The Recommended Reading Order for Sacramento
While author Karen Rose crafts each of her romantic suspense novels to feature a complete, self-contained mystery and romantic arc, her books are highly interconnected. For the Sacramento series, which focuses on the dangerous and elusive Eden cult, you should absolutely read the novels in their publication order. This sequence allows you to follow the complex investigations, the growth of the recurring cast, and the ultimate resolution of the cult storyline without spoilers.
- Say You're Sorry (2019) – Focuses on FBI Special Agent Gideon Reynolds and Daisy Dawson.
- Say No More (2020) – Focuses on cult survivor Mercy Callahan and Detective Rafe Sokolov.
- Say Goodbye (2021) – Focuses on FBI Special Agent Tom Hunter and Liza Barkley.
Sacramento Series Books in Detail
1. Say You're Sorry (2019)
The trilogy opens with Say You're Sorry, introducing FBI Special Agent Gideon Reynolds. Gideon, who escaped the toxic Eden cult when he was thirteen years old, has spent his life running from his past. When a serial killer begins leaving cryptic letters carved into victims' bodies in Sacramento, Gideon is drawn into the investigation. He teams up with Daisy Dawson, a tough survivor who managed to fight off the killer. As they work together to stop the murderer, they must confront Gideon's past and the dark tendrils of the cult that still haunt him.
2. Say No More (2020)
The second installment, Say No More, shifts the spotlight to Mercy Callahan. Mercy escaped the Eden cult years ago, but the trauma of her past has kept her living in isolation. When her past catches up to her and a new threat emerges, she is forced to rely on Sacramento homicide detective Rafe Sokolov. Rafe is fiercely protective and determined to keep Mercy safe as they dive deep into the cult's operations. This book escalates the overarching conflict with the Eden cult, revealing how deeply its roots spread through the region.
3. Say Goodbye (2021)
The Sacramento trilogy reaches its thrilling conclusion in Say Goodbye. This novel centers on FBI Special Agent Tom Hunter and nursing aide Liza Barkley. Tom, a skilled hacker and former basketball player, has been working tirelessly to dismantle the Eden cult once and for all. When Liza becomes a target due to her connection to the investigation, Tom must put everything on the line to protect her. The book wraps up the trilogy's overarching narrative arc, providing a satisfying and action-packed end to the battle against the cult.
Universe Connections: Crossovers and Cameos
One of the elements that makes Karen Rose's books so beloved is her sprawling, interconnected universe. Although the Sacramento books form a distinct trilogy set in California's capital, they are deeply linked to other series in her bibliography:
- Daisy Dawson: Before taking center stage in Say You're Sorry, Daisy was introduced to readers in the Baltimore series, specifically in the novel Death Is Not Enough. Her move to California sets the stage for the Sacramento series.
- Tom Hunter: Tom's history stretches back to the very beginning of Karen Rose's writing career. Readers first met him as a young boy fleeing an abusive father in Rose's debut novel, Don't Tell (2003). Watching him grow up to become an FBI Special Agent and get his own romantic resolution in Say Goodbye is a major payoff for long-time fans.
- The Sokolov Family: Detective Rafe Sokolov and his family provide a warm, protective network for the characters, echoing the tight-knit family dynamics found in Rose's other city-based series, such as her Cincinnati and Chicago novels.
What to Know Before You Start
Karen Rose is known as the "queen of romantic suspense" for a reason. Before diving into the Sacramento series, readers should be prepared for high-stakes, fast-paced thrillers that do not shy away from dark and heavy themes, including cult abuse, kidnapping, and physical trauma. However, these elements are always balanced by themes of healing, resilience, and deep emotional bonds.
Because the books deal with a single, overarching threat—the Eden cult—reading them out of order will reveal major spoilers about who survives the earlier books and how the investigations unfold. If you want to experience the full tension of the mystery, start with Say You're Sorry and read straight through to Say Goodbye.