Thank you SO MUCH to Berkley and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I don't know if you guys expect anything differently from me at this point but this book? Another big win for Karen Rose. I've been waiting for Burke's book for YEARS, just as I was excited to finally get Phin's story, and man did it not disappoint.

We continue on with the corruption of the NOPD, with the story of a former NOPD officer who worked in the evidence room who had been unjustly incarcerated for 5 years after being framed. Her story had made big news and everyone shunned her after the scandal, though she always maintained her innocence. But she got released (on a semi-technicality) and the people who framed her are at it again--so she goes to Burke for help. Obviously his protective instincts kick in (eventually) and he takes her case.

I dont know if this is an end to the New Orleans series or not but wow, this one hit different. I loved every second of this, finding out Burke's past, hopefully getting to the bottom of the corruption in the police department, and the twist at the end??? I did NOT see that coming whatsoever.

As always, I can't wait to see what Karen Rose writes next!

Officer Naomi Cranston has spent the last five years in prison and now she is ready to find put it all behind her and return to the life she left. But someone isn't willing to let her do that, the people who framed her five years ago are back and are making the same threats as before. But this time she isn't going to let them win...

Knife in the Back is a riveting little page-turner that is impossible to put down! Naomi Cranston served time for someone else's crimes and now that she is out they are determined to send her back in. They come after her the moment she steps foot outside the prison making threats against her son, which is what they did last time and she bent to their will. But this time she is determined to walk away with the upper hand and clear her name once and for all. Following Naomi on her harrowing journey was quite the thrilling ride!

Ms. Rose put pen to paper and created literary perfection. Knife in the Back is action-packed, dramatic, thrilling, with a touch of romance too! I loved every minute I spent with these characters, I wasn't ready to let them go when the last page came. I am certain this one will be a hit with romantic suspense readers!! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

Former police officer Naomi Cranston spent five years in prison for a crime she didn't commit. She's been out for a year and is working in a flower shop when the cop who railroaded her and threatened her son comes to her demanding that she move drugs for him.

At the urging of her boss at the flower shop, Naomi goes to Broussard Investigations to get some protection for the teenage son who is being threatened. Burke Broussard is also a former NOPD officer who left to start his own investigations agency. At first, he believes like the rest of the NOPD that Naomi is a dirty cop, but her story convinces him and has strong echoes of his own departure from the NOPD.

But the dirty cops aren't ready to give up on getting Naomi to do what they want. They attempt to kidnap her son and attempt to kidnap the children of the other investigators at Broussard Investigations. Everyone at the agency and especially Burke want to stop those who are threatening their children.

While all this tension is going on, Burke and Naomi fall in love. Burke never thought he would since the loss of his fiancée in a plane crash years ago broke his heart so badly. And Naomi whose ex-husband testified against her in a testimony filled with lies doesn't have much faith in love or men.

I enjoyed catching up with the many characters at Broussard Investigations introduced in the three earlier books. And I really enjoyed seeing Naomi come out of her shell and champion her own agency. The romance between Burke and Naomi was also heart-warming.

Knife in the Back by Karen Rose is a wickedly chilling, page turning & thrilling romantic suspense. This is a book that expertly crafts a deep spiderweb of a mysterious crime with a side plot of romance along with an excellent found family vibes that will tug on your heartstrings in the best way.

This is book #4 in the New Orleans series, which can easily be read as a standalone. However, I’ve read many books by this author & enjoyed them all.

Knife in the Back is great for those looking to read…
🔍 Mystery With Romance
🔍 New Orleans Setting
🔍 Found Family
🔍 Private Investigator x Single Mom/Former Cop Wrongfully Convicted
🔍 Fast Paced Wild Adventure

I was mesmerized by the complicated plots, the grueling & clever detective work & the intricacies of this case. This was easy to get lost in & this may be my new favorite book by this author. The New Orleans setting was just magic & felt like I was there. I loved the main cast of characters & I hope to read more from them.

