Quarter to Midnight: the thrilling first book in a brand new series from the bestselling author

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A shocking murder leaves an affluent retirement community reeling in this riveting, high-stakes second installment of the San Diego Case Files, from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose. Themes include murder, relationships, families, friendship, secrets, infidelity, corruption, and much more. Gabe is a minor celebrity chef, who, like many in his profession, is a bit of a hothead, but his caring nature shines through.

Little does he know, this decision will land him in hot water with none other than the aggressive (and cute) Detective McKittrick. Karen Rose brings suspense, danger, action, intense moments, and romance to her first book in the New Orleans romantic suspense series, Quarter to Midnight.

Karen Rose pulls another ace from her sleeve with her latest high-stakes game of bone-chilling suspense. Some of them are filled with corpses laid out with a meticulous and obsessive care, but others are still empty. Brace yourself for a scorching new series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose, where San Diego means sun, surf, sand. Now, their paths cross again and they both discover that their feelings for each other are just as strong as they were before. But after she helps to convict a killer, her confidence is shattered once again by the news that her son has been kidnapped.

It is a long book at a little over 600 pages, but I can't think of much that could have been cut to trim down the length. A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than thirty years. An older, retired New Orleans cop knows his days are numbered because the wrong people know he has been poking into what they need to keep hidden. Assistant District Attorney Kaj Cordozo's life is thrown upside down when two masked men attempt to kidnap his son, Elijah. As expected, Rose continues reeling out the shocking surprises in this blistering, high-octane plot that never lets up.The series is set in New Orleans, and it is truly an atmospheric book as the good guys and the bad guys fight their way to the finish. And of course there was the romance between Molly and Gabe that was a very fun way to break up some of the heavier and more suspenseful storylines. Consider streamlining the narrative by reducing the number of POVs, allowing for a deeper exploration of the remaining characters. Sam is released after his encounter with Kit, but he goes home with both a newfound distaste for the SDPD and a resolve–not unlike Kit’s–to uncover the truth.

Molly was attracted to the hot and handsome Chef when she saw him at his restaurant, Le Petit Choux celebrating her birthday.It's been a while since I've picked up a Karen Rose book, so when I saw this, I thought as it's the first in a series set in New Orleans, it would be the perfect place to pick up from. I loved all of the characters, especially PI Molly and chef Gabe who provide the romance element, but also Xavier and the colourful characters who make up his entourage. The series is set in Baltimore, Maryland, and follows a group of characters as they navigate the city’s dark underworld of crime and corruption. Then she discovers something more sinister: a vicious blackmailer who preys on young people and murders without hesitation.