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San Diego #4
Family Lies
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26The 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.
528 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 31, 2026
3 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Karen Rose
61 books5,458 followersOFFICIAL WEBSITE:
www.karenrosebooks.com
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, 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 fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.
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!
Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
www.karenrosebooks.com
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, 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 fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.
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!
Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Family Lies is another gripping, high‑tension addition to Karen Rose’s San Diego Case Files series—packed with emotional stakes, relentless danger, and the kind of twisty family secrets that keep you turning pages long after you meant to stop.
From the opening scene, the tension is razor‑sharp. Homicide Detective Kit McKittrick and psychologist Sam Reeves arrive at Mary Sherman’s home expecting answers for Kit’s foster sister, Akiko. Instead, they walk straight into gunfire and the discovery of Mary’s body. It’s a shocking, cinematic start that sets the tone for a story where every revelation only deepens the mystery.
What makes this instalment especially compelling is the emotional core running beneath the suspense. Akiko’s search for the truth about her birth mother is handled with sensitivity, and Kit’s fierce protectiveness adds a powerful layer of urgency. The bond between the sisters—chosen, not biological—is one of the novel’s strongest threads, grounding the danger in something deeply human.
As the investigation spirals outward, Rose expertly builds a web of lies, hidden connections, and shifting motives. No one in Akiko’s orbit is quite who they seem, and the sense of paranoia is deliciously intense. Adding to the tension is Kit’s injury and forced removal from the case—a complication that tests her loyalty, her limits, and her willingness to risk everything for the people she loves.
The pacing is brisk, the stakes escalate beautifully, and the blend of procedural detail with emotional depth makes this a standout thriller. Fans of the series will appreciate the continued development of Kit and Sam’s dynamic, while newcomers will find plenty to latch onto. A taut, emotionally charged thriller that delivers suspense, heart, and a cascade of secrets—Karen Rose at her best.
With thanks to Karen Rose, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
From the opening scene, the tension is razor‑sharp. Homicide Detective Kit McKittrick and psychologist Sam Reeves arrive at Mary Sherman’s home expecting answers for Kit’s foster sister, Akiko. Instead, they walk straight into gunfire and the discovery of Mary’s body. It’s a shocking, cinematic start that sets the tone for a story where every revelation only deepens the mystery.
What makes this instalment especially compelling is the emotional core running beneath the suspense. Akiko’s search for the truth about her birth mother is handled with sensitivity, and Kit’s fierce protectiveness adds a powerful layer of urgency. The bond between the sisters—chosen, not biological—is one of the novel’s strongest threads, grounding the danger in something deeply human.
As the investigation spirals outward, Rose expertly builds a web of lies, hidden connections, and shifting motives. No one in Akiko’s orbit is quite who they seem, and the sense of paranoia is deliciously intense. Adding to the tension is Kit’s injury and forced removal from the case—a complication that tests her loyalty, her limits, and her willingness to risk everything for the people she loves.
The pacing is brisk, the stakes escalate beautifully, and the blend of procedural detail with emotional depth makes this a standout thriller. Fans of the series will appreciate the continued development of Kit and Sam’s dynamic, while newcomers will find plenty to latch onto. A taut, emotionally charged thriller that delivers suspense, heart, and a cascade of secrets—Karen Rose at her best.
With thanks to Karen Rose, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’ve read and enjoyed all the Kit McKitrick books so was excited to be able to read this, the latest”FamilyLies”
It is about Kit’s adopted sister, Akiko, who is about to find some information regarding her birth family.
As Kit, Sam and Akiko arrive at the home of the woman who contacted Akiko, they are shot at and the they then find, Mary, the caller dead.
This is a complicated story which traces Akiko’s family and it contains many characters and connections.
Sections of the plot were very fast moving and I could not turn the pages quick enough although other parts dragged and it was difficult to keep track of all the characters from Akiko’s past and their motivations were difficult to fathom.
I think the book could have been a bit shorter so judicious editing might have helped.
However as I’m invested in Kit, Sam and the others from the earlier books, I persevered and finished the novel which ended on a cliffhanger making me excited to read the next book.
In summary, I enjoyed this novel but it was not my favourite in the series. Parts of the book were so exciting I couldn’t stop reading but other bits were confusing. I’m looking forward to the next book as it seems that it is about what happened to Wren, Kit’s younger sister who was murdered as a teenager.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
It is about Kit’s adopted sister, Akiko, who is about to find some information regarding her birth family.
As Kit, Sam and Akiko arrive at the home of the woman who contacted Akiko, they are shot at and the they then find, Mary, the caller dead.
This is a complicated story which traces Akiko’s family and it contains many characters and connections.
Sections of the plot were very fast moving and I could not turn the pages quick enough although other parts dragged and it was difficult to keep track of all the characters from Akiko’s past and their motivations were difficult to fathom.
I think the book could have been a bit shorter so judicious editing might have helped.
However as I’m invested in Kit, Sam and the others from the earlier books, I persevered and finished the novel which ended on a cliffhanger making me excited to read the next book.
In summary, I enjoyed this novel but it was not my favourite in the series. Parts of the book were so exciting I couldn’t stop reading but other bits were confusing. I’m looking forward to the next book as it seems that it is about what happened to Wren, Kit’s younger sister who was murdered as a teenager.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
November 22, 2025
2* I got offered this ARC, didn't ask for it, and would've felt guilty not finishing it. It's not up to this author's previous works, sadly.
Reading this overly fussy, overly and unnecessarily complicated book, made me wonder if it was being offered up as a non-requested ARC because the editors had the same thoughts I did. It wasn't very good. I wondered if it was by the actual Karen Rose, that I do rate, or a ghostwriter.
The amount of repetition about the Kit character was annoying. The mollycoddling by father, step-sibs, almost-boyfriend and more, was annoying. How this woman was a cop and not in front of a psych, was beyond me. She was unprofessional, rude, stupidly putting people in danger 3 times before people's brains started working. The stepsister whose name I've forgotten was equally annoying. And why did Kit always travel with her psych boyfriend, who was on police staff? Is that because so much of the American population is in need of one? No offense, but it's not that unrealistic.
The Japanese plot/arc? Aarrgghh!! Ridiculously convoluted and hard to keep on top of who was who, who'd cheated on who, who'd lied to who, who'd offed who, who'd fathered who - I kid you not. I honestly stop-started this part of the book about 20 times, not wanting to DNF at 80% gone. It needed simplifying. It needed weeding. It needed editing. It needed clarification.
What happened to the Wren storyline? I think, but can't be sure, that there might've been a lead towards the end of the book, but tbh, I'd pretty much lost the will.
I'm sorry there'd very little I liked about this book. I probably should've DNF'd it a few pages in.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Berkeley for my reading pleasure.
Reading this overly fussy, overly and unnecessarily complicated book, made me wonder if it was being offered up as a non-requested ARC because the editors had the same thoughts I did. It wasn't very good. I wondered if it was by the actual Karen Rose, that I do rate, or a ghostwriter.
The amount of repetition about the Kit character was annoying. The mollycoddling by father, step-sibs, almost-boyfriend and more, was annoying. How this woman was a cop and not in front of a psych, was beyond me. She was unprofessional, rude, stupidly putting people in danger 3 times before people's brains started working. The stepsister whose name I've forgotten was equally annoying. And why did Kit always travel with her psych boyfriend, who was on police staff? Is that because so much of the American population is in need of one? No offense, but it's not that unrealistic.
The Japanese plot/arc? Aarrgghh!! Ridiculously convoluted and hard to keep on top of who was who, who'd cheated on who, who'd lied to who, who'd offed who, who'd fathered who - I kid you not. I honestly stop-started this part of the book about 20 times, not wanting to DNF at 80% gone. It needed simplifying. It needed weeding. It needed editing. It needed clarification.
What happened to the Wren storyline? I think, but can't be sure, that there might've been a lead towards the end of the book, but tbh, I'd pretty much lost the will.
I'm sorry there'd very little I liked about this book. I probably should've DNF'd it a few pages in.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Berkeley for my reading pleasure.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Family Lies is a good addition to the authors San Diego series with Kit McKittrick as the main character. I enjoyed this read but it didn't wow me. I felt at times the story was overly long, there are lots of threads to keep up with and I think the book could be shorter without losing anything major from the plot line. Kit and her foster sister Akiko go to meet a woman who has information about her mother and find her murdered. How did she know Akiko's mother? The authors writing is good and I've always liked that her stories take place over a short period of time. For me, this book had far to many characters and I found it hard to keep track of them all. There is a lot going on too and I really enjoyed the first half of the book but feel it lost its way a bit after that, the pacing slowed down and my interest in the story dipped a little. I really like Lennox though and hope to see more of her in the future. The romance with
Kit and Sam picked up more which I liked. Karen Rose always brings tension and suspense into her writing and I felt both were lacking here. The ending sets up the next book nicely which I hope provides answers about Wren.
Overall, yes I enjoyed this read although I think it is not one of this authors best books.
3 stars
Kit and Sam picked up more which I liked. Karen Rose always brings tension and suspense into her writing and I felt both were lacking here. The ending sets up the next book nicely which I hope provides answers about Wren.
Overall, yes I enjoyed this read although I think it is not one of this authors best books.
3 stars
December 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Family Lies by Karen Rose
This was a tense and thoroughly engaging thriller that grabbed my attention from beginning to end. There was a strong cast of characters, each well developed without ever overtaking the main storyline. Their individual struggles and secrets are woven into a gripping mystery that explores how far people will go to protect those they love and the truths they hide.
A highlight for me was the bond between Kit and Akiko. Their relationship is an interesting thread throughout the story, giving real emotional grounding to the high stakes. Akiko’s parallel journey, investigating her family tree while under attack from an unknown assailant, added a fresh and personal layer to the plot. I appreciated how her quest for answers about her past was seamlessly integrated with the central crime narrative, adding depth without slowing the pace.
The procedural elements and twists are confidently handled, giving the investigation a realistic feel without overwhelming the personal dynamics. A compelling, character rich read that I hugely enjoyed and one that comfortably earns four stars.
This was a tense and thoroughly engaging thriller that grabbed my attention from beginning to end. There was a strong cast of characters, each well developed without ever overtaking the main storyline. Their individual struggles and secrets are woven into a gripping mystery that explores how far people will go to protect those they love and the truths they hide.
A highlight for me was the bond between Kit and Akiko. Their relationship is an interesting thread throughout the story, giving real emotional grounding to the high stakes. Akiko’s parallel journey, investigating her family tree while under attack from an unknown assailant, added a fresh and personal layer to the plot. I appreciated how her quest for answers about her past was seamlessly integrated with the central crime narrative, adding depth without slowing the pace.
The procedural elements and twists are confidently handled, giving the investigation a realistic feel without overwhelming the personal dynamics. A compelling, character rich read that I hugely enjoyed and one that comfortably earns four stars.
December 9, 2025
I liked the story line of this book. Probably a little longwinded but I did enjoy getting used the characters again. Kit’s family – one of the adopted family is Akiko – receives a call from a stranger asking her to meet as she has some news for Akiko. This phone call opens a huge can of worms which causes trouble for the family and could have become horrendous. Kit, Sam (\Kit’s “boyfriend”) go to the designated meeting point but the lady does not turn up. They go to the house and find their first murder victim. The story is littered with bodies and intrigue and sometimes I struggled with the Japanese characters and found I was not sure who was who etc. On saying all this I did enjoy the book and would read more of this series in the future. I liked he premises of Harlan and Betsy taking in foster children and then adopting them and how they all melded together in one family. Kit has her troubles with trust and this is dealt with in the book and I can imagine her overcoming this and look forward to seeing that in another book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars -
One of the things I enjoy about the way Karyn Rose writes her stories is that she’s not in a hurry to divulge secrets. Her stories are multifaceted and deeply layered.
Now that the main character, Kit, is falling for her love interest, Sam, a police psychologist, we get even more layers to her story.
This particular book is focused on foster sister, Akiko. Rose wraps the story around the mystery of her adoption and who her parents truly are. Family Lies starts off with a bang, and its fast-paced action keeps you on your toes.
We see a lot more of Sam in this story. So much so, I even questioned if this is a normal activity for a Police psychologist. He is one of the few who actually truly understands Kit. The romance continues to build at an extremely slow rate. That can be a major frustration for the reader.
This story also relies on so many characters that you have to try to keep track of them. I lost track. I’m not gonna lie. Not only do you have a new character(s), but you also have name changes within those characters. All of them have to do with Akiko’s family.
I also found the “why” this plot was based on certainly plausible, but not overly strong. That was kind of disappointing.
This is my 12th novel by Karen Rose, so I think it’s safe to say I truly enjoy her writing. This one just didn’t connect enough to the rest of the series for me.
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
** Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/family-lies-...
One of the things I enjoy about the way Karyn Rose writes her stories is that she’s not in a hurry to divulge secrets. Her stories are multifaceted and deeply layered.
Now that the main character, Kit, is falling for her love interest, Sam, a police psychologist, we get even more layers to her story.
This particular book is focused on foster sister, Akiko. Rose wraps the story around the mystery of her adoption and who her parents truly are. Family Lies starts off with a bang, and its fast-paced action keeps you on your toes.
We see a lot more of Sam in this story. So much so, I even questioned if this is a normal activity for a Police psychologist. He is one of the few who actually truly understands Kit. The romance continues to build at an extremely slow rate. That can be a major frustration for the reader.
This story also relies on so many characters that you have to try to keep track of them. I lost track. I’m not gonna lie. Not only do you have a new character(s), but you also have name changes within those characters. All of them have to do with Akiko’s family.
I also found the “why” this plot was based on certainly plausible, but not overly strong. That was kind of disappointing.
This is my 12th novel by Karen Rose, so I think it’s safe to say I truly enjoy her writing. This one just didn’t connect enough to the rest of the series for me.
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
** Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/family-lies-...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 stars. I love love love Karen Rose’s books. And I especially love the San Diego (Kit’s) books. Unfortunately, Family Lies has ended up being my least favorite of the bunch. I was really excited that we’d get a bit more of Akiko’s (kit’s foster sister) backstory, but I felt a lot of it to be confusing and convoluted. Turns out that Akiko has A LOT of family members, but because I was so confused, I feel like I missed out on appreciating any of the twists or reveals. That said, I still love Kit and her family. Love the relationship that’s blossoming between her and Sam. And I’m really excited that based on the ending, we are definitely getting at least on more book in this series, which I 100% plan to continue with.
Thank you to Berkley and netgalley for the ARC.
Thank you to Berkley and netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wish I could say I liked this but I can’t. No tension, flat writing and so convoluted that I was bored with it. I hate not finishing books I have agreed to review but I threw in the towel at 79%.
Way,way too many characters, most of whom were related in some way, without actually knowing it. Long discussions and explanations, often very repetitive, and unconvincing plot lines.
I greatly dislike the ‘I cannot tell you the truth;it would put you in danger’ trope; almost inevitably 90%of the problems the character suffers could be avoided if they were told the truth (which they always learn anyway).
Way,way too many characters, most of whom were related in some way, without actually knowing it. Long discussions and explanations, often very repetitive, and unconvincing plot lines.
I greatly dislike the ‘I cannot tell you the truth;it would put you in danger’ trope; almost inevitably 90%of the problems the character suffers could be avoided if they were told the truth (which they always learn anyway).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
Kit will do anything to protect her family—anything—and helping Akiko uncover the truth about her birth mother is no exception. This installment is nonstop action, full of twists and high-stakes moments that kept me turning the pages. I also love seeing how much Kit has grown in her relationships; it adds so much heart to the adventure. Another fantastic read, and I can’t wait for more Kit & Sam!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
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October 14, 2025Expected publication March 31, 2026
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews