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The first cut is the deadliest.

Special Agent Emma Last is finally ready to confront the ‘Other’ side of her life—the part filled with ghosts that only she can see. However, her supernatural abilities must take a back seat as a real-world crisis demands her urgent attention.

Ghosts or not, the clock is ticking.

The D.C. Violent Crimes Unit joins forces with the Bureau’s Safe Streets Task Force to investigate a perplexing double homicide in the gritty underworld of gang territories. The crime scene bears an unusual signature—a bizarre, multi-bladed knife—suggesting a murder too peculiar and personal for a typical gang war. Besides, if the gangs wanted a war, they’ve had plenty of time to start one

.So why now?

As tensions simmer and the body count rises, a gifted but elusive graffiti artist seems pivotal to the investigation. But little does Emma know that unmasking the artist might unleash a torrent of danger, jeopardizing not just the case but also the lives of the entire team, with one member standing on the edge of a treacherous precipice.

Last Hour is the eighth book in the compelling new Emma Last FBI series by bestselling author Mary Stone. On the streets, there’s no rest for the wicked or the good.

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2024

1106 people are currently reading
179 people want to read

About the author

Mary Stone

225 books2,150 followers
To download my FREE BOOK, click here: https://authormarystone.com/free-book...

Nestled in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, Mary Stone has transformed her peaceful home, once bustling with her sons, into a creative haven. As her family grew, so did her writing career, evolving from childhood fears to a deep understanding of real-life villains. Her stories, centered around strong, unconventional heroines, weave themes of courage and intrigue.

Mary's journey from a solitary writer to establishing her own publishing house marks a significant evolution, showcasing her commitment to the literary world. Through her writing and publishing endeavors, she continues to captivate and inspire, honoring her lifelong fascination with the mysterious and the courageous.

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5 stars
1,819 (63%)
4 stars
748 (26%)
3 stars
251 (8%)
2 stars
39 (1%)
1 star
16 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Gracie Bustillos.
319 reviews6 followers
January 30, 2024
It is another suspense thriller. A definite page turner they will keep you at the edge of your seat. It is a must read. I’m ready for the next one.
Profile Image for Meghan.
3,402 reviews8 followers
March 10, 2024
Family is key. Emma is back and still healing from her grief, but back to her ability to work calmly and with her normal finesse on a case. This case has violence and gang wars, but it is not so clear case as Danae has a family secret that plays a pivotal role in the story. There are some great misleading moments that build the story and violence up more. The ending had some sad and bittersweet moments as well as some lovely moments showing the different type of families that one can have. Still not a fan of the Leo and Danae relationship, but that angle did create some interesting scenes in this story. Loved seeing Jacinda play that strict and good leader again, even if it wasn’t over Emma 😜 The ghosts were present and gave some better clues, though the danger and wolf from the Other is still quite unclear. Interested for the next case!
Profile Image for D.L..
182 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2024
Family-Gangs-Death

Special Agent Emma Last is finally getting back to her former self. She still misses Oren and tries to follow his advice by taking better care of herself. Will Emma see Oren again? Is Oren trying to help her with the Other?

Emma and her teammates at the D.C. Violent Crimes Unit have been asked to join the Bureau’s Safe Streets Task Force to help solve the gruesome murders of two gang members. They are concerned about a gang war but the way murders took place have them questioning whether it is gang related. Are the murders the beginning to a gang war or something else? Who is doing the killing and how? How many will die before the killer is caught?

One of the FBI agents is keeping a secret from their colleagues. How does this secret affect the team?

Last Hour deals with gangs, turf wars, and violence along with gangs identifying as families. Good people sometimes get involved with gangs because they do not see a way out. Last Hour also shows the destruction and death related to gangs. Heart breaking deaths occur in this book.
1,161 reviews27 followers
February 5, 2024
Another great ARC from Mary Stone in the Emma Last series. In this book Emma is ready to confront the other but first she must solve a very unusual murder. Two gang members are found dead in an opposing gangs territory but the method of death is very unusual. Then another person is found dead with the same unusual marks. Can Emma and her team find what is going on before a full fledge gang war breaks out. It seems that neither gang really understands who is committing the murders. Can the killer be found before a gang war really breaks out. Then can she get back to confronting the other
133 reviews2 followers
January 23, 2024
Emma is over her depression and it shows in her new investigation of the murders of two gang members. The crime is horrid and the consequences high. Through the drama of the violent crimes, strippers, drugs and fights, the questions comes: what is the family to you?!.. priorities?! I was so tense watch the killer, FBI, the victims and members of the team struggle with the loyalty and rules. The shocking acts at the end and Emma’s decision to continue to look into Other, make it a grand finale and wanting to read the next book right then.
Thank you for the thrilling and moving story.
Profile Image for Sue Sandifer.
139 reviews2 followers
January 23, 2024
Emma and her team are called to solve a crime of a couple of gang members are found dead. Since their bodies are discovered in a different gang part of town,it seems obvious who is guilty, but they all deny doing it.. investigating in this part of town can get dicey. One of Emma’s team appears to have a distant connection to these crimes. Lots of intrigue and mysteries to uncover. You gotta read this one !
Profile Image for Becky .
599 reviews16 followers
January 24, 2024
It is nice to see that Emma seems to be coming out of her deep grief and is taking Oren's ghostly advice, doing yoga, and exercising as well as eating better. Then Jacinda calls the team in with a new problem, gang violence, particularly nasty murders.
Emma also seems to be willing to embrace her experiences with The Other and isn't as frightened.
It's a good story filled with great characters.
Profile Image for Joyce Westmoreland.
186 reviews16 followers
February 23, 2024
Last Hour

Last Hour is an amazing book. Little Chip is determined to cause a gang war. The Drivers and The Powders have been living peacefully too long. Murders are taking place and Little Chip is responsible. Snake is a driver involved with Little Chips sister so he’s got to die. Emma Last has got to stop these murders. This book is intense and full of surprises. Mary Stone never lets us down. I loved this book.
Profile Image for Susan Clair Holt.
1,365 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2024
Last Hour

Mayhem and murder! There's a gang war heading their way and Denae is trying to stay away from it. Her brother was forced into the Drivers when he was 10. She wasn't sure he had returned to DC but found he is the target of a killer with the Powders. Denae ends up suspended but her brother survives and the murderer is caught thanks to her actions. Great story, lifelike descriptions.
154 reviews
January 23, 2024
WOW! Unbelievable thriller!
With a monster of a killer targeting gang members Emma Last and her FBI team are taxed with solving these horrific murders. Mary Stone’s writing makes this book a page turner from the get go.
The pace keeps accelerating with heart stopping action!
Cannot wait for the next in this series especially with that cliffhanger!
Profile Image for Margarita Rose.
1,184 reviews11 followers
January 25, 2024
Emma is doing better with mourning Oren. I really liked him. What is in store for us this time is a phenomenal read. Gangs, murder, and mayhem. Who is killing gang members and why? Can they come to a conclusion before more people are murdered? Will Emma's partners get over their friction? So much to learn and read. Get at it!
Profile Image for Dawn.
378 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2024
Enjoyed this cat and mouse novel about rival gangs and mistakes of "family". Still grieving the lost of her boyfriend and with a little help from "the Other" and her FBI teammates, Emma takes on a new dangerous case where gang is pitted against gang in the city. The body count is high, the action intense and the ending bittersweet. A good read any day of the week! 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
276 reviews
January 25, 2024
good book!!

Wow! This is a wild ride of an edge of your seat, page turner! Someone is slicing and murdering their own gang members and blaming the other gang. Beautiful gang tags are everywhere and it turns out at the artist is one of the FBI members brother. Someone is trying to kill him on the twist and turns come hang on.!
1,149 reviews7 followers
January 29, 2024
Boring Mess

Gang violence, star crossed lovers , rogue agents and the occasional ghost all play a part in this tiresome outing. Too much woke philosophy and sympathy for the devils. Yes drug dealing, vicious gang bangers are people too. Unsatisfactory ending underscoring that the lives involved just don't matter. Disappointing all around.
171 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2024
Emma Last finally seems to be recovering from the loss of her boyfriend and is soon assigned to a case where 2 gang members are brutally murdered.
It comes as a big surprise to Emma that one of her own crew may have some kind of a tie to one of the gangs.
This is another great book, full of suspense and mystery, and I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Terry Johnson.
30 reviews8 followers
February 3, 2024
Lost interest at 16% read

I began this series with high hopes. With each sequel I lost more interest. The Other was never developed. It was neither mysterious nor interesting. Reading the ingredients list for Jello is more frightening. And I have been a Mary Stone for a long time. She has written some great books and series, with well developed characters. But not this time.
16 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2024
Great read with a fast pace

Mary Stone once again brought a fictional story to life. I loved the way she made me care about gang members and explained how it wasn't a choice for most of them. She brought the conflict of family and reality to the table from multiple sides and made made care. Bravo Ms. Stone! Can't wait to see where Emma goes from here.
249 reviews3 followers
March 22, 2024
Brutal

"Last Hour" is brutal. Grace is an example of how child abuse can form an adult. Sad. Gangs because of broken blood familes. The broken people in the gangs who become "family". Mary Stone did some excellent research. The scenes in this book are all to real depiction of inner city life. Sadly brutal.
Profile Image for Patricia A. Biba.
397 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2024
Gangs

Interesting story. Gangs have been around for years. The reasons for some of them are to protect their family and friends. I'm this story it seemed that they were trying to keep both groups safe except for one individual who wanted the gains to be like before the rivals were in agreement. What a mess/war between them was created. Good reading.
Profile Image for Emily  Siler.
85 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2024
As brutal as this story was, i did find it was not my favorite storyline in the series. It was nice to see Emma back to her old self, even following the rules. Throughout this series I have felt empathy for very few “villains”, this one included. Even though the killers anger was misplaced, it was understandable.
Profile Image for Sue Palmer Crosby.
235 reviews
January 21, 2024
Emma and crew are asked by the local Task Force to help with a gang issue. Someone has just taken out two gang members violently by slashing them up. Now as they try to find the unsub before someone else gets slashed, another member of the team reveals disturbing information. A nail biter.
137 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2024
ANOTHER GREAT READ IN THIS SERIES. THE STORYLINE IS ORIGINAL AND GRABS YOU AND WON'T LET GO TILL THE END. PLENTY OF TWISTS AND TURNS TO KEEP YOU TURNING PAGES TILL THE END. WELL WRITTEN WITH GREAT CHARACTERS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THE OTHERS IN THE SERIES.

Profile Image for Mary Mitchell.
1,021 reviews9 followers
January 26, 2024
Wow

Holy cow that was a wild book. There was so much action, mystery, drama , pain and love in this story. I truly enjoyed getting to learn more about Denae and her background. Must read
5 reviews
January 27, 2024
Last Hour (Emma Last FBI Mystery Series Book 8)

Exciting jaw dropping story. Hard to put down. Entertaining, keeps the suspense growing until the last. Can't wait for next book in series.
737 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2024
This was a great story about Emma and team hunting down who is killing gang members and killing them and why. This story had lots of suspense and action with Emma and team tracking down who is doing it. Thank you.
280 reviews
February 2, 2024
Gang Problems

Ms Stone does it again. A thrilling book about gangs and how they get control. The realistic character’s stories about life on the streets for both the gang members, their families, and the officers and agents that try to keep them under control is heartbreaking.
472 reviews1 follower
February 5, 2024
Family

Stone's book makes the reader understand that family has many definitions. Unfortunately, society may not accept some. This book is full of loss, and Emma Last is dealing with all of them.
234 reviews
February 13, 2024
Fantastic read

Mary Stone is a great story teller. I have read all of her books, most twice and have never been disappointed. She always leaves me on pins and needles waiting for the next book to come out. Thank you Mary.
678 reviews3 followers
October 27, 2024
Family

A gang war was brewing and the FBI along with task force on gangs was getting ready. The first attack killed two young men in a hideous way. The unsubscribe was escalating at a rapid pace and the number of dead was increasing.
49 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2025
So much going I'm

How the author comes up with these story lines is something else. It is a wonder Emma hasn't lost her mind with al! That is happening in. Can't wait for the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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