on the capture of a serial killer rather than the blossoming romance between the main characters. The book differs from others in the series in this aspect, but it is no less gripping. The killer's crimes span over twenty years, and the lack of leads adds to the sense of danger and urgency in the story. Despite the lack of romantic developments between Sam and Kit, the budding relationship is sweet and adds depth to the characters. As a first book in the San Diego series, 'Cold Blooded Liar' is a worthy addition to Karen Rose's repertoire. I highly recommend this book to all readers, not just fans of Romantic Suspense.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Karen Rose's Cold Blooded Killer in exchange for a honest review.
I love Karen Rose and this book didn't disappoint!! After reading I cant wait for further books in this series!! I can't wait to meet the characters again and the cast to be expended!
Psychologist Sam Reeves has a patient who is a compulsive liar but his sessions raises his suspicions so much he makes an anonymous call which leads to him being a suspect in a serial killer investigation which
Kit McKittrick Is leading.
It's a brilliant read and I would highly recommend!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this exceptional book

wow karen rose has hit the ball out of the ball park again with this book...there was no way once i started it that i was putting it down, i was hooked right from the first page and the thrills and horrors never stopped right till the end and boy never saw that ending coming in a million years

kit mckittrick or detective mckittrick her name when she grew up didnt have an easy life in the beginning and once she lost her sister to a killer she never trusted anyone again... but she was a cold case closer and she never stopped looking into her sisters murder, but she was also a homicide detective and a tip had come in about a possible body

sam reeves is a psychologist and hes about to enter kits world in a way that even he never saw coming when he rang the police hotline with a tip about a dead body...face down and cuffed by kit

cant wait to see what the next book by this author is, this author keeps getting better and better each time

A new series, set in a new city, San Diego and a whole new cast of characters for you to become addicted too! This is another brilliant book from the queen of romantic suspenses. Although this time there is less romance and more crime. In this book the romance is a slow burner and not as intense as the relationships in her other books.

Introducing San Diego homicide detective Kit McKittrick, she is instantly likeable and the star of the show and with a passion for cold cases so when she receives an anonymous phone call giving her details on an past serial killer that might be linked to a new murder, Kit makes it her mission to close this case once and for all.

Its not long before the anonymous caller is identified as psychologist Sam Reeves. He's done something that he's never done before and broken patient confidentiality by phoning the police. Even though his patient is a diagnosed pathological liar, some of the details he reveals are about the serial murders are to accurate to be lies. Aren't they?

But now, the finger of suspicion are pointing in his direction. Determined to clear his name he begins his own investigation causing a clash with Kit.

The book isn't a small read but the characters and the plot line keep you glued to the pages and you suddenly realise you've read throughout the entire night, just to see how it all comes together at the end!

There is a perfect blend of character building, so you can't help but become invested in the characters lives, as well as the plot line that gallops along taking you with it for the ride, and finally, a splash of romance that leaves you wanting to push Kit and Sam together because the chemistry between them is palpable!

Roll on the second book in this new series, I cannot wait to see what trouble Kit gets into next!

Cold Blooded Liar will be published on 02 March 2023 and is available to pre order now from your local bookstore or the link below.

A massive thank you to the author Karen Rose, publishers Headline and NetGalley for my digital arc of this book

Apologises but unfortunately I’m going to have to review this book at a later day due to unforeseen family circumstances. Once I have read Cold Blooded Liar I will post to my Instagram page

https://www.instagram.com/thebookreviewcafe

Karen Rose has been one of my favourite authors for many years now, and I’m thrilled (but not surprised) that she’s smashed it out of the park again.

It’s hard to review a Rose book because it’s so easy to give spoilers by mistake, but this is a great thriller, serial killer, romance, gripping storylines, twists and turns, absolutely gripping. The character work is great, and I always think it’s like a James Patterson meets Tana French experience.

