Book Review: Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose

I was so excited to dive back into the New Orleans series by Karen Rose and it did not disappoint. I loved the intensity and grit and all the twists and turns. Beneath Dark Waters was a fantastic story that I enjoyed from start to finish.

Beneath Dark Waters (New Orleans #2) by Karen Rose

Deadly secrets lie beneath the murky waters of the Louisiana bayou in this pulse-pounding new romantic suspense novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose.

There’s no safe place for a child to hide when danger comes from every direction.

Public prosecutor J.P. “Kaj” Cardozo has only lived in New Orleans for six months, and he’s already working on a high-profile celebrity sexual assault case that’s made headlines all over the country. But when his son becomes the target of a kidnapping attempt as a threat to Kaj, he is desperate to keep him safe and turns to a private investigative firm famous for their protection services.

A veteran Marine, Val Sorensen is glad to have found a new career with Broussard Investigations. Her latest assignment as the bodyguard to ten-year-old Elijah Cardozo reminds her why—Val is a kick-ass guardian with a tender heart. Through her duties, Val grows fond of the boy—and his handsome father.

But when the high-stakes investigation reveals an explosive network of crime through a revived drug gang, lingering deep-seated corruption in the NOPD, and a group of murderers-for-hire targeting Kaj, Elijah, and Kaj's star client, they’re all left scrambling for safety…

4 out of 5 stars

Beneath Dark Waters was an exciting read filled with twists and turns, action and drama, and a fantastic group of characters. I loved the storyline and was hooked from the start as all the details were learned and the dots connected. It was intense and captivating!

I loved Kaj and Val coming together in the middle of an extreme situation. Their romance was pretty low key and they had a subtle slow burn happening that was sweet. I liked learning about them and the hints about Val’s past. I felt for Kaj and what he'd endured in losing his wife and how he wanted what was best for his son.

I loved the overall plot with Kaj’s son Elijah, the bad guys, and all the smaller stories that were woven in. I found it thrilling to read with the different POVs, I was always looking forward to who I would hear from next. I really liked that the bad guys had their own problems, it was fascinating and brutal at times. I loved watching them slowly unravel while things were pieced together. I liked all the connections being made, some shocking, with details building into even bigger discoveries. I loved the action and drama at the end and I couldn't read fast enough. The epilogue was well done and I liked how loose ends were tied up. I thought the pace was good for the most part but there were times it did drag for me.

This story had a lot of things happening that I really enjoyed. I loved the bad guy's internal dynamics, and the good guys bonding and forming new friendships and bringing others into the fold. Add in a news reporter, a case Kaj was working on, and who might possibly be a mole in the police department and it was even more enticing. This was another excellent story from Karen Rose! I’m excited for what’s to come!

Complimentary copy received from Berkley Romance.