Title:Say You’re Sorry by Karen Rose
Sacramento Series Book One
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 624 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Introducing the first book in the new pulse-pounding Sacramento series from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose.
There is a serial killer on the loose, preying on vulnerable women. The only identifiable mark the killer leaves are letters—sometimes one, sometimes two—all carved into the torsos of his victims. Together they spell “Sydney.”
When he grabs Daisy Dawson, he believes he has found his next victim. But despite her small stature, she fights back with an expertise that quickly frees her. Before fleeing the scene, Daisy also manages to grab what proves to be crucial evidence: a necklace from around the killer’s neck.
The necklace is more than a trivial item—it is a link to a cold case that Special Agent Gideon Reynolds has been tracking for seventeen years. With Daisy’s help, Gideon finally has the opportunity to get closer to the truth than ever before.
But they might not get the chance, as the serial killer has a new target: Gideon and Daisy.
Review:
Say You’re Sorry by Karen Rose is a multi-layered and suspenseful mystery. Although this first installment in the Sacramento series features a main character featured in a previous novel, it can be read as a standalone.
A serial killer who lives in Sacramento has managed to remain under the radar as he tortures then murders his victims. When he attacks radio personality Daisy Dawson, she manages to escape but not before she grabs his necklace. Daisy’s friend and Sacramento police Detective Rafe Sokolov calls in his friend, FBI Linguist Gideon Reynolds, to help on the case since a comment from the attacker raises questions about other victims.
During the course of the police interview with Daisy, Gideon recognizes the locket she pulled from her assailant’s neck. He also knows the people in the picture inside the locket since they were all members of The Church of the Second Eden. Gideon escaped from the cult when he was thirteen years old but he has never given up searching for their encampment. As Gideon and Daisy try to locate the Eileen, the woman whom the locket belongs to, they become a target of her deranged attacker who is holding another woman in his basement. Will Gideon and Daisy unmask the murderer before they become his next victims?
Daisy is a recovering alcoholic with a complicated history.She moved to Sacramento about six months earlier and she has a very busy life. Her best friend is Trish Hart and both women have been unofficially adopted by Rafe’s family. In addition to co-hosting a morning radio talk show, Daisy is a dedicated volunteer to several worthwhile causes. Due to her unconventional childhood, she has no trouble defending herself during her attack. Daisy is also a perfect witness since she is quite observant.
Gideon is best friends with Rafe and he is also quite close to Rafe’s parents and siblings. Although Rafe and the FBI know the details of his time living with the cult, he does not discuss his past with anyone else. Gideon’s search for the Second Eden has been unsuccessful since they move around to evade detection. Eileen’s locket is the first tangible lead he has run across in years, but he is not certain whether or not it will lead him to the cult’s current location.
The sparks fly between Daisy and Gideon almost immediately. Gideon genuinely likes Daisy and since he is guarding her from her attacker, they spend an extended amount of time in each other’s company. Although usually reluctant to discuss his time with the cult, Gideon quickly opens up to Daisy. She proves to be an invaluable asset in uncovering clues in their quest for information about Eileen and the man who assaulted her. Despite the danger they are in, Daisy and Gideon give in to their attraction for one another. Will their surprising romance continue once they return to their regular lives?
Say You’re Sorry is a perplexing mystery with an interesting storyline and an eclectic cast of characters. The novel features two distinct story arcs and due to the book’s length, the two plot lines are explored in depth. While engaging, the story is a little repetitive and occasionally a little slow paced. Karen Rose brings the serial killer story arc to a action-packed conclusion. Gideon’s search for The Church of the Second Eden remains unsolved which will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Sacramento series. An excellent mystery that I recommend to fans of the genre.
