In this gripping stand-alone from bestselling author Mary Burton, an FBI agent must catch a copycat killer. The only difference this time: she’s the final victim.Catching monsters helps FBI agent Kate Hayden keep her nightmares at bay. Now an urgent call brings her back to San Antonio, the scene of her violent past. A brutal new murder shows hallmarks of a serial killer nicknamed the Samaritan. … the Samaritan. Tricky part is, Kate already caught him.
Either Kate made a deadly error, or she’s got a copycat on her hands. Paired with homicide detective Theo Mazur, she quickly realizes this murder is more twisted than it first appeared. Then a second body is found, the mode of death identical to a different case that Kate thought she’d put behind her.
Now Kate and Detective Mazur aren’t just working a homicide; the investigative pair is facing a formidable enemy who knows Kate intimately. While Mazur is personally trying to protect Kate, the closer they are drawn to the killer, the clearer it becomes that in this terrifying game, there is only one rule: don’t believe everything you see…
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Mary Burton is an excellent writer of thrillers that will keep you reading very late into the night.
Fantastic new release by a very talented author. I love her books and “The Last Move” is intriguing, suspenseful, and will keep you guessing. It is also her first stand-alone novel in a good while. A great book to get familiar with Mary’s releases. All are terrific and her series books can be read in any order, however, you will get much more enjoyment if you read in sequence. Make “The Last Move” your next one!
EXCELLENT in all ways! Suspenseful with twists and turns even this sneak to the end of the book to find out who-done-it reader found fascinating from beginning to end!
What I liked:
* Everything – except the evil characters I so wanted to see put down
* Kate Hayden – FBI profiler: smart, driven, unapologetic, straight-shooter with hidden depths
* Theo Mazur – Homicide Detective: dedicated to his job and his daughter with skills and tenacity and personality to boot.
* The story: gritty, dark, compelling, twisted and unapologetic with warmth and charm in the right places
* The characters that were on the side that added to the story but also called to me wanting to have their stories told, too. (is this really a standalone without other stories to follow for those characters?)
* The twists and turns
* The character development
* The backstories
* I could go on and on but stand by the first statement – everything was spot-on and this is definitely worth reading!
What I didn’t like:
* Having the book end and having to say goodbye to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC – This is my honest review.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest review.
Mary Burton does it again with this outstanding gripping read. She has a way to weave a story to where even though you have an idea of what is going to happen or who the bad guy is there is still enough mystery and suspense involved to keep you hooked until the last page. The characters are complex and intriguing and the storyline well written with events and answers unfolding at steady pace. There was nothing sedate in this book. There was plenty of mystery, suspense and even a bit of simmering attraction for the two main characters. If you love romantic suspense reads with strong lead characters, this book is for you; you will not be disappointed.
Kate Hayden works as a profiler with the FBI and has a PhD in Linguistics. She hunts the worst of the worst criminals, the diabolical, demented individuals who prey on the innocent. She was chosen for this life as the result of her own horrific tragedy in her youth; that still haunts her to this day. Because of her past experience it has molded her into the determined, strong, driven, standoffish and quirky agent she needs to be to do her best. She has no time for a personal life and is estranged from her family. Having to return to her hometown of San Antonio, Texas for the most recent case has her on edge for other reasons than her family. There is an eerie similarity to a previous case she worked and now has to determine the killer’s end game. Working with a new partner on the case, a detective transplant from Chicago, can they figure out the clues in time to find the killer and prevent another murder or will they be too late.
Theo Mazur is the new kid on the block. As a recent transplant from Chicago PD, he is a Homicide detective fielding his way through resentment and passive-aggressive colleagues. He is recently divorced, after losing an infant son to crib death, and follows his ex and their young daughter to San Antonio so he can still be a part of her life. Even though he is an outsider, he is confident with himself and his abilities and determined to get the job done. So when a new murder case falls into his lap, he wastes no time contacting the FBI, specifically Dr. Hayden, and requesting assistance. Upon meeting Kate, aside from being attracted to her, he realizes there is more behind her aloof façade than meets the eye and he is determined to find out what it is. As they work together, getting closer to the killer’s identity, they are unaware that he may be closer than they realize. As the final clues fall into place can Theo protect Kate and catch the killer in time before she becomes the next victim.