Last Breath

Kaylie Brooks #1

by Kate Bold

A modest, Midwestern girl, Kaylie Brooks falls in love with a wealthy man who sweeps her off her feet and transplants her to a mansion in Palm Beach. But ominous signs abound, and Kaylie, out of place, realizes she is with a husband she barely knows. When a woman is murdered, Kaylie realizes she must dig deeper and uncover the secrets of this wealthy community, and of her husband’s past. But is she ready to face what she discovers?

LAST BREATH is book #1 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller Kate Bold, whose bestseller NOT NOW (a free download) has received over 600 five star ratings and reviews.

A page-turning and harrowing psychological suspense thriller, the KAYLIE BROOKS series is a riveting crime mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Gillian Flynn, Rachel Caine and Teresa Driscoll are sure to fall in love.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Ebooks

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2022

About the author

Bestselling author Kate Bold is author of the ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising eight books (and counting); of the HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising ten books (and counting); of the KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting). Kate loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.kateboldauthor.com to join the mailing list, receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

BOOKS BY KATE BOLD

EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER

IN HIS BLOOD (Book #1)

IN HIS SIGHTS (Book #2)

IN HIS REACH (Book #3)

IN HIS MIND (Book #4)

IN HIS WAY (Book #5)

(and counting)

KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER

LAST BREATH (Book #1)

LAST CHANCE (Book #2)

LAST WISH (Book #3)

LAST SHOT (Book #4)

LAST MISTAKE (Book #5)

(and counting)

HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER

NOWHERE SAFE (Book #1)

NOWHERE LEFT (Book #2)

NOWHERE TO RUN (Book #3)

NOWHERE LIKE THIS (Book #4)

NOWHERE GIRL (Book #5)

NOWHERE TO HIDE (Book #6)

NOWHERE CERTAIN (Book #7)

NOWHERE PURE (Book #8)

NOWHERE SOUND (Book #9)

NOWHERE SANE (Book #10)

(and counting)

CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER

NOT ME (Book #1)

NOT NOW (Book #2)

NOT WELL (Book #3)

NOT HER (Book #4)

NOT NORMAL (Book #5)

NOT AGAIN (Book #6)

NOT SAFE (Book #7)

NOT TODAY (Book #8)

(and counting)

ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER

THE KILLING GAME (Book #1)

THE KILLING TIDE (Book #2)

THE KILLING HOUR (Book #3)

THE KILLING POINT (Book #4)

THE KILLING FOG (Book #5)

THE KILLING PLACE (Book #6)

(and counting)

ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER

LET ME GO (Book #1)

LET ME OUT (Book #2)

LET ME LIVE (Book #3)

LET ME BREATHE (Book #4)

LET ME FORGET (Book #5)

LET ME ESCAPE (Book #6)

(and counting)

Reviews

[Nora Wolfenbarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book disappointed me. For me the author wrote a story and forgot one important element, to make it believable. The characters are not well developed and come off shallow and predictable.

[Malissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

No.

[Sarah Richardson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not waste your time! The characters lacked development and the main character and narrator were flat-out stupid. There are two mysteries and one of them is never really addressed. What the heck happened to her sister?! Seriously, her parents are real jackasses. What was the point of that interaction with them anyway? This book wasn't at all realistic or entertaining. It read a lot like something my 5th-grade daughter would come up with. I'm left with so many questions...why does she do the things she does? Maybe I should have been high to read this book.

[Mara Oesterle · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is no way Kaylei could have gotten a degree in psychology with those instincts.

[mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

i listened to this as an audiobook as the synopsis sounded really interesting. the beginning started off good but it just got so boring after the murder happened. the murderer and plotwist was just so predictable and i feel like for a thriller to be amazing it has to be the complete opposite. overall it wasn’t a bad book but i don’t think i’ll be reading the rest of the series.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I swear all these books are the same. Girl marries rich guy, knows very little about him, he changes after marriage and a murder happens. Like honestly it’s so predictable. Very boring characters, and the main character, she such a brilliant woman she is pretty dumb. It was quick read but nothing exciting about it

[DF Dougan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not even deserving of the one star. Characters and plot are unbelievable and poorly developed. Hopefully there will not be another book in this apparent series.

[shimmyreads · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf @ 52%

book was boring didn’t care for it at all

but stream park jimin (bts) solo album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4xc3Lc...

[Amber Ruda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts out slow and predictable, but than it twists you all around and question yourself, definitely can't wait to read the next one in the series, definitely worth the time

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a waste of time. Really glad I didn’t buy this book or waste a hoopla credit it on it.

[Antigone Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Stranger Beside Her

A,psych grad student marries a rich man and is transported to a life of wealth and privilege. But there is a dark side under all the extravagance and Kaylie soon finds herself fighting for the truth and her life.

This book has dated feeling. Kaylie is not especially bright or likable. The story does not make sense from the onset. The scion of a wealthy society family is not going to get married to an unvetted church mouse in a small ceremony. It just gets more ridiculous from there. Did not like.

[Deva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing suspense! I just knew it had to be the husband!!

[Reviews.with.Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy read! A bit slow to get into but eventually had me hooked. A tad bit predictable with the narrative but still enjoyed it. Has me intrigued enough to read the rest of the series.

[Stephanie Hirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast read but the energy in the book encourages reading it in one sitting.

[Cheri Stockheimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story line was rather boring and predictable. Maybe my low stars was due to the HORRIBLE narration on this one. Sounded like a computer and no flow often being able to tell the reader was at the end of a sentence and then read the next line like it was a new sentence. Just not crazy about it.

[Alice HubbardDillinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

As another reviewer indicated, I also found a lot of it unbelievable because main character, Kaylie Brooks didn't seem too bright & was totally reckless in some of her escapades in trying to find who killed her friend at a party. She also fell too much for her husband's explanations in very questionable circumstances of things he did. I was going to give maybe 2-3 stars especially mid-way through the book, but it picked up a lot in last part of book, so I am gonna try 2nd book in series.

[Dana Redding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last Breath

Ok first of all the story idea is good. I felt like there were gaps and holes of some sort it didn’t flow as it should have. Timelines and things were off, I can’t explain it in detail. I don’t understand how so many people are saying they loved the book. In all honesty I tried. But if failed somewhere when the couple moved to Florida. I won’t be reading anymore from the author. Deepest regrets because there’s great potential here, it just failed.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not impressed with the quality of the writing. I also found the story to be implausible, although I suppose people get into this type of situation. The protagonist is getting a degree in psychology and is so astute at reading people that the police want to hire her as a profiler. Nonetheless, she marries this guy after a whirlwind romance and forgives his many flaws, repeatedly. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me seventeen times...

[Lydia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should not have been surprised as this was a free book on Amazon, but oh my goodness was it a pile of steaming junk. This review contains spoilers but you might thank me and give it a miss.

The book begins with Kaylie Brooks standing in her bedroom, thinking about her lost sister Jess who disappeared from their lives while in high school. Disappearing is an art for Jess- she disappears for the next 100 pages of the story while Kaylie lives the high life with her fabulously wealthy new husband Brett AND tries to figure out how to complete her master's thesis in psychology.

She has a plan for that thesis but when they move back to Brett's hometown in Florida his antics preclude any studying. He has a thing for wild drunken parties. She hates them but all he has to do is apologize and she thinks everything is bright and shiny and new again. By the third apology I wanted to reach through the pages and give her a good slap.

She walks through the neighborhood ringing doorbells to introduce herself and becomes best friends immediately (she was, after all, offered a smoothie that gets much attention throughout the book) with Cassandra, a divorcee who knows much about Brett's background. Unfortunately, Cassandra falls out a window and dies before she can spill the tea. Kaylie becomes an amateur sleuth and jumps to every imaginable conclusion.

At some point she goes home and has it out on the doorstep with her parents about her sister. I'm not sure what purpose this served except to leave the reader very confused.

I could go on...but the author did that already. The writing contains no nuance, is repetitive, and leaves the reader no opportunity to figure out anything on their own. The characters are flat and all of them are unlikeable. I am never going near another one of her books. It wasn't even worth the price of free.

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not one to write bad reviews or say bad things about books...but I just can't with this one. It had its moments where I was actually a bit invested and intrigued in what was going to happen next and that's probably the only reason I can give it a 2 star.

I like when the titles play into the books, I don't feel like this one did at all. If it did, it was so subtle I didn't even notice it.

The whole missing sister thing is probably where book number 2 stems from, but the fact this book was so blah I can't even give number 2 a chance. I'd have wished there was more storyline there to go off of to maybe entice me to WANT to read a second book.

I was able to guess the killer pretty much immediately and that just brings a rating way down for me. Sorry if that makes me a poop, but there is no thrill for me if there is no guessing. Max was set out to be a bad guy to begin with and then Brett was a bad guy with charisma which pretty much tells you he is a trash man. Big surprise!

I also couldn't believe how she had barely met Cassandra and then called her, her best friend. I get not having any friends there and being a friend sure, but not a BEST friend. That was just a little overboard for me.

I think I'd skip this one unless there weren't any other thrillers around or you've been really sucking at guessing who the murderers are and you want to make yourself feel a bit better about your guessing game.

[Avid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay...

I get it's only a book. However, when the author focuses so much on the main character and her need to finish her thesis for her Psych degree, her graduation, her desire for a career, etc. It is a pretty major theme and a large part of her life in time, dedication, value, money, and knowledge. Her professor acknowledged at the graduation that she put in the effort and deserved it and is good at it.

Then, why is she so gullible? Why is she so naive and okay with letting her husband treat her like shit when she has already diagnosed the issue correctly? Would she suggest this to her patients? Why does she let others walk all over her and change her mind and allow herself to doubt what she feels and thinks? Isn't this exactly what she just went to school for to help others deal with? The whopper for me was at the end when she solved the case that the police couldn't. Anyway, the officer asks her to consider joining the force! Oh, brother, I don't think so. I would never want her as a partner or as a therapist!!

