Karen Rose delivers another gripping romantic thriller with Cold Blooded Liar, the first in a new series centered around San Diego homicide detective Kit McKittrick. As a longtime fan of Rose’s work, this one felt like a fresh but familiar return packed with tension, layered characters, and just enough romance to balance the darker elements.

Kit is tenacious and driven, and the new setting allows for a fresh cast of supporting characters, all of whom are well developed and easy to invest in. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with twists that kept me guessing without feeling overly convoluted. The case involving a manipulative liar, possible serial killings, and hidden trauma is dark but compelling, as Rose handles heavy subject matter with care.

What sets this apart is the focus on psychological manipulation and emotional scars, both in the investigation and in Kit’s personal journey. The romantic subplot is understated compared to earlier titles, but it works giving just enough connection without overshadowing the crime narrative.

Fans of her earlier Romantic Suspense books will appreciate the strong female lead and layered procedural elements, while new readers will find this an accessible entry point. I’m already looking forward to where this series goes next.

As always, Rose blends meticulous procedural detail with strong characterisation. Kit, with her guarded vulnerability and fierce determination, is a standout—complex, competent, and haunted by her upbringing in the foster care system. Sam is equally compelling: his compassion, guilt, and willingness to step into danger for others make him a refreshingly empathetic male lead.

The plot is layered and fast-paced, with enough twists to keep the pages turning. While some of the supporting characters verge on familiar tropes, Rose’s command of emotional stakes and her thematic focus on justice, trauma, and survival give the narrative heart.

Though readers new to Karen Rose may find the density of backstory slightly overwhelming, long-time fans will feel right at home. The romance simmers rather than scorches, leaving room for future development—and given that this is the first in a new series, that’s a promising hook.

Verdict: Cold Blooded Liar is a gripping start to a new chapter in Karen Rose’s suspense canon—dark, intense, and emotionally resonant. Fans of crime thrillers with a romantic edge will find plenty to enjoy.

Karen Rose is an author I am pretty much guaranteed to love ANY book she writes and thankfully that continues with this latest book. The first in the San Diego series this features Detective Kit McKittrick who works homicide alongside her trust partner Baz. Kit's background with her adopted parents Harlan and Betsy alongside the murder of her adopted sister Wren many t=years ago creates a character that is bristly and doesn't trust easily, but one that you also fall in love with. Her partner Baz was the detective that took on Wren's case back in the day, so their relationship is solid. When they pair up on a new murder case, they find a link to a Doctor Sam Reeves. Sam is a psychologist who is treating his patient Colton Driscoll, but fears the man may have committed a crime. What Sam didn't count is quickly becoming a lead suspect. This book is (like many other Rose novels) a long one but totally worth it. Packed full of action and twists with characters you can fall in love with very easily. When I finally finished it I immediately made sure I had the second book in the series lined up and ready to go. Another fabulous read by this author....

thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Karen Rose is one of my favourite authors. This book was to her amazing high standards. The twists and turns through the book had you second guessing all the way to the end. Definitely recommend

Great start to the series, I really liked the characters and I am looking forward to another book in the series

A fast paced thriller that had me guessing g all the way through the book. Will definitely read. Ore from this author. I liked the plot line and style of writing.
Definitely one I would recommend

Another amazing book from Karen Rose. One of the major reasons why I live their books is their ability to capture my attention from the very first page. The characters were interesting and well developed and I really cared about what happened to them. Overall, another engaging and intense story from Karen Rose.

First book in this series by this author
And once again she didn’t disappoint
You will definitely not want to put this book down
Thanks NetGalley

Oh I do love a Karen Rose book, she never disappoints and I have been reading her for years. This was very enjoyable and I soon got into the characters and the crime. Looking forward to book 2.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Cold Blooded Liar is the first novel in the San Diego Case Files series by Karen Rose. This is a complex murder investigation. Dr Sam Reeves is a psychologist whose client reveals that he committed a cold case murder. This case is almost 20 years old and involved the murder of a young girl. Sam makes an anonymous call to the police department and the body is found. There are indications that this body is linked to 4 other murders. Sam is tracked down and decides launch his own investigation which clashes with Kit’s own and at one stage he is considered a suspect. Kit (Kit Cat)Mckittrick, a detective with San Diego police homicide department, who has a excellent reputation for solving cold cases. She wants to solve this case as her foster sister disappeared 16 years ago and remains a cold case. As Kit and her partner Baz Constantine delve deeper they discover more bodies, some of whom are close to Sam. They need to investigate whether or not he did actually commit this crime and Sam needs to prove his innocence.
Kit and Sam are both complex individuals with interesting back stories which will no doubt be built upon in futures novels. This an intense psychological thriller that draws you, as the reader, in. The novel is well written and full of relocations and twists in the storyline. I was completely wrong in my suspicions on who the murderer is. This is what makes a great rather than a meh suspense novel. The anticipation, pinpointing a suspect and then being wrong shows how skilled an author is.

I thorough enjoyed this book and would recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley UK in exchange a honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me o read an advanced copy of this book.

Although this book is shorter than the majority of Karen Rose's other books it still packs as much of a punch. I really liked both of the main characters and I enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship. I will definitely be continuing with this series.

A stunner of a book that I had real trouble stopping.

Was absolutely blown away by this one. It is a must read.

Cannot wait for the next one.

Highly recommended, 5 stars from me.

I’ve read a few Karen Rose books now and really enjoyed them. In the prologue I really wasn’t sure where things weee going to go but seeing the relationships develop was so good, I enjoyed this aspect just as much as the actual murder investigation.
At about a quarter of the way through it seems like everything has been wrapped up. You know this can’t be the case but you’ve no idea where it’s going to go!
Throughout the book I had suspicions as to where things were heading and who the prime suspect was (or who I really didn’t like and wanted them to be involved 😂), needless to say I was completely wrong!

This is the first in a new series from Karen Rose and I’m really hoping that we get the next in the series soon, as I loved the characters and can’t wait to see their relationships develop.

One of my favourite authors. You will never be disappointed reading one of her books. This new series I really enjoyed and cannot wait for the next. If you are wanting a gripping thriller then this is your book - kept me guessing until the end *****

This is the first book in the San Diego series and straight away you know this is going to be a great read.

Sam a psychologist has a client who divulges details about a murder case.

Kit is a detective who wants to solve the case, so maybe working together they can find the murder.

I loved this fast paced thrilling book and cannot wait for the next instalment.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Karen Rose knows how to write a pacy thriller and this is no exception. The first book in the new San Diego series set up the plot well and the sprinkling of crossover characters from other books was well done. I look forward to the next one. (Copy received via Netgalley in return for an honest review)

I really loved this book and everything about it. It kept me hooked from the very begining. Karen rose is one of my favourite authors and i cant see that ever changing.

Cold Blooded Liar by Karen Rose
Thank you Headline Books for sending me an advance copy for review.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it.

I loved the way the characters were built and very much enjoyed Detective Kit’s back story and loved how it shaped her decision making etc in this book. Therapist Sam was an interesting character too, and we were kept on our toes about him and also the whole will they won’t they throughout.

The storyline itself was pretty unique and I enjoyed the technological aspects that brought this crime thriller bang up to date. I didn’t guess the murderer, and that’s always a good thing, and it wasn’t a let down when all was revealed. The ending is tense and exciting and overall I think it’s a great read.

If I were to make one criticism it would be that at times it was a bit repetitive. For example when Sam was searched we read all about it happening but then we read it again when he told his parents about it in detail, and then we read it once more when he told his boss about it too.

If you enjoy crime thrillers though, I would definitely recommend it. 3.5 Stars.

This is another absolutely brilliant book from @karenrosebooks

I was instantly hooked by this one. It’s a book that became completely impossible to put down.

This is every bit as dark and addictive as I hoped. Kit is a superb character and this is a completely wonderful start to a new series- I’m already craving more.

This is filled with tension. I’ve been transported completely and unwilling to put this one down. I am a huge Karen Rose fan and this is a definitely a favourite.

I will definitely be recommending this book to fans of the genre.. I can’t wait for more.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I thoroughly enjoyed Cold Blooded Liar, which is an engrossing murder investigation with some great twists. Surprisingly there are no sizzling sex scenes and or raging hormones, which have become a feature of Ms Rose’s work, instead there is a low key attraction, which will continue in future novels, I assume. I like it as it seems more realistic to me and there is no distraction from the plot. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️