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Detective Josie Quinn #10
Breathe Your Last
Josie presses her hands into the center of the drowned girl’s chest and pumps, counting off compressions. She takes in the girl’s beautiful face, her brown eyes glassy. The memory of a champion swimmer on the podium with her teammates—a red swim cap on, her head thrown back in laughter—a stark contrast to the cold, still body before her. Breathe. Just breathe...
The body of a young girl lying face down in a swimming pool—white tennis shoes still on her feet, chestnut hair fanned out like a halo—is the last thing Detective Josie Quinn expects to find on an early morning visit to see her brother before class at Denton University. But when she recognizes the girl’s face as she drags her limp body from the water, there’s only one question racing through Josie’s mind: how does a champion swimmer accidentally drown?
Nysa Somers’ family is distraught. She was a model student, beloved daughter and everybody’s friend. There’s no way she would do anything reckless enough to put her scholarship at risk, let alone her life. It’s up to Josie and her team to piece together what happened in the hours leading up to Nysa’s death, and that begins with finding her missing backpack.
But the bag, discarded in the woods on the nearby campus, contains nothing more than empty food wrappers, Nysa’s phone and a cryptic calendar entry telling her to be a mermaid.
The next day, a terrible housefire envelops the nearby home of a retired fireman, nearly killing his two granddaughters. The last words the little girls heard him mutter before he set the blaze were, be a match.
As the body count rises, it’s only Josie who can see the deadly pattern forming. Can she convince her team that the wrapper found in Nysa’s bag that everyone overlooked is the crucial link they’re missing? Not while her partner, Noah, is avoiding her calls and acting so coldly towards her. Josie knows she must go it alone if she’s going to stop this silent and calculated serial killer before any more precious lives are taken.
But with the killer finally in her sights, Josie takes a deadly risk and finds herself hanging onto life by her fingernails. Can she trust her team to save her, and before it’s too late?
An unputdownable and totally gripping crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
The body of a young girl lying face down in a swimming pool—white tennis shoes still on her feet, chestnut hair fanned out like a halo—is the last thing Detective Josie Quinn expects to find on an early morning visit to see her brother before class at Denton University. But when she recognizes the girl’s face as she drags her limp body from the water, there’s only one question racing through Josie’s mind: how does a champion swimmer accidentally drown?
Nysa Somers’ family is distraught. She was a model student, beloved daughter and everybody’s friend. There’s no way she would do anything reckless enough to put her scholarship at risk, let alone her life. It’s up to Josie and her team to piece together what happened in the hours leading up to Nysa’s death, and that begins with finding her missing backpack.
But the bag, discarded in the woods on the nearby campus, contains nothing more than empty food wrappers, Nysa’s phone and a cryptic calendar entry telling her to be a mermaid.
The next day, a terrible housefire envelops the nearby home of a retired fireman, nearly killing his two granddaughters. The last words the little girls heard him mutter before he set the blaze were, be a match.
As the body count rises, it’s only Josie who can see the deadly pattern forming. Can she convince her team that the wrapper found in Nysa’s bag that everyone overlooked is the crucial link they’re missing? Not while her partner, Noah, is avoiding her calls and acting so coldly towards her. Josie knows she must go it alone if she’s going to stop this silent and calculated serial killer before any more precious lives are taken.
But with the killer finally in her sights, Josie takes a deadly risk and finds herself hanging onto life by her fingernails. Can she trust her team to save her, and before it’s too late?
An unputdownable and totally gripping crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
350 pages, ebook
First published December 9, 2020
About the author
Lisa Regan
31 books3,306 followersLisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series as well as several other crime fiction titles. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers’ Association, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
December 9, 2020
4.5 stars
An experienced champion swimmer drowned, her belonging found with a strange symbol and a message to be a mermaid, a retired firefighter's home is engulfed in flames after he says, "be a match". What is going on in Denton, Pennsylvania? What is the connection between the swimmer and fire fighter? The strange symbol was located near each of the crime scenes - they are crime scenes, right? Josie Quinn is going to do everything she can to find out! She also needs to find out what is going on with Noah, who is not acting like himself. He is withdrawn, quiet and being secretive.
This is book ten in the Detective Josie Quinn series and I cannot wait for book eleven to come out. Thankfully, Lisa Regan is a fast writer!! Like the other books in the series, this book piqued my interest from the very first page. I was quickly glued to the pages and curious to see what the investigation would reveal.
Not only was the investigation and crime intriguing in this book, I was also impressed with the character development in this book. If you have been reading this book from the beginning, you will know that Josie along with the other members of her team have all grown and become closer over the course of this series. We have been given glimpses into their pasts, their relationships, their family life, etc. We have watched them struggle, overcome personal issues, love, build strong friendships and have working camaraderie with their coworkers. Josie is tough as nails, but it was also nice to see a more vulnerable side of her in this book.
Another riveting page turner from Regan. As always, this book was beautifully written and perfectly paced. Nothing felt rushed nor drawn out in this book. Josie and her team are knee deep in the action in this book. Josie's loved ones also make appearances as well. I really enjoy the cast of characters in this book.
Then there is THAT ending! Whew!
Breath Your Last is a well written, intriguing book that had me on the edge of my seat.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
An experienced champion swimmer drowned, her belonging found with a strange symbol and a message to be a mermaid, a retired firefighter's home is engulfed in flames after he says, "be a match". What is going on in Denton, Pennsylvania? What is the connection between the swimmer and fire fighter? The strange symbol was located near each of the crime scenes - they are crime scenes, right? Josie Quinn is going to do everything she can to find out! She also needs to find out what is going on with Noah, who is not acting like himself. He is withdrawn, quiet and being secretive.
This is book ten in the Detective Josie Quinn series and I cannot wait for book eleven to come out. Thankfully, Lisa Regan is a fast writer!! Like the other books in the series, this book piqued my interest from the very first page. I was quickly glued to the pages and curious to see what the investigation would reveal.
Not only was the investigation and crime intriguing in this book, I was also impressed with the character development in this book. If you have been reading this book from the beginning, you will know that Josie along with the other members of her team have all grown and become closer over the course of this series. We have been given glimpses into their pasts, their relationships, their family life, etc. We have watched them struggle, overcome personal issues, love, build strong friendships and have working camaraderie with their coworkers. Josie is tough as nails, but it was also nice to see a more vulnerable side of her in this book.
Another riveting page turner from Regan. As always, this book was beautifully written and perfectly paced. Nothing felt rushed nor drawn out in this book. Josie and her team are knee deep in the action in this book. Josie's loved ones also make appearances as well. I really enjoy the cast of characters in this book.
Then there is THAT ending! Whew!
Breath Your Last is a well written, intriguing book that had me on the edge of my seat.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 25, 2020
BREATHE YOUR LAST by Lisa Regan brings mystery and suspense to a well-written and dramatic police procedural and crime thriller set in Denton, Pennsylvania. This is the tenth book in the Detective Josie Quinn series and the second book that I have read by this author.
Josie doesn’t expect to be doing CPR on a star athlete when she meets her brother before his first class. How does a champion swimmer drown accidentally? Once again, Josie and her boyfriend, Lieutenant Noah Fraley, and many others from the Denton police force face a case with few clues. As additional odd events occur, the team is working long hours and getting little sleep. While trying to make sense of what is happening, they wonder if there is a pattern or link that they are missing.
Josie and Noah are compelling characters you can root for. They felt real and three-dimensional and definitely had both flaws and virtues. Like many people they often struggle with work-life balance, jealousy and communication issues. Their motivations were believable and the secondary characters were well-rounded and contributed to the story rather than detracting from it. Having characters from Josie’s private life woven into the story made her feel more realistic and believable. This story managed to showcase the emotional landscape of several characters, bringing them to life to this reader.
The plot was suspenseful, fresh, complex and entertaining. The conflicts were both internal and external, arising from characterization and circumstance. There were plenty of plot twists and turns with several surprises. There was a fast pace from scene to scene and the subplots tied together well. The tension, stakes and action built up to an exciting and pulse-quickening dramatic ending. While the romantic relationship between Josie and Noah was interspersed into the plot, it did not detract from the story line.
