What do you think?
Rate this book
Type and Cross
Blood defines family. Blood reveals betrayal.
Dr. Royce Keller is no stranger to blood. As Chief of Emergency Medicine at Oakland Regional Hospital, it’s his job, his calling. To Royce, it is the very essence of life—what ties his family, his career, and his world together. Until he learns everything he believes is wrong.
Vanessa Keller has a secret she has kept hidden for almost two decades. It’s her burden, her cross to bear. To Vanessa, the truth is a choice—something best forgotten for the greater good of her family and their future. Until the day it comes back to haunt her.
A tale of family dysfunction, betrayal, heroism, and loss, Type and Cross is the story of one family’s journey from devastation to redemption.
Dr. Royce Keller is no stranger to blood. As Chief of Emergency Medicine at Oakland Regional Hospital, it’s his job, his calling. To Royce, it is the very essence of life—what ties his family, his career, and his world together. Until he learns everything he believes is wrong.
Vanessa Keller has a secret she has kept hidden for almost two decades. It’s her burden, her cross to bear. To Vanessa, the truth is a choice—something best forgotten for the greater good of her family and their future. Until the day it comes back to haunt her.
A tale of family dysfunction, betrayal, heroism, and loss, Type and Cross is the story of one family’s journey from devastation to redemption.
499 pages, ebook
First published December 8, 2014
27 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Staci Troilo
35 books163 followersI grew up knowing family is paramount. I was blessed to spend time with extended family daily, not just on holidays or weekends. Because of those close-knit familial bonds, every day was full of love and laughter, food and fun.
Life took me away from that extended family for twenty years before I finally made it back. And while I'd done my best to keep the traditions alive across the miles, I realize there truly is no place like home.
Through my fiction, I share those traditions and the importance of relationships with you. Mystery or suspense, romance or mainstream, sci-fi or thriller—in my stories, family (however you define it) is paramount.
To learn more about me, visit me at http://stacitroilo.com or connect with me on social media.
Life took me away from that extended family for twenty years before I finally made it back. And while I'd done my best to keep the traditions alive across the miles, I realize there truly is no place like home.
Through my fiction, I share those traditions and the importance of relationships with you. Mystery or suspense, romance or mainstream, sci-fi or thriller—in my stories, family (however you define it) is paramount.
To learn more about me, visit me at http://stacitroilo.com or connect with me on social media.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 9, 2016
The best books to me are those that are character driven. I also have a special fondness for family dramas, and wow, does Staci Troilo deliver with Type and Cross.
This exceptional story takes the Keller family on a journey from grievous tragedy through redemption and healing. The reader experiences a rollercoaster of emotion through the eyes of the characters.
Dr. Royce Keller is Chief of Emergency Medicine, accomplished, well-respected, but growing every more distance from his family without realizing it. The Kellers—Royce, his wife Vanessa and their children--all exist in a world of detached perfection filled with charity events, prep schools, and social accolades.
When daughter Hope is in a traffic accident and arrives in Royce’s ER, that perfect world is about to shatter. The author does a masterful job of exploring human nature in the face of devastating tragedy. Secrets, betrayals and lies all come tumbling out, eroding the foundation of what appeared to be a perfect family.
Despite their flaws, Staci Troilo made me care about these characters and kept me anxiously turning the pages until I learned their outcome. Troilo wrung emotion after emotion from them—and me! Truly superb. I eagerly look forward to book 2, Out and About, and the continuing saga of the Kellers and Cathedral Lake.
This exceptional story takes the Keller family on a journey from grievous tragedy through redemption and healing. The reader experiences a rollercoaster of emotion through the eyes of the characters.
Dr. Royce Keller is Chief of Emergency Medicine, accomplished, well-respected, but growing every more distance from his family without realizing it. The Kellers—Royce, his wife Vanessa and their children--all exist in a world of detached perfection filled with charity events, prep schools, and social accolades.
When daughter Hope is in a traffic accident and arrives in Royce’s ER, that perfect world is about to shatter. The author does a masterful job of exploring human nature in the face of devastating tragedy. Secrets, betrayals and lies all come tumbling out, eroding the foundation of what appeared to be a perfect family.
Despite their flaws, Staci Troilo made me care about these characters and kept me anxiously turning the pages until I learned their outcome. Troilo wrung emotion after emotion from them—and me! Truly superb. I eagerly look forward to book 2, Out and About, and the continuing saga of the Kellers and Cathedral Lake.
August 22, 2022
This is a book that is so real, you can imagine Vanessa and Royce Keller being your next-door neighbors. Royce Keller is an esteemed doctor. Vanessa spends her time helping raise money for charities. Then there are three children, all teenagers.
Somewhere along the way to building a busy, successful medical career as Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Keller lost touch with his wife and children. That is until tragedy strikes. When his teenage daughter, Hope, is brought into the emergency room, a victim of a motorcycle accident, he doesn't recognize her. He goes against all medical protocol by treating her and then, in a frantic attempt to save her waning life, gives a blood transfusion directly from his vein to hers. After all, she is his daughter, and their blood should be a match. The result is Hope's death. The reason—severe trauma wounds and a blood mismatch. The first of many secrets is revealed. Hope is not his child.
And that's just where the story starts.
The family undergoes such an emotional rollercoaster from the first page of this book until the end. It is a character-driven story, and those are my favorite. While, at times, I wanted to shake both Royce and Vanessa, what they went through on their journey to redemption is relatable and believable. The two remaining children were often stronger than their parents as layer after layer of trust had to be rebuilt.
And did you know it is possible for twins to have different fathers? I didn't until I read this book. It is called heteropaternal superfecundation.
This is family drama at its best. If you are a fan of deep psychological wounds, healing, and acceptance, you will enjoy this story as much as I did! I highly recommend it!
Somewhere along the way to building a busy, successful medical career as Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Keller lost touch with his wife and children. That is until tragedy strikes. When his teenage daughter, Hope, is brought into the emergency room, a victim of a motorcycle accident, he doesn't recognize her. He goes against all medical protocol by treating her and then, in a frantic attempt to save her waning life, gives a blood transfusion directly from his vein to hers. After all, she is his daughter, and their blood should be a match. The result is Hope's death. The reason—severe trauma wounds and a blood mismatch. The first of many secrets is revealed. Hope is not his child.
And that's just where the story starts.
The family undergoes such an emotional rollercoaster from the first page of this book until the end. It is a character-driven story, and those are my favorite. While, at times, I wanted to shake both Royce and Vanessa, what they went through on their journey to redemption is relatable and believable. The two remaining children were often stronger than their parents as layer after layer of trust had to be rebuilt.
And did you know it is possible for twins to have different fathers? I didn't until I read this book. It is called heteropaternal superfecundation.
This is family drama at its best. If you are a fan of deep psychological wounds, healing, and acceptance, you will enjoy this story as much as I did! I highly recommend it!
February 21, 2015
Staci Troilo's new novel, Type and Cross, starts with a tragedy beyond comprehension. At first, the family impacted the most appears detached from the emotional aspects of losing one of their one. However, that facade is soon fractured into a million pieces as the family learns they've never been put together with much more than scotch tape.
Vanessa and Royce Keller should have a charmed life, but the reader soon discovers that life certainly isn't green in their garden. It's a shade of brown, ugly and wilted, maybe even beyond repair. Ms. Troilo creates a type of dysfunctional family in this portrait, and the emotions and actions played out by the grief-stricken parents come across as real and riveting. Once I stepped into the lives of the Kellers and Cathedral Lake where they live, I didn't want to leave, despite the horrors facing the family.
Using the death of their daughter, Hope, as the catalyst from which all change occurs, a family in mourning emerges to reveal the lack of both communication and understanding between them all.
Type and Cross allows the reader a voyeuristic look at life with the Kellers at the most crucial point in their lives, and from that intrusion, the reader learns that even the most damaged and destroyed of relationships can be salvaged with love.
By the end, when I'd completely fallen in love with this family, the grass turned green and light flowed into the home. Hope returned in the guise of the newly landscaped yard and the purchase of a nursery where Vanessa and Royce will work together to create a new type of family and life.
I didn't want the story to end, but was heartened to read that Ms. Troilo plans to release a sequel that follows the son Jensen as he copes with the aftermath of his sister's death.
If you love family dramas, believable characters, and realistic dialogue, then you'll fall in love with Type and Cross, just as I did.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Vanessa and Royce Keller should have a charmed life, but the reader soon discovers that life certainly isn't green in their garden. It's a shade of brown, ugly and wilted, maybe even beyond repair. Ms. Troilo creates a type of dysfunctional family in this portrait, and the emotions and actions played out by the grief-stricken parents come across as real and riveting. Once I stepped into the lives of the Kellers and Cathedral Lake where they live, I didn't want to leave, despite the horrors facing the family.
