The Last Amen

Kate Murphy Mystery #3

by C.C. Jameson

When he acts in the name of God, his victims’ faith could be their demise.

When a young woman is found dead on her bed, dressed in an old-fashioned nightgown with her hands clasped in a prayer position, Detective Kate Murphy is called to investigate her murder.

But before Kate and her colleagues can find the killer, another woman is found dead in the same position. Other than being Catholic, having blonde hair, and living in Boston, the women have very little in common. But one thing is clear: the serial killer has some twisted religious beliefs.

What is his motive? Who is he? And, most importantly, can Kate stop the murderer before he strikes again?

If you like serial killer books, complex mysteries, unexpected twists, and dramatic stories, then you’ll enjoy the thrills that this page-turning mystery has to offer.

The Last Amen is the third standalone book in the Kate Murphy Mystery series.

Buy your copy today!

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Procedural, Ebooks

310 pages, ebook

First published March 17, 2019

About the author

C.C. Jameson is a Canadian author, ex-military officer, and citizen of the world. After leading a nomadic lifestyle for years, she had to stop her wanderlust ways due to the pandemic. She now lives somewhere along the west coast of Canada. Spending time on or near the ocean, learning new languages, and writing fiction are some of C.C.'s favorite activities.

C.C. Jameson is not the author’s real name but a pen name inspired by her favorite drink. C.C. enjoys her whiskey and always has a bottle of Jameson nearby. The C.C. part corresponds to the author's real first initial, but doubled because it sounded better. Plus, that's what many people call Canadian Club.

Did you know that whiskey is spelled with an “e” when its country of origin has an “e” in it? Ireland has an “e” so it’s Irish whiskey. The same rule gives us Japanese whisky, Canadian whisky, Scotch whisky, but American whiskey.

Interesting fact, eh?

Learn more about C.C. Jameson and her Detective Kate Murphy Series at https://ccjameson.com.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sort of waaaay behind the ball on this series, this being the third book, but I'm definitely going to rectify that because I simply MUST find out more about the main protagonist Kate Murphy.
While a religious nutcase killing in the name of God is nothing new, this was riveting with very little for the detectives to go on initially, a red herring or two thrown into the mix and a compelling backstory of the historical murder of Kate's parents and baby brother.

I received a free copy of the novel from the author via a Bookfunnel giveaway. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book and the gifting in no way influences my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
Genre: Mystery Thriller

The Last Amen is a detective murder mystery with a religious touch to it. I am not usually a big fan of novels where the main protagonist is a detective but this story was interesting to read. I liked that the story was about a serial killer who had some crazy religious beliefs. This is the third book in the series. I have not read the first two but I can say that my reading experience was good. I did not feel anything was missing not having read the previous books. So you can read the book as a standalone.

I liked the main character Kate Murphy, she is a tough woman & has gone through a lot. Her recurring nightmares must be something carried on from the previous books too. Mrs. O'Brian is another character I enjoyed. The funny religious touch to her character was amusing. The writing style is very good but what I think the story lacked was more characters to increase the number of suspects for the readers. 25% in the book I had two clear suspects in mind & one of them is the killer. The number of characters relative to the length of the book should have been more proportionate.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read & I would recommend it if you like the points I have mentioned. Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book. This is my honest & unbiased review.

