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Final Warning
"Let's play a game…"
One e-mail, and radio show host C. J. Tanner becomes a pawn in a madman's game. Only by solving his riddles can she stop the murders. And only Mitch Harmon, her ex-fiancé, can help her put an end to the killer's plans.
Mitch knows he has to discover the killer's true identity. Otherwise the man's obsession with C.J. will have her following his steps to become his final victim. Mitch won't allow anyone to harm the woman he let slip away. He'll keep her safe—even if he has to put his own life on the line.
One e-mail, and radio show host C. J. Tanner becomes a pawn in a madman's game. Only by solving his riddles can she stop the murders. And only Mitch Harmon, her ex-fiancé, can help her put an end to the killer's plans.
Mitch knows he has to discover the killer's true identity. Otherwise the man's obsession with C.J. will have her following his steps to become his final victim. Mitch won't allow anyone to harm the woman he let slip away. He'll keep her safe—even if he has to put his own life on the line.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Robbins
52 books89 followersLibrary of Congress Authorities:
Personal name heading:
Robbins, Sandra (Sandra S.)
Personal name heading:
Robbins, Sandra (Sandra S.)
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 4, 2017
I thought everything about this book was greatly written except for all the talk about God. It seemed so forced and unnecessary.
February 23, 2022
This was a really good book, though I did know who Fala was right away. The chemistry was great between the characters.
October 16, 2023
This book had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t put it down.
October 25, 2023
Although it's a killer mystery it's centered on God. Decent read.
January 1, 2024
Amazing book in which God is front and center and is definitely not lacking in the suspense and thriller department. A great job by Sandra Robbins!
February 2, 2014
Chilling emails in rhyme taunting “let’s play a game” and a serial killer is on a roll. What more could you ask for in a thriller?
In this fast-paced, action packed romantic suspense, local radio talk show host, C.J. Tanner’s skin crawls. She’s received the first email riddle in a demented killer’s deadly game. In round one, Fala, the killer, demands C.J. solve the riddle in order to stop the first murder.
No matter how hard she tries, she’s unable to do that and is horrified when the first victim of this sick game is her elderly next-door neighbor. Without getting graphic, author Robbins lets the reader know the murder scene is gruesome through the reactions of the officers who congregate at the crime scene. C.J.’s heart breaks, recalling the cups of tea she shared with the gregarious older woman. Then the killer phones in as a caller on C.J’s radio show, his high-pitched, screeching voice taunting her and blaming her for the old woman’s death. By this time, I was hooked.
Now C.J. must turn to Oxford (Tennessee) Police Department Detective Mitch Harmon, her ex-fiancé. Mitch is good at what he does. He soon learns Fala means crow. What symbolism does that have to the killer? Mitch discovers the plural of crow is a murder and he wonders if there is more than one killer. Sandra Robbins is skillful at creating red herrings. I thought one male character after another would turn out to be the killer. At one point, I even thought a female character might be, and then thought not. The author had me wondering right up until the last chapters.
The romance rings true. C.J. still loves Mitch, even though she gave him his ring back — and he still loves her. But they have some pretty big hurdles to jump, including her lack of faith. Will they even try?
He thinks she’s stubborn and unreasonable, refusing his protection. While the thought of anything bad happening to her drives him crazy. She accuses him of being manipulative and over bearing, which brings back haunting childhood memories. The dialog between the two has authenticity. They are two individuals who love each other but who also have hurt each other. This comes across loud and clear.
C.J.’s denial of faith sounds so much like the words many of us have heard from associates, neighbors, friends, and even family. Her first steps toward God, made in the grip of fear, are touching.
One aspect of the novel that is completely refreshing is Mitch’s willingness to ask an FBI profiler for help in the case, eschewing the usual, often overworked cop story jurisdictional rivalries. This sharing of information gains Mitch the knowledge that Fala is wanted under another name by the FBI for murders in other states.
I won’t be a spoiler, but I will say in this skillfully writing suspense how Fala is caught turns out to be a surprise, as well as who catches him.
In this fast-paced, action packed romantic suspense, local radio talk show host, C.J. Tanner’s skin crawls. She’s received the first email riddle in a demented killer’s deadly game. In round one, Fala, the killer, demands C.J. solve the riddle in order to stop the first murder.
