KNIFE IN THE BACK
New Orleans, #4
by Karen Rose
Berkley, 2025
★★★★✰
Officer Naomi Cranston was framed for stealing cocaine from the evidence locker and coerced—through threats to her young son—into not fighting the charges. After five years in prison, she has tried to put the ordeal behind her, but the crooks who framed her have returned, this time demanding she move drugs along with her flower shop’s deliveries. They threaten her son once again, but this time she’s not capitulating quietly. She hires Broussard Investigations to protect her and her son, to prove her innocence, and to put the real bad guys away.
As a former cop, Burke Broussard is well aware of the corruption in the New Orleans police department. He had always believed Naomi Cranston to be guilty and isn’t inclined to take her case. Until he sits down to listen to her side of things. Until he sees her tortured innocence written all over her beautiful face…
A relationship born amid an investigation is a fragile thing. Will it survive the danger and the threats? Will it survive the truth?
Dear Readers,
Crime fiction—I often refer to as detective procedurals—has been a staple for ages. Lately, it feels like there’s a growing presence of these titles on the "bestseller" shelves at bookstores. One name that frequently catches my eye is Karen Rose, whose works I've occasionally picked up. Today marks the release of her latest novel, Knife in the Back, the fourth installment in her New Orleans series published by Berkley.
This series revolves around individuals in dire situations who seek out the help of Broussard Investigations. In Knife in the Back, we see more of Burke Broussard, the owner of the agency, who takes on a prominent role for the first time. The story follows Naomi Cranston, a former police officer wrongfully convicted of stealing cocaine from an evidence locker. After spending five years in prison, Naomi is released, only to discover that those who framed her are now targeting her son. This predicament leads her to enlist the help of Broussard Investigations.
Karen Rose's writing is fluid and engaging, and I found myself immersed in the story within just a few pages, largely due to her exceptional storytelling prowess. The characters, each with their quirks and flaws, are richly developed, and the secondary characters also shine. What starts as a straightforward plot quickly unfolds into a web of unpredictable twists and suspenseful turns.
My only concern lies in the book’s length, which exceeds 500 pages. For my taste, that’s a bit on the lengthy side, especially for a crime thriller or romantic suspense. While the pacing is smooth and kept me turning the pages, I feel that the story could benefit from trimming about fifty pages or so for a tighter narrative. But that's just my perspective.
Overall, Knife in the Back is a well-crafted, suspense-laden read filled with drama and action. It's the strongest entry in the New Orleans series.
⁓B.J. Burgess
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