Her Last Words

Martina Monroe #8

by H.K. Christie

A string of puzzling murders. A skilled and dangerous killer. Will the Cold Case Squad discover the truth in time to save one of their own?

PI Martina and Detective Hirsch accept the new sheriff’s request to reopen a ten-year-old serial killer case. Not that they could refuse. One victim was the sheriff’s brother, a married father of two.

The case is strange. Someone has murdered three successful men within a six-month time period. There were no suspects and no motive. The only connection is their cause of death. The links are thin and the motive is unknown, but Martina and Hirsch know better than to ignore the similarities.

Frustrated without a logical theory for the murders, Martina and Hirsch throw out preconceived notions and start from scratch. Determined to learn the truth, they pound the pavement and re-interview family, friends, and coworkers until Martina receives a tip.

Not a tip.

A warning.

Undeterred by the threat against her and the squad, Martina calls for an all-hands on deck to solve the case. Will the squad discover the truth before one of their own pays the ultimate price?

Her Last Words is the 8th installment of the page-turning and suspenseful Martina Monroe crime thriller series.

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Fiction

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2023

About the author

H. K. Christie watched horror films far too early in life. Inspired by the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, true crime podcasts, and a vivid imagination she now writes suspenseful thrillers. When not working on her latest novel, she can be found eating & drinking with friends, walking around the lakes, or playing with her favorite furry pal. 
She is a native and current resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. 


The MARTINA MONROE series featuring Private Investigator Martina Monroe and her unofficial partner, Detective August Hirsch of the Cold Case Squad, is a nail-bing crime thriller series full of suspense. If you like high-stakes games, jaw-dropping twists, and embattled seekers struggling to do right, then you’ll love the thrilling Martina Monroe series.

The SELENA BAILEY series is a collection of suspenseful stories detailing one young woman's turbulent path to becoming a top-notch, kick-ass private investigator. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you’ll love this new dark thriller series. A Permanent Mark is a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a grown-up Selena Bailey.

www.authorhkchristie.com

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know why this one didn’t click with me… well maybe I do.
Hirsch with every time its his chapter. “How am I gonna work 5 days a week when I have a kid”
The constant reminders that the budget wont carry a cold case squad - which this case and the last four weren’t. They were all current cases closed by crooked cops etc.

And it stretched the limits of reality too far. Sure 4 friends capable of getting PHDs decide to kill off each others horrible men. I don’t know about you but if I seriously asked even one of my friends (and yes a few of us have lived in horrid situations, including family suicides). None of them would go along with it much less a whole group.

It was known early on who the killer(s) were and why, but it felt too silly
And for the first time I noticed horrible dialogue.

[Toni H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book#8 – As a result of the last case, a new Sheriff is in charge. He brings Martina and Hirsch a new cold case where his brother was found dead in is his car. The new sheriff just wants the case close no matter what they discover while investigating. The cold case team starts working the case and discover two other men who were found dead under strange circumstances. As they dig deeper the discover the men killed were not good men. They treated woman badly and had human resources cases against them. It appears that the killer may be a vigilante seeking justice in their own way. The team has to rush to stop the killer before any more victims appear.

[Chazzie Chaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been really enjoying this series, but I found myself getting a bit bored with this one.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read in the Martina Monroe series

[Ainsley Ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought HK was going to end the series with this one, instead it just ended with a major cliff hanger. I enjoyed the case this time however & liked that we saw more of the other characters involved!

[Marie Wikle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. I finished this in a day. Would have finished in one sitting if life had not gotten in the way

[Tayler Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am truly the strongest martina and hirsch endgame soldier after this one

[tei hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

right yeah i feel REAL normal about this one !! i actually am NOT overly attached to hirsch and martina and i’ve NEVER had to walk away and put the book down because i needed a second to breathe ! (i have. and i love them so bad.)

[Wanda Siesicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a compelling story this one was. Since Hirsch received a threat against himself and his family and Kim , his wife, due to give birth at any time, he takes a step back on this case. That left most of the sleuthing to Martina Monroe and Vinny Teller. What Martina and Vinny come up with is something that is not heard of but when they put clues together they know that they solved the case. The only problem is that there isn't any physical evidence to make an arrest. Does this discourage the cold case team? Do they figure out a way to make an arrest or is this the first case where they are unable to make an arrest? Find the time to sit down and read this book because your not going to want to put it down until you finish the entire book.

I received a free copy of this book and volunteered a honest review.

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great book by HK Christie. PI Martina Monroe and Detective Hirsh continue their work on cold cases for the police. I have loved these characters from when they first met in previous books of the series. This one starts out rough because there is a new sheriff and the team doesn’t know if their contract will be renewed or not. They get called in to his office, expecting the worst but no…he wants them to look into the cold case of his brother. Actually, the beginning of the book starts with the murder but at that point we don’t know why. The rest of the book takes us down the tricky path of finding the truth. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new sheriff, was pleased with the results from the cold cases that had been done. He had one, a brother was murdered, wanting new eyes to look at it.
The brother was one among several other professional’s to have been killed.
Interviewing people they still didn’t have a motive.
Complaints had been filed but no action taken, because no witnesses
Revenge began to be formed, by some feeling they were powerless.
A gripping plot with twists even at the end that readers will enjoy
Given ARC for my voluntary review

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new sheriff, was pleased with the results from the cold cases that had
been done. He had one, a brother was murdered, wanting new eyes to look at it.
The brother was one among several other professional’s to have been killed.
Interviewing people they still didn’t have a motive.
Complaints had been filed but no action taken, because no witnesses
Revenge began to be formed, for some feeling they were powerless.
A gripping plot with twists even at the end that readers will enjoy
Given ARC for my voluntary review

[Casey Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a new sheriff in town he requests his brothers cold case be reopened. What will the squad find this time? Will they keep their track record and figure this one out or will they fail?

An awesome, easy, edge of your seat read. A believable storyline with great characters. Everything developed really well and meshed perfectly. The plot was awesome and invoked emotion dealing with certain characters. The ending was a definite cliff hanger and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Martina and Hirsch cold cases stories and each one is better than the last. The team is given a 10-year-old case that they can't refuse. Just as it seems like they have nothing, Martina receives a valuable tip that breaks things wide open. The story well developed with believable characters that I would like to have a s friends. The plot flows wonderfully and reaches a satisfying conclusion. I would definitely recommend Christie's Martina Monroe books. I received an advance copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a new sheriff takes over he requests the cold case squad re-open the case of the death of his brother he's not convinced was a suicide. As PI Martina and Detective Hirsch and their team begin to investigate they find more dead men also made to look like suicides. As more clues are found it looks like all the deaths are connected to the same killer or killers, but how and why and will there be more
Thanks to the author for an advance copy

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a new sheriff in town. He assigns the cold case of his brother’s death to the team. It was ruled a suicide but he doesn’t believe it. As the team devles into case, they find more deaths fitting the same scenario. Other than the similarity of the deaths, there is nothing to link the cases. So the team starts over and re-interviews the families and pours over the case files. Will they be able to solve this before somebody else dies? Enjoy this puzzling mystery.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read most, if not all, of the Martina Monroe series. In some ways the writing has improved: daughter Zooey is less visible and, when she is in the story, she's less precocious. But the only characters who have any substance are Martina and Hirsch, stars of the books. The plot of "Her Last Words" was a lot like Strangers on a Train. It seems that despite a book laden with promises that the Cold Case Unit would be history. . .the ending carrot suggests that's probably not true.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series! This book joins the others with a great mystery to solve and characters that the reader can’t help but like. If there is any flaw it is the author’s tendency to use phrases that repeat themselves too often. But that shouldn’t deter you from getting this book. If you love mysteries you’ll love this book!

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[T. Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theirs a new sheriff in town. They have a new Sheriff is it going to be Better or worse? He’s already asked the cold case crew to check into his brother’s death. Hirsch, Martina and Vincent start digging into the case and the mystery grows. Was his brother the nice great guy they all say he was? Well the cold case crew will find out. A really good read.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thrilling read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Terri Voth(TV) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trauma makes a person change

Will the Cold Case Squad continue? Martina and Hirsch are going after killers. They have some theories but no real evidence. Hirsch is threatened and the police protect him and his wife. The killers are unusual and difficult to find. The story kept my interest and made me want to continue reading. Can't wait to see what happens next.

[Carol Henson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Martina Monroe book by H K Christie. The characters work so well together and are dealing with the possibility of the cold case squad being shut down. If you enjoyed the first 7 books you are going to love this one.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another suspenseful story from an author that keeps on giving us outstanding books. PI Martina & Detective Hirsh try to figure out an old murder and see if it’s connected. Intriguing to the very end.

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Team work finds a killer

Great characters. Enjoyable read. Good police procedural. Love the way the team worked together even with Hirsch in the background. Martina and Hirsch have been a team for a long time. Hope this isn’t the last of them working together.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Martina story yet!

This story highlighted the hardships of being a woman in a man's world.

It is very easy to put yourself in the shoes of the gang and understand the disdain and feelings of helplessness.

Great read!

[Nanette Edmonds]

Revenge!

Martina and Hirsch are stumped by a cold case of the murders of five men. The new sheriff seems to be a good guy and wants the murder of his brother reopened. The cold case squad is on the job again...

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery

I like the way the author develops the story line. Martina Monroe is leading a group of cohesive detectives that have a record for solving cold cases.This one is personal to the new sheriff, but could it be their last case?

[Clarence W. Weir Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't mess with this team!

Wonderful mystery series. Each read gets better and better. Are there any real teams this efficient? This team works so well together let alone solving the difficult of crimes. Can't wait for the next read.

[Patricia Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

This 8th book in the series may be the best yet. Cold case brother of the new sheriff. Poisoned men no clues can the cold case squad solve the mystery? Is it their last case together? Guess we will see in the next book.

[Patricia Anne Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Men murdered and 4 suspects

This one was a great who done it and why, 5 men murdered and 4 suspects to arrest . plus a baby was trying to be born and the case had to be solved without the lead detective . Its a great story and a good who done it , I recommend it with 5 Stars