Cheater

The San Diego Case Files, Book 2

By: Karen Rose

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

A shocking murder leaves an affluent retirement community reeling in this riveting, high-stakes second installment of the San Diego Case Files, from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose.

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.

©2024 Karen Rose (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Good book although Kit made me want to shake her!

I really enjoyed listening to this book I like Kit and Sam alot. Although kit worked my last nerve with her back and forth . It was also nice to catch up with kits parents and Rita. This book kept me guessing which I love. I can't wait for the next installment.

Wait it’s finished~ need more ..KR you’re the Queen

Finished it~ and I’m not 100% sure on a 5* here… I needed more loving😂
as usual great twisted characters
character development is key in all Karen’s books it keeps me coming back
very smooth writing. It just flows no boring moments.
Loved Kit & Sam. What a backstory on Kit- Wow.
Of course twists and turns can’t predict the ending … a true author never gives it all up at the end but rather trickles it down so that the reader can attempt to figure it out.
When I read a Karen Rose book it’s always in my mind; Challenge accepted to find the crime and the culprit.
Countdown is on for next one.
Thank you again for an amazing ride

Brilliant

Amazing as always! Ms. Rose is brilliant in her work, weaving a tale and creating characters you fall in love with.

Reminds me of her first books

Really liked this book, shorter than most of her other books but very good. Hillary Huber is an awesome narrator; she really brings Karen's books to life. I wish she had been the narrator for the Sacramento Series as I finally gave up and bought ebooks. I also wish she would add the stories of other primary characters, not just the main two. I highly recommend listening to this series. it will remind you of her first books that were awesome.

Good Story! Enjoyed the Plot

While I liked the story and the characters, I dislike heroines who are super badass at everything but self confidence in romantic relationships. I wanted to smack Kit silly way more than once! She redeemed herself in the last few pages. But it took too long for her to get her act together.

Good Enough

First, the narration was decent. There were lots of different characters and I am always impressed when a narrator can pull that off. Sam’s voice probably bugged me the most. The narrator made him sound like a child. Not in content but in tone. The romance was interesting. Kit and Sam should not have worked as a couple but they did. I totally got Kit’s reservations because I would not have put them together as a couple either. Tough as nails Kit with compassions Sam. But ultimately them both have hearts of gold, so it works. It was not about teenage like angst and insecurity but about trusting your heart. Thanks to the author for sparing us graphic sex scenes. I enjoy books that stress the romance and the relationship over pornography. The mystery was ok but read too much like a police procedural and not like a mystery which I would have preferred. Overall, worth the time in my opinion

Another winner!

I am an avid Karen Rose/Hillary Huber fan.
The mystery grabbed me and kept me guessing in a whole dunnit way. The characters are likable and the side characters as well.
Looking forward to the next in the series!

Disappointed after the Sacramento Series

I’ve read 23/30 of KR’s books. I started with books in the middle of her career. Cincinnati and Baltimore and Chicago. I loved them. Was hooked. When Sacramento came out, I ate each book up like candy. It was a perfect series for me. Since then, the new series (San Diego and New Orleans) have both fallen so so flat. The plot is very slow, honestly boring. And the characters have no chemistry, no true tension. Delaying their being together didn’t make the tension actually feel anticipatory. It just dragged. I’m so sad. I want more like those middle books. High stakes. Passionate romance. Complex plot. And Hillary Huber did such a disservice to both Kit and Sam’s voicing. Painful.

Trying to like this story

I’ve read all of Karen Rose’s books (some multiple times). Kit and Sam’s story is by far my least favorite. I like the fast paced, more intense relationships in her other books. This feels like a school yard romance. The characters spend little to no time together which makes for a lackluster love story. The procedural part is as good as other stories but what usually makes these stories standout are that both the romance and the police procedural are both well done. Kit is annoying and acts like a child. It’s unattractive. It’s hard to get past these overly altruistic characters when there’s no chemistry between them. If there’s a 3rd book, I hope it resembles her other work more closely.

Unfortunate

I have always been a fan of Rose. Therefore, I tried two audiobooks, both in this series. I am so disappointed. I never want to be unkind, but this narrator is awful in this genre. I could be wrong, but I don't think she understands the author. Or maybe I don't. I am not sure this review was helpful, but this is my last Rose book.