Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Headline
Copyright Year: 2011
Review By: Kelly Marshall
Book Synopsis:
Baltimore homicide detective J.D. Fitzpatrick has seen a lot of horrific violence both as a cop and during his deployment in Afghanistan, but nothing like the trail of tortured bodies turning up throughout the city. He’s up against a brutal killer with a very personal vendetta, and J.D. is beginning to suspect that his medical examiner may be shielding some crucial evidence linked to the case.
Medical examiner Dr. Lucy Trask is intrigue by J.D.’s compassion, but she isn’t about to mix work with pleasure. Not while there’s a ruthless killer on the loose. And definitely not while she’s keeping a dark secret that could connect her to these vicious killings – and put her next on the killer’s hit list..
Karen Rose’s latest novel, You Belong to Me is a suspenseful crime novel that keeps the reader guessing to the very end. Rose’s examination of the elements of good and evil through her characters are insightful and engaging. Through her characters we see how we are all made up of elements of both good and evil. How our past can define us and the fact that we can never completely leave it behind is epitomised in the character of Dr Lucy Trask. Dr Trask is fiercely loyal, incredibly competent and intensely private. Her mask is removed by the love of a good man in Detective JD Fitzpatrick. While this may sound rather trite I did find the relationship very believable and the peeling away of Dr Trask’s layers by JD as they grew closer was an effective way for Rose to reveal key plot details.
What I particularly liked about Rose’s style was the way she revealed aspects of the crime. As a reader I felt like I was investigating and discovering along with the detectives. The twists and turns were believable and engaging. Most of all I was kept guessing enough to keep reading.
The revelation of the characters and their motivations was well balanced. Rose fed us a little at a time about the main characters Dr Lucy Trask and Detective JD Fitzpatrick, enough at a time to peak our interest, while leaving us wanting to know more. Rose’s presentation of Dr Trask, her lifestyle and her background initially sets us up to believe that there may be a sinister connection with the killer. Perhaps her actions have in some way provided justification for the crimes? Dr Trask’s intensely private nature makes us want to find out more but also makes us ask does she have something to hide?
Lucy is forced to come clean with some secrets she has kept for a very long time and have to do with the origin of all the murders. Delve into You Belong to Me to find out for yourself about those secrets.