TBR Challenge: Karen Rose - Death Is Not Enough

In his work as a defense attorney in Baltimore, Thorne has always been noble to a fault—specializing in helping young people in trouble in an attempt to atone for those he couldn't save when he himself was younger. He plays the part of the bachelor well, but secretly holds a flame for his best friend and business partner, Gwyn Weaver, a woman struggling to overcome her own demons. After four years, he thinks he might finally be ready to confess his feelings, come what may.
But his plans are derailed when he wakes up in bed with a dead woman, with no recollection of how he got there. Whoever is trying to frame Thorne is about to lead him down the rabbit hole of his past, something he thought he outran long ago—which means Thorne must figure out who's been keeping track of him, how much they know, and how far they'll go to bring him down... 

Comment: It's October already (why does it seem time is moving faster as we get older?) and this month, Wendy has nominated the Paranormal or Romantic Suspense theme. 

This is vague enough that anyone can have plenty of books to choose from but for me it can be quite complicated. 

I have lots of paranormal but most of them romance, not suspense. And I have some suspense novels but not that romantic. 

After debating on some titles which could be good or not so good, I just gave up and picked the latest book by Karen Rose, one of the masters of romantic suspense, that had arrived very recently in the mail.

In this recent novel, we finally have the tale of Thomas Thorne, a secondary character, slightly mysterious, who we have known since a few books ago and who sometimes offers some type of help.

Thorne has been set up and was caught in bed with a woman who has recently been murdered but, thankfully, his friend Gwyn is the one to find him and she has the presence of mind to take pictures before calling the police and 911, so that the battalion of friends who will be involved in helping Thorne prove his innocence have reason to do so.

Things still look bad, though, and the case is linked to Thorne's past and others he knew back then. Ad the attempts on Thorne's business and friend's lives escalate, can Thorne both find the strength to rely on all his friends and finally admit to Gwyn how he really feels about her?

I've read some reviews on this book and for lifelong fans, this is another good installment in the series with connected characters. For others, things take too long to happen and it's too confusing to keep track of the cast.

I must say the books by Karen Rose are read as stand alone but they cannot be fully appreciated if not read in order. There are too many details, related situations, things we should be aware of previously, that better give the reader a grasp on why certain situations happen in each new book.

This said, I do agree with the fact the story is quite lengthy. But for me, the problem is definitely not on the immense secondary cast because I really love this aspect of mrs Rose's novels. To see almost all the characters in the core work together, help one another, to have glimpses of their domestic lives, of things they think about... for me this is amazing.

The villain's POV, however, I keep saying this in relation to all books by this author, is so unnecessary! Some of the things we know from the bad guy's POV can easily be discovered another way or by him, that's not the issue. But why spend to many pages in his head, realizing he can have good or bad reasons for his actions or, even worse, seeing how disturbed he is. I'd cut off the villain's parts or reduce them to a bare minimum.

The mystery and the investigation to prove Thorne's innocence is very interesting, the author does hit on several points I think everyone would consider if they were in the same situation but I must say almost all friends in this core of characters work in or for or in relation to police situations/scenarios. Of course some procedures would feel a little easier for these characters to solve or think about. Still, when the reasons behind all the trouble are discovered, some things didn't seem to be as important but maybe that's just my impression.

As for the romantic part in this romantic suspense novel... that was certainly a let down.

Gwyn and Thorne are a classic friends to lovers trope happening but I can't just accept they have had romantic thoughts about one another and never let it be known... if in previous books where they would show up this had been very obvious... the way things happened, if felt sudden and unrealistic. Besides, both of them have baggage, Gwyn especially... in such a stressful situation, for them to also deal with those emotional scars, it felt too convenient. 

I am glad they are happy and more so because their group of friends and family is solid, but the couple alone...not really buying it.

All in all, this was a good installment. Apart from the bad guys, it feels like spending time with friends and I do love this aspect. I could read Karen Rose's books for this aspect alone.

The next book is set in a different town but the main female character is linked to all these so... I anticipate only good things!

Grade: 7/10