REVIEW: You Can't Hide by Karen Rose

Title: You Can’t Hide
Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Warner
Publication Date: April, 2006
Paperback: 497 pages
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: 8/10

Description: YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM.

Terror has forever changed the life of psychiatrist Tess Ciccotelli. Someone is tormenting her patients, pushing them to commit suicide, and setting her up to take the blame. But Tess can't break her oath to protect her patients' privacy at all costs. Even when detective Aidan Reagan demands a list of everyone she's treating. Even when the mounting danger threatens Tess herself.

YOU CAN'T STOP WHAT I'M DOING.

Aidan doesn't like anyone who stalls his cases. Still, he can't help but admire Tess's fierce loyalty to her patients, especially when it becomes clear that a nameless, faceless enemy is set on destroying her career, her family, and finally, Tess herself. As Aidan's heart softens, the killer's will hardens, and one thing becomes clear -- the noose is tightening around Tess's neck.

YOU CAN'T HIDE

My Thoughts: One of the indicators that a series is good is when the author keeps you connected to earlier characters while still moving the series forward and devoting the current book to the current story instead of rehashing the past stories. Some authors do this perfectly while some are unable to do it at all, driving me to give up on the series completely.

YOU CAN’T HIDE is the fifth book in Karen Rose’s romantic suspense series. I am very reluctant to even label it as part of a series because each book up to this point stands on its own and doesn’t require the previous books to have been read first. However, I strongly recommend you read them all as it would be a shame to miss them. The Reagan family is back in this story that features Aidan Reagan, who is now a Detective. He and his partner are investigating the suicide of one of Tess Ciccotelli’s patients and the clues seem to point to Tess as the one to blame. Immediately, the reader is given a sense of the animosity between Aidan and Tess and we quickly learn that Aidan despises Tess because he is angry that a serial killer of children escaped prosecution because of her medical testimony. Aidan suspects Tess and argues with his partner who believes Tess is innocent. Unfortunately for Tess, more of her patients die and Tess’s life becomes endangered. After one tense and dangerous standoff, Aidan realizes that Tess is being set up. Along the way, they develop feelings for one another.

I really liked this story especially when Aidan started being more open minded about what was going on with Tess and not letting his anger lead him. I had my suspicions early on about who was behind the killings and sabotage of Tess. My suspicions proved correct though I don’t know why I suspected this person to begin with. The most interesting aspect wasn’t about WHO was behind this, but WHY they were doing it. This proved to be very disturbing as each layer revealed another dark and sinister fact and that this villain could be capable of the level of hate required to commit these acts proved to be the most frightening of all.

Aidan and Tess are a perfect match. Their personalities complement each other and both have trust issues resulting from bad relationships. Both have suffered personal loss. Both have built walls around their hearts. Tess is estranged from her family back in Philadelphia and being around Aidan’s family fills the void in her soul. Tess has a cat named Bella and Aidan has a Rottweiler named Dolly, which is just one more aspect of why I loved these characters.

This author is becoming a favorite for me to choose when I want suspenseful stories featuring likeable characters with wounded souls but carrying great amounts of strength of will and personality.