Karen Rose’s Have You Seen Her? offers heart-racing thrills, both in the bedroom and the forensics lab, making this second romantic intrigue from Rose a showcase for her growing talent. In this work of fiction Rose has created complex and realistic characters in high school teacher Jenna Marshall and Special Agent Steven Thatcher but using the entire cast of characters she manages to present a great story that includes the woes of Steven’s sons Brad and Nicky, as well as, many others.

Set in High Point, North Carolina, Thatcher finds himself floundering in the midst of his investigation of a serial killer who is kidnapping and then murdering young cheerleaders in a heinous manner, while he attempts to deal with his home life that seems to be spiraling out of control.

One of Steven’s home issues deals with his seventeen-year-old son, Brad, whose difficulties extend into the classroom where Dr. Jenna Marshall, worries about his falling chemistry grades and sets up an appointment with Steven to discuss them. At their meeting Jenna and Steven find themselves mutually attracted to one another but the romance doesn’t heat up until strange accidents and vandalism begin to befall Jenna, after she flunks one of the football team’s major players. Only then, fearing for Jenna’s safety, does Steve admit his feeling for her and take it upon himself to protect her. However, one problem I had with this part of the story was why Steve, after declaring that Jenna needed around the clock protection, would leave her sitting alone for hours at the school instead of sending someone else to get her? Oh well, just one of those unanswered questions but I suppose not important in the long scheme of things. 

Otherwise, Have You Seen Her? is romantic suspense action at it’s best, with a dark overtone and while it’s loosely connected to Karen’s other books, every one is a complete story by itself containing enough twists and turns to keep you guessing who the killer is until the end of the book. Therefore, if you like romantic thrillers be sure to keep your eyes open for Rose’s next book, Count To Ten, that is due out soon.  

Tags: have you seen her?, karen rose, romantic thriller, action, suspense, murder, cheerleaders, football, kidnapping, fiction