ARC Review: You Belong to Me

You Belong To Me
Karen Rose
Romantic Suspense
Signet/June 7, 2011

From the author's website ~

Years ago, a young girl was beaten and raped while onlookers did nothing. Now those witnesses are becoming victims themselves…

Baltimore city Homicide Detective JD Fitzpatrick has seen a lot of horrific violence, both as a cop and during his deployment in Afghanistan, but nothing like the trail of tortured bodies that are turning up throughout the city. He’s up against a brutal killer with a very personal vendetta. And now JD is beginning to suspect that his medical examiner may be shielding some crucial evidence linked to the case.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Lucy Trask is intrigued by JD’s compassion, but she isn’t about to mix work with pleasure. Not while there’s a ruthless killer on the loose. And definitely not while she’s keeping a dark secret that could connect her to these vicious killings—and put her next on the killer’s hit list…

Karen Rose is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. She delivers wonderful, multi-layered characters with plots that twist and turn and have you on the edge of your seat. Her newest release is no different. There are a new set of characters with a couple of secondary characters from previous books, and a new city to get to know. The antagonist is dark, evil and intelligent, making it a real challenge for the hero and heroine to defeat. The plot is intricate, with just enough clues to keep the reader guessing.

Lucy Trask - Oh, I like this new heroine. She's smart, tough, feisty and doesn't intimidate easily. She also has a soft side that she shows to her friends but maintains a separation from her professional life. She might come across as a private person but her background and past experiences play into that need for privacy. Lucy is also a creature of habit. She likes order and strongly dislike anything smelling of danger. She much prefers order in her life. Rose did an exceptional job developing Lucy into a heroine who is not only likable but one the reader can connect with.

JD Fitzpatrick is new to homicide but not to death. Prior to working homicide he worked narcotics and before that he was in the army. JD has a lot of baggage that he keeps locked up tight. We get to know him through his relationships with his partner and friend, Stevie Mazzetti. Stevie is the widow of a good friend of JD's so they have a history. I liked how they interacted with Stevie being the more experienced homicide detective and JD having no problem deferring to that experience. JD's an alpha but he's also a smart man and knows when to ask for help on the job. His personal life is another story. He's baggage is from the army and from the death of his wife and their broken relationship. Yeah, he's got a lot to work through.

There are a number of new secondary characters who not only add to the feel of this new city and new police force, but they incorporate themselves well into the overall story. Everyone has a part to play and they all play it well. There are a few that I would like to see more and and hope they get their stories told.

The murders are gruesome. There's just no getting around it. Torture and mutilation are what this killer likes. The killer also likes to play games with the police and with Lucy. Some might think it was overdone but I felt it was in line with the character's background and previous actions. The pieces of the puzzle come together slowly, giving the characters as well as the reader a chance to get to discover the back story of the victims and piece it all together. The pacing is well done with that attention to details that Rose is known for. I love when I get those "AH" moments, realizing when earlier clues all fit together to form the final picture.

This is certainly not one to miss. A great mystery and wonderful romance with strong characters and an equally strong plot. Ms. Rose has another winner on her hands and left this reader hungry for more.

Rating: A