Last to Die [Anglais] [Poche]

Last to Die by Kate Brady
Romantic Suspense - Aug 31st, 2010
4 stars

There's a killer out and about killing prostitutes to punish them for their secrets. Five had already died brutally with a sixth victim planned. Detective Dani Cole, who knew the fourth victim, is in a race against time to find the serial killer and stop the murders. But her investigation bringsher and her ex-high school sweetheart, Mitch Sheridan, together again. And Mitch wants Dani back. He will do everything he can to protect

Dani as the investigation shifts the killer's fury and focus on Dani. I grew up reading thriller romances but eventually got tired of this sub-genre due to the clichés and bad writing that abound. Brady is, thankfully, a capable writer who can keep several threads going on without losing or confusing the readers. For a thriller-romance that doesn't seem any different from the other thriller-romances, Last to Die, is surprisingly packed with depth. For one thing, Dani is a layered protagonist. She has so many issues and baggage that makes her rea, and not just a 2-D, tough-as-nails, run of the mill female protagonist. She's genuinely conflicted and trying hard to keep it all together. I feel so sorry for her and yet at the same time I just want to tell her to relax.

Mitch Sheridan was also well written and fleshed out. Still, at times I feel like Dani is the one who did all the detective work. It is almost as though her character overpowers his sometimes, but that could just be my inner feminist. To me, Brady sets a new standard for tough on the outside, vulnerable in the inside female protagonists.

Plot wise, this novel an engaging read with lots of subplots threading through it. It's hard to say anything without spoiling it, but I really wished that Brady, as the writer, had made the killer suffer more!

If you are a big fan of mystery, this is a good summer read, preferably by the beach with a chilled margarita. Equal part solid romance and thriller, Brady's novel is an entertaining and fast-paced read.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Kate was added to my favorite author's list after I read One Scream Away. Her knack for romance and suspense keeps a reader intrigued from cover to cover. I love Dani and Mitch and I enjoyed helping track down the killer.

Why I read this: I love romantic suspense and have been wanting to read Ms. Brady's books (I won One Scream Away but haven't read it yet), so when I saw it was available for book tour I signed up.

How is the novel driven: It's romantic suspense, so it's plot/action driven and character driven, just the way I love it.

My thoughts: Right off I really liked the main characters, Dani and Mitch (how can I not like a man named Mitch - it's my husband's name). They have a history, but that history is 18 years in the past, but it was so much more than typical teenage puppy love so when you put them back together there are sparks, but first there are murders. Since it's romantic suspense, there has to be some form of suspense and I would say that Ms. Brady does a marvelous job with the suspense. She unpeels the layers of the suspense like an onion, slowly letting the reader know little bits and pieces about what is really going on. I would figure something out and be right, then figure something else out and be wrong. Lots of great red herrings and great suspense done in a way that does not frustrate, just makes you want to keep reading.

So to some it up - great romance, wonderful characters with some flaws, but who are perfect together and compliment each other well. Add to that a great suspense plot with enough twists and turns that keep you turning pages and you get a brilliant romantic suspense novel. I have Ms. Brady's first book, One Scream Away and it will be quickly making it's way to the top of my tbr pile.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0