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Veronica Lee Thriller #1
Her Last Summer
A Heartless Killer Plays a Deadly Game
When a celebrity author dies under mysterious circumstances in a small Florida town, a vulnerable young woman is the only witness, and Willow Bay's new chief of police must begin the hunt for a ruthless serial killer who will stop at nothing to hide his true identity.
As reporter Veronica Lee investigates the breaking story, a local woman is brutally killed, exposing a disturbing connection to a dangerous con man who has eluded capture for almost a decade.
After Veronica's efforts to uncover the killer's motives lead to a horrifying discovery, she comes face to face with the cunning killer and must overcome her deepest fears to survive his deadly game.
Written by Melinda Woodhall, author of the addictive Mercy Harbor Thriller series
When a celebrity author dies under mysterious circumstances in a small Florida town, a vulnerable young woman is the only witness, and Willow Bay's new chief of police must begin the hunt for a ruthless serial killer who will stop at nothing to hide his true identity.
As reporter Veronica Lee investigates the breaking story, a local woman is brutally killed, exposing a disturbing connection to a dangerous con man who has eluded capture for almost a decade.
After Veronica's efforts to uncover the killer's motives lead to a horrifying discovery, she comes face to face with the cunning killer and must overcome her deepest fears to survive his deadly game.
Written by Melinda Woodhall, author of the addictive Mercy Harbor Thriller series
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2020
1183 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
December 8, 2020
This is the first book in a new series from writer Melinda Woodhall, after the Mercy Harbor series. I hadn't read the Mercy Harbor series fully, but it’s also set in Willow Bay and some of the characters do make a reappearance.
When a celebrity author Portia Hart dies under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room, Willow Bay’s police begin a hunt for a ruthless serial killer who will stop at nothing to hide his true identity. Veronica Lee, a star reporter for the Channel 10 news, is determined to investigate Portia's untimely demise too. As the death toll keeps rising, Veronica finally uncovers the killer’s motives. But will she be able to catch the killer, before the killer reaches her?
This is not a regular whodunit or a murder mystery. This one is a part police procedural and part thriller. It starts with a murder and the police are in a race against time to catch the culprit before he commits more killings. What begins is a deadly game of cat & mouse, with the antagonist always a step ahead. The story is well written with plenty of thrilling moments and revelations. The characters are well developed and the several storylines do not distract from the main plot. The story remains fast-paced throughout and it never slows down. The suspense builds slowly which makes the story immensely readable.
Though Veronica Lee is the central character of the series, Veronica had very little to do in the story, which I found a bit odd. Maybe she has a more prominent role later in the series. Also, not being acquainted with any of the characters before, I didn’t connect with their personal storylines. Maybe a bit of introduction to the characters or a prologue could have helped.
Overall, this was an exciting start to a new series. It had a thrilling storyline and some great characters. If you are looking for a nice thriller series, this is a good series to start.
Many thanks to the publishers Creative Magnolia and BookSirens for the ARC.
When a celebrity author Portia Hart dies under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room, Willow Bay’s police begin a hunt for a ruthless serial killer who will stop at nothing to hide his true identity. Veronica Lee, a star reporter for the Channel 10 news, is determined to investigate Portia's untimely demise too. As the death toll keeps rising, Veronica finally uncovers the killer’s motives. But will she be able to catch the killer, before the killer reaches her?
This is not a regular whodunit or a murder mystery. This one is a part police procedural and part thriller. It starts with a murder and the police are in a race against time to catch the culprit before he commits more killings. What begins is a deadly game of cat & mouse, with the antagonist always a step ahead. The story is well written with plenty of thrilling moments and revelations. The characters are well developed and the several storylines do not distract from the main plot. The story remains fast-paced throughout and it never slows down. The suspense builds slowly which makes the story immensely readable.
Though Veronica Lee is the central character of the series, Veronica had very little to do in the story, which I found a bit odd. Maybe she has a more prominent role later in the series. Also, not being acquainted with any of the characters before, I didn’t connect with their personal storylines. Maybe a bit of introduction to the characters or a prologue could have helped.
Overall, this was an exciting start to a new series. It had a thrilling storyline and some great characters. If you are looking for a nice thriller series, this is a good series to start.
Many thanks to the publishers Creative Magnolia and BookSirens for the ARC.
April 10, 2020
The new Chief of Police is investigating the death of a very famous woman, known for her latest book she wrote. Her body was found in the hotel's bathtub .... suicide? accident? murder?
Reporter Veronica Lee is also investigating and is surprised to find links to a con man from several years previous.
When several women are killed by the same method, the cry of Serial Killer goes right to the hearts of those who have already dealt with a serial killer in the not-so-distant past.
How many more will die .... and who will be the next targets?
This one has it all. Well-written ..... bodies dropping like flies .... jam-packed action on every page .... twists and turns that lead to an explosive conclusion ... characters that are memorable .... and several different story lines that bear watching.
