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Beacon Falls #1
Last Light
LAST LIGHT: A Beacon Falls Novel, Featuring Lucy Guardino
Lucy Guardino has always seen herself as a normal Pittsburgh soccer mom who happened to have a job chasing the worst of the worst for the FBI. But after a violent predator targets her family and she s injured, Lucy sacrifices her career with the FBI in order to keep her family safe.
What is she now that she s no longer a FBI Special Agent? she wonders as she begins her new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and bringing justice to forgotten victims. Lucy fears she s traded being a kick-ass law enforcement officer for being a civilian mother hen shepherding a team of amateurs.
Her fears appear justified when she s partnered with TK O Connor, a former Marine MP struggling with her transition to life back home in the US, and sent to rural Texas to investigate a case that s more than cold, it s already been closed with the killers behind bars for the past twenty-nine-years.
But who really killed Lily Martin, her infant daughter, and husband, leaving her young son permanently impaired? Why was an entire family targeted for annihilation? What price will Lucy pay when she fights to expose a truth people will kill to keep buried?"
Lucy Guardino has always seen herself as a normal Pittsburgh soccer mom who happened to have a job chasing the worst of the worst for the FBI. But after a violent predator targets her family and she s injured, Lucy sacrifices her career with the FBI in order to keep her family safe.
What is she now that she s no longer a FBI Special Agent? she wonders as she begins her new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and bringing justice to forgotten victims. Lucy fears she s traded being a kick-ass law enforcement officer for being a civilian mother hen shepherding a team of amateurs.
Her fears appear justified when she s partnered with TK O Connor, a former Marine MP struggling with her transition to life back home in the US, and sent to rural Texas to investigate a case that s more than cold, it s already been closed with the killers behind bars for the past twenty-nine-years.
But who really killed Lily Martin, her infant daughter, and husband, leaving her young son permanently impaired? Why was an entire family targeted for annihilation? What price will Lucy pay when she fights to expose a truth people will kill to keep buried?"
344 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
614 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Lyons
80 books893 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels, former pediatric ER doctor CJ Lyons has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge Thrillers with Heart.
Two times winner of the International Thriller Writers coveted Thriller Award, CJ has been called a "master within the genre" (Pittsburgh Magazine) and her work has been praised as "breathtakingly fast-paced" and "riveting" (Publishers Weekly) with "characters with beating hearts and three dimensions" (Newsday).
Learn more about CJ's Thrillers with Heart at www.CJLyons.net
Two times winner of the International Thriller Writers coveted Thriller Award, CJ has been called a "master within the genre" (Pittsburgh Magazine) and her work has been praised as "breathtakingly fast-paced" and "riveting" (Publishers Weekly) with "characters with beating hearts and three dimensions" (Newsday).
Learn more about CJ's Thrillers with Heart at www.CJLyons.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 9, 2019
FANTASTIC!!! Another terrific Lucy Guardino story...so great to read about this character again! my version of "I Love Lucy" is this character by Cj Lyons! ^_^
May 2, 2016
Last Light is the first in a new series set in Beacon Falls, though Lucy Guardino actually features in another series also.
I haven’t read any of the other series and you don’t have to, to be able to fully enjoy Last Light. I am rather intrigued though after reading this book as I really enjoyed this book as well as Lucy’s character.
What I really love about this book is the strong female presence. In many crime books there is usually only the main character that has a strong personality/presence. In Last Light there is two. Lucy and TK.
Lucy, due to an injury has had to leave her job in the FBI. Even though Lucy seems very brave and fine about it on the surface, I think deep down you can see it has affected her, but being the fighter she is she far from let’s it stop her getting on with her working life.
Starting a new job as a leading investigator on cold cases and getting her own team has to be both exciting as well as daunting. Working with new colleagues certainly has to be quite strange after so many years in the same job. It’s also having to get used to how others work and gaining their trust.
TK is another strong and likeable character. I thought Lucy’s background was really fascinating but wait until you hear TK’s! Both ladies are certainly not ones to be messed with and I really enjoyed the strong female presence throughout.
The storyline itself for the first cold case that the team find themselves on was intriguing and was enough to draw me in and keep me interested throughout. In fact it didn’t take me long to get through the book at all. By the end I was pretty much on the edge of my seat as it certainly picks up pace and rather hair raising to say the least!
Will certainly look forward to reading more by the author.
Many thanks to Hayley at Canelo for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t read any of the other series and you don’t have to, to be able to fully enjoy Last Light. I am rather intrigued though after reading this book as I really enjoyed this book as well as Lucy’s character.
What I really love about this book is the strong female presence. In many crime books there is usually only the main character that has a strong personality/presence. In Last Light there is two. Lucy and TK.
Lucy, due to an injury has had to leave her job in the FBI. Even though Lucy seems very brave and fine about it on the surface, I think deep down you can see it has affected her, but being the fighter she is she far from let’s it stop her getting on with her working life.
Starting a new job as a leading investigator on cold cases and getting her own team has to be both exciting as well as daunting. Working with new colleagues certainly has to be quite strange after so many years in the same job. It’s also having to get used to how others work and gaining their trust.
TK is another strong and likeable character. I thought Lucy’s background was really fascinating but wait until you hear TK’s! Both ladies are certainly not ones to be messed with and I really enjoyed the strong female presence throughout.
The storyline itself for the first cold case that the team find themselves on was intriguing and was enough to draw me in and keep me interested throughout. In fact it didn’t take me long to get through the book at all. By the end I was pretty much on the edge of my seat as it certainly picks up pace and rather hair raising to say the least!
Will certainly look forward to reading more by the author.
Many thanks to Hayley at Canelo for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2016
I must admit, I haven't read any of Lyons' work and was keen to do so, after reading the blurb. I was a bit nervous about joining in, on the series, at the seventh book, but, true to its word, this series can easily be read out of order. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was pleased to have taken a chance on this thriller.
I was instantly drawn to the vivid nature of Lyons' writing. It brought the scene to life and really brought out the triller aspect. It was easy to feel a true part of the story, which often meant staying on my toes and ready for the next surprise.
I liked Lucy Guardino. She really made the story and excellent read. I was pleased that the main character was smart, fun, interesting and wasn't afraid to jump in and do some of the dirty work to figure out the truth behind the thrilling mystery. I also liked that she really led the story, taking my mind along for the ride.
I felt the pace was brilliant. It was fast enough to really and truly keep me on my toes and keep me guessing at what would happen next. I enjoyed that, and really felt that it brought the story to life. I also liked that it meant I flew through the pages, almost unable to put the book down.
The overall story was excellent. I liked the detail and thought put into its creation and the time taken to really round out all aspects of the story, from characters to world details. That really made this story for me and I have to say, it has also won me over for this author. I will be reading more of this series.
Overall, brilliant read. I highly recommend this book to thriller fans or those who want to delve into thrillers, but don't know where to start.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I was instantly drawn to the vivid nature of Lyons' writing. It brought the scene to life and really brought out the triller aspect. It was easy to feel a true part of the story, which often meant staying on my toes and ready for the next surprise.
I liked Lucy Guardino. She really made the story and excellent read. I was pleased that the main character was smart, fun, interesting and wasn't afraid to jump in and do some of the dirty work to figure out the truth behind the thrilling mystery. I also liked that she really led the story, taking my mind along for the ride.
I felt the pace was brilliant. It was fast enough to really and truly keep me on my toes and keep me guessing at what would happen next. I enjoyed that, and really felt that it brought the story to life. I also liked that it meant I flew through the pages, almost unable to put the book down.
The overall story was excellent. I liked the detail and thought put into its creation and the time taken to really round out all aspects of the story, from characters to world details. That really made this story for me and I have to say, it has also won me over for this author. I will be reading more of this series.
Overall, brilliant read. I highly recommend this book to thriller fans or those who want to delve into thrillers, but don't know where to start.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
July 16, 2016
I haven’t read many suspense novels, and to be quite honest, this will be only the second one I’ve ever read. I wasn’t sure what to expect considering my usual genre is fantasy/science-fiction. Well that being said, I was very pleasantly surprised with this read. This was also my first Cj Lyons novel, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Cj Lyons, author of Last Light A Beacon Falls Novel, is definitely a professional of her genre. She has a very skillful way of writing that draws the reader in and hooks them into the story. Though Lucy Guardino is the main protagonist of the story, I love that Lyons adds more characters for the reader to connect with and build a bookish relationship with.
I love that Lyons did flashbacks in her novel to really help you understand characters and their personalities. The suspense of this novel is much more than I anticipated. The author changes POV which helps you to see the world building from each of the main characters, especially Lucy Guardino, the character in main focus. The jumping from each POV builds the anticipation that much more. If one character discovers a truth, will the other characters as well? That’s the question, I found myself asking out loud, while reading.
Lyons definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat and has you guessing until the very end. She knows exactly how to tie events together and close a story with a bang and a slight look into her following novels.
I can’t read to follow Lucy in Lyon’s next novel Devil Smoke, coming Winter 2016.
I received a copy of Last Light from Novel Publicity in exchange for my honest review.
Cj Lyons, author of Last Light A Beacon Falls Novel, is definitely a professional of her genre. She has a very skillful way of writing that draws the reader in and hooks them into the story. Though Lucy Guardino is the main protagonist of the story, I love that Lyons adds more characters for the reader to connect with and build a bookish relationship with.
I love that Lyons did flashbacks in her novel to really help you understand characters and their personalities. The suspense of this novel is much more than I anticipated. The author changes POV which helps you to see the world building from each of the main characters, especially Lucy Guardino, the character in main focus. The jumping from each POV builds the anticipation that much more. If one character discovers a truth, will the other characters as well? That’s the question, I found myself asking out loud, while reading.
Lyons definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat and has you guessing until the very end. She knows exactly how to tie events together and close a story with a bang and a slight look into her following novels.
I can’t read to follow Lucy in Lyon’s next novel Devil Smoke, coming Winter 2016.
I received a copy of Last Light from Novel Publicity in exchange for my honest review.
May 3, 2016
LAST LIGHT is a fast paced mystery thriller with every page full of action. CJ Lyons’ protagonist is Lucy Guardino, a former FBI agent who now works as a Beacon Group consultant leading a team of young specialists who have little investigative training. Lyons provides Lucy’s backstory so fans new to CJ Lyons characters can become acquainted with Lucy. The author also gives readers backstories on Lucy’s team: Tom Worth, former ER doctor; George Washington Gamble, tech specialist; and TK O’Connor, investigator and former Marine MP. As the storyline proceeds, Lyon’s skillfully provides additional information of all of the team as needed. She also transitions smoothly into the past to help readers understand the actions of characters leading to events unfolding in the present.
LAST LIGHT’s storyline moves forward to a very emotional ending with Lyons bringing closure to several subplots for her readers. Lyons places readers inside Lucy’s head so they can see and feel everything she experiences. Thanks to the Beacon Group’s investigation, Canterville, Texas will never be the same. Readers old and new will enjoy meeting Lyons’ reinvented Lucy, making LAST LIGHT a must read.
I received an advance copy of LAST LIGHT in exchange for an honest review.
LAST LIGHT’s storyline moves forward to a very emotional ending with Lyons bringing closure to several subplots for her readers. Lyons places readers inside Lucy’s head so they can see and feel everything she experiences. Thanks to the Beacon Group’s investigation, Canterville, Texas will never be the same. Readers old and new will enjoy meeting Lyons’ reinvented Lucy, making LAST LIGHT a must read.
I received an advance copy of LAST LIGHT in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2016
My only exposure to this author is from the medical thrillers. So this is also my first time meeting Lucy Guardino. Although, I knew nothing about her or what she has endured in the past, I was able to instantly connect with her. It seems whatever things she endured in the past she was able to overcome and it made her a stronger woman. The partnership between her and TK was a good one. They worked well together to achieve results.
The other plus to this book is the killer and storyline. Both elements did not take a back sit to the characters. I hate when this happens. The story would at times flash back to the past but every time it did, it only gave me greater insight into the present. I plan to go back and read the past books in this series.
The other plus to this book is the killer and storyline. Both elements did not take a back sit to the characters. I hate when this happens. The story would at times flash back to the past but every time it did, it only gave me greater insight into the present. I plan to go back and read the past books in this series.
April 26, 2016
Last Light by CJ Lyons hooked me right from the start. When it comes to thriller/mystery books it isn’t hard for me to get sucked in right away. I literally read this book in a day because I had to know what happened and how it all worked out. This is the fourth book in the series and it is the first book I have read but I didn’t feel lost at all when it came to reading and understanding what was going on in this book. If I had to pick a character that I liked the most from this book I would pick TK. I loved her attitude throughout the entire book. I liked Lucy but if I had to pick it would pick TK. I just loved everything about her personality and how she gave Lucy a run for her money through parts of the book. If you love thrillers I know you won’t want to miss this book.
January 15, 2016
Thank you to CJ Lyons for offering this book early. I love all the Lucy books and this was no exemption . Lots of action. Awesome book. Can't wait for the next one.
May 2, 2016
The structure of Last Light has a touch of a US primetime crime series about it giving it instant appeal. The plot is slick, it basks in suspense, and it’s positively glowing from the wealth of key characters.
A prologue dated November 13th 1987 introduces us to a young woman who had just arrived home with her children. There’s nothing too dramatic about unloading your groceries is there, except when she returns to the car her baby is missing. An unspoken tension hangs in the air, but we’re not shown the cause, or effect, until we revisit this awful scene further down the line.
Fast forward to the current day where a new field branch of The Beacon Group is being formed. This well established operation aims to shine a light on the missing, the dead and the never forgotten, but monetary constraints have invited an assortment of cold case solvers into the fold, which adds considerable interest to the story to come.
Lucy Guardino drafted in to lead the merry bunch. Retired from the FBI after being injured in the line of duty herself she does her best to disguise her daily discomfort. Lucy’s extensive experience in the field will be invaluable, but the first task her new role demands is finding the right kind of shoes to conceal her foot brace. Then, she must ignore any doubts she has about taking an office based job to inspire people who haven’t the foggiest idea about operational field work.
Her little team with big personalities includes a former US marine who is a brusque, practically homeless young woman with a passion for Parkour, and an investigative reporter who has ‘Tonal Agnosia’. People initially find his unemotional line of questioning and responses difficult, but there’s something in his past that troubles them more.
That aside, Lucy elects two members of her team to accompany her to investigate their assigned case. Although a murder confession was secured twenty-nine years ago (cue spliced revisits to 1987) all these problematic strangers have to do is gather the facts relating to a possible miscarriage of justice at the request of The Justice Department. But when they resurrect the case it’s far from cold and the team are soon trying to outmanoeuvre the criminally unhinged.
The Beacon Group may not have provided the desk job Lucy Guardino had imagined, but it does give us an impressive story that constantly evolves and builds to quite the spectacular finale! The sequence of events is cleverly thought out and I’d be curious to see the next cold case that’ll find its way to their in-tray.
Although Last Light is part of a new series featuring Lucy Guardino, this particular book can be read as a standalone.
(I received a digital copy of this book from Hayley Steed of edpr.co.uk for review, with thanks.)
A prologue dated November 13th 1987 introduces us to a young woman who had just arrived home with her children. There’s nothing too dramatic about unloading your groceries is there, except when she returns to the car her baby is missing. An unspoken tension hangs in the air, but we’re not shown the cause, or effect, until we revisit this awful scene further down the line.
Fast forward to the current day where a new field branch of The Beacon Group is being formed. This well established operation aims to shine a light on the missing, the dead and the never forgotten, but monetary constraints have invited an assortment of cold case solvers into the fold, which adds considerable interest to the story to come.
Lucy Guardino drafted in to lead the merry bunch. Retired from the FBI after being injured in the line of duty herself she does her best to disguise her daily discomfort. Lucy’s extensive experience in the field will be invaluable, but the first task her new role demands is finding the right kind of shoes to conceal her foot brace. Then, she must ignore any doubts she has about taking an office based job to inspire people who haven’t the foggiest idea about operational field work.
Her little team with big personalities includes a former US marine who is a brusque, practically homeless young woman with a passion for Parkour, and an investigative reporter who has ‘Tonal Agnosia’. People initially find his unemotional line of questioning and responses difficult, but there’s something in his past that troubles them more.
That aside, Lucy elects two members of her team to accompany her to investigate their assigned case. Although a murder confession was secured twenty-nine years ago (cue spliced revisits to 1987) all these problematic strangers have to do is gather the facts relating to a possible miscarriage of justice at the request of The Justice Department. But when they resurrect the case it’s far from cold and the team are soon trying to outmanoeuvre the criminally unhinged.
The Beacon Group may not have provided the desk job Lucy Guardino had imagined, but it does give us an impressive story that constantly evolves and builds to quite the spectacular finale! The sequence of events is cleverly thought out and I’d be curious to see the next cold case that’ll find its way to their in-tray.
Although Last Light is part of a new series featuring Lucy Guardino, this particular book can be read as a standalone.
(I received a digital copy of this book from Hayley Steed of edpr.co.uk for review, with thanks.)
December 4, 2016
I very much enjoyed reading this novel. I especially loved that there were two really strong female characters in this novel and both were interesting. Lucy has a warm personality but is a very steely investigator. On a personal note, it was interesting to read about her AFO – I wear a similar leg brace (although my disability is very different) so I had real sympathy when she had no nice shoes to wear with her new work outfit. I have to wear men’s velcro trainers two sizes too big with mine as nothing else will go over it! TK is also a character that I’m looking forward to learning more about as this series progresses – she’s a former marine that has obviously had a very traumatic time whilst serving but her record is classified so not much is known. She’s fascinating though as she’s very good at aspects of her new job but is also slightly hot-headed at times so is far from being perfect.
I did find this to be a novel of two halves in a way – the first half was really interesting as we learn about the team of investigators, and find out more about the crime and the man who was convicted of the murders. It almost felt like it could be a real life murder case. I felt that in the second half I had to suspend my disbelief a little bit as it did feel like some things were ramped up in a way that was great to read and it was still well written and so fast-paced. I couldn’t put the book down and read this half of the book in a couple of hours, I was so keen to find out if the suspect was really the killer and if they would be caught and punished.
This is the first in a new series – the Beacon Falls series – but I believe Lucy’s career in the FBI was another series in its own right so I’m tempted to go back and read all of those now too as I enjoyed this novel so much. Last Light had me engrossed from the prologue all the way through to the end. It’s a fast-paced and tense read that you’ll find very hard to put down once you’ve started reading!
This is a brilliant start to a new crime thriller series and I can’t wait to read the next book!
I received a copy of Last Light from Canelo via Ed PR in exchange for an honest review.
I did find this to be a novel of two halves in a way – the first half was really interesting as we learn about the team of investigators, and find out more about the crime and the man who was convicted of the murders. It almost felt like it could be a real life murder case. I felt that in the second half I had to suspend my disbelief a little bit as it did feel like some things were ramped up in a way that was great to read and it was still well written and so fast-paced. I couldn’t put the book down and read this half of the book in a couple of hours, I was so keen to find out if the suspect was really the killer and if they would be caught and punished.
This is the first in a new series – the Beacon Falls series – but I believe Lucy’s career in the FBI was another series in its own right so I’m tempted to go back and read all of those now too as I enjoyed this novel so much. Last Light had me engrossed from the prologue all the way through to the end. It’s a fast-paced and tense read that you’ll find very hard to put down once you’ve started reading!
This is a brilliant start to a new crime thriller series and I can’t wait to read the next book!
I received a copy of Last Light from Canelo via Ed PR in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2016
I must admit that not only is this the first book I have read by C.J Lyons but I hadn't actually heard of her books before either! I find it hard to believe that I haven't as I have been missing out! She weaves a great thrilling tale with a colourful cast of characters.
Lucy Guardino has now retired from the FBI on medical grounds but has taken a consultancy position at the Beacon Group based in Beacon Falls. The group has recently been set up to privately investigate cold cases. Their first case involves the twenty nine year old murder of a married couple and their baby. Their six year old son was left at deaths door but survived and has never spoken a word since that day. Lucy and TK O'Connor head off to investigate a miscarriage of justice working alongside the convicted murders son. But could digging into the past bring back painful memories and put lives in danger once again?
This book was actually a pleasant surprise for me! I do love watching real life crime programmes especially those set in the USA and although this was a fictional account it felt very authentic. Lucy was a great character, strong minded and determined and so was her her sidekick TK. I loved that they were out in the field getting stuck in to the action and facing danger head on while the men on the team were back at headquarters! I also loved the cold case investigation and got thoroughly engrossed in the story which although quite disturbing at times, due to the murder of a small baby, wasn't done in a graphic or gratuitous way. I couldn't put the book down towards the end as it became an action packed drama to bring down a murderer.
I loved the way these characters came together and really look forward to reading more about them in future books in the series. TK stood out for me but also looking forward to discovering a bit more about the backstory of Wash and Tommy as well.
Thanks to Haley and to Canelo for my advanced copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
Lucy Guardino has now retired from the FBI on medical grounds but has taken a consultancy position at the Beacon Group based in Beacon Falls. The group has recently been set up to privately investigate cold cases. Their first case involves the twenty nine year old murder of a married couple and their baby. Their six year old son was left at deaths door but survived and has never spoken a word since that day. Lucy and TK O'Connor head off to investigate a miscarriage of justice working alongside the convicted murders son. But could digging into the past bring back painful memories and put lives in danger once again?
This book was actually a pleasant surprise for me! I do love watching real life crime programmes especially those set in the USA and although this was a fictional account it felt very authentic. Lucy was a great character, strong minded and determined and so was her her sidekick TK. I loved that they were out in the field getting stuck in to the action and facing danger head on while the men on the team were back at headquarters! I also loved the cold case investigation and got thoroughly engrossed in the story which although quite disturbing at times, due to the murder of a small baby, wasn't done in a graphic or gratuitous way. I couldn't put the book down towards the end as it became an action packed drama to bring down a murderer.
I loved the way these characters came together and really look forward to reading more about them in future books in the series. TK stood out for me but also looking forward to discovering a bit more about the backstory of Wash and Tommy as well.
Thanks to Haley and to Canelo for my advanced copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
June 9, 2016
great read! I had seen the blurb and thought it sounded right up my street so I finally got to make a start on it recently! I was hooked pretty quickly once I started reading!!!
Fast paced and full of action, Last Light reads like it should be a blockbuster movie. Small town murders, cold case reopened, crack team of investigators sent in to find the truth. In writing that last bit I can almost hear the theme tune to The A-Team playing in my head!:)
As usual, I digress! I thoroughly enjoyed Last Light. It has a great cast of characters, and with plenty of grisly investigating to do it definitely keeps your mind thinking as you try to figure out what happened 25 years ago, and what’s happening now!!!
Highly recommended for certain! And you can’t go wrong with a book that has Lee Child quoted on the front!
Fast paced and full of action, Last Light reads like it should be a blockbuster movie. Small town murders, cold case reopened, crack team of investigators sent in to find the truth. In writing that last bit I can almost hear the theme tune to The A-Team playing in my head!:)
As usual, I digress! I thoroughly enjoyed Last Light. It has a great cast of characters, and with plenty of grisly investigating to do it definitely keeps your mind thinking as you try to figure out what happened 25 years ago, and what’s happening now!!!
Highly recommended for certain! And you can’t go wrong with a book that has Lee Child quoted on the front!
May 9, 2016
Hang on to your hats with this book! CJ Lyons does it again, Lucy is back and at her best!
After leaving the FBI, Lucy is still learning to deal with the limits put on her by her injury. She takes a new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and day one has her hitting the ground running. Things heat up fast for Lucy and her team of "amateurs" as they try to find out who really killed Lily Martin, her infant daughter, and husband? Why was an entire family targeted for annihilation?
This book is everything you have come to expect from CJ Lyons and Lucy Guardino...and more!
After leaving the FBI, Lucy is still learning to deal with the limits put on her by her injury. She takes a new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and day one has her hitting the ground running. Things heat up fast for Lucy and her team of "amateurs" as they try to find out who really killed Lily Martin, her infant daughter, and husband? Why was an entire family targeted for annihilation?
This book is everything you have come to expect from CJ Lyons and Lucy Guardino...and more!
May 12, 2016
Another great adventure with Lucy Guardino. A timely topic, realistic storyline and as always, interesting characters. I never start a CJ Lyons book unless I know I have time to read until I finish. Who needs sleep, anyway?
I'm once again waiting for the next Lucy story. Luckily I have a couple Drake and Hart stories to hold me over.
I'm once again waiting for the next Lucy story. Luckily I have a couple Drake and Hart stories to hold me over.
May 5, 2016
I'm a huge fan of the Lucy Guardino series and so glad she's back. Lucy's got a new job and new people to get used to. In this series you get to see all the POV's of the new characters, which I loved. Lots of action and some interesting new characters. I'm looking forward to the next adventure.
May 9, 2016
Texas watch out
Last light is Lucy at her best she will not let her leg slow her down. The fast pace carries you from beginning to end If you don't know Lucy you really should meet her!
Last light is Lucy at her best she will not let her leg slow her down. The fast pace carries you from beginning to end If you don't know Lucy you really should meet her!
May 30, 2016
Wow!! Another stunning story!!
CJ Lyons never fails to create a fabulous story. From the first page until the last, she has you on the edge of your seat with a novel that you can't put down. I love all of her work and this book was no exception. This is a must read!!
CJ Lyons never fails to create a fabulous story. From the first page until the last, she has you on the edge of your seat with a novel that you can't put down. I love all of her work and this book was no exception. This is a must read!!
June 24, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. A great first in what I hope is going to be a substantial crime thriller series!
Full review here:
http://craftsandreads.blogspot.co.uk/...
Full review here:
http://craftsandreads.blogspot.co.uk/...
April 25, 2016
Reading this book was so great! It was different from the first series, because she's no longer an FBI agent and these are cold cases, but it is Lucy, and I loved reading this story!
July 12, 2017
Like many of the other reviewers, I hadn't come across CJ Lyons before, even though I am a major consumer of mysteries. Like several others, I was attracted by Last Light's cover blurb. Its being marketed as the first of a new series (Beacon Falls #1) was a plus (it wasn't until I was well into the book that I looked at the "Also By" page and found that it was also/actually the seventh of another series).
And now a brief digression on series: when I hear "series," I think of something soap-operaish - a continuing/continuous account of various characters' lives. Not necessarily a bad thing - "Upstairs, Downstairs" was a television series I loved (I know I'm dating myself here). And four of Trollope's Palliser novels constitute a wonderful series. But I wouldn't use that term for the books featuring recurring characters like Wexford or Davenport or Millhone or Bosch or Reacher or Spenser. Each of these is essentially a stand-alone, self-contained novel (okay, "mystery," for those who restrict the word "novel" to works like "Pamela," or more recently, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra,"), with a consistent main character (possibly aging slightly over time) and often a relatively well-defined area of operation (probably gentrifying more rapidly), perhaps with occasional passing references to past events/persons. It is when the books each devote significant attention to hinting at the protagonist's tormented past or even more tormented present that they become part of what I would call, pejoratively, a series.
And now back to the res: whether it will be the second or the eighth in a series, I'm not going to read the sequel to Last Light. I found the characters cardboard, the plot improbable, and the mystery's solution both predictable and disproportional to the crime. The "Beacon Falls" set-up seemed like the spec script of a TV detective series (gee, there's that word again). That said, I did like the narrative form of alternating past/present chapters relating to the key event. I am a sucker for that approach, and it was what motivated me to finish this otherwise unengaging book.
And now a brief digression on series: when I hear "series," I think of something soap-operaish - a continuing/continuous account of various characters' lives. Not necessarily a bad thing - "Upstairs, Downstairs" was a television series I loved (I know I'm dating myself here). And four of Trollope's Palliser novels constitute a wonderful series. But I wouldn't use that term for the books featuring recurring characters like Wexford or Davenport or Millhone or Bosch or Reacher or Spenser. Each of these is essentially a stand-alone, self-contained novel (okay, "mystery," for those who restrict the word "novel" to works like "Pamela," or more recently, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra,"), with a consistent main character (possibly aging slightly over time) and often a relatively well-defined area of operation (probably gentrifying more rapidly), perhaps with occasional passing references to past events/persons. It is when the books each devote significant attention to hinting at the protagonist's tormented past or even more tormented present that they become part of what I would call, pejoratively, a series.
And now back to the res: whether it will be the second or the eighth in a series, I'm not going to read the sequel to Last Light. I found the characters cardboard, the plot improbable, and the mystery's solution both predictable and disproportional to the crime. The "Beacon Falls" set-up seemed like the spec script of a TV detective series (gee, there's that word again). That said, I did like the narrative form of alternating past/present chapters relating to the key event. I am a sucker for that approach, and it was what motivated me to finish this otherwise unengaging book.
July 27, 2018
Wow, don't know why it took me so long to read from this author. Really loved this one and am look forwarded to reading the rest.
This is the 1st in the series about Lucy Guardino, who is a retired FBI agent, and now is working with the Beacon group in solving cold cases. Her first case is 29 years old. She will be in charge of the team, which is is unsure about. You gotta love TK, an ex-Marine.
So Lucy, TK and another member, David are headed to Texas to investigate the murder of a mother, husband, 7 month old child, and a son. The case was solved from the first as the son of the police chief, actually saw the two men that committed the crime leave the scene. As they confessed, it was a slam dunk case. But, now, the Legal Justice team has requested that the Beacon Falls investigate as they think the two men were beat up and coerced into confessing..Then, on top of that, Lucy finds out that one of the murderers is David's father!
Fast moving, action novel and I loved it. Can't wait to read the 2nd in the series.
This is the 1st in the series about Lucy Guardino, who is a retired FBI agent, and now is working with the Beacon group in solving cold cases. Her first case is 29 years old. She will be in charge of the team, which is is unsure about. You gotta love TK, an ex-Marine.
So Lucy, TK and another member, David are headed to Texas to investigate the murder of a mother, husband, 7 month old child, and a son. The case was solved from the first as the son of the police chief, actually saw the two men that committed the crime leave the scene. As they confessed, it was a slam dunk case. But, now, the Legal Justice team has requested that the Beacon Falls investigate as they think the two men were beat up and coerced into confessing..Then, on top of that, Lucy finds out that one of the murderers is David's father!
Fast moving, action novel and I loved it. Can't wait to read the 2nd in the series.
March 14, 2020
This is a new series featuring Lucy Guardino once again. This time Lucy has left the FBI and is working for the Beacon Group that works on cold cases. Firstly, Lucy is Lucy is Lucy regardless of the fact that she doesn't have the badge or all the resources she once had. She is still kick ass and takes no prisoners. She has a new team to get to know and work with and they are a very interesting bunch of characters. What I really love is figuring out the cold case along with the characters. Looking forward to the next one.
June 1, 2017
Last Light review
Last Light is the first book in the Beacon Falls Lucy Guardino mystery series written by author C. J. Lyons. I like this series as much as Lucy's F. B. I. stories.
Last Light is the first book in the Beacon Falls Lucy Guardino mystery series written by author C. J. Lyons. I like this series as much as Lucy's F. B. I. stories.
May 3, 2024
Lucy starts her new job, leaving the FBI. She didn’t expect to travel on the first case or to review a 29 year old case. She has a new team and a killer that wants them dead. Highly recommend this book!
October 23, 2025
The work shift for Lucy and the new characters are great. I do miss her FBI team, it would be nice to see them woven in more. However, this is more realistic. The shift opens the author to start tackling bigger societal issues, which is great.
November 12, 2016
Another well written story about Lucy's new job with her new team working cold cases and bringing the cases to justice. Am anxious to read the next book in this series.
June 7, 2017
Exciting read. Lots of surprising plot twists.
April 4, 2018
Fantastic mystery thriller. Welcome back Lucy Guardino.
April 18, 2018
I liked this better than the original Lucy series. Enjoyed the developing characters.
April 5, 2019
Well told story of justice being served on an intriguing cold case.
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