Her Final Breath by Carolyn Arnold – a Review
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Description:
Faint sunlight dapples the two figures lying on the ground. The mother cradles her daughter close to her side, a stuffed toy elephant next to them. Leaves from the tall trees fall onto their faces, but neither moves to brush them off.
When a dog walker in a local Virginia park finds the bodies of a mother and daughter, Detective Amanda Steele is first on the scene. Her own daughter has a toy just like the girl’s elephant and seeing the child like this is her worst nightmare come true. Heartbroken, she vows to get justice.
They quickly get an ID—Jill Archer and six-year-old Charlotte were reported missing last week, but interviewing Jill’s husband, Roy, Amanda’s gut tells her he is hiding something. When the autopsy reveals a terrible pattern of bruises, she’s certain that a domestic argument escalated out of control, and tiny Charlotte got caught in the crossfire. But just as Amanda is about to arrest Roy, another grave is found, containing another mother and daughter.
Desperate for a lead, she goes to every place the women could have been targeted, and learns from a concerned ER nurse about Leanne Reilly and her young daughter, Gracie, who haven’t been heard from in a week. Amanda hopes that Leanne has simply left her deadbeat husband, but she’s gripped by the fear that they are the killer’s latest victims. Now every second counts for Amanda to find the family and stop a little girl’s nightmare before it ends in tragedy…
Review:
Her Final Breath by Carolyn Arnold is the 7th book in her wonderful 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 Final Breath was fantastic, with me unable to put the book down.
Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department. The story begins when a dog walker discovers in a local park the bodies of a mother and daughter, buried in a shallow grave; bringing Amanda and Trent (partner) to the gruesome scene. The mother and daughter are identified by a missing persons case, Jill Archer and her daughter, Charlotte. Seems the husband, who is a police officer, reported them missing. When they interview the husband, both of them become suspicious of him; especially after the autopsy show multiple bruises, that were new as well as old. Just as Amanda and Trent plan arrest the husband, another grave was discovered with a mother and daughter. As they investigate, it seems there is a serial killer, with the them being women from abusive homes, and another grave is found. Who is murdering women and their daughters?
Both Amanda and Trent are able to find a poor video of a possible murderer, but cannot identify him. They begin to visit the areas, and interview people who knew the last two victims, and find out that another woman and her daughter are missing. Amanda realizes that time is of essence as they race to the climax to find Leanne and Gracie before they are killed.
What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down, as this was a mind-blowing thriller. I always liked how Amanda and Trent made great partners, though in this one, his anger on the abusive treatment of women, was a bit out of control. I also began to like Graves, Amanda’s boss, as she was a bit strict, but cooperative. The last third of the book was intense and exciting, and to say too much more would be spoilers.
Her Final Breath was another fantastic crime thriller that held our breath throughout. Amanda is a great heroine, and a fantastic detective. Her Final Breath was 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
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
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