For those who are already fans, in some ways this felt like it harked back to some of Rose’s earlier work. Less political machinations, more classic crime. But it was also a departure from type in some ways and an interesting evolution. For one - no crossover characters, (earlier books usually have at least one character that’s appeared before. Often several. In fact, you read books wondering which side character will be a main character next). For another, you don’t get the killer’s viewpoint. Often she flips between the main good guys and the baddy so you see both sides progressing. Finally, there’s a strong indication that main characters might be repeated rather than moving on to others. It’s also missing some of the characteristic Karen Rose sex scenes (though I’m sure those will reappear later in the series).

Anyway, it’s fab. Works as a standalone (albeit clearly a start to a duology? Trilogy?) so you don’t need to read her previous ones. It’s pacy, characters are interesting, good sense of danger. The ending wasn’t quite as tense as some of her others - but there were some good twists. I’ll be eagerly waiting to see what happens next..

Brilliant! As always, Karen Rose never misses! I loved this, loved Kits character and the story was thrilling. Chasing a serial killer who's been on the go for many years! Everything you want in a crime story is in the book!

Karen Rose certainly knows how to hook a reader and this book does not disappoint. The first in a new series with detective Kit McKittrick and psychologist Sam Reeves, this is going to be a great partnership.

Kit is working on solving the disappearance s of teenage girls going back 20 years and one of Sam’s clients makes a disclosure that could help….

Fast paced and with characters that you feel you know, this is a fantastic read.

4.5* round up to 5

haven't read a Karen Rose book for quite some years, but thought i request this on a whim.
and the book did not disappoint.
Fast-paced, action-packed and thrilling crime thriller. great twists and turns along the way with great, likeable characters. Heart-warming family,friends and sick, despicable villain - all lead to an enthralling reading-experience.
The romance is there but not at the forefront so much, which is def in favor of my reading taste.

{AD|GIFTED} I've read every Karen Rose book except one and this felt like a slightly new direction for the author. The previous books have leant into romantic relationships more, usually with a main romance per book. However, this book hints at the possibility of a romance only. I assume the author is developing the romance at a slower pace over the series this time. The potential romance could be great but I need more interaction between Kit and Sam in the next instalment. The ending certainly implies this will happen at least.

As usual, the police procedural aspect was detailed, engaging and authentic. The murders at the centre of the case point to a serial killer who has been operating for decades. Psychologists play a large role in this series and I assume this balance between police and psychologists will continue. I'm fascinated by criminal psychology so would love the next book to explore this element further.

Overall, this was an emotional and action-packed crime thriller promising a slow-burn romance.

Cold Blooded Liar Karen Rose

5 stars

I have read many oi Karen Rose’s books and have enjoyed them all. However I was beginning to find them all very similar and although I still loved reading them I am so pleased that this book, which is the first in a new series, is different and, if possible, even better to read.

Some authors just draw you in from the very beginning and keep you hooked until the end and this is so true of this book.

Sam Reeves is a criminal psychologist and during one of his sessions with a man who enjoys telling lies constantly about his meetings with famous people and royalty suddenly mentions a location of a grave and a ‘pretty young thing’ that is buried there. Due to confidentiality Sam cannot reveal this information to anyone unless it is anonymous so decides to leave a message for Detective Kit McKittrick. When a body is discovered Sam finds himself a suspect and the murderer seems to be trying to frame him.

This story is full of twists and turns but the story, for me, is more about the characters and their interactions. Both Sam and Kit have had devastating episodes in their past, from over 10 years before, Sam’s girlfriend had been killed in front of him and Kit’s foster sister had been murdered and both of them are drawn to each other in their shared experiences.

There are so many brilliant characters in this book and I felt that I actually knew them, The author is a master at describing feelings and emotions. The best thing about this book is that it is the first of a series set in San Diego. I cannot wait for the next one!


Karen Deborah
Netgalley

The Queen of romantic suspenses has done it again.
Another smash hit but in a new city with some really great new characters. A few pop up from past books but it's definitely an easy standalone read and the first book in a new series.
I can't wait for the next one!