No matter how hard she tries, she’s unable to do that and is horrified when the first victim of this sick game is her elderly next-door neighbor. Without getting graphic, author Robbins lets the reader know the murder scene is gruesome through the reactions of the officers who congregate at the crime scene. C.J.’s heart breaks, recalling the cups of tea she shared with the gregarious older woman. Then the killer phones in as a caller on C.J’s radio show, his high-pitched, screeching voice taunting her and blaming her for the old woman’s death. By this time, I was hooked.
Now C.J. must turn to Oxford (Tennessee) Police Department Detective Mitch Harmon, her ex-fiancé. Mitch is good at what he does. He soon learns Fala means crow. What symbolism does that have to the killer? Mitch discovers the plural of crow is a murder and he wonders if there is more than one killer. Sandra Robbins is skillful at creating red herrings. I thought one male character after another would turn out to be the killer. At one point, I even thought a female character might be, and then thought not. The author had me wondering right up until the last chapters.
The romance rings true. C.J. still loves Mitch, even though she gave him his ring back — and he still loves her. But they have some pretty big hurdles to jump, including her lack of faith. Will they even try?
He thinks she’s stubborn and unreasonable, refusing his protection. While the thought of anything bad happening to her drives him crazy. She accuses him of being manipulative and over bearing, which brings back haunting childhood memories. The dialog between the two has authenticity. They are two individuals who love each other but who also have hurt each other. This comes across loud and clear.
C.J.’s denial of faith sounds so much like the words many of us have heard from associates, neighbors, friends, and even family. Her first steps toward God, made in the grip of fear, are touching.
One aspect of the novel that is completely refreshing is Mitch’s willingness to ask an FBI profiler for help in the case, eschewing the usual, often overworked cop story jurisdictional rivalries. This sharing of information gains Mitch the knowledge that Fala is wanted under another name by the FBI for murders in other states.
I won’t be a spoiler, but I will say in this skillfully writing suspense how Fala is caught turns out to be a surprise, as well as who catches him.
May 3, 2010
CJ Tanner broke up with her fiancé, Mitch Harmon, when he seemed to be interfering with her radio career. But now she needs his help as a police officer to find the serial killer who is using her show as a venue to showcase the murders he’s committing in Oxford, Tennessee. Their love for one another is rekindled as they work together to solve the murderer’s riddles, but love won’t be enough to save CJ when the killer focuses his attention on her.
Although this was a page-turner, it wasn’t very satisfying. As a mystery, it’s unsolvable. The reader is never going to be able to figure out who the killer is and what his motives are until the narrator reveals all. It’s only after the killer has killed several people that they’re able to identify a pattern to the grisly murders – and only with the help of the FBI that Mitch is able to figure out who is committing them. As inspirational fiction, it falls just short of being offensive to non-believers. Granted, this book will be preaching to the choir for the majority who pick this up, but for those of us readers who aren’t Christian, Mitch and his religious advisor’s adamant stance that getting involved with “non-believers” is trouble is pretty off-putting. His faith could have been emphasized in other ways – without making a statement that believers and unbelievers will never get along. CJ’s recommitment to her faith was much more palatable. Not recommended.
Although this was a page-turner, it wasn’t very satisfying. As a mystery, it’s unsolvable. The reader is never going to be able to figure out who the killer is and what his motives are until the narrator reveals all. It’s only after the killer has killed several people that they’re able to identify a pattern to the grisly murders – and only with the help of the FBI that Mitch is able to figure out who is committing them. As inspirational fiction, it falls just short of being offensive to non-believers. Granted, this book will be preaching to the choir for the majority who pick this up, but for those of us readers who aren’t Christian, Mitch and his religious advisor’s adamant stance that getting involved with “non-believers” is trouble is pretty off-putting. His faith could have been emphasized in other ways – without making a statement that believers and unbelievers will never get along. CJ’s recommitment to her faith was much more palatable. Not recommended.
November 30, 2009
How do you trust someone who wants to control you? How do you protect someone who won’t take your advice?
CJ gave up trusting Mitch and went her own way, but in Final Warnings it seems like maybe his concerns weren’t entirely out of place. A prank email leads to a madman’s phone-call on air during CJ’s radio show, and then, as the story speeds up, to death and destruction. But even with all their police connections, Mitch and CJ can’t see what links the victims together.
With the death toll mounting, both become afraid that CJ might be next in line. A madman stalks their quiet town while the protagonists pray for rescue and find that maybe God has planned to have them rescue each other, in more ways than one. And maybe God would rather offer advice than override their self-control.
CJ gave up trusting Mitch and went her own way, but in Final Warnings it seems like maybe his concerns weren’t entirely out of place. A prank email leads to a madman’s phone-call on air during CJ’s radio show, and then, as the story speeds up, to death and destruction. But even with all their police connections, Mitch and CJ can’t see what links the victims together.
With the death toll mounting, both become afraid that CJ might be next in line. A madman stalks their quiet town while the protagonists pray for rescue and find that maybe God has planned to have them rescue each other, in more ways than one. And maybe God would rather offer advice than override their self-control.
February 20, 2011
A really good suspense book.
It hints towards several people who could be the murderers. Ends with a surprise twist.
Mitch was engaged to C.J. but she broke it off because she related his bossiness to the way her dad treated her mom, even though it was not the same. In the end Mitch realizes that with CJ refusing to accept God he should not be married to her anyways. It don't stop his protective instincts when people are being murdered around her though.
The author does not make this a sweet cozy book. People die.
Sometimes we like to try and escape and ignore real life but there are truly psychos out there and bad things happen.
A book well written, great twists and turns and a surprise villian.
It hints towards several people who could be the murderers. Ends with a surprise twist.
Mitch was engaged to C.J. but she broke it off because she related his bossiness to the way her dad treated her mom, even though it was not the same. In the end Mitch realizes that with CJ refusing to accept God he should not be married to her anyways. It don't stop his protective instincts when people are being murdered around her though.
The author does not make this a sweet cozy book. People die.
Sometimes we like to try and escape and ignore real life but there are truly psychos out there and bad things happen.
A book well written, great twists and turns and a surprise villian.
February 28, 2012
C.J. broke up with her fiance Mitch after she felt he was controlling her. So how do you help someone who doesn't want your advice?
Now C.J. has her own radio show. Soon however, she receives a cryptic email - a riddle of sorts from someone named Fala. She is told the solve the riddle or someone will be murdered. When C.J. does not solve the riddle, true to the promise, Fala murders someone close to C.J. As time progresses, Fala sends more and more riddles and death comes to an unsuspecting person. A serial killer walks the once peaceful town.
This was a good, quick read and I would recommend it to anyone. It points to several people, but has a bit of a surprise twist.
Now C.J. has her own radio show. Soon however, she receives a cryptic email - a riddle of sorts from someone named Fala. She is told the solve the riddle or someone will be murdered. When C.J. does not solve the riddle, true to the promise, Fala murders someone close to C.J. As time progresses, Fala sends more and more riddles and death comes to an unsuspecting person. A serial killer walks the once peaceful town.
This was a good, quick read and I would recommend it to anyone. It points to several people, but has a bit of a surprise twist.
October 24, 2015
Wow, but this book kept me jumping! I started this book last night and finally had to stop because I was really getting the creeps. People were dying at the hand of a madman, and it was a race against time to see how this would end! The two people, already in love but broken up after a misunderstanding, are in the middle of this sick, twisted murder plot where innocent people are dying! Who is the next victim going to be?
The answer to this - and the person behind it - is so twisted that it left me in shock! I want to thank the author for a very entertaining and fun read!
The answer to this - and the person behind it - is so twisted that it left me in shock! I want to thank the author for a very entertaining and fun read!
April 23, 2016
This was a bit of a page-turner, but not overly satisfying. The mystery is completely unsolvable. You only figure out who the killer is and what his motives are when they are revealed and that is only after this person has killed several people. This was not very inspirational either with Mitch being told that a believer getting involved with a non-believer is nothing but trouble, CJ's recommitment to her faith, on the other hand, much more believable.
This book is not a keeper for me.
This book is not a keeper for me.
June 25, 2012
I liked the idea of this book but it somehow didn't deliver. It was very predictable at times and used phrases that felt stiff and forced. Every so often, the sentences would flow.....till they didn't. I think this author has potential and hope that her writing improves to connect with the reader.
July 16, 2014
This has a gripping mystery compelling readers to start jotting down notes just to get to the killer's trail while getting hints here and there. So far, I managed to pinpoint the killer after all the try-hard note taking and connections of the killer to CJ Tanner. I wasn't able to figure out the riddle though but it's still an overall awesome read.
September 26, 2016
This line of simple, clean books from Steeple Hill have several elements in common: a simple mystery, a romance and a Christian message. This one, however, was a little violent for my tastes. I expect that from some of the more detailed thrillers on the market but it came as a surprise from this line of books.
Read
April 2, 2010396
September 1, 2011
first book in forever that made me scream.
Read
April 20, 2012okay
March 17, 2011
Great read!! I enjoyed how the author solve this mystery and kept the love story alive.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews