Detective D. D. Warren is revisiting the latest crime scene of an apparent serial killer who’s been named the Rose Killer. It’s late at night and she’s alone, or so she thought. When she realizes someone else is in the house, she stumbles and falls down a flight of stairs but not before firing off several shots. She now has no memory of the events leading up to the fall and she’s recovering from a serious injury to her shoulder. Though she’s sidelined, Warren can’t help but stay connected to the case and is allowed to as a “consultant.” Unfortunately, she’s now captured the attention of the killer who wants to draw her in as a potential victim.
This is one of the more creepy, sinister stories of the series. The Rose Killer is a copycat version of another killer who died many years ago but his two daughters are alive. The oldest, Shana Day, is locked up in prison for murdering a young boy when she was 14-years old. The youngest, Dr. Adeline Glen was adopted by a psychologist and is now D. D.’s pain therapist. There’s a twist there, too, and the connections were hard to ignore. I could never determine if they were red herrings or substantive leads in the investigation.
I was oddly hooked to this often brutal and gruesome story but the storytelling in this series is always compelling. The revelation of the killer and plot was a surprise but also not…I can’t adequately explain that contradiction. The ending was spectacular and the only one it could be. Kirsten Potter narrates it so well and I’m totally committed to always listening to this series because of her performances. This one was uncomfortably fascinating.
Book Info
- Release Date: January 7, 2014
- Series: Detective D. D. Warren #7
- Narrator: Kirsten Potter
- Audio Length: 12 hours, 46 minutes
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Blue Mood Café 
I am sad to say I have read nothing by this very prolific author. Any suggestions of where I should start Jonetta! Terrific review btw!
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Thank you, Marialyce💜 Gardner is one of those authors like Allison Brennan where her characters crossover into other series. Someone created a listing on Goodreads that assembles them into one universe. It starts with the first book I happened to read by her, The Perfect Husband. Here’s the link to the list:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/268653-gardner-universe
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Thanks!
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Fab review! I definitely need to catch up with this series some day. xx
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Thanks, Yvo💜 It took me long enough to start it.
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I just can’t do creepy and sinister! 😱
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Oh, Carol, don’t come within 5 feet of this book!! It’s the ultimate in that.
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These books…even the gentler ones…give me nightmares! 😱
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Wonderful review Jonetta. I thought I had read all the DD Warren books, but this one does not sound familiar. I will have to go through my books and see if I missed this one somehow.
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Thanks, Carla💜 If you missed this one, it’s worth it to go back and listen to it.
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I read my rather brief review and still don’t remember, but it seems I read it back in 2014. I will still check it out again though.
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