Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Description:
The glow from the fireplace throws an eerie light over the woman’s carefully arranged body, her lifeless eyes reflecting the flames that slowly burn the evidence of who did this to her…

When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the brutal murder scene of successful local author Felicity Kelley, her blood runs cold. Because Amanda not only knew the victim, but was the last person Felicity called moments before she was murdered. Plagued with guilt that she never answered, Amanda is left wondering whether she could have prevented the murder, and vows to catch the killer, no matter what.

Desperately searching the crime scene for clues, Amanda is shocked when she discovers a Queen of Hearts playing card, suggesting the murder could be an imitation of a scene from Felicity’s bestselling crime novel. Terrified that she is dealing with a crazed fan who could strike again, Amanda’s worst fears are confirmed when another innocent woman is viciously murdered, with the same chilling calling card left behind.

But when Amanda connects the murders with a cold case from fifteen years ago, a case that Felicity appears to have been researching for her next novel, she is forced to question if the killer’s motive is even more sinister than she first suspected. But the closer Amanda gets to unearthing this motive, the closer she gets to becoming the next victim…

Review:

Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold is the 9^th book in her fantastic Detective Amanda Steele series. I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her books, and I love this series, which continues with another great addition.  Her Last Words was a fantastic read, with me unable to put the book down.

Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department. Amanda returns home from a vacation with her boyfriend Logan and adopted daughter, Zoe: when she sees a voice message from a famous writer, Felicity Kelley. The following morning, Amanda receives word that Felicity Kelley was found murdered.  Since she and Trent were on an old case revolving Felicity’ sister, they both headed to the crime scene, and were given control of finding the case. Felicity was stabbed with a knife in her heart, as well as a Queen of Hearts playing card in her throat, which turns out to be a clue from Felicity’s newest bestselling crime novel.

In a short time, Amanda begins to connect the murders from a cold case 15 years ago, which Felicity was researching for her next novel. Amanda and Trent interview all the people involved with a publishing house, as well as investigating the dead woman from 15 years ago, to tie in the missing pieces. When another woman is murdered, with the same Queen of Hearts playing card, her and Trent suspect that someone is trying to throw them off the case.

I loved how Amanda is able to allow herself to take a weekend off to be with her daughter and Logan, to spend some quiet fun peaceful time away from the case. This was a very good change.  Her and Trent make great partners, always helping each other.

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a fantastic thriller. From the start, you become engrossed into the story. The last third of the book was fast-paced, intense, exciting thriller, with many twists along the way. To say too much more would be spoilers.

Her Last Words was another fantastic crime thriller that held my breath throughout.  This once again is an excellent police procedural, great characters, gripping storyline, and surprise twists along the way.  Her Last Words was once again so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, which is the norm for this author; as I am loving this series. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review