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Criminal Profiler #2
Her Last Word
An unsolved crime pits a desperate woman against a relentless killer in New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton’s heart-stopping novel of psychological suspense… Fourteen years ago, Kaitlin Roe was the lone witness to the abduction of her cousin Gina. She still remembers that lonely Virginia road. She can still see the masked stranger and hear Gina’s screams. And she still suffers the guilt of running away in fear and resents being interrogated as a suspect in the immediate aftermath. Now Kaitlin has only one way to assuage the pain and nightmares―by interviewing everyone associated with the unsolved crime for a podcast that could finally bring closure to a case gone cold. But when a woman Kaitlin questions is later found stabbed to death, she fears that she’s drawn a killer out of hiding. It’s Detective John Adler’s fear that the murders have only just begun. Now his job is to keep Kaitlin safe. As a bond between Kaitlin and Adler builds, the past closes in just as fast―and it’s darker than Kaitlin remembers. Soon, her wish will come true. She’s going to find out exactly what happened to Gina. Someone has been dying to tell her.
355 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2018
7932 people are currently reading
9650 people want to read
About the author
Mary Burton
68 books4,096 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,031 reviews
April 25, 2018
Mary Burton has become one of those authors that when I see a new title by her I just have to read it so of course I was excited to pick up Her Last Word. When finished though this wasn’t one of my favorites simply due to the style of this romantic suspense novel.
The story is one that brings a cold case from fourteen years before to the forefront with crimes happening in the present. Kaitlin Roe had been a witness all those years ago when her cousin Gina had been abducted and with Gina never being found Kaitlin’s life had spun out of control for a while.
Now however Kaitlin’s gotten herself straightened out and decided to look into Gina’s case herself. After one of the people Kaitlin had just interviewed about Gina turns up dead Detective John Adler is concerned that Gina’s disappearance may be tied to the case and that Kaitlin may be in danger.
The way the book is written is by squeezing in Kaitlin’s interviews about Gina’s disappearance in between each chapter of the current story giving an alternating timeline. I’m one that is a bit hit or miss with enjoying alternating stories and unfortunately this one was a miss. To me Gina’s case could have easily been discussed in a prologue or the opening chapters instead of between the current story. The back and forth was a bit distracting and left me a bit disconnected with the book unfortunately. Still a solid plot within the book though and I will still keep coming back to this author in the future for sure.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story is one that brings a cold case from fourteen years before to the forefront with crimes happening in the present. Kaitlin Roe had been a witness all those years ago when her cousin Gina had been abducted and with Gina never being found Kaitlin’s life had spun out of control for a while.
Now however Kaitlin’s gotten herself straightened out and decided to look into Gina’s case herself. After one of the people Kaitlin had just interviewed about Gina turns up dead Detective John Adler is concerned that Gina’s disappearance may be tied to the case and that Kaitlin may be in danger.
The way the book is written is by squeezing in Kaitlin’s interviews about Gina’s disappearance in between each chapter of the current story giving an alternating timeline. I’m one that is a bit hit or miss with enjoying alternating stories and unfortunately this one was a miss. To me Gina’s case could have easily been discussed in a prologue or the opening chapters instead of between the current story. The back and forth was a bit distracting and left me a bit disconnected with the book unfortunately. Still a solid plot within the book though and I will still keep coming back to this author in the future for sure.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 3, 2019
Very Engaging
I truly got wrapped up in this story so front page. So many twist and turns on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was behind the killings. This was the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely look for more.
I truly got wrapped up in this story so front page. So many twist and turns on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was behind the killings. This was the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely look for more.
March 29, 2019
This is my first book by Mary Burton and it definitely held my interest. It’s a straightforward mystery. Kaitlin Roe is the only witness to her cousin’s abduction and 14 years later, she’s still haunted by it. So haunted, she’s decided to do a podcast and bring the crime back to the forefront. And then, a woman she interviews, ends up dead. Is there a connection?
The book mixes basic story narrative with interviews and it worked well. Burton does a great job showing how many of the individuals lied to the police, for a whole variety of reasons. Fourteen years later, the truth begins to come out. The characters were nicely fleshed out, even the secondary characters.
Burton kept me guessing as to who was the murderer almost until the end of the book.
As much as I liked most of the book, I did feel the ending didn’t come together in a satisfying way. Parts strained my credibility and other parts were not adequately explained. And I could have also done without the almost gratuitous sex scenes.
Decent narration here.
April 29, 2018
4.5 Stars!
Suspenseful, sinister, and exceptionally gripping!
Her Last Word is a fast-paced, intense police procedural that not only delves into a 14-year-old cold case involving a missing teen but takes you on a hunt for an obsessed serial killer consumed with revenge.
The writing is sharp and crisp. The characters are flawed, scarred, and tenacious. And the complex plot told through a mixture of narration and interview-style musings interweaves into a compelling story with lots of twists, turns, red herrings, violence, sexual attraction, mayhem, and murder.
Once again with Her Last Word, Burton has written a highly entertaining, intricately woven mystery with a touch of romance that is satisfying, enthralling, and doesn't disappoint.
Thank you to Mary Burton and Joan Schulhafer Publishing for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Suspenseful, sinister, and exceptionally gripping!
Her Last Word is a fast-paced, intense police procedural that not only delves into a 14-year-old cold case involving a missing teen but takes you on a hunt for an obsessed serial killer consumed with revenge.
The writing is sharp and crisp. The characters are flawed, scarred, and tenacious. And the complex plot told through a mixture of narration and interview-style musings interweaves into a compelling story with lots of twists, turns, red herrings, violence, sexual attraction, mayhem, and murder.
Once again with Her Last Word, Burton has written a highly entertaining, intricately woven mystery with a touch of romance that is satisfying, enthralling, and doesn't disappoint.
Thank you to Mary Burton and Joan Schulhafer Publishing for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
May 8, 2018
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Holy hell was this book good. Her Last Word was just as suspenseful and captivating as I knew it would be. Mary Burton is one of my favorite romantic suspense writers and she has yet to fail me. She always delivers a story so intriguing that I can't put it down, not even for a dinner break, and this book was no different.
I honestly didn't have a clue what was going on the majority of the book, even though I had my suspicions. I loved that this is author was able to keep me in the dark and questioning everything throughout this story. Even when the answer was staring me right in the face there was so much misdirection going on I kept thinking I still didn't have the answer. This kind of story is exactly why I read this genre.
I also really enjoyed the way the story was written, with interviews Kaitlin had conducted in the past placed in between the ongoing story. I found it really intriguing to get those throughout the present day story.
Overall, if you like be kept in suspense and ready to scream for answers this is the story for you. It will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time and ignoring the real world while you're sucked into this one.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Holy hell was this book good. Her Last Word was just as suspenseful and captivating as I knew it would be. Mary Burton is one of my favorite romantic suspense writers and she has yet to fail me. She always delivers a story so intriguing that I can't put it down, not even for a dinner break, and this book was no different.
I honestly didn't have a clue what was going on the majority of the book, even though I had my suspicions. I loved that this is author was able to keep me in the dark and questioning everything throughout this story. Even when the answer was staring me right in the face there was so much misdirection going on I kept thinking I still didn't have the answer. This kind of story is exactly why I read this genre.
I also really enjoyed the way the story was written, with interviews Kaitlin had conducted in the past placed in between the ongoing story. I found it really intriguing to get those throughout the present day story.
Overall, if you like be kept in suspense and ready to scream for answers this is the story for you. It will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time and ignoring the real world while you're sucked into this one.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2018
4.5 Stars
Kaitlin Roe's cousin, Gina, was abducted 14 years ago ... Kaitlin was the only witness. She still feels guilt every day of her life .... the abductor told her to run ... and she did. At the time, police suspected she knew more than she was telling but she was scared to death .. and drunk. She doesn't remember much.
After all these years, she decides that she will put together a podcast and re-interviewing everyone who knew Gina at that time. Gina's abduction has never been solved and Kaitlin is hoping this will open a new line for the detectives to look into.
Detective John Adler is called to investigate the murder of a young woman .. a woman who Kaitlin has interviewed. And then someone else close to the investigation is killed.
Has Kaitlin's interviews attracted the interest of someone who doesn't want this case re-opened? It's up to Adler to catch the bad guy and protect the woman who has also captured his personal interest.
Book Blurb - As a bond between Kaitlin and Adler builds, the past closes in just as fast—and it’s darker than Kaitlin remembers. Soon, her wish will come true. She’s going to find out exactly what happened to Gina. Someone has been dying to tell her.
I have read several of this author's book and have never been disappointed. I have found all her books to be well-written with characters that don't disappear from memory overnight.
I really enjoyed how this one was written. The chapters are divided by all of Kaitlin's interviews ... each person's story is there for the reader to decide if they are telling the truth ... or do they know more than they're telling. Some chapters are Kaitlin's memories of the night that Gina disappeared. The suspense starts building from the very page and builds to an explosive ending.
Many thanks to the author / Montlake Romance / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of HER LAST WORD. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Kaitlin Roe's cousin, Gina, was abducted 14 years ago ... Kaitlin was the only witness. She still feels guilt every day of her life .... the abductor told her to run ... and she did. At the time, police suspected she knew more than she was telling but she was scared to death .. and drunk. She doesn't remember much.
After all these years, she decides that she will put together a podcast and re-interviewing everyone who knew Gina at that time. Gina's abduction has never been solved and Kaitlin is hoping this will open a new line for the detectives to look into.
Detective John Adler is called to investigate the murder of a young woman .. a woman who Kaitlin has interviewed. And then someone else close to the investigation is killed.
Has Kaitlin's interviews attracted the interest of someone who doesn't want this case re-opened? It's up to Adler to catch the bad guy and protect the woman who has also captured his personal interest.
Book Blurb - As a bond between Kaitlin and Adler builds, the past closes in just as fast—and it’s darker than Kaitlin remembers. Soon, her wish will come true. She’s going to find out exactly what happened to Gina. Someone has been dying to tell her.
I have read several of this author's book and have never been disappointed. I have found all her books to be well-written with characters that don't disappear from memory overnight.
I really enjoyed how this one was written. The chapters are divided by all of Kaitlin's interviews ... each person's story is there for the reader to decide if they are telling the truth ... or do they know more than they're telling. Some chapters are Kaitlin's memories of the night that Gina disappeared. The suspense starts building from the very page and builds to an explosive ending.
Many thanks to the author / Montlake Romance / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of HER LAST WORD. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 30, 2019
This book started off at a great pace but then never progressed to an “edge of your seat” thriller.
I would have preferred more of the back story from 14 years prior - the main characters were teenagers then - because it would have added depth. As written, I had a tough time keeping with girl died then or was kidnapped now. The short, dated chapters were also a little confusing. It was not necessary because most of the story was set in the present.
Overall a decent contemporary thriller. The mystery suspect was contained until the end and I was surprised by that reveal. Good plot but it just didn’t live up to the hype for me.
I would have preferred more of the back story from 14 years prior - the main characters were teenagers then - because it would have added depth. As written, I had a tough time keeping with girl died then or was kidnapped now. The short, dated chapters were also a little confusing. It was not necessary because most of the story was set in the present.
Overall a decent contemporary thriller. The mystery suspect was contained until the end and I was surprised by that reveal. Good plot but it just didn’t live up to the hype for me.
May 17, 2018
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
Mary Burton is one of those authors that when I see she has a new book out, I have to grab it right away because I know I will be able to disappear for hours into a solid, intriguing plot with realistic, interesting characters for the length of the book. She never disappoints.
Fourteen years ago, Kaitlin Roe witnessed the abduction of her cousin, Gina Mason. There were four girls partying by the river. Two friends were picked up by a relative while Kaitlin and Gina stumbled towards Gina’s home. Scared to death, drunk and drugged when Gina was grabbed, the abductor told Kaitlin to run and she did. She only has vague memories of that night, but fourteen years of guilt.
Kaitlin has returned to Virginia to make a podcast of Gina’s disappearance. She will never forgive herself, but she hopes through new interviews to bring Gina’s cold case back to life, find out what really happened and bring Gina home. Kaitlin’s podcast interviews attract attention, but not everyone wants the truth to be known.
Detective John Adler is assigned a murder case that overlaps with Kaitlin’s interviews. Is it a coincidence or is the cold case leading to murder in the present day to cover up the past? As Adler works to solve the case, he also has to worry if Kaitlin could have provoked the killer to come for her next.
This book was written not only in chapters, but it is also divided by podcast interviews. The interviews add an interesting twist, because you do not know if the person being interviewed is telling the truth. Between the current plotline, the podcast interviews and Kaitlin’s memories of the past the mystery and suspense continually build. There are several red herrings and the ending was a surprise.
The relationship between Adler and Kaitlin was realistic with Adler not giving her certain information as it was an official investigation and her distrust of police since Gina’s disappearance. The romance was well paced and intertwined throughout the last half of story in a believable fashion. I was once again satisfied in every way with a Mary Burton book!
Thanks very much to Montlake Romance and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mary Burton is one of those authors that when I see she has a new book out, I have to grab it right away because I know I will be able to disappear for hours into a solid, intriguing plot with realistic, interesting characters for the length of the book. She never disappoints.
Fourteen years ago, Kaitlin Roe witnessed the abduction of her cousin, Gina Mason. There were four girls partying by the river. Two friends were picked up by a relative while Kaitlin and Gina stumbled towards Gina’s home. Scared to death, drunk and drugged when Gina was grabbed, the abductor told Kaitlin to run and she did. She only has vague memories of that night, but fourteen years of guilt.
Kaitlin has returned to Virginia to make a podcast of Gina’s disappearance. She will never forgive herself, but she hopes through new interviews to bring Gina’s cold case back to life, find out what really happened and bring Gina home. Kaitlin’s podcast interviews attract attention, but not everyone wants the truth to be known.
Detective John Adler is assigned a murder case that overlaps with Kaitlin’s interviews. Is it a coincidence or is the cold case leading to murder in the present day to cover up the past? As Adler works to solve the case, he also has to worry if Kaitlin could have provoked the killer to come for her next.
This book was written not only in chapters, but it is also divided by podcast interviews. The interviews add an interesting twist, because you do not know if the person being interviewed is telling the truth. Between the current plotline, the podcast interviews and Kaitlin’s memories of the past the mystery and suspense continually build. There are several red herrings and the ending was a surprise.
The relationship between Adler and Kaitlin was realistic with Adler not giving her certain information as it was an official investigation and her distrust of police since Gina’s disappearance. The romance was well paced and intertwined throughout the last half of story in a believable fashion. I was once again satisfied in every way with a Mary Burton book!
Thanks very much to Montlake Romance and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2018
This story had a really solid plot and interesting characters but the style of writing really reduced my enjoyment. The current investigation of a murdered woman is in 3rd POV and past tense. This is my preferred writing format. But then the interview tapes where Kaitlin is gathering information on the disappearance of her cousin 14 years ago is written in 1st POV present tense. But sometimes it was 1st POV past tense. And sometimes the interspersed timeline was actually from 14 years ago. You really had to read the dates before each of the chapters to know what and when. Some of the chapters were only a couple of paragraphs or pages. It made for a really choppy delivery.
Another issue I had was Kaitlin is stabbed in the stomach but in little over a week and only two days after being released from the hospital she makes a play for Adler. Up to this point there has really only been internal thoughts of interest between the two. At the first recognition of interest on both their parts it's straight to the bed for hot sex. In the real world, I seriously doubt the majority of us would be having sex so quickly after being stabbed in the abdomen. Pulled stitches anyone? Internal bleeding? Sex scenes shouldn't be a requirement when they don't make sense. The slow show of interest between the characters was perfect. The sex was ridiculous.
But the plot of current murders and their relationship to the kidnapping of Kaitlin's cousin 14 years ago was really good. There was a good mix of interesting characters as well. I like that Kaitlin had turned her life around.
Unfortunately I would be really pulled into the story and then it would hop around in time frames and writing styles and I would be pulled out. This happened time and time again.
Another issue I had was Kaitlin is stabbed in the stomach but in little over a week and only two days after being released from the hospital she makes a play for Adler. Up to this point there has really only been internal thoughts of interest between the two. At the first recognition of interest on both their parts it's straight to the bed for hot sex. In the real world, I seriously doubt the majority of us would be having sex so quickly after being stabbed in the abdomen. Pulled stitches anyone? Internal bleeding? Sex scenes shouldn't be a requirement when they don't make sense. The slow show of interest between the characters was perfect. The sex was ridiculous.
But the plot of current murders and their relationship to the kidnapping of Kaitlin's cousin 14 years ago was really good. There was a good mix of interesting characters as well. I like that Kaitlin had turned her life around.
Unfortunately I would be really pulled into the story and then it would hop around in time frames and writing styles and I would be pulled out. This happened time and time again.
January 15, 2024
Kaitlyn Roe is a podcaster who has returned to her hometown to solve a mystery. Fourteen years ago, Kaitlyn's cousin Gina was abducted by a masked man and never heard from again. Kaitlyn witnessed the abduction before running away to save herself. Kaitlyn has returned to interview Gina's friends to see if she can find new information to get the case reopened. Now one of the women that she interviewed has been found murdered. Detective John Adler believes that Kaitlyn has have woken a killer who now has her in his crosshairs.
This is a standalone romantic suspense story from Mary Burton. Many have listed it as part of her Criminal Profiler series, but it has nothing to do with that series.
I liked the way this story was told. Between each chapter we got to listen to Kaitlyn's podcast which was a series of interviews about the past. It was an effective way to catch us up on the backstory. The suspense story itself was OK; but didn't care for the romance at all. It felt like the author just threw it in as an afterthought. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
This is a standalone romantic suspense story from Mary Burton. Many have listed it as part of her Criminal Profiler series, but it has nothing to do with that series.
I liked the way this story was told. Between each chapter we got to listen to Kaitlyn's podcast which was a series of interviews about the past. It was an effective way to catch us up on the backstory. The suspense story itself was OK; but didn't care for the romance at all. It felt like the author just threw it in as an afterthought. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
May 7, 2018
Fourteen years ago Kaitlin’s cousin Gina was abducted in front of her and Kaitlin could not do anything to stop it. Ridden with guilt Kaitlin is back in town, creating a podcast so as to find what exactly happened to Gina all those years ago.Meanwhile Detective Adler is investigating a case of a local woman found dead and when it leads back to Kaitlin’s interrogation he knows that killer will stop at nothing to keep the truth from coming out.
Her last word is a romantic suspense with multiple storylines.The book is narrated in different timelines between the present story and Kaitlin’s interview notes which seems a little disjointed to me at times. Overall I still enjoyed the suspenseful plot and will look forward to reading more by Mary Burton
I would like to thank Montlake Romance & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Her last word is a romantic suspense with multiple storylines.The book is narrated in different timelines between the present story and Kaitlin’s interview notes which seems a little disjointed to me at times. Overall I still enjoyed the suspenseful plot and will look forward to reading more by Mary Burton
I would like to thank Montlake Romance & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
May 12, 2025
З одного боку це цікаво, з іншого я її довго читала. Момент який я не дуже люблю в детективних книжках, це можливі інтерв'ю чи щось схоже, які вставляють між розділами, я скоріше заплутаюсь ніж все зрозумію. Взагалі я планувала ставити 3, бо якось не дуже цікаво було, але під кінець знайшли 2 тіло і стало цікавіше. Дуже дратують персонажі, які звинувачують Кейтлін в тому, що бачьте це вона та її подруги, але здебільшого вона, винні в тому, що їхня 4 подруга(її кузина) зникла, і взагалі нічого не робили коли ту викрадали. Якщо я не помиляюсь, то на момент викрадення Джини вони були підлітками, а ще коли викрали її, була тільки п'яна Кейтлін, яка майже нічого не розуміла і сказали їй бігти, бо вб'ють кузину, коли відрізали вухо Джини, то наврядчи п'яна людина без зброї нападе на нападника(ну якщо тільки не якийсь Рембо або безсмертний), і їй сказали, якщо вона побіжить, то Джину не чіпатимуть, ну наврядчи п'яний мозок встигне обробити що це брехня, ну у когось і може, але не всіх. Найтупіша людина в цій книжці це вбивця. Але не вбивця Джини, нєєєє, вбивця, який вирішив помститися дівчатам за те, що вони не врятували Джину. Я б ще зрозуміла якби цей антагоніст полював на вбивцю Джини, окей, але вбивати тих, хто просто нічого не зробив, хоча при тієї події була тільки Кейтлін і то п'яна, а інші поїхали. Чому не вбити вже того хлопця?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2018
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
I am always excited to read a Mary Burton book. The are very different from the standard Romantic-Suspense works that abound. She blends a really interesting plot with an intelligent romance to create books that are totally unique. This one drew me in and kept me engaged throughout.
Kaitlin Roe is a woman on a mission and that mission is to find to person who kidnapped her cousin, Gina, 14 years ago. Gina was never seen again. Kaitlin is now a communications professor and is interviewing everyone from that time with the goal of developing a pod cast about Gina . As a cold case the police are not exactly motivated to help her, but that isn't going to stop Kaitlin.
She expected the police to be apathetic, but is really annoyed when Gina's closest friends don't want to help her solve Gina's disappearance either. Everyone seems to have moved on, but Kaitlin has found there is no moving on for her until Gina is found, dead or alive. When one of Gina's friends is bound stabbed to death, and links to Gina's case are found, the police finally take notice.
Detective John Adler takes the seeming link between the two crimes seriously and is drawn to Kaitlin in a way he has never been drawn to a woman before, which could be a real complication because Kaitlin was a suspect in the original abduction. John doesn't believe she was anything other than a scared, confused and grieving kid. But, right now, she is dead center in a killers crosshairs.
I am always excited to read a Mary Burton book. The are very different from the standard Romantic-Suspense works that abound. She blends a really interesting plot with an intelligent romance to create books that are totally unique. This one drew me in and kept me engaged throughout.
Kaitlin Roe is a woman on a mission and that mission is to find to person who kidnapped her cousin, Gina, 14 years ago. Gina was never seen again. Kaitlin is now a communications professor and is interviewing everyone from that time with the goal of developing a pod cast about Gina . As a cold case the police are not exactly motivated to help her, but that isn't going to stop Kaitlin.
She expected the police to be apathetic, but is really annoyed when Gina's closest friends don't want to help her solve Gina's disappearance either. Everyone seems to have moved on, but Kaitlin has found there is no moving on for her until Gina is found, dead or alive. When one of Gina's friends is bound stabbed to death, and links to Gina's case are found, the police finally take notice.
Detective John Adler takes the seeming link between the two crimes seriously and is drawn to Kaitlin in a way he has never been drawn to a woman before, which could be a real complication because Kaitlin was a suspect in the original abduction. John doesn't believe she was anything other than a scared, confused and grieving kid. But, right now, she is dead center in a killers crosshairs.
August 2, 2018
4.5 Stars!
Her Last Word was an exciting and fast-paced read with a gripping suspense plot and an interesting mix of characters.
Fourteen years ago Kaitlin Roe's cousin Gina was abducted in front of her eyes and Kaitlin was unable to stop it. After the police were unable to find a suspect, they turned their sights on Kaitlin and blamed her for Gina's disappearance. Kaitlin fled town and tried to put the entire ordeal behind her, but she's never been able to forgive herself for running away when Gina needed her most. In the hopes of putting her guilt to rest and to shine new light on Gina's case, Kaitlin decides to create a podcast about the case and begins interviewing everyone involved. When a woman Kailtin interviewed turns up dead, Kaitlin realizes she's started poking into things someone wants left alone.
Kaitlin was quite wild in her youth and was heavily into the party scene, drugs, and alcohol. Her wild ways didn't earn her any points after Gina's abduction and she was guilty in the eyes of the public. It took Kaitlin years to realize she was just numbing her pain with alcohol and that she'd never truly be over everything until she found out the truth about that night. I admired Kaitlin's willingness to push for the truth even when everyone tried to stop her. Kaitlin can be quite tenacious and it was fun watching her steamroll over people.
Detective John Adler catches the homicide case of the woman Kaitlin interviewed who was later murdered. He connects the murder with Kaitlin's podcast and Gina's case fairly quickly leading him down the rabbit hole. Adler is great at his job and I liked that he didn't let his attraction to Kaitlin get in the way of his job. I ended up really enjoying his relationship with Kaitlin and was happy with the way everything developed between them.
This book is told in an interesting format with Kaitlin's podcast appearing as mini chapters between the main story. I really liked how this worked out as it foreshadowed things to come in the story and we learned about some of the information Kaitlin dug up before the story began. Gina's case is an interesting one and I was curious about what happened to her the night she was taken. It was interesting seeing Kaitlin and Adler come at the case from opposing sides. I felt the author realistically showed how each of them would hold back information as they wouldn't want to compromise their own investigations. Overall I was satisfied with how everything turned out and there were several things that surprised me which is always a plus.
Her Last Word is only the second Mary Burton book I've read after reading The Last Move last year and I can say without a doubt she has become one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. I plan to read more of her books in the future and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a good romantic suspense author.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Her Last Word was an exciting and fast-paced read with a gripping suspense plot and an interesting mix of characters.
Fourteen years ago Kaitlin Roe's cousin Gina was abducted in front of her eyes and Kaitlin was unable to stop it. After the police were unable to find a suspect, they turned their sights on Kaitlin and blamed her for Gina's disappearance. Kaitlin fled town and tried to put the entire ordeal behind her, but she's never been able to forgive herself for running away when Gina needed her most. In the hopes of putting her guilt to rest and to shine new light on Gina's case, Kaitlin decides to create a podcast about the case and begins interviewing everyone involved. When a woman Kailtin interviewed turns up dead, Kaitlin realizes she's started poking into things someone wants left alone.
Kaitlin was quite wild in her youth and was heavily into the party scene, drugs, and alcohol. Her wild ways didn't earn her any points after Gina's abduction and she was guilty in the eyes of the public. It took Kaitlin years to realize she was just numbing her pain with alcohol and that she'd never truly be over everything until she found out the truth about that night. I admired Kaitlin's willingness to push for the truth even when everyone tried to stop her. Kaitlin can be quite tenacious and it was fun watching her steamroll over people.
Detective John Adler catches the homicide case of the woman Kaitlin interviewed who was later murdered. He connects the murder with Kaitlin's podcast and Gina's case fairly quickly leading him down the rabbit hole. Adler is great at his job and I liked that he didn't let his attraction to Kaitlin get in the way of his job. I ended up really enjoying his relationship with Kaitlin and was happy with the way everything developed between them.
This book is told in an interesting format with Kaitlin's podcast appearing as mini chapters between the main story. I really liked how this worked out as it foreshadowed things to come in the story and we learned about some of the information Kaitlin dug up before the story began. Gina's case is an interesting one and I was curious about what happened to her the night she was taken. It was interesting seeing Kaitlin and Adler come at the case from opposing sides. I felt the author realistically showed how each of them would hold back information as they wouldn't want to compromise their own investigations. Overall I was satisfied with how everything turned out and there were several things that surprised me which is always a plus.
Her Last Word is only the second Mary Burton book I've read after reading The Last Move last year and I can say without a doubt she has become one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. I plan to read more of her books in the future and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a good romantic suspense author.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
May 8, 2018
~ 4.5 Stars
After fourteen long years, Kaitlin is ready to confront her past and find justice for her cousin Gina.The guilt and resentment over the events that changed her life more than a decade ago are still fresh and Kaitlin needs closure, for herself and for Gina. But soon after she comes back, the very people she'd interviewed in hopes of uncovering new leads, start turning up dead. And the killer seems to have it out for Kaitlin as well.
Detective John Alder isn't so sure where Kaitlin falls into the grand scheme of things but when her name and Gina's keeps springing up during his active homocide investigation, he follows his gut instinct that the unsolved case of Gina Mason is somehow connected to the current killings and Kaitlin's arrival has somehow triggered a killer and put her at the top of his list.
Told through flashbacks, interviews and present time, Kaitlin and Alder piece together the past and face off against a killer stalking their every move.
Her Last Word was a suspenseful murder mystery that pulled at your heartstrings and keeps you hooked from start to finish. I had to read this in one sitting because there was no way I was waiting to find out what happened to Gina or the identity of her ruthless admirer. The story was intense, gripping and with plenty of twists and turns to keep you at the edge of your seat.
I had a blast reading this and will definitely be looking up more by this author. I was hooked from the very first chapter and the snippets of the killer's POV had me freakin the hell out! I love watching Criminal Minds and this kind of murder mystery was like reading one of their episodes. It was a ton of suspense with a little bit of romance, as the main focus of the story was the investigation. The sleuthing literally took about 90% of the page time before the romance even makes an appearance but the story was sooo good, that I'm not complaining.
I can't say I fell in love with the MCs (I needed more page time with them together) but I did like them, they were interesting and complex and on the side of good so I was rooting for them to get the answered they sought. With the simmering tension between them, I was rooting for their slow burn romance to finally blossom. Kaitlin and Alder are not your googly eyed sappy romance couple. They've been hardened by their life experiences and are a bit cynical but their physical attraction and the emotional bond they develop was tangible. When they finally come together (at 91%) is was a satisfying beginning for two people that survived hurdles most would have been destroyed by. They were definitely kindred spirits.
Would I recommend?
Yes, even with the mild romance side story, the suspense and mystery kept this at a high intensity level. I normally prefer a bit more romance in my reads but even down playing the romance, this book was still attention grabbing. I would definitely give it chance, especially if you enjoy unsolved/cold cases and/or murder mystery shows.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * ***
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
After fourteen long years, Kaitlin is ready to confront her past and find justice for her cousin Gina.The guilt and resentment over the events that changed her life more than a decade ago are still fresh and Kaitlin needs closure, for herself and for Gina. But soon after she comes back, the very people she'd interviewed in hopes of uncovering new leads, start turning up dead. And the killer seems to have it out for Kaitlin as well.
Detective John Alder isn't so sure where Kaitlin falls into the grand scheme of things but when her name and Gina's keeps springing up during his active homocide investigation, he follows his gut instinct that the unsolved case of Gina Mason is somehow connected to the current killings and Kaitlin's arrival has somehow triggered a killer and put her at the top of his list.
Told through flashbacks, interviews and present time, Kaitlin and Alder piece together the past and face off against a killer stalking their every move.
Her Last Word was a suspenseful murder mystery that pulled at your heartstrings and keeps you hooked from start to finish. I had to read this in one sitting because there was no way I was waiting to find out what happened to Gina or the identity of her ruthless admirer. The story was intense, gripping and with plenty of twists and turns to keep you at the edge of your seat.
I had a blast reading this and will definitely be looking up more by this author. I was hooked from the very first chapter and the snippets of the killer's POV had me freakin the hell out! I love watching Criminal Minds and this kind of murder mystery was like reading one of their episodes. It was a ton of suspense with a little bit of romance, as the main focus of the story was the investigation. The sleuthing literally took about 90% of the page time before the romance even makes an appearance but the story was sooo good, that I'm not complaining.
I can't say I fell in love with the MCs (I needed more page time with them together) but I did like them, they were interesting and complex and on the side of good so I was rooting for them to get the answered they sought. With the simmering tension between them, I was rooting for their slow burn romance to finally blossom. Kaitlin and Alder are not your googly eyed sappy romance couple. They've been hardened by their life experiences and are a bit cynical but their physical attraction and the emotional bond they develop was tangible. When they finally come together (at 91%) is was a satisfying beginning for two people that survived hurdles most would have been destroyed by. They were definitely kindred spirits.
Would I recommend?
Yes, even with the mild romance side story, the suspense and mystery kept this at a high intensity level. I normally prefer a bit more romance in my reads but even down playing the romance, this book was still attention grabbing. I would definitely give it chance, especially if you enjoy unsolved/cold cases and/or murder mystery shows.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * ***
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
August 31, 2018
Audiobook Review.
I’ve never read or listened to any of Mary Burton’s novels, however Her Last Word sold me as a prospective fan.
The story is a romantic suspense that involves Kaitlin Roe and Joe Adler. The story begins with a prologue where Katlin is putting together a podcast to bring the case of her cousin’s disappearance to life. Fourteen years ago, Kaitlin and her cousin Gina decided to walk home from a party when Gina is attacked. Katlin flees the scene and Gina is never heard from again. Katlin has a lot of flaws as a youth in her past that people can never forget. For the heroine, guilt has tormented her because she has never been able to shake off her “bad girl” perception or help the police find her cousin. Now a woman, she returns to her hometown and starts investigating as to what really happened to her cousin. Coming back raises eyebrows for a some who still question if she’s changed and those that do not like her asking questions of what really happened that night. Unfortunately, some of the people she is interviewing are turning up dead.
After a terrible fire that left him scarred and away from his job for a spell, Detective Joe Adler is happy to return but disturbed by murders that have come to light. He along with his partner Quinn (female) start looking into the new murders and it doesn’t take him long to realize that they are connected to Katlin Roe and her cousin’s disappearance. He wonders if she is an accomplice but when she is almost killed, he rethinks his motives and finds himself wanting to protect her, and in the process falls in love.
Ms. Burton has written a captivating and suspenseful story that had me from beginning to end. The plot was wonderful adn the relationship between the H/h was well written....surprisingly those of some of the other characters as well. The story had its twists and turns that had me suspecting just about all the potential suspects until the very very surprise ending. I thought the narration by Brittany Pressley was very good although there were at some points where Det. Quinn sounded too masculine but could have had a bit more femininity in her voice. Although the 50+ chapters were separated based on interviews, I think the story could have been told with less chapters, however the abundance does not take away anything from the story.
I’ve within this past year have gotten drawn into the genre of romantic suspense and this author, along with Kendra Elliott and Melinda Leigh have made me fans. I tTotally recommend the read/listen. A very good and enjoyable novel.
5-Stars
I’ve never read or listened to any of Mary Burton’s novels, however Her Last Word sold me as a prospective fan.
The story is a romantic suspense that involves Kaitlin Roe and Joe Adler. The story begins with a prologue where Katlin is putting together a podcast to bring the case of her cousin’s disappearance to life. Fourteen years ago, Kaitlin and her cousin Gina decided to walk home from a party when Gina is attacked. Katlin flees the scene and Gina is never heard from again. Katlin has a lot of flaws as a youth in her past that people can never forget. For the heroine, guilt has tormented her because she has never been able to shake off her “bad girl” perception or help the police find her cousin. Now a woman, she returns to her hometown and starts investigating as to what really happened to her cousin. Coming back raises eyebrows for a some who still question if she’s changed and those that do not like her asking questions of what really happened that night. Unfortunately, some of the people she is interviewing are turning up dead.
After a terrible fire that left him scarred and away from his job for a spell, Detective Joe Adler is happy to return but disturbed by murders that have come to light. He along with his partner Quinn (female) start looking into the new murders and it doesn’t take him long to realize that they are connected to Katlin Roe and her cousin’s disappearance. He wonders if she is an accomplice but when she is almost killed, he rethinks his motives and finds himself wanting to protect her, and in the process falls in love.
Ms. Burton has written a captivating and suspenseful story that had me from beginning to end. The plot was wonderful adn the relationship between the H/h was well written....surprisingly those of some of the other characters as well. The story had its twists and turns that had me suspecting just about all the potential suspects until the very very surprise ending. I thought the narration by Brittany Pressley was very good although there were at some points where Det. Quinn sounded too masculine but could have had a bit more femininity in her voice. Although the 50+ chapters were separated based on interviews, I think the story could have been told with less chapters, however the abundance does not take away anything from the story.
I’ve within this past year have gotten drawn into the genre of romantic suspense and this author, along with Kendra Elliott and Melinda Leigh have made me fans. I tTotally recommend the read/listen. A very good and enjoyable novel.
5-Stars
June 29, 2018
I've given this a C+ at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars
I’ve read and enjoyed a number of Mary Burton’s romantic suspense novels and have generally found them to contain complex, intriguing mysteries with a reasonably-sized helping of romance that is enough to satisfy my shippy little heart. Unfortunately however, Ms. Burton’s latest standalone title, Her Last Word is a bit of a mixed bag. The mystery element is once again based on a cold-case, this time the disappearance of a teenaged girl some fourteen years earlier, and there are plenty of red herrings and wrong turns – but the way the story is constructed proved something of a barrier to my becoming fully engaged and the romance, such as it is, is perfunctory; the overall story would have made perfect sense without it and the book’s single sex scene feels as though it has been inserted for the sake of it.
Kaitlin Roe has spent much of the last fourteen years feeling guilty over what happened the night her cousin, Gina Mason, was abducted. Kaitlin, Gina and two of their friends, Jennifer and Erika had snuck away with a bottle of spiked lemonade and proceeded to get very drunk; Jennifer called her sister, Ashley, to come and get her and Erika, leaving Kaitlin and Gina to make their way home on their own. Not long after the other two girls were picked up, a man wearing a clown mask grabbed Gina and yelled at Kaitlin to run. Even though she was drunk and, as it was later revealed, drugged, Kaitlin refused to leave until her cousin’s assailant pulled a knife, put it to her throat and then, when Kaitlin still didn’t leave, cut off Gina’s ear while threatening to do worse if Kaitlin didn’t do as she was told. So she ran. And Gina was never seen again.
Fourteen years later, Kaitlin – after some years studying and working in Dallas – has returned to Richmond and is now a professor of communications at Virginia University. She had a reputation for being something of a ‘wild child’ – hanging out with the wrong boys, regularly getting drunk – but now older and wiser, she’s cleaned up her act and is determined to find out what happened to Gina. She decides to tap into the recent trend for making ‘true-crime’ podcasts, hoping that talking to people who knew Gina and were involved with the investigation may jog memories – either those of her contributors, or people who listen to the finished product.
Detective John Adler, recently returned to active duty after being injured in an arson attack, is called to the home of a young woman who has been found dead – obviously murdered – in her bathtub. Her throat was cut, and she was posed in such a way as to indicate that the killer wanted to humiliate her; there are no signs of sexual assault, but the perpetrator obviously planned meticulously, because there is no trace evidence at the scene or on the body. The dead woman is Jennifer Ralston, and as Adler and his partner canvass family, friends and neighbours, it emerges that for some time Jennifer had the feeling she was being followed. When Adler learns that Jennifer had been one of the girls present on the night of Gina Mason’s disappearance, and that she had recently met with Kaitlin Roe, he starts to believe that there may be a link between the recent murder and the fourteen-year-old cold case. And if his hunch is right, then digging up the past in her quest for the truth has put Kaitlin right in the killer’s sights.
The suspense plot is well-conceived and while the identity of Gina’s murderer is known fairly early on, the story focuses mostly on the hunt for Jennifer’s killer and whoever is out to harm Kaitlin, and on working out the links between the two cases. The identity of the villain isn’t obvious, and Adler pursues various leads, all of which point towards an ex- of Kaitlin’s and his friends. Or do they?
The story should have been compelling as Kaitlin gradually pieces together the events surrounding Gina’s disappearance and Adler pieces together the pieces relating to the present day murder – but the structure of the novel, in which the author switches back and forth between the current investigation, notes about Gina’s disappearance from over a decade earlier and transcripts, and recordings of Kaitlin’s interviews made it hard for me to engage fully with it. Normally, I enjoy stories that feature flashbacks or dual timelines, but this one just didn’t work for me. The interview/transcript chapters are quite short – some of them no more than a paragraph or two – but the switch was often jarring; I’d be into something meaty and then I found myself being pulled out of the action and into something else that had a completely different feel to it. I’m sure this is one of those times where ‘it’s not you, it’s me’, but the execution made it difficult for me to immerse myself in the mystery.
The central characters are somewhat underdeveloped, too. What we’re told about them is intriguing, but there’s little built on what we know. Adler comes from a wealthy family who don’t like his being a cop, and he was injured when he hauled his partner out of a burning building; his partner lost a leg and is undergoing gruelling rehab and Adler can’t help feeling guilty that he got out in one piece. The teenaged Kaitlin turned to drink and drugs as a way of coping with the pain of her brother’s suicide, and is stlll viewed with suspicion and dislike by many of the people she grew up with because of her reputation for being a liar, a drunk and ‘trouble’. I liked her bloody-mindedness in facing down those same people as part of her investigation, but otherwise, there’s no real depth to either protagonist, and the romantic elements are thrown into the last ten percent of the story; there’s no chemistry between them and they don’t spend a great deal of time together. I would have been quite happy had Adler and Kaitlin simply acknowledged a mutual attraction and agreed to see where it would take them at the end, rather than the rushed ILYs we actually get.
Her Last Word isn’t a terrible book by any means, but I won’t deny I was disappointed. I can’t, in all honesty, give it a wholehearted recommendation, and would advise anyone who has never read Mary Burton but wants to give her a try to make a start elsewhere.
I’ve read and enjoyed a number of Mary Burton’s romantic suspense novels and have generally found them to contain complex, intriguing mysteries with a reasonably-sized helping of romance that is enough to satisfy my shippy little heart. Unfortunately however, Ms. Burton’s latest standalone title, Her Last Word is a bit of a mixed bag. The mystery element is once again based on a cold-case, this time the disappearance of a teenaged girl some fourteen years earlier, and there are plenty of red herrings and wrong turns – but the way the story is constructed proved something of a barrier to my becoming fully engaged and the romance, such as it is, is perfunctory; the overall story would have made perfect sense without it and the book’s single sex scene feels as though it has been inserted for the sake of it.
Kaitlin Roe has spent much of the last fourteen years feeling guilty over what happened the night her cousin, Gina Mason, was abducted. Kaitlin, Gina and two of their friends, Jennifer and Erika had snuck away with a bottle of spiked lemonade and proceeded to get very drunk; Jennifer called her sister, Ashley, to come and get her and Erika, leaving Kaitlin and Gina to make their way home on their own. Not long after the other two girls were picked up, a man wearing a clown mask grabbed Gina and yelled at Kaitlin to run. Even though she was drunk and, as it was later revealed, drugged, Kaitlin refused to leave until her cousin’s assailant pulled a knife, put it to her throat and then, when Kaitlin still didn’t leave, cut off Gina’s ear while threatening to do worse if Kaitlin didn’t do as she was told. So she ran. And Gina was never seen again.
Fourteen years later, Kaitlin – after some years studying and working in Dallas – has returned to Richmond and is now a professor of communications at Virginia University. She had a reputation for being something of a ‘wild child’ – hanging out with the wrong boys, regularly getting drunk – but now older and wiser, she’s cleaned up her act and is determined to find out what happened to Gina. She decides to tap into the recent trend for making ‘true-crime’ podcasts, hoping that talking to people who knew Gina and were involved with the investigation may jog memories – either those of her contributors, or people who listen to the finished product.
Detective John Adler, recently returned to active duty after being injured in an arson attack, is called to the home of a young woman who has been found dead – obviously murdered – in her bathtub. Her throat was cut, and she was posed in such a way as to indicate that the killer wanted to humiliate her; there are no signs of sexual assault, but the perpetrator obviously planned meticulously, because there is no trace evidence at the scene or on the body. The dead woman is Jennifer Ralston, and as Adler and his partner canvass family, friends and neighbours, it emerges that for some time Jennifer had the feeling she was being followed. When Adler learns that Jennifer had been one of the girls present on the night of Gina Mason’s disappearance, and that she had recently met with Kaitlin Roe, he starts to believe that there may be a link between the recent murder and the fourteen-year-old cold case. And if his hunch is right, then digging up the past in her quest for the truth has put Kaitlin right in the killer’s sights.
The suspense plot is well-conceived and while the identity of Gina’s murderer is known fairly early on, the story focuses mostly on the hunt for Jennifer’s killer and whoever is out to harm Kaitlin, and on working out the links between the two cases. The identity of the villain isn’t obvious, and Adler pursues various leads, all of which point towards an ex- of Kaitlin’s and his friends. Or do they?
The story should have been compelling as Kaitlin gradually pieces together the events surrounding Gina’s disappearance and Adler pieces together the pieces relating to the present day murder – but the structure of the novel, in which the author switches back and forth between the current investigation, notes about Gina’s disappearance from over a decade earlier and transcripts, and recordings of Kaitlin’s interviews made it hard for me to engage fully with it. Normally, I enjoy stories that feature flashbacks or dual timelines, but this one just didn’t work for me. The interview/transcript chapters are quite short – some of them no more than a paragraph or two – but the switch was often jarring; I’d be into something meaty and then I found myself being pulled out of the action and into something else that had a completely different feel to it. I’m sure this is one of those times where ‘it’s not you, it’s me’, but the execution made it difficult for me to immerse myself in the mystery.
The central characters are somewhat underdeveloped, too. What we’re told about them is intriguing, but there’s little built on what we know. Adler comes from a wealthy family who don’t like his being a cop, and he was injured when he hauled his partner out of a burning building; his partner lost a leg and is undergoing gruelling rehab and Adler can’t help feeling guilty that he got out in one piece. The teenaged Kaitlin turned to drink and drugs as a way of coping with the pain of her brother’s suicide, and is stlll viewed with suspicion and dislike by many of the people she grew up with because of her reputation for being a liar, a drunk and ‘trouble’. I liked her bloody-mindedness in facing down those same people as part of her investigation, but otherwise, there’s no real depth to either protagonist, and the romantic elements are thrown into the last ten percent of the story; there’s no chemistry between them and they don’t spend a great deal of time together. I would have been quite happy had Adler and Kaitlin simply acknowledged a mutual attraction and agreed to see where it would take them at the end, rather than the rushed ILYs we actually get.
Her Last Word isn’t a terrible book by any means, but I won’t deny I was disappointed. I can’t, in all honesty, give it a wholehearted recommendation, and would advise anyone who has never read Mary Burton but wants to give her a try to make a start elsewhere.
May 17, 2018
Interesting storyline but the perpetrator of the current crimes was too obvious, the romance aspect felt like a forced add-on, and while the interspersed podcast interviews were a nice idea, they made the story somewhat disjointed, but nevertheless quite an enjoyable audiobook. 3.5 stars.
October 28, 2019
5 -Stars!
Great slow burn, romance, suspense /thriller.
The narrator did an amazing job of portraying the individual characters and describing the different scenes throughout the story.
This story was engaging and entertaining.
Good listen!
Great slow burn, romance, suspense /thriller.
The narrator did an amazing job of portraying the individual characters and describing the different scenes throughout the story.
This story was engaging and entertaining.
Good listen!
June 15, 2018
3 stars. A bit jumbled-- too many similar characters with too many similar agendas. And but overall it's engaging.
June 13, 2021
File under “shit sandwich.”*
It had the potential of being—at least—an adequate mystery, but the motive was *Desperately* stupid. The throbbing love hammer aside near the end was so awkward—so very misplaced—Its addition must have been the brainchild of an editor who decided the thin plot needed some sexiness to try and “help” the flaccid climax. All puns intended. It was an impotent engagement.
I’m kind of pissed I didn’t see the early warning signs, but suffice to say the last quarter of the book unravels anything remotely interesting about “whodunnit.” Who dumb it? The dummy, that’s who! I was the dumb reader. I took the hit for you so you can save your brain from it.
I think this author could write a decent thriller, but I’d do some research before you just grab one of Burton’s books on audible because it’s a freebie (yep, I gave it a chance without doing due diligence). Don’t be seduced by a sale!
*Please review _This is Spinal Tap_ (1987) for reference.
It had the potential of being—at least—an adequate mystery, but the motive was *Desperately* stupid. The throbbing love hammer aside near the end was so awkward—so very misplaced—Its addition must have been the brainchild of an editor who decided the thin plot needed some sexiness to try and “help” the flaccid climax. All puns intended. It was an impotent engagement.
I’m kind of pissed I didn’t see the early warning signs, but suffice to say the last quarter of the book unravels anything remotely interesting about “whodunnit.” Who dumb it? The dummy, that’s who! I was the dumb reader. I took the hit for you so you can save your brain from it.
I think this author could write a decent thriller, but I’d do some research before you just grab one of Burton’s books on audible because it’s a freebie (yep, I gave it a chance without doing due diligence). Don’t be seduced by a sale!
*Please review _This is Spinal Tap_ (1987) for reference.
July 2, 2018
This book was interesting but a bit slow. It starts off with friends having a good time until they get drunk (and drugged)...while walking home Gina gets abducted while her cousin Kaitlin looks on unable to help her.
Fast forward about 14 years later, Kaitlyn cant stop thinking about Gina who was never found, and decides to do a podcast about her. Little did she know it would result in two deaths and her own stabbing. But it does peak the interests of the police and thus, the whole investigation is open again.
It kept my interest because I really wanted to know what happened to Gina, but usually doesnt take me this long to read a book.
Fast forward about 14 years later, Kaitlyn cant stop thinking about Gina who was never found, and decides to do a podcast about her. Little did she know it would result in two deaths and her own stabbing. But it does peak the interests of the police and thus, the whole investigation is open again.
It kept my interest because I really wanted to know what happened to Gina, but usually doesnt take me this long to read a book.
June 29, 2025
3.75 rounded up
Not as good as the first book, but I did still really enjoy it and it was an easy read!
Not as good as the first book, but I did still really enjoy it and it was an easy read!
July 6, 2018
"Her Last Word" is about guilt, obsession and finding out the truth. Kaitlin Roe came back to Richmond Virginia to find the answers to her cousins Gina Mason disappearance. However, Kaitlin Roe investigation triggered the murder of people she interviewed. Due to the killing of Jennifer Ralston, Detective Adler contacted Kaitlin Roe to find out what she knows. The readers of "Her Last Word" will continue to follow the twist and turns in Detective Adler investigations into Jennifer Ralston murder and Kaitlin Roe investigation into her cousin disappearance.
"Her Last Word" is the first book I have read of Mary Burton, and it will not be the last. I love Mary Burton portrayal of her characters, and they react well together throughout the book. I like the setting and the plot of "Her Last Word" and the way that Mary Burton wrote this book ensured that from the beginning of the first chapter I was engaged. "Her Last Word" was well written and researched by Mary Burton.
The readers of "Her Last Word" will start to understand the role of a podcast to close cold criminal cases. Also, the readers will learn about law enforcement procedures in Richmond Virginia.
I recommend this book.
"Her Last Word" is the first book I have read of Mary Burton, and it will not be the last. I love Mary Burton portrayal of her characters, and they react well together throughout the book. I like the setting and the plot of "Her Last Word" and the way that Mary Burton wrote this book ensured that from the beginning of the first chapter I was engaged. "Her Last Word" was well written and researched by Mary Burton.
The readers of "Her Last Word" will start to understand the role of a podcast to close cold criminal cases. Also, the readers will learn about law enforcement procedures in Richmond Virginia.
I recommend this book.
August 25, 2018
Though the style this book was written in was a bit distracting with the back and forth between time frames, I could overlook it and didn't feel it affected my interest in the current storyline. What I couldn't overlook was the ridiculous events in the last few chapters of the book. People recovering from injuries sustained in this book getting a little too "physical" a few days later just seems entirely implausible to me. As did the rush to make sure the main characters had a love scene. All it served to do was make a jarring difference between the first 3/4 of the book and the last 1/4.
I also felt the final confrontation with the baddie was like a firework you're anticipating that suddenly fizzles out right before it's supposed to explode. All the build up to an anticlimactic finale.
This, unfortunately, was not among my favorites of Mary Burton for these reasons.
An okay read, but slightly disappointing.
I also felt the final confrontation with the baddie was like a firework you're anticipating that suddenly fizzles out right before it's supposed to explode. All the build up to an anticlimactic finale.
This, unfortunately, was not among my favorites of Mary Burton for these reasons.
An okay read, but slightly disappointing.
May 7, 2019
Unbelievable. I read 90% of the book only to get to this - main character has been targeted by a killer, attempted murder on her once, he vows to kill her, she takes no precautions - carries no weapon, is given no police protection, the cop who is dating her tells her to "be careful", then she takes a ride from a stranger who abducts her. Could not finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2018
Just so bad. Unnecessary descriptions; can skim through half of it. The need to describe women’s bodies was plain creepy.
January 27, 2020
Mary Burton is an author who has never disappointed me, her books carry the perfect blend of suspense and romance that keeps the fan girl in me happy. Her Last Word has another advantage of having a cold case mystery which is one of favorite genres, however almost all her books have been not exactly 5* reads for me only for the fact that I had been able to guess the killer before the reveal, I am hoping that sooner rather later she will shock me into changing this guessed right scenario.
Its been 14 yrs. that Gina Mason has vanished, after a night of fun get together with friends. Erika, Jennifer and Gina are the trio of girls who are celebrating their journey to adulthood and joining them in their fun is the much troubled Kaitlin, Gina’s cousin, who has been sent off from her home in the hope of achieving sobriety. Kaitlin’s brother’s death has had an adverse effect on her and she finds solace in drugs and drinks in the hope of overcoming her grief. The night of the party, Erika and Jennifer leave in Jennifer’s sister, Ashley’s car wasted from a drink that has been spiked. Kaitlin and Gina then walk home but a masked clown attacks Gina and forces Kaitlin to run. Her memories have been affected by drinks and the police soon turns to her which destroys her emotionally. Recovering from the alcoholic wreck that she was, plagued by guilt of not being there for her cousin, Kaitlin finds purpose and returns to the place of crime to find out the truth of missing Gina, organizing a podcast and re-interviewing each and everyone connected to the crime and the search for Gina.
The story begins brilliantly with a murder and the author introduces Kaitlin’s short interviews in alternate chapters that gives a glimpse of the past from different POV’s. It soon becomes clear that the killer has also been waiting as Jennifer is found murdered at her home. Detectives John Adler and Monica Quinn become involved and Adler’s enquiries makes him suspect the crime to be linked to past and Gina’s disappearance. Adler also feels attracted to Kaitlin so it becomes even more important to find the truth of Gina and make sense of the new killing.
A fast-paced thriller that can be enjoyed in one sitting, it also leaves the reader with the thought that a single lie can lead to years of obscurity. There are quite a lot of characters behaving and lying suspiciously, but Hayward managed to give me the creeps with his nonchalant attitude.
Absolute Entertainer!
Its been 14 yrs. that Gina Mason has vanished, after a night of fun get together with friends. Erika, Jennifer and Gina are the trio of girls who are celebrating their journey to adulthood and joining them in their fun is the much troubled Kaitlin, Gina’s cousin, who has been sent off from her home in the hope of achieving sobriety. Kaitlin’s brother’s death has had an adverse effect on her and she finds solace in drugs and drinks in the hope of overcoming her grief. The night of the party, Erika and Jennifer leave in Jennifer’s sister, Ashley’s car wasted from a drink that has been spiked. Kaitlin and Gina then walk home but a masked clown attacks Gina and forces Kaitlin to run. Her memories have been affected by drinks and the police soon turns to her which destroys her emotionally. Recovering from the alcoholic wreck that she was, plagued by guilt of not being there for her cousin, Kaitlin finds purpose and returns to the place of crime to find out the truth of missing Gina, organizing a podcast and re-interviewing each and everyone connected to the crime and the search for Gina.
The story begins brilliantly with a murder and the author introduces Kaitlin’s short interviews in alternate chapters that gives a glimpse of the past from different POV’s. It soon becomes clear that the killer has also been waiting as Jennifer is found murdered at her home. Detectives John Adler and Monica Quinn become involved and Adler’s enquiries makes him suspect the crime to be linked to past and Gina’s disappearance. Adler also feels attracted to Kaitlin so it becomes even more important to find the truth of Gina and make sense of the new killing.
A fast-paced thriller that can be enjoyed in one sitting, it also leaves the reader with the thought that a single lie can lead to years of obscurity. There are quite a lot of characters behaving and lying suspiciously, but Hayward managed to give me the creeps with his nonchalant attitude.
Absolute Entertainer!
January 16, 2019
This book featured engaging storytelling, an interesting mystery, and solid police procedural, but majorly lacked romance in the romance department. For a better, more detailed review, see Bleubelle's review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I agree with basically everything she said.
Safe, no OP drama.
Triggers
I appreciate Mary Burton so much because she always features strong women in her stories. They are never ruled by their libido, they have their own careers, and they're always passionate about something other than the H in their lives. However, the romance lover in me wishes for just a bit more romance. Some of her books are a little more developed in that department. Unfortunately (for just romance readers), that's not the case with this book.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I agree with basically everything she said.
Safe, no OP drama.
Triggers
I appreciate Mary Burton so much because she always features strong women in her stories. They are never ruled by their libido, they have their own careers, and they're always passionate about something other than the H in their lives. However, the romance lover in me wishes for just a bit more romance. Some of her books are a little more developed in that department. Unfortunately (for just romance readers), that's not the case with this book.
April 22, 2018
A unsolved disappearance of young woman 14 years ago has one person finally seeking answers and another seeking revenge on those that were with her in her final moments.
Kaitlin Roe made many mistakes in her youth. After losing her brother to suicide at a young age to ease the pain she turned to drugs. Her mom in a desperate plea to save her daughter sent to her live with her Aunt and cousin in Virginia. She was only there for a year but that year forever changed her life. After a night of partying with her cousin and 2 friends, Gina is kidnapped in front of Kaitlin in a gruesome way. Gina is never seen from again and after the police not believing Kaitlin's story due to her past history with drugs she runs back to Texas. The guilt over not being able to help her cousin Gina that night and not being able to identify the man who took her finally reaches a boiling point for Kaitlin and she returns to Virginia to interview everyone that was involved that night – from the other women that were parting with them, their boyfriends at the time and also those in law enforcement that were assigned the case. What she didn't know would happen is her returning to town and reopening old wounds would lead to triggering a killer to start his vengeance against those remaining three girls from that night that he feels are responsible for her death.
This story was writing in an unique way. Some of the chapters are the interviews Kaitlin has done giving us all the different perspectives the people who were either directly or indirectly involved along with also giving us short chapters from inside the killers mind and his rationale for what he was doing.
After the first murder homicide detective John Adler and his partner Monica Quinn are assigned the case. The identity of the first victim has them realizing the death it tied to the missing person's case of Gina from 14 years ago. He and his team simultaneously reopening the old case while also trying to solve the current case which eventually leads to more victims and an also fatal attempt on Kaitlin's life.
I felt sorry for Kailin throughout the book. Other than using alcohol and drugs and having poor taste in boyfriends when she was younger she didn't deserve to be as ostracized as she was current day. She had cleaned up her life, got a college education and was a taught classes at college. Thank goodness after a rocky first meeting John realizes she is so much more than her past and knows she needs protecting from the killer.
Even though this isn't labeled as being part of the Forgotten Files series is has a couple of the characters from that series play big roles in this book. Dr. Tessa McGowan from The Doll Maker is the ME that deals with the bodies and Tobias Novak from The Hang Man is John's Captain. Always love getting to revisit past characters.
This was a page turning psychological suspense that had me speedreading to get to the end to find out how it was going to end.
Kaitlin Roe made many mistakes in her youth. After losing her brother to suicide at a young age to ease the pain she turned to drugs. Her mom in a desperate plea to save her daughter sent to her live with her Aunt and cousin in Virginia. She was only there for a year but that year forever changed her life. After a night of partying with her cousin and 2 friends, Gina is kidnapped in front of Kaitlin in a gruesome way. Gina is never seen from again and after the police not believing Kaitlin's story due to her past history with drugs she runs back to Texas. The guilt over not being able to help her cousin Gina that night and not being able to identify the man who took her finally reaches a boiling point for Kaitlin and she returns to Virginia to interview everyone that was involved that night – from the other women that were parting with them, their boyfriends at the time and also those in law enforcement that were assigned the case. What she didn't know would happen is her returning to town and reopening old wounds would lead to triggering a killer to start his vengeance against those remaining three girls from that night that he feels are responsible for her death.
This story was writing in an unique way. Some of the chapters are the interviews Kaitlin has done giving us all the different perspectives the people who were either directly or indirectly involved along with also giving us short chapters from inside the killers mind and his rationale for what he was doing.
After the first murder homicide detective John Adler and his partner Monica Quinn are assigned the case. The identity of the first victim has them realizing the death it tied to the missing person's case of Gina from 14 years ago. He and his team simultaneously reopening the old case while also trying to solve the current case which eventually leads to more victims and an also fatal attempt on Kaitlin's life.
I felt sorry for Kailin throughout the book. Other than using alcohol and drugs and having poor taste in boyfriends when she was younger she didn't deserve to be as ostracized as she was current day. She had cleaned up her life, got a college education and was a taught classes at college. Thank goodness after a rocky first meeting John realizes she is so much more than her past and knows she needs protecting from the killer.
Even though this isn't labeled as being part of the Forgotten Files series is has a couple of the characters from that series play big roles in this book. Dr. Tessa McGowan from The Doll Maker is the ME that deals with the bodies and Tobias Novak from The Hang Man is John's Captain. Always love getting to revisit past characters.
This was a page turning psychological suspense that had me speedreading to get to the end to find out how it was going to end.
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