Knife in the Back by Karen Rose singled handedly reintroduced my love for the mystery genre with this epic romantic suspense. I highly recommend giving this a read!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

This is my first Karen Rose book. I like the blurb so I decided to give her a try. This is number 4 in the series and I have not then read the other books in this series since this is my first book by Ms. Rose. This is a pretty intense story line. Naomi Cranston was framed for stealing and after five years in prison is free on a technicality. Most everyone still thinks she's guilty since there's no evidence she's not. When a friend takes her to Burke Broussard a former cop turned PI he doesn't believe her either... at first. So parts of this story I like and some were kind of ridiculous. It didn't take any time at all to figure out who the bad guy was which was such a disappointment. Parts of the story dragged on to long with not enough action to move the story along. I did like the characters and wanted to know everyon's back story since this series is four books deep. I'm not ready to give up on this series or Karen Rose.



Find out more about this series and Karen Rose here karenrosebooks

I love Burke, and I was so excited to find this is his installment of the series. I see it is listed as book 4 of 4, and for that I am super sad. His team is the best, and this series is awesome. Please don’t stop writing this series!

I have to say, I could not stop reading this book. I was a little hesitant due to the subject listed, but the further I got into the story, the more fired up I got, right along with the characters.

Corruption is at its worst in the city, and Burke and associates dive deep into this whodunit. Loaded with twists you do not expect, this massive book is addictive!

Rose spins this story into a frenzied pace, especially since it’s Burke’s book, and we can see his vulnerability. His found family is everything, and it is under attack.

Namoi is an awesome character and a powerhouse once she gets going. She has lost much but is finding so much more. Knife in the Back is a tad overwhelming with characters, but all of them are a part of the story and needed.

Crazy paced, Rose keeps us on edge as attacks come from all sides, along with a shocking betrayal that will break your heart a bit. On the good side, the romantic bits are on point and so perfect!

Knife in the Back is so freaking good! Do not miss this book. Really! Rose is truly at the top of her game with this story! She is a master of pacing and riveting storytelling.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Once again Karen Rose writes a winner! Naomi hires Burke to protect her son and to prove her innocence. She was in jail for supposedly stealing cocaine out of the evidence room. She says she was framed but why? Burke really listens to her as they try to find the reason for her jail time. An attraction begins between the two but they will have to get through a shocking dangerous situation first. Why do they want her in prison. Corruption in the police force? Coverups? Grab this book- you won’t be disappointed!

Release: August 12, 2025
Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Berkeley Publishing

Rating: 4 ★ 

After serving five years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, former officer Naomi Cranston just wants to move on and build a quiet life with her son. She was framed for stealing drugs from the evidence locker, and threats to her child forced her to stay silent. But now, the same criminals are back—and they want to use her flower shop to move their product. This time, Naomi refuses to back down.
Determined to protect her son and clear her name, she turns to Broussard Investigations for help. Burke Broussard, a former cop himself, knows how deep police corruption runs in New Orleans. He’s skeptical of Naomi at first—until he hears her full story and sees how much she’s suffered.
As the investigation heats up, so does their connection. But with danger closing in and secrets rising to the surface, Naomi and Burke must figure out if their bond can withstand not only the threats around them—but the truth itself.
"Knife in the Back" by Karen Rose is an emotional, action-packed thrill ride that blends suspense, danger, and redemption in all the right ways.
Naomi Cranston is a former cop who was wrongfully imprisoned for stealing drugs—a crime she didn’t fight because her young son’s life was on the line. Now free after serving five years, she’s doing her best to rebuild her life when the same criminals come back, threatening her all over again. But this time, she’s not going down without a fight.
She turns to Broussard Investigations for protection, and although Burke Broussard initially doubts her story, he quickly realizes Naomi is telling the truth—and she’s in serious danger. What follows is a fast-paced investigation full of shocking twists, deep-rooted corruption, and high-stakes danger.
This book had everything I love in a romantic thriller: a strong, resilient heroine, a protective and honorable hero, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the end. The chemistry between Naomi and Burke was powerful (though their quick connection felt a bit rushed at times), and I loved the found family dynamic among Burke’s team. Getting glimpses into the villain’s point of view added even more tension and intrigue.
The suspense had me hooked from page one, and the ending completely caught me off guard. Even though it’s part of a series, it works well as a standalone, and now I’m eager to go back and read the others. If you love romantic suspense with heart and grit, this one’s a must-read.

Favorite Quote:
"a knife ain't just a thing, is it? It's a choice, it's something you do. A knife says yes or no, cut or not, die or don't."


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GREAT Read.
When Naomi Cranston, a former policewoman, is released from jail on a technicality, after having been imprisoned as a victim of a frame up, she seeks out Broussard investigations to find out who framed her.
And suddenly people start dying, threats are made against her and her son, and chaos becomes the accepted pi art of every day.
Someone does not want the deal behind her prison frame to ever come to light.
Great suspense, mystery and action that dies not quit.
The characters are strong and well defined and the p!it is tiveting.
Another stellar story by Rose.

What an awesome book. Loaded with strife, angst, murder and suspense. I was rooting so hard for Naomi and Burke. All the characters were written with such depth. The writer pulled so much emotion from me. I’m couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I love every book this author has written. This book is so intense and I stayed on edge. Naomi has been out of jail after being framed. She’s been threatened and and hires Burke to protect her son. He initially thought she was guilty but changes his mind. Loved their chemistry and how close they became. Who framed her? Will her son ever see the truth? He was brain washed by her ex. Are they looking into just a drug ring or could it be more? There’s a shocking betrayal too. I even cried. Loved going through all the emotions. I loved their happy ever after. I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy and I highly recommend this book. This is now one of my favorite books and it’s worth re reading.

I loved this! I am a huge Karen Rose fan, and this book did not disappoint. Naomi was a great strong woman character, and I really liked how selfless she was. Everything she does is to support and protect her son Everett (even if it hurts her). I also enjoyed Burke (especially his support for everyone) but Naomi was definitely the star of the show.

I always like how we get glimpses of characters from previous books, and I really enjoyed seeing all the characters on Burke’s PI team come back again.

The plot of this book was more suspense than romance, and the action was nonstop. I really enjoyed the pacing and felt immediately drawn in.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

Officer Naomi Cranston was framed for stealing cocaine from the evidence locker and coerced, through threats to her young son, into not fighting the charges. After five years in prison, she has tried to put the ordeal behind her, but the crooks who framed her have returned, this time demanding she move drugs along with her flower shop’s deliveries. They threaten her son once again, but this time she’s not capitulating quietly. She hires Broussard Investigations to protect her and her son, to prove her innocence, and to put the real bad guys away! Omg!!! What a book and series! I absolutely loved this book!! The characters were just so interesting! It had chilling suspense, mystery, murders, intrigue, action packed, gaslighting, and a few absolutely jaw dropping twists that I did not see coming! I would love if they continued on with this series with all the kids??!!! lol I definitely didn’t want this book to end! I highly recommend reading this book! It wasn’t my top awesome! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! I can’t wait for more!!

5 stars. I honestly don't know what to say anymore about Karen Rose's books that I haven't already said. Every time I read one of her books, I'm reminded how much I love romantic suspense, and in particular, Rose's romantic suspense. Knife in the Back is a little bittersweet, because I'm assuming it's the last of her New Orleans books, but, it's also the best. We've all been waiting for Burke's book, given that he's the fearless leader. And I think because he's the leader, and the attacks end up being targeted to the entire crew, you really feel the found family vibes. One of my favorite iterations of romantic suspense is when one of the characters is involved in law enforcement/ PI type of firm, and we actually get that with both characters. Naomi was an incredible heroine. She had some unimaginable things happen to her, and to see her bounce back from that and reclaim her life was honestly inspiring. The book is super fast paced, with tons of action. Honestly, the only negative I have is that this feels like the last book in the New Orleans series, and I don't want to say goodbye. Maybe Burke could hire some more employees? Regardless, I know whatever Rose comes up with next will be auto-read for me. And in the mean time, I will 100% be trying to make my way through her backlist.

Thank you so much to Rose, Berkley Romance (Berkley partner) and netgalley for the complimentary copy!

Oh, Karen Rose still has it, folks! The twists and turns. The danger. The red herrings. And among all of it? Family. By choice, as she’s proven is a specialty of hers, and I’m so glad to experience it with this group again.

Naomi has been through it. I mean, seriously. Framed, abandoned, threatened, imprisoned for the crime she didn’t commit, and now it’s all coming back to try to suck her under again. Her son can’t stand being around her. Her ex is a real gem in so many ways. But she’s got Sylvi, who believes in her. Her mother and an unlikely ally by her mom’s side. And Burke, once he decides to listen and not let his knee jerk reaction run the show. Along with him comes the group of family by choice, Eleanor, and a love that can definitely beat all the shadows back.

