Die for Me
4 Stars

When several graves are uncovered in a field, Philadelphia detective, Vito Ciccotelli, calls in local archeologist and medieval historian, Sophie Johannsen to aid in the investigation. With the bodies piling up, Vito and his colleagues will have to race against the clock once the sadistic killer sets his sights on Sophie.

A tense and exciting if predictable read.

In terms of the plot, it is relatively easy to guess the villain’s identity. Nevertheless, the story is well-developed and suspenseful. Rose’s research into medieval weaponry and torture devices, as well as the computer game industry and forensic investigation, is exceptional and makes for interesting reading. It should be noted that the descriptions are quite graphic and violent, and the books deals with some disturbing themes. As such, it may not be for everyone.

As in most of Rose’s books, there are numerous characters to keep track of from Sophie and Vito’s respective families, colleagues and friends to the killer’s victims and other assorted witnesses. That said, each and every character plays an important role in the story and none are superfluous. Moreover, Rose’s villain is as diabolical as they come and his actions and motivations make for some spine-chilling scenes.

The romance between Sophie and Vito is the weakest aspect of the book. Sophie is not a particularly likable heroine. She is cold, curt, abrasive and self-absorbed. While she does eventually change her outlook on life and become more agreeable, she never quite manages to evoke any sympathy. Vito, on the other hand, is sexy and charming, and his devotion to his family makes him extremely engaging. To be honest, aside from the physical attraction, it is unclear why he wants to be with her.

All in all, a solid addition to Rose’s thrilling if hauntingly dark series. ( )

Die For Me by Karen Rose
Romantic suspense. #7 in the order of all the author books. Can be read as a stand-alone.
A body is found in a Philadelphia field and Detective Vito Ciccotelli calls in archaeologist Sophie Johannasen to help investigate.

They find multiple bodies and the work starts to identify the victims and track down the killer. The empty spots are chilling because you know they are planned.

Intense and gripping. Lots of bodies. Horrifying, torturous kills. And a psycho killer.
Wow. ( )

Die for Me
4 Stars

When several graves are uncovered in a field, Philadelphia detective, Vito Ciccotelli, calls in local archeologist and medieval historian, Sophie Johannsen to aid in the investigation. With the bodies piling up, Vito and his colleagues will have to race against the clock once the sadistic killer sets his sights on Sophie.

A tense and exciting if predictable read.

In terms of the plot, it is relatively easy to guess the villain’s identity. Nevertheless, the story is well-developed and suspenseful. Rose’s research into medieval weaponry and torture devices, as well as the computer game industry and forensic investigation, is exceptional and makes for interesting reading. It should be noted that the descriptions are quite graphic and violent, and the books deals with some disturbing themes. As such, it may not be for everyone.

As in most of Rose’s books, there are numerous characters to keep track of from Sophie and Vito’s respective families, colleagues and friends to the killer’s victims and other assorted witnesses. That said, each and every character plays an important role in the story and none are superfluous. Moreover, Rose’s villain is as diabolical as they come and his actions and motivations make for some spine-chilling scenes.

The romance between Sophie and Vito is the weakest aspect of the book. Sophie is not a particularly likable heroine. She is cold, curt, abrasive and self-absorbed. While she does eventually change her outlook on life and become more agreeable, she never quite manages to evoke any sympathy. Vito, on the other hand, is sexy and charming, and his devotion to his family makes him extremely engaging. To be honest, aside from the physical attraction, it is unclear why he wants to be with her.

All in all, a solid addition to Rose’s thrilling if hauntingly dark series. ( )

When a decomposed body turns up in a field, police call upon an archaeologist to map out the grave. To their horror, they discover not one but 16 interconnected graves; seven yet to be filled. As they work to identify the nine victims (many which were tortured), the killer is busy dispensing his own brand of medieval justice on victim #10. it's nearly 600 pages and has so much going on, but as always, It's a gripping read. It could easily be trimmed about 100 pages and been an even more taut and suspenseful thriller. ( )

Quick Synopsis:

Die For Me started with an elderly man uncovering a body in the a field on the large grounds where he lived. After the cops arrived on the scene and discovered that this was more than a simple murder, they called in an expert. Sophie Johansen, an esteemed archeologist, studied the grave of the first victim and quickly discovered that the body count was enormous. After a several POV changes, the book settled into a flow. Several plot twists later, Karen Rose reveals "who done it" and how they were going to catch them.

My Thoughts:
I almost didn't read this book. The prologue at the beginning kept me interested but the quick POV changes annoyed me. I don't mind reading from the perspective of multiple characters. It can bet fun if done well, but I was a bit skeptical at first. I was glad that I pushed on and kept reading. I enjoyed getting in the mind of the killer, the victims and other characters.

Many of the characters were developed based on how they were viewed by others. This is a different type of character development than I am used to. I appreciated it and am tempted to read more of her books to see if this is her style. ( )