Using the death of their daughter, Hope, as the catalyst from which all change occurs, a family in mourning emerges to reveal the lack of both communication and understanding between them all.
Type and Cross allows the reader a voyeuristic look at life with the Kellers at the most crucial point in their lives, and from that intrusion, the reader learns that even the most damaged and destroyed of relationships can be salvaged with love.
By the end, when I'd completely fallen in love with this family, the grass turned green and light flowed into the home. Hope returned in the guise of the newly landscaped yard and the purchase of a nursery where Vanessa and Royce will work together to create a new type of family and life.
I didn't want the story to end, but was heartened to read that Ms. Troilo plans to release a sequel that follows the son Jensen as he copes with the aftermath of his sister's death.
If you love family dramas, believable characters, and realistic dialogue, then you'll fall in love with Type and Cross, just as I did.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2021
“Type and Cross” is a well-told family drama. Dr. Royce Keller finds a loved one as a patient in his ER. It tore my heart out reading what happened next. Then what follows is because of a secret that was held on to for eighteen years. How Royce’s family dealt with what followed that moment in the ER was heartbreaking and hopeful as it forced the family to grow and learn. I appreciated seeing the world through both Royce and his wife, Vanessa, eyes, and how they began to take some responsibility for not only their past mistakes but their current ones. This book kept me up late at night, and I would make time to read it throughout the day — it was that compelling of a read. When one issue seems to be solved, another is poured upon this family. Meeting the grandparents gave insight into where some of this dysfunction came from. Plus, there is a mystery weaved into the story with a surprising outcome. Every baby step forward, I cheered this family on, and other times I was sad with them. A story I can easily recommend, and I can’t wait to read more in this series.
July 28, 2018
Being a fan of Staci Troilo's Medici Protectorate series, I couldn't miss reading Cathedral Lake Series.
Type and Cross starts with a bang. The first chapter is masterly crafted and drives you into the story so quickly you find yourself desperate to know what's going to happen next. And from then on there's no putting the book down.
The entire story is a roller coaster of emotions. Be sure to have a box of tissues at hand while reading because you're going to need it. This novel deals with grace and courage with important and deep themes, such as grief, loss, the importance of family, parenthood, marriage, betrayal and trust.
Besides keeping the reader glued to the page, one revelation after another, this novel is bound to make the reader think, and think hard.
I'll need to recover emotionally for a while before diving into Out and About, the second instalment in the Cathedral Lake Series, but I'll surely be reading it soon!
Type and Cross starts with a bang. The first chapter is masterly crafted and drives you into the story so quickly you find yourself desperate to know what's going to happen next. And from then on there's no putting the book down.
The entire story is a roller coaster of emotions. Be sure to have a box of tissues at hand while reading because you're going to need it. This novel deals with grace and courage with important and deep themes, such as grief, loss, the importance of family, parenthood, marriage, betrayal and trust.
Besides keeping the reader glued to the page, one revelation after another, this novel is bound to make the reader think, and think hard.
I'll need to recover emotionally for a while before diving into Out and About, the second instalment in the Cathedral Lake Series, but I'll surely be reading it soon!
April 23, 2018
Loooooong winded!
“Type and Cross” is 100 or more pages too long and would benefit from a good editor. The story is tragic as are the relationships. There is not a single healthy relationship in this book! The reparations to the main characters marriage is nothing short of miraculous after 4 absurd visits to a psychiatrist - absurd! The medical “mystery” was a bit like a scene from “House, M.D.” and quite interesting but it just couldn’t support the almost 500 page tome. I wanted to slap most of the adults in this book and send them off to the Bravo network for casting on the next iteration of “Housewives of...” They are all self absorbed, ill mannered and obtuse. Not one of the grandparents appeared to greave over the death of their granddaughter nor offer comfort to the remaining children. Sigh...I need a shower.
“Type and Cross” is 100 or more pages too long and would benefit from a good editor. The story is tragic as are the relationships. There is not a single healthy relationship in this book! The reparations to the main characters marriage is nothing short of miraculous after 4 absurd visits to a psychiatrist - absurd! The medical “mystery” was a bit like a scene from “House, M.D.” and quite interesting but it just couldn’t support the almost 500 page tome. I wanted to slap most of the adults in this book and send them off to the Bravo network for casting on the next iteration of “Housewives of...” They are all self absorbed, ill mannered and obtuse. Not one of the grandparents appeared to greave over the death of their granddaughter nor offer comfort to the remaining children. Sigh...I need a shower.
January 24, 2023
A deep and touching drama of a family in chaos, uncommunicative and at a loss to what went wrong. Secrets are prevalent causing trouble as they are uncovered, threatening to tear a family apart even more than they already are.
The characters are drawn with flaws that are believable and heart-wrenching. The main characters, Dr. Royce Keller and his wife, Vanessa, are torn apart after a horrendous accident that puts their daughter in the ER where Royce works. Unbelievable heartache occurs when Royce realizes it is his daughter and tries to save her life. The troubles begin here and threaten to destroy the whole family.
The story deals with feelings and interactions of the family to what has transpired. They must work together to understand what has happened and how to go on as a family.
This was an enjoyable but heartbreaking story of loss, love and conflict resolutions.
The characters are drawn with flaws that are believable and heart-wrenching. The main characters, Dr. Royce Keller and his wife, Vanessa, are torn apart after a horrendous accident that puts their daughter in the ER where Royce works. Unbelievable heartache occurs when Royce realizes it is his daughter and tries to save her life. The troubles begin here and threaten to destroy the whole family.
The story deals with feelings and interactions of the family to what has transpired. They must work together to understand what has happened and how to go on as a family.
This was an enjoyable but heartbreaking story of loss, love and conflict resolutions.
November 10, 2017
I enjoyed thhis book, there was couples counselling, hospital intrigue, events that upset a family that was dysfunctional, but when the chips were down they all pulled together to get their lives back together. I read it, wanted to keep going, but I've finally learned no matter how engaging a book is, I need my sleep.
March 8, 2018
Really loved this book!!
Great characters and a great storyline that draws you in from the first page and doesn't let you go until the very last! Can't wait to read the sequel!
Great characters and a great storyline that draws you in from the first page and doesn't let you go until the very last! Can't wait to read the sequel!
February 13, 2017
What a story! So beautiful, and beautifully told. Vanessa and Royce, husband and wife, found themselves caught up in one of those dramas that can do or undo a marriage. As if that was not enough, the problems kept piling on. Their daughter, Hope just died of a motorcycle accident. Royce believed he killed her by transfusion his blood directly to her at the ER.
That act, which violated a whole lot of hospital rules, threatened Royce’s job. He found out that Hope was not his biological daughter, hence the mismatched blood. Vanessa not only cheated on him, that many years ago, but kept it secret, which resulted in the death of Hope. What a complicated situation!
Will their marriage survive this drama? Will Royce lose his job because of breaking all the rules?Royce was put under investigation, and his best friends from childhood turned out to be his worse enemies. Will he ever forgive his wife for the betrayal? These were the questions that whirled around in my head as I read the story. I enjoyed this story, but for those typos that occurred once too many. A story this beautiful should have a more thorough editing.
That act, which violated a whole lot of hospital rules, threatened Royce’s job. He found out that Hope was not his biological daughter, hence the mismatched blood. Vanessa not only cheated on him, that many years ago, but kept it secret, which resulted in the death of Hope. What a complicated situation!
Will their marriage survive this drama? Will Royce lose his job because of breaking all the rules?Royce was put under investigation, and his best friends from childhood turned out to be his worse enemies. Will he ever forgive his wife for the betrayal? These were the questions that whirled around in my head as I read the story. I enjoyed this story, but for those typos that occurred once too many. A story this beautiful should have a more thorough editing.
December 27, 2016
When you think you have it all. When you believe you know someone through and through. And then it all falls apart.
Type and Cross begins with Dr Royce Keller, chief of emergency medicine, working a busy shift in the ER. He has the stereotypical perfect family: privately schooled and high achieving kids, socialite wife who lives for charity events, professional accolades ... the works. Plus, two best friends that have relied upon one another all through school, college, medical school, and beyond. The trouble is, when you have this much, life can't get much better, but it can get a whole lot worse.
Unimaginable tragedy strikes the family and unearths betrayal and scheming until the main character has no idea who to trust or where to turn. Had Dr Keller had all the information, actually known his nearest and dearest and their skeletons-in-the-closet, he never would have done what he did, and wouldn't now be in the position of having both the hospital board of governors and the police investigating him.
When the truth finally comes out, will Dr Keller manage to find forgiveness for himself and his family? Can any of them find redemption from the ashes? The author writes complex and believable characters that make you care, and the plot feels well paced. If you like family dramas, you'll love this read.
