Her Last Breath

by Stacy Claflin

I thought I was chasing a mystery. Instead, I walked into a nightmare.

As a true crime podcaster, moving into the notorious "murder house" felt like the ultimate scoop. I returned to my quiet hometown, desperate for answers and a story that could launch my career. My goal? To uncover the truth behind the brutal death of Caroline, a young wife. But each new clue drags me deeper into a deadly web of secrets this town is desperate to keep hidden.

A missing locket. Hostile neighbors. Whispers of a sinister cult.

The more I dig, the more I realize the nightmare isn't just about Caroline—it's personal. My sister's past is tangled in this dark mystery, and someone is watching my every step. As I navigate treacherous lies and unexpected allies, I can't shake the feeling that someone close to me knows more than they're letting on.

Now, with danger closing in, I have to how far will I go for the truth? Because in this town, asking questions could lead to my last breath.

Her Last Breath is the first book in a spine-tingling, unputdownable psychological thriller trilogy that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Genres: Mystery, Ebooks, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

Stacy Claflin writes about complex women overcoming incredible odds. Whether it's her Gone trilogy of psychological thrillers, her ongoing Transformed paranormal saga, or her Seaside Hunters sweet romance series, Stacy's three-dimensional heroines shine through.

Decades after she wrote her first stories on construction paper and years after typing on an inherited green screen computer that weighed half a ton, Stacy realized her dream of becoming a full-time author.

When she's not busy writing or educating her kids from home, Stacy enjoys watching TV shows like Supernatural, Pretty Little Liars, and Once Upon a Time.

Join Stacy's newsletter to get free books: http://stacyclaflin.com/newsletter/

Reviews

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fleur Bardot’s sister, Lourdes, went missing fifteen years ago and is still missing. That tragedy has shaped Fleur’s career as a true crime podcaster. A cold case of a murdered wife and missing husband in her town draws her back home. A twisted story with a ‘watcher’, a locked room, and a cult church with no one willing to talk to her about the murder, Fleur only has her determination to find out what really happened. Thank you to the Author, Stacy Claflin for an early copy of this menacing, but enjoyable read. This review is my personal opinion.

[Becky Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. A good mystery that keeps you enthralled. Unfortunately not all questions were answered and I have to wait until I get the next book and probably the one after that.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

No One to Trust . . .

The Watcher lurks in the dark shadows of the evening, watching for “her”. He put so much time into his plan, but a stranger in high heels pulls into the driveway and steps out of the car. It isn’t her! And his anger rises as this woman is destroying his plans. Why is this woman here? She is ruining everything! But then he realizes she has put a “Sold” banner across the For Sale sign… his “flower” will be moving in soon, made sure of that, and he will make her his at last!

With this build-up, the reader is aware of the danger waiting for Fleur Bardot as she leaves her ex Ian, and all his failed promises and lies, far behind her as she begins her new life. Good riddance to him! And now she is ready to move into her house back in her hometown. How could she ever turn down such an amazing bargain of a fully furnished house selling at half its market value? Satisfied with her purchase, she gives herself a pat on the back that this “true crime podcaster” she has become is not afraid to move into a murder house! She intends to uncover what really happened to the young woman, Caroline, who was brutally murdered here and whose husband disappeared. No one in the town feels friendly here. No one welcomes her. Why does it feel like someone is constantly watching her every move? And what happens when she learns the truth?

The author does an outstanding job of jumping right into the tension and setting the scene for what our imaginations tell us is coming! The characters feel real and we are already emotionally involved. Hang onto your seat and be prepared to find out what happened, and whether Fleur will make it out of there alive!

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, if you have been reading Stacy Claflin's books for as many years as I have, you have to be as excited as I am after reading this book. I have enjoyed all her books because you can never see where they are going. When I finished this book, I felt like I was way back when I read her first series, at least to me, of " Gone." That series caught me and made me a loyal fan. Now I'm holding my breath again and hoping I don't have to wait long for the next book in the series.
This is a whole new cast of characters, with no carry over of characters from other series, at least so far. I enjoy meeting a new cast, so I get attached to at least one person. In this book, it is Fleur. She has a very strong personality and doesn't let anyone push her around. Of course, you have characters that just touch you the wrong way. For me, this is Emmett. I'm not really even sure what it is about him that hits me the wrong way, but I feel like he is hiding something. I would encourage you to get this book now, so you can start right at the beginning of the series. This allows you to get to know the characters and know the background, so you get all the excitement of watching the story unfold. Another hit! Ms. Claflin!

[Janejellyroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

It takes a lot of deftness and skill to write a first person narrative where the MC doesn't disclose relevant information to the reader in order to create a third act surprise . . . Claflin has written a lot of books, but she doesn't show that deftness here. It simply doesn't work when Fleur spends most of the book thinking about Shane as if she doesn't know him when really he's the long lost love of her life .

Fleur is a true crime podcaster, spurred to investigate cold cases because her sister vanishes when they were teenagers and has never been found. Following a bad breakup, she moves back to her hometown. She has purchased a house belonging to a murder victim whose husband, Shane, vanished. He's presumed by many to have killed her, but Fleur has an open mind. Somewhat improbably, the families of the couple have no interest in claiming their possessions so she not only has a house but all their stuff, just as they left it. She presumes this information will help her solve the case and doesn't bother to do any investigation other than hounding some of the neighbors for information and making a single trip to the police station in the hopes they'll give her all the files from their investigation. She quickly realizes that 1) the neighbors are very hostile to her presence and 2) the town is dominated by a weird cult that is all tied up in the lives of the murdered woman and her husband.

There's also chapters from the POV of "the watcher," a threatening presence in the neighborhood who knows too much about the murder and the disappearance of Fleur's sister and has plans for Fleur. I don't understand the point of this character's identify being obscured because you will know immediately who is is

This is the first book in a trilogy. While it doesn't end on a cliffhanger exactly, we don't get a real resolution to the central mystery and the identify of the cult's leaders is still obscured I'm not going to continue the series, but I would bet a round of drinks that Fleur's missing sister is the woman leading the cult . The "mystery" isn't very engaging and the explanation of why the entire town is controlled by this cult that doesn't even want to recruit anyone doesn't make sense (how did the entire town join if they don't want anyone joining?).

Fleur's personality is offputting. I don't mind an offputting MC, but here it's just bizarre. First, she's keeping a major secret from the reader for most of the book and there's no clear explanation as to why this is other than the author wanting it to be a surprise. This leads to some odd scenes. She finds a picture of the supposed love of her life/the main suspect in the death of his wife kissing her sister and is all like "Huh, this is surprising, I didn't know there was a connection between the suspect in this case and my sister" because the author doesn't want the reader to know that she was involved with him yet. Given what we know about her sister's tendency for seducing guys close to her friends, her reaction to learning her sister also betrayed her should have been way different. She's childish -- she spends most of the book in a snit with her best friend because she finds out her friend made another "best friend." Girl, you're an adult. This is middle school drama. She's not too bright. She finds out that the town is controlled by a cult, the cult is aware she's investigating a murder with deep connections to them (because she's podcasting her investigation), that the cult is deeply wary of outsiders, and that the cult members know she is hostile to them and their interests . . . and her reaction is to try to infiltrate the cult? In what universe would that work? They know exactly who she is and what she's trying to do and she thinks a bit of "I'm lost and aimless and want some religious direction" will work? We're told that she cracked several cold cases in the past and I'm like "How?!?" because her investigative technique is no more than going through someone's stuff and then asking their acquaintances heavy-handed questions about them. Were these cold cases based on stuff left in their home office for her to sort through?

"There’s no dried blood or any other indication of how Caroline’s life was taken—that was another detail left out of the online reports."

Okay, then make an FOIA request? Who tries to solve a murder just based on what they can find already published online? What is the point of even trying to solve a murder if you don't know how the person died or any details about the crime at all other than that they are dead?

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely rate a book one star. I usually compare them to Twilight to see how awful they are. This is almost as bad.

The only thing unpredictable about this book is how predictable it is given the reviews here. I was expecting a deep psychological thriller but I didn’t get it. Nothing surprising happens. I can’t even describe how unbelievably dumb the ending is without giving it away but I don’t know what twists anyone is talking about. Only someone who has never read a thriller would be surprised. It’s not even scary. I listened to it in a dark room late at night when neither of the other two women in the home were up. I was so disappointed.

There were so many ridiculous things like, it takes seven years or whatever to declare someone dead. How can they legally sell the house of a missing man? Only the wife’s body was found. Also, real estate agent absolutely has to look in every room. She did show the house to at least one family who she suspected was only interested because of the murder. They would want to see the murder room. She would have to show it. Actually, in order to do that, before she shows it she would probably go in there first or at an earlier date to make sure there wasn’t something awful about the house like kids got in and left beer cans around.

The prose was really repetitive. This was short but it could have been shorter. It’s apparently a trilogy with semi-cliffhangers; I think it should have been one shorter book. I knew over and over what the cult thought of women. I knew over and over what Fleur’s initial theory about Shane was. Her podcast was so repetitive with very little information, I don’t know why she’d have listeners.

Claflin doesn’t know when to make a pregnant pause and start a new chapter or at least a new section in one. For example she ends a chapter with something like, “He whipped out a credit card and gave it to the waiter saying he would pay for both of our meals.” Which was completed expected and dull. The author needed something that would make the book unable to put down. It was pretty easy to do so and go do something else. I kept wanting her to shut up. Maybe it was how it was read. See below. But I don’t think so. I even put it on slow speed to see if there were pregnant pauses but alas no.

Fleur is TSTL. She believes the dumbest stuff. She trusts the least trustworthy people. I need to stop. I’m being as repetitive as the author was. This is a cliffhanger—only part of the mystery is solved—but I just don’t care. I will not be reading further.

I was so surprised to find that Jon Solo was one of the two narrators. I listen mostly to M/M Romance. I often try to find other books my favorite readers narrated and almost always they only narrate gay romance. The only non-M/M Romance books I read are cozy mysteries almost exclusively narrated by women. So what are the odds that the first book not M/M that I read in years is one of the gay romance readers I recognize? How weird. In a creepy book. Huh. :) He was pretty good though. I was really drawn to him because of how mediocre the other reader was.

The female narrator, Jennifer Walden, said almost everything in the same voice, even the narration. Only men had a slight difference a few times but they were very inconsistent like sounding southern US at times, then at others, a standard sort of voice only a little different than hers, then one that sounded exactly like the reader’s own. Her speech was odd sometimes, too. Like she says “maple bar” with the emphasis on the second word. I was happy enough with her, though, until she met the first person. Sigh.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧🎙Just who isn't against her?!🤔

4-4.5 🌟
I found this newest offering from a favorite suspense author really easy to follow and I liked the way Claflin used the switching point of views to keep me in suspense about the bad guys. Claflin sets a background of a small Washington State town that's been taken over by the members and hierarchy of a recently-established church with iron control over its members. In this atmosphere, housewife Caroline was murdered and her husband Shane disappeared yet two years have passed and no one seems to want to get to the bottom of things. Enter real crime podcaster Fleur, once a resident of the town, who's back to investigate and break the case wide open.

Fleur is a bit brittle, sceptical and undeterred by the open hostility against her. Actually exactly what is needed. She's got a second reason for returning to town and, while the mystery involving Caroline and her husband is resolved, Fleur's second mission and the ominous feel of the town remain for future stories in the series. Yes, there were twists and surprises and occasional flashbacks to Caroline's last days ended with, what I thought, was the biggest shocker.

Good suspenseful, quick read.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

True crime podcaster Fleur Bardot has moved cross country to her hometown in hopes of solving a local murder. Instead of the welcome she expected from her new neighbors, Fleur discovers that she has instead moved into a hostile environment. Getting information those who knew the victim is going to make her investigation more difficult than she anticipated.

Somebody is watching her closely. Members of the local church are unwelcoming. She does not know who she can trust. Is there anyone she can turn to for help?

I found that I was rapidly turning pages as the suspense heightened in
hopes that Fleur would find the clues needed to unravel this mystery. I would think I had figured things out – just for the author to throw in something to throw me off track.

Ms. Claflin spins a thrilling tale. But do be prepared for the cliffhanger ending that will make you want to read the next book in this series.

I received a copy of Her Last Breath from the author with no promise requested or made of a positive review. However, I have enjoyed many of her other books and this one is no exception.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fleur Bardot is a true crime podcaster.
She started it after her sister was killed.
Now, 15 years later, she returns to her hometown to look
into the crime of a wife who was killed a couple years earlier,
and her husband has disappered.
She moves into the couples home and sets her podcast from there.

Pro's:
Developed characters, and a good story line.

Con's:
I'm not sure I really like the protagonist in this one.
She calls off a lifetime friendship with her once best friend
all because she hadn't mentioned she had become friends
with the murdered woman during the many years Fleur was
away across the country.
She wasn't very nice about it either.
This leaves me to believe that Fleur is pretty shallow, and self centered.

I'll read at least the next book in this series to see how it goes.

[erika bairefield bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an interesting read! The main character, Fleur, lost her sister as a teenager, and her sister’s disappearance is still unsolved. Of course this has a ripple effect on her life, and as an adult, Fleur becomes a True Crime Podcaster to help families like her own. This leads Fleur on a wild ride to solve a murder in her hometown, and the book ends on a great cliffhanger that makes you want to read the next book!! The only issue I had was with the relationship between her and her bff, Mia. That storyline seemed a little off to me, but it could be resolved in the coming books. Overall, a great page turner and I cannot wait for the next book!!!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an extremely great start into a new series. Fleur moves back into her home town, leaving her cheating fiancé in New York. She's a famous true crime podcaster who solves cold cases. That's why she bought a murder house to live in. Caroline was murdered 2 years ago and her husband Shane was either hiding or dead as well. Some mysteries to solve there plus her sister Lourdes was killed 15 years ago and her killer is still walking around.

The story was captivating and a bit confusing. When I thought I knew where it's going BAM a twist you won't have seen coming. I loved it and hope I can go on reading the second book soon because I'm addicted.

[Carol Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleur Bardot is a true crime podcaster who has gone home to solve a murder. Moving back isn't going as she'd hoped. People, even those at church, are not warm and welcoming. How should she crack this case if she can't make any headway? Was moving into a prior crime scene such a good idea? There's so much suspense and some twists to this story. As I often find with this author, I didn't want to put this book down. I can not wait for the next book in this series. This book was just what I needed.

My copy is an ARC. A positive review is never required; my review contains what I think about this story.

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is difficult for Fleur. She lost her older sister and things have never been the same. That resulted in the twists and turns that are her life now. Being a podcaster in this town is a very dangerous place to put yourself, and yet she did. Tracking down a murder is even more dangerous - and this town makes it worse.

The twists and turns will keep you going, but you will certainly wonder who is Fleur really? Her actions are always quite reserved which you expected, but there is something more. There is not a cliff hangar at the end but there is a lot left unsaid - hence the trilogy.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Last Breath - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

True life podcaster Fleur Bardot moves back to her hometown, into a house where at least one person has previously been murdered and another is still missing.
Be aware that this is a twisty tale, with flashbacks and multiple narrators, plus Fleur's podcast texts, that swiftly ramp the tension up to breaking point...
and a slightly annoying cliff-hanger ending.
Get your copy of Her Last Breath when it hits bookstores and make sure you lock all your windows and doors if you read it after dark!

[April Flach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well written and quite suspenseful. I enjoyed the story, although with multiple narrators, it did get a little confusing at times trying to keep up with who was telling the story. I feel like it would have flowed better if it was written in third person. With a twist at the end I didn't see coming, and a whopper of a cliffhanger ending, along with the overall mystery of the missing sister, I am definitely looking forward to the next book.

I received a free ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

PODCASTER
Bringing the Lost Home


Fleur has returned to her hometown and bought a murder house. She is determined to find out who killed Caroline. Beware of overly friendly strangers.

I loved the podcast scenes as she tells her listeners her progress. She has guilt, trust issues and sorrow.

I loved all the intrigue, suspense, coercion, deception and revenge that make up this story. The characters are easy to follow as she titles each chapter.
I look forward to the next book.

I received this ARC from Stacy Claflin in exchange for my honest review.

30 Sep 24 (SC)

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Last Breath is book #1 in The Watcher series by Stacy Claflin.

Fleur is a true crime podcaster. She moves back to her hometown to move into a “murder house” which is the subject of her latest podcasts. As she investigates, she can’t escape her own past. Who can she trust? This was quite the roller coaster ride! I couldn’t put it down. There were several surprises but the ending blew me away! I can’t wait for the next book!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fleur returns to her hometown as a crime podcaster determined to solve the case of the death of a woman and disappearance of her husband. She has a strong personality, is determined, but at the same time has a lot of vulnerabilities. She's being stalked, everyone she takes as "friends" have kept secrets from her and the town is domineered by a cult. She also is trying to solve her sister's case and not everything seems as it should have been. Full of mystery, angst, twists and turns, Her Last Breath will keep you entertained and guessing what will come next!
I thank the author for this ARC.

[Kathy Brenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept you wondering right from the first page.

After being gone from her home town for many years, Fleur Bardot (a true crime podcaster)has returned to solve a two year old unsolved murder. She buys the murder house, knowing that it is fully furnished and full of the murdered woman's and her missing husband's personal things.

She finds out many things including a possible lead to the mystery of her own sister's disappearance fifteen years earlier.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, my negative or con first - lots of repeating of a few things throughout the chapters. (what Ian did, how many years etc).

Now on to the positives - the characters are engaging and keep your attention, of course the mystery keeps you turning the pages - even after you find out the villain. The secrets are never ending - holy cow!
As for the ending (not really) will leave you counting down til the next book.

[Tonya Bryant Gillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a masterpiece! This book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout it.

Fleur is one strong woman! She moves into the house where Caroline was supposedly murdered. The main suspect her husband Shane. But Shane is no where to be found. Fleur runs a podcast and helps people find their missing loved ones and helps solve cases. But to move into the house where the murder happened. Wow. Just wow!!

I could not put this book down. Kept my heart racing.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleur has really opened up a can of worms by coming back to her hometown. Is there anyone she can trust when even the police department is compromised?
There are some serious twists and turns in this, which fans of Stacy Claflin will know to expect. This is a great start to a new series. I really look forward to the next book.

I received a free Advance Reader Copy of Her Last Breath through BookFunnel and have chosen to leave a review.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleur is a true crime podcaster and decides that it is time to return home and moves into the towns murder house and that when her nightmare really begins! It’s a thrilling mystery brimming with suspense and twists and turns that make you jump and holds you to the edge of your seat the whole read! The author does an incredible job of luring you in with the danger, the drama, the secrets and had me captivated and enthralled from start to finish. Absolutely loved it!

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solving the puzzle

When a true crime podcaster turns to a case in her hometown, she finds far more than she bargained for. Twists and turns and surprises will have you on the edge of your seat. Although this book does resolve the primary issue of what happened to Caroline, you are left with threads going off in a number of directions and a promise that book two will help clarify some of those issues. And I believe there is a book three as well, so lots of meat for you to chew!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I was drawn in from the first page. It is about a true crime pod caster setting out to solve a two year old cold murder case in her old ho!e town. The main character Fleur is determined to bring justice for the victim no matter what. It is a fast paced book that will have you up late to finish it !

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleur moves into a house where a murder took place. It would be good for her crime podcast. Things get stranger and stranger as people avoid her or become overly friendly. She comes across information that the previous owners were part of a deadly cult. Where is the husband of the murdered woman and who can she trust? Love the twists.

[Denise Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your storyline is about a true crime Podcaster who buys and moves into the "murder" house of a cold case, you expect the storyline to be filled with secrets, lies, mystery, and drama. Well, Stacy delivered it all in this nice little mystery novel! She had me intrigued and invested in the storyline from page one! Can't wait for the next installment!

[Maryann Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

fast reading and holds your attention

I was surprised that this was a shorter book. I generally like them longer so I can enjoy them longer, ha ha. But am ordering the sequel now so I can see what happens next! I’ve been thinking of listening to podcasts and after reading this I think I will. Very much liked the characters.

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfinished

This book leaves so many questions unfinished plus some answers we do get, are twisted and not really explained. I just thought the original premis was good but the got more and more unreal as it went along. If I have to read the following book to make sense of the first, then I really don’t like the authors style.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good grief, how can this get anymore tense, frightening, or jaw-dropping? We are not allowed even one breath as page after page the danger increases but Fleur stands strong. I am having a breakdown waiting for the next installment. Highly Recommended.