Whenever I read a book by Chautona Havig, I know to expect the unexpected. So when I began reading The Last Gasp, I expected to discover an interesting and exciting world with fabulous characters. Set in the 1920s, this book examines the life of an actor, Gary Prinz, who plans to leave the world of Hollywood to attend Bible college instead. He connects in the “real world” with a cigarillo girl named Lucinda Ashton.

Filled with murder, mystery, and mayhem, I found myself unable to set this book down. I appreciated all the twists and turns this book took me on throughout the story. Ms. Havig masterfully weaves a story that contains caring individuals and some who show harmful intentions. I was excited to listen to this book as narrated by Christa DelSorbo. Truly, this book lived up to my expectations. Christa’s voice captures all the emotions I expected to hear in a narration of this book.

So if you enjoy reading books set in the past and enjoy audiobooks, check out this book for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but it in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Do you enjoy fairytale retellings? This creative 1920’s mystery retelling of Cinderella set in Hollywood was a fun listen. Gary Prinz aka the famous Garrison Prince is ready to trade in his acting career for Bible school. Becoming a minister and marrying his beloved Cinda are chief on his list. However, he has to quit his job first and share his true identity with his love who doesn’t realize he’s a famous actor and is currently working as a cigarillo girl.

On the night of his last movie premier, a murderer strikes and his costar and several other people wind up dead. The worst part? His future wife Cinda is named as the chief suspect when her shoe is discovered in the alleyway. With a studio producer and his wife turned detective along with a street orphan, Gary tries to do all he can to find the real killer and prove Cinda innocent.

I liked the story’s setting. The 1920’s are such an interesting era and this story captured the glitz and glamour of early Hollywood. While I suspected who the killer was pretty early on, I enjoyed how the mystery played out.

The characters were fun! I especially liked Gary and felt like he was the epitome of the handsome prince hero. There were times I felt Cinda was a little naive and vacillated between intelligent and clueless. She was a sweet character though and exemplified the Cinderella stereotype. Her boarding house landlady and daughters were particularly nasty and fit the roles of stepmother and stepsisters pretty well. I liked how many nods to the fairytale were included in the book.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version and enjoyed the way the narrator distinguished each of the characters. Her voice was easy to listen to and she really captured the 1920’s dialect and feel of the story.

All in all, a fun, creative mystery retelling with a spiritual message woven into the story. Recommend to those who enjoy Christian mysteries and fairytale retellings. I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. ( )

I was given a copy of this audiobook through CelebrateLit and this review is my own, honest opinion. I truly enjoyed the story and the narration, both. The story flowed well. It kept my attention from the very beginning. It is a Christian book that shows God's love without being preachy or offensive. It shows how people depend on God in good times and bad. The characters were quite well developed, even the minor players were believable. The story flowed well without any bumps in the telling. I was sorry to have the story end. As for the narration, I truly enjoyed listening to her. She added just the right inflections and did a good job changing her voice to fit the various characters. She has a pleasant, even voice that was easy to listen to. Overall I would rate this book a 4 out of 5-stars. I enjoyed the book and if you are looking for a clean, Christian, mystery audiobook this is for you. You won't be disappointed. ( )

The Last Gasp by Chautona Havig is the first book in the Ever After Mystery series. This is a cute story that retells the story of Cinderella losing her slipper. This story takes place in the 1920’s with murders that take place at a moving showing. A young lady becomes a suspect when her shoe is found.

This is such an enjoyable story to read. It is a who done is mystery that is filled with action and suspense. I enjoyed the main characters in the story and the strength of their relationship. I liked Gary’s determination to leave the luxury life in Hollywood to pursue a Bible education and his dream to marry Lucinda, who knows so little about him and his past.

I received a complimentary copy of this story, this is my honest reivew. ( )

As a child, I was never really enamored with princesses and fairy tales the way that other girls were. Romance just isn’t my cup of tea. Unless, of course, the subject is Belle: secluded castle, grand library with a sliding book ladder…but I digress. With the exception of wearing a rather glitzy Cinderella dress for my first piano recital in second grade (a harbinger, perhaps, since I quit a few years later), I have been staunchly in the pioneer, historical-fiction camp. I do, however, love mysteries, and that is what caught my eye with Celebrate Lit’s new series, “Ever After Mysteries.” Intrigued by the amalgamation of fairy tale adaption, historical fiction, and mystery, I had to check it out.

Chautona Havig kicks off the Ever After Mysteries with “The Last Gasp,” a 1920s adaptation of Cinderella. I know little about this time period, particularly in regard to theater and film, which made it fun to read about. The main character, Lucinda “Cinda” Ashton, works as a cigarillo girl, selling candy and cigarettes at the Taj Mahal Theater, until a night of chaos and murder points to her as the prime suspect. Her boyfriend, Gary Prinz, a charming little orphan boy named Herbie, and a cast of others band together to figure out who is behind the curtain of this crime spree.

Humor adds just enough lightheartedness to bring a smile to readers without detracting from the mystery, and the literary nods that Havig includes amuse those who look for them. I noticed, for instance, an homage to Snoopy early on in the narrative. The names used in “The Last Gasp” are, of course, very apropos, and several other parallels between the famous story that most know and cherish pop up throughout the narrative. Because of the combination of romantic and alarming elements, “The Last Gasp” does seem like an admirable merging of the Disney and Brothers Grimm versions! For anyone with concerns, however, this adaptation is clean and does not contain graphic details beyond a few brief mentions of blood.

There were times when the story execution reminded me of the movie “Clue” due to the wit and comical nature of some of the scenes, but there is also a deep undercurrent of faith and love. My favorite scene is when Gary witnesses to a wondering Mrs. Cohen, explaining “As for my reward, I have it already—salvation. I know it isn’t the done thing to talk about in society, but you asked. Some men are eager to share how to receive the Lord’s gift. I wish to teach those who already have it how to live in a way that reflects their gratitude for it.” To me, this speaks to the ultimate message of “The Last Gasp”: jealousy never cultivates contentment, and no matter how much or how little anyone has here on earth, the greatest possession of all is a relationship not with Prince Charming, but with King Jesus.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )