Customer Reviews

Die for Me

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When a murder victim is found in a snow-covered Philadelphia field, Detective Vito Ciccotelli's gut tells him that there may be more bodies nearby. The medical examiner suggests enlisting the aid of archaeologist Sophie Johannsen. Using a GPR, a device that shows an image of what is under the ground, Sophie locates a matrix of graves. Almost a dozen bodies, most having been tortured before their deaths, had been posed and buried. But the terrifying part is realizing that empty graves remain - the killer is not done yet.

He goes by many names. His employers at oRo, a company that produces computer games, knows him as Frasier Lewis. They are very happy with how realistic Frasier's cut scenes (short movies within video games) are. They have no idea as to what lengths Frasier goes in order to get such realism. The first computer game was set during World War II and titled, "Behind Enemy Lines". The new game will be titled, "The Inquisitor". Frasier would need footage of medieval torture for this one. The image and scream of an archaeologist, who is too close for comfort, would be perfect.

***** This tale sent more than one chill down my spine. I have to admit that I admire the author, Karen Rose, for all the research she must have done to complete such a book as this one. She must have endured nightmares from the torture research. I say this because the author perfectly described the devices used, a few I have never heard of. I stayed up late reading this story, but it was worth the loss of sleep. Karen Rose is a master of her craft! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Die For Me should have been titled Don't Plan on Getting Any Sleep
Until You Finish Me! Karen Rose hits it out of the park with this
twisted tale of modern video games and medieval weaponry. Sophie and
Vito are two characters you'll be rooting for from the get go. And her
villian is as sick and demented as they come. For me, this has been
the best suspense novel I've read since Dean Koontz's Intensity.

Sophie Johannsen is an archeologist, she works at the Albright Museum of History. She has had to give up field work to come home and care for her grandmother, who raised her. Her grandmother is now in a nursing home and it takes every penny Sophie makes to keep her there. Katherine Bauer is the Medical Examiner for Philadelphia, she is also a sort of adopted mother to Sophie. When Katherine asks Sophie to bring her equiptment and check a location for graves, Sophie is glad to help. But she has brought herself to the attention of a serial killer by getting involved.

Vito Ciccotelli is a detective working on the case. Two years before a woman he had been in love with had been killed, Although she was another cop she had been involved in protecting someone who was wanted by the police and she was accidently shot. Vito was taking roses to her grave after work and they were in his truck. When Sophie saw the roses she immediately assumed he was taken. She had a very bad experience with a man during her last year of college. Only after they had become lovers did she find out he was married. So Sophie doesn't date and she doesn't trust men.

Sophie finds 16 graves all dug, 9 have bodies, but 7 are covered over waiting for the bodies that will fill them. The police realize now that they have a killer who intends to kill again. The bodies seem posed, one like a medaeval lady and one like a medaeval knight. The rest in differnt ways with horrible wounds. The worst is that the wounds are not post-mortem but happened while the people were alive and awake.

As in all Karen Rose books the romance and the mystery are closely intertwined. Vito needs Sophie's help and he finds her very attractive. Sophie finds Vito attractive but she has no use for someone committed to another. All the tangles get worked out between them and the mystery expands to Dutton, Georgia. As each strand of the case comes togather, Sophie becomes one of the designated victims and only Vito and his crew have a hope of saving her life. The murderer is much closer than they think.

I enjoyed it very much, this is a smart, complicated, sociopath and a very well written story.

When a decomposed body turns up in a field, police call upon an archeologist to map out the grave. To their horror, they discover not one but 16 interconnected graves; seven yet to be filled. As they work to identify the nine victims (many which were tortured), the killer is busy dispensing his own brand of medieval justice on victim #10. The investigation is led by detective Vito Ciccotelli (his sister Tess was the heroine in "You Can't Hide"), a veteran cop who loves opera, his extended family, and is haunted by the death of a former lover who was killed two years earlier. Archeologist Sophie Johansen is trying to live down the notoriety of an affair with her professor years before, and vows never to get involved with a colleague - but does Vito count? The duo has scorching chemistry, but both are reticent about getting deeply involved due to their pasts.

The best thing about Rose's novels is her constant attention to detail with regard to her villains. We often know who they are and their motivations. They are not an added device brought in at the twelfth hour to wrap up loose ends. In "Die For Me," Rose has created an intriguing and truly evil killer, who ingeniously blends his passion for computer animation and historical forms of torture with his passion for murder, culminating in the ultimate and realistic computer game. More romantic than her last offering, it's nearly 600 pages and has so much going on, but as always, it's a gripping read. It could easily be trimmed about 100 pages and been an even more taut and suspenseful thriller.