Once again, this author has brought mystery, family dynamics, mental illness and much more to life in a page turner that kept me engaged throughout. Her ability to bring fresh approaches to an established genre and series are fantastic.
Overall, this was a dramatic crime thriller that hooked me with the first sentence and didn’t let go until it was finished. It’s the second book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to the next one. I recommend it to those that enjoy crime thrillers or police procedurals. While not absolutely necessary, I would recommend reading the series in order to gain more insight into the characters and their backgrounds.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture and Lisa Regan via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 9, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Josie doesn’t expect to be doing CPR on a star athlete when she meets her brother before his first class. How does a champion swimmer drown accidentally? Once again, Josie and her boyfriend, Lieutenant Noah Fraley, and many others from the Denton police force face a case with few clues. As additional odd events occur, the team is working long hours and getting little sleep. While trying to make sense of what is happening, they wonder if there is a pattern or link that they are missing.
Josie and Noah are compelling characters you can root for. They felt real and three-dimensional and definitely had both flaws and virtues. Like many people they often struggle with work-life balance, jealousy and communication issues. Their motivations were believable and the secondary characters were well-rounded and contributed to the story rather than detracting from it. Having characters from Josie’s private life woven into the story made her feel more realistic and believable. This story managed to showcase the emotional landscape of several characters, bringing them to life to this reader.
The plot was suspenseful, fresh, complex and entertaining. The conflicts were both internal and external, arising from characterization and circumstance. There were plenty of plot twists and turns with several surprises. There was a fast pace from scene to scene and the subplots tied together well. The tension, stakes and action built up to an exciting and pulse-quickening dramatic ending. While the romantic relationship between Josie and Noah was interspersed into the plot, it did not detract from the story line.
Once again, this author has brought mystery, family dynamics, mental illness and much more to life in a page turner that kept me engaged throughout. Her ability to bring fresh approaches to an established genre and series are fantastic.
Overall, this was a dramatic crime thriller that hooked me with the first sentence and didn’t let go until it was finished. It’s the second book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to the next one. I recommend it to those that enjoy crime thrillers or police procedurals. While not absolutely necessary, I would recommend reading the series in order to gain more insight into the characters and their backgrounds.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture and Lisa Regan via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 9, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
November 30, 2020
Josie Quinn is talking to her brother Patrick early in the morning at the Denton University pool, where he has a part time job. Before she leaves, she glances at the pool and to her shock sees a fully clothed body floating on the surface. Despite administering cpr, neither Josie or the paramedics are able to revive the young woman, a student and talented member of the swim team. She had no reason to commit suicide and, as a swimmer subject to random drug testing, didn't use drugs but no one can think of a reason why such a strong swimmer could accidentally drown.
With so little to go on forensically, Josie and her team have their work cut out trying to find out how the young student died. Other strange events begin to occur with people nearly dying through inexplicable acts and Josie begins to wonder what is happening to the people of Denton. One of the strengths of this series is the continuing lives of Josie and her team and friends and family. Josie has her own issues to deal with as she shares her sister's anxiety about her nephew starting kindergarten. She's also concerned that her boyfriend Noah is behaving strangely and missing at odd hours from work and home and worries that something is wrong.
The plot moves at a good pace as Josie tries to hunt down connections in the cases that she feels sure are there. It takes a strange drawing and some good detective work to eventually point to the cause of the drowning and other bizarre episodes but it may be too late to save the lives of more innocent people. A literal cliff hanger provides a nail biting ending with plenty of drama, particularly for Josie. 4.5★
With thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to read
With so little to go on forensically, Josie and her team have their work cut out trying to find out how the young student died. Other strange events begin to occur with people nearly dying through inexplicable acts and Josie begins to wonder what is happening to the people of Denton. One of the strengths of this series is the continuing lives of Josie and her team and friends and family. Josie has her own issues to deal with as she shares her sister's anxiety about her nephew starting kindergarten. She's also concerned that her boyfriend Noah is behaving strangely and missing at odd hours from work and home and worries that something is wrong.
The plot moves at a good pace as Josie tries to hunt down connections in the cases that she feels sure are there. It takes a strange drawing and some good detective work to eventually point to the cause of the drowning and other bizarre episodes but it may be too late to save the lives of more innocent people. A literal cliff hanger provides a nail biting ending with plenty of drama, particularly for Josie. 4.5★
With thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to read
November 5, 2020
4.5 heart stopping stars
I can’t believe this is book #10 in this series! I love the main character – Detective Josie Quinn. She is always in the thick of crime and danger in Denton. This time a series of murders and strange crimes has everyone stumped. Why on earth would the university’s best swimmer drown? Why are other victims acting completely out of their normal behavior?
Josie and her team work to solve this crime as others pile up. Other chapters are from the mind of the killer and they are chilling indeed. It becomes a game of cat and mouse and a frantic race to the finish.
Meanwhile, Noah is distant and I really worried about what he was up to in this one. Let me warn you that this one has a dramatic ending. You really got me Lisa Regan! Can’t wait until you have book #11 for us to read!
Thank you to Bookoutre and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. This one is out 12.9.2020.
I can’t believe this is book #10 in this series! I love the main character – Detective Josie Quinn. She is always in the thick of crime and danger in Denton. This time a series of murders and strange crimes has everyone stumped. Why on earth would the university’s best swimmer drown? Why are other victims acting completely out of their normal behavior?
Josie and her team work to solve this crime as others pile up. Other chapters are from the mind of the killer and they are chilling indeed. It becomes a game of cat and mouse and a frantic race to the finish.
Meanwhile, Noah is distant and I really worried about what he was up to in this one. Let me warn you that this one has a dramatic ending. You really got me Lisa Regan! Can’t wait until you have book #11 for us to read!
Thank you to Bookoutre and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. This one is out 12.9.2020.
December 29, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
Her heart pounded so hard in her chest, it felt like each beat rattled her bones.
He had shaggy black hair that hung in hanks around his head. Almost like someone very angry had given him a haircut and quit in the middle of doing it.
He never knew the feeling of absolute power over someone’s life the way I did. He never knew what it felt like to right the wrongs people perpetrated against you. Making people pay was like heroin for my soul.
My Review:
This was brilliantly contrived, shrewdly paced, taut with tension, and fraught with confounding and chilling intrigue. I was afraid to blink for fear I’d miss something and profoundly resented having to put my Kindle down for a second. And judging from the stiffness in fingers, I may have been clutching it in a white-knuckled death grip throughout perusal. I had read book one before picking up this cunningly crafted missive and holy brain spasm Batman, so much as happened to Josie in the intervening four-years that it singed the little pea in my brain. I need to take out a second mortgage and borrow Herminie’s time turner so I can read the other eight books in between.
I soon discovered that between book one and book ten, Josie had acquired a previously unknown set of parents, a twin sister, a brother, a new love interest, and an adorable dog. She was still an epic trouble magnet, deeply flawed and stubborn stoic, and death-defying risk-taker; so not everything had changed. Every character, even those who appeared only briefly, was uniquely etched and curiously compelling if not enigmatic. I am hooked, bewitched, besotted, and totally enamored with this agile wordsmith and in awe of her deft wordcraft. Sigh, fangirling hard!
Her heart pounded so hard in her chest, it felt like each beat rattled her bones.
He had shaggy black hair that hung in hanks around his head. Almost like someone very angry had given him a haircut and quit in the middle of doing it.
He never knew the feeling of absolute power over someone’s life the way I did. He never knew what it felt like to right the wrongs people perpetrated against you. Making people pay was like heroin for my soul.
My Review:
This was brilliantly contrived, shrewdly paced, taut with tension, and fraught with confounding and chilling intrigue. I was afraid to blink for fear I’d miss something and profoundly resented having to put my Kindle down for a second. And judging from the stiffness in fingers, I may have been clutching it in a white-knuckled death grip throughout perusal. I had read book one before picking up this cunningly crafted missive and holy brain spasm Batman, so much as happened to Josie in the intervening four-years that it singed the little pea in my brain. I need to take out a second mortgage and borrow Herminie’s time turner so I can read the other eight books in between.
I soon discovered that between book one and book ten, Josie had acquired a previously unknown set of parents, a twin sister, a brother, a new love interest, and an adorable dog. She was still an epic trouble magnet, deeply flawed and stubborn stoic, and death-defying risk-taker; so not everything had changed. Every character, even those who appeared only briefly, was uniquely etched and curiously compelling if not enigmatic. I am hooked, bewitched, besotted, and totally enamored with this agile wordsmith and in awe of her deft wordcraft. Sigh, fangirling hard!
December 8, 2020
Breathe Your Last is #10 in the Detective Josie Quinn series, and every time I read a new one, I say the series gets better with each book. Lisa Regan changes things up a notch here in this one by adding a bold, and bizarre case here that left me with many questions. She tests not only Josie and her team but us readers with those exciting, "what is going on" twists to the crime and our beloved characters.
My love for the series is all about Josie and her dynamics with the people in her life. Lisa Regan keeps this fresh and exciting by exploring stories and crimes that involve the people in her life while adding new characters to that dynamics. While I enjoy all the mysteries and crimes in the stories, they don't usually take center stage for me as the one in this story did. I still loved the dynamics here with the characters that take a different turn when Noah becomes distant and distracted from Josie.
The case is darkly bold, strange, and unquie and touches on a dark reality that is not often explored, and at times, I did question some of the reality of the story and how Lisa was going to pull off that line between reality and entertainment.
The action and climax to the story are like nothing I have seen from Lisa, and I was on the edge of my seat with my mouth wide open in shock with the heart-wrenching turn the story took. The action is exciting and tense. That heart-wrenching turn pushed my shock to the point I almost messaged Lisa to ask what she was thinking, throwing that at us readers, however, I went with it nd enjoyed the emotional pull she brilliantly layered on us.
As always, I highly recommend this series!!
I received a copy from the publisher through NG.
To see more about this series and Lisa Regan's insight into the series and Josie check out our Spoiler free Q & A with Lisa
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My love for the series is all about Josie and her dynamics with the people in her life. Lisa Regan keeps this fresh and exciting by exploring stories and crimes that involve the people in her life while adding new characters to that dynamics. While I enjoy all the mysteries and crimes in the stories, they don't usually take center stage for me as the one in this story did. I still loved the dynamics here with the characters that take a different turn when Noah becomes distant and distracted from Josie.
The case is darkly bold, strange, and unquie and touches on a dark reality that is not often explored, and at times, I did question some of the reality of the story and how Lisa was going to pull off that line between reality and entertainment.
The action and climax to the story are like nothing I have seen from Lisa, and I was on the edge of my seat with my mouth wide open in shock with the heart-wrenching turn the story took. The action is exciting and tense. That heart-wrenching turn pushed my shock to the point I almost messaged Lisa to ask what she was thinking, throwing that at us readers, however, I went with it nd enjoyed the emotional pull she brilliantly layered on us.
As always, I highly recommend this series!!
I received a copy from the publisher through NG.
To see more about this series and Lisa Regan's insight into the series and Josie check out our Spoiler free Q & A with Lisa
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
November 19, 2020
That was an interesting premise - a champion swimmer, a college sophomore, who drowns in the college swimming complex; a former decorated fireman who deliberately sets his house on fire while his granddaughters are there; and the elderly desk sargeant at the Denton PD who climbs up to the bell tower in the historic police building and tries to clamber over the railing - what is causing these people to behave so oddly?
Detective Josie Quinn was present at theses three crime scenes and is convinced that the people were acting under the influence of some sort of drug. They have nothing in common, there is no forensic evidence and, once the police realise the killer would not necessarily have even been present when their victims died, there are any number of suspects! What follows is an exercise in frustration for the police until, finally, Josie joins a couple of dots.
I’ve read all the earlier books in this series and loved them. This book was good but, for some reason I can’t pin down, I was not as invested in it as the others. Perhaps its because I’ve seen this method of killing in a couple of other books I’ve read so there was no OMG moment. Perhaps It’s because everyone was just so unbelievably ‘nice’ this time around. Perhaps it’s because I thought the culprit and the ending were just a bit OTT. Nevertheless, full credit to Lisa Regan for coming with these very interesting plot ideas over and over again and for keeping the characters fresh. This book will appeal to all mystery and thrillers lovers. You can even read it as a stand alone although I guarantee you will enjoy it more if you read it as part of the series. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Lisa Regan for making a copy of the book available. My opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Detective Josie Quinn was present at theses three crime scenes and is convinced that the people were acting under the influence of some sort of drug. They have nothing in common, there is no forensic evidence and, once the police realise the killer would not necessarily have even been present when their victims died, there are any number of suspects! What follows is an exercise in frustration for the police until, finally, Josie joins a couple of dots.
I’ve read all the earlier books in this series and loved them. This book was good but, for some reason I can’t pin down, I was not as invested in it as the others. Perhaps its because I’ve seen this method of killing in a couple of other books I’ve read so there was no OMG moment. Perhaps It’s because everyone was just so unbelievably ‘nice’ this time around. Perhaps it’s because I thought the culprit and the ending were just a bit OTT. Nevertheless, full credit to Lisa Regan for coming with these very interesting plot ideas over and over again and for keeping the characters fresh. This book will appeal to all mystery and thrillers lovers. You can even read it as a stand alone although I guarantee you will enjoy it more if you read it as part of the series. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Lisa Regan for making a copy of the book available. My opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded up.
December 12, 2020
This book and I somehow didn’t work. And I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe I was just not in the right mood, because I think the main idea is quite good.
Here I had a problem at the beginning. It seems too slow to me. I felt like nothing has happened in the first third of the book that is not mentioned in the synopsis. And that was not enough for me. I also think it would be easier for me if I read the previous books. I would have become more attached to Josie, the main character, and the rest of the group.
I wish this book worked better for me because I liked the general plot idea. I find it interesting and quite innovative, it is not just another typical serial killer, but something much more interesting. The plot is not too simple, nor is it so complicated that it is absurd. There were some fragments that really held me on the edge of my seat. There are also several probable suspects. The identity of the killer surprised me, but at the same time it didn’t feel that this person appeared out of nowhere. I also think that making this particular person a murderer was an interesting and non-obvious move.
I think I will give this author another chance, maybe I will read one of the previous books in this series. I like her ideas.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Here I had a problem at the beginning. It seems too slow to me. I felt like nothing has happened in the first third of the book that is not mentioned in the synopsis. And that was not enough for me. I also think it would be easier for me if I read the previous books. I would have become more attached to Josie, the main character, and the rest of the group.
I wish this book worked better for me because I liked the general plot idea. I find it interesting and quite innovative, it is not just another typical serial killer, but something much more interesting. The plot is not too simple, nor is it so complicated that it is absurd. There were some fragments that really held me on the edge of my seat. There are also several probable suspects. The identity of the killer surprised me, but at the same time it didn’t feel that this person appeared out of nowhere. I also think that making this particular person a murderer was an interesting and non-obvious move.
I think I will give this author another chance, maybe I will read one of the previous books in this series. I like her ideas.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2020
Arriving at the swim centre of the Denton University campus, Detective Josie Quinn didn’t expect to come across the best swimmer in the team, face down in the pool. Her efforts to resuscitate her futile. Josie had arrived on her way to work to see Patrick, her brother before he began work at the campus. Before long the swim centre was surrounded by police and all the teams necessary to work out what had happened.
The young woman’s death was the beginning of a horrific spate of murders which seemingly had no origin; there was nothing showing in bloods, in autopsies – the frustration of Josie, Noah, Gretchen, Mett and the team caused their bodies to run on adrenalin with little sleep and not many answers. But it was to get worse. Who was doing these dreadful things? And the biggest question – how were they doing it? Could Josie find the answers before it was too late?
Breathe Your Last is the 10th in the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan and oh my goodness! I will have to say, in my opinion, this is her best yet! What a heart stopping read it was. I flew through the pages in a matter of hours, unable to put the book down. Twists and turns, incredible imagery, exasperation, thrills and chills – this book had it all. Josie is a tough, resilient character and her determination not to give up was sorely tested in Breathe Your Last. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The young woman’s death was the beginning of a horrific spate of murders which seemingly had no origin; there was nothing showing in bloods, in autopsies – the frustration of Josie, Noah, Gretchen, Mett and the team caused their bodies to run on adrenalin with little sleep and not many answers. But it was to get worse. Who was doing these dreadful things? And the biggest question – how were they doing it? Could Josie find the answers before it was too late?
Breathe Your Last is the 10th in the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan and oh my goodness! I will have to say, in my opinion, this is her best yet! What a heart stopping read it was. I flew through the pages in a matter of hours, unable to put the book down. Twists and turns, incredible imagery, exasperation, thrills and chills – this book had it all. Josie is a tough, resilient character and her determination not to give up was sorely tested in Breathe Your Last. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2020
Breathe Your Last is book 10 featuring Josie Quinn...book 10! I have loved each and every book in this series and I will continue to read them as long as they keep coming. How Lisa Regan keeps them fresh every single time is just amazing! Book 10 and they just keep getting better, and the characters more like family each time. I know that I have said it before but you really need to acquaint yourself with Josie and the town of Denton.
This might be the toughest cases Josie has ever had to solve. A champion swimmer drowns and an ex firefighters home burns down around him. Accidents? Surely not. Josie doesn't think so and is determined to prove it. But how? How are these people being killed and why? It will take her entire team and alot of missing sleep to get to the bottom of this mystery. It is another fast paced, twisty ride and I actually had to hold my breath at the end. It was just brilliant!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. bring on book 11!
This might be the toughest cases Josie has ever had to solve. A champion swimmer drowns and an ex firefighters home burns down around him. Accidents? Surely not. Josie doesn't think so and is determined to prove it. But how? How are these people being killed and why? It will take her entire team and alot of missing sleep to get to the bottom of this mystery. It is another fast paced, twisty ride and I actually had to hold my breath at the end. It was just brilliant!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. bring on book 11!
Read
June 15, 2021Gripping. Thrilling. Just try to put it down.
Detective Josie Quinn meets her brother, Patrick, at the Denton University natatorium when she sees a body in the pool. She jumps in and pulls the body out. She performs CPR but it is too late. The university's star swimmer, Nysa Somers, is dead. Apparently an accidental drowning. While investigating they find an alert on her phone. "Time to be a mermaid". A retired, hero firefighter burns down his house nearly killing his granddaughters. He is overheard saying "Time to be a match". What is going on in Denton?
The cases haunt Josie. She can't get the images out of her mind. None of it makes any sense. A champion swimmer who drowns? A firefighter who burns down his own house? It can't be a coincidence. It is up to Josie and her team to piece together the clues. Then the Denton police department's elderly desk sargeant climbs up to the bell tower and tries to climb over the railing.
This may be the tenth book in the series but it hasn't lost a thing. If anything the series continues to get better. The reader becomes more vested in the characters. Josie, Noah, Gretchen, Mett. Readers of previous books in the series know that Noah is Josie's live-in boyfriend. In this story Noah's behavior seems off. He appears to be avoiding Josie. Not answering or returning phone calls. Could it be over? Say it isn't so. You will have to wait until the end to find out.
This was hard to put down. If I didn't have to eat, sleep, and work one of the days I was reading this story I wouldn't have. As usual this story left me wanting more and anxious to read the next entry in the series ... Hush Little Girl
Detective Josie Quinn meets her brother, Patrick, at the Denton University natatorium when she sees a body in the pool. She jumps in and pulls the body out. She performs CPR but it is too late. The university's star swimmer, Nysa Somers, is dead. Apparently an accidental drowning. While investigating they find an alert on her phone. "Time to be a mermaid". A retired, hero firefighter burns down his house nearly killing his granddaughters. He is overheard saying "Time to be a match". What is going on in Denton?
The cases haunt Josie. She can't get the images out of her mind. None of it makes any sense. A champion swimmer who drowns? A firefighter who burns down his own house? It can't be a coincidence. It is up to Josie and her team to piece together the clues. Then the Denton police department's elderly desk sargeant climbs up to the bell tower and tries to climb over the railing.
This may be the tenth book in the series but it hasn't lost a thing. If anything the series continues to get better. The reader becomes more vested in the characters. Josie, Noah, Gretchen, Mett. Readers of previous books in the series know that Noah is Josie's live-in boyfriend. In this story Noah's behavior seems off. He appears to be avoiding Josie. Not answering or returning phone calls. Could it be over? Say it isn't so. You will have to wait until the end to find out.
This was hard to put down. If I didn't have to eat, sleep, and work one of the days I was reading this story I wouldn't have. As usual this story left me wanting more and anxious to read the next entry in the series ... Hush Little Girl
December 2, 2020
After a laundry accident, detective Josie Quinn meets her brother at his job in the university swimming pool. By accident, they find the clothed body of a young woman floating in the water. It turns out to be Nysa, a swimming champion. So, how could she drown? CC-
TV shows that she didn’t bring her swimming gear or backpack. No-one else entered or left the building. And why did she come at 6 am?
Not much later a retired fireman nearly dies in a house fire. His grandchildren that miraculously are saved by Josie, tell the police that he set the fire himself while acting very strange.
The readers know that there’s a serial killer at work who does away with people that have offended or upset him/her, people that deserve to die.
Josie is convinced that both incidents are related and that there’s a drug involved that makes people docile and obedient without incapacitating them. Nobody believes her. She feels that this case is slipping through her fingers with no real leads and she fears that she won’t be able to solve it. Her relationship with her colleague Noah is under a lot of strain as they both are preoccupied with work and spend that much time working that they hardly see each other.
Josie’s personal life is more than a little complicated. Much of the background story has been told in the previous instalments of this series but the most relevant facts are given again. As I remarked in the previous book, the personal life of the protagonist form a large part of the narrative but there is also more than enough action and suspense that are merged into a really thrilling story. There are more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The information and the clues are released a little bit at the time so that I figured out a few things but not much sooner than Josie self. The development of the case with painstakingly difficult, multiple interviews and forensics that sometimes fail to give the expected or much-needed clues, this case feels like a realistic police investigation. Only at the end, there is a grand finale with a life or death chase to conclude the case.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided me with and this is my honest, unbiased review.
TV shows that she didn’t bring her swimming gear or backpack. No-one else entered or left the building. And why did she come at 6 am?
Not much later a retired fireman nearly dies in a house fire. His grandchildren that miraculously are saved by Josie, tell the police that he set the fire himself while acting very strange.
The readers know that there’s a serial killer at work who does away with people that have offended or upset him/her, people that deserve to die.
Josie is convinced that both incidents are related and that there’s a drug involved that makes people docile and obedient without incapacitating them. Nobody believes her. She feels that this case is slipping through her fingers with no real leads and she fears that she won’t be able to solve it. Her relationship with her colleague Noah is under a lot of strain as they both are preoccupied with work and spend that much time working that they hardly see each other.
Josie’s personal life is more than a little complicated. Much of the background story has been told in the previous instalments of this series but the most relevant facts are given again. As I remarked in the previous book, the personal life of the protagonist form a large part of the narrative but there is also more than enough action and suspense that are merged into a really thrilling story. There are more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The information and the clues are released a little bit at the time so that I figured out a few things but not much sooner than Josie self. The development of the case with painstakingly difficult, multiple interviews and forensics that sometimes fail to give the expected or much-needed clues, this case feels like a realistic police investigation. Only at the end, there is a grand finale with a life or death chase to conclude the case.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided me with and this is my honest, unbiased review.
July 24, 2022
*Riveting Thriller*
Detective Josie Quinn is going along for the ride with Misty to drop Harris off for his first day at preschool. On route Josie is quizzing him on what to do and the dangers he may face, much to the dismay of his mother Misty rolling her eyes
On the way back she is going to see her brother before his classes start at Denton University.
Upon arrival she sees a young girl floating face down in the pool. Josie jumps in and fails to save her. The question is why? This young girl is the school’s champion swimmer. A disciplined clean living model student.
Whilst Josie is investigating the young girl’s death they find her backpack and once they eventually get into her phone there is a message telling her to “be a mermaid”
A day later a very young girl flags Josie down for help as Josie approaches the scene she calls for back up, it’s a house fire and another young girl is trapped. Josie does her usual heroics to save the girl and as help arrives they realise it’s the home of a retired fireman and grandfather to the girls. The message this time “be a match”
Now as the bodies are starting pile up they realise the culprit is a virtually invisible person with a motive to take out all the people that have ever got in their way. This person feels justified and has no empathy.
As they get closer to the truth there is a thrilling climax with possible heartbreak ahead for one of the team and someone puts their safely lessons to excellent use.
Totally riveting and hard to put down
Detective Josie Quinn is going along for the ride with Misty to drop Harris off for his first day at preschool. On route Josie is quizzing him on what to do and the dangers he may face, much to the dismay of his mother Misty rolling her eyes
On the way back she is going to see her brother before his classes start at Denton University.
Upon arrival she sees a young girl floating face down in the pool. Josie jumps in and fails to save her. The question is why? This young girl is the school’s champion swimmer. A disciplined clean living model student.
Whilst Josie is investigating the young girl’s death they find her backpack and once they eventually get into her phone there is a message telling her to “be a mermaid”
A day later a very young girl flags Josie down for help as Josie approaches the scene she calls for back up, it’s a house fire and another young girl is trapped. Josie does her usual heroics to save the girl and as help arrives they realise it’s the home of a retired fireman and grandfather to the girls. The message this time “be a match”
Now as the bodies are starting pile up they realise the culprit is a virtually invisible person with a motive to take out all the people that have ever got in their way. This person feels justified and has no empathy.
As they get closer to the truth there is a thrilling climax with possible heartbreak ahead for one of the team and someone puts their safely lessons to excellent use.
Totally riveting and hard to put down
December 11, 2020
This is the tenth in the Detective Josie Quinn series; it is the third one I have read. I enjoy Josie; despite all the travails she has met with in her life, she remains a strong, intelligent, though vulnerable, character.
I also enjoy Lisa Regan’s writing. Fast paced, engrossing and If the plot is indeed plausible (I didn’t check!), it is very, very scary.
Having read some of the prior novels in this series, I enjoyed revisiting with the repeating characters. Yet, this would work well as a stand alone. However, since so many of us have time on our hands these days, why not go back and start the series from the beginning?
If you like police procedurals/thrillers, and are not familiar with Lisa Regan, I would recommend her.
I also enjoy Lisa Regan’s writing. Fast paced, engrossing and If the plot is indeed plausible (I didn’t check!), it is very, very scary.
Having read some of the prior novels in this series, I enjoyed revisiting with the repeating characters. Yet, this would work well as a stand alone. However, since so many of us have time on our hands these days, why not go back and start the series from the beginning?
If you like police procedurals/thrillers, and are not familiar with Lisa Regan, I would recommend her.
December 6, 2020
Hold on tight! Breathe Your Last is a wild ride! I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. Lisa Regan never does. I’m not even sure where to begin, but to say that I get a sense of Deja Vu every time I sit down to write a review for a Detective Josie Quinn novel. I think it’s because I always feel a little speechless when I finish reading them. Not in a bad way, of course, but in a way that makes me feel a bit excited, and a little angry and a lot shocked the Lisa got me again. She grabbed me by the nose and tugged me along a journey that I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t put this damn book down!
Lisa kept me guessing, and she kept me afraid for the people in Denton. It’s crazy scary to think about someone drowning themselves or setting themselves on fire. I didn’t know how the hell this was going to end. I didn’t know who the next victim would be. I questioned whether Josie could save the day this time. Of course, she did, but it came at a huge cost. I can’t say more than that without spoiling anything, but I will say, don’t give up until you’ve read to the end of the last page. At one point, you’ll want to. You will want to throw your Kindle and scream and cry and send Lisa Regan nasty emails, but don’t give up. Keep reading.
Having read this entire series, I always try to convince myself that cases affecting Josie or her family make for better reads, but then Lisa writes a story like this, and I realize that’s not necessarily true. Every case becomes personal to Josie. She invests herself emotionally and physically in every case, in every book. As much as I love the way Lisa Regan plots her books, it’s the expertly written characters that keep me coming back for more. The relationships between the characters and the heart and emotion that pours from the pages make this series so incredibly great for me.
Breathe Your Last is one of the best books I’ve read all year! Lisa Regan never disappoints!
July 7, 2021
The book jacket states ~ “An Addictive and nail-biting crime thriller.”
I regard statements like this as a challenge!! You know when it states hilarious and to me it is a tad humorous.
Trust me in this story Lisa Regan delivers. This is #10 in the Josie Quinn series and the first one for me. I wasn’t lost in reading this but it did make me think. Ouch! I sure missed nine great reads!
Story starts when the killer states in the Prologue states that the victim “Got what they deserved”.
Right off the, a victim dies who is a Champion Swimmer ~ drowns.
Soon another victim dies from something he is which he is an expert and hero ~ he is a retired Firefighter who sets fire to his home while babysitting his two granddaughters.
Detective Josie Quinn sets out to find the killer, however some think accidents and question if there is a killer!
We, of course, know there is someone responsible~ but whom?
Story has many twists; which I totally LOVE.
Additionally, I always enjoy the author’s note at the end of the novel. In this case, Lisa Regan entitles hers “A Letter from Lisa”
She starts with thanks us for reading and then states is you are reading this it means you didn’t throw your e-reader or hardback book across the room.
This make me laugh as I have often threatened to do that with a book but am more careful with my e-reader but certainly considered it!
She also states that she does her best to cut out the boring stuff and bring just drama.
Yep she delivered!
This story earns 5 Stars from me and I take rating seriously and don’t just hand out high reviews.
This did not disappoint and I am looking forward to Josie Quinn #11!!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this early release granted in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 9, 2020.
I regard statements like this as a challenge!! You know when it states hilarious and to me it is a tad humorous.
Trust me in this story Lisa Regan delivers. This is #10 in the Josie Quinn series and the first one for me. I wasn’t lost in reading this but it did make me think. Ouch! I sure missed nine great reads!
Story starts when the killer states in the Prologue states that the victim “Got what they deserved”.
Right off the, a victim dies who is a Champion Swimmer ~ drowns.
Soon another victim dies from something he is which he is an expert and hero ~ he is a retired Firefighter who sets fire to his home while babysitting his two granddaughters.
Detective Josie Quinn sets out to find the killer, however some think accidents and question if there is a killer!
We, of course, know there is someone responsible~ but whom?
Story has many twists; which I totally LOVE.
Additionally, I always enjoy the author’s note at the end of the novel. In this case, Lisa Regan entitles hers “A Letter from Lisa”
She starts with thanks us for reading and then states is you are reading this it means you didn’t throw your e-reader or hardback book across the room.
This make me laugh as I have often threatened to do that with a book but am more careful with my e-reader but certainly considered it!
She also states that she does her best to cut out the boring stuff and bring just drama.
Yep she delivered!
This story earns 5 Stars from me and I take rating seriously and don’t just hand out high reviews.
This did not disappoint and I am looking forward to Josie Quinn #11!!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this early release granted in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 9, 2020.
December 14, 2020
My Blog Tour is live!
What does a star swimmer a decorated hero and a police officer have in common? That is what Detective Josie Quinn must figure out. And fast before this elusive killer strikes again. In this case the serial killer has a unique modus operandi which gives them the wherewithal to kill from afar and watch the chaos ensue from a safe distance.
Breathe Your Last is the 10th installment in the Josie Quinn mystery series. Being a first time reader of Lisa Regan I did not find that to be a problem. I think the novel stood well enough on its own and I was able to get right into the story. Josie Quinn’s character is smart and clever. She is strong and loving and willing to put her own life at risk to save others, even the bad guys. As a new reader to the series I found that the glimpses into her back story made her all the more more relatable. I also enjoyed having time Josie Quinn’s family even though it took me a minute to figure out who was who.
The plot was fast moving. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. Here we have a mystery where at first it is not clear how the killer picks their targets. We as readers get to hear the killer’s thoughts in short chapters interspersed between the investigation. These chapters add an eerie tone to the undercurrent of the novel and make the mystery even more intriguing. Regan keeps you waiting until the last minute to figure out how and why the killer strikes. I though it was a clever how she developed this story and the reasoning behind the killings. I’ve already looked into where I could get my hands on the earlier books in the series. Although they are not available through my library to borrow or to order, I found a discounted bundle on the first three books in the series on Amazon here.
What does a star swimmer a decorated hero and a police officer have in common? That is what Detective Josie Quinn must figure out. And fast before this elusive killer strikes again. In this case the serial killer has a unique modus operandi which gives them the wherewithal to kill from afar and watch the chaos ensue from a safe distance.
Breathe Your Last is the 10th installment in the Josie Quinn mystery series. Being a first time reader of Lisa Regan I did not find that to be a problem. I think the novel stood well enough on its own and I was able to get right into the story. Josie Quinn’s character is smart and clever. She is strong and loving and willing to put her own life at risk to save others, even the bad guys. As a new reader to the series I found that the glimpses into her back story made her all the more more relatable. I also enjoyed having time Josie Quinn’s family even though it took me a minute to figure out who was who.
The plot was fast moving. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. Here we have a mystery where at first it is not clear how the killer picks their targets. We as readers get to hear the killer’s thoughts in short chapters interspersed between the investigation. These chapters add an eerie tone to the undercurrent of the novel and make the mystery even more intriguing. Regan keeps you waiting until the last minute to figure out how and why the killer strikes. I though it was a clever how she developed this story and the reasoning behind the killings. I’ve already looked into where I could get my hands on the earlier books in the series. Although they are not available through my library to borrow or to order, I found a discounted bundle on the first three books in the series on Amazon here.
October 1, 2020
Breathe Your Last by Lisa Regan is a powerhouse Josie Quinn novel that builds on the greatness that is this series! You open each book in the series never quite knowing what to expect, and that’s one of the things I love about Ms. Regan’s writing. When Breathe Your Last opens, you are immediately creeped out, and you can’t help but love every single word of the killer’s prologue. There is nothing I love more than getting into the head of the killer and Ms. Regan does that with a steady, creepy hand throughout the whole of the book.
The book opens with Josie dropping Harris off at his new 4-year-old kindergarten class and then heading to her brother’s college to read him the riot act for being careless with his laundry. When she arrives at his work, the school pool, she forgets about her anger at him when she finds a young college student floating in the pool. When her revival efforts fail, Josie’s new case is never more apparent. How did the university’s top swimmer drown in a pool wearing her street clothes? Josie, Mett, Noah, and Gretchen set out to discover if it was a tragic mistake or if there was something more sinister behind it. Let’s face it, this is a Lisa Regan book, of course, there is something more sinister behind it!
As is always the case with Ms. Regan, every single word matters to the twisting, turning, loop-de-loop mystery that is a Josie Quinn book, and this one is no different. Once again, Josie finds herself in situations that are life and death on a daily basis. First, she must rescue a young girl from a burning house that, if you believe the girls who escaped the fire, their grandfather set. Their grandfather who was a celebrated Denton firefighter. Something was amiss in Denton and it all revolved around a baggie full of brownies, and a sticker that no one could decipher or attribute to anyone.
It’s smart to never count Josie out, though. Even without any leads, she will keep fraying at the end of the rope until that single thread she needs shows itself. In this case, she’s able to use the people closest to her to get the lead she needs. Surprisingly, it comes from her brother Patrick, a Denton University student who has inside knowledge of the things that have gone on there the past few years. I truly enjoyed this part of the book because it was nice to see Josie getting to know Patrick as a sister, and not a cop. She’s listening to him and seeing that he’s a good kid who even when he does bonehead things like turn her shirts pink in the wash, is smart, capable, and this time had the break she needed to find that thread to unravel.
I loved seeing Josie grow and move forward in her personal life in this book. The reader got to see a little bit of her vulnerability when things weren’t going right, both with the case and with Noah. Josie likes to pretend she’s a robot, but in the end, she’s not, and it was nice to see that she’s starting to admit to herself that she needs people around her who love and support her.
Breathe Your Last has such an intricate plot of connections that you won’t guess this one until Ms. Regan starts unraveling it for you page by page. The ending will shock you, and leave your heart pounding until the final page! Well done, Ms. Regan, once again you’ve written a can’t put it down thriller that elevates this series to the likes of Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Karen Slaughter, and James Patterson.
The book opens with Josie dropping Harris off at his new 4-year-old kindergarten class and then heading to her brother’s college to read him the riot act for being careless with his laundry. When she arrives at his work, the school pool, she forgets about her anger at him when she finds a young college student floating in the pool. When her revival efforts fail, Josie’s new case is never more apparent. How did the university’s top swimmer drown in a pool wearing her street clothes? Josie, Mett, Noah, and Gretchen set out to discover if it was a tragic mistake or if there was something more sinister behind it. Let’s face it, this is a Lisa Regan book, of course, there is something more sinister behind it!
As is always the case with Ms. Regan, every single word matters to the twisting, turning, loop-de-loop mystery that is a Josie Quinn book, and this one is no different. Once again, Josie finds herself in situations that are life and death on a daily basis. First, she must rescue a young girl from a burning house that, if you believe the girls who escaped the fire, their grandfather set. Their grandfather who was a celebrated Denton firefighter. Something was amiss in Denton and it all revolved around a baggie full of brownies, and a sticker that no one could decipher or attribute to anyone.
It’s smart to never count Josie out, though. Even without any leads, she will keep fraying at the end of the rope until that single thread she needs shows itself. In this case, she’s able to use the people closest to her to get the lead she needs. Surprisingly, it comes from her brother Patrick, a Denton University student who has inside knowledge of the things that have gone on there the past few years. I truly enjoyed this part of the book because it was nice to see Josie getting to know Patrick as a sister, and not a cop. She’s listening to him and seeing that he’s a good kid who even when he does bonehead things like turn her shirts pink in the wash, is smart, capable, and this time had the break she needed to find that thread to unravel.
I loved seeing Josie grow and move forward in her personal life in this book. The reader got to see a little bit of her vulnerability when things weren’t going right, both with the case and with Noah. Josie likes to pretend she’s a robot, but in the end, she’s not, and it was nice to see that she’s starting to admit to herself that she needs people around her who love and support her.
Breathe Your Last has such an intricate plot of connections that you won’t guess this one until Ms. Regan starts unraveling it for you page by page. The ending will shock you, and leave your heart pounding until the final page! Well done, Ms. Regan, once again you’ve written a can’t put it down thriller that elevates this series to the likes of Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Karen Slaughter, and James Patterson.
December 6, 2020
Breathe Your Last by Lisa Regan is the tenth in the Detective Josie Quinn series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Once Acting Chief of Police, Josie Quinn is now doing what she is best suited for. She’s back to being a detective and happy. Her team consists of Detective Noah Fraley (who she is dating), Detective Gretchen Palmer, and Detective Finn Mettner. Their boss is Chief Bob Chitwood. She is learning to love her new-found family, including news reporter Trinity Payne, as well as her brother Patrick, but it is keeping her busy.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
While dropping off a t-shirt at the college for Patrick, Josie finds dead body of the school's best swimmer, face-down in the pool, still clothed.
No one believes that Nysa Somers would have committed suicide, and an accident seems unlikely. Trying to trace the final hours up to the young girls death, they finally find her back-pack in a wooded area. There is an almost empty baggy inside it with a strange sticker on it. Her phone revealed nothing except a calendar entry for that morning saying "time to be a mermaid".
When a housefire nearly destroys the home of a retired fireman, things get stranger. Although he survived he can't talk. However, his grandchildren say he was telling them it was "time to be a match", and that the fireman himself lit the house on fire.
There seems to be a connection, but Josie isn't sure what it is, but when a fellow policeman puts his own life in danger, Josie knows they have to stop this madness soon.
Meanwhile, Noah and Josie are so busy, they are spending little time together.
My Opinions:
This was a great addition to the series. The plot was good and set a fast pace, and the book was action-packed.
Although I am not a romance reader, I don't mind the relationship between Josie and Noah. It feels normal. They have issues, but they work them out, and Josie is learning to express her needs. They fear for the others safety, and Noah is correct that Josie continues to throw herself into dangerous situations without any thought, but I think that may change.
I like most of the characters. Sawyer Hayes, who was introduced in the last book appeared again, but the situation is still not stable. Something will have to happen to bring the two together, but I'm not sure what.
Again, I recommend reading the books in order, because the characters have grown so much since the early days.
I am definitely looking forward to the next in the series.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 8, 2020
Breathe Your Last is the tenth instalment in the Detective Josie Quinn series, set in and around the city of Denton, Pennsylvania. It begins with a chilling prologue providing an insight into the twisted killer’s glee at seeing his victims’ families distraught, as he awaits the news of the passing of the bright young woman he left for dead. Meanwhile, Josie is driving friend Misty and her four-year-old son, Harris, complete with his green dinosaur backpack, to Tiny Tykes Gardens and Pre-K Daycare centre for his first day and both of the women are really nervous. Josie then returns home and must run an errand for her younger brother Patrick who is currently a sophomore at Denton University. She had been helping him with his laundry and had a mishap and now every item of clothing he owned was tinged pink. Needing his work shirt for his job as a towel assistant at the swimming pool on campus, Josie visits him only to discover the fully-clothed body of elite swimming starlet, Nysa Summers, floating lifelessly face down in the water. But how exactly does a strong swimmer drown accidentally? Elsewhere, a devastating house fire guts the home of a retired firefighter, who survives but only just.
What is the connection between two cases where both victims were killed/injured in a fashion they knew so much about? This is a captivating, convoluted and exciting police procedural with one of the most immoral and hateworthy characters I've encountered recently in the disgusting narcissistic and disturbed serial killer, who I came to despise. I am always a fan of strong female protagonists so to be treated to the great dynamic between the kickass, fierce Josie and her amazing team was a real treat. It is mainly told from Josie’s perspective making the narrative straightforward and therefore much more immersive, although there are intermittent chapters from the unidentified killer’s point of view which act as a window into his warped mindset. Regan makes excellent use of twists, turns and misdirection throughout bringing some surprises to the narrative and the whole thing moves at a pretty brisk pace. It's a refreshingly original thriller with plenty of intrigue surrounding the mind of the psychopath who seemingly wants revenge at any cost and who takes enormous pleasure in other people's misery—usually the misery he himself has caused. An entertaining and compulsive, clever and engrossing read, which is a nailbiting page-turner from the get-go. Highly recommended.
What is the connection between two cases where both victims were killed/injured in a fashion they knew so much about? This is a captivating, convoluted and exciting police procedural with one of the most immoral and hateworthy characters I've encountered recently in the disgusting narcissistic and disturbed serial killer, who I came to despise. I am always a fan of strong female protagonists so to be treated to the great dynamic between the kickass, fierce Josie and her amazing team was a real treat. It is mainly told from Josie’s perspective making the narrative straightforward and therefore much more immersive, although there are intermittent chapters from the unidentified killer’s point of view which act as a window into his warped mindset. Regan makes excellent use of twists, turns and misdirection throughout bringing some surprises to the narrative and the whole thing moves at a pretty brisk pace. It's a refreshingly original thriller with plenty of intrigue surrounding the mind of the psychopath who seemingly wants revenge at any cost and who takes enormous pleasure in other people's misery—usually the misery he himself has caused. An entertaining and compulsive, clever and engrossing read, which is a nailbiting page-turner from the get-go. Highly recommended.
April 9, 2021
Book 10 of the Josie Quinn series
This has to be my favourite so far, mainly due to the situations Josie finds herself in. Honestly how many near death experiences have in 5 years!
Breathe your last centres around a college swimmer how is found floating in the collage pool. She is a top swimmer and it seems unlikely that she would drown. Once her bag is recovered there is evidence that drugs may had been involved but trying to find out what drugs causes alot of problems. Along the investigation more strange things start happening to people in the city. As usual Josie and her team are on the case but Noah seems somewhat distracted and it appears he is lying to Josie but what about?
If you have got to book 10 you know as well as me how great each character is. I still wish we got a more broader view and didn't only follow Josie but I understand why we do. Over the series Josie has changed and grown so much its a testament to great writing.
I did miss the gran in this one Lucette, she is always entertaining aswell as Trinty how is very fleeting in this book. But Gretchen is as always a great character to have along side Josie.
The chief who is always angry has some nice moments in this book and is fastly becoming one of my favourite characters.
I suppose my only critic regarding this book and to be honest all the books later on in the series is we get alot of the same information. We know the morgue is the quietest part of the hospital we even know the hall leading up isn't white anymore due to the years of no upkeep, we know about Dan and his wife and we know about Mitsy and Harris. I understand that Regan is likely adding these details so the books can be read as stand alone books if someone (like I did) doesn't start on book 1. However after reading 10 our of the 11 books in the series I'm a bit like yes yes i get it! But this is a minimal issue and not specific to only this book.
I loved the storyline. The idea that a drug which shows no side effects is somehow causing people to do things they wouldn't normally do. I was so intrigued to find out the logistics I stopped trying to work out the murderer for majority of the book. I did guess currently but I found this whole storyline fascinating and totally unexpected.
It would be interesting if one book gets left open without then solving a case and let that trickle into a few books following, but ofcourse I know that normally isn't how these books go. Josje is so great to follow and although she needs to sort out her trauma I love reading how her mind works. Seeing things others miss.
There are two halirious parts one involving a Pizza and the other a Cheesecake.
As usual I would recommend this book. I highly suggest starting from book 1 so you get the foundation for the next book. For example a drunk driver case from the last book was mentioned in this one, I remember because I only finished that one yesterday but still it seemed out of place in that book and now I know why.
As this was my favourite so far in the series I give this 5+ Stars 🌟.
Book 11 it's hush little girl and currently available for pre order.
This has to be my favourite so far, mainly due to the situations Josie finds herself in. Honestly how many near death experiences have in 5 years!
Breathe your last centres around a college swimmer how is found floating in the collage pool. She is a top swimmer and it seems unlikely that she would drown. Once her bag is recovered there is evidence that drugs may had been involved but trying to find out what drugs causes alot of problems. Along the investigation more strange things start happening to people in the city. As usual Josie and her team are on the case but Noah seems somewhat distracted and it appears he is lying to Josie but what about?
If you have got to book 10 you know as well as me how great each character is. I still wish we got a more broader view and didn't only follow Josie but I understand why we do. Over the series Josie has changed and grown so much its a testament to great writing.
I did miss the gran in this one Lucette, she is always entertaining aswell as Trinty how is very fleeting in this book. But Gretchen is as always a great character to have along side Josie.
The chief who is always angry has some nice moments in this book and is fastly becoming one of my favourite characters.
I suppose my only critic regarding this book and to be honest all the books later on in the series is we get alot of the same information. We know the morgue is the quietest part of the hospital we even know the hall leading up isn't white anymore due to the years of no upkeep, we know about Dan and his wife and we know about Mitsy and Harris. I understand that Regan is likely adding these details so the books can be read as stand alone books if someone (like I did) doesn't start on book 1. However after reading 10 our of the 11 books in the series I'm a bit like yes yes i get it! But this is a minimal issue and not specific to only this book.
I loved the storyline. The idea that a drug which shows no side effects is somehow causing people to do things they wouldn't normally do. I was so intrigued to find out the logistics I stopped trying to work out the murderer for majority of the book. I did guess currently but I found this whole storyline fascinating and totally unexpected.
It would be interesting if one book gets left open without then solving a case and let that trickle into a few books following, but ofcourse I know that normally isn't how these books go. Josje is so great to follow and although she needs to sort out her trauma I love reading how her mind works. Seeing things others miss.
There are two halirious parts one involving a Pizza and the other a Cheesecake.
As usual I would recommend this book. I highly suggest starting from book 1 so you get the foundation for the next book. For example a drunk driver case from the last book was mentioned in this one, I remember because I only finished that one yesterday but still it seemed out of place in that book and now I know why.
As this was my favourite so far in the series I give this 5+ Stars 🌟.
Book 11 it's hush little girl and currently available for pre order.
December 8, 2020
Author Lisa Regan had the tenth book out, how could I not read it? Detective Josie Quinn had great instincts in the past 9 books, and in this too, they were ramping up as the stakes heightened with each death.
A champion swimmer was found floating in the swimming pool with a strange symbol and a note – Be the mermaid. A firefighter’s house was set alit with the same symbol and a note – Be the match. An abandoned backpack had the food wrappers in it. Josie saw connections where the rest could not. The Lone Ranger got to investigating in her own way.
Quite a bizarre case was this where it called upon their collective hard work to crack it. There was friction with alternate viewpoints, but Josie managed to overcome the hurdles. Filled with action and intelligent scenes, I found the book to be a fast read. There were moments where I was completely immersed in the plotline.
Amongst all the police procedurals I’d read, Lisa Quinn wrote the friendliest one where I could understand the dynamics of the team even when I didn’t remember what had happened in the last case. Reading the rest of the books was not needed, but fear not, the entire series is quite addictive. I went back to read the books I had missed.
With the dual POV of Josie and the killer, the story held on to its suspense and intrigue as I flew through the pages. Emotions were heightened, and romance was interspersed in the prose. Twists were the norm, and the author kindly provided a wrenching one at the end. The characters were developed well, and the author kept the camaraderie going. I loved how they supported Josie.
Quite a compelling crime thriller where the dose of realism in the cops’ lives worked well with the twisted thoughts of the killer.
A champion swimmer was found floating in the swimming pool with a strange symbol and a note – Be the mermaid. A firefighter’s house was set alit with the same symbol and a note – Be the match. An abandoned backpack had the food wrappers in it. Josie saw connections where the rest could not. The Lone Ranger got to investigating in her own way.
Quite a bizarre case was this where it called upon their collective hard work to crack it. There was friction with alternate viewpoints, but Josie managed to overcome the hurdles. Filled with action and intelligent scenes, I found the book to be a fast read. There were moments where I was completely immersed in the plotline.
Amongst all the police procedurals I’d read, Lisa Quinn wrote the friendliest one where I could understand the dynamics of the team even when I didn’t remember what had happened in the last case. Reading the rest of the books was not needed, but fear not, the entire series is quite addictive. I went back to read the books I had missed.
With the dual POV of Josie and the killer, the story held on to its suspense and intrigue as I flew through the pages. Emotions were heightened, and romance was interspersed in the prose. Twists were the norm, and the author kindly provided a wrenching one at the end. The characters were developed well, and the author kept the camaraderie going. I loved how they supported Josie.
Quite a compelling crime thriller where the dose of realism in the cops’ lives worked well with the twisted thoughts of the killer.
December 25, 2020
Oh my goodness! I was a wreck! Absolutely fabulous! I was late to the series and was very fortunate to be able to read the whole series back-to-back. What an amazing reading experience that has been. Now, I have to wait for the next book. Bummer! But, I know it will be so worth the wait. I can't wait to spend more time with Josie, Noah, Gretchen, Mett, Trinity, Drake and the rest of the Josie Quinn gang. 😁
February 13, 2021
Detective Josie Quinn is one of my favorite detectives, so I was delighted to read this new installment for Netgalley. I was not at all disappointed, since I was engrossed in the story from the beginning. An insidious killer seems to be using some kind of mind-altering drug to get people to do the unexpected, dying in the most unusual and personal circumstances. When a champion swimmer drowns, Josie is invested in finding the killer since she was on the scene and tried desperately to rescue Nysa. The killer is coldly planning one kill after another and Josie seems to be one step behind him. Her live-in partner, Noah, has distanced himself from Josie and is not responding to her calls or her desire to talk things out. With a killer on the loose, Josie doesn’t have time to worry about what is going on with Noah, but that is definitely an undercurrent and an intriguing sub-plot in the story. I enjoyed how Josie unraveled the clues and followed them doggedly to a satisfactory and heart-rending conclusion. Fans of Josie Quinn will not want to miss this one!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
November 19, 2020
The 10th book in the Josie Quinn series and it is just as incredible as the rest, in fact I think this one is one of my favourites.
The case in this one that Josie is investigating was brilliant. At one point I was like, wait is this really happening? It’s so different and not what I would have ever thought of so I was absolutely hooked from the start, I did not want to stop reading until I know exactly what was going on, and even when we found out, and the case seemed to be coming to an end, more drama, more twists and i loved it.
There’s something huge happens in this one, that shocked me so much, you’ll know exactly what I mean if you have read it. I have never read that fast before. If my floor gave away beneath me, I wouldn’t have known. I couldn’t stop reading. It was brilliant!
As always. 5 stars for this one. Cannot wait for the next one!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for me e-arc copy to review.
The case in this one that Josie is investigating was brilliant. At one point I was like, wait is this really happening? It’s so different and not what I would have ever thought of so I was absolutely hooked from the start, I did not want to stop reading until I know exactly what was going on, and even when we found out, and the case seemed to be coming to an end, more drama, more twists and i loved it.
There’s something huge happens in this one, that shocked me so much, you’ll know exactly what I mean if you have read it. I have never read that fast before. If my floor gave away beneath me, I wouldn’t have known. I couldn’t stop reading. It was brilliant!
As always. 5 stars for this one. Cannot wait for the next one!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for me e-arc copy to review.
January 5, 2021
Detective Josie Quinn and her team are charged to investigate a series of non-explainable deaths. A champion swimmer is found face down in a pool. A retired fireman is almost killed when his house is caught on fire. Both cases are the same ... cameras everywhere show that no one entered or left after these tragic happenstances.
Quinn will find herself looking for a serial killer ... the likes she has never seen before. As the body count rises, it’s only Josie who can see the deadly pattern forming.
It gets real personal when the killer eyes his next victim .... Josie.
This series has been exciting, riveting, and this latest addition has upped the non-stop action and page-turning suspense. The characters are solidly defined and the blend of personal with the professional lends another layer of credibility. The ending is breath-takingly unexpected. I am so looking forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Quinn will find herself looking for a serial killer ... the likes she has never seen before. As the body count rises, it’s only Josie who can see the deadly pattern forming.
It gets real personal when the killer eyes his next victim .... Josie.
This series has been exciting, riveting, and this latest addition has upped the non-stop action and page-turning suspense. The characters are solidly defined and the blend of personal with the professional lends another layer of credibility. The ending is breath-takingly unexpected. I am so looking forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 4, 2020
Lisa Regan does it again! Wow! Great story. There was one moment where I completely froze in shock.
In each book, you see Josie change and grow as a cop, a person, a friend ,,, What I loved most about this latest Josie Quinn, is you really get to see Josie fight her feelings and her fears. You not only see the change, but you feel it. Great character arc!
Can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for this eARC.
In each book, you see Josie change and grow as a cop, a person, a friend ,,, What I loved most about this latest Josie Quinn, is you really get to see Josie fight her feelings and her fears. You not only see the change, but you feel it. Great character arc!
Can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for this eARC.
October 30, 2020
Wow this book had a moment that's almost heart attack inducing. The murders/killer aspect of the story is creative. Josie has come a long way and is finally acknowledges that she has a rather large family now both by blood and friendships. She is tenacious when on a case and stops at nothing until solves the case even if that puts her life in danger. Another great addition to the series and cant wait to see what's next.
November 3, 2020
Josie calls to meet her brother on campus and in doing so comes across the body of a young girl floating in the swimming pool. How can a prize winning swimmer die by drowning? A few days later a fire engulfs a house and Josie rescues a grandfather and two young girls. How can a respected firefighter be suspected of setting fire to his own house? What is the connection between these cases?
Lisa Regan gives us another tension filled book. Josie and all the gang are back and working hard to catch a strange killer. But is there a killer? How are they killing these people?
I look forward to every new book from Lisa Regan and this one is no exception. The downside is I have to wait a long time for the next one!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Lisa Regan for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Lisa Regan gives us another tension filled book. Josie and all the gang are back and working hard to catch a strange killer. But is there a killer? How are they killing these people?
I look forward to every new book from Lisa Regan and this one is no exception. The downside is I have to wait a long time for the next one!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Lisa Regan for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 11, 2020
Josie and Noah are back again! Book #10 in the Josie Quinn series is still a great series even book #10!! This book has you captivated from the first pages with the death of a young college girl who is the town's best swimmer on the swimming team that dies from drowning? It's up to Josie and her team to figure out how this strong swimmer could possibly die this way or is it somehow murder? I was completely blind sided when I got to the end and found out who was slowly killing members of the town. After 10 books you get so invested in the characters of the book that you can't help but want more and more! One of my favorite series of all time. Love the writing, the characters and that every book is so different. Definitely recommend this series and this book . I know you will love it as much as I do!!!!
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