Count To Ten by Karen Rose Paperback, Hachette Book Group, 576 pages. Available online at Amazon.com.
Count to Ten is Karen Rose's latest in her romantic crime series starring Detective Mia Mitchell. While it's the first Karen Rose book I've picked up, I can clearly see why her protagonist is so popular; Rose's Mitchell is sassy, strong, and smart: the perfect combination for a mystery lead.
In Count to Ten, Mitchell teams up with Chicago Fire Department Lt. Reed Solliday to solve some linked arson crimes. And while the plot itself may not offer up much of anything new for the genre, the relationship that begins to heat up between Mitchell and Solliday is worth the payoff - at least for a quick and fun summertime read. Seemingly conscious of steering away from standard romantic fare (think: Danielle Steel or Nora Roberts), Rose has crafted a relationship between these two that is complicated and realistic, as the independent Mia struggles with the idea of being in a steady relationship and the vulnerable widower Solliday makes excuses for not seeking love again. And it's this grounded sensibility of how Rose's characters interact with one another that makes Count to Ten so engaging.
All in all, while Count to Ten isn't the best mystery I've read, it isn't the worst either. The story wasn't necessarily that mysterious (I saw the ending coming from a mile away) - but the book has certainly intrigued me enough with its characterizations to want to know what happens next in Mia's life - and to therefore keep an eye out for Rose's next installment.
About the Author
Carly Hope Finseth spends much of her time pondering what she wants to be when she grows up. She alternates between days filled with cozy socks, hot tea, and meditative reflection - and others, which are loaded with caffeine fixes, grueling commutes, and one fire to put out after another. When she’s not sifting through e-mails, dropping her cell phone, or sticking another reminder Post-It on her desk, Carly also somehow finds the time to write and reflect on important (and the occasional not-so-important) feminist issues.
My main focus in art is color, design and composition. I have a true passion for color as the art subject itself - how colors fit together, how they communicate with each other within the design, how certain colors combined with one another evoke a certain feeling - this is paramount in my work. I am a social worker, artist and poet living in Austin, TX. Read More...
Carly Hope Finseth spends much of her time pondering what she wants to be when she grows up. She alternates between days filled with cozy socks, hot tea, and meditative reflection - and others, which are loaded with caffeine fixes, grueling commutes, and one fire to put out after another. When she’s not sifting through e-mails, dropping her cell phone, or sticking another reminder Post-It on her desk, Carly also somehow finds the time to write and reflect on important (and the occasional not-so-important) feminist issues.
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