I think the idea of a review is to let others interested in reading the book, know what you liked or didn't like about the book. This was my first Karen Rose book so had no preconceived ideas. After the first chapter I wasn't sure I wanted to continue as I definitely do not like scenarios of torture. However, I continued and found with the way KR writes I could skim the descriptions of torture and finish the book. I liked the way KR divides into sections of place, date and time and changes characters so it was easy to skim or even skip some of the more graphic details of our serial killer. I think KR is a talented writer who really keeps the story moving. Even though it's a thriller with some romance thrown in, there is also enough humor and family values with Vito's family to lighten it somewhat. I think I enjoyed Sophie's character because yes, she's a very independent woman who's very bright but yet not so independent that she could accept protection when warranted. I thought she handled herself well after being taken by the serial killer. (well that was a given wasn't it?) She did certainly help herself but yet the author has the (her) cop complete the final rescue. (So many authors have the heroine not need anyone and takes the villan out herself-yeah right). I just felt it was an interesting book that moved along and very well rounded story. Even the ending which builds to a sequel doesn't disappoint because the main characters have closure. If you can handle some graphic scenes, the story itself is pretty interesting. I just started the sequel so hope it's as good.

Archaeologist Dr. Sophie Johannsen has never had a family in the traditional sense. Raised by an opera star grandma, aunt & uncle, & a friend's mom, and unwanted and uncared for by her natural parents, she returns home to Philadelphia from a European dig. Her grandma has suffered a stroke and needs someone to care for her while she recovers. Sophie puts the career she loves on hold to teach at a university and works at a museum job she finds demeaning just so she can help pay her grandma's nursing home bills.

When she is called on to help the police solve a crime that requires an archaeologist's expertise, she jumps at the opportunity to do "field work". That's when she meets handsome Detective Vito Ciccotelli (last seen in "You Can't Hide").

The night he meets Sophie, Vito is grieving the two year anniversary of his girlfriend's killing--a death that he feels responsible for.
The sparks fly immediately between Vito and Sophie, but both are cautious in matters of the heart. Both have had disasters in past romances so they are very wary with their emotions and proceed carefully.

The police need Sophie's help when they find a matrix of graves dug in a snow covered Philly field. With Sophie's help they are able to determine what lies beneath the frozen ground--a series of dead bodies--and some empty graves.

Who they are, how & why they were killed (and by who) and who's next is told in this riveting and often harrowing page turner by Karen Rose.

This book has everything going for it: a suspenseful and truly original plot, a repulsively evil villain in Frasier/Simon, a gutsy and brave heroine in Sophie, a sensitive, romantic hero in Detective Vito, and lots of colorful and memorable supporting characters.

There are some gruesome & graphic moments describing the deaths of the victims by medieval torture methods--not for the faint of heart--that had me cringing.

While the story unfolds in just one weeks time, it's time enough to believe in the hot romance between Sophie & Vito. They were perfect together and I was rooting for them all the way!

There are some true heart warming moments in the book, too. Sophie's and Vito's relationships with their respective families, and Vito's (who loves opera) singing of an opera to Sophie's grandma in the nursing home brought tears to the eyes.

I absolutely recommend this book, especially to those who like their romances with a lot of CSI in them. I've read all of Karen Rose's books, and I have to say she keeps getting better & better! I could not put this one down--this was the best romantic suspense I've read all year!

Karen Rose's DIE FOR ME is her best romantic suspense to date. Sexy homicide detective Vito Chiccotelli, with the help of a beautiful archaeologist, Sophia Johannsen, uncover a field of graves that are not yet all full. Together the clues lead them through a trail of ancient history, full of armor, swords and torture devices as fascinating as the DiVinci Code. The serial killer is a cold and calculating villain that puts Hannibal Lector to shame. Rose masterfully blends the villain's computer savvy with an artistic flair to give the reader a fast pace whodunit. The closer Vito and Sophia get the killer, the closer he gets to them. This is a must buy page turner.

The modern world of computer games collides with medieval torture, throwing together police detective Vito Ciccotelli and archaeologist Sophie Johannsen. From a snowy Philadelphia field to a recreated dungeon, Vito and Sophie track a serial killer who is intent on making his victim provide him with the perfect scream. This fast-paced thriller packs in the best of suspense with the compelling relationship that develops between Sophie and Vito. Family obligations and professional goals collide for the main characters throughout, bringing them alive on the page and allowing for well-developed supporting characters. A riveting read from the first page, this page-turner will keep you up all night. Rose has done it again!

Clear your calendar and stock up on food. Once you start reading Die for Me, you won't want to stop. (I missed church and was late for work!) This is the author's best work yet and I really enjoyed her other books. Timely subject matter and superb storytelling make this a must read. As each storyline picks up you soon see they are all on a collision course and you must continue to read to see who is still standing at the end.

Karen Rose has written another gripping tale in Die For Me.

Detective Vito Ciccotelli realizes the murder he and his partner Nick Lawrence are investigating is more complex then they first thought. Vito enlists local archaeologist Sophie Johannsen to help with the massive search for graves.

Sophie Johannsen is working as head curator at the Albright Museum. It's not the ideal job for her so when she is offered the chance to use her skills as an archaeologist she jumps at the opportunity. Finding massive graves is a shock to her system but finding herself attracted to the led detectives is a bigger surprise.

As Sophie and Vito, along with his fellow officers race to stop a killer the danger turns towards Sophie. Vito will not lose another woman he loves to a killer so he will guard Sophie with his life.

Die For Me is another compelling suspense story by Karen Rose. You can feel the killers every move and thought. It will chill you to your bone. Vito and Sophie command attention on every page, their chemistry is electric and as pulse pounding as the suspense in this book. The next book by this author can't come soon enough for me.