Last Fires Burning

Sharyn Howard Mystery #7

by Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene

A Sharyn Howard Mystery

It's one week before the election in Diamond Springs when an old car rolls down Main Street with flames shooting out of it and a dead body in the backseat. A day later, a man is found dead on Diamond Mountain, trapped in a net that was supposed to help save wild animals trying to escape the fires in the Uwharrie Mountains. Both deaths look accidental. But both are murders. Sheriff Sharyn Howard is called a hero when a suspect is arrested quickly. The election is finally looking up for her. Unfortunately, the quick answer isn't always the right answer. When the sheriff goes looking for the truth, she gets more than she wants. And endangers someone she loves in the process.

AUTHOR BIO: Joyce and Jim Lavene have written more than forty-five novels together (including The Dowager Duchess, an AVALON Historical Romance), as well as a wide array of non-fiction articles and short stories. They are active in local and national writer's groups, where they lecture and give workshops on the craft of writing. They live in North Carolina with their three children, three grandchildren, and assorted pets.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

aka Elyssa Henry and Joye Ames, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant

Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene are a wife and husband team who have written and published more than 70 books since 1999. They live in North Carolina with their family and enjoy cooking, photography and ghost hunting.

Reviews

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not even say how much I loved this book. The Sherriff Sharyn Howard mysteries are so good. As usual, this does not disappoint. It really took a turn I was not expecting. It's quite sad knowing these mysteries died with Joyce Lavene.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is number 7 in the Sheriff Sharyn Howard cozy mystery series. This one kept me guessing as to who the killer was. I like this series. Most cozy mysteries have an amateur as the protagonist and have that person (usually female) dating a police officer of some sort. This series has a professional law enforcement officer and her department solving the crimes. That is a nice change. And each book builds your knowledge of the characters and their interactions with each other. I am so waiting on the book where Sharyn gets Jack Winter. I'm not saying anymore than that but I keep hoping the next book is the one. Maybe the next one,Glory's Last Victim, will be the one.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.