Thriller

I loved this book! The mystery, the deception, the relationships, and the people! Kimberly Belle did a great job looking me from the very first pages of this novel.
Gia Andrews returns home from her job as an aid worker in Africa to be there when her father is released from prison to die at home. Sixteen years earlier, he was convicted for killing his wife, Ella Mae, Gia’s stepmother.
Gia and her siblings abandoned their father when he went to prison, but they were never sure of his innocence or guilt. Now, Gia makes it her mission to find out the truth. Did her father kill Ella Mae, or was it Dean Sullivan, the handsome neighbor who was having an affair with Ella Mae? Meanwhile, Gia itches to leave Rogersville, TN, a town full of heartache for her, but Jake Foster is holding her back.
I am glad I read this early book from Kimberly Belle- just the right mix of dark and sexy! ( )

Gia, Lexi and Bo's father has been in prison for years convicted of killing their stepmother. Now, he's dying of cancer and is sent home for hospice. The siblings all have different ways of dealing with their past, their future and their feelings. I enjoyed this book but truly hoped there would be a different ending vis a vis who really killed Ella Mae. However, the author did a great job of providing descriptive settings, vivid characters and shocking scenes between the family members. ( )

4.5 stars.

The Last Breath is a very intriguing mystery and Kimberly Belle does an outstanding job keeping readers guessing whodunit right up until the novel’s conclusion. The cast of characters is well-developed with realistic flaws, but what really drives the story is the clever plot. A sizzling hot romance, long held secrets and complicated family relationships are secondary story arcs but they provide a fascinating backdrop to learning the truth about who killed Ella Mae Andrews.

Gia Andrews has not seen her father Ray since he was convicted of killing Ella Mae sixteen years ago. But when Ray is diagnosed with terminal cancer and released from prison to await a new trial, she returns to her small hometown to care for him. With her brother, sister and uncle avoiding her, Gia tries to set aside her ambivalence about her father’s guilt and comfort him in his last days. When new information about Ella Mae surfaces, Gia uncovers compelling evidence that her father’s claim of innocence might, in fact, be true.

The Last Breath is written from two very distinct points of view. Gia’s first person narration details the unfolding events in the present while third person narration from Ella Mae’s perspective reveals the events leading up to her death. Ella Mae’s last months are a tangled web of lies and deceit that have remained hidden since her death and Gia’s search for answers uncovers Ella Mae’s secrets. This newly discovered information leads to a reconciliation between Ray and his estranged children but will a shocking revelation jeopardize their tenuous bond?

The only bright spot in Gia’s homecoming is her surprising romance with bar/restaurant owner Jake Foster. Jake is not only helpful in her investigation, but his nightly visits to her family home lift her spirits and give her something to look forward to each day. Their relationship coasts cheerfully along until their conflicting plans for the future and a surprising disclosure threaten their happiness.

From the dramatic opening scene until the very last page, The Last Breath is a riveting mystery that is impossible to put down. Kimberly Belle brings this spellbinding tale of love gone horribly wrong vividly to life. A series of twists and turns carefully conceals the murderer’s identity until the novel’s incredibly dramatic conclusion.

A very smart and cunning debut novel that I highly recommend to readers of crime fiction. ( )

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As a humanitarian aid worker, Gia thought she'd fled the scene of her youth for good. But when her father is released from prison as he's dying from cancer, she has to return to take care for him, together with her siblings who also preferably forget about it. Did their father really kill his wife, their stepmother, or was there more to it?

It was not my usual read, but it was enjoyable enough for a change. The story itself was quite interesting, as it all seems clear right at the beginning, but with so many people acting strange, you'll have serious doubts as to what has happened. Or, at least, I did. It's not edge of your seat thrilling, but it's interesting.

It really set the somewhat claustrophobic setting it must be to return to the small town an outcast, only because of what her father did. Her siblings, confronted with this for fifteen years, have absolutely suffered from this.

There's also a lot of other drama in this novel, like a big romance subplot. It really depends on what you like to read about of course, but I'd rather seen it take not such a big role as it really took the speed out of the story in times. Although it in the ends adds to the drama, this was unnecessary for me.

Overall, an enjoyable read but perhaps a bit too long for the story it was telling.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ( )