Another fantastic book by one of the best thriller writers of our time. A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

I’m a bit conflicted about this novel.
I’ve read and liked previous Karen Rose novels, but there are aspects of them which I find a bit ‘same-y’ and formulaic, and this story seems to ramp that up. Everyone is just a wee bit caricatured, and there are so many characters to keep track of. The plot is convoluted, with a lot of handy coincidences and highly dubious decision making. And it’s a bit long.
Having said all that…..
I was sufficiently engaged with the characters to want to know how it finished, and was not tempted to skim read. The pace dragged a bit at times, but there was plenty of action and tension. And to be fair this is the first of her ‘New Orleans’ series that I’ve read, so had no previous knowledge of any of the characters, which I think would have made me far more invested in the story.

This was the first Karen Rose novel I tried, and I quickly gathered that it is the second instalment in a series, set in New Orleans. Whilst it is not absolutely essential to have read the first instalment before starting Before Dark Waters, it would help as there are so many fine plot details and a fairly large cast, so it would be helpful to know some of their backstories. This instalment features New Orleans prosecutor Kaj Cardoza who lives with his ten-year-old son Elijah. Kaj is simultaneously trying to solve two cases: a rape allegation by a film star and the death by beating of a cancer doctor. The prosecutor’s enquiries put his son in grave danger and he narrowly escapes a kidnap attempt, leading his father to appoint a female protection officer called Val. Mutual attraction soon crackles between Cardoza and Val, and as the action proceeds at a neck-breaking speed, it turns out there is a connection between Val and the shadowy figures threatening father and son. This was an enjoyable, fast paced read and a great, atmospheric setting in New Orleans. My thanks go to NetGalley and to the publishers for letting me read an advance copy by way of an ARC, gifted in exchange for this book review.

A compelling work of fiction. A great page turner which had me completely breathless at times. When a kidnapping attempted is made on the son of Kaj Cardozo, assistant district attorney who is working on a high profile case. He has to bring in a private investigation team to ensure his son Elijah is kept safe.
Val Sorensen, an ex-marine is assigned to be Elijah’s bodyguard. As Val and Kaj grow closer, Val discovers that she is more personally connected than she knew.
This is a roller-coaster of a ride that has you on the edge of your seat. It’s certainly not for the light hearted!

Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose is the second book in the New Orleans series and this series just got better. This latest book have everything you need for a good book it had me sitting on the edge of my seat especially as it had brilliant twists and turns, it's partly a police procedural and a private investigator crime novel with lots of action and suspense, with characters in danger and to top it all it had intense moments, and of course a romance.........What more do you want in a book! Plus its over 570 pages....but don't let that put you off........Once you open you kindle you will be gripped till the end.

How to describe this thriller? Bl**dy Excellent. Satisfyingly gripping read. The setting (New Orleans), the characters, the narrative - genuine genuine cut above the usual 'twisty' thrillers. I hadn't read the first one, but looks like I didn't need to (although i will out of curiosity) it works perfectly as a stand alone read. Well done Karen Rose - you have got yourself a new fan. Fans of Karin Slaughter will adore Beneath Dark Waters

I’m an avid fan Karen Rose and this book has continued my enjoyment. It’s another fantastic suspense novel with a cast of characters who play roles in their own rights and not just an add on to the story.
This is book two in the New Orleans series so some of the characters have already been introduced. Val Sorensen is hired to be District Attorneys Kai Córdoba’s bodyguard as he goes after a gang who threatens his son.
Brilliant read and can’t wait for book three.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although this is billed as a romance suspense and there is romance in it, don't be put off if you don't read "romance novels". This is a fast paced suspense novel with relationships and romance along the way - as in any situation where people are involved and there is a high emotional charge.

I enjoyed reading about the characters - almost all of them are real and flawed but have the redeeming features to make us really care what happens to them. We feel our emotions pulled from enormous highs to impossible lows (don't let the romance put you off, but there are some very graphic descriptions of violence and drug abuse so it may not be for you if that would upset you).

This is a great book to read (perhaps epic is a better description) so if you like books like this, you'll absolutely love this one.

Absolutely brilliant book. A really good plot and strong characters to back it up. I read it over two nights and couldn't put it down.

Assistant District Attorney Cordozo (Kai to his friends) is working on a high-profile case. When two masked men try to abduct his son, Elijah. Kai takes all measures available to protect his family and ensure his son is kept safe. The case is not going anywhere and the prosecution won’t back down, so Kai needs the best protection available.