While this is a tad dark in the crimes committed, it’s also a whirlwind of mystery and finding one answer wrapped up in ten more questions. And it’s also about forgiveness, justice being a reality, and finding your place in the world. And once you have that, nothing can be all bad. Ever.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to read an ARC of Karen Rose’s forthcoming book, <i>Knife in the Back</i>, the latest entry in her New Orleans series. She did not disappoint. Burke’s team were all there, helping to protect Naomi Cranston’s son, Everett, and get to the bottom of why she’d been framed and spent 5 years in prison before her conviction was overturned on a technicality. Rose has a true knack for character development and each book in her series continue to bring both new and existing characters to life, lending depth to the worlds she creates. In this entry, there are still bad apples remaining in the NOPD that need to be weeded out. Once again, Karen Rose weaves a story with complex characters and compelling action.

Although part of her New Orleans series, this title can totally be read as a stand-alone story. However, reading the two prior books will fill in some blanks, especially when it comes to the issues in the New Orleans Police Dept. I’ll also admit that I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, at least not until we were practically there and it was revealed. Even then it was more of a “You don’t suppose…” thought rather than a “OMG, X is the bad guy!” I look forward to more stories set in New Orleans and involving Burke and his team of detectives.

Naomi was framed for selling drugs. She didn’t fight because her son was threatened with harm if she did. Now she has been released from jail on a technicality, but most people believe she is still guilty. When she is approached again by the same people she is determined to fight. There are all sorts of twists in this story, one that came completely out of left field. Who is the head of this organization and how deep does this go into the police department. The book is part of a series but could be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a DRC of this title.

Knife in the Back is the next engrossing book in Rose's New Orleans series, captivating readers with compelling characters, unexpected twists, and a mystery that doesn't pull any punches. This one is probably a little more focused on the suspense than the romance but would definitely recommend to Karen Rose's fans or fans of romantic suspense more generally.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you for this gifted ARC from Berkley Publishing Group, Karen Rose & NetGalley 💕


This was the first book I’ve read by Karen Rose and certainly not the last. This steamy, romantic thriller had me on the edge of my seat! This was written in 3rd person, with multiple POVs.
I didn’t realize this book was book 4 of a series! Although, it was clear there were content related to the other books, it didn’t take me away from the story. I was able to figure out who was who and the relationship dynamics. It also helped that Karen Rose did an amazing job doing quick and subtle recaps throughout this book.

I loved the “found family” and redemption Naomi found. Her character was patient, resilient, compassionate, and bad a$$ ! Her character arc was perfectly done.

Burke. The epitome of a GREEN FLAG.

*SWOON*

The only con was the insta-love? Lust? Trust? Maybe all three? It’s my least favorite trope. But given that these characters were written to be less trusting of others, it was difficult to understand the their connection to each other.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It kept me on my toes of who the villain was! I loved we got to read the villains POV- it really had me guessing! Once the final reveal happened, I was SHOCKED!

I need to go back and read all of Karen Rose books now 💕

Knife in the Back was an exciting and intense read that had me hooked right from the start. I loved the characters, learning about them, and watching them open up and trust. I loved the suspense and intrigue, and the fantastic building details as clues were revealed. I had such a sense of urgency while reading because I had to know what would happen next.

I have loved Burke since book one and was thrilled he was getting a story. I loved learning about his past and the man he is today. He had such a big heart and would do anything for his found family. Naomi was awesome. After learning her history, I felt for her, but liked her strength and determination to do the right thing. I loved Burke and Naomi together. Their first meeting was a bit rocky, but as the story developed and they let their guards down, I loved how their sweet, building attraction grew and how they were there for one another in the middle of an extreme situation.

I loved getting the villain’s POV and trying to piece together who he was. There were very bad things happening, tension, gun fights, and drama, and I found it all thrilling! I loved the twists and turns around every corner and figuring out who was who and who did what. It was gripping!

I loved the action, drama, and the hints being laid out. I thought the build was perfectly timed and I flew through it. I adored the found family that’s been brought together throughout the series, and new people being brought into the fold. The scenes with all the different characters added a nice level of entertainment to the story, as well as a lot of emotional and heartfelt ones. This is officially my favorite story in the New Orleans series. I always vote for reading in order, but this book could 100% be read as a standalone story. This was a total hit!