EVERY DARK CORNER is the nail-biting third novel in the Cincinnati series, by bestselling author Karen Rose. 'Intense, complex and unforgettable' JAMES PATTERSON'Fast and furious' SUN_________Cincinnati's children are in grave danger, and time is running out to save them... When FBI Special Agent Griffin 'Decker' Davenport wakes from a coma, he immediately thinks of two first, the ring of human traffickers he's spent the past three years undercover to bring down was just the tip of the iceberg; second, the brown eyes he sees upon waking belong to a woman he trusts to help him finish the job he started.FBI Special Agent Kate Coppola's mission is to stop the growing menace of domestic human trafficking, starting with the customers and suppliers of the now-broken Cincinnati trafficking ring. Decker's new revelation is her worst nightmare - one of the traffickers' customers is acquiring teens for the Internet sex trade.Kate and Decker's search for this mystery customer becomes more difficult and dangerous with every passing hour as witnesses, suspects, and even members of their own team, are systematically exterminated by a predator who lets nothing stand in his way..._________Praise for Karen ***** 'I absolutely LOVED this book! Karen Rose never fails to amaze me... if you want a fast-paced, chilling, intense, and unforgettable book then Every Dark Corner is perfect for you. I cannot praise this book highly enough'***** 'An absolutely brilliant book. Yet again, Karen Rose has stopped me from doing anything but read her book. Her books just seem to get better and better'***** 'Karen Rose at her best as usual. Great descriptions, you feel right in the middle. Plenty of imagination in this one along with plenty of action and intrigue'***** 'Wow I have read every Karen Rose book and have never been disappointed. This one is no exception. Loved it'
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.
Every Dark Corner by Karen Rose is a 2017 Headline publication.
Unyielding suspense, Sizzling romance!
This third installment in the ‘Cincinnati’ series is a continuance of the second book, with two new leads, Kate Coppola and Decker Davenport, picking up on a deeper thread resulting from the investigation that took place in the previous installment.
As the story begins, Decker is in a coma and Kate, who saved his life, has never left his side. The horrific child pornography ring that Marcus and Scarlett had uncovered runs deeper than originally thought, and becomes the first case Kate tackles in Cincinnati, where she has moved after the death of her husband and brother-in-law.
Kate and her new team have their hands full, and time is of the essence as Decker informs them there are a new group of kids in serious danger.
On a personal note, the connection Decker makes with Kate during his recovery forges a deep emotional bond between them, but both are carrying heavy burdens and secrets, that if revealed, could change the course of their relationship and end their careers in the process.
Everyone knows romantic suspense has long been my favorite genre, and Karen Rose is one of my very favorite RS authors. I have never been disappointed with her work and after reading this book, I am once again reminded of what an incredible crime author she is.
This book is a dark, gritty crime drama, with a complex plot, and super edgy suspense. It is also features deep and intense interpersonal relationships, and red-hot romance. Decker and Kate start off having a kind of mental connection with each other, which develops quickly with a breathtaking impact.
Getting inside the mind of a predator and a killer is really creepy and watching his victims fight for their lives and those around them is compelling, but had me feeling pretty agitated. The long term affect working on these sickening crimes is also examined as Kate’s team must find a way to do the job without it taking a heavy toll.
Overall, this is yet another outstanding novel by Karen Rose and is a must read for those following this particular arc. This book could be read as a stand alone, but I do recommend reading ‘Alone in the Dark’ first, if you can. I’m not sure if there will be further installments in this series or if this was a wrap. Either way, I’m totally satisfied with the outcome. 4.5 stars
After the dramatic climax in the last story where Ken Sweeney, the human trafficking kingpin, was taken down, everyone thought the case was over. When an attempt was made on the recovering FBI Agent Griff (Decker) Davenport's life, it was clear there were some loose ends that needed tidying up. With FBI Agent Kate Coppola as his wingman, Decker and the rest of the task force must race against time and a rising body count to find that loose end.
I liked that we again get the killer's point of view but this time we don't know his true identity. There were also a number of interesting subplots that made this story pretty compelling. The developing family of Cincinnati law enforcement members softened the atmosphere, providing somewhat of a balance to the grittiness and brutality of the crimes. It gave me a respite from time to time as the bodies started to drop. And, I loved Kate and Decker!
This was an interesting and provocative story that I listened to during a particularly long and grueling road trip that was eased because of it. Hillary Huber turned in another fine performance and I'm continuing to enjoy her narration. There's still one more loose thread so I'm looking forward to the next story.
When FBI Special Agent Griffin "Decker" Davenport wakes after a week in a coma, he finds Special Agent Kate Coppola by this side. Decker has information that will help shut down a human trafficking ring and needs her help in passing it on. An attempt on his life tells them that someone doesn't want him talking. Kate, Decker, and a task force of FBI and local police set out to stop a child predator.
Now I remember why I haven't picked up a Karen Rose book lately. It took me 10 days to work my way through the 616-page (small print) book. This story could have been told in under 400 pages. The suspense story itself was very good. My problem was too many characters from the previous books in the series. One short chapter introduced 13 characters to the story. Approximately half of the characters in the story had some major problems from their past that they were attempting (many unsuccessfully) to overcome. There were also too many bloated scenes with unnecessary and inane details. On top of that, the romance story was just dumb. How many guys have the energy for sex twelve hours after waking from a coma and an attempt on his life?
As I said before, the suspense story is well-plotted. I would suggest if you are interested in reading this book, that you read the first two books the Cincinnati series to see what led up to this story. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
Every Dark Corner is the third book in Karen Rose’s Cincinnati series. It can be read as a standalone, but due to the reoccurring characters and the continuing story arc it would be better read following book one, Closer Than You Think, and book two, Alone In The Dark.
“The Professor” is the disguise used by an evil genius whose crimes include drug manufacturing, drug and human trafficking, child pornography and serial killing. He ruthlessly uses his drug addicted buyers as informants, alibis, and tools to help commit and cover his crimes. No one is safe from the Professor including his own family. There is nothing he won’t do.
Special Agent Kate Coppola and Special Agent Griffin “Decker” Davenport are part of the team working to uncover and capture the Professor. Their relationship grows as the chase heats up. Kate and Decker are both strong characters who are dedicated to their careers, but both are also troubled in their own way.
Some of my favorite things about Karen Rose’s novels are her original ideas, local touches, and seeing familiar characters. This book is no different. I enjoyed seeing Kate break out her knitting or origami and reading about Cincinatti’s famous five way chili and catching up with characters from previous books.
You can’t go wrong with a Karen Rose book and this one is no exception.
*ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
FBI Special Agent Griffin "Decker" Davenport is awake from his coma. He is desperate to find the missing children he knows are in danger. With his last investigation over he discovered not everyone was rescued but he was shot before he was able to tell anyone.
Special Agent Kate Coppola has recently moved to Cincinnati. She says she wants promotion but she has just had her heart broken. She finds Deckers recordings from his time undercover and tries to solve the crime he was investigating.
This is a well written fast paced romantic suspense novel. I recommend you read the first and second books in this series before you start reading this one. Book 1 - Closer than you think. Book 2 - Alone In The Dark.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Headline and the author Karen Rose for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Every Dark Corner is the third installment in Karen Rose’s Cincinnati romantic suspense series
FBI agent Decker has just come out of coma and with agent Kate is desperate to help lives of kids that are in danger. The antagonist is The Professor who sells drugs to kids and also exploits them to make pornographic movies. There are a lot of dead bodies and a whole team racing against time to save the victims.
I would strongly recommend reading this series in order as there are a lot characters from the other books which are all interconnected. The subject matter is dark and difficult to read but Karen Rose does a great job telling the story from different POV’s even the Professors. The romance felt a little rushed even though the book is 600 some pages long. It’s a good romantic suspense novel and I am looking forward to reading the next book about Adam and Meredith in the Cincinnati series .
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group& NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
Karen Rose's Every Dark Corner deals with some pretty horrific things such as child pornography and human/child trafficking along with issues of drug abuse/dependence.
Side Note: We met both the protagonists of the book in the last book "Alone in the Dark" but it was towards the end so you don't actually need to read that one to understand what is happening in this book but the secondary characters and the plot would just make a lot more sense if one was aware of the events from the last book.
FBI Special Agent
Griffin "Decker" Davenport
has been undercover over the past few years and during towards the end of his stint as a personal security/bodyguard and later accountant to one of the people involved in human trafficking he finds out about missing kids, child pornography and child trafficking. Before he can hand off this information, everything goes sideways, his handler is murdered and he is gunned down and ends up in a coma.
Special Agent
Kate Coppola
has moved to Cincinnati to get away from horrific memories that seem to haunt her. Her best friend, Deacon Novak also happens to live in Cincinnati is a plus for her. Kate has been keeping Decker company while he is in coma, listening to his recordings during his undercover work and trying to find out what he discovered. Kate feels an intense connection to Decker maybe it's because he seems to have no one, is alone like her.
Kate and Decker's connection is sweet and their attraction to each other has been present ever since they first met. As with all Karen Rose couples, Decker and Kate have great chemistry and their backstory is heart breaking. Both of them have been through so much and they both understand each other's pain. For Decker this mission takes on a more personal turn because of the involvement of children.
The story/plot is always intense with Karen Rose's books as was the case with this one. I read the book in one sitting because the story was that gripping and I just really wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Karen Rose writes some pretty dark and fantastic serial killers but this felt even more darker and creepier
I suppose mostly because of kids aspect, not to mention the partner 'The Professor' is a very twisted person. He is a complete psychopath. I also really hated his entire family. From the start to the end, the book is fantastically paced mystery/suspense with twists and turns and a badass leading couple to get the monster who has destroyed so many lives and continues to do so. I enjoyed every moment of it.
Along with Decker, Kate and 'the professors' POV we got another POV in the book. I think having another POV of a victim or survivor really Mallory, showed a different perspective on the pornography issue, not to mention it should how important it was for the FBI to stop the professor. It just made it all a bit more real and made me more invested in how things turned out for the poor girl.
Minor quibbles:
As a huge fan of Karen Rose's book this one was another winner
and I can't wait for the next one!!
ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Karen Rose is one of my favorite writers and I put all my other books aside to read this one. I did however have a mixed reaction to this one.
I have read the two prior novels that tie heavily to the characters in this book. It definitely helps to have this background. Some of the characters and circumstance were a little fuzzy for me and I did find that I wished I had remembered more - it would have helped. I like that Ms. Rose writes complex plots, but at certain points I felt that this was more convoluted than complex. There were so many characters and so much going on that I thought I might need a chart to keep track of it.
Although I liked Derek and Kate as lead characters and as romantic interest for each other, there were a number of thinks that didn't work for me. Kate was in a very scary place with her PTSD…so scary that if this was real life, she would be going through a psych exam and probably failing and being pulled from the team. No way would they let her carry a gun, no matter what her skills. Instead we have her doing knitting and origami during team meetings - talk about a distraction for the other team members. I can't imagine this in real life.
And let's not get into the fact that the romance went from "While you were sleeping" to hand jobs. They basically become interested in each other while Derek was in a coma. And then wam bam thank you mam, what seems like hours later, she is staying at the safe house in his bed and delivering special favors in between her PTSD nightmares. I wasn't buying into it. They were perfect for each other, but they needed someone to talk to and have a support system. The sex made it seem like the more unrealistic romance novels that aren't my favorite. It was so disappointing.
I love the way this author connects her books and we get to meet up with characters from previous stories. This is no exception and as it begins we have undercover agent Decker in hospital fighting his way out of a coma as he recovers from a recent shooting. By his side is Kate the gun toting agent who helped save his life, waiting for him to wake up and hopefully have information to help catch the remaining filth that trafficked children. Unbeknown to them both the shady character known as the Professor, is already setting plans in motion to silence Decker once and for all. Deckers memory is hazy but with Kate's help he slowly starts piecing the puzzle together but as more and more bodies are discovered it's pretty clear that someone is cleaning house! This author frequently takes her readers into the darker sides of the human psyche and it's a chilling journey. I love her winding plots that feature so many twists and shocks along the way. Plus it's fun seeing her characters interact and even fall in love although I wasn't convinced entirely by the almost instant attraction here. What works are the scenes of police procedure , sharing information and making leaps which ok don't always pan out but it's fiction so as a reader I know it's going to be alright in the end . Is it though? Trouble is the real monsters don't live in shadows or hide under the bed but are actually those seemingly normal folk who wreck havoc on those who are vulnerable. This book highlights sickening activities and yet somehow as a reader I couldn't stop reading. Yes there's evil in this story but there's heart too as this assortment of characters somehow pull together and I'm left feeling satisfied. If you enjoy suspense with a smattering of romance than this author should definitely tickle your fancy! I voluntarily read this Advance Reader Copy Four and a half from me
I really wish Karen Rose would stop writing such embarrassing, ridiculous side Story love/sex scenes. Never in my life have I had to skip so much in a book to get to the actual good parts of the story,the actual plot. The earlier books weren't like this, all Christian Grey wannabes, and gahhh! Christian Grey is already horrendous on his own. Please stop. Give women some credit and write a mystery without the boner/erection/asshole distractions because women will love and appreciate a well written book. Give men some credit and stop writing them to be one track minded simpletons whose seemingly only interest in women are whether they want to fuck them or not. Seriously. This reads like an awesome Law & Order: SVU episode that keeps cutting to a bad Cable porn commercial.
* Trigger warning: Internet sex crimes, Murder, and Drug use.
"Even if i have to kill him to make it so. Even if I die trying."
Another amazing book by Karen Rose! The 3rd book in the Cincinnati series didn't disappoint and since I had just finished the 2nd book in the series, it was exciting to see what happened next. I would recommend reading Karen Rose's books in order due to reoccurring characters and linked events/plotlines. If you don't care about spoilers then go ahead, but a warning you in advance.
Special Agent Griffin ' Decker' Devenport was critically wounded when the human traffickers he was undercover to infiltrate were brought down, but Decker knows they were just the tip of the iceberg. Someone is recruiting young children and teens for the internet sex trade, someone who was a customer of the traffickers. Special Agent Kate Coppola was part of the team to bring down the trafficking ring, after hearing what Decker uncovered, her mission now is to target their customers and suppliers. Kate and Decker must work together to find this mystery customer, but with the bodies of witnesses, suspects and their own team slowly piling up, the two are thrown into a dangerous game, where their lives and the lives of their family and friends are on the line. With a relentless predator willing to do anything and lets nothing and no one stand in his way, time is running out for the children still in danger.
One thing I loved about this book was seeing from the killer's point of view, but unlike some of Rose's other books, we have no idea who he is, just who he is connected too, like his family. We also get to see the points of view of Decker and Kate. Although we have three points of view here, it is in no way confusing because the characters are all so different in how they speak, interact with others and well one is going around killing people so there is that.
There are also other subplots, which keeps the book interesting throughout. We learn more about characters we have come across in other books, giving us more of an insight into them and where they are at in their lives at this point. I also loved how everyone in the team is like one big happy family, it breaks up the darkness and adds a bit of love and friendship in there. Like any other Karen Rose book, there is a romance, which I always love because there's always a different reason as too why two characters get together. The steamy sex scenes don't hurt either.
In all, this is another thrilling nail-biting book filled with death, love, sex, and suspense. I will always love Karen Rose's writing, there isn't a single book I haven't totally and completely loved. If you haven't read a Karen Rose book before, and this review has peaked your interest- check her out, I can assure you, you won't be disappointed. Now onto the Arc for the newest installment, I am so excited!
Special Agent Kate Coppola is the heroine of Karen Rose's latest book Every Dark Corner. Kate is on a mission to stop the man who is trafficking drugs and acquiring teens for the internet sex trade. Tough as nails, yet compassionate, Kate is an origami and knitting queen, with a songs playlist you wouldn't expect. She also has a very good reason to always carry a certain genre of book on her. (No, not telling, can't spoil the surprise.). Meet a badass with a yarn bag and a work partner named Agent Luther Troy.
Kate's early upbringing was something she doesn't talk about, and she has nightmares over something she couldn't stop more recently. She is not long in Cincinnati, yet she has a good friend here in Deacon - another agent, and it is not long before the people who surround and support him are hers too. It's not hard to understand why, Kate has time for people, even if it's just a smile as she passes by.
It is however Agent Griffin 'Decker' Davenport who is very much taken with Kate. She has helped rescue him from his undercover job, plus this brown-eyed, red haired, freckled faced woman has sat by his bedside as he recovers from injuries suffered in the rescue. From the moment he opens his eyes and sets them on Kate, it was pure reader pleasure to watch their relationship develop. They are both wounded by their pasts, have seen far too much of the unsavoury side of life - yet they are so human, vulnerable and downright on the side of the children who have suffered such injustice.
Kate is ADHD, so that knitting and origami helps her manage her stress and it helps her think. So well indeed that maybe before she knows it she might have others hooked in as well. She is quick thinking, a sharp shooter, has mad ninja skills, can freeze you out in an interview - and she just keeps on pushing and doesn't give up. And her math skills are up there too.
As part of a team, with Agent Decker along for the ride before he should, Kate is in the thick of it as her quick thinking and skills work to bring a repugnant man to justice. And while she might be known by some as the Ice Queen, she is capable of warmth, tears, trust and love.
I totally enjoyed getting to know Kate and watching her work. Anyone would be happy to have her on their side, work with her, be her friend and count on her to watch their back in a dangerous situation. She has issues, but she has a good acceptance of herself and where she is right now.
Despite stress and a personal history that might have levelled another, Kate dedicates herself to helping others, working to save those caught in the nets of depravity. I highly recommend you get to know her. She sits within a 5 star read.
Love this series. Karen Rose is a master at writing the multi-level, multi-viewpoint masterpiece. I haven't found a currently writing author who does it better. At over 600 pages, book #18 is showing no signs of the series slowing down, this book is nothing short of a wonder. 600 pages and it just flew. Even with the catch up character analysis, this book never dragged. It was all action from the moment Decker opened his eyes.
At the end of the last book FBI Special Agent Griffin "Decker" is in a coma. When he wakes up he has a real sense of urgency and he is desperate to find the missing children he knows are in danger. After being undercover for 3 years with the vilest scum on earth, Decker knows that the job isn't finished until he can find and rescue those children.
Taking part in a major takedown was not how Special Agent Kate Coppola figured she would spend her first week at her new assignment in Cincinnati. But with Decker, a virtual strange to her who has no family, she feels a connection with him and sits by his hospital bed, reads to him, talks to him, listens and transcribes his undercover recordings and knits. Being in Cincinnati is Kate actually running away from tragedy and heartache.
Decker is a danger to a mysterious, drug dealing, nasty who preys on young children. He has a vast network of victims and he is not hesitant to kill if someone doesn't do his bidding. When an attempt on Decker's life is made everyone realizes that this nasty will not stop until all the loose ends are snipped and Decker is a big, loose end.
At the end of ALONE IN THE DARK, undercover FBI Special Agent Griffin "Decker" Davenport was injured, and our story begins with him in a medically induced coma. Special Agent Kate Coppola has kept a bedside vigil. Recently transferred, she prefers knitting by his bedside to her cold hotel room. As she knits, she listens to the tapes Agent Decker had hidden in the linings of his coat.
The case is complicated and had my palms sweating as I read. In the previous book we took down a human trafficking operation, but we soon learn there are ties to kiddie porn and drug trafficking. Decker holds valuable information that places him in danger. The Professor, our villain, is cleaning up any loose threads and bodies are piling up at the morgue. It was intense, dark and at times difficult to read. One of the things I like about this author is that she provides realistic information and sheds like on some of the darker aspects of the criminal world.
Rose impressed me with her ability to give us all sides of the story. We get perspectives from Kate, Decker, the Professor and a victim whose story will keep you on edge. Their voices are genuine, and I slipped from one to the next without feeling pulled from the main storyline. The interaction between the different characters we have met since book one, CLOSER THAN YOU THINK, delivered friendship, banter, side threads and heart to this compelling tale. I am fond of the men from the Ledger, the local newspaper, and the men and women of the FBI.
The romance was wonderfully done. Kate feels a connection to Decker she cannot immediately explain, and it felt genuine given her history. Some moments made me laugh out loud from food talk to awkward kisses. The romance tethers you to all that is right with the world as Rose takes us into these dark corners.
Karen Rose never fails to amaze and surprise me. Once again she has written a spot-on riveting and gripping criminal tale with elements so awful that I fear nightmares will plague me for awhile. I'm as addicted and engulfed with her characters and their personal stories as I am with how they relate to one another. The additional personal touches that make up their coping mannerisms are outstandingly projected. The partnerships and the coupling are always so perfectly matched. And it would be hard to find another author that develops such horrendous and heinous villains. The Professor was one of the worst I've ever encountered in romantic suspense. My teeth will most likely never be the same from all the grinding I've done. Rose's books are so good at being bad that I can't wait for the next one. And with that being said, I can't wait for more of two particular characters. I need to know that Meredith and Adam find happiness. And there are so many others with stories of their own yet to be told.
613 pages. A bit too long for me. I guess i will be reading this in between reading other books. But I must admit I'm finding this one by Karen Rose very difficult to get into. Wish this book was shorter.
I was not thrilled with this book, to say the least. Every single main character had childhood abuse issues...be it physical or sexual or both...and that is unbelievable when there are so many of them. Is Karen Rose trying to say the majority of children have been physically and/or sexually abused in this country or world? I'm not trying to minimize the very real horror of child sexual or physical abuse, I was one of them, but this was a little too much. And the saccharin sweet nonsense between Kate and Decker was way over the top. All in all, this book went on way too long. At 600 plus pages, it dragged and dragged. I had to skim through the last third of the book....and I hate having to do that! But the book could not keep me entertained, which is why I read, so I had no choice to get to the end. I think this will be my last Karen Rose book because her writing has become boring and too much like others in this genre. Iris Johansen and Heather Graham have done the same thing. Become boring, repetitive and predictable with all of their novels. Such a shame. I used to enjoy all of them.
A week after being shot in Alone in the Dark, and after three years spent deep undercover in a drug- and human-trafficking ring, Special Agent Griffin "Decker" Davenport, wakes up from a medically induced come, determined to tell someone the last important information he'd heard before his cover was blown. That someone happens to be Special Agent Kate Coppola, who's spent the week by his side, listening to his tapes, talking to him, and knitting.
But someone doesn't want Decker to wake up and spilling secrets, despite not knowing just what secrets the agent knows. As far as this shadowy figure is concerned, Davenport is just another loose ends in need of snipping, but luck, or the Amazon warrior of the female agent by his side, won't allow Decker to be snuffed so easily, and soon more and more loose ends appear.
It's up to Decker, Kate and the rest of the Cincinnati crew to tie the loose ends together, and maybe finally unravel the mystery.
Karen Rose remains one of my favorite suspense authors. Although everything happens during the span of just a few days, there's just so much going on, so many side-plots that end up tying up together in the end, propelling the main plot forward, that make the reader "loose the sense of time", making the story appear to happen during a much longer period.
This last installment in her loosely connected "main" series with old characters, or loose ends popping up from time to time, is no different. Well-structured, tightly-plotted, and with a spot-on pacing that is deceptively slow while building momentum for that last desperate dash toward the finishing line, it nicely ties into the previous book, finishing off where it began, tying up those few loose ends that have been plaguing the FBI and CPD for the past week (in book time) and this reader for the past year.
The topic was still horrifyingly chilling, the dealing with the case and its ramifications, especially for the victims, but not less so for the investigators, vividly portrayed with an uncanny realism that prevented the book, despite it being fiction, from descending into sensationalism or "flowery" prose. This topic is real, things like that do happen, and although not everybody can be saved, those few who can be do count, and the stress and toll it takes on the investigators (be it by having to watch videos that make them die inside every time they do, having to inform a grieving family of the truth, having to dig for and uncover remains, or haying to accept the fact the trail got cold and they never will have the answer or justice for the victims) should not be trivialized. In her books Ms Rose doesn't trivialize or patronize, but offers a realistic, and because of that sometimes horrifying, view of fictionalized (in terms of her books) events that could very well be real (and sometimes are, although reality has a tendency to be even more horrifyingly brutal).
I like her voice, I like her style, and I like her stories because they make you think about the world outside of your own little cushy "reality".
And yes, I like how she writes her characters. Leading and secondary ones. There's depth, there are layers, there are deep (or not so) seated issues, there are scars, and there are (dark) pasts. It's what makes her characters realistic, what makes them so similar to a person one can encounter walking down the street everyday. Yes, the characters are fictitious, but they're not superhuman, they don't have super powers, they're breakable like us. They're human. I especially liked the humanity in our present hero, Decker. The guy was built like a Sherman tank, he was growly and grouchy, but he had a tender streak a mile wide, a strong protective instinct, and he wasn't ashamed of letting his feelings show (Diesel being right there along for the ride, and I can't wait to read his book, which will hopefully be written soon). And, as is her uncanny ability to do, Ms Rose offered Decker the perfect heroine in the form, style, and spunky, yet vulnerable despite her better judgment, of Kate Coppola. I liked her in previous books as a supporting character, Deacon Novak's best friend, but I loved her in her own book. I loved seeing behind her tough facade to the woman she was underneath, the woman Decker brought to the forth. And their romance, despite happening in a blink of an eye (read about the timeline above), worked. Yes, they were both starved of touch, starved for affection, but it didn't feel just physical, I could see them slowly developing feelings for one another, how those feelings deepened and grew (which isn't easy to write, judging from what I've been reading lately), but I especially liked that they didn't fight it, but accepted it and took it in stride. Less drama, angst and "romantic" conflict leave more time for the actual plot.
Every Dark Corner is the third book in the Cincinnati series, and the 15th book I’ve read written by Karen Rose. I am a massive fan, Karen Rose is my ultimate guilty pleasure, and I was over the moon to be given an advanced reader copy of her newest offering to review.
The story picks off where Alone In The Dark ends. A gang of human traffickers have been exposed, most of them killed in the process. With this group out of the picture you would think the streets of Cincinnati were safer, but you would be wrong. There is another predator more dangerous than you could imagine, and he is preying on the innocent children of the city.
The opening scenes sees a girl in her late teens, Mallory, grocery shopping. She is anxious and scared, because she needs to get home on time without any hiccups. Mallory is being held against her will, taken as a child and forced into taking part in videos showing her being abused. Now Mallory is 18 she is too old for these videos, but she is still a slave, held by coercive control. Her keeper, known as The Professor, is one of the most elusive criminals I have ever came across. No one knows his real identity, and his forte ranges from high quality drugs, to human trafficking, to child pornography, to murder. This man knows no bounds.
Enter Special Agent Kate Coppola and Special Agent Griffin “Decker” Davenport. Both of these characters briefly made an appearance in the previous novel, and take centre stage in the race to track down The Professor. Only a few hours after Decker awakes from his medically induced coma, an attempt is made on his life. Someone is intent on snipping off any loose ends left after the human trafficking gang was exposed, and Decker who was undercover, is one of them. Soon enough, the body count starts to rise, The Professor always managing to be one step ahead of the FBI, who exactly is this criminal kingpin that seems to have contacts in every walk of life? Can Kate and Decker track him down in time to save Mallory and stop him recruiting his next intake of young children into his business?
I absolutely LOVED this book! Karen Rose never fails to amaze me. This is darker than a lot of Ms Rose’s books, there is the familiar serial killer element to it, but the child abuse and trafficking gives it a more sinister edge. If you are familiar with Karen Rose you will know most of her novels feature characters from previous stories, making cameo appearances, and there is always some steamy romance between the main characters, and this one is no different. Her formula is predictable, but it’s a winner. If it aint broke, don’t fix it! The intricate plot is exquisitely planned out and is so finely interwoven with many strings going several different ways. The pace is kept up from start to finish, which is a hard thing to do with a book as lengthy as this, but it grabbed me from the beginning, sinking it’s claws in and not letting go till the end. The intensity of the story keeps you on the edge of your seat, trying to figure out how all the clues fit together, what would happen and who did what.
The romance was well done too. Rose leans more to the suspense side of romantic suspense, but there’s still a good romance in this story. I liked Kate and Decker, both complex characters hunted by the past. They had to deal with their issues and trust each other all in a couple of pressure cooker days. The chemistry between them was great, I could really feel the connection between them.
The book is written from various points of view, Decker and Kate, Mallory and The Professor, giving you insight into his dark and twisted world. Even the reader does not know his true identity until the end. The characterisation is superb, it immediately sucks you into the minds of the determined detectives, the terrified victims, and the despicable murderer.
It is easy to see why Karen Rose is an award-winner and a best-seller. She has an extensive understanding for both the dark and light side of human nature and a true gift for displaying that in her books. Be prepared…very prepared. You won’t put it down from your trembling hands until it’s over. If you want a fast-paced, chilling, intense, and unforgettable book then Every Dark Corner is perfect for you.
I cannot praise this book highly enough, overall rating five stars from me. Thanks to Karen Rose, Headline and NetGalley for sending the ARC.
Although I enjoyed this book, as I always do when it comes to Karen Rose, I wasn't particularly interested in the romantic part of the story this time. There didn't seem to be as much focus on it as there usually is, what with so many other things going on, and Kate and Decker remained a little two-dimensional compared to characters in previous novels. It was an excellent thriller though. Love KR's work!
When FBI Special Agent Griffin 'Decker' Davenport wakes from his coma, he is desperate to find the missing children he knows are in danger. At the end of his last investigation, when he thought it was all over and justice had been served, he discovered that not everyone had been rescued, but was shot before he was able to tell anyone.
Special Agent Kate Coppola has recently moved to Cincinnati. She says she's chasing a promotion but she's actually running away from a heartache. She's found the recordings from Decker's last investigation and has been at his side at the hospital while she tries to put together the pieces. Together they will search every dark corner to find the kidnapped children and bring their captors into the light.
My Review
The FBI are on the verge of exposing and bringing down child abusers and kidnappers. FBI agent Davenport is now out from undercover but in critical condition in hospital in a coma. The team need his information to help bring down the ring and save the children. Plenty of people don't want Davenport to talk and will stop at nothing to save their lucrative business, including blackmail and murder.
This almighty chunk of a book has a lot going on in it, book 18 of a series and many main characters from previous stories lines. I haven't read them all but have read a fair few & think I will head back and pick the rest up. Kids are being taken and forced into the sex trade, drugs are a plenty with the professor making a mint from college kids to high roller professionals. He has more to lose than most and won't allow his empire to tumble down. With the content, some parts of the story can be for hard reading although unlike some books there isn't a huge focus on the minute details of abuse these kid endure.
The pace is relatively fast, we are either following the bad guys and their dastardly deeds, manipulation, violence and of course murders or with the police and the undeniable attraction between some of the characters, particularly Coppola & Decker. As well as being a fast paced police investigation we have some relationship developments, scenes of a sexual nature and bad language used throughout. Characters, there are many who are interlinked and have definitely featured in previous books and some of them are related, if you haven't read the previous books you will be able to follow them however reading the backlog would certainly help. We do get an insight into the background of some of the characters and a way of explanation for how they are they way they but no in great depth.
I think some people thought the book could have been condensed however I disagree, I think looking at how many characters actually feature and we visit different scenes involved each it works well. 4/5 for me this time, I will pursue the previous works I have missed and absolutely read anymore that come out from this series. Thanks to BookBridgr for sending me a review copy.
Every Dark Corner (Romantic Suspense #18) by Karen Rose
When FBI Special Agent Griffin "Decker" Davenport wakes from his coma, he is desperate to find the missing children he knows are in danger. At the end of his last investigation, when he thought it was all over and justice had been served, he discovered that not everyone had been rescued, but he was shot before he was able to tell anyone.Special Agent Kate Coppola has recently moved to Cincinnati. She says she's chasing a promotion but she's actually running away from heartache. She's found the recordings from Decker's time undercover and has been at his side in the hospital while she tries to put together the pieces of the crime he was investigating—and what connection it has to his own mysterious past.When someone tries to kill Decker in his hospital bed, he and Kate realise that the children are not the only ones whose lives are threatened, and that they must stop at nothing to hunt down the perpetrators. And danger is waiting in every dark corner.
I believe Karen Rose is quickly becoming one of those authors that I can list among those romantic suspense writers that are among my favorites like Kay Hooper, Tami Hoag, Janet Evanovich, and Sue Grafton. Karen has the ability to balance both suspense and character plot in just the right portion to include the emotional ying yang as readers are taken along for the ride and witness the horrors and the triumphs, highs and lows of our favorite Decker's journey. That also includes Kate's journey as both she and Decker gain more intimacy and someone to lean on when the tolls their careers have taken leave them needing someone to confide in. For new readers I would suggest picking up the previous book since both Decker and Kate are in the previous book and their sort of initial relationship building period is established there. It took me awhile to finish this book because there is just so much craziness and heartbreaking content that it was hard for me to take in for long periods of time. Reader be warned there is a lot going on with both Rose's good guys and her bad guys. Take the time to keep up because you're going to want to read this one. For a dual layer redemption and fear read this is a fantastic book. I highly recommend it.
Karen Rose
This title will be available for purchase on February 7, 2017!
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This is the third book in the Romantic Suspense Cincinnati series by Karen Rose. Karen has long been one of my favourite authors and I've just recently finished the second book in the series Alone in the Dark. I was really keen therefore to get stuck in to this one and I definitely wasn't disappointed.
I actually enjoyed Every Dark Corner a lot more than Alone in the Dark. It was far more fast paced and page turning. I literally could not put it down. My boyfriend was laughing at me for reading in the bath and while brushing my teeth!
The novel picks up where Alone in the Dark left off (spoilers ahead if you've not read AITD) after the traffickers were caught by Scarlett, Marcus and co. Every Dark Corner focuses on Special Agent Kate Coppola who is Deacon Novak's ex partner recently reassigned to Cincinnati. It follows the search for Woody McCords partner an elusive guy nicknamed 'The Professor' who is involved in everything from drugs to child pornography. As this is one of Karen's Romantic Suspense novels there is also a romance between Kate and another special agent but I'll not give away who!
The novel is as I already said very fast paced and gripping. The story races along and unlike Alone in the Dark we as readers are not given an idea of who the partner is. Although we get his perspective on things and hear his name there are so many names used for him that it's hard to tell whether they are real or false names and this just adds to the mystery!
The Romantic element is as hot and heavy as usual and I must admit it's a guilty pleasure of mine to read this series with its combination of horrific crime and Steamy romance. I love that all the characters are linked in as well and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series which I'm secretly hoping will focus on Stone And Delores!
Special Agent Griffin Davenport is in coma but someone special is taking care of him... He senses her, wants to touch her and alert that there are children in danger... But where? Who? He can't remember! The sweet voice will help him, but first he has to wake up! Special Agent Coppola wants to finish the case, but she will need the help of the handsome agent that she's taking care of in the hospital... Would it be soon enough when he wakes up to help her? So many strings undone... someone has to know something! Ready to check every dark corner? First of all, this is the third book of the Cincinnati Series, I don't recommend you to read it alone, start with the first of the series, there are a lot of characters in the story that you will be lost if you start with this book. But I can assure you they are worth the read! This is a crude and tough book; with drugs, pornography and child abuse, never explicit, of course, but you will suffer just to imagine it! I have read all Karen Rose books and she has so many characters that you will need a little help in this book, they explain a little bit the connections in between the stories but it's difficult to follow sometimes! As always, Karen has created a non-stop thriller full of mystery and romance, but this time is a race against some child life... and lucky for them, the police will make everything to help them and catch the monster before is too late! I always wish that if something like this happens in reality, the police would be eager to sacrifice everything like the detectives do in the books! Every time I read a book that has something about child pornography in it, it repulses me! How is it possible that some people wanted to make children suffer and make money with it? We live in a crazy world, don't we? While you are reading this book your heart will beat really fast in every page; with the action, the mystery and all the characters involvement, you will not want to stop till the last page! And of course wanting to know who will be the main characters in the next Karen Rose book! ;) Do you know a Professor?
After spending three years undercover in a sex trafficking operation, he wakes up from a coma desperate to get back to work to find children he knows are missing. Special Agent Kate Coppola is running from her own demons and ends up in Cincinnati and by Decker's side. She's determined to help him find out who is running this operation and put an end to it all. When people around them start getting hurt or killed and an attempt on Decker's life is made at the hospital, they realize these people will do nothing to stop from being caught. While dealing with their inner turmoil, their intense attraction to each other and the balance of keeping it all together in order to help one well known child porn "star", Sunshine Suzie, whose name happens to pop up in a chance occurrence - they find out more than they ever wanted to know about the operation at hand and who is involved. When will it ever end and how many lives will it cost them?
Admittedly, this book took about 30-40% before it snared me. Maybe because of the density of being 700+ pages, it seemed daunting. While you can read this as a stand alone and still enjoy it, I do think reading the first two books will help to get some backstory on some of the characters. Once I was snared though, I breezed through the rest of the book. I love a strong, snarky, female lead character and Coppola certainly is one of those. There were quite a few characters introduced and I felt for the victims, those involved that had personal histories that made them sensitive to the situation. The author does well in bringing all of these to the surface. And the romance? Steamy! ;) If you like romantic suspense, you will definitely enjoy this book - it's worth the long read.
This wraps up the 3 book Cincinnati series and picks up where the last book ended, with undercover agent Decker Davenport in a coma fighting for his life and FBI agent Kate Coppola glued to his side.
A lot of the players involved in the child trafficking and pornography ring were brought down in the last book – that is - all except the main player who goes by the name The Professor. He is now killing off all the loose ends and the FBI are trying to figure out who he is. They know this man is responsible for the kidnapping and sale of a lot of children.
Along with all the previous characters POV we also get the POV of one of the children who has been both the unwilling star of the pornography video's and now a slave to The Professor. She been with him the longest and her fear of what he will do to her younger sister if she ever defies him keeps her in line. But when she finds out that he is trying to kill the undercover FBI agent who might know too much she's finally thinks that maybe she has a chance to get herself and her sister away from the monster who has controlled her life for so many years.
We are given another story that weaves lots of characters and plots flawlessly. The way the author can take an evil person and hide them in plain site and be a person you'd never suspect is always brilliant.
This trilogy wasnt my favorite of Ms Rose's. I enjoyed the “good” characters and how they worked together through the three books but I wasnt blown away by the overarching plot in the trilogy. Now that its done I do look forward to seeing what's next..
It's been a good while since I've read a book from this series and man have I missed it! All of her books do tend to be long, but man they are definitely entertaining throughout the entire thing!
I am so happy to meet some new characters and follow some old characters and see that they are all entermingling nicely! I enjoy getting more to each of their stories!
Karen Rose is such a thorough writer and I don't think I could ever read a book of hers that I don't like, let alone that I wouldn't mark as my "Favorite"!
If you haven't read this series yet and don't mind romantic suspense, what are you waiting for?
I'm a huge Karen Rose fan, having read every book that she has ever written. This is the third instalment of the newest series and I would seriously recommend that you read the previous two books first otherwise a lot of these characters here will confuse you with their relationships to each other as there are A LOT of them!
The storyline here won't suit everyone as it contains some distressing plot threads around child abuse but these are mostly implied and not graphically illustrated although it's still a difficult subject to read about. And it may have been this plot that made Every Dark Corner not as appealing to me as her previous books but the thread featuring did redeem it slightly as I adored the developing relationship between Kate and Decker.
So not my favourite Karen Rose but I still enjoyed this compelling thriller.
Okay, well.... this book was good. I'm just not great with really long books with 624 pages. If they are this long, they have to really grasp my interest in a big way for me to not want to rush through it. But that is me - I'm a little bit impatient. The story was interesting and suspenseful, the main characters were likeable and the 'bad guy' was developed enough for me to really dislike him. But.... it just dragged things out a bit, for me personally. About half way through I noticed myself skimming over pages, just trying to get to the end. It's the first Karen Rose book I've read and if I found a smaller one, with a lot less pages, I'd probably give it a go, but I wouldn't pick up another of Karen's this long.
I received this book in a good reads giveaway. This book is intense, suspenseful with some very dark characters a good read for True Crime lovers. I believe that it would be best to read the first two books in the Cincinnati series in order to completely understand all of the characters. I read the first but not the second and still felt a little lost at times trying to figure out what was going on with some of the characters. I also felt that a character who is coming out of a coma would not have developed an infatuation with someone he really did not know well who was at his bedside during the coma. That just seemed a little far fetched to me.