The Only One Left

Neema Mystery #3

by Pamela Beason

What does a human finger bone found by a signing gorilla have to do with Detective Matthew Finn's case of two missing girls? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything.

Memorial Day starts off strangely when a signing gorilla hands Detective Matthew Finn a human finger bone, and then explains the bone's origin with the mysterious clues of up, bird, and Snow, a favorite white cat. Finn's day gets far worse when his small police department in Evansburg, Washington, loans him to the adjacent county to investigate the case of two missing teenage girls. Adding to the chaos, an arsonist is torching abandoned buildings in the area, and Finn soon discovers a troubling history of young women who have vanished in the rural area. Frantic parents and demanding reporters are breathing down his neck. Can Finn fit the puzzle pieces together in time to save the girls?

Genres: Mystery

275 pages, Paperback

Published October 13, 2018

About the author

Pamela Beason lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes novels and screenplays and works as a private investigator. When she's not on the job, she explores the natural world on foot, in cross-country skis, in her kayak, or underwater scuba diving.

Beason is the author of nine full-length fiction works: THE ONLY WITNESS, THE ONLY CLUE (books 1 and 2 of the Neema Mysteries); SHAKEN, CALL OF THE JAGUAR (romantic suspense novels), ENDANGERED, BEAR BAIT, and UNDERCURRENTS in the Summer "Sam" Westin series; and RACE WITH DANGER and RACE TO TRUTH, books 1 and 2 of a YA Run for Your Life adventure trilogy. She also wrote the nonfiction titles, SAVE YOUR MONEY, YOUR SANITY, AND OUR PLANET and SO YOU WANT TO BE A PI?. Pam's writing has earned her multiple prizes, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two First Place prizes and two Grand Prizes in the Chanticleer Book Reviews Contest, and an Honorable Mention in a Library Journal contest.

As an avid outdoorswoman and animal lover, Beason challenges the human assumption that we are the superior species. Drifting through life is not enough; you have to live it.

Pamela blogs and tweets about writing, outdoor adventures, and the value of being present in the moment. She looks forward to connecting with readers on her Twitter, Goodreads Page or Blog.

Reviews

[Cherie O'Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the Neema gorilla triology. As mysteries with animal characters become more common and quite popular, there are still not many with gorillas as characters. This suspense-filled mystery involves teenagers who make unwise decisions, as did we all, and the life-threatening consequences for them. From the beginning, readers are drawn into the story, as the events seem to come right from today’s headlines. Then the gorillas start to bring human bones to their human companions. A great read, and worth every minute.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three years ago (May 2016) I read books 1 & 2 in the Neema Mysteries and just discovered book #3, "The Only One Left." What a wonderful book! It was great catching up with Grace and her 3 gorilla charges, i.e., her family: Gumu, Neema, and baby Kanoni. And (Detective) Finn who has a major case to solve of two missing teenage girls. I really love how the author weaves the stories together, seamlessly making connections that help in finding the solutions. Great writing, well-realized characters, and a chilling mystery.

[Laura Steinert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am also reading the Sam Weston series and have to say Beason is one of my favorite writers. She seems to do everything right: romance instead of graphic sex. characters who are real and one would like to know, lovely mystery that is intelligent and thought provoking rater than formulaic, and while she doesn't provide laugh-out-loud bits, there are plenty of moments I smile and shake my head at her humor. Set in the Pacific Northwest (mostly) and written as only a person who lives here and love it can, these books give a beautiful glimpse of the whole of Washington state from rain forest to desert. Please read these books, and please do so in order--too many spoilers in later books for the romances. My only complaint is there seems to have been a missing book between The Only Clue and The Only one Left. I would love to read that!
You won't be able to put these down.

[Jennifer Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bad news for me is I meant to read the Sager book by the same title and mistakenly downloaded this instead. The good news is I was hooked from the first chapter and devoured the book in one sitting despite having jumped unknowingly into the third book of a trilogy. If you haven't read the first two, this one is still wonderful as a stand-alone. Interesting characters and swiftly moving plot make this a fun read. Trigger warning: SA described in some detail.

[Virginia Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adventure! Reading the series was captivating. I had to read from one into the other without stopping. I have a vivid imagination so I could imagine myself right there in the middle of everything and it was a wonderful experience.

I feel like I know, Grace and Matt and the apes, and every other characters in the book. So well written, so balanced with emotion and mystery and a little bit of comedy and of course, romance. A perfect blend..

I recommend this series.

[DianeG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Neema series. Grace and Matt are back with Neema, Gumu and my new favorite, Kanoni. This time around Grace is overworked while trying to raise funds and keep her little gorilla family together. Matt is out chasing clues for two missing teens and keeping an eye out for an arsonist. The mystery is well-written and the clues are woven into a story that flows. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars but bumping up because I love the gorillas. Exciting mystery though the gorillas weren’t really part of the case this time. They only had minor roles in the mystery but it was fun to see them again. Overall a highly original and entertaining series.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
I enjoyed it, but not as much as the previous two in the series. It was just a little too predictable.

[Amanda Breska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, kept you interested and satisfied

[Linda Marr · Rating 5 out of 5]

no second guess

Beasley never fails to amaze me with her plots, her word usage, her end I vs. She writes to hold your interest all through her stories. I fully Appreciate her style