[Helen the Bassist · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonable serial killer tale. Decent characters and prose. I had my suspicions as to the suspect but there were a couple of good twists. Perhaps a tad derivative but you could probably say that about all the other serial killer books!
I'll happily read another one of Jameson's books and I think that's a fair endorsement.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Amen is another incredible crime thriller from a master storyteller. In this latest mystery, a serial killer is targeting young women, posing them with a bible and rosary. This suspense-filled novel kept me reading until the wee hours of the night. I am looking forward to the next novel in the series.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read the earlier books but will be rectifying that shortly. This was a really good read. I love the main character, Kate, and am really looking forward to learning more about her. The mystery was really good with lots of suspects and red herrings. Love the interaction between the characters too.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! No spoilers in my reviews, here's what you need to know: Although it is not a huge detractor from this wonderful story, you would do better to read the other books in the Kate Murphy series first. But, that being said, totally NOT necessary to enjoy this fast-paced thriller that takes you on a roller-coaster ride with ups and downs and twists and turns that keep your attention from the first page. The writing is simply AMAZING, and for me, this was just one of those books that was super hard to put down. Although there is a taste of a 'religious theme' do not let that deter you; it is only part of the intrigue of the story and not the basis! I read an ARC of this book and am posting my honest, unsolicited review! A must read!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable suspense. Had me gripped until the end to find out what happens. Don’t miss out.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/5/2021)! 🎁

[D.A. Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Murphy's latest case is wrapped around faith and the Church. This attention-grabbing thriller holds you throughout the book! Must read.  started reading this book at noon today. I've raced through it, forgoing food, fluid, or movement, and ignoring a persistent cat.

That's how good this thriller is.


C.C. Jameson creates a world where teenagers make vows they don't keep, where the priest that listens to your confession may not be helping you, where almost everyone has a deep secret. The 'almost' is part of what makes this book so gripping. It is filled with well-written characters, gruesome details, interweaving stories. With this author's skill, the strands of the story are never tangled but the solution is difficult to guess.


Kate Murphy has been assigned her first lead on a murder case. She barely hangs on as the murders pile up, and as the trauma from her childhood creeps more and more often into her dreams. Her long-lost lover is getting exasperated, and his mother is pressuring him to marry her, while Kate barely has a moment to catch her breath. Her boss is also on her case, but is kind enough to allocate extra staff to the investigation, and continually sets limits on overtime, not because of the cost, but because he feels his team do their best work when rested. (The only unlikely thing in this book is his management approach, unfortunately.)


Being rested doesn't help the team as they chase the murderer, always one step behind. Despite taking the time to position his victims dressed sweetly and holding an open Bible, the murderer is so careful there are no clues. Will they manage to dig through the past to find the murderer? Who is lined up to be the next victim, and is the police team safe? Will Luke lose patience with his always-gone girlfriend?


The last several chapters should be read in one sitting. Allow time, You won't want to put this book down.


Highly recommended. I'm off to look up more books by this author.

REVIEWED BY



Dorothyanne Brown

An avid reader of all genres except romance (it makes me snicker). Published writer of humour and short fiction/non-fiction. Currently working on a fiction trilogy and a self-help book for people with MS or other brain conditions.

Retired nurse. Now artist and crafter plus the writing, of course!

The Last Amen

Written by C.C. Jameson

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Book details

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 C.C. Jameson

C.C. Jameson is an ex-military officer now wanderlust-driven author. The author currently lives somewhere along the coast of Mexico, where blue skies meet turquoise waters, and cold beers and lime margaritas reign as the best thirst quenchers. view profile

Published on March 27, 2019

Published by

80000 words

Contains explicit content ⚠️

Genre: Mystery & crime

REVIEWED BY

[R Huiszoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

C. C. Jameson, ‘The Last Amen’, a Kate Murphy Mystery.
As a ARC reader I received this book for free. And promised an honest review. Here it is.
For me English is a foreign language. Sorry for errors.

Rating: 4,5 stars (of 5).

In general: Serial killer in religious community.

Main characters:
- Kate Murphy.
Detective in Boston. At first she had to struggle to receive recognition as a clever, hard working investigator in a world dominated by men. Now for the first time she’s leader of the police team that investigates the murder of several women.

- Luke (Luko) O’Brien.
Head of the forensic lab in Boston. Friend of Kate since childhood. A few years ago they met again and fell in love. Kate lives together with Luke in his house. Luke also took his (very religious) mother in his home.

The author, C.C. Jameson, created an original plot about the investigation into the serial killings.
The book was well written and has several interesting storylines: the investigation itself with sometimes unexpected turns; the often difficult relation between Kate and her boss, Fuller; Kate’s dark past; the behaviour of people in a (sometimes close) religious community. The characters are credible. The plot full of suspense makes the book a page turner.
For me, there was only one ‘but’. In general I like to read books to get a ‘feel good’ experience. And this book contained some scenes that gave quite an opposite feeling, as the detailed description of the dissection of a corpse that was already murdered more than a week before or the several killings of young women. I know, that’s the reality in police work and normal for detecive stories, but .... brrrr.

R. Huiszoon.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

476 pages

4 stars

Detective Malvin Rosebud and his partner Detective Kate Murphy respond to the scene of a dead young woman. They suspect that her death was a murder. Kate is named as the detective in charge of the case. Her boss is hard driving and sometimes difficult to please.

Kate is also trying to overcome sleepless nights and harrowing nightmares surrounding the murders of her entire family several years earlier. Can she handle the pressure?

When more young women are murdered in the same way, the pressure mounts. Kate and Malvin's team are working very hard to figure out the identity of the killer. Clearly, there is a connection to the local Catholic Church. There are three priests and a priest-in-training working there. As Kate set her eyes on a particular one of them, she is in for a huge surprise. A long distance telephone call gives them a vital clue to follow.

This book has action, suspense and a few surprises. It is well written and intelligent. By that I mean the language is productive and the focussed dialogue between the detectives really adds to the book. I liked Rosebud, but Kate, well, erm...not so much. I don't know what it was about her. But then reading her story, I can see why she is driven.

This is my first CC Jameson novel and I do believe that I will try another.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the wine reflected the blood of Christ for him and the cleansing and the means to give the soul a rest for those that sinned, the thoughts of the killer.
Detective Kate what is her Achilles heel, Detective Malvin wants to know, feels that’s the best way to watch their partners back. A home she shares with Luke and his Mother. She has nightmares, and not religious. A case now with religious items. In the bedroom most of the religious items look like they were of the victim. A body laid out, with a blue rosary wrapped around her hands, why, it couldn’t be her’s nothing else in her room was
in that color. Suspect of.these killings has become personal for her when it is at her home and Involves her loved ones.
Tense, chilling aspect when the killer thinks he is a servant of God and saving souls. It will definitely hold you to the end, you want answer for Kate.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

[Mrs B E Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Having read the first two books in the Kate Murphy Series - The Last Lies and The Last Hope, and having been impressed by this new Author, The Last Amen just blew me away! This book is a total knockout. Kate, having started as a Beat Cop in Boston struggling to find her place within a male dominated police department whilst dealing with a troubled marriage, finally achieves her ambition to become a detective. Now, having finally gained promotion and in a stable, happy relationship, we see Kate come into her own as lead detective hunting down a serial killer whilst also coming to terms with the loss of her beloved uncle who had raised her after the murder of her mother, father and baby brother. The book is amazingly well written, gripping and a real page turner. Very Highly Recommend.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a young woman was found dead in her bedroom at her family home, Detective Kate Murphy and Detective Malvin Rosebud with the Boston PD. Then a second body of a young woman is found dead.

Kate lives with her boyfriend Luke O’Brien and his mother. Luke has been trying to get Kate to see a hypnotherapist for her nightmares. She’s also looking into a cold case involving her parents who were murdered.

A serial killer masquerading as a parishioner goes around meting out punishment to fellow parishioners after listening in on their confessions in church.

While the detectives are still investigating the first two victims, the body of another young woman turns up. Kate finds herself under increasing pressure to understand the deranged killer's motives so she can stop him.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading another Kate Murphy mystery. Although she was Istill suffering fromI nightmares, seeing a hypnotherapist because of it, Kate was capable of solving another puzzling crime. Three women, two of them blondes, were murdered for a reason .
Murphy even risked to lose her true love to get on with her work as a detective . But she has such an understanding and loyal partner who even rewards her despite neglection. So she can keep both her job and him.

I could not put that book down which made me an "accomplice" to Kate's decisions. I therefore recommend this novel.
I received a free ARC and voluntarily wrote this honest review.

[NanaShauna Joesten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic Read. This is a Murder Mystery the that Detective Kate Murphy is investigating. The writer takes you into this murder mystery where as the police put the puzzles together and learn information bit by but that they start building the case. The Author really brings the story as well as the characters to life. And as you read you can picture the scenes in the book so well that you feel like your apart of the investigation. I highly recommend this read. The Author has written s fantastic read.
Shauna Joesten

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a winner. From the start it grabs your interest and keeps you questioning who the killer is.

If you have read the 1st two books, then you know of Kate's background of her marrage and how she reconnected with Luko (Luke) her childhood friend. The story brings into play her finding her murdered family and draws a conclusion to what happened. It also involves murders which refer to biblical passages.

The ending is one that you didn't expect and one you have to read. I highly recommend this book.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book with a very happy ending. The story follows the progress of a young female detective who has had one unhappy relationship and a sad experience of losing her parents and baby brother at an early age. I think I would have been able to follow the plot without reading the previous Kate Murphy stories but having done so made it much easier to follow. I loved the way that C.C. wove a minor story into the major plot. Definitely recommend as it leaves lots of things to think about - suicide, religion, sex!!! Can’t wait for next book.

[Robin Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. Read it all in one sitting, totally absorbed and the adrenaline was pumping. Tension was at a high, with the killer believing himself that he was meant to carry out the killings for a higher purpose. Clever use of prop to carry around his macabre tools. Totally threw the reader off balance until the end. I received an advanced copy of this book and found it to be a good experience. This author gets better with each book.

[Era Yuskristianti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so great! A murder mystery that glued me to my seat. The characters are just great. I admire Luke and Kate's relationship, too. I couldn't stop reading this book. It made me so focus on the storyline and my emotion also followed its ups and downs. At first, I had a hunch that A was the culprit, but I got swayed and changed my mind and thought that it must be M. Then in the end, the culprit was the first guy I thought! The author wrote an amazing story! I love it!

[Stuart Sear · Rating 5 out of 5]

C C Jameson has certainly done himself proud with this book, it has all the usual characters and Kate dose not disappoint the plot is well laid out and as usual keeps your mind active and on the go.In this book he has taken a subject that most writers shy away from and shown us how this can make some people fanatics great read with more to come from Kate can't wait.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense

Kate Murphy is a homicide detective working a fanatic murder scene. As the story develops, we meet realistic characters who include her boyfriend and his mother, priests and a priest candidate. Kate and her colleagues rush to catch a killer before he kills again, then again. Excellent writing!

[Mrs J N Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and an absorbing read.couldn't put it down. Best I've read for some time. Writer kept the plot flowing without padding it out with boring unnecessary text. Highly recommended.

All readers of fast paced crime thrillers. Great story line with just enough background information to understand the personal issues of the main character.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone is killing young women that have not led upstanding lives. They have sinned against God. The dead women are found with a rosary around their necks. This is another Detective Kate Murphy thriller to catch a killer. This is a page turner you will not want to put down.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Last Amen Is A absolutely unputdownable crime thriller that will have you up all night! you will love how C.C. Jameson weaves a detailed and, intricate plot, you’re guaranteed to be hooked from page one.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.C. Jameson has done it again. Kate Murphy is back at it again, catching a serial killer while looking into her parents and baby brothers' murders. Perfect for readers who like non-stop action with a strong female lead.

[Pat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murderer that is acting in the name of God has murdered young women in a ritualistic gruesome way. Kate Murphy is working to find the murderer to stop the killing spree. She could be the next victim.

[Angus Silvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid crime thriller

This is a well written and well constructed book. It didn’t wow me, hence not 5 stars, but I enjoyed reading it and it was a good illustration of what religious extremism in any religion can lead to.

[Penny Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual a fabulous book

[alice Tileston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recieved free for review:
Enjoyable and engaging read!
Hope to read more by this author!