So in steps Burke Broussard Private Investigation Agency. Not only PIs but some of the best bodyguards in the business. Val Sorensen is assigned as Elijah’s bodyguard, a role she takes incredibly seriously. Val, Kai and Burke work to figure out who tried to kidnap Elijah so that they can keep him safe from further attempts, Val realises she has a personal connection to the gang suspected to be behind the attempt. The Sixth Day gang killed her brother, and she has wanted to take them down since. But is there more?

As Kai and Val uncover more about the attempted kidnapping they start to uncover a connection between the Gates brothers. Aaron is in prison for murder, but Corey is out, and is not afraid to kill. Meanwhile, the police investigation is not proving very helpful, as it is leaking more information than solving any more of the case.

This one was a mixed-read for me. It was my first introduction to the cast of the Burke Broussard PI Agency. Overall, I enjoyed the crew, a really mixed bunch, who have chemistry, and a very mixed, but useful skillset. Put them all together and you would have Liam Neeson in Taken. The story itself was engaging, even if the plot was revealed a little early, and some plot jumps were a little big. Poor Elija has a lot put on his shoulders for a ten-year-old, despite us being told repeatedly he is very intelligent. That doesn’t always mean a child should be burdened. The relationship between Kai and Val happened very fast, at a time when one would imagine Kai would only have thoughts for his child, but hey, who am I to judge?!

Overall, despite any flaws in the story, I found myself picking the book back up very frequently, and at the end of each chapter saying that dangerous phrase, ‘Just one more chapter’. So it does have excellent readability, and keeps you engrossed and turning the pages. I would happily read what this crew gets up to again!

*I received this book for review, but all opinions are my own.

This has easily jumped into my top 5 reads of the year... actually scrap that.. my top 3.

I honestly don't think I've been as completely and utterly absorbed in a book as I was in this one in a very long time. Even when I put it down it was whirring away in my brain, trying to piece things together and then having the biggest compulsion to just pick it up again just for 'one more chapter'. We all know that just one more chapter turns into two or three... or five!

Beneath Dark Waters is book #2 in the New Orleans series and I honestly can't wait to see where this series takes us. Going by the first two books it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Kaj (pronounced Kai, like Pie) is an Assistant DA, working on two high profile cases, when there is an attempted kidnapping of his son Elijah. Kaj brings in a PI firm, Broussard Investigations, which includes a security detail. Former marine, Val Sorenson is assigned to be Elijah's bodyguard. Along with her beast of a dog Czar, she will give her life to protect the life of her young charge.

Val and her team are tasked with finding out not only who attempted the kidnapping but why. Everything points towards the Gates brother, after all one of their brothers is now in jail and Kaj is on the legal team but what would they gain?

While the team start delving into the Gates brothers, the brothers are digging around themselves. They are trying to find the whereabouts of an important witness that they are being paid to 'take care of'.

I can't really go into any detail without giving spoilers but what I can say is READ THE DAMN BOOK!

The book has everything and more for the genre. Twists and turns a plenty. Amazing build up of tension and suspense, danger, murder and a little pinch of romance.

aracters are expertly written, padded out perfectly with exquisite back stories and the pace is perfectly timed so that it never dips off at any point. Its literally 100 miles an hour from beginning to end.

As I've come to expect from Karen Rose, the plot is intricately woven, compelling and utterly absorbing. Karen has this insane talent of drawing the reader ain from the get go and holding you in its vice until the very end.

Biggest of thanks to netgalley and Headline for the ARC.

"Beneath Dark Waters" by Karen Rose is an absolute page-turner! This action thriller had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The author's knack for creating complex and relatable characters drew me into their world, making me care deeply about their fates. Karen Rose's storytelling is so gripping that I couldn't put the book down, and I truly hope it's just the beginning of an exciting series. If you're a fan of suspenseful and engaging thrillers, this is a must-read!

If you like a good thriller, with a touch of romance and a lot of blood, then I am sure this is the book for you.

This book follows a DA in New Orleans, who finds his son threatened due to a case he is working on, and not trusting the Police, he goes to a Private Investigator who also specialises in private security. There he meets Val, a large blonde former Marine who takes on the case. She becomes his son's primary bodyguard as they work on the case and try to figure out who wants to stop which DA case and why.

It is really well written, the details are great, along with good pacing and fun fights. It can get more than a little dark and heavy at times with the character's past histories, but that just seems to add to the tension and joy (IMO.)

A romantic thriller set in the New Orleans bayou

Karen Rose’s “Beneath Dark Waters” presents another exhilarating installment in the New Orleans series, and it shines with its abundant mystery and suspense. While there are a few minor drawbacks, the engrossing mysteries within both the main plot and subplots elevate the reading experience.

The story revolves around Assistant District Attorney Kaj Cordozo, whose life is thrown into turmoil when masked assailants make a brazen attempt to kidnap his son, Elijah. With Kaj’s involvement in a high-profile case, the danger to his child is palpable, and this primary mystery serves as the backbone of the narrative. The tension is relentless as readers join Kaj and Val Sorensen from the Burke Broussard Private Investigation Agency in their quest to protect Elijah and unravel the sinister forces at play.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in its multifaceted mysteries. Beyond the central abduction plot, there are several well-crafted subplots that add depth and intrigue to the story. These subplots include Val’s personal vendetta against the gang suspected of the kidnapping and the involvement of the menacing Gates brothers, Aaron and Corey. Each layer of mystery is skillfully woven into the narrative, creating a complex tapestry of secrets and motives.

I thoroughly enjoyed the abundance of mysteries within “Beneath Dark Waters.” Karen Rose excels at planting clues and red herrings, keeping you guessing until the very end. Her ability to maintain suspense and uncertainty throughout the story is commendable, and it ensures that the pages keep turning as you eagerly anticipate each revelation.

Although this is a romantic suspense, I did feel that there are moments where the romantic aspects of the story seemed a little bit disjointed and ‘added on’; there were instances where character decisions seemed to prioritise personal relationships over the urgency of the situation.

In conclusion, “Beneath Dark Waters” is a thrilling addition to Karen Rose’s New Orleans series, with its rich tapestry of mysteries captivating readers from beginning to end. The intertwining main plot and subplots provide layers of intrigue that keep you engrossed in the narrative. While there are some minor quibbles with the romantic elements and character choices, the book excels in delivering suspense and a satisfyingly complex mystery. If you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers with an abundance of secrets and a touch of romance, this novel is a worthwhile read that showcases Karen Rose’s talent for crafting intricate and captivating mysteries.

Beneath Dark Waters is yet another wonderful read form Karen Rose. We once again meet the private investigators and body guards of Burke Broussard’s team as they take on the role of keeping New Orleans Assistant DA J.P. Cardozo’s son Elijah safe after a failed kidnapping attempt. ADA Cardozo (Kaj to his friends) is working two high profile cases. Broussard Investigations is called in to guard his son as he suspects a leak in the police department. Fromer Marine Val Sorensen is hired as Elijah's bodyguard and since they don't know who can be trusted, she and her guard dog Czar move in with Kaj and his son. As things heat up Broussard’s team and Val as body guard all become embroiled as further kidnap attempts take place.
This fast paced highly addictive read is action packed from start to finish. Karen Rose always delivers true psychological thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat. In addition there is always a good smattering of romance, friendship and true kindness. What more could you want in a novel? Can’t wait to read the next case for Broussard Investigations.

A fantastic book to read that keeps you hooked right in from start to finish. There isn't a "who done it" moment in the book however the suspense of the outcome is brilliant and keeps you turning page after page

This is a decent detective thriller that kept me interested throughout. I found the ending to be a bit predictable but I loved the New Orleans setting and thought it was an ok read.

My first Karen Rose book so wasn’t sure what to expect. It started off fine but soon became too full of coincidences to seem even slightly believable. Every good guy was “perfect in every way” and every bad guy was really bad. Then came the predictable (and very unlikely given the circumstances and level of threat) sex scene. It took me a while to assume the the "Dark Waters" of the title was the bayou which played a part of the plot locations.
Definitely not for me.

As I always say, I believe books need trigger warnings so my warnings here are drug abuse, child neglect and sexual assault. These are mostly just referred to and dealt with care and are quite brief so would not have put me off the book but I just believe readers should have that knowledge before reading.
Anyway, back to the book. It was my usual go to thriller but I thought I'd give it a go and I'm so pleased I did because author #KarenRose has now shot up to the top of my list of favourite authors. Despite first worrying whether I could get to hips with the sheer volume of characters she somehow managed to introduce them slow enough to make each one rememberable yet not drag the storyline. I loved how the book was longer than the average thriller as it gave us chance to dig deeper into the plot. I just can't fault it at all. I was unaware the it was the 2nd in a series however, I don't think it made any difference, I happy I can now read the 1st one!
Thank you #NetGalley for the copy of #BeneathDarkWaters an exceptional 5 star thriller

This is the second book in the New Orleans series and in my opinion, it just gets better and better.

Public Prosecutor Kai Cardozo is working on a high profile celebrity sexual assault that's already dominated the press.
When his son Elijah becomes the target of a kidnapping he hires Broussard Investigations to protect his son. Val is the assigned bodyguard.

The investigation will reveal more than they bargained for as drugs, corruption and murder are discovered.

A great read that manages to encompass suspense, danger, murder and romance in a way that held me gripped, holding my breath as I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Full of action and just brilliant!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.