Last to Die (Sheridan, #2) (2024)

4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this one. Loved Dani. I have no time to review. I feel I have walked the Streets of San Francisco tenfold today ....

Wonderful suspense that really hooked me in!

What can I say? I love how Ms. Brady writes and thus I love her books! :)

Her books are much heavier on the suspense/mystery part than romance, but they're so great as a whole that I don't mind it at all!

Here we have the story of Neil's brother Mitch and a tough cop Dani!

Mitch is a famous photographer, who returnes to Lancaster when him mentor Russel disappears.

Dani is a cop and a daughter of a dirty cop, trying to overcome her dad's bad reputation. She gets involved with an investigationof a murder of a prostitute that is a girl she helped come out of the gutter.

Mitch and Dani had a story when they were teenagers, and when they meet again the attraction is still there.

The story is as usual very intricate, the killer very sick and twisted. The romantic part is there, but this is more a suspense that romance. Still I didn't miss it: all the rest was more than enough!

A great addiction to the series!

I hope Ms. Brady gets to write a spin-off! :)

A fabulous follow up to RITA Winner ONE SCREAM AWAY, LAST TO DIE follows Sergeant Danielle Cole as she tries to figure out who is killing young prostitutes and former prostitutes in Lancaster, Maryland. Early on in the case she is confronted by her first love, Mitch Sheridan, who is now a celebrated photojournalist whose mentor is somehow involved in the murders. Brady does a great job of blending a credible romance between Mitch and Dani with their quest to find the killer. Her prose is edgy and often lovely despite the dark subject matter. And her ability to create three dimensional characters is impressive given this is only her second published novel. If you are a fan of Karen Rose's intricately plotted romantic suspense, then I think you'll have no trouble getting hooked on Kate Brady. My only disappointment is that there's no long backlist for me to glom.

Let me begin by saying that Kate Brady's debut novel in 2009 One Scream Away was one of my favorite books of the year. I fell in love with the book's hero Neil Sheridan, so when I found out that Brady’s next book Last To Die would feature his brother Mitch I certainly had high hopes.

Ms. Brady wastes no time getting right to the action in Last To Die with the murder of an ex-hooker and the prime suspect in her brutal murder Russell Sanders, a bigwig at the prestigious J.M.S. Foundation has now turned up missing as well. Coincidence? I thing not. Let the games begin.

Police Detective Dani Cole lands the murder investigation and she’s got a lot to prove and a lot on her plate. She‘s recently buried her dirty cop father, she's being watched by Internal Affairs like a bug under a microscope…cuz you know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and now she has to deal with a blast from the past in the form of Mitch Sheridan - her teenage love. On a side note she’s got a really cool nickname…Nails…as in hard as nails…and she comes by her moniker honestly. This girl don’t take no S@#t from no one.

Mitch Sheridan world renown, award winning photojournalist and the force behind the J.M.S. Foundation, never intended to return to Lancaster Maryland, but when he receives word his mentor and good friend has gone missing and is being investigated for the murder of a dead prostitute, Mitch knows it’s time to bite the bullet and return home to face the music…and her name is Dani Cole.

It’s been 18 years since Dani and Mitch’s young lover's hearts were torn apart and these two definitely still have a lot of unresolved feelings for one other. Truthfully for me 18 years seemed a tad long to be carrying a torch for someone, but maybe that’s just because I can’t remember what I did last week?

Last To Die is a suspenseful thriller that has it all. Ms. Brady weaves in lots of layers as the investigation takes many twists and turns before the killer is finally revealed. Dani shines as the lead investigator and Mitch makes sure he’s got her back as they team up to solve the case. Although the romance between Dani and Mitch takes a back seat to the investigation, the two do manage to reconnect along the way and discover that what they say about your first love is true - no matter the time, the miles travelled or the circ*mstances - you never forget your first true love.

I thought Last To Die had an interesting, fast-paced plot and certainly kept me turning the pages, but it did't grab me the way the story and characters in One Scream Away did. A solid sophom*ore effort.

I rate this book a 4 1/2 stars. I really liked it a lot but wished the ending would have been a bit more. I can definitely see me reading more of Kate Brady's book's.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

I really enjoyed Kate Brady's book, had high expectations for this one, and it has a lot of high ratings so far, but it just didn't really do it for me. I was really disappointed in the book.

Series Note:
Sequel to Brady's first book "One Scream Away." The heroes are brothers, but the books can be read independently.

Summary:
When a young girl is found brutally murdered, it sets off a series of events that leads Detective Dani Cole into danger. She's heartbroken to find that the girl was a former teenage hooker that she'd helped go straight and she's determined to find the girl's killer. Her investigation leads her into contact with Mitch Sheridan, famous photojournalist and her old teenage flame. Mitch is instantly interested in reigniting their old relationship, but Dani's feelings are just as walled-off as they were years ago.

But more importantly, there's a case to solve that leads them on a convoluted path of murder, black market babies, revenge, betrayal, psychosis, and secrets they could have never imagined. What started out as a simple murder turns into a case that will shock everyone, including the killer. And through it all, Dani and Mitch grow closer.

Review:
What a crazy, convoluted suspense plot this book has. It goes all over the place with twists and turns that make you cringe and shake your head. But at times I kinda thought things were too twisted. Something about the plot, or maybe just the way it was revealed, seemed rather disjointed. Like there was too much going on, too much jumping around, too keep my head in the story. I can't quite think of how to explain what I mean other than to just say that the flow of the suspense came up lacking for me. It seemed jerky and jumpy.

Also, the way the identity of the killer was revealed was weird. For about a third of the book, the killer's identity is unknown and you get clues that point you in an obvious direction. The suddenly, out of the blue, you just jump into the killer's POV and know their name. It was strange.

The ending, also, left me feeling rather ambivalent. The resolution was okay, fairly good, actually, but I felt like there were story threads not fully answered. I won't get into specifics and give away spoilers, but I was confused on something about the killer's past, and also was left hanging about the fate of a certain character. That last one really really annoyed me. So yeah, the suspense left something to be desired.

And if you notice, all I've said so far has been about the suspense of the book. Nothing about the romance. Which is because the romance is definitely of the sidenote variety. For those of you who sometimes think Karen Rose pushes romance a little too far to the side, this book is definitely worse. I felt no connection at all to the romance between these to characters. It's pushed so far into the background that it seemed almost pointless. Dani is is annoying independent, wanting no one to do anything for her at all, and Mitch just keeps taking her obnoxiousness. These two, romance wise, are like two characters who are just there who just happen to end up sleeping together and when the end rolls around, I felt not fluffy bunny feelings for the supposed HEA. I was totally ambivalent to these two ending up together.

I expected so much more from this book and go so much less. I thought Kate Brady would become one of my auto-buy authors, but this one will definitely make me think twice about that. Brady is one of those authors, I think, that'll eventually shift to straight-up mystery/suspense.

In this romantic suspense from 2010, the prologue opens with a savage murder. A young woman is stabbed in the neck with shears and her face disfigured. Russell Sanders, head of the Sheridan Foundation, is reported as missing and Detective Dani Cole sees a link between Sanders and the murder victim. She thought he might be the killer until his body turns up. More women are murdered and Dani suddenly finds herself in the middle of babies being sold too.

This story was heavier on the suspense and murder investigation than the romance. I found the first glimpses of the unknown killer to be a bit confusing with the wearing of hair and the references to Kirstina. Rest assured it's all tied up as the story moves along. The twisted killer is not a typical one. I was surprised when the identity was revealed about halfway through the book. The story contained multiple layers and unexpected twists all the way to the end.

#ReziZeit

🐁🐁🐁
Kate Brady
Mädchen #6
464 Seiten

"Er tötet seine Opfer mit einer Gartenschere und nimmt eine Haarsträhne mit...!"
Der Klappentext verspricht Spannung und hat mich neugierig gemacht. Es beginnt auch rasant und dementsprechend blutig. Doch schnell flacht diese Spannung ab und wird durch die persönlichen Angelegenheiten der Ermittlerin ersetzt, die auf eine Person aus ihrer Vergangenheit trifft.
Diese Beziehung überlagert die ganze Geschichte und macht den "Thrill" zum Nebenschauplatz. Hier wird es auch ziemlich unrealistisch und überzogen.
Dir Autorin erinnert mich an Karen Rose, nur vergisst sie den Thrill und die Spannung.

Nice, but predictable

Last To Die is a thrilling romantic suspense that had me hooked from the opening scene. Dani Cole and Mitch Sheridan were once teenage lovers torn apart by grief and pride. Eighteen years later, Dani, now a police detective, and Mitch, a photojournalist, are reunited to stop a serial killer targeting teenage prostitutes. When the murders are linked to Mitch's Foundation for Photojournalism, Dani and Mitch uncover a black market adoption ring and a web of deceit, heartbreak and lost innocence. With time running out they must stop the killer before Dani becomes the last victim. I want to keep my plot summary very brief because I don't want to reveal any spoilers of this suspenseful story. The plot was well-crafted with exciting twists and subplots that kept me turning the pages. Even when the killer's identity was revealed about half-way, the sad and chilling motivation behind the murders wasn't revealed until the end.

Along with the exciting plot, the characters and their complex relationships were compelling. Even secondary characters including the deceased girls had great depth. No one was just glossed over. Dani and Mitch are both flawed individuals haunted by tragic events from their childhoods and much of their adult lives. When they come together again after 18 years apart, the chemistry between them is tangible, yet it takes awhile for them to break down the walls they've built to protect themselves. Dani was the highlight of the story for me. She was damaged yet very strong, determined and smart. At the same time, she wasn't afraid to show her softer side to Mitch and allow him to help her. And the killer...dreadful, deranged, evil, psychotic, yet at the end, when everything came out, in a small way I actually felt bad for this individual! I certainly became submerged in the lives of these people, and I hated to see the story end. Last To Die is the follow up to Kate Brady's first book One Scream Away, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel without problems. I have not read the first book yet, and I never felt lost. Since I loved this one so much, I will be reading One Scream Away very soon.

Kate Brady's novel Last to Die is a romantic thriller with a plot that draws you in, characters that hold your attention, and a serial killer that isn't so easy to figure out!
The female protagonist Detective Dani Cole, is saddened when she gets a call that a young girl who she had helped get off the streets has been murdered. Rosie McNamara had been working as a prostitute when Dani helped her turn her life around, she had gotten a real job and made amends with her family, but she has just become the latest victim for a serial killer.Seems this killers victims are young prostitutes, but actually they all have something else in common.
When the killer learns that Dani is on the case he starts leaving her little messages. Can she figure out who the killer is before she becomes his next victim?
The characters in this book worked very well together, Dani's character had a past that wasn't so great that made her easy to relate to, and Mitch Sheridan's character also has some issues from his past that are haunting him. You can really understand them and what makes them who they are.
This book was an edge of your seat kind of book. The author doesn't make it easy to figure out who the killer is, but she does a great job of letting us inside his head, letting us see why he feels justified in what he is doing.
If your a fan of physiological thrillers with a little romance thrown in, and you like a book that keeps you guessing then pick up this book you won't be disappointed.

Kate Brady's first novel, One Scream Away, was one of my favorite suspense novels of last year. Although I found this book to be a little less than perfect, I still ended up really enjoying it!

It's rare in a romantic suspense novel, for me, that I get more hooked into the criminal aspect than in the love story. I'm a romantic at heart, and despite the subject of any book, it's usually the romance that draws me in. This particular love story didn't do that for me. I thought it fell a little bit flat, and the heroine was a little TOO jaded and tough for me. She came around in the end, mostly because nobody could resist the hero's charm and determination to be part of her life. I understand her motivation for being this way, but it's just not my favorite type of heroine to read about. Once Mitch chipped away some of that ice around her, I found her much more likeable, and I was better able to connect with the relationship.

The murder mystery was my favorite part of this book. I was sucked in, and because we learned who the killer was about midway through the book, I knew there had to be another twist. When it came out, it was so sordid and horrifying, and really a perfect turn...sort of poetic justice. I'm only sorry the killer wasn't made aware of what they'd actually done.

I can't wait for Kate Brady's next book!

I remembered reading One Scream Away by Kate Brady as soon as I saw this book, and had to read it. I rather enjoyed what I had read previously from the author.
This book didn't disappoint me either. It was amazing through to the end.
I like Dani Cole, the female cop in the story. She's also the main character. She's strong, admirable and when you get through her wall, she's sensitive. It was nice watching the layers peel back gradually as the plot thickened.
All around a terrific read! I can't wait to read more from this author.
Definitely on my recommendation list!

I did not like mitch, he was pointless and the only thing he did was try and get in her pants every time he was with her; kinda forcing himself on her. He was one step away from becoming one of those romance lead jerks. Everything else I liked accept the ending. You take a strong powerful female character then you turn her into a damsel in distress, When in the clutches of the villain and what was her master plan wait for the man to come rescue her. And then decide not to continue to be a cop.But a social worker.

Dani went from tough as nails to weepiing on his chest. which felt really forced

Great read second of the Sheridan series by Kate Brady

Ein Buch aus dem man definitiv mehr machen könnte. Es war teilweise langweilig, teilweise zu vorhersehbar und das Ende war auch zu wenig spannend.

Love it

I literally cannot understand why all the chapters from the 'killer's' point of view were anonymised when the first line of the blurb announces the name of the killer....

Der erste Satz:
Jauchzen und fröhliches Gelächter.

Meine Meinung:
Inhalt
Dani wird zurück in den Dienst gerufen, den sie nach dem Tod ihres Vater aufgeben musste, weil eine übel zugerichtete Leiche gefunden wird. Sie begibt sich in die Ermittlungen, nichts ahnend, in was für ein Wespennest sie stoßen wird.
Hilfe bekommt sie von ihren Kollegen und ihrer alten Jugendliebe Mitch, der in Verbindung mit dem Fall steht, jedoch ohne es vorher zu ahnen.
Werden sie herausfinden, wer die Frauen auf so üble Weise ermordet?
Und was für ein Motiv steckt dahinter?

"Ich weiß. Ich besitze deine Bildbände." Er warf ihr einen langen Blick aus seinen blauen Augen zu, doch Dani zuckte mit den Schultern. "Bilde dir bloß nichts darauf ein. Ich besitze eine Menge Bücher, die ich nicht gelesen habe."
Zitat aus "Mädchen #6"

Cover
Perfekt und passend gewählt für diese Thriller. Es zeigt die Namen der einzelnen Opfer. Die durchgestrichenen wurden bereits "beseitigt", die anderen stehen noch auf der Liste und werden, wenn Dani nicht schnell herausfindet, wer der Täter ist, ebenfalls ermordet werden. Die dunkle Farbe rundet das Cover für mich wunderbar ab.

"Wen interessiert schon unsere Gesundheit", sagte er. "Hauptsache, ich sterbe glücklich."
Zitat aus "Mädchen #6"

Gesamt
Die Geschichte beginnt gleich mit dem ersten Mord. Dieser wird so detailliert beschrieben, dass mir die Spucke weggeblieben ist. Nach einem solchen Start war ich neugierig, wie sich noch alles entwickeln würde. Ich hatte sehr hohe Erwartungen an das Buch und war davon überzeugt, dass es diesen gerecht wird. Über den gewöhnungsbedürftigen Aufbau der Geschichte hätte ich hinwegsehen können. Mir persönlich waren nämlich die Perspektivenwechsel viel zu abgehackt und haben mich mehr als einmal verwirrt.

Leider beginnt der eigentlich Kern der Geschichte, nämlich das Verschwinden von Prostituierten und der anschließende Leichenfund dessen, irgendwann in den Hintergrund zu geraten. Mit dem Auftauchen von Mitch driftet der eigentliche Thriller ein Wenig in eine Liebesgeschichte zwischen ihm und Dani ab. Diese zieht sich erstmal bis zur Hälfte des Buches, bevor endlich auch mal wieder was entschiedenes in dem Fall passiert. Ich hatte mich an dieser Stelle sehr gefreut, dass es endlich wieder um die eigentliche Geschichte geht und war voller Hoffnung nun endlich die Spannung zu bekommen, auf die ich schon so lange gewartet hatte, aber dann verrät die Autorin, wer hinter den Mordfällen steckt und raubte sie mir erneut.
Im zweiten Teil des Buches wird nun darüber berichtet, wie Dani versucht hinter das Geheimnis zu kommen, was der Leser schon längst herausgefunden hat.
Viele Autoren schaffen es dennoch dem Buch selbst bei einer solchen Auflösung noch eine gewisse Neugier beim Leser zu erzeugen, indem sie unverhoffte Wendungen mit einbringen und diese dann in einem fulminanten Schluss endet. Kate Brady ist dies nach meinem Empfinden aber nicht gelungen. Es passiert nichts spannendes mehr und selbst die kleine Spannung, die bis zur Mitte ja noch wie eine kleine Lunte brannte erlischt, sobald man weiß, wer der Übeltäter ist.
Hinzu kommt noch die, für mich, völlig nebensächliche und unnötige Liason zwischen Dani und Mitch, die den eigentlich Plot völlig in den Hintergrund drängt. Mit den Beiden konnte ich mich ebenfalls nicht so recht anfreunden. Sie waren mir zu blass dargestellt und wirkten auf mich "unecht". Zwar erfährt man ein bisschen von ihrer Vergangenheit, was eigentlich bewirken sollte, sich besser mit ihnen identifizieren zu können, aber wirklich geglückt ist das Kate Brady bei mir nicht.
Einzig die Hintergrundgeschichte, warum es zu all dem gekommen ist, konnte mich einigermaßen überzeugen.

Fazit:
Leider kann ich nichts übermäßig Positives zu "Mädchen #6" sagen. Die Geschichte war mir zu langweilig für einen Thriller, zu unstrukturiert und die Beziehung zwischen Mitch und Dani empfand ich als überflüssig.
Die wenige Spannung, die am Anfang noch vorhanden war, verschwand in der Mitte des Buches mit der Auflösung wer für die Morde verantwortlich ist, völlig.
Der Plot ist wirklich gut, konnte von Kate Brady aber meiner Meinung nach nicht gut umgesetzt werden.
© www.mybooksparadise.de

This book souded promising - new author, reviews were good, synopsis sounded interesting and different. I won't go into details with the synopsis, since it's been written out a number of times in previous reviews.

Let me just start by saying it started out really good. The first few chapters were pretty creepy and got me hooked. Then I started noticing some things that just bugged me.

1. Super redundant - I really got irritated with things that were constantly repeated, such as "hank of hair". There are many ways to describe this - chunk, lock, swatch, the list goes on. There is no need to always refer to it as a "hank". And it's not something that's fairly common, yet everyone who refers to said hair chunks always called it a "hank". And the "killer" was constantly referred to as the "killer". Again, there are many adjectives to describe the murderer (that's one...). Unsub or perp would also do nicely. "Killer" just sounds sophom*oric and dare I say? Redundant.

2. There was an error early on that just made my brain crazy. It wasn't a huge error, not really pertinent except for the person it referred to. It was the time of death of one of the characters that was killed. They said their TOD was "Sunday night or early Saturday morning". That's quite a large chunk of time, over 24 hours. And if you read it as it's written, it sounds like they've narrowed it down to a week since nobody counts days backwards. Usually they can pinpoint times of death to about 6-12 hours, sometimes earlier if it's a freshie. Must have been written backwards and meant to be "Saturday night or early Sunday morning". It was a sloppy oversight and made me think there would be more sloppy errors later in the book. Like I said, it wasn't a huge error, but once I find something that I have to reread so it makes sense, a book quickly loses it's luster for me.

3. The romance was sort of like a non-sequitur. Mitch and Dani were having a discussion about the case and all of a sudden, BAM!, let's get to talking about what should have been and move from there. Seriously. Dani was in a heated rant about Rosie's killer when Mitch answers, "I wouldn't have left...a broken nose wasn't enough to have kept me away...". Are you guys part of the same chapter, or did I miss something? A nice lead-in would have helped. And don't get me started on how immediately after that, Mitch pipes in with the constant "honey", "sweetheart" business. Seriously, after 18 years, I doubt anybody would be comfy with just being called "honey" and "sweetheart" pretty much out of the blue.

4. Figured out who the killer was about a fourth of the way in. Lost interest after that, flipped to the back to check, found out I was right and just gave up. I hate it when it's easy to figure out, especially so early on. Perhaps if the the murderer's dialogue/POV wasn't written in such an odd manner, it wouldn't have been so easy. But the author intentionally made it sexless. And not just sexless, but so completely obviously sexless, which points a giant red finger to who it must be. Maybe the reader is supposed to figure out who it is early on, I don't really know.

I'm not trying to rip this to shreds. I'm not a writer and am quite confident that I couldn't write anything except my name on a piece of paper (if that). I just expected more and wasn't satisfied, but the author really shows some promise. Creepy plots, interesting characters, unafraid to use swearing language and the F-word (honestly, I look for those things in a good suspense book. Crude language really ups the ante for me! There's nothing worse than a suspense book with a "thug" that constantly uses proper language. Completely unreal.) Perhaps I will come back to this author after she has a few more books under her belt, but in the meantime, I will continue my quest for a new favorite author since I'm caught up on all of my current favorites.

Originally reviewed here-http://www.smexybooks.com/2010/10/rev...

I actually gave this 3.5 stars

Favorite Quote: ”Pick your battles baby, pick your battles.”

Detective Dani Cole just buried her father but before she can grieve she is called back to work on a murder case. This case hits close to home because Dani had once helped the victim out of a rough situation. As more bodies are found; Dani realizes she has a serial killer loose in her city. Dani’s investagation leads her to Mitch Sheridan. Mitch and Dani share a painful past. Once teenage lovers, she pushed him away when he came to close to her and her secrets. As Dani and Mitch race to find the killer they also try to resolve their past. But someone doesn’t want Dani to rediscover love or solve the case...someone wants Dani dead.

Kate Brady’s Last To Die is an intense romantic suspense thriller that keeps you on your toes as you navigate the through the twists and turns of the story. The reader follows Dani and Mitch as they track and enter the mind of an insane serial killer who hides in plain sight as an upstanding citizen. Punishing those who they believe have betrayed a sacred bond; you are both horrified and titillated once the who, what, and why is revealed. The romance blends well with an exciting “who dun it” plot to create a fast paced read that will have you racing to the end.

Detective Dani Cole is a strong self sufficient woman with a large chip on her shoulder. Forever linked to her father, who was a dirty cop, she is stained by his crimes. She must be twice as tough and work twice as hard to gain any credibility with her fellow officers. When she was younger she had an intense love affair with Mitch Sheridan. But secrets had her keeping him at arms length. One fateful night those secrets are exposed and Dani pushed Mitch away. Now Mitch is back and wants back in Dani’s life but Dani isn’t ready to reopen that painful piece of her past.
Mitch Sheridan is an intensely private man who makes his living photographing the horrors of the world. When his adopted father is murdered he races back to the US and finds Dani investigating the case. Having never forgotten Dani, he is stunned to learn that his feelings for her are as intense as they were 18 years ago and he is determined to have and keep her in his life this time around.

Both characters are flawed and vulnerable. They bury their pain and anguish in their work. Filled with tense situations and inner conflicts, Ms. Brady does a wonderful job of peeling back their layers to expose their true feelings and make them acknowledge and deal with their past. We do see more development from Dani. She was the main protagonist and it was nice seeing her take charge and stay in charge. Often once the love interest enters the picture the heroine either takes backseat and allows the hero to take charge or becomes overly aggressive as though the author needs to reestablish their place. This doesn’t happen here. The characters merge and complement each other.

The mystery is a convoluted mix of police procedures and daring dramatic intrigue that leaves you guessing with each scene. As more characters are introduced, you aren’t overwhelmed but amazed at the depth of deception they display. I was a little put off at the ending. I felt it wrapped up to neatly and was expecting some of the “twist” that Brady reveals through out the entire story. All in all, it is an intriguing second installment in Kate Brady’s Sheridan series.

Rating: 3.5/5

Fans of the amazing romantic suspense novels written by the likes of Allison Brennan or Brenda Novak will want to check out Kate Brady’s latest release Last to Die. Brady writes a chilling and terrifying suspense novel amongst a steamy romance that any adventure seeker will love!

Dani Cole is after a killer. One who brutally murders women and takes part of their hair as a souvenir. Detective Cole discovers she knows the victim, a prostitute whom Dani helped turn her life around. When a second murder occurs later that evening, she knows they must work quickly. While investigating the case, she realizes the last person one of the victims spoke with is an old flame, Mitch Sheridan. An ex she never forgot and is certainly frustrated to meet again. Mostly because she realizes the spark and attraction when she reunites with him is still there. After the killer leaves a few presents for Dani, she is taken off the case. Only to be hired by Mitch to help him investigate the identity of the killer. The further they dig, the more danger they encounter.

Mitch and Dani have a tormented past. They haven’t seen each other for 18 years and now that they are reunited once again, their relationship is somewhat complicated. Before, Mitch was the one to follow Dani’s every whim and eventually, she pushed him away. What makes this relationship so interesting now if that Mitch has finally decided to take matters into his own hands. This time, he’s not going to be pushed away. Their relationship was written in a masterful and heart wrenching way that is likely to be unforgettable. Dani has spent her whole life saving others and Mitch is placing himself into her life to be the first one to help her. Of course, Dani fights him, but the temptation to finally have someone to rely on is too much.

What stuck out immediately were the parts in which the killers thoughts were revealed. Many times I was cringing in disgust or shock, which really are the emotions you should experience while reading this type of novel. It gave away so much, yet at the same time, very little. About half way through the novel, you can predict the identity of the villain and Brady soon after confirms those suspicions. That is when the novel really takes off for an ‘edge of your seat’ adventure. It actually adds to the suspense once you find out the killers identity, which is just another reason why Brady’s plot lines and twists are so fantastic.

Last to Die is a thrill ride that shouldn’t be missed. I was hooked from page one on this whirlwind adventure. For those who love the police procedural novels, this one is certainly a worthwhile novel to check out. Brady gives the perspective of all the parties involved, from the police detectives, the witnesses, and also through the eyes of the killer. The characters are compelling, the villain cringe-worthy and the novel a suspenseful thrill ride that will make this book difficult to put down. Brady has written a psychological thriller that is sure to have you biting your nails and staying up all night to finish!

Overall: 5/5
Heat Level: 1/5

Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter

Meinung
Für Fans von leichten Thrillern, könnte dieses Buch genau das Richtige sein.
Inhalt
Ein Täter der es allen Anschein nach auf blonde Frauen abgesehen hat, schlägt unbarmherzig zu. Als eine junge Frau ermordet wird, bei derer der Täter als Trophäe eine blonde Haarsträhne an sich nimmt ,wird die Polizistin Danny Cole für den Fall arrangiert.Bei einer Pressekonferenz beschimpft sie den Täter als Monster. Kurz darauf erreicht sie eine Nachricht, eingeklemmt unter ihren Scheibenwischern. Eine Nachricht von dem Täter...
Allgemeines und Fazit
Das Buch beginnt direkt mit dem ersten Mord, ein Mord der ziemlich brutal vonstatten geht und die Leiche übel hingereichtet zurücklässt. Kurz darauf wird diese gefunden, doch die Ermittler tappen vorerst im Dunkeln. Bis es zu der Pressekonferenz kommt und der Täter eine Nachricht an die Ermittlerin Danny Cole hinterlässt.
Nachdem dieser erste Mord passiert ist, flaut die anfängliche Spannung ab und man vergisst teilweise das man gerade einen Thriller liest.
Das einzige was einen dann doch immer wieder daran erinnert sind die Zeugenbefragungen, die Suche nach einer heißen Spur und die Befragungen möglicher Verdächtiger. Darunter auch ein früherer Freund von Danny.
Doch alles führt einen nicht weiter. Das einzige was man weiß ist, dass es dem Täter wohl einzig und allein um die Haare ging.
Doch wer könnte nur wegen ein paar blonder Strähnen zu so grausamen Taten fähig sein?
Das erfährt man leider zu früh.
Nachdem sich der Leser die erste Hälfte durch eine etwas kompliziertere Liebesgeschichte zwischen Danny und ihrem früheren Freund Mitch gekämpft hat ,und was die Ermittlungen betrifft ziellos im dunklen getappt ist ,könnte man meinen, dass nun der spannende Teil kommen sollte.
Doch dann das. Man erfährt nach der Hälfte des Buches wer der Täter ist. Und nun?
Ich habe ab diesem Punkt aufgehört. Ich habe eh schon viele Probleme gehabt überhaupt bis zur Hälfte zu kommen ,doch der Anreiz zu wissen wie dieses Buch endet, ließ mich weiter lesen. Doch als nach der Hälfte der Täter für den Leser sichtbar wurde ,war auch mein letzter Anreiz verpufft.
Ich blätterte noch bis zu den letzten 10 Seiten um zu wissen wie der Täter gefasst wird und legte dann das Buch enttäuscht ,aber auch erleichtert ,zur Seite.
Eigentlich schade, da mit der Plot sehr gut gefallen hat und die Idee mit den Haaren so auch noch nie irgendwo gelesen habe. Doch die Tatsachen, dass mir auch die Charaktere nicht sehr sympathisch waren und die Sache, mit der zu frühen Bekanntgabe des Täters, ließen mich aufhören.
Vielleicht bin ich auch zu sehr durch Laymon,Ketchum,Kilborn,Carter und Co. abgehärtet, so das mir dieses Buch eindeutig zu lasch war.
Doch gibt es neben mir ja auch Leser und Leserinnen, die gerne Thriller lesen die nicht ganz so hart und brutal sind , vielleicht weil sie sich nicht gerne ekeln und gruseln oder weil sie dieses Genre ganz neu für sich entdeckt haben.
Für diese Personen kann ich dieses Buch definitiv empfehlen.

Police Detective Dani Cole has something to prove due to her father being a dirty cop. He fellow officers have given her a nickname, they call her Nails as in tough as nails. Which is what she is. Dani tries to help the young women who work the streets. She tries to set them up with honest jobs and a way to stay off the streets. When one of the girls Dani helped ends up dead, she is determined to find out why she was killed and who did it. When it is found out that the young woman's last cell phone call was to the man who helped run the J.M. Sheriden foundation, the police tuirn to him for answers. But he ends up missing. All the clues keep leading Dani to her one and only love, a man she has not seen in years. Mitch Sheriden is recovering in Switzerland from injurys he got during a bomb blast. He gets a call from Russ, his mentor and partner in the foundation. He wants Mitch to come home. While they are talking Mitch hears a strang noise and the line goes dead. When he gets home he finds out that not only is Russ missing but he is also wanted by the police. Mitch is determined to clear Russ's name but he will need Dani's help. Since Dani has been pulled off of the case and told to take sone time off. Mitch and Dani team up to find out who the real murder is. When they find out that there is more than murder going on and that Dani's young friend was not the killers first victum. When the killer goes after Dani, Mitch must keep her safe from harm. Mitch and Dani find themselves unable to stop their feelings for each other growling.

This is the second installment in Ms Brady's Sheridan Series. This one is about the younger brother Mitch. This book can stand alone or read out of order the the first one, One Scream Away. Even though the main characters have not seen eac h other in years the attraction between them was still strong. This story has it all, a nut job killer, dirty cops, suspense, and romance. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I could not put it dcwn until the last page. And in my opion the best part was that Ms Brady gave just enough clues as to the identity of the killer but not enough for you to guess who it was until the end of the book. I will keep checking her website so that I will know when the next book will be out.

Author Kate Brady has won or been a finalist in many writing contests, including the Golden Heart from the Romance Writers of America, the Maggies, and the Suzannah. When not writing, she is a full-time choral conductor and assistant professor of music education. Her other title, One Scream Away, (a 2010 RITA Finalist for Best New Book and for Best Romantic Suspense) was her debut novel for this "Sheridan" series. She resides with her husband and two children.

When acclaimed photojournalist Mitch Sheridan receives a frightening call from his mentor one night, he hops a plane and travels across the globe, where he's been hiding since a tragic accident took away any will to continue his art. But coming home has a different form of pain in way of memories. Detective Dani Cole is heading the investigation into Russell Sander's murder, along with a string of disappearances and murders tying all three of their pasts. The old attraction between Mitch and Dani heats again as they race to find a killer right under their noses. And this time, Dani is this calculating killer's last target on a list bent on revenge.

This is book two in the Sheridan series, following One Scream Away.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again--Kate Brady knows how to blend romance and suspense into a killer plotline with page-turning urgency. This is an author who knows her police procedure and how to pace a book very well. The setting, near Lancaster, Maryland, was a perfect, well-described backdrop. And the killer was unique not only in whom, but motive as well. The hero and heroine are relatable and layered, and there was such an intensity to this book not only in the heat between them, but in the suspense. Also true to form is the author's ability to stretch an ending instead of a swift, unsatisfying bang. Oh, and there's a great twist you may or may not see coming, but you cannot stop reading anyhow. I love that Neil returns from the first book as Mitch's brother. It was like welcoming an old friend. With old romances renewed, a murderer hiding in plain sight, a blended past so twisted you'll have nightmares, action like no other, and witty dialog--what's not to love? Masterful.

Kelly Moran,
Author of SUMMER'S ROAD,
and Reviewer for Bookpleasures

Last to Die by Kate Brady
Romantic Suspense - Aug 31st, 2010
4 stars

There’s a killer out and about killing prostitutes to punish them for their secrets. Five had already died brutally with a sixth victim planned. Detective Dani Cole, who knew the fourth victim, is in a race against time to find the serial killer and stop the murders. But her investigation bringsher and her ex-high school sweetheart, Mitch Sheridan, together again. And Mitch wants Dani back. He will do everything he can to protect

Dani as the investigation shifts the killer’s fury and focus on Dani. I grew up reading thriller romances but eventually got tired of this sub-genre due to the clichés and bad writing that abound. Brady is, thankfully, a capable writer who can keep several threads going on without losing or confusing the readers. For a thriller-romance that doesn’t seem any different from the other thriller-romances, Last to Die, is surprisingly packed with depth. For one thing, Dani is a layered protagonist. She has so many issues and baggage that makes her rea, and not just a 2-D, tough-as-nails, run of the mill female protagonist. She’s genuinely conflicted and trying hard to keep it all together. I feel so sorry for her and yet at the same time I just want to tell her to relax.

Mitch Sheridan was also well written and fleshed out. Still, at times I feel like Dani is the one who did all the detective work. It is almost as though her character overpowers his sometimes, but that could just be my inner feminist. To me, Brady sets a new standard for tough on the outside, vulnerable in the inside female protagonists.

Plot wise, this novel an engaging read with lots of subplots threading through it. It’s hard to say anything without spoiling it, but I really wished that Brady, as the writer, had made the killer suffer more!

If you are a big fan of mystery, this is a good summer read, preferably by the beach with a chilled margarita. Equal part solid romance and thriller, Brady’s novel is an entertaining and fast-paced read.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Detective Dani Cole just buried her father. She hasn't worked in a few weeks, as Internal Affairs has been dogging her every step. Just because her father was crooked doesn't mean she is, and Dani is determined to prove it. But when a call comes in about the victim of a murder being someone Dani had helped pull out of crime, she quickly gets back to work.

Mitch Sheridan is a renowned photojournalist. But when he was on location years ago, he was caught in the crossfires of a war. Injured, he took many months to recuperate and heal. He owns a foundation in the States, but he lets his close friend Russell Sheridan run it. Russell wants Mitch to come home for his art showing, but Mitch declines. However, when Russell calls Mitch with a cry for help, and then disappears, Mitch is on the next flight.

Dani's investigation leads her to the foundation and Russell Sheridan. But her investigation takes a twist when Russell turns up dead. When Mitch shows up, Dani tries to play it cool. She and Mitch had a summer fling when she was younger. He wanted more, and she felt he got too close, so she pushed him out of her life.

Now, the two of them must work together to find the ruthless killer who is brutally killing women and taking their hair as a trophy. Along the way, they get closer than they've ever been before. The chemistry between them cannot be denied, even as the killer closes in on them.

LAST TO DIE is a thrilling rush! It includes a cold and ruthless killer and two complex, yet unforgettable characters that will have you up late turning the pages. The romance between Dani and Mitch sparks and sizzles, and the calculated moves of the killer will give you chills. Heart-pounding and page-turning -- a surefire winner!

Ms. Brady's previous book, One Scream Away, was one of my favorite books from 2009. Everything worked, the hero, the heroine, the villain, it was as close to perfection as it could get. So I had to read about Neil's (hero from the previous book) brother, Mitch.

I have absolutely nothing against Mitch, he was a much a perfect romance novel hero as his brother was, maybe even more so, because he was (almost) a perfect man. Heart of gold, protective streak a mile wide, he never forgot his first (and only) love, trying to save the world...In short, one heck of a guy.

I have a lot against the heroine, though, which isn't that surprising. Dani annoyed me from the first. And things didn't get any better with the pages. If possible she annoyed me even more. Usually the heroines slowly change during the novel, becoming less annoying, but the change in Dani happened too late in the story for her to be redeemed for everything she's done eighteen years ago and at the beginning of the story.

The villain also had much to be desired. Don't get me wrong, the plot was chilling and the villain nicely twisted, but Chevy Banks (the villain in the previous book) set the bar too high to be reached and a legacy that could not be surpassed in this second book in the Sheridan series.

The plot was nicely developped with good pacing and good characterization, but I couldn't help but feel something was missing. It just wasn't as good as the previous book...And it wasn't as good as it could've been.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I started reading it and right away I was hooked. I love the way that Kate Brady has put this story together with the characters and the way the story just comes to life and flows chapter after chapter. Although this is the sequal to One Scream Away I felt I missed nothing by reading this one first. I did feel that as good as Last To Die was that I can't believe I hadn't read One Scream Away yet.

For some reason to me in a lot of the books I have read I tend to see more of the male characters standing out but I felt that Dani stood out more for me she is a very smart and strong character. Both characters are great Dani and Mitch are very nicely portrayed in this book and really makes you get a good feel for who they are inside and out. They make a great pair.

When I got finished with this book and closed it up to put it away I had a sense of loss that made me want to open and start reading it again I knew then that it is a book that is going to stick with me for awhile. So evan though I had a sense of loss when putting it down because you know it has come to an end I also had the WOW! That was one great story and that is what I love at the end of a fantastic book.

This is a fast paced, great from beginning to end can't put the book down all around great read that you won't want to miss out on. It has very good details and keeps you thinking. This has been a wonderful romantic suspense with lots of twists and turns and has you just a bit on the scared side.