One Final Breath: A psychological thriller novella

by Carol Gulliford

One Final Breath is a short story about love and betrayal by the author of Behind the Lies.

Everybody loves Alice. Or do they?
When a threatening letter arrives, Alice needs the support of her loved ones.
But do they all have her best interests at heart?
Or could someone wish her harm?
One is possessive.
One is Jealous.
One is obsessive.
One is watching her.
But who wants her dead?

100 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2025

About the author

Carol Gulliford writes psychological thrillers full of suspense. Her character-driven stories keep readers wanting to read just one more chapter.

She is an avid reader of mystery and suspense and lives in the south of England with her son and partner.

Her debut novel, Behind the Lies, was released in 2024 and is now available as an audiobook.

Carol's other books:
One Final Breath (a quick read thriller novella)
Out of the Dark (a taut, emotional thriller)
A Price to Pay (a suspense-filled crime thriller)

Carol also has a children's picture book called The Popcorn Factory, aimed at ages 1-6.

Connect with Carol:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
https://www.instagram.com/carolgullif...
https://www.tiktok.com/@carolgullifor...

Reviews

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Manipulation at its finest

Seeking attention doesn’t always get good results, as all attention is not good attention. This one definitely drew me in from the prologue and immediately peaked my interest. I enjoyed the multiple POVs in the story, from Alice, Brad, Cathy, and Sally. Hearing their thoughts on the events occurring in first person truly added value to the story. The story dives into manipulation and truly has some characters with some narcissistic behavior traits. Really enjoyed this story and looking forward to more from Carol Gulliford.

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE FINAL BREATH BY CAROL GULLIFORD.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Oh I loved this novella it was so suspenseful and fast paced throughout.
Sat and read it in one sitting early morning.
There's a twist I did not see coming at all.
This is my first book by Carol and it will deffo not be my last.

[R L HERSKOWITZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced psychological thriller.
I didn’t know some of the words and phrases because it’s written by a British author.
I read it last night/early this morning.
It’s a novella.
Great premise!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice has it all: a loving boyfriend, a fantastic best friend, and a nice place to live. However, she soon begins to receive threatening letters telling her that her time is almost up. As the mystery unfolds around her, lives are tangled up in the trap set by the mysterious writer. Who could possibly want to hurt her and why?

The novella is a bust of energy that propels you from the first to the last page. Everyone is a suspect and yet there seems to be no way to get to the bottom of it all. Someone knows the truth, but how far will they go?

The writing is full of life and the characters jump off the page. This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I cannot wait to read more!

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that doesn't really have many likeable characters so I decided that they probably deserved whatever they got, but unfortunately one of them gets away with being the nasty person they are. That being said, I enjoyed this novella and didn't know who the true culprit was until the very end.

[Emzbookstagram · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a novella this book felt like a novel! There were so many turns and it was so entertaining to read. I feel like novellas often feel rushed but this one was thought out clearly. There were a few spelling errors but I still enjoyed it anyway

[Miss T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this thriller. It was a fun read with intrigue and lots of suspense! Amazing!

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One Final Breath” by Carol Gulliford is a gripping, suspense-filled mystery that's a quick read. The intricate plot builds tension with every page, leading to a shocking twist that you won’t see coming. A thrilling who-done-it that will leave you thinking long after the last page.

[CHRIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Didn't see the twist coming at all! Loved it.

[Cheyenne Joy Mijdam · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One Final Breath by Carol Gulliford

First of all—thank you for this ARC and for dragging me straight into a manipulative little nightmare I clearly signed up for without reading the emotional fine print.

This book is short. Fast. No time to breathe, no time to think—just vibes and bad decisions. I tore through it like a slightly unhinged gremlin running on caffeine and poor life choices. Blink and you’re halfway through, wondering when exactly your morals quietly left the building.

And the feeling? Yeah… that uncomfortable “I’m way too invested in this mess” kind of immersion. I was there. Fully. Judging people, defending people, wanting to hug some and absolutely square up with others. At one point I was mentally tracking everyone like I was about to solve the crime myself. Healthy? No. Entertaining? Very.

Was it surprising? Not really. But here’s the thing—sometimes you see the chaos coming and still walk straight into it. And honestly? I had a great time doing exactly that.

This story plays dirty. It pokes at that question you don’t really want to answer: how far would you go for someone? And at what point do you just… casually toss your moral compass into the nearest bin and pretend you never owned one? Because someone in this book definitely does. And the “unintentional” deaths? Convenient. Suspiciously convenient. Make of that what you will.

I could say more, but I refuse to become one of those people who ruins the ride. I suffer through emotional damage, and you will too. Fair is fair.

Four stars—not because it held back, but because I’ve read things that emotionally wrecked me harder. This one? It twisted me, didn’t destroy me. There’s a difference.

If you’re in the mood for something quick, manipulative, and just a little morally unhinged—this is it. A bite-sized spiral into bad choices and worse people.

So yeah. Grab a blanket, get comfortable, and let this quietly mess with your head for a night. Sleep well after… if you can.

[Samara Hepplewhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ ARC Review

This was such an engaging read — beautifully written with a storyline that pulled me in right from the start. The flow was smooth, the pacing spot on, and the overall execution really well done.

The twists were a highlight for me. They were smart, surprising, and added so much tension to the plot. By the time I reached the final pages, I was left thinking, wait… what just happened? — but in that satisfying, deliberately disorienting way that good twisty books deliver.

A captivating, clever story that left me impressed and wanting to talk about it afterwards. A strong 4.5 stars.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Final Breath by Carol Gulliford is a suspenseful and twisty short story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The mystery surrounding Alice and the people closest to her is so well written—it’s impossible to know who to trust. Each character brings a different shade of danger, and the tension builds beautifully as secrets unravel. Gulliford does a fantastic job packing emotion, suspense, and betrayal into a short read. I couldn’t put it down!

[Kristina Blose · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Final Breath is an immersive, page turning read that pulled me in from the start and didn’t let go. The story flows at just the right pace but also gives enough detail to fully feel the atmosphere and tension.

What I enjoyed most was how effortlessly the book kept me engaged. Each chapter built on the last making it hard to put down. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the ending completely caught me off guard in the best way.

[Karalee Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella had me guessing until the end. Personally, I love short chapters. This book was just the right length for a quick read. Full of deception, posession, romance, jealousy… and murder. Who is sending these mysterious and threatening letters to Alice? Why? You think you know, but do you? Enjoy!

[Sara Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisty, mysterious and fast paced! Highly recommend

Twisty, mysterious and fast paced! Highly recommend. The ending was very unpredictable in a good way! Read this novella within a day.

[Tina Transformation · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Final Breath draws you into Alice’s crumbling world with razor-sharp tension and a creeping sense of dread. Every character has a secret, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, Gulliford shifts the ground beneath you. A gripping, clever novella.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this novella - a nice shirt read but packed with twists and turns!

[J.C. Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This twisty novella kept me turning pages. I devoured this in one day! I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong.

[John Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novella while traveling... a quick fast-paced read. I liked the use of three POVs and found it well written.

[Dawn Sycamore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book from this author that I have read. I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t put it down! It was a novella, but despite being shorter than a novel , it had suspense and intrigue. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in this genre. I will be reading Behind The Lies next!

[travel_thru_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Final Breath is like a roller coaster ride through a foggy forest—every twist catches you off guard, and you’re never quite sure who to trust. Told through multiple POVs, the story gives readers a well-rounded, suspense-filled experience that heightens the mystery. It's a fast, exciting read with a shocking ending that'll leave you stunned. I really enjoyed this short story—it’s perfect for fans of jaw-dropping reveals and nail-biting moments. Buckle up and enjoy the thrill!

[Valerie Vigil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alice loves attention and she gets plenty of it. She’s got a great bf and best friend. Life seems good until she receives a letter with a threat. Now she’s constantly on edge and paranoid. Who is after her? Who could want her dead? Is it the stranger who watches her from across the street? The mailman she flirts with who knows where she lives? A jealous friend? A possessive bf? Someone she’s had to block?

Short quick easy read. I like the short chapters and diff pov’s. Twist in the end wasn’t as grand as I’d expected.

[Kiran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a dark yet surprisingly fluffy thriller where every character is completely unreliable and toxic as fuck, which makes for an amazing read.

I cannot say much in this review without giving away key plot points, but the character development is excellent and kept me completely gripped from start to finish. The tension never lets up, and with so many questionable characters, I was constantly second-guessing everything.

A thoroughly entertaining thriller that kept me hooked until the very end.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a novella the scene was well set up, and I did not see the twist coming. This is the authors second book (I believe) and she has not disappointed. It was an easy read with nice short chapters. I really recommend it!!
Looking forward to her new release in June :)

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and fun thriller read. This will have you wondering about all of the relationship dynamics. Question everything, believe nothing!

[Ney oh the thrill of it FN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great novella

My rating is 3.5.

This was a good little read when I was between books. At less than 120 pages I flew through this in one sitting.

When it began it felt fairly predictable and I thought I knew exactly where is was going, but there were a few pivots and surprises along the way that really pulled my interest back.

The pacing is fast and the use of split pov helps to build a picture of each character, even though not many are likeable. This just made me mistrust and suspect everyone.

I would recommend this for a quick read. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

[Lucy Brighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping and fast-paced novella, this story follows Alice, whose seemingly perfect life is disrupted when she begins receiving threatening letters warning that her time is running out. As the mystery deepens, suspicion grows and secrets begin to surface.
The writing is engaging and well-paced, with vivid characters and cleverly executed twists that keep the tension high.

[Keirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this novella as a quick read before starting the next buddy read with BOTM.
It was perfect for what I needed! Fast paced, with a twist at the very end. The whole time I thought I had this one figured out, and maybe if you're not me, you do.
I recommend this for anybody searching for something high energy and short!

[Ambri Hutchins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like this book was starting to go somewhere and then it kind of ended abrupt lol.
It started off great, the middle was good but that ending was alright.
I wish there had been more to the story! Or at least a smoother landing for the end.

I would still recommend because I was still caught off guard by the ending though

[John Michael Alaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read!!!

Gulliford crafted a wonderful story that builds its tension through character development. Slow tells and reveals of motives are fluid and crafted naturally. The story telling is helped along at a tight pace, bolstered by short punchy chapters.
Overall, this is a great little novel and it introduced me to a great author that I never read before!