This is the beginning of a brand new series and I can hardly wait to get my hands on Book 2! There are no cliff hangers ... just maybe a little segue into the beginning of the next book.
Many thanks to the author /Booksirens for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 22, 2020
Her Last Summer by Melinda Woodhall
This was an excellent start to a new series. Great characters that are fully fleshed out so you know how they think and feel, dead bodies everywhere and an investigation you can follow. Thank you for an advanced copy and letting me leave my opinion. Will be waiting on the next book from this author!
This was an excellent start to a new series. Great characters that are fully fleshed out so you know how they think and feel, dead bodies everywhere and an investigation you can follow. Thank you for an advanced copy and letting me leave my opinion. Will be waiting on the next book from this author!
June 14, 2020
Veronica Lee Thriller book #1
As a fan of the Mercy Harbor Thriller Series I definitely didn’t want to miss reading “Her Last Summer” the first book in the exciting spin-off series set in the small Florida town of Willow Bay.
I appreciated to see that some of my favourite characters took center stage in this new story. After reading 4 books in the Mercy Harbor series they have become dear to me. Although the story brought back known players the story has its own spin, is fresh and exciting. Ms. Woodhall writes an intriguing premise and has a knack to twirl suspense to keep us flipping pages.
It starts when a well-known author is found dead in her hotel room…is it suicide or murder….chief of Police Nessa and her team are scrambling to find out and Veronica, the reporter, to get her scoop. Of course, the villain or villains play a cat and mouse game with everyone…and what a chase we are into when several women are killed by the same method and everyone suspect a serial killer may be on the loose…who will be next…. many players come into play, some we know and some appear for the first time and all are entangled in a web of mystery, suspense and betrayal. As the plot moves at a steady pace there is a great deal of tension. I was so engaged in the action I lost track of time and had to be brought to reality and back to my daily chores….
This kind of story is just up my alley: one that never misses a beat, gives us intriguing and suspenseful action and a satisfying wrap up…oh yah also a mushy ending…..how one could not like this story?
I received a free digital copy of this crime fiction. This is a voluntarily review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
As a fan of the Mercy Harbor Thriller Series I definitely didn’t want to miss reading “Her Last Summer” the first book in the exciting spin-off series set in the small Florida town of Willow Bay.
I appreciated to see that some of my favourite characters took center stage in this new story. After reading 4 books in the Mercy Harbor series they have become dear to me. Although the story brought back known players the story has its own spin, is fresh and exciting. Ms. Woodhall writes an intriguing premise and has a knack to twirl suspense to keep us flipping pages.
It starts when a well-known author is found dead in her hotel room…is it suicide or murder….chief of Police Nessa and her team are scrambling to find out and Veronica, the reporter, to get her scoop. Of course, the villain or villains play a cat and mouse game with everyone…and what a chase we are into when several women are killed by the same method and everyone suspect a serial killer may be on the loose…who will be next…. many players come into play, some we know and some appear for the first time and all are entangled in a web of mystery, suspense and betrayal. As the plot moves at a steady pace there is a great deal of tension. I was so engaged in the action I lost track of time and had to be brought to reality and back to my daily chores….
This kind of story is just up my alley: one that never misses a beat, gives us intriguing and suspenseful action and a satisfying wrap up…oh yah also a mushy ending…..how one could not like this story?
I received a free digital copy of this crime fiction. This is a voluntarily review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 6, 2021
After reading and finishing the Mercy Harbor series as I enjoyed that series, I thought I would give her Veronica Lee series a go. Veronica Lee is a spin-off from the Mercy Harbor series. In Book #4 of the Mercy Harbor, we were introduced to the weather girl Veronica Lee who was ready to move on to reporting but was always in the shadows, that is until she breaks the stalker case and ends up almost being killed by the killer. In Her Last Summer, we read as Veronica managed now to get some good reports and a job promotion and now is ready to break a big story as popular author and heiress Portia Hart has been killed and she is in competition to bring the story to their channel before her opponent snatches it from her. As the story delves deeper, we learn that Portia had been in a relationship with a well-known con man Xavier who has eluded law enforcement for years and the new State Attorney Riley - he is the one suspect who got away and now is more determined than ever to bring him to justice if only they can prove it which is where Lexi comes in as the sole witness, but can Frankie Dawson protect her before she finds herself another victim to the con man? Find out in Book #1 Her Last Summer by Melinda Woodhall. Overall, I enjoyed this book but I would say at this stage I still say Mercy Harbor is still the favorite.
November 11, 2020
This is a really good thriller! Part police procedural, and part suspense thriller. This is the first book I've read by Melinda Woodhall, and it starts off with a bang as a famous self-help author Portia Hart is murdered but the killer makes it look like a suicide. This happens in Willow Bay and the police are now investigating the case to determine how the author died.The rest of the book involves the law enforcement and the media including Veronica Lee a reporter and Hunter Hadley trying to find out what really happened. The story has lots of twists and turns, and the ending blew me away. No spoilers, but it really surprised me. Check it out for an entertaining read! Thank you to Melinda Woodhall, Creative Magnolia, and BookSirens for giving the opportunity to read this book. I know I want to read more of Woodhall's books.
May 7, 2022
The first book in the Veronica Lee series set in Willow Bay (not far from Mercy Harbor where the first series is set) sees inexperienced reporter Veronica sent to cover the unexplained death of a celebrity. Portia Hart is found dead in her hotel bathtub but was it an accident, suicide, or murder? Nessa Ainsley is having trouble keeping out of direct involvement in the case now she is Chief of Police whilst State Attorney, Riley, is suspicious as the case reminds her of one from her former job where a conman named Xavier tried to fleece a woman out of her fortune & when she reported him to the police, he killed her but made it look like an accidental drowning.
This was a fast-moving story line with bodies dropping left, right & center. It was odd that Veronica seemed more like one of an ensemble cast rather than the main character as there were lots of appearances by characters from the first series, including Pete Barker & Frankie, Nessa, & one or two police detectives. There is also a romance plot simmering in the background between Veronica & her manager, Hunter. In this book we also get two pets for the price of one with Veronica's lovable cat, Winston, & the new guy Finn's sweet dog, Gracie. Overall, I rather enjoyed it & there were one or two good twists, but I did work out whodunnit.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a fast-moving story line with bodies dropping left, right & center. It was odd that Veronica seemed more like one of an ensemble cast rather than the main character as there were lots of appearances by characters from the first series, including Pete Barker & Frankie, Nessa, & one or two police detectives. There is also a romance plot simmering in the background between Veronica & her manager, Hunter. In this book we also get two pets for the price of one with Veronica's lovable cat, Winston, & the new guy Finn's sweet dog, Gracie. Overall, I rather enjoyed it & there were one or two good twists, but I did work out whodunnit.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 29, 2021
First of I want to say a huge thank you to Booksirens , the publisher Creative Magnolia , the author Melinda Woodhall for letting me read and review it, because with out them I wouldn't have known about this series , its everything I would want in a thriller which is police procedural, as well as a suspense thriller that will keep you on your toes though out the story and make you keep guessing on what is going to happen next and who might the next victim or victims . And while this is a new to me author after reading this one I can see myself reading the rest of this series and giving her other series a try as well. So if your'll looking for something that keeps you guessing , has you on the edge of your set though out the story, and full of angst and suspense, and lets not for get the turns and twist that is in it , then give this one a try.
November 23, 2024
I read most of the Mercy Harbor series, and it was nice to see some of the characters from those novels, especially Nessa. I thought the mystery moved along at a good pace, and it kept me interested.
I was a bit confused that this was call a Veronica Lee Thriller, since it did seem more focused on Nessa, or on the town of Willow Bay, but I assume Veronica's role will be bigger in the next book in the series (which I look forward to reading).
I was a bit confused that this was call a Veronica Lee Thriller, since it did seem more focused on Nessa, or on the town of Willow Bay, but I assume Veronica's role will be bigger in the next book in the series (which I look forward to reading).
March 9, 2021
I am voluntarily reviewing this novel after receiving a free copy.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
This book was overall pretty "meh." Despite being classed as a "Veronica Lee Thriller," she's not really the lead. I would say only about 1/4 to 1/3rd of the book is even in her perspective. This novel jumps POVs constantly, and most of them aren't particularly interesting. Veronica isn't even all that involved in the case initially (or at least not in a way that's obvious), it's the detectives doing all the legwork. She does become more involved later on, but she still isn't really a main character.
The cast is pretty flat/bland, to the point where I've forgotten most of them. If you've read other books by this author and already have an attachment to them, maybe it would work for you, but for me they all felt one-dimensional. The "romance" portions also felt unnecessary and completely lacked any chemistry. There's no build-up, no sexual tension, no real reason for any of the characters to be in a relationship (or even interested in each other), they just kinda are.
The only really interesting relationship was between Lexi (I think?) and one of the private eyes, where she's struggling to get clean and he tries to help her out (completely platonically, thank goodness). She's the only one who really has any sort of character arc, so I enjoyed that.
The villain also felt pretty flat, though there was at least an interesting reveal by the end. The bits from his POV were mostly just hammy and annoying.
Ultimately, this felt pretty lackluster. The characters aren't interesting, you already know who the villain is so the mystery aspect is weak, and the "main" character really isn't the focus at all. Again, there is a little twist that was neat, but it wasn't enough to save this one for me.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
This book was overall pretty "meh." Despite being classed as a "Veronica Lee Thriller," she's not really the lead. I would say only about 1/4 to 1/3rd of the book is even in her perspective. This novel jumps POVs constantly, and most of them aren't particularly interesting. Veronica isn't even all that involved in the case initially (or at least not in a way that's obvious), it's the detectives doing all the legwork. She does become more involved later on, but she still isn't really a main character.
