The Last Stop

by Michael Loyd Gray

Ten years ago, Art Millage, the wry police chief for the small town of Argus, took a life in the line of duty. Now, as he eases toward retirement with his wife, he is suddenly thrown into a manhunt and once again faces that difficult choice of having to take a life. And this time, it involves hunting down the vengeful son of the man he shot those many years ago.

186 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2024

Reviews

[PB Solien · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Last Stop" by Michael Loyd Gray is a compelling crime novel that explores the toll of a career in law enforcement on Police Chief Art Millage.

Art has been the police chief of the small town of Argus for 15 years. But he's at a crossroads, weary of the job and the burdens of daily wearing his uniform and gun, and he's contemplating retirement when a young man, Nathan Bedford, arrives in town, dredging up a painful incident from Art's early days as chief. Years ago, Art was forced to shoot and kill Bedford's father.

Gray excels at depicting the rhythms and relationships of small-town life. His characters feel authentic, and he has a keen ear for dialogue. While there are elements of suspense as Bedford's motivations remain unclear, this is not a fast-paced thriller. The plot unfolds gradually, mirroring Art's own reluctance to confront the demons of his past, but keep in mind that patient readers will be rewarded by a climactic confrontation. There are no easy resolutions in "The Last Stop."

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book I was expecting a police procedural and while that's not what I got, it is still a delightful story. There are elements of a police procedural since the main character is the police chief of a small town in Illinois. But it is mainly the story of one man's journey to find peace and redemption in the last days of his law enforcement career.

The story is primarily character-driven and the insight afforded into the process of growth and development each character undergoes is examined in detail, but not so much detail that the story becomes bogged down. I think my favorite character is Maggie. She's an 80-year-old woman that Art develops a familial relationship with and she is full of spunk.

I recommend this book for people who are looking for an in-depth story, with a good balance of introspection and action. I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this review is my honest opinion.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this might be another small town police procedural period piece but it really was a lot more. Even though the story is set in the 80s, it could easily have been a contemporary piece from any era. The story of Art Millage, police chief of a small town in Illinois, explores a series of timeless questions - when do you leave a long-standing position, how do you leave the position but not the town, and who will you be when you are no longer in that job?

I think the author has another book set in this location - I think my TBR pile just got a new member!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Blake Hoena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't the first book I've read by Michael Loyd Gray, and with his ability to spin a tale, it won't be the last. It's also not the first book set in his fictional small town of Argus that I'm come across.

The Last Stop is a crime novel, the story of a manhunt and a vengeful son, but at its heart, it is a character drama detailing Art Millage's final duty as police chief and protector of the small town of Argus.

[Jacqueline Bertot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very enjoyable read. This is the first book I have read by Michael Gray. It was a good twist on an all too familiar story. This author will be added to my crime novel reading list. You have found a new fan. Highly Recommended.

[FS Book Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

At its core, The Last Stop is a thoughtful, character-driven crime novel that explores themes of duty, mortality, and identity. It follows Art Millage, who's at the tail-end of his career as police chief of small-town Argus, as he grapples with his past and contemplates retirement.

And before he can step down and pass his duty of being a protector to someone else, he's confronted by ghosts from his past, which sets him on a path toward a deadly confrontation.