Book Review: Staged by Caitlin Rother

 

Katrina and Goode are back in Staged, the second installment of Caitlin Rother's thrilling series, where the investigative reporter and detective team up to solve crimes. 

Investigative reporter Katrina Chopin returns to San Diego to dive back into the cold case of her parents' murder and her brother's alleged suicide. Meanwhile, Detective Ken Goode is looking into a string of recent deaths with causes that don't add up, bringing Katrina back into his world. But she knows that dating the sexy surfing crime fighter can only complicate things. Teaming up, Katrina and Goode slowly put the pieces together, leading to discoveries and consequences that could be dangerous for both of them.

If you enjoyed the first book in the series, Hooked, you will love its sequel. Katrina and Goode are amazing together. The romantic tension adds to a story in which long-held secrets are revealed, Katrina works hard to get that byline, and she and Goode dig deeper into the corruption hidden in La Jolla, hoping to bring down the cabal. 

Rother's background as an investigative journalist shines through the character of Katrina Chopin. With this series, she takes what she knows and turns it into a fictionalized mystery. For someone who has read several of Rother's true crime books, I can't help but feel more connected to the author through Katrina, because in some ways it feels like getting to know Rother on a more personal level, despite knowing Katrina is make-believe. 

The pace at the beginning of the story is slower than I like in this genre, but as the pieces carefully fell into place, the stakes rose, the tension over the investigation and between the two leads ramped up, and the conclusion to Staged felt highly satisfying. I wonder what Katrina and Goode will be up to next. 

If you enjoy thrillers, police procedurals, and hard-boiled mysteries, Staged needs to be on your list of books to read.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FN4KLN9M
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas & Mercer
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 16, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 7.6 MB
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 407 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1662532375

I borrowed this book through my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I also own it on Audible. This review contains my honest opinions, and I have not been compensated in any way.