Type and Cross begins with Dr Royce Keller, chief of emergency medicine, working a busy shift in the ER. He has the stereotypical perfect family: privately schooled and high achieving kids, socialite wife who lives for charity events, professional accolades ... the works. Plus, two best friends that have relied upon one another all through school, college, medical school, and beyond. The trouble is, when you have this much, life can't get much better, but it can get a whole lot worse.
Unimaginable tragedy strikes the family and unearths betrayal and scheming until the main character has no idea who to trust or where to turn. Had Dr Keller had all the information, actually known his nearest and dearest and their skeletons-in-the-closet, he never would have done what he did, and wouldn't now be in the position of having both the hospital board of governors and the police investigating him.
When the truth finally comes out, will Dr Keller manage to find forgiveness for himself and his family? Can any of them find redemption from the ashes? The author writes complex and believable characters that make you care, and the plot feels well paced. If you like family dramas, you'll love this read.
June 22, 2017
As a fan of medical shows and thrillers, the beginning of this book especially piqued my curiousity - but I'm not giving away spoilers. By the time that mystery was solved, these characters had me completely caught up in their family dynamics and secrets.
At times with each character, I alternated between being on their side, then wanting to throttle them on the next page. The author did an exceptional job of creating realistic, flawed characters, and Royce and Vanessa's range of emotions after tragically losing their daughter are heartbreaking and genuine. Once the secrets are uncovered, I appreciated the fact that Royce and Vanessa's troubled marriage didn't undergo a quick fix with a fairy tale resolution.
This story wonderfully portrays that things aren't always what they seem on the surface and some secrets can have residual effects for years to come. Highly recommend for fans of suspenseful family drama.
At times with each character, I alternated between being on their side, then wanting to throttle them on the next page. The author did an exceptional job of creating realistic, flawed characters, and Royce and Vanessa's range of emotions after tragically losing their daughter are heartbreaking and genuine. Once the secrets are uncovered, I appreciated the fact that Royce and Vanessa's troubled marriage didn't undergo a quick fix with a fairy tale resolution.
This story wonderfully portrays that things aren't always what they seem on the surface and some secrets can have residual effects for years to come. Highly recommend for fans of suspenseful family drama.
October 23, 2015
The Keller’s appear to be the perfect upper-class family—doctor husband, socialite wife, prep school children. But the illusion fades quickly when the family experiences a tragedy, and secrets and lies threaten to tear them apart.
Staci had me invested in the Keller’s life immediately. Building suspense, unleashing a range of emotions; arrogance, love, hate, anguish, and hopelessness, and showing how dysfunctional and flawed the family have become.
The Keller’s ability to survive and adapt after the tragedy keeps the reader engaged and pulling for a happy ending. This is a must read for everyone who appreciates a good family thriller.
Staci had me invested in the Keller’s life immediately. Building suspense, unleashing a range of emotions; arrogance, love, hate, anguish, and hopelessness, and showing how dysfunctional and flawed the family have become.
The Keller’s ability to survive and adapt after the tragedy keeps the reader engaged and pulling for a happy ending. This is a must read for everyone who appreciates a good family thriller.
November 30, 2016
In his job as Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Royce Keller has dealt with many victims of tragic accidents. But nothing has prepared him for when a teenage victim of a motorcycle accident arrives in the ER. Royce’s attempts to save the patient’s life reveals a long-buried secret that threatens to destroy his family.
Ms. Troilo did a fantastic job of creating characters that are flawed, yet believable. The action is fast-paced and the suspense will keep you turning the page and wanting to read the next book of this series.
Ms. Troilo did a fantastic job of creating characters that are flawed, yet believable. The action is fast-paced and the suspense will keep you turning the page and wanting to read the next book of this series.
April 10, 2017
This is the story of a betrayal, but not just any betrayal. One that's been kept secret for nearly twenty years that reveals itself in the ugliest of ways.
Royce and Vanessa are well drawn, and I was completely immersed in this story. The author does a wonderful job with human emotions, flawed characters, and a realistic resolution.
I wanted to read this one for a while, and it isn't my usual fare. I will seek out works by this author again, she is a master storyteller
Royce and Vanessa are well drawn, and I was completely immersed in this story. The author does a wonderful job with human emotions, flawed characters, and a realistic resolution.
I wanted to read this one for a while, and it isn't my usual fare. I will seek out works by this author again, she is a master storyteller
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews