this book was ok im not the biggest fan of same sex romances but besides that I really like the consented and how it was played out.

Ms Taite has done it again creating a story that when I first started I couldn’t put back down.
Macy Moran is a reporter writing feature stories for the local paper. Now that the paper had new owners it became clear that she was now expected to write news, as in something that has just happened not having the time to flesh out a story that lasts for a few issues. Not exactly what she wanted mainly because she’s in the middle of writing a story about a serial killer who roamed the streets, well actually one of the parks that was close to the city center. One reason she’s so intent on covering this story was the fact that her best friend was the last young woman killed. For years she’s been compiling information hoping to uncover who the killer was. The police were too quick sending the files to the ‘cold cases squad’ meaning no one was looking for the murderer who took five lives.
Beck Ramsey loved being a cop. Her late mother was a beat cop when she’d been killed in the line of duty when Beck was in her early teens. Now her only family was her older brother, Liam who she has a close relationship with. Her partner was with Beck when they stopped a car and the young man was killed. Beck felt like she had no choice but to tell the truth, even if it meant her co-workers turned their backs because she’d told the truth. Her partner had killed the young man for no reason. Now she’s assigned to the ‘cold case squad’.
When Macy is asked to interview Beck the attraction was immediate. Beck working in the ‘cold case squad’ was just what Macy needed. Someone who could get her the info on the first murders from ten years ago.
Ms Taite writes stories that usually center around the law. Her characters are always interesting and likable. The pacing is perfect. Very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

Perilous Obsession is a slightly different novel than I normally expect from Carsen Taite. Most of Taite’s stories are mystery and intrigue with romance. This book does fit into that category, but the characters and their occupations are different. Instead of lawyers butting heads and melting hearts in a courtroom setting, we have a police officer and a journalist eventually joining forces to track down a serial killer.

Beck Ramsey is watching her career going down the drain after she witnessed her partner kill an unarmed man during a traffic stop. Compelled to testify truthfully to what she saw, she is now shunned by her fellow officers. Even as she is promoted to detective, she is shunted off to the career-ending cold case division where she spends her days adding files to a computer. Journalist Macy Moran wants an exclusive with Beck, and works to get her side of the story. What she spends most of her time on though, is trying to find the person who killed her best friend and several other women years ago. When the killings begin again, who better to help her than the new detective in the cold case division?

This story has a really good premise. I liked the idea of a police officer in trouble because she refuses to lower her standards. I connected with Beck fairly quickly and understood the almost impossible position she found herself in. Having a journalist searching for her best friend’s murderer is intriguing as well. I did have some trouble seeing the chemistry between these two. I was pretty deep into the story before I finally saw any connection.

I have to say that I did pick out the killer early in the book. There were a couple of red herrings along the way, but in the end, I had chosen correctly. I sort of felt like this novel was a bit rushed. There were several places in the plot that could have been expanded on to increase the conflict, especially with the killer, any help the killer may have had, and their motives. There could have been a bit more done with the romance as well.
I did enjoy this book, and even with the glitches mentioned above, I can recommend it to mystery lovers. I’m giving this book a 3.5 star rating and moving it up to 4 stars for the overall enjoyment.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Carsen Taite has a lot of experience in the justice system, so you know that when you read a crime book by this author it will feel legit.
What you also know is that the bad guy will get caught and you might be up for some twists and turns.

I think the twists and turns didn't happen a lot, or I just figured it all out too quickly. I wouldn't call it very predictable but somehow I figured it all out rather quickly. That didn't take away any of the enjoyment of reading this book. It actually kept me wondering how Taite would expose the bad guy. I'd say a bit of let down for me is how long the built-up is in the case and the romance and the resolution is just too short, seems a bit rushed.
I could have done without some parts in the middle, those things are there to establish the romance or set the scene for the character's backgrounds, but it could have been done in a different way that took up less space. Thus leaving more room for the case to be resolved and the resolution to not be rushed.
Beck is an upstanding detective who reported her partner for a wrongful shooting, Macy is a report adamant on finding the truth, not just about Beck. Not about Beck at all really, she is mostly interested in solving a decade-old serial killing spree. She gets assigned to run an expose about Beck, they become reluctant friends with an interest in each other that goes beyond the professional. They seem like a good pair, super intense, but good.
They seem to be communicating rather well up until about 85% and from that point on I actually lost interest in the book. From here on out it was rushed and maybe a bit lackluster? The ending just wasn't to my liking. The story itself, the pairing, the characters separately are all up to the Taite standard, but the ending is just a bit of a letdown.

One thing you can always count on from a Carsen Taite story is that the characters will always strive for the truth and the bad guys will get caught without too many red herrings. Her books are tightly plotted and paced. Perilous Obsession certainly fits into this model – it is a prime example of her work.

The characters are interesting and have complex backstories which contribute to understanding their actions. Beck Ramsey is a police officer who crossed the ‘blue line’ and refused to cover up her partner’s unlawful shooting of an unarmed man during a traffic stop. She couldn’t stop it and wondered if she should have seen it coming. She is paying the cost for telling the truth, but she never really considered not doing so. Reporter Macy Moran is “intense” – at least that’s what everyone tells her. She is particularly focused on the tenth anniversary of a serial killer's last murder. Her best friend was the victim, and she won’t quit hunting for the truth -- not even if everyone else has. She also thinks that a recent murder looks suspiciously like the killer is resurfacing. When the two of them meet, they are in positions to help each other and to try and solve the cold (or not so cold) case. Their attraction to one another is palpable, but they have differing agendas. Can they trust each other enough to have a relationship?

I usually enjoy Taite’s novels and this new offering is no exception. I liked it so much that it will be going onto my re-read list. if haven’t yet read Taite’s work, this is a good book to start. I highly recommend Perilous Obsession.

Carsen has done it again. The story was flawlessly written. It was very engaging and quite enjoyable. The main characters were smart and strong. They had great chemistry and are likeable. I could not put it down once I started. I recommend, you won't be disappointed. 4.5 stars


Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

Both Macy and Beck were very likeable and strong characters, and the chemistry between them was there from the start. The storyline around Beck's whistleblowing was interesting in itself. The writing was engaging and flowed well. However, the killer's identity was easy to guess and we never really learned why he did it and how we managed to get away with it for so long. Quite a few questions were left unanswered.

In Perilous Obsession we'll meet Macy Moran a reporting working on solving a case of a serial killer. Her boss is about to put an end to that.
Beck Ramsey is a police officer who is about to testify against her partner who shot an unarmed man. Her fellow officers are not supportive and are making it hard for her. During this time she finds out she passed her detective exam and is being assigned to the cold case division.
Macy and Beck have had a run in at a crime scene and now Macy is trying to get Beck's help with this cold case serial killer she's working on. Things don't go as planned.
As they work together they'll have more and more questions about this killer as well as begin to develop feelings for one another. Things are going to go wrong and the end is coming for the suspect.

I did enjoy this book as I am a fan of Carsen Taite's writing but this did not have the usual suspense I've come to anticipate. Macy and Beck never had that chemistry for me although they worked well together. Their relationship just didn't seem smooth.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Boldstrokesbooks, #PerilousObsession

I enjoy legal thrillers and Carsen Taite's experience working with the justice system brings credibility to her writing. Usually she writes about lawyers but this time it is a newspaper reporter and a police detective. Beck is a good cop but has broken the blue wall testifying against her partner in a bad shooting. She is promoted but relegated to cold cases. Macy is newspaper journalist who has a good reputation and awards to back her up. Her college roommate was killed ten years earlier and it has been her obsession to solve the case. When another body turns up Macy wonders if the serial killer is back and teams up with Beck to solve the case.

I like both the characters but while this book is good it isn't Carsen's best. The killer is easy to guess fairly early into the story. And there is very little build-up to a romance between Macy and Beck. My biggest issue is with the ending. It is rushed and doesn't answer a lot of the questions. Why did the women trust the killer enough to go off the pathways? Why no DNA evidence? Did he have a motivation for killing? Was Macy's roommate targeted or random? There was actually very little investigation done to solve the case.

For Taite fans and readers of legal thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Macy Moran is a journalist on a mission. Ten years ago her best friend was a victim of a serial killer. Even though the police label the case as cold, Macy has been doing her own investigating to find the killer.
Beck Ramsey reported her police partner shooting and killing an innocent man. In the eyes of her fellow officers, Beck broke the unwritten code and is being treated as an outcast. She is now doing time in the career ending Cold Case division.
Taite is a master at writing romance novels and I have read and enjoyed a good portion of them. Perilous Obsession however falls a little short in comparison. The attraction between Macy and Beck is more assumed than slowly built to create romantic tension. As a reader this made the romance inconsequential.
The mystery requires a few more red herrings to limit the readers ability to predict the outcome. That being said there were also some loose ends left unanswered which are central to the why of it all.
I commend Taite for writing out of her comfort zone of courtrooms and lawyers. Perilous Obsession has good bones however it requires a few renovations to make it shine.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Stroke Books and NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’ll read anything Carsen Taite puts out. I really enjoy when an author is super reliable. I know I’m gonna vibe with their writing style. There was a small issue of the ending feeling too rushed. I used to only read books over 300 pages because I feel like less than that you run into the “rushed” ending dealio. But overall, good plot and character development. I really enjoyed this one.

Becks always wanted to be a cop but she starting to wonder if that’s still true when she does the right thing and turn her partner Jack in for killing a innocent man. While she being outcast for doing the right thing she assigned to coldcase unit where she thinks your career dies why she tries to make most of this she meets Journalist Macy who is obsessed with a cold case of a serial killer who murdered her best friend Laura.

Macy offer to write Becks side of the story if she willing to open up Laura case because she believes the serial killer is still active and wants justices for the victims. As they dig deeper they began to grow close but this killer won’t go down easy. I enjoy this read I like how Becks has support from her brother Liam and Macy boss going to bat for her. What I didn’t like is how Becks fellow officers turns on her when she did the right thing but call her traitor I thought you supposed to protect and serve not choose who deserve it.






I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

I loved the writing style. It was mature and descriptive. I loved the characters and build-up. I am a huge fan of mysteries but I love lesbian mysteries even more. This is a very good book! I read it very quickly. The dialogue is believable and the scenes are not rushed.

Carsen Taite is an author I automatically read because I enjoy her books. This is her usual standard. Well written, great characters, credible pain, tight plotting, and a flowing narrative. But it isn’t a five star book for me because of the ending being a bit rushed and I felt dissatisfied with the outcome.

Beck is a cop who speaks the truth when her partner kills an unarmed subject. But the boys in blue don’t want her to tell the truth so she is ostracised and put in a basement to help digitise cold case files.

Macy is a journalist - a proper journalist in a world of clickbait and short attention spans. She wants to write about a serial killer who was never caught and may be killing again. She approaches Beck and they form an unlikely and initially uncomfortable partnership.

It’s a trope in lesfic that the wounded souls heal each other while finding love and you need to make it all happen in a couple of hundred pages. Beck and Macy make a credible couple and the beginning of their relationship is captured well. It stumbles and I did lose some commitment to the story at 80% but this is a good read and I will continue with Ms Taite’s stories as she certainly knows her way round the legal system.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

3 stars
A bit disappointed in this one. Carsen Taite is one of my favorite authors. She has actual experience in the justice system so her legal stories are really interesting. Especially her court scenes. But this one focuses on police and reporters. A bit out of her norm.
First, I never warmed to the main character, Macy. ....Actually.....I didnt like her. Her goal was all that mattered...no matter whose life it shattered.
2nd. I knew who the serial killer was almost immediately. 10 years was mentioned way too much.
3rd, we never learn why this person was killing these girls and how did he get control of them. Asking where the dog park was....was not enough.
The romance was predictable but I didnt know why Beck was interested in Macy? Friends on a mission maybe but the romance was forced.
In addition, I choose the audiobook. The narration was just adequate. I suggest reading this one to do it justice.
I was given this ARC for an honest review.

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'Writers are human beings with all kinds of unique stories to tell -- which they have every right to tell... Storytelling involves taking risk. It's not always easy but sometimes a writer has to invent their confidence in order for a story to make sense..'

Great read!
'PERILOUS OBSESSION' once again heralds the scrupulous ongoing activity and practical police procedures surrounding law enforcement -- whether negative or truthfulness when enforcing the law --- and is unquestionably another well written book added to the growing list by Carsen Taite.
The title of this book says it all because it's an obsessively well detailed mysterious tale of the how's, the why's, the when's etc.. of finding out the person responsible for killing these many 20 year old females out for a jog either late afternoon or early morning -- during the span of 10 or more years. With the two leading protagonists, Macy (reporter) and Beck (detective) taking over and doing their own backdoor investigation while growing close. It was up to them to uncork all the connecting evidence from each cold case file that might lead to a serial killer on the loose among the community while at the same time is being pushed to the cold case department by the higher ups, so the public won't find out the facts.
Furthermore, during the storyline's progress, readers do acquaint themselves with skepticism in researched cases, the blue wall of silence, the many different raised questions about past & present cases, deceptive power plays, consequences of being truthful/honest and the various culpability of all high ranking officials etc..
Another must read from Carsen Taite!

A cop (Beck) testifies against her partner and so ends up in cold case unit out of the way. A reporter (Macy) is investigating a series of murders from 10 years ago. And is the serial killer back? They meet and combine their efforts. It's a bit of a whodunnit but it was fairly easy to guess who the serial killer was. I feel there could have been a bit more about the investigation. Also vaguely touched on at one point near the end, was there a cover up on the original murders?

Carsen Taite is one of my favorite authors, so I will always look favorably on everything she writes. If you don't know her, she is a specialist in writing thrillers or mysteries with police, lawyers, journalists, together or separately. In this case the protagonists are a police officer, Beck, and a journalist, Macy. And the result has been quite interesting.

The story that this book deals with mixes several issues. In the first place there is a serial killer who was not discovered and who among his victims had Macy's best friend and who now seems to act again. On the other hand, Beck has denounced her patrol partner for an in-service homicide, which has made her an outcast from the police force. Macy has to interview Beck about that matter, and they get to know each other. And right after Beck's issue with her patrol partner, she gets promoted to detective but is relegated to the cold cases office, that includes that of the serial killer who killed Macy's friend.

Like most thrillers, you can have opinions for or against it, that's for sure. Some will think that it is too simple or tricky or that it does not have much essence, but it has hooked me and has surprised me in the end.

Highly recommended on my part.

This author is on my automatic to read list because I thoroughly enjoy the way she blends her knowledge of the criminal law in her plots. This sets her apart from the rest of the women loving women writers.

Detective Beck Ramsey is being sidelined by her police colleagues after she blew the whistle on her partner. Now she is relegated to the cold case department with a bleak future in sight. Journalist Macy Moran is obsessed with a cold case of a serial killer who murdered her best friend. When Macy convinces Beck to review the cold case, both of them will have to be very careful with a murderer on the lose. Will they have a chance to explore their mutual attraction while their professional lives are in chaos?

I loved the main premise of the book, of involving a journalist and a police detective in an unofficial investigation to find the perpetrator of a series of horrific murders. Police work and journalism both have an investigative component but they normally function in opposite sides of crime solving. Ms. Taite plays skillfully with these similarities and differences and how the main characters' professional circumstances shape the relationship between them.

I have to say that up to 70%, this book was looking to become a 5 star rating for me. Until that point the buildup of the relationship between both mains was fantastic, and the intrigue was increasingly tense. I also liked that the "black moment" of both the romance and the investigation collided at the same point of the story.

Unfortunately, I felt that the resolution was too rushed and all the romance buildup and the intrigue tension dissolved without much of a payback to the reader. The "I love yous" were too rushed even for lesbian standards and the serial killer plot was hastily wrapped up. This isn't the first time that I felt that Ms. Taite's plot denouements were rushed, I've experienced this in both romances and legal thrillers alike which is a pity because all the hard work to get to the culmination was already done and I think that maybe just a couple of chapters would have suffice to tie the lose ends.

Despite my disappointment with the ending, I enjoyed this novel and I'll continue reading Ms. Taite's books whose style is so unique in lesfic. 3.5 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.