The cast is pretty flat/bland, to the point where I've forgotten most of them. If you've read other books by this author and already have an attachment to them, maybe it would work for you, but for me they all felt one-dimensional. The "romance" portions also felt unnecessary and completely lacked any chemistry. There's no build-up, no sexual tension, no real reason for any of the characters to be in a relationship (or even interested in each other), they just kinda are.
The only really interesting relationship was between Lexi (I think?) and one of the private eyes, where she's struggling to get clean and he tries to help her out (completely platonically, thank goodness). She's the only one who really has any sort of character arc, so I enjoyed that.
The villain also felt pretty flat, though there was at least an interesting reveal by the end. The bits from his POV were mostly just hammy and annoying.
Ultimately, this felt pretty lackluster. The characters aren't interesting, you already know who the villain is so the mystery aspect is weak, and the "main" character really isn't the focus at all. Again, there is a little twist that was neat, but it wasn't enough to save this one for me.
December 4, 2020
I did enjoy this book however I found myself a bit confused at times with who was who, I had characters mixed at times - perhaps more my fault than the authors. Thinking this was the first book in the series I felt that a previous book was missing but on reading some reviews I found that there were books preceding this that involved the characters - which would make sense as a lot of backstory is relating to what clearly would make a fab book, I feel that reading these first would be beneficial to this story. Having said that ... I did like this book, I enjoyed the characters - in particular Veronica, Hunter and Lexi. The story itself was clever and although I knew someone wasn’t who they were supposed to be I didn’t see the ending coming which I love about a thriller - normally I guess every time. I would recommend this to others and I will be going back to read the preceding stories before the next instalment.
August 25, 2020
The book starts out with Portia Hart, having written a book, comes up to her hotel room and a man is there He seems to be her boyfriend, Xavier Grayson. He tells her he has hot bath run and told her he would bring her a glass of wine. He had barely got her wine spiked when she walked out of the bathroom in a robe and said I think there is room for two in the tub. She takes her wine takes a few swallows and gets in the tub. She said she is feeling a little dizzy. He tells her just to relax and he will massage her shoulders. When he started he was pushing her under the water and she was fighting. He thought to himself I should have let her pass out first. But he still managed to kill her. It’s unusual to know the killer at the beginning of the book. After he kills her her runs down the stairwell from the fourteen floor, but he can hear someone running below him. He looks over the stairs and see her and she sees him, but she gets away,
Nessa Ansley the Chief of police and Iris Nguyen the Medical Examiner show up at the scene. Detective Tucker VA zinger was already on scene. He said there was an empty bottle of pills on the sink, but the name has been scratched off. So they don’t know if it was a suicide or homicide. He also says there are no towels in the bathroom, but he found them all went in the bedroom closet. The forensic technician shows up and Iris said photograph the body, but we need water samples before you get her out. Iris then calls Nessa back into the bathroom to show her bruising around the shoulders and two broken tips off of fingernails. So now it is looking more homicide, but they won’t know until the autopsy.
Meanwhile News Channel 6 and News Channel 10 are both waiting outside for comments.
As the story goes on, more women are being killed and they still don’t have a clue, but they bring in the state prosecutor to be ready if it is murder. When they find a couple of fingerprints that come back to Xavier Grayson, it makes Riley really mad, she had him in South Florida for fraud, but the witness drowned.
This is fast paced, twists and turns and 2 TV News Channels who hate each other. I could write much more, but this one is one you MUST READ for yourself.
Nessa Ansley the Chief of police and Iris Nguyen the Medical Examiner show up at the scene. Detective Tucker VA zinger was already on scene. He said there was an empty bottle of pills on the sink, but the name has been scratched off. So they don’t know if it was a suicide or homicide. He also says there are no towels in the bathroom, but he found them all went in the bedroom closet. The forensic technician shows up and Iris said photograph the body, but we need water samples before you get her out. Iris then calls Nessa back into the bathroom to show her bruising around the shoulders and two broken tips off of fingernails. So now it is looking more homicide, but they won’t know until the autopsy.
Meanwhile News Channel 6 and News Channel 10 are both waiting outside for comments.
As the story goes on, more women are being killed and they still don’t have a clue, but they bring in the state prosecutor to be ready if it is murder. When they find a couple of fingerprints that come back to Xavier Grayson, it makes Riley really mad, she had him in South Florida for fraud, but the witness drowned.
This is fast paced, twists and turns and 2 TV News Channels who hate each other. I could write much more, but this one is one you MUST READ for yourself.
March 22, 2025
A new series but all our favourite characters!
We already know Veronica and this book continues her journey with her new job, but we also get to check in with all our favourite cast members such as Nessa Ainsley, Hunter Hadley and many more.
A fantastic new series with the usual mystery, suspense and intrigue that you expect from Ms Woodhall, its fast paced and unpredictable. Fantastic!
I listened to this on Audible.
We already know Veronica and this book continues her journey with her new job, but we also get to check in with all our favourite cast members such as Nessa Ainsley, Hunter Hadley and many more.
A fantastic new series with the usual mystery, suspense and intrigue that you expect from Ms Woodhall, its fast paced and unpredictable. Fantastic!
I listened to this on Audible.
August 29, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.ed an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a well written book with twists and turns. The suspense built slowly for me but that made it better. I really liked Hunter and Veronica and their relationship.
I look forward to reading future books in the series.
This is a well written book with twists and turns. The suspense built slowly for me but that made it better. I really liked Hunter and Veronica and their relationship.
I look forward to reading future books in the series.
August 14, 2020
After reading all 4 books in the Mercy Harbor series I was feeling a little adrift thinking about my next book. Then I saw the spin off series with Veronica Lee, the reporter from book 4. I was so happy to read about the people in Mercy Harbor again. And the mystery was good - had so many possible suspects I wasn’t sure which one to pick.
July 31, 2020
A well known author is found dead in her bath in a hotel in Willow Bay, Florida. With the victim seemingly having it all to live for, police chief Nessa Ainsley isn’t convinced that it was suicide and being new to her job, she needs to get it right as all eyes will be on her and her team.
Veronica Lee, a TV weather girl turned Reporter, is still recovering from having been kidnapped by a serial killer, but finds herself getting more involved in this latest story as the body count rises.
I have read books from this author before and really enjoyed them. This is the first in a new series and it’s started really well. As the plot unfolds it becomes more and more intriguing, with a wide range of characters that could become confusing but doesn’t. The murderers identity is known early on, or at least the name of someone that State prosecutor Riley Odell tangled with 10 years ago. The threads of each characters back story is woven beautifully through the narrative. My only criticism would be that in a real world the police chief wouldn’t be quite so hands on. However, this is a cracking read and 4.5 stars for me. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received an ARC for free in return for an honest review.
Veronica Lee, a TV weather girl turned Reporter, is still recovering from having been kidnapped by a serial killer, but finds herself getting more involved in this latest story as the body count rises.
I have read books from this author before and really enjoyed them. This is the first in a new series and it’s started really well. As the plot unfolds it becomes more and more intriguing, with a wide range of characters that could become confusing but doesn’t. The murderers identity is known early on, or at least the name of someone that State prosecutor Riley Odell tangled with 10 years ago. The threads of each characters back story is woven beautifully through the narrative. My only criticism would be that in a real world the police chief wouldn’t be quite so hands on. However, this is a cracking read and 4.5 stars for me. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received an ARC for free in return for an honest review.
August 4, 2020
I enjoyed this story very much. I liked the characters and how the story flow went. I hadn't read the Mercy Harbor series, so I didn't know that some of the characters are new to this series, and some are from the other series. Didn't matter to me, I enjoyed it just as it was. I will keep my eye out for more on this series. I received an ARC of this book which I am voluntarily reviewing from BooksSirens.
April 17, 2020
Portia Hart had it all. Billions in the bank, a best selling book and an avid online following. But things are not all they seem, her money was inherited on the death of her parents, leaving only her brother in her life and now she lays dead. New police chief, Nessa Ainsley, must help her team decide whether it was by her own hand or someone's else's.
Willow Bay resident Veronica Lee has survived trauma before but now, as a roving reporter for channel ten news, is determined to investigate Portia's untimely demise. Instead, with just new cameraman, Finn, for company, she finds herself working on an investigation where the death toll keeps rising and no one is telling anyone everything they know.
This is the first in a new series from writer Melinda Woodhall following on from her excellent Mercy Harbor series. Although the storyline was once again extremely satisfying there were a couple of things which niggled. Firstly, as the named character the story wouldn't have worked as well without Veronica but she didn't have as much involvement as I expected she would. While Nessa, on the other hand, was very visible and seemed to have a disproportionate amount of impact considering a police chief isn't, for the most part, a regular investigating officer.
The scene is set for another successful series however, and there were various strands which hopefully continue into book two. The people Veronica works with are an interesting mix and I look forward to discovering more of their back stories soon.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I would recommend this book highly to all fans of this author and, as the first in a series, have no doubt they will get better and better.
Willow Bay resident Veronica Lee has survived trauma before but now, as a roving reporter for channel ten news, is determined to investigate Portia's untimely demise. Instead, with just new cameraman, Finn, for company, she finds herself working on an investigation where the death toll keeps rising and no one is telling anyone everything they know.
This is the first in a new series from writer Melinda Woodhall following on from her excellent Mercy Harbor series. Although the storyline was once again extremely satisfying there were a couple of things which niggled. Firstly, as the named character the story wouldn't have worked as well without Veronica but she didn't have as much involvement as I expected she would. While Nessa, on the other hand, was very visible and seemed to have a disproportionate amount of impact considering a police chief isn't, for the most part, a regular investigating officer.
The scene is set for another successful series however, and there were various strands which hopefully continue into book two. The people Veronica works with are an interesting mix and I look forward to discovering more of their back stories soon.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I would recommend this book highly to all fans of this author and, as the first in a series, have no doubt they will get better and better.
April 3, 2020
I love Melinda Woodhall books, I know that they are going to keep me on the edge of my seat and this one didn't disappoint. This is book one of a new series and although it is a standalone, all the old characters from the River Girls series appear like old friends.
Portia Hart, had been left a fortune by her wealthy father and was now the author of a best selling book, when she was found dead in the bath in her hotel room whilst on a book signing tour Chief of the Willow Bay police, Nessa Ainsly and her team Detectives Vanzinger and Jankowski were soon on the case.
Jullian Hart, an artist, was Portia's sole beneficiary, he was wealthy in his own right but could he be involved in her death ?
Lexi Marsh, a drug addict who was involved in blackmailing etc to feed her habit, was worried that she may have seen the killer and more worrying he had seen her....was her life in danger ?
It soon became apparent that the suspected killer and Riley Odell, the state prosecutor, had crossed paths before, was her life in danger ? had they got a serial killer on the loose ?.... the body count rises and the twists and turns and red herrings continue
There was friction between Veronica Lee of Chanel 10 news and Nick Sergeant of Chanel 6 news, was it more than competitive rivalry or something more sinister.
I don't want to write any more and risk spoiling the story but I can say it has high tension, suspense, murder, blackmail, drugs and of course gentle romance.
I can highly recommend this book and I give it a well deserved 5 stars and I can't wait for the next one. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Portia Hart, had been left a fortune by her wealthy father and was now the author of a best selling book, when she was found dead in the bath in her hotel room whilst on a book signing tour Chief of the Willow Bay police, Nessa Ainsly and her team Detectives Vanzinger and Jankowski were soon on the case.
Jullian Hart, an artist, was Portia's sole beneficiary, he was wealthy in his own right but could he be involved in her death ?
Lexi Marsh, a drug addict who was involved in blackmailing etc to feed her habit, was worried that she may have seen the killer and more worrying he had seen her....was her life in danger ?
It soon became apparent that the suspected killer and Riley Odell, the state prosecutor, had crossed paths before, was her life in danger ? had they got a serial killer on the loose ?.... the body count rises and the twists and turns and red herrings continue
There was friction between Veronica Lee of Chanel 10 news and Nick Sergeant of Chanel 6 news, was it more than competitive rivalry or something more sinister.
I don't want to write any more and risk spoiling the story but I can say it has high tension, suspense, murder, blackmail, drugs and of course gentle romance.
I can highly recommend this book and I give it a well deserved 5 stars and I can't wait for the next one. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 25, 2020
Well I absolutely love this book from the beginning, realistic characters great action. There were a lot of characters but Melinda made it work were others have fallen short i felt part of the story as if i was there which is how I believe a good novel should make you feel.
Having survived a previous serial killer Veronica now a reporter on Channel Ten instead of the weather lady (sounds better than weather girl but still a worthy job). She gets sent to Riverview hotel were a bIllionaires daughter turned successful author is dead and boom the story has exploded the police are there and is it suicide, accident or murder guessing not a spoiler as the story starts with the grisly deed of the murder. The story never stays still the twists and turns keep coming but you can keep up with it, it just feels right not murder obviously that's not right but it does fit the story that runs at a pace which is very realistic, in the 🌎 world of fiction that is.
This book did have me hooked I know how many times have you heard that, to often well for me it really is true and i can't recommend it highly enough. It is a work of fiction that you may well want to read again and again wether it's holiday read or the book by your bed or on the ☕coffee table i think you will find it hard to put down and it may travel around your home with you once you've started it. So my advice is get it, find some space then relax lose yourself for a while and enjoy the ride, I did
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Having survived a previous serial killer Veronica now a reporter on Channel Ten instead of the weather lady (sounds better than weather girl but still a worthy job). She gets sent to Riverview hotel were a bIllionaires daughter turned successful author is dead and boom the story has exploded the police are there and is it suicide, accident or murder guessing not a spoiler as the story starts with the grisly deed of the murder. The story never stays still the twists and turns keep coming but you can keep up with it, it just feels right not murder obviously that's not right but it does fit the story that runs at a pace which is very realistic, in the 🌎 world of fiction that is.
This book did have me hooked I know how many times have you heard that, to often well for me it really is true and i can't recommend it highly enough. It is a work of fiction that you may well want to read again and again wether it's holiday read or the book by your bed or on the ☕coffee table i think you will find it hard to put down and it may travel around your home with you once you've started it. So my advice is get it, find some space then relax lose yourself for a while and enjoy the ride, I did
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 6, 2021
The story starts out with a dead body, and identifies both the victim and the murderer. I like an author who gets that out of the way first. There's no trying to outguess our sleuth on the whodunnit side. The excitement will come from whether the villain can outsmart the investigators. Or will they get too cocky?
This villain is a little different. This villain has left too many loose ends. This villain is running scared. And when you're running scared, you make mistakes. Mistakes that can give you away. Mistakes that can put you behind bars . . . or worse.
Woodall has an intriguing premise here, and crafts her story well. Suspense runs rampant. What's next? Who's next? Her characters are interesting and engaging - even those who are only around for a chapter or two. The villain too has your curiosity piqued; there's more to their story! The tale is filled with road blocks and twists, you'll be hanging on to the edge of your chair with one hand while you flip pages with the other.
Don't miss this exciting first volume! And set your Kindle alerts to let you know each time the next in the series is ready! Trust me on this!
[Many thanks to Booksirens and the author for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]
This villain is a little different. This villain has left too many loose ends. This villain is running scared. And when you're running scared, you make mistakes. Mistakes that can give you away. Mistakes that can put you behind bars . . . or worse.
Woodall has an intriguing premise here, and crafts her story well. Suspense runs rampant. What's next? Who's next? Her characters are interesting and engaging - even those who are only around for a chapter or two. The villain too has your curiosity piqued; there's more to their story! The tale is filled with road blocks and twists, you'll be hanging on to the edge of your chair with one hand while you flip pages with the other.
Don't miss this exciting first volume! And set your Kindle alerts to let you know each time the next in the series is ready! Trust me on this!
[Many thanks to Booksirens and the author for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]
May 5, 2020
Channel Ten reporter Veronica Lee was working on a story about Portia Hart, a socialite turned author who was on a promotional tour for her new book, “Simply Portia.” After a wildly successful event in Willow Bay, Portia was brutally murdered in her hotel room, leaving Police Chief Nessa Ainsley and her team of detectives to process the crime scene. Veronica did her best to be available and visible, but somehow her information was scooped by Channel Six’s Nick Sargent, and though Veronica tried different angles to get the story, she was beaten out at every turn. Channel Ten was also having financial difficulties, and station manager Hunter Hadley was worried about his future and that of his employees.
Having read the four books in the Mercy Harbor series, I was delighted to find that Melinda Woodhall had written a second series set in Willow Bay. Veronica Lee, a “weather girl” turned reporter, is a strong and determined character who repeatedly manages to put herself in danger while getting her story. I liked Veronica and appreciated her strength and her ability to project confidence even when she felt shaky. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more about Veronica and the future of Channel Ten.
My thanks to BookSirens and to the publisher and author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Having read the four books in the Mercy Harbor series, I was delighted to find that Melinda Woodhall had written a second series set in Willow Bay. Veronica Lee, a “weather girl” turned reporter, is a strong and determined character who repeatedly manages to put herself in danger while getting her story. I liked Veronica and appreciated her strength and her ability to project confidence even when she felt shaky. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more about Veronica and the future of Channel Ten.
My thanks to BookSirens and to the publisher and author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2022
When Portia, a well known author, is found dead in her hotel room all evidence points to suicide or does it? Chief of Police Nessa and her team are scrambling to link this death to a possible homicide and find the killer.
Nick is now a sleazy reporter for Channel 6. He has his own set of rules and will do anything to get a story.
Veronica is a reporter from Channel 10. A sweet and gifted woman who sometimes wears her hear on her sleeve sympathizing with the victim.
Lexi is the only witness to a murder. Her life is in danger. Will she be his next victim?
Finn, Portia's brother, comes to town to see his dead sister. His emotions are all over the place. Shocked. Angry.
State Prosecutor Riley discovers the name of the killer she blames herself.
When Veronica's life is put in danger Hunter, Riley and Vanzinger hope they find her before she is the next victim.
The author spins a beautiful web of mystery, suspense, lies, betrayal and a sprinkle of humor. Love this series.
Thank you BookSirens and the author for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Nick is now a sleazy reporter for Channel 6. He has his own set of rules and will do anything to get a story.
Veronica is a reporter from Channel 10. A sweet and gifted woman who sometimes wears her hear on her sleeve sympathizing with the victim.
Lexi is the only witness to a murder. Her life is in danger. Will she be his next victim?
Finn, Portia's brother, comes to town to see his dead sister. His emotions are all over the place. Shocked. Angry.
State Prosecutor Riley discovers the name of the killer she blames herself.
When Veronica's life is put in danger Hunter, Riley and Vanzinger hope they find her before she is the next victim.
The author spins a beautiful web of mystery, suspense, lies, betrayal and a sprinkle of humor. Love this series.
Thank you BookSirens and the author for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 18, 2022
When Portia, a well known author, is found dead in her hotel room all evidence points to suicide or does it? Chief of Police Nessa and her team are scrambling to link this death to a possible homicide and find the killer.
Nick is now a sleazy reporter for Channel 6. He has his own set of rules and will do anything to get a story.
Veronica is a reporter from Channel 10. A sweet and gifted woman who sometimes wears her heart on her sleeve sympathizing with the victim.
Lexi is the only witness to a murder. Her life is in danger. Will she be his next victim?
Finn, Portia's brother, comes to town to see his dead sister. His emotions are all over the place. Shocked. Angry.
State Prosecutor Riley discovers the name of the killer she blames herself.
When Veronica's life is put in danger Hunter, Riley and Vanzinger hope they find her before she is the next victim.
The author spins a beautiful web of mystery, suspense, lies, betrayal and a sprinkle of humor. Love this series.
Thank you BookSirens and the author for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Nick is now a sleazy reporter for Channel 6. He has his own set of rules and will do anything to get a story.
Veronica is a reporter from Channel 10. A sweet and gifted woman who sometimes wears her heart on her sleeve sympathizing with the victim.
Lexi is the only witness to a murder. Her life is in danger. Will she be his next victim?
Finn, Portia's brother, comes to town to see his dead sister. His emotions are all over the place. Shocked. Angry.
State Prosecutor Riley discovers the name of the killer she blames herself.
When Veronica's life is put in danger Hunter, Riley and Vanzinger hope they find her before she is the next victim.
The author spins a beautiful web of mystery, suspense, lies, betrayal and a sprinkle of humor. Love this series.
Thank you BookSirens and the author for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 18, 2020
Following on from the Mercy Harbor series of books, we are reintroduced to Veronica Lee - ex weather girl ( and survivor) and now full time reporter for channel 10. When the death of a rich beautiful author occurs in the town's hotel, the police are struggling initially as to whether this is a suicide or murder. The reader is then reacquainted with the lead characters from the other series. Nessa, newly promoted to Police Chief along with Varzinger, Jankowski, Riley, Hunter and the intrepid PI's, Frankie and Barker. However you don't need to have read the other series as the characters are explained along the way.
I enjoyed the book although the main character of Veronica Lee isn't mentioned a lot at the start of the book however comes into the story more as it progresses. I look forward to the next one in this new series.
Thanks to Book Sirens for the ARC to review.
I enjoyed the book although the main character of Veronica Lee isn't mentioned a lot at the start of the book however comes into the story more as it progresses. I look forward to the next one in this new series.
Thanks to Book Sirens for the ARC to review.
June 30, 2020
This book was fast moving and suspenseful. I live in Florida so I was excited by the setting. I felt like there were lots of strong women in this book - Vanessa- the reporter, Nessa- COP, Riley- the Prosecutor. I was hooked from the first Chapter with the murder of a famous author. I will say that the book refers to pretty traumatic events (serial killer) that affected some of the main characters and since I haven’t read anything else by the author I felt a little left out knowing the characters had a shared history. The ending doesn’t leave you hanging as far as you feel like you have to read the next book to get closure so I was very pleased with that. I am glad to have found this author and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2020
Her Last Summer starts this murder mystery by identifying both the victim and the murderer. This is an unusual move I haven't seen often but it most certainly did not detract from the story.
The drama and anticipation within the story is driven as we wait to see if the investigators can catch this methodical cold blooded killer.
The killer trying to tie up loose ends going on a spree making mistakes that both point in his direction and leaving confusion in his wake as they try to find connections to the victims.
The storyline is well written and intriguing and I enjoyed the characters they were interesting and had depth. I would definitely read more from this author I really enjoyed the book.
I received this book from BookSirens for an honest review.
The drama and anticipation within the story is driven as we wait to see if the investigators can catch this methodical cold blooded killer.
The killer trying to tie up loose ends going on a spree making mistakes that both point in his direction and leaving confusion in his wake as they try to find connections to the victims.
The storyline is well written and intriguing and I enjoyed the characters they were interesting and had depth. I would definitely read more from this author I really enjoyed the book.
I received this book from BookSirens for an honest review.
April 3, 2020
Loved the twists and turns in this story. Well plotted with likable characters I never saw the ending coming.
Veronica Lee along with a host of familiar characters take us back to Willow Bay. Veronica has settled in to her role as a news reporter. When several women are killed by the same method, Nessa, now Police Chief fears she has a serial killer in her town again. When Veronica gets too close to the truth, she could be the killers next victim.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
Veronica Lee along with a host of familiar characters take us back to Willow Bay. Veronica has settled in to her role as a news reporter. When several women are killed by the same method, Nessa, now Police Chief fears she has a serial killer in her town again. When Veronica gets too close to the truth, she could be the killers next victim.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
April 29, 2020
Fast paced mystery thriller! Nail biting, turn the pages, can't put it down kind of book. Full of turns you won't see coming. Great characters and dialogue. While some of the characters cross over from her Mercy Harbor series, it is not necessary to read them first. It is a stand alone novel. Description on cover is great, no need to repeat it here. Read and enjoy! And well be waiting for he next great book in this series. Thanks to the author,publisher and BookSirens for the a reader copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily. The opinions expressed are my own.
April 28, 2020
Veronica finally gets her chance to become the news reporter she wants to be instead of the weather girl. when she is sent to the Riverview Hotel to investigate the murder of a famous book author she digs in to the point of making her self a target for the killer. Lots of twist and turns in the book and characters from the previous books. Thank you for the ARC Copy I enjoy all of Melinda Woodhall's books.
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