Staged: A Thriller

Katrina & Goode #2

by Caitlin Rother

In this thrilling sequel to Hooked, the secret leaders of a deadly cabal prove to be a veritable match for the determined reporter and the insightful surfing detective who double down to expose them.

Investigative reporter Katrina Chopin is back home in San Diego on a mission (or two). The first is reheating the cold case of her parents’ murder and investigating her brother’s reported suicide. The second involves a new spate of deaths with alleged causes that just don’t smell right. She and Detective Ken Goode need each other’s help for both. But she has to keep the sexy surfer at arm’s length, because dating him is off-limits. For now.

Teaming up, they make coordinated progress down each path. Digging deeper into La Jolla’s corrupt network of elites, they uncover a pattern of lies, depravity, and greed. And with every new discovery, Katrina is pulled closer to danger…and to Goode.

Sharing sexy phone calls and sunset drinks isn’t exactly following the rules, but fully crossing that line could jeopardize the case. As they start to connect the dots, they realize they must risk everything to bring down the shadowy cabal that kills to keep its secrets.

Genres: Thriller

412 pages, Paperback

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 14 books, ranging from narrative non-fiction crime to mystery and memoir. Her newest book is DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case (April 27, 2021). Her backlist includes HUNTING CHARLES MANSON; SECRETS, LIES, AND SHOELACES; LOVE GONE WRONG; DEAD RECKONING; THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER; I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU; NAKED ADDICTION; POISONED LOVE; BODY PARTS; TWISTED TRIANGLE; LOST GIRLS; WHERE HOPE BEGINS and MY LIFE, DELETED. A Pulitzer Prize nominee, Rother worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for 19 years before quitting the news biz in 2006 to write books full-time. Her journalism has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast. She has done more than 200 appearances as a crime commentator on TV, radio and podcasts, ranging from "20/20," "People Magazine Investigates," "Nancy Grace," and "Crime Watch Daily," to shows on HLN, Oxygen Network, Investigation Discovery, C-SPAN, XM Radio and PBS affiliates. She also works as a writing-research-promotions coach and consultant.

Reviews

[Page Escapes by J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staged is a sharp, adrenaline-laced thriller that hooked me from the very first chapter. Katrina Chopin’s return to San Diego is packed with emotional weight, and watching her dig into the cold cases surrounding her parents and brother adds a personal depth that raises every stake. The investigation is gritty, layered, and full of twists—exactly the kind of slow-burn unraveling I love in thrillers.

The dynamic between Katrina and surfing detective Ken Goode is a standout. Their chemistry simmers through every shared lead, every late-night call, every line they shouldn’t cross. It never overwhelms the mystery, but it absolutely enriches it.

As they peel back the secrets of La Jolla’s elite, the story turns darker, sharper, and harder to put down. The cabal at the center of it all is chilling, and the last act delivers tension, danger, and payoff.

Fast-paced, atmospheric, and emotionally charged, Staged is a gripping sequel that blends investigative suspense with just the right touch of slow-burn heat. I tore through it.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Twist-Filled, Unputdownable Read

This was an unputdownable read for me! From start to finish, the story is packed with twists and turns that kept me completely hooked. Catrina and Goode make a fantastic team, and their dynamics really brings the story to life. Although this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone book, which I appreciated. I have read a lot of books written by Kaitlin Rother and I have loved them all, and this one is no exception. A gripping, fast-paced read which I highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharp, fast‑moving crime thriller & sequel to Hooked. Reporter Katrina & Detective Goode dig into cold family murders + suspicious “staged” deaths, uncovering elite corruption & danger. Rooted in authentic true‑crime style, tense twists & snappy pace — ideal for mystery fans.

[Lauren Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staged was an exciting thriller with a fantastic group of supporting characters. Katrina and Goode were a great team and easy to love and root for as the core characters of the story. The book is full of twists and turns and shock and awe. There are a lot of moving parts and back stories so it is a book you have to concentrate and pay attention to or you will get left behind. I think I would also like to experience it in audiobook as it would be just wonderful.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, although it took me a while to get into it. I think this is because this is the second book in the series and as I have only just joined the series, I struggled at the start with all the back ground information and bringing introduced to a lot of characters. It wasn't because the story wasn't easy to follow and explained, it was more a lot had already gone on and I was catching, while trying to keep every body straight. There was a lot of moving parts. Once I got everything straight and could sit back, I really enjoyed it and was hooked. I had to find out who was involved.

The story is told by multiple characters with the use of narrators. The female narrator only have us the perspective from Katrina's point of view as she struggled to find out what happened to her family. While the male narrator gave voice mostly to Detective Goode and occasionally his partner Stone. This worked well for the story as each character followed up on different angles of the case. I liked the characters and was actually quite taken with them, so much so that I was sat on the edge of my seat at one point in the story. I did hesitate when I read the blurb about sexy phone calls going on between them but to be honest the story was all about the case and they were far to busy for anything other than stolen kisses. Yeah! I am all about the investigation and get annoyed when authors get to caught up in love live drama.

As for the mystery it was fast moving with a number of twists, as the detectives and reporter work out who they can trust, in there struggle to take down some powerful men, who always seems to be one step ahead of them.

Will defiantly be looking out for more books by this author and the next book in the series.
Katrina is still trying to prove her brother didn't commit suicide and also bring her parents killer to justice. Just as the man that could give her answers is finally about to be arrested, his son is found dead in his jail cell and he apparently takes his own life. Convenient timing, Detective Goode and his partner thinks so too. Especially as the suspicious deaths are been covered up and they are being told not to investigate. With red flags being waved at every turn the detectives decide to do things there way and take things off book. With Katrina's help, they hope to get to the bottom of things and take down some influential players before they become targets themselves.
I liked the use of the two narrators, it made it easy to follow as the story jumped from character to character. Both provided some interesting voices for the characters.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Staged, the second book in the Katrina & Goode series, author Caitlin Rother weaves a suspenseful thriller that will keep the readers turning the pages.

Homicide Detective Ken Goode and investigative reporter Katrina Chopin continue to work in tandem on a variety of investigations that puts them in danger, but nothing is going to stop them from getting the truth! From a suspected cabal corruption case; to the ongoing Fontaine murder case that takes an unexpected turn; to Katrina's determination to look into her parents' cold murder case and her brother's "alleged" suicide; their plate is overflowing, but the wheels of justice and newsworthy stories are the ultimate goal.

Staged is a riveting thriller that easily draws the reader into this fascinating and multi-layered story. This thriller is an adrenaline rush as Ken and Katrina simultaneously work a variety of investigative cases they believe are interconnected. There are a lot of scenarios and potential suspects, it's like putting the puzzle pieces together to the solve the case. I really enjoyed the alternating third person narrative chapters following Ken and Katrina as they worked the cases with danger around every corner, while having a subtle romantic connection brewing under the surface added into the mix. The surprising twists and turns throughout the story kept me on my toes as I kept trying to figure out who the bad guys were from all the potential suspects, and the reason why the murders were all staged. This is an amazing sequel to the Katrina & Goode series!

Staged is a riveting and fast-paced thriller that definitely hooks the reader from the start.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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[John Walthers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staged, Book 2 in the Katrina and Goode series, really had me hooked—no pun intended... okay, maybe just a little nod to its predecessor, Hooked.

Investigative reporter Katrina Chopin and Detective Ken Goode once again find themselves digging into suspicious deaths that appear to be suicides on the surface but may actually be murder. For Katrina, this investigation becomes even more personal as she continues searching for answers surrounding the deaths of her parents and her brother.

This was a thrilling, fast-paced follow-up that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with plenty of twists, danger, and suspense along the way. I enjoyed watching Katrina and Goode work together as investigators. They have a great professional dynamic, and Katrina's determination and instincts make her an especially compelling character.

I also loved seeing their personal connection continue to grow. Their chemistry adds another layer to the story without taking away from the central mystery, and it seems that others around them are beginning to notice that connection as well.

I both read and listened to the audiobook, and I thoroughly enjoyed both formats. The narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters and story to life while maintaining the tension and pace of the plot.

Caitlin Rother has created an engaging series with memorable characters and intriguing mysteries, and I'm really hoping she continues Katrina and Goode's story in future books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Brilliance Audio, and Thomas & Mercer for providing advanced audio and text copies that allowed me to experience this story.

[Mal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advanced audiobook

3.5 stars

This is a sequel to Rother's earlier book about reporter Katrina Chopin and detective Ken Goode. Katrina is on a mission to find out who killed her parents and to prove that her twin brother didn't die by suicide. She again enlists the help of detective Goode and the two try to keep their simmering sexual tension at bay. As they get deeper into Katrina's case--and a spate of murders that seems somehow related--Katrina and Goode reveal the underbelly of San Diego's elites.

Normally, I want the books I read to be well-written, have sharp dialogue, good character development, and an engaging story. STAGED succeeds on some of these fronts (good character development, engaging story) but fails at others (well-written, sharp dialogue). There's a lot of exposition heavy dialogue throughout the book that feels very "info-dumpy" and often slowed down the pace. And yet--I didn't care. This is such a fun romp in an area of California that doesn't get written about as much. Even with not so great writing, Katrina and Goode are such enjoyable characters that I find myself sucked in for the ride. It also doesn't hurt that the dual narrators do a good job of inflecting personality into each of the characters. Would I recommend this for someone who's looking for more of an S.A. Cosby kind of thriller writer? No. But if you're looking for something that goes down like cotton candy, this is a good choice.

Staged comes out June 16, 2026

[Sherry Steveson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love when a police procedural book becomes a series and combines some romance with suspense. These are all the ingredients of my ideal story. Let the main characters have storylines and backgrounds that are interesting and smart and it should be an enjoyable and entertaining story. This book picks up where book 1 ends and we are left tying up the loose ends at the start and adding even more characters to the cabal storyline. Here’s where the story starts to veer off the tracks for me… so many coincidences that line up perfectly and dialogue that feels stilted and unnatural. Katrina is dealing with threats to her life, trying to figure out if her brother was murdered and who shot and killed her parents from years ago. We discover there’s police corruption ( not well hidden at all) and no real investigation of her family member’s deaths.


I’d say this book is light on believable plot points and more like a fun ride to the inevitable outcome. My biggest issue was the layers of sexual tension that we get from Katrina and Goode and yet when they are free to explore the author doesn’t even give us even one scene together culminating in their ultimate romance.
Also the lack of any profanity at any point felt off. They used PG language throughout and you just didn’t sense this would be how these characters would have actually worded any of their dialogue.

I think this will probably be my last of this series but I think if you want a lighter police procedural novel that wraps up in two books, this series might be a good one to check out.

[Beth Von Voigt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book of the Katrina and Goode series follows Katrina Chopin, an investigative reporter, who makes a deal with Detective Goode to share information on their investigations into the corrupt leaders of a cabal. They both believe the cabal is somehow related to Katrina’s brother’s alleged suicide, but they aren’t prepared for exactly how far down the rabbit hole they will travel and how dangerous it will get for them both.

I loved the way Katrina and Goode danced around each other in this book. Just when I thought their relationship might progress farther, they pulled back almost like a game of cat and mouse. This author is brilliant at throwing curveballs that you don’t see coming and leave your jaw dropping. This one kept me up late at night dying to find out what happened next and how things ended. I loved how Katrina stay dedicated to finding out what happened to her family and especially liked how some of the details were brought out in her mother’s journals. The ending didn’t feel rushed and no parts of the story were left unfinished. While the author did a great job of throwing background details from the first book, I still would recommend reading the first book in the series prior to this one. *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staged is a well written thriller that will have you keep turning the pages. This book follows Hooked, the first in the series. The author provides enough backstory if you haven't read the first, but I would recommend reading the first. The plot is told from the POVs of each of our main characters, Katrina Chopin, an investigative journalist and Detective Ken Goode, homicide detective and surfer.

Katrina and Goode are both investigating a series of murders and the cabal. Could these be related to the cold case of her parents’ murder and her brother’s reported suicide? As they work there are secrets revealed and they are making the elite of LaJolla nervous.

The chemistry between our characters jumps off the pages, the attraction is definitely there, the late night calls, but both are professional and don't want to jeopardize the investigation. Filled with tension, mystery, and emotion, it is an unputdownable read. I look forward to reading more from Caitlin Rother.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Lee Husemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome dynamic duo of investigative reporter, Katrina Chopin and Detective Ken Goode, as they combine their talents to investigate corruption in an elite area of San Diego. While they are doing this, Katrina wants to look further into her parents unsolved assassination and her twin brother's suicide. Katrina returned to the San Diego area and secured a job with a newspaper in order to try to figure out who killed her parents. Katrina starts going through her parents work and personal notes, journals and computers with lots of secrets being uncovered. Katrina and Ken are very much attracted to each other and fight to contain themselves and work professionally.

This is a very well written and well researched book by Author Caitlin Rother who is one of my favorite authors. Every time I tried to put this book down, another twist would come up and prevent me from doing so. There are a lot of twists, turns and surprises in this book which made it a very thrilling read.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this twisty, gripping crime thriller.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series, Hooked was the first book, and the beginning of introducing the main characters, along with those whom we believed at the time were involved in the first murder! This is where we first meet Katrina and Ken Goode.
This can be read alone, the author does a great job of filling in the all the information, but for the full enjoyment you might want to read the first.
Why are people dying? There is an answer, greed, and those that get in the way, well, they can be disposed of! Sad, but when seemingly unrelated cases start to resemble and connect, questions are asked. Are there answers?
This is a page tuner of a read, you need answers, and they do come, along with some big surprises.
Can there be justice, things are being thwarted at the highest level.
A read that will keep you up late, and with a surprise ending!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas & Mercer, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had both the privilege of getting the first volume in this series as an Amazon First Read, and then the chance to preview Staged via NetGalley. There's an enjoyable tension in the interplay between reporter Katrina Chopin and detective Ken Goode as they work to both keep their feelings for each other under wraps while working to unravel a complex web involving the deaths of a father/daughter team in the first volume. As we discover in this volume, there's a much grander plot that could involve her own family member's deaths a few years back.

There were a lot of plots twists and turns, and if you didn't read the first book, a lot of characters to get up to speed on that could lose you along the way. That said, there was a well-told story along the way that kept my interest throughout.

While the series seemed to have a nice, tidy bow tied on it at the end, I wonder if Rother will bring these characters back for an encore perfomance. If so, I'd be interested to check it out.

[Red Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing this free ARC book of Staged in exchange for my honest review.
This sequel to Hooked in the Katrina and Goode series absolutely delivers. In this installment, the secret leaders of a dangerous cabal prove to be a formidable challenge for the reporter–detective duo, who must push themselves harder than ever to expose the truth. It’s a gripping, fast paced story that kept me turning pages from the very beginning. The writing is strong, the characters are well‑developed and Katrina once again stood out as my favorite. The suspense is steady throughout and every twist landed perfectly. Overall, I highly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any reader who loves thrillers.

[DoneReadThat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an eARC of this book from the publisher thru NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I hadn't read book one in the series so I read that one first. I'm glad I did. The story builds off each other and both were fantastic.

This almost gives cozy mystery vibes because there's a non-cop helping to solve a crime (or few). At least this one isn't a bumbling baker or something ridiculous, she's an investigative reporter who has gone toe to toe with the mob back east.

Corruption
Cover ups
Chaos

Absolutely incredible. Really hoping for more. I was hoping there would be a prequel for what happened to Katrina with the mob but I couldn't seem to find one. There is one for Goode, tho (Naked Addiction). It's on my TBR too.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staged by Catherine Caitlin Rother is the second book in the Katrina and Goode series, though I listened to it as a standalone and had no trouble following the story.

The author skillfully weaves together multiple plotlines, and I enjoyed seeing how the various subplots intersected and influenced one another.
The mystery kept me engaged, and the connections between the different story elements added depth and intrigue to the overall narrative.

The audiobook narration by Jacob Bruce and Jennifer O'Donnell was excellent and truly brought the story to life. Overall, the production quality was outstanding and made for an enjoyable listening experience.

Thank you to NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for letting me read this ARC.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Hooked. I really enjoyed both the first and second book. The book did start out a little slow because a good portion is spent summarizing everything that happened in the first book. However, then the story started moving and it was such a good, twisty book with great characters. I would recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery thriller with memorable characters.

I will definitely keep my eye out for other books by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the continuation of Hooked, which introduced us to San Diego reporter Katrina Chopin and detective Ken Goode. The story has a lot of twists and turns as Katrina and Goode put together the pieces and Katrina finds out some surprising things about her late father and mother who were murdered years ago. There is great chemistry between Katrina and Goode, and I hope the author revisits their story. At times, the amount of information and connections are a lot to keep track of, but it all comes together in the end.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the Katrina & Goode mystery series. I didn’t read the first book but I don’t think you have to to enjoy this one. Katrina Chopin returns to San Diego to reheat the cold case into her parent’s murder and her brother’s suicide as well as look into a spate of deaths that on the surface look acceptable but don’t seem right. She teams up the Detective Jen Goode who needs her help too. As they investigate they uncover a seamy world of elites that will doing anything to keep their position and secrets. Great read.

[Bookstabritni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice Rating:🫑🫑

The investigation is so compelling in this series. I love that you can put some clues together before the characters, so you just want to yell at them to figure it out! I enjoyed the multiple mysteries going on and the stress of trying to figure out if they are related. Most of all I love the romance, even if it is somewhat more of a subplot. Who doesn’t love forbidden lovers! This book wrapped up everything nicely, but I still wouldn’t mind if the series continued.

💋 Kisses Only
🫑-🫑🫑🫑 Steamy/Closed Door
🌶️-🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy/Open Door

[Phil Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As her mastery of the police procedural/who done it continues to get better with each new novel, Caitlin Rother has outdone herself again in STAGED, her latest pageturner featuring investigative journalist Katrina Chopin and her homicide detective sidekick/wannabe lover Ken Goode. He’s the best murder cop in San Diego, but he always seems to be several steps behind master reporter Chopin. The cliché “go along to get along” has nothing to do with these two good guy characters who are completely driven and fond of writing their own rules.
If we were to wager whether you could outguess Rother, I would win every time. She’s filled her novel with false leads and thought traps that will keep you guessing well into every night you spend with STAGED. Suspended, fired, reinstated, working under suspension, frequent brushes with death and disaster—all these elements are just routine days and nights for this pair. Or are they a couple? It seems even they aren’t sure.
One thing is certain. Either they’re going to die trying, or they’re going to blow the lid off of the city and county of San Diego—the mayor, the police department, the sheriff, the district attorney, the congressional delegation and the pharmaceutical oligarchs who are so much a part of the place that calls itself “America’s Finest City.” You might want to devote a weekend to STAGED. Otherwise you’re likely to have a very sleep deprived workweek.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staged is a fast-paced thriller were Katrina learns that her past is a lie and the more she digs to discover the truth the more she learns how deceit ran deep. She'll will work with Goode and together they will unravel a large conspiracy that held San Diego in its claws unveilling a series of deaths, including those that decimated Katrina's family, and involving high up standing citizens in the community. Great entertainment!
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[All Things Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast paced sequel was just what I needed to read next. There is a lot of storylines to follow up on from the first book. It was suspenseful and captivating. The only reason that I didn't give it a higher rating is because at times it seemed to be repetitive and dragged on in some places. Overall I did really enjoy this book.

[Todd McMahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit disappointed

After reading Hooked I was excited to get and receive this book. But spending the first 20% of the book merely reviewing Hooked I was disappointed. I have read many sequels but this Staged spent so much time and with such frequency referencing the prequel that it was not as good.

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice completion

It was a good and enjoyable read, though I didn’t really like the extensive rehash that read like a copy and paste from the last book. It felt lazy and disrespectful of the fan base; do better.
Other than that it was well written, easy to follow, with very good dialogue.

- Not Jack

[Lareesa Butters · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow but good

The writing, twists and turns are all phenomenal. The only complaint I have was the incessant recaps of book 1 throughout the entire first half of this book. As someone that just binge-read the series, I found myself skipping large chunks of the first 100 pages because it was literally just retelling book 1.

[Roxy Blake]

The first third is a recap of the previous book. Unfortunately, it's super boring since I just finished the first book. Goode & Katrina's relationship is just as stagnant. I'm bummed because I really loved the first book in this series.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Found it very hard to follow but that may be as I've not read the first book in the series so not familiar with the characters

Gifted early copy by NetGalley but not obligated to post a review

[Shahdan Hanafi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will write review later