If she'd simply been a housewife and not offered a position, the book would have been fine. As someone who should have known better, it showed how inept she was. She should have failed her classes!

Not recommended.

[Alexa Whitewolf · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 41%
I get that Kylie married this gorgeous rich dude without knowing anything about him. Whirlwind romance, fine. Follows him to Florida, fine.
But then he starts acting like a jackass, springing things on her last minute, expecting her to fall in line with what he wants, not respecting she needs to work on her thesis, having non stop frat parties with his high school friends and oh yeah, being a jackass to her every time.
But at every turn, she says “I’m gonna put my foot down” except all he has to do is bat his pretty eyes and apologize (half assedly) and she forgives him.
….
And then when she’s FINALLY had enough, that same night there’s another party at her house and a body is found (the only friend she made in the neighbourhood) and her response is “well I can’t leave now”??? Her house. HER husband being a dick. HIS best friend going up with the victim… who then is found dead as if she’d been tossed from a balcony. Huh. Gee. I wonder what happened.
I couldn’t stick around to find out. Sorry for the rant, but this book needs a seriously good edit to develop the characters and plot into a semblance of a good read.
Not for me.

[Callista · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this cause I got the audiobook for free and I love a thriller/mystery. I liked the last book I read by this author so I wanted to give this a go. It claimed it was a psychological thriller but it wasn’t really. The murderer was the obvious choice. I also just don’t understand any of the choices Kaylie made, from the quick marriage to someone she hadn’t known for long enough, to the constant forgiving of a manipulative and emotionally abusive man. She was literally studying psychology, like she would’ve seen the signs. This book just felt clunky and very busy. There was just too much happening for such a short book, there were things mentioned that never really got addressed and I’m sure some of it is addressed in the sequels but this book was not for me.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy the book from the beginning because you just knew something awful was going to happen with the new husband- you just don't marry someone you don't anything know about. And as the story continued I wondered how Kaylie ever got her master's degree because she was stupid for staying after the first drunken party and his awful best friend got in her face and the terrible parents and the the husband were controlling and had an agenda. At least the husband just showed how manipulating and two faced he was really quick. The story seemed juvenile.
It kind of reminded me of the series The Perfect Wife by Blake Pierce which was great for the first 3 quarters of the series then went down to a rinse and repeat story line. Jessie too had just graduated in psychology and become a profiler. It just took longer for her psycho husband to show his true madness.

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good story. I loved the short chapters that make you tend to read longer. Kaylie is a newly wed moving into beautiful big house in Palm Beach. She had 3 broken engagements before she married. She notices things about her husband that she didn't realize before they got married. She meets all his friends who act like a bunch of frat boys from the first year in college. When they have a second impromptu party at their house and everyone is drinking she goes outside and finds a body laying on their patio. A great ending to the story that you'll have to read for yourself. Highly recommended.

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great thrilling read

Another great read from Kate. Live the strong female characters. Kaylie has just gotten married it certainly has been a whirlwind of a romance. But her new husband Brett is still acting like a party animal and this isn't what she was expecting when they got married. Things have taken a dark turn when her new friend Cassandra is found dead after a party at their house. Kaylie knows that she didn't commit suicide but who wanted her dead? Will she be able to prove that it was murder? She is about to find the truth about her perfect husband. And things are about to get more interesting. Enjoyed it

[Virginia Cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaylie, a graduate psychological student, marries a young investment banker from California; he is controlling of Kaylie's time and scheduled activities. Unlike many of the other reviewers, I do think it is believable that a person could be fooled by a narrcicist into an unhealthy relationship. With that being said, there is a point in the story that I start disbelieve the plot line, specifically Kaylie returns to her controlling husband even though she is questioning his behavior towards her and her friends. I understand that Kate Bold leaves room for additional stories by not revealing if Kaylie finds her missing sister. I enjoyed the book; I hope sequels have better storylines.

[tmichelet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Idiot protagonist especially for someone pursuing a masters in psychology who should know better than to do a quickie marriage. I listened to about a dozen chapters and couldn’t take it anymore. It was painful and embarrassing. Why are we supposed to root for these clueless women? And the author gives them a glamorous life of luxury that the reader is supposed to envy. Is the hidden message that the uber rich want dumb spouses? Kaylie must eventually have an epiphany to solve a murder but the whole plot is too implausible given her naïveté.

[Sandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just ok

This is the 1st book that I have read by this author. I had high hopes. It wasn't terrible. It was a short mystery type of read. The details of the main character could have been told a bit differently with more believability along with the storyline. However, I picked this book because of it being a short read because I have been reading a series by another author , and each book is 500 plus pages. So I wanted to give myself a little break in between reading that series back to back & chose this book.

[Flesh Baby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Like most thriller/mystery books, it keeps you reading to find out the who's and why's. But for me, before getting to about 50%, I knew who it was. I couldn't understand how the main character who's majoring in psychology couldn't see how her husband was , and for some reason, it bothers me. The writing was good for me but could've been a tad more descriptive. It was definitely worth the read if you like this genre & I may continue to read the next books to see if she finds out what happens to her sister.