What do you think?
Rate this book
Austin Grant of Scotland Yard #1
The Last Commandment
Christmastime in London. When three seemingly unconnected victims are murdered with matching sequential Roman numerals carved into their foreheads, Metropolitan Police Commander Austin Grant finds his answer in one of the last places he’d expect: the Holy Bible. Each of the deaths correspond to a transgression of one of the Ten Commandments, and Grant must find the killer before the remaining Commandments are commemorated with homicides.
Unfortunately for Grant, the next victim with a number on their forehead turns up not in London, but across the pond at the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, turning this English murder case into a transatlantic manhunt spanning two global metropolises, each with its own rich history and culture. Commander Grant must team up with a charming NYPD detective named John Frankel, as well as his own estranged daughter Rachel—a cunning investigative reporter with conflicting feelings about her father.
The Last Commandment is the third novel by acclaimed screenwriter and producer Scott Shepherd, whose decades of television writing experience shine through in the swift pace and character-driven storytelling of this devilishly fun, page-turning mystery. Flipping the “buddy cop” story on its head with a touch of Old Testament fatalism, this twisty tale leads from the seedy back-alleys of Piccadilly to the Grande Dame hotels of Midtown Manhattan and back again.
Unfortunately for Grant, the next victim with a number on their forehead turns up not in London, but across the pond at the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, turning this English murder case into a transatlantic manhunt spanning two global metropolises, each with its own rich history and culture. Commander Grant must team up with a charming NYPD detective named John Frankel, as well as his own estranged daughter Rachel—a cunning investigative reporter with conflicting feelings about her father.
The Last Commandment is the third novel by acclaimed screenwriter and producer Scott Shepherd, whose decades of television writing experience shine through in the swift pace and character-driven storytelling of this devilishly fun, page-turning mystery. Flipping the “buddy cop” story on its head with a touch of Old Testament fatalism, this twisty tale leads from the seedy back-alleys of Piccadilly to the Grande Dame hotels of Midtown Manhattan and back again.
354 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
232 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Scott Shepherd
31 books38 followersScott Shepherd is a veteran writer/producer/show-runner with years of experience running network series; his production and screenwriting credits include The Equalizer, Miami Vice, The Outer Limits, Haven, and Quantum Leap. Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, he currently teaches television writing at the University of Texas in Austin. The Last Commandment is his first mystery novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
November 25, 2022
A murderer who views himself as judge, jury, and executioner and is looking to settle a score. Two policemen on two separate continents trying to catch him. And a young woman assisting with the case. Will they all still be standing at the end? And how many people will die before he’s caught?
Just before Christmas, Commander Austin Grant of the Metropolitan Police in London is tasked with tracking down a serial killer who is carving sequentially numbered Roman numerals in the victims’ foreheads. Unfortunately for Grant, the fourth victim found is discovered not in London, but New York City in Detectives John Frankel’s jurisdiction. The murdered priest, found in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, reveals that the killer’s acts are connected to the Ten Commandments and he’s only up to number three: shall not take the Lord’s name in vain. Together they track this elusive killer who will terrorize not only both sides of the Atlantic, but Austin Grant himself.
The Last Commandment is the first novel in the Austin Grant series by Scott Shepherd, acclaimed screenwriter and producer, who delivers with a fast-paced and character-driven plot that grabs you and doesn’t let go. After accidentally reading the second in this series, Should I Fall (which was also excellent) first, I returned to this one and was pleasantly surprised with the twisty storyline filled with red herrings and a shocking dénouement. That was the one negative that I found. The ending was just a little too far-fetched and came on abruptly. While I certainly didn’t see it coming, it also didn’t really work for me. I do have to say, though, that while I was afraid it was going to rest too heavily on religious themes, they thankfully were merely the means to murder and furthered the plot nicely. Overall, I really enjoyed this book (just as much as the last one I read by Shepherd) and look forward to reading others by him. Rating of 4 stars.
Just before Christmas, Commander Austin Grant of the Metropolitan Police in London is tasked with tracking down a serial killer who is carving sequentially numbered Roman numerals in the victims’ foreheads. Unfortunately for Grant, the fourth victim found is discovered not in London, but New York City in Detectives John Frankel’s jurisdiction. The murdered priest, found in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, reveals that the killer’s acts are connected to the Ten Commandments and he’s only up to number three: shall not take the Lord’s name in vain. Together they track this elusive killer who will terrorize not only both sides of the Atlantic, but Austin Grant himself.
The Last Commandment is the first novel in the Austin Grant series by Scott Shepherd, acclaimed screenwriter and producer, who delivers with a fast-paced and character-driven plot that grabs you and doesn’t let go. After accidentally reading the second in this series, Should I Fall (which was also excellent) first, I returned to this one and was pleasantly surprised with the twisty storyline filled with red herrings and a shocking dénouement. That was the one negative that I found. The ending was just a little too far-fetched and came on abruptly. While I certainly didn’t see it coming, it also didn’t really work for me. I do have to say, though, that while I was afraid it was going to rest too heavily on religious themes, they thankfully were merely the means to murder and furthered the plot nicely. Overall, I really enjoyed this book (just as much as the last one I read by Shepherd) and look forward to reading others by him. Rating of 4 stars.
August 12, 2021
The PERFECT crime novel - take a likable Scotland yard detective, a NYC cop and an estranged daughter and throw them in the middle of a hunt for a terrifying serial killer and seriously, what more do you need? Bravo!
October 23, 2022
I became very engrossed in this story of three people trying to find who is killing people and leaving a Roman numeral carved into their flesh. Austin Grant is a Scotland Yard detective who first begins this investigation, but soon his daughter Rachel as well as a detective from the New York City Police are also involved. The action is fast and moves between London and New York, and soon the trio suspects that the murders are somehow tied to the Ten Commandments of the Hebrew/Christian Bible. This was a thoroughly enjoyable adventure, and I picked up the next one in the series today.
My thanks go to Bookreporter.com for the copy I won of this book.
My thanks go to Bookreporter.com for the copy I won of this book.
July 17, 2021
Veteran writer/producer/showrunner Scott Shepherd has set the action of this brilliant Mystery/Thriller during Christmastime and spread the action across two continents --- the U.S.A. and Great Britain. The end result is that THE LAST COMMANDMENT is one of the best novels of its’ kind that I have read so far this year.
It begins with the brutal murder of Billy Street, lead singer of the British band The Blasphemers, after one of their small house shows. With veteran Metropolitan Police Commander Austin Grant just months away from self-imposed retirement he was not prepared for such violence so close to Christmas. Little does Austin realize that this is just the first in a series of murders that will terrorize not only London and NYC but also be somehow connected to himself.
The next murder is of a visiting Oxford Professor of Greek Mythology who was found murdered and marked with a bloody line slashed across his forehead to accompany to the gash that opened his throat. Austin Grant commiserates with his highly intelligent younger brother, Everett, himself a Philosophy Don at Oxford. It is Everett who suggests that these murders coincidentally were following the pattern of the Ten Commandments from the Bible. Austin then recognizes that the marks left on each body represented the Roman Numeral associated with the respective Commandment.
To further disrupt the last months of his job, Austin Grant is phoned by a NYPD Detective named John Frankel. It seems that a dead body has turned up in NYC, that of a Priest at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, with the same MO as the case Austin was working in London. Of course, this meant a trip to NYC was in order for Grant. He was happy to do this because his only child, a daughter named Rachel, lived and worked there, having relocated after disconnecting with her father following the death of his wife/her mother from cancer the previous year. Grant teams up with Frankel to work the now joint case and the individual they feel might be the Commandment Killer’s next target was a recently released murderer named Timothy Leeds who had killed his parents when he was just of legal age for incarceration.
By the time they find Leeds he was dead with a Roman Numeral V carved into his forehead. This occurred shortly after Leeds was to meet a British journalist for an interview. Ironically, a British reporter Grant knew from London happened to be in NYC at the same time as these murders. In addition to this suspect, Grant also had his eyes on an ex-killer named Prior Silver who had a grudge against him and was a person who had found religion at the time he was released from prison. Could Prior Silver or the British journalist be the Commandment Killer and, if so, why were they doing this? Was there any significance that this was all taking place during the Christmas holiday season?
Meanwhile, Grant was reconciling slowly with his daughter while at the same time she was beginning to fall for Detective Frankel. This will certainly make for an interesting holiday gathering when all three fly across the pond to London in pursuit of Prior Silver who had been seen jetting out of JFK back to London. One of Grant’s protégé’s has the bad luck of finding a double killing at a home where the bodies were posed in some sort of tableau on a bed. Just as he was trying to figure out the symbolism, he realizes the killer was still in the room with him and he ends up being collateral damage in this deadly case.
Grant now knows this is personal, especially when he receives a text from his deceased protégé after he was murdered. He vows during his eulogy to bring the killer of his friend and colleague to justice. Another plot line highlights the reason why Rachel had grown distant from her father. She was aware that her mother was attacked and almost sexually assaulted just months prior to her death from cancer --- a secret she made Rachel swear she would never reveal to her father. Who was the attacker, and could they also be connected to the Commandment Killer? As the body count continues to rise the trio of Grant, Frankel and Rachel realize that the final commandment was left for Grant himself --- to coincide with the newspaper cutout found in NYC that had ten X’s marked across Austin Grant’s face.
Even though I figured this one out fairly early on it did not take away from the pure enjoyment of reading THE LAST COMMANDMENT. It called to mind the earlier work of Thomas Harris --- a serial killer novel with just the right amount of intensity, suspense, and with a clever killer who always seemed to be one step ahead. Not to be missed!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
It begins with the brutal murder of Billy Street, lead singer of the British band The Blasphemers, after one of their small house shows. With veteran Metropolitan Police Commander Austin Grant just months away from self-imposed retirement he was not prepared for such violence so close to Christmas. Little does Austin realize that this is just the first in a series of murders that will terrorize not only London and NYC but also be somehow connected to himself.
The next murder is of a visiting Oxford Professor of Greek Mythology who was found murdered and marked with a bloody line slashed across his forehead to accompany to the gash that opened his throat. Austin Grant commiserates with his highly intelligent younger brother, Everett, himself a Philosophy Don at Oxford. It is Everett who suggests that these murders coincidentally were following the pattern of the Ten Commandments from the Bible. Austin then recognizes that the marks left on each body represented the Roman Numeral associated with the respective Commandment.
To further disrupt the last months of his job, Austin Grant is phoned by a NYPD Detective named John Frankel. It seems that a dead body has turned up in NYC, that of a Priest at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, with the same MO as the case Austin was working in London. Of course, this meant a trip to NYC was in order for Grant. He was happy to do this because his only child, a daughter named Rachel, lived and worked there, having relocated after disconnecting with her father following the death of his wife/her mother from cancer the previous year. Grant teams up with Frankel to work the now joint case and the individual they feel might be the Commandment Killer’s next target was a recently released murderer named Timothy Leeds who had killed his parents when he was just of legal age for incarceration.
By the time they find Leeds he was dead with a Roman Numeral V carved into his forehead. This occurred shortly after Leeds was to meet a British journalist for an interview. Ironically, a British reporter Grant knew from London happened to be in NYC at the same time as these murders. In addition to this suspect, Grant also had his eyes on an ex-killer named Prior Silver who had a grudge against him and was a person who had found religion at the time he was released from prison. Could Prior Silver or the British journalist be the Commandment Killer and, if so, why were they doing this? Was there any significance that this was all taking place during the Christmas holiday season?
Meanwhile, Grant was reconciling slowly with his daughter while at the same time she was beginning to fall for Detective Frankel. This will certainly make for an interesting holiday gathering when all three fly across the pond to London in pursuit of Prior Silver who had been seen jetting out of JFK back to London. One of Grant’s protégé’s has the bad luck of finding a double killing at a home where the bodies were posed in some sort of tableau on a bed. Just as he was trying to figure out the symbolism, he realizes the killer was still in the room with him and he ends up being collateral damage in this deadly case.
Grant now knows this is personal, especially when he receives a text from his deceased protégé after he was murdered. He vows during his eulogy to bring the killer of his friend and colleague to justice. Another plot line highlights the reason why Rachel had grown distant from her father. She was aware that her mother was attacked and almost sexually assaulted just months prior to her death from cancer --- a secret she made Rachel swear she would never reveal to her father. Who was the attacker, and could they also be connected to the Commandment Killer? As the body count continues to rise the trio of Grant, Frankel and Rachel realize that the final commandment was left for Grant himself --- to coincide with the newspaper cutout found in NYC that had ten X’s marked across Austin Grant’s face.
Even though I figured this one out fairly early on it did not take away from the pure enjoyment of reading THE LAST COMMANDMENT. It called to mind the earlier work of Thomas Harris --- a serial killer novel with just the right amount of intensity, suspense, and with a clever killer who always seemed to be one step ahead. Not to be missed!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
December 24, 2022
Was quite anticipated to delve into this as it was the 1st book for Police Commander Austin Grant of Scotland Yard series. Started with the third murder on its prologue, I was brought back to the past with the first two murders and following Grant later into the present in his venture of investigating the serial murder that was said to have a victim based on the ten commandments.
Intense and quite suspenseful, lots of backstories for the characters with minimal dynamics (understandable for the 1st instalment) from Grant himself to Frankel, the NYPD detective who helps him out after the murder went across the continent, and Rachel; a journalist also Grant’s only daughter— love these three interactions regarding the investigation, it gets so hectic (with pinch of love story too) and I like that unexpected red herring in the middle which making the plot more riveting to me— it did give me a solid hint to make my guess afterwards.
Even though I don’t fancy much on the dramatic father-daughter relationship because the serial case progress gets too overshadowed with their draggy conflict yet I get it somehow when it relates to that 10 chapters of decalogue nearly the end. Totally love how the killer goes all twisty and crafty until the end although I wish that the execution in decalogue part can be more harrowingly thrilled and startling much to wrap up both his revelation and motive (soft spoiler on the pronoun cause Grant says statistically men are more likely to go on killing sprees than women).
Still a well written intro for a thriller and investigation series; bit of noir backdrop vibe and action stuff, no cliffhanger (love!) and would love to get book 2 later for more of Grant (I hope he won’t go retiring that soon!). 3.8 stars to this!
Thank you Pansing Distribution for sending me a copy of the book in return for my honest review!
Intense and quite suspenseful, lots of backstories for the characters with minimal dynamics (understandable for the 1st instalment) from Grant himself to Frankel, the NYPD detective who helps him out after the murder went across the continent, and Rachel; a journalist also Grant’s only daughter— love these three interactions regarding the investigation, it gets so hectic (with pinch of love story too) and I like that unexpected red herring in the middle which making the plot more riveting to me— it did give me a solid hint to make my guess afterwards.
Even though I don’t fancy much on the dramatic father-daughter relationship because the serial case progress gets too overshadowed with their draggy conflict yet I get it somehow when it relates to that 10 chapters of decalogue nearly the end. Totally love how the killer goes all twisty and crafty until the end although I wish that the execution in decalogue part can be more harrowingly thrilled and startling much to wrap up both his revelation and motive (soft spoiler on the pronoun cause Grant says statistically men are more likely to go on killing sprees than women).
Still a well written intro for a thriller and investigation series; bit of noir backdrop vibe and action stuff, no cliffhanger (love!) and would love to get book 2 later for more of Grant (I hope he won’t go retiring that soon!). 3.8 stars to this!
Thank you Pansing Distribution for sending me a copy of the book in return for my honest review!
August 22, 2021
Thank you Mysterious Press for the gifted copy.
I love discovering new-to-me authors, and it’s even better when I find out that the book is the first in a series! I was thrilled when I reached out to Mysterious Press and they sent me a bunch of thrillers and this one was included…a police procedural involving a serial killer – sign me up!
This was just such a smart, thrilling read that kept me engaged right from the start. I loved how it incorporated the religious angle, though it most certainly is not a religious read by any means. And I also loved how it involves a NYPD detective and a Scotland Yard Commander working together and racing back and forth across the pond to solve this case.
This book was a rather quick read and I found myself guessing non-stop as to what was going to happen next. The character development is really good and I’m glad that this is not the last we will see of these characters as there are some developments that I am excited to see continued in the next book. I was able to chat with the author along with a few other bookstagrammers and we got a sneak peak of book two and I am already looking forward to it!
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
I love discovering new-to-me authors, and it’s even better when I find out that the book is the first in a series! I was thrilled when I reached out to Mysterious Press and they sent me a bunch of thrillers and this one was included…a police procedural involving a serial killer – sign me up!
This was just such a smart, thrilling read that kept me engaged right from the start. I loved how it incorporated the religious angle, though it most certainly is not a religious read by any means. And I also loved how it involves a NYPD detective and a Scotland Yard Commander working together and racing back and forth across the pond to solve this case.
This book was a rather quick read and I found myself guessing non-stop as to what was going to happen next. The character development is really good and I’m glad that this is not the last we will see of these characters as there are some developments that I am excited to see continued in the next book. I was able to chat with the author along with a few other bookstagrammers and we got a sneak peak of book two and I am already looking forward to it!
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
January 9, 2026
Karena ini karya pertama yang kubaca dari penulis, aku benar-benar blind jump pas baca. Premise penyelidikan serial killer yang memilih korban dari para pelanggar 10 Perintah Allah itu cukup menarik untukku. Apakah pelakunya penganut agama fanatik, arogan yang merasa jadi tangan kanan Tuhan, artistik killer atau terlalu cerdas dan ingin mempersulit hidup para penyelidik?
Cara berceritanya cukup baik dan fast pace. Dengan setting yang berpindah-pindah mengikuti penemuan korban yang makin cepat, aku lumayan keteteran untuk mendapatkan landasan kaki yang kuat sejak awal chapter. Jangan lupa ini juga pertama kali aku kenalan dengan MCnya Komandan Polisi Metro London, Austin Grant yang kelihatannya berdedikasi walau uring2an dikasih beban kasus padahal sudah tinggal menunggu detik2 pensiun. Tapi aku butuh beberpa buku lagi untuk menilainya lebih dalam.
Plotnya untungnya tidak sulit diikuti walaupun oleh pembaca yang tidak tahu tentang 10 Perintah Allah. Alurnya sat set sekali walaupun ending dan motivasi si pembunuh sama sekali tak terduga.
Thanks to BCLC
Cara berceritanya cukup baik dan fast pace. Dengan setting yang berpindah-pindah mengikuti penemuan korban yang makin cepat, aku lumayan keteteran untuk mendapatkan landasan kaki yang kuat sejak awal chapter. Jangan lupa ini juga pertama kali aku kenalan dengan MCnya Komandan Polisi Metro London, Austin Grant yang kelihatannya berdedikasi walau uring2an dikasih beban kasus padahal sudah tinggal menunggu detik2 pensiun. Tapi aku butuh beberpa buku lagi untuk menilainya lebih dalam.
Plotnya untungnya tidak sulit diikuti walaupun oleh pembaca yang tidak tahu tentang 10 Perintah Allah. Alurnya sat set sekali walaupun ending dan motivasi si pembunuh sama sekali tak terduga.
Thanks to BCLC
July 25, 2021
the front cover indicates this is a Scotland Yard novel. Yes, but not in a trational sense. It was written by an American and reads like a hollywood movie. so if you expecting a mystery in the tradtional English style you too will be disappointed.
I thought the characters were well written, but the style wasn't what you might think.
SPOILERS!!
Why the plot took itself to NYC, makes no sense, other than the author wanted to put it there as he is from there. Adds nothing to the story and introduces needles complexity.
The author introduces a likely candidate for the villian, but you don't take it seriously as its at the middle of the book.
The actual motive for the crimes aren't credulous. Why everette had to go to such lengths to get revenge makes no sense, other than maddness, which is laziness by the author.
Killing him off and the Sargent takes away any continuity for Future books, which I won't read if there is one.
I thought the characters were well written, but the style wasn't what you might think.
SPOILERS!!
Why the plot took itself to NYC, makes no sense, other than the author wanted to put it there as he is from there. Adds nothing to the story and introduces needles complexity.
The author introduces a likely candidate for the villian, but you don't take it seriously as its at the middle of the book.
The actual motive for the crimes aren't credulous. Why everette had to go to such lengths to get revenge makes no sense, other than maddness, which is laziness by the author.
Killing him off and the Sargent takes away any continuity for Future books, which I won't read if there is one.
July 18, 2021
I didn’t think I was gonna like this book because of the religious aspect, but it turned out to be very intriguing. I really liked the killer and the special signature. The idea of a crazy religious person was awesome. About half way through the book I started to suspect who the real killer was and why. I enjoyed the characters tremendously and the author’s writing style. I’m a sucker for Christmastime books so, of course, I loved all the detail during the holiday. While the book seems a bit lengthy, it is a quick read with a pace that keeps the reader hooked. Consider me thoroughly entertained! I highly recommend you pick this one up.
June 21, 2021
So I thought I wouldn't like this book at first because sometimes Scotland Yard books can be a bit slow for me and I was pleasantly surprised with this one. The writing was amazing, very intimate and in depth. The pace of the book was great; it slowed down and sped up in all the right parts. If you need a good cozy thriller, I definitely think this is a book to read.
Austin Grant is approaching his retirement at Scotland Yard and what better way to go out on a bang than with a multi-continent serial killer? Starting in London two murders occur where the victims have no connection minus a Roman numeral carved into their foreheads. Baffled on the connection, Grant gets a call from New York city that a similar M.O. has been seen there. In NYC he meets Detective John Frankel and the two create a unique friendship attempting to solve the mysterious case. Frankel is bitter from a failed marriage and focusing solely on work turns into a man that forms a person starting a budding relationship with Grant's daughter.
Thank you to Scott Shepherd, Penzler Publishers, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Austin Grant is approaching his retirement at Scotland Yard and what better way to go out on a bang than with a multi-continent serial killer? Starting in London two murders occur where the victims have no connection minus a Roman numeral carved into their foreheads. Baffled on the connection, Grant gets a call from New York city that a similar M.O. has been seen there. In NYC he meets Detective John Frankel and the two create a unique friendship attempting to solve the mysterious case. Frankel is bitter from a failed marriage and focusing solely on work turns into a man that forms a person starting a budding relationship with Grant's daughter.
Thank you to Scott Shepherd, Penzler Publishers, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2021
While this one is a little bit of a slow burn and somewhat lengthy - I really enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the writing style.
August 22, 2025
(Throws book at the wall) Terrible ending. Cripes.
August 29, 2021
This was pleasantly surprising. I did NOT see the twist coming!!! 😳😱😳😱 i love detective novels so i enjoyed but that twist really did it for me. I love being surprised and not able to guess what’s going to happen. And this got me! I thought i knew how it was going to go but the ending blew me away.
I also enjoyed the little bit of romance that was thrown in there. Definitely recommend checking this one out! I’d happily read another of this detective series
I also enjoyed the little bit of romance that was thrown in there. Definitely recommend checking this one out! I’d happily read another of this detective series
March 4, 2021
4 solid stars
I really enjoyed this interesting twist on a serial killer case, with a Scotland Yard commander & an NYPD detective teaming up to apprehend the criminal. The touches of family drama on the side nicely round out the story & provide a good amount of character development.
[What I liked:]
•The action starts right away, gritty & amusing & intriguing. (The first victim described on page is an absolute ahole!)
•The serial killer concept, with religiously inspired crimes, is really interesting (the main reason I wanted to read this book). It reminds me a bit of the real life Bible John case, but the book concept is still unique from that.
•The prose is smooth & easy to follow, and the pacing felt good to me. And there are some pretty quotable lines.
•There are some fun twists, but they were set up so it’s not deus ex machina. I more or less figured out the main mystery about 70% in, but that didn’t ruin the story at all because it was so fun & exciting to see how it all played out! All the nice little nuances & details I couldn’t have predicted kept it interesting, with a tiny bit of uncertainty in the back of my mind.
•I genuinely liked & cared about all 3 main characters, & was intrigued by several others, so I was pretty invested in the story the whole time.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•At times I questioned how realistic certain plot points were, but this is most likely due to my ignorance of how international crime cases are handled. (Would Scotland Yard really send an about to retire commander to help the NYPD on a massive case, based just on one phone call from a NYC detective? Maybe so; as I said, I’m ignorant of how it all works.)
•The confession scene felt unrealistic. Granted I’m not Catholic, but would a priest seriously hear that kind of confession, not blink an eye, & say “go in peace”? With no advice or penance assigned?
•The ending is awesome & fitting & well built up too—and kinda melodramatic, but I’ll give it a pass because it was so exciting & fitting.
CW: sexual assault, somewhat graphic murders described & on page violence
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
I really enjoyed this interesting twist on a serial killer case, with a Scotland Yard commander & an NYPD detective teaming up to apprehend the criminal. The touches of family drama on the side nicely round out the story & provide a good amount of character development.
[What I liked:]
•The action starts right away, gritty & amusing & intriguing. (The first victim described on page is an absolute ahole!)
•The serial killer concept, with religiously inspired crimes, is really interesting (the main reason I wanted to read this book). It reminds me a bit of the real life Bible John case, but the book concept is still unique from that.
•The prose is smooth & easy to follow, and the pacing felt good to me. And there are some pretty quotable lines.
•There are some fun twists, but they were set up so it’s not deus ex machina. I more or less figured out the main mystery about 70% in, but that didn’t ruin the story at all because it was so fun & exciting to see how it all played out! All the nice little nuances & details I couldn’t have predicted kept it interesting, with a tiny bit of uncertainty in the back of my mind.
•I genuinely liked & cared about all 3 main characters, & was intrigued by several others, so I was pretty invested in the story the whole time.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•At times I questioned how realistic certain plot points were, but this is most likely due to my ignorance of how international crime cases are handled. (Would Scotland Yard really send an about to retire commander to help the NYPD on a massive case, based just on one phone call from a NYC detective? Maybe so; as I said, I’m ignorant of how it all works.)
•The confession scene felt unrealistic. Granted I’m not Catholic, but would a priest seriously hear that kind of confession, not blink an eye, & say “go in peace”? With no advice or penance assigned?
•The ending is awesome & fitting & well built up too—and kinda melodramatic, but I’ll give it a pass because it was so exciting & fitting.
CW: sexual assault, somewhat graphic murders described & on page violence
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
July 22, 2021
Thanks to Mysterious Press and Tandem Literary for sending a finished copy!
I’m a casual and interested reader of the mystery genre so when Mysterious Press offered a copy of THE LAST COMMANDMENT I happily accepted. And I’m so glad I did. From the first page I was caught up in the race to find a macabre serial killer (aren’t they all??).
Scott Shepherd’s screenwriting skills shone in this well-paced novel. The principal characters were engaging and had me looking forward to getting back to the book each time life interrupted my reading. I loved the ‘both sides of the Pond’ settings and plot as well as the exciting denouement. As I turned the last page I was hoping for another case for Austin Grant and John Frankel.
I’m a casual and interested reader of the mystery genre so when Mysterious Press offered a copy of THE LAST COMMANDMENT I happily accepted. And I’m so glad I did. From the first page I was caught up in the race to find a macabre serial killer (aren’t they all??).
Scott Shepherd’s screenwriting skills shone in this well-paced novel. The principal characters were engaging and had me looking forward to getting back to the book each time life interrupted my reading. I loved the ‘both sides of the Pond’ settings and plot as well as the exciting denouement. As I turned the last page I was hoping for another case for Austin Grant and John Frankel.
Want to read
August 2, 2021 I started this book and it was just too graphic for me.
August 6, 2021
It’s time, isn’t it? Reading The Last Commandment feels timely to me. I knew it as soon I read the back cover description of Scott Shepherd’s newest book for two reasons: police procedural and serial killer. These two features will draw me in every time, especially this year. This year has seen the publication of several very good domestic and psychological thrillers, thank you Michael Koryta, Harlan Coben, Lisa Jewell, Laura Lippman, etc. With the exception of an excellent installment by Lars Kepler, the slate of police procedurals has been thin. The writing in crime fiction has been outstanding. But, I miss procedurals. I don’t know if you, readers, have a favorite sub-genre, a type of book within a major category that always pulls your attention. We all definitely have favorite authors but some readers have favorite types of fiction within their favorite genres. I am one of those readers and for me it is the police procedural and if a serial killer is along for the ride, I’m in. Throw in a relatable protagonist and perhaps a series and I will begin stalking author websites and Facebook pages eagerly awaiting the next installment. On these fronts, Scott Shepherd delivers. This may be a first installment. I hope so.
The Last Commandment opens in London. After two murders, our hero finds a third dead body. Each body has a Roman numeral carved into the forehead. Readers, we are also introduced to our protagonist, Police Commander Austin Grant, soon to be retired Commander Grant. For our hero, concern is shifting to panic as bodies are piling up and clues are scarce. There seems to be no connections between the victims, and the time between murders is very short. Our hero is not sure of the connection to the Ten Commandments, but we are, thanks to the title. We feel smart for a moment, a bit ahead of the action, but not for long. Just as our Commander comes to the same conclusion that we have reached and begins preparations to protect London, the killer moves across the ocean to New York and continues killing. The Commander travels to New York and partners with Detective John Frankel, who is a detective and contact at NYPD and Rachel Austin, an investigative reporter and the estranged daughter of Commander Austin. Over the next three hundred or so pages, the trio strive to stop a murderer before he completes his mission of upholding The Last Commandment.
Scott Shepherd wowed me with this one. The plot was intricate and detailed. I was fooled several times with the twists and was unsure of the villain’s identity until close to the end of the novel, a rarity for me. One of the most striking features of the writing was characterization. There is a moment within the first one hundred pages that is so endearing and human, where Commander Austin stands in the bright lights and movement of Christmas in New York City, grieving the aloneness resulting from of the loss of his wife and estrangement of his daughter. I was cemented as a fan. The novel is full of these very human, very personal moments that bond readers to characters and are a hallmark of great writing. Despite the violence of the material, the characters view the world with such hope that this novel cannot be classified as noir. Character arcs were complete, but the author left enough room and intrigue to allow for future installments. Thank you again, Mr. Shepherd, for a great read. Consider adding The Last Commandment to your Crime Lit TBR.
Classification: Police Procedural
Slow Boil: Action Packed
Literary: Characterization is so well done
Noir: Not quite
Thriller: Definitely thrilling
Overall: 4.5
The Last Commandment opens in London. After two murders, our hero finds a third dead body. Each body has a Roman numeral carved into the forehead. Readers, we are also introduced to our protagonist, Police Commander Austin Grant, soon to be retired Commander Grant. For our hero, concern is shifting to panic as bodies are piling up and clues are scarce. There seems to be no connections between the victims, and the time between murders is very short. Our hero is not sure of the connection to the Ten Commandments, but we are, thanks to the title. We feel smart for a moment, a bit ahead of the action, but not for long. Just as our Commander comes to the same conclusion that we have reached and begins preparations to protect London, the killer moves across the ocean to New York and continues killing. The Commander travels to New York and partners with Detective John Frankel, who is a detective and contact at NYPD and Rachel Austin, an investigative reporter and the estranged daughter of Commander Austin. Over the next three hundred or so pages, the trio strive to stop a murderer before he completes his mission of upholding The Last Commandment.
Scott Shepherd wowed me with this one. The plot was intricate and detailed. I was fooled several times with the twists and was unsure of the villain’s identity until close to the end of the novel, a rarity for me. One of the most striking features of the writing was characterization. There is a moment within the first one hundred pages that is so endearing and human, where Commander Austin stands in the bright lights and movement of Christmas in New York City, grieving the aloneness resulting from of the loss of his wife and estrangement of his daughter. I was cemented as a fan. The novel is full of these very human, very personal moments that bond readers to characters and are a hallmark of great writing. Despite the violence of the material, the characters view the world with such hope that this novel cannot be classified as noir. Character arcs were complete, but the author left enough room and intrigue to allow for future installments. Thank you again, Mr. Shepherd, for a great read. Consider adding The Last Commandment to your Crime Lit TBR.
Classification: Police Procedural
Slow Boil: Action Packed
Literary: Characterization is so well done
Noir: Not quite
Thriller: Definitely thrilling
Overall: 4.5
July 19, 2021
Veteran writer, producer and showrunner Scott Shepherd has set this brilliant mystery/thriller during Christmastime and spread the action across the U.S. and Great Britain. This helps make THE LAST COMMANDMENT one of the best novels of its kind that I have read so far this year.
The book begins with the brutal murder of Billy Street, the lead singer of the British band The Blasphemers, after one of their small house shows. With Metropolitan Police Commander Austin Grant just months away from a self-imposed retirement, he is not prepared for such violence so close to Christmas. Little does he realize that this is just the first in a series of murders that not only will terrorize London and New York City, but somehow will be connected to himself.
The next murder is of a visiting Oxford Professor of Greek Mythology who was found marked with a bloody line slashed across his forehead to accompany the gash that opened his throat. Grant commiserates with his highly intelligent younger brother, Everett, who suggests that these killings are following the pattern of the Ten Commandments. It turns out that the marks left on each body represent the Roman numeral associated with the respective Commandment.
To further disrupt the last months of his job, Grant is contacted by NYPD Detective John Frankel. The body of a priest has turned up at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with the same deadly MO. Of course, this means that a trip to the Big Apple is in order for Grant. He is happy to do this because his only child, Rachel, lives and works there, having relocated after losing touch with him following the death of her mother from cancer the previous year. Grant teams up with Frankel, and they believe that the Commandment Killer’s next target is Timothy Leeds, who had murdered his parents and has just been released.
By the time they find Leeds, he is dead with the Roman numeral “V” carved into his forehead. This occurred shortly after Leeds was to meet a British journalist for an interview. In addition to this reporter, Grant has his eyes on Prior Silver, an ex-killer who had a grudge against Leeds and had found religion at the time he was released from prison. Could either man be the Commandment Killer? Is there any significance to these murders taking place during the holiday season?
Meanwhile, Grant is reconciling slowly with Rachel, who is beginning to fall for Frankel. This certainly will make for an interesting holiday gathering when all three fly across the pond to London in pursuit of Silver, who had been seen jetting out of JFK. One of Grant’s protégés had the bad luck of finding a double homicide at a home where the bodies were posed in some sort of tableau on a bed. Just as he was trying to figure out the symbolism, he realized that the assailant was still in the room with him, and he ended up being collateral damage in this deadly case. Grant now knows that this is personal and vows to bring the killer of his friend and colleague to justice.
Even though I figured this one out fairly early on, it did not take away from the pure enjoyment of reading THE LAST COMMANDMENT. It called to mind Thomas Harris’ earlier work --- a serial killer novel with just the right amount of intensity, suspense and a clever murderer who always seems to be one step ahead of everybody else.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
The book begins with the brutal murder of Billy Street, the lead singer of the British band The Blasphemers, after one of their small house shows. With Metropolitan Police Commander Austin Grant just months away from a self-imposed retirement, he is not prepared for such violence so close to Christmas. Little does he realize that this is just the first in a series of murders that not only will terrorize London and New York City, but somehow will be connected to himself.
The next murder is of a visiting Oxford Professor of Greek Mythology who was found marked with a bloody line slashed across his forehead to accompany the gash that opened his throat. Grant commiserates with his highly intelligent younger brother, Everett, who suggests that these killings are following the pattern of the Ten Commandments. It turns out that the marks left on each body represent the Roman numeral associated with the respective Commandment.
To further disrupt the last months of his job, Grant is contacted by NYPD Detective John Frankel. The body of a priest has turned up at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with the same deadly MO. Of course, this means that a trip to the Big Apple is in order for Grant. He is happy to do this because his only child, Rachel, lives and works there, having relocated after losing touch with him following the death of her mother from cancer the previous year. Grant teams up with Frankel, and they believe that the Commandment Killer’s next target is Timothy Leeds, who had murdered his parents and has just been released.
By the time they find Leeds, he is dead with the Roman numeral “V” carved into his forehead. This occurred shortly after Leeds was to meet a British journalist for an interview. In addition to this reporter, Grant has his eyes on Prior Silver, an ex-killer who had a grudge against Leeds and had found religion at the time he was released from prison. Could either man be the Commandment Killer? Is there any significance to these murders taking place during the holiday season?
Meanwhile, Grant is reconciling slowly with Rachel, who is beginning to fall for Frankel. This certainly will make for an interesting holiday gathering when all three fly across the pond to London in pursuit of Silver, who had been seen jetting out of JFK. One of Grant’s protégés had the bad luck of finding a double homicide at a home where the bodies were posed in some sort of tableau on a bed. Just as he was trying to figure out the symbolism, he realized that the assailant was still in the room with him, and he ended up being collateral damage in this deadly case. Grant now knows that this is personal and vows to bring the killer of his friend and colleague to justice.
Even though I figured this one out fairly early on, it did not take away from the pure enjoyment of reading THE LAST COMMANDMENT. It called to mind Thomas Harris’ earlier work --- a serial killer novel with just the right amount of intensity, suspense and a clever murderer who always seems to be one step ahead of everybody else.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
September 23, 2021
In Scott Shepherd's "The Last Commandment," Commander Grant Austin is looking forward to his approaching retirement. After putting in more than three decades in Scotland Yard, he is ready to leave his stressful job. Life has not been easy for Austin, who still grieves for his late wife, Alison. In addition, Grant's adored only child, Rachel, rarely speaks to him. He has always treated her with love and kindness, and he cannot understand why she does not reciprocate his affection. Ironically, a hunt for a serial killer brings father and daughter together.
It is the holiday season and Londoners will soon be ringing in the New Year. Unfortunately, Commander Austin cannot enjoy the festivities, since he still has a tough case to solve. An unidentified individual has decided to execute various individuals who, he believes, have committed grave transgressions. When the villain claims a victim in New York City, Grant joins forces with Detective John Frankel of the NYPD, and reunites with Rachel, who is a Manhattan-based journalist. After conferring with Grant, Rachel becomes an informal member of his investigative team. Frankel, Grant, and Rachel proceed with their inquiry but make little headway. Shortly thereafter, they fly back to England, where they continue their search for the elusive killer.
Initially, the seriocomic plot, with its scenes of droll humor and passages of deep sorrow, is intriguing and entertaining. The mystery is perplexing at first, since whoever is behind these crimes is a master of misdirection. The murderer makes a point of taunting Austin, implying that the detective is the ultimate target of his wrath. Shepherd livens up matters with a budding romance, and we eagerly await the revelation that will explain why Rachel has given her dad the cold shoulder for so long. Alas, the conclusion, which most savvy readers will see coming, is clumsily executed. "The Last Commandment" is occasionally diverting, but as it proceeds, it becomes cliché-ridden and wildly implausible.
It is the holiday season and Londoners will soon be ringing in the New Year. Unfortunately, Commander Austin cannot enjoy the festivities, since he still has a tough case to solve. An unidentified individual has decided to execute various individuals who, he believes, have committed grave transgressions. When the villain claims a victim in New York City, Grant joins forces with Detective John Frankel of the NYPD, and reunites with Rachel, who is a Manhattan-based journalist. After conferring with Grant, Rachel becomes an informal member of his investigative team. Frankel, Grant, and Rachel proceed with their inquiry but make little headway. Shortly thereafter, they fly back to England, where they continue their search for the elusive killer.
Initially, the seriocomic plot, with its scenes of droll humor and passages of deep sorrow, is intriguing and entertaining. The mystery is perplexing at first, since whoever is behind these crimes is a master of misdirection. The murderer makes a point of taunting Austin, implying that the detective is the ultimate target of his wrath. Shepherd livens up matters with a budding romance, and we eagerly await the revelation that will explain why Rachel has given her dad the cold shoulder for so long. Alas, the conclusion, which most savvy readers will see coming, is clumsily executed. "The Last Commandment" is occasionally diverting, but as it proceeds, it becomes cliché-ridden and wildly implausible.
October 14, 2023
Achei muito criativa a ideia de fazer o serial killer matar seguindo os Dez Mandamentos, isso faz com que o leitor, junto dos detetives, tentem imaginar quem será a próxima vítima e como o assassino vai interpretar o mandamento.
😯 A história tem um pique muito rápido, não tem enrolação para começar e temos o ponto de vista do detetive principal, do serial killer (mas sem sabermos quem é) e também das vítimas, isso deixou a leitura bem dinâmica.
🤨 Quando foi 'descoberto" quem era o assassino, eu não aceitei. Achei muito fácil e bobo, ainda mais que faltavam 200 páginas para terminar o livro, então isso já faz com que o leitor saiba que o que foi escrito não é a verdade.
🔤 Algo que me irritou muito na história foi a quantidade de erros de português e de tradução, o nome de um dos personagens é John e teve momentos que colocavam as falas como João. Se tivesse feito uma segunda revisão daria para ter pego esses erros.
🥱 O final do livro, quando tudo foi REALMENTE descoberto, me fez pensar que o nome do livro é um baita spoiler para saber quem é o assassino. O autor deveria ter posto outro nome no livro, pois se a pessoa já sabe qual é o último mandamento, já vai estar na cara quem é o assassino. Isso faz com que todo o mistério para o leitor vá para o ralo.
👏 No geral, o livro é muito bom e criativo, o autor conseguiu trazer algo novo quando o assunto é serial killers, mas acho que deu uma deslizada ao deixar tão óbvio quem é o assassino.
😯 A história tem um pique muito rápido, não tem enrolação para começar e temos o ponto de vista do detetive principal, do serial killer (mas sem sabermos quem é) e também das vítimas, isso deixou a leitura bem dinâmica.
🤨 Quando foi 'descoberto" quem era o assassino, eu não aceitei. Achei muito fácil e bobo, ainda mais que faltavam 200 páginas para terminar o livro, então isso já faz com que o leitor saiba que o que foi escrito não é a verdade.
🔤 Algo que me irritou muito na história foi a quantidade de erros de português e de tradução, o nome de um dos personagens é John e teve momentos que colocavam as falas como João. Se tivesse feito uma segunda revisão daria para ter pego esses erros.
🥱 O final do livro, quando tudo foi REALMENTE descoberto, me fez pensar que o nome do livro é um baita spoiler para saber quem é o assassino. O autor deveria ter posto outro nome no livro, pois se a pessoa já sabe qual é o último mandamento, já vai estar na cara quem é o assassino. Isso faz com que todo o mistério para o leitor vá para o ralo.
👏 No geral, o livro é muito bom e criativo, o autor conseguiu trazer algo novo quando o assunto é serial killers, mas acho que deu uma deslizada ao deixar tão óbvio quem é o assassino.
May 8, 2021
My first criteria for a book to earn a five-star rating is that it must hold my interest so much so that I hate to put it down or can’t wait to get back to it. My second is that there must be no eye rolls from me. And, of course, the story must have a good flow, good writing, a good plot, and a good ending (love the ending). The Last Commandment wins a five-star rating for sure.
It’s about a killer who carefully chooses his victims for each of the commandments. He slits their throats and then adds the Roman numeral of the particular commandment into the forehead of the dead body. At each crime scene he leaves a clue as to who the next victim will be.
Included in solving the mystery are Austin Grant, a Commander with the London Police, his daughter, Rachel, his brother, Everett, and John Frankel, an NYPD detective who is also involved. Most of the murders take place around London, but several take place around New York.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Last Commandment. I enjoyed it immensely. Well done, Mr. Shepherd. Well done.
It’s about a killer who carefully chooses his victims for each of the commandments. He slits their throats and then adds the Roman numeral of the particular commandment into the forehead of the dead body. At each crime scene he leaves a clue as to who the next victim will be.
Included in solving the mystery are Austin Grant, a Commander with the London Police, his daughter, Rachel, his brother, Everett, and John Frankel, an NYPD detective who is also involved. Most of the murders take place around London, but several take place around New York.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Last Commandment. I enjoyed it immensely. Well done, Mr. Shepherd. Well done.
January 4, 2022
Grabbed this off the new books section in my library. A mystery that takes commander Austin Grant from Scotland Yard on the trail of a serial killer in both London and then NYC and back to London. With the help of his younger brother Everett they figure the killer is carving the roman numerals of the commandments in the heads of his victims. When the killings take Grant to NYC his brother arranges a breakfast with Grant's daughter Rachel who has not talked to her dad in over a year since her mom died of cancer and her dad has no idea why. NYC detective Frankel and Commander Grant team up but are always one step behind this killer. When the trail leads them back to London all three go together to try to stop the insanity before the new year -- when Grant is set to retire from huis 34 year career at the Yard. I really enjoyed this book until I was able to figure out who the killer was.....I like the author to keep me guessing until the end! Otherwise the book kept my interest and the characters were well written and I cared about what was happening.
March 30, 2024
finished 29th march 2024 good read three stars i liked it kindle library loaner and the first from shepherd. good cover and title and the idea of reading something to do possibly with scotland yard made this one a go. serial killer starts in england and moves to the u.s.a. and then back to england and all that is a dreaded spoiler. but you don't know when we're going to get there but you can keep asking. thing is...reading along and i put it down at one point...go and do other things...come back to it and pick it up...and by coincidence i'd stopped right at a point where up next is what i'll call a romantic interlude...this opposed to the comedic relief we get in whatever act it is...act 3? 4? yoric's skull and all. the interlude covers a time period that has just passed...and our heroes are...i think they're already back in london town so the lude threw me a curve ball...bad timing. anyway, entertaining suspense it shakes it bakes it rocks and rolls. you heard it here folks. take it away.
July 31, 2021
The book jacket says that this is Shepherd's first mystery novel, and it's a doozy. Widowed Austin Grant is about to retire from his long career at Scotland Yard. For reasons that he doesn't understand, his daughter will not speak to him. Fortunately, his brilliant professor brother Everett is available for chess games. A mysterious serial killer is loose in London, but what kind of people are targets? Everett has an idea, and when the police close off the next target, the killer moves on to New York City. Grant goes to consult with his opposite number, John Frankel, and tries to mend his relationship with his daughter, a journalist who lives in New York. Frankel and Rachel go back to London when the chase again moves there, as the clock ticks down on Grant's retirement. The pace is fast, but--to be truthful--I did figure out the culprit long, long before the nominal detectives did. On the other hand, I didn't have jet lag.
August 3, 2021
This is a story which has you captivated all the way through. It all begins with the murder of a rock star in England and is quickly followed by two more. But the killer does not stay there. He travels across the pond to continue his agenda with a murder in NYC. His agenda…The Ten Commandments!
Scotland Yard Detective Austin Grant is on his last case. He is retiring at the end of the year. So he fully intends to wrap up this case quickly. But, he must team up with NYC detective John Frankel.
I love the characters in this tale, especially Austin Grant. He is humble and that comes across well. Not every author can create a character like this and maintain him all the way through. But Scott Shepherd did! I cannot wait for his next book! I am anxious to see what kind of twisted story he comes up with next!
Need a good murder mystery…OH BOY! This is it! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel for a honest review.
Scotland Yard Detective Austin Grant is on his last case. He is retiring at the end of the year. So he fully intends to wrap up this case quickly. But, he must team up with NYC detective John Frankel.
I love the characters in this tale, especially Austin Grant. He is humble and that comes across well. Not every author can create a character like this and maintain him all the way through. But Scott Shepherd did! I cannot wait for his next book! I am anxious to see what kind of twisted story he comes up with next!
Need a good murder mystery…OH BOY! This is it! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel for a honest review.
August 18, 2021
Modern detective fiction at its finest. Fans of Robert Galbraith and Ian Rankin will devour this thriller about soon-to-be-retired Scotland Yard commander Austin Grant.
When London-based Grant receives word of the third murder in a week, and all three victims were left with numerical markings on their faces, he knows he has a serial killer on his hands. The murderer appears to be doling out punishments related to the Ten Commandments. When the next killing occurs not in London but New York City, Grant partners with NYPD detective John Frankel to investigate.
Clean prose, snappy dialogue, and masterful plotting make this book an absolute delight to read. Before turning to fiction, Scott Shepherd was a writer, producer, and show-runner for series like The Equalizer, Quantum Leap, and Miami Vice, and he clearly applied all of that expertise to his first mystery novel. I look forward to reading much more of his work.
When London-based Grant receives word of the third murder in a week, and all three victims were left with numerical markings on their faces, he knows he has a serial killer on his hands. The murderer appears to be doling out punishments related to the Ten Commandments. When the next killing occurs not in London but New York City, Grant partners with NYPD detective John Frankel to investigate.
Clean prose, snappy dialogue, and masterful plotting make this book an absolute delight to read. Before turning to fiction, Scott Shepherd was a writer, producer, and show-runner for series like The Equalizer, Quantum Leap, and Miami Vice, and he clearly applied all of that expertise to his first mystery novel. I look forward to reading much more of his work.
March 16, 2022
The Last Commandment starts out okay, but it felt a little awkward. However, the plot was somewhat interesting, so I kept going. At some point it got better, and I began to enjoy it more. Maybe Shepherd's experience as a screenwriter helped, as sometimes it was as if I were watching the events in the book happen.
Then came the ending. Yeah, it was a good twist, but it was also a lousy twist, and not really believable. Except then I remembered something from my own life which made it a tiny bit believable (to tell would be a spoiler, so I won't), and as a result, I didn't throw the book across the room. Besides, it was a library book.
Then came the ending. Yeah, it was a good twist, but it was also a lousy twist, and not really believable. Except then I remembered something from my own life which made it a tiny bit believable (to tell would be a spoiler, so I won't), and as a result, I didn't throw the book across the room. Besides, it was a library book.
July 10, 2022
It was.. OK. In that I kept reading. but the premise and reason for all the killings made no sense .. seems a long convoluted way for the killer to get what he wanted .. when it could of been done much simpler and less deaths.
Im also bemused that he had to 1 name the brand of water? WHY? why not just say "he took a sip from his bottle of water".. its not a movie ie not like hes the brand manager in a production
ALSO zero need to mention that a person was black, or spanish or indian etc.. who cares? Its not like he mentions when someone is white (its not just him just modern writers in general seem obsessed with mentioning nationalities )
Long ramble short. again its okay i finished it but by skim reading .. and I actually read the ending sooner then went back . why? because it DRAGSSSSS . It would of been better if it had b een 1/4 shorter.
Im also bemused that he had to 1 name the brand of water? WHY? why not just say "he took a sip from his bottle of water".. its not a movie ie not like hes the brand manager in a production
ALSO zero need to mention that a person was black, or spanish or indian etc.. who cares? Its not like he mentions when someone is white (its not just him just modern writers in general seem obsessed with mentioning nationalities )
Long ramble short. again its okay i finished it but by skim reading .. and I actually read the ending sooner then went back . why? because it DRAGSSSSS . It would of been better if it had b een 1/4 shorter.
September 4, 2023
A solid 4 star book. Although, personally I saw the end of this story a mile away. A few parts of the story really give away the ending and the idea of the ending is also kinda average. In my opinion, the whole story and vibes of the story is pretty solid as well. The whole investigation and searching part of the book was written well but again the whole story is just meh. I just and a bit disappointed that the ending was so obvious. Almost halfway through I already guessed who was the killer and why. The idea and story is just meh, but the whole description and story was pretty solid. Although, a few cringy bits, especially the romance in this story. I just felt it was a bit fast and forced. But either was I liked the book and it was a fun read. I finished it in 5 hours while on vacation. So it was a good vacation read.
August 6, 2022
The Last Commandment is the first mystery by screen writer and producer Scott Shepherd. The Christmas season in London looks lonely and quiet for Commander Austin Grant of Scotland Yard until he is put in charge of a case with three murder victims that all have RomanNumerals scratched on their foreheads. A fourth victim is found at St. Patricks Cathedral in New York. Joining Commander Grant in New York is Detective John Frankel of the New York police and Grant's estranged daughter Rachel.
As bodies on both sides of the Atlantic begin to multiply, the two detectives, aided by Grant's daughter, must search for the killer.
Fast paced and character driven, this is a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
As bodies on both sides of the Atlantic begin to multiply, the two detectives, aided by Grant's daughter, must search for the killer.
Fast paced and character driven, this is a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews