*****Somewhere in this book is a hidden “Easter Egg,” a bold text link to 3 FREE Qwickie novellas by 3 bestselling authors. This is a time limited offer, so happy reading and hunting!**
***If I knew what I know now, would I have searched so hard for the truth?***
Anne Williams says she killed her best friend, Karoline. But did she? Or is there more to Karoline's mysterious death than meets the eye?
Anne embarks on a compelling journey to discover her past and exposes an unusual history, horrific crimes and appalling betrayals. Through unexpected turns and revelations, Anne learns about love, family and who she really is. Can she survive the truth?
**Editorial Reviews**
"A deliciously vibrant portrait that realistically muddles good and evil." —Kirkus Reviews
"Astolfo's wonderful first sentence in Sweet Karoline explodes on the page and resonates right to the end of this twisting examination of dangerous minds. Never have I encountered a narrative voice that alternates more deftly between alienating and enticing." —Mel Bradshaw, author of Fire On The Runway
"A deliciously twisted story about the perplexing power of adult female relationships. By turns scathingly funny and darkly insightful, Sweet Karoline is a hedonistic journey with all the right ingredients: lust, betrayal, true love and mystery. Grab a glass of wine and have the bottle handy. A compelling read from the start through to the surprising end." —Robin Spano, author of Death's Last Run
"In Catherine Astolfo's chilling new novel Sweet Karoline, things aren't always as they seem. Anne, the multifaceted anti-heroine in this noir tale takes a fateful journey into her forgotten past, uncovering the painful roots of her childhood. While furrowing for answers, a mystery unfolds, truths swirl to the surface, a heinous murder occurs. Who's the killer? Caught in a tangled web of greed, lies and deceit Anne must come to terms with her past, present and future, and the bleak realization that those we hold close may be the last ones to trust. Compelling, visually descriptive, deftly delivered…Catherine Astolfo's got the goods!" —Douglas Wickard, author of A Perfect Husband
"Sweet Karoline is a multi-layered mystery, where nothing is as it seems. The story grips you on page one and leads you through a maze of history, twisted relationships, and ultimately the darkness of the human mind." —Liz Bugg, author of Oranges and Lemons
"In Sweet Karoline, Astolfo has created a daring hybrid mystery that combines elements of romance, history, and suspense in a carefully crafted story that keeps you guessing to the very end. Astolfo explores new boundaries as she extends her reach beyond the cozy mystery in this psychological exploration of the mind of a killer. A unique exploration of guilt and revenge." —Michael J. McCann, author of The Fregoli Delusion
"The clever plot twists in Sweet Karoline will enrapture you from page one through the last paragraphs of this fast-paced modern mystery. Author Catherine Astolfo exhibits a strikingly perceptive gift for believable dialogue and rich character development. Her dry wit and colorful descriptions will have you howling in laughter at points, but in tears at others as she digs deep into the themes of guilt, race, and relationships. The powers of love and redemption are strong, but does the heart of an Ice Queen ever really melt? Enjoy the romp from Los Angeles, through Canada, to a priceless Italian rendezvous—all in the pages of Sweet Karoline, where long-buried secrets lie." —Lisa Pell, award-winning author of Who's Your Daddy, Baby?
**
### Review
"Sweet Karoline is a cleverly constructed psychological novel of perceptions, with a narration that brought to mind Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and a plot reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith." -- The Crime Thriller Hound,
crimethrillerhound.co.uk/#!sweet-caroline/c1pw2
"Earmarked to be an award-winning classic, Sweet Karoline is undoubtedly a gripping page-turner to the very end." --US Review of Books,
theUSreview.com/reviews/Sweet-Astolfo.html
"A deliciously vibrant portrait that realistically muddles good and evil." --Kirkus Reviews
"Lock the doors and windows. Tell the boss you're not coming in tomorrow. Because once you start this book, you won't stop until the end. When they said 'Something wicked this way comes', they meant this book." --Don Longmuir, Scene of the Crime Books
### From the Author
Dear Reader, I sincerely hope you enjoy the ride that is Anne's journey. I actually "met" her three years ago, but got sidetracked from writing by breast cancer. Fortunately I was a lucky woman; my experience was relatively easy. The women who survived, or did not survive, are my heroes.
Lots of people wonder why I write such dark novels. I don't usually consider them "dark" myself, because they always end with hope and love conquering all. In a way, that does happen with Sweet Karoline too. I am simply fascinated with the human condition and all its facets, but I have a strong belief that we can overcome evil with goodness. Thus in my life I am quite a joyful optimist.
The best part about being a published author is getting to share what I have written. So please, don't hesitate to contact me and tell me what you think (politely please). Visit my website--and virtually, me. I would write anyway, but the delight is in knowing you've read my book.
Please do remember what I said about "never allowing the facts to get in the way of a good story". That's the motto I follow, so everything in this book has been brushed with a wild imagination. I hope you suspend belief and simply enjoy.
Description:
*****Somewhere in this book is a hidden “Easter Egg,” a bold text link to 3 FREE Qwickie novellas by 3 bestselling authors. This is a time limited offer, so happy reading and hunting!** ***If I knew what I know now, would I have searched so hard for the truth?*** Anne Williams says she killed her best friend, Karoline. But did she? Or is there more to Karoline's mysterious death than meets the eye? Anne embarks on a compelling journey to discover her past and exposes an unusual history, horrific crimes and appalling betrayals. Through unexpected turns and revelations, Anne learns about love, family and who she really is. Can she survive the truth? **Editorial Reviews** "A deliciously vibrant portrait that realistically muddles good and evil." —Kirkus Reviews "Astolfo's wonderful first sentence in Sweet Karoline explodes on the page and resonates right to the end of this twisting examination of dangerous minds. Never have I encountered a narrative voice that alternates more deftly between alienating and enticing." —Mel Bradshaw, author of Fire On The Runway "A deliciously twisted story about the perplexing power of adult female relationships. By turns scathingly funny and darkly insightful, Sweet Karoline is a hedonistic journey with all the right ingredients: lust, betrayal, true love and mystery. Grab a glass of wine and have the bottle handy. A compelling read from the start through to the surprising end." —Robin Spano, author of Death's Last Run "In Catherine Astolfo's chilling new novel Sweet Karoline, things aren't always as they seem. Anne, the multifaceted anti-heroine in this noir tale takes a fateful journey into her forgotten past, uncovering the painful roots of her childhood. While furrowing for answers, a mystery unfolds, truths swirl to the surface, a heinous murder occurs. Who's the killer? Caught in a tangled web of greed, lies and deceit Anne must come to terms with her past, present and future, and the bleak realization that those we hold close may be the last ones to trust. Compelling, visually descriptive, deftly delivered…Catherine Astolfo's got the goods!" —Douglas Wickard, author of A Perfect Husband "Sweet Karoline is a multi-layered mystery, where nothing is as it seems. The story grips you on page one and leads you through a maze of history, twisted relationships, and ultimately the darkness of the human mind." —Liz Bugg, author of Oranges and Lemons "In Sweet Karoline, Astolfo has created a daring hybrid mystery that combines elements of romance, history, and suspense in a carefully crafted story that keeps you guessing to the very end. Astolfo explores new boundaries as she extends her reach beyond the cozy mystery in this psychological exploration of the mind of a killer. A unique exploration of guilt and revenge." —Michael J. McCann, author of The Fregoli Delusion "The clever plot twists in Sweet Karoline will enrapture you from page one through the last paragraphs of this fast-paced modern mystery. Author Catherine Astolfo exhibits a strikingly perceptive gift for believable dialogue and rich character development. Her dry wit and colorful descriptions will have you howling in laughter at points, but in tears at others as she digs deep into the themes of guilt, race, and relationships. The powers of love and redemption are strong, but does the heart of an Ice Queen ever really melt? Enjoy the romp from Los Angeles, through Canada, to a priceless Italian rendezvous—all in the pages of Sweet Karoline, where long-buried secrets lie." —Lisa Pell, award-winning author of Who's Your Daddy, Baby? ** ### Review "Sweet Karoline is a cleverly constructed psychological novel of perceptions, with a narration that brought to mind Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and a plot reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith." -- The Crime Thriller Hound, crimethrillerhound.co.uk/#!sweet-caroline/c1pw2 "Earmarked to be an award-winning classic, Sweet Karoline is undoubtedly a gripping page-turner to the very end." --US Review of Books, theUSreview.com/reviews/Sweet-Astolfo.html "A deliciously vibrant portrait that realistically muddles good and evil." --Kirkus Reviews "Lock the doors and windows. Tell the boss you're not coming in tomorrow. Because once you start this book, you won't stop until the end. When they said 'Something wicked this way comes', they meant this book." --Don Longmuir, Scene of the Crime Books ### From the Author Dear Reader, I sincerely hope you enjoy the ride that is Anne's journey. I actually "met" her three years ago, but got sidetracked from writing by breast cancer. Fortunately I was a lucky woman; my experience was relatively easy. The women who survived, or did not survive, are my heroes. Lots of people wonder why I write such dark novels. I don't usually consider them "dark" myself, because they always end with hope and love conquering all. In a way, that does happen with Sweet Karoline too. I am simply fascinated with the human condition and all its facets, but I have a strong belief that we can overcome evil with goodness. Thus in my life I am quite a joyful optimist. The best part about being a published author is getting to share what I have written. So please, don't hesitate to contact me and tell me what you think (politely please). Visit my website--and virtually, me. I would write anyway, but the delight is in knowing you've read my book. Please do remember what I said about "never allowing the facts to get in the way of a good story". That's the motto I follow, so everything in this book has been brushed with a wild imagination. I hope you suspend belief and simply enjoy.