The Last Victim (Dr. Charlotte Stone #1)

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The Last Victim (Dr. Charlotte Stone #1)

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 · rating details · 1,498 ratings · 405 reviews

Dr. Charlotte Stone sees what others do not.

A sought-after expert in criminal pathology, Charlie regularly sits face-to-face with madmen. Obsessed with learning what makes human monsters commit terrible crimes, Charlie desires little else from life—no doubt because when she was sixteen, she herself survived a serial killer’s bloodbath: A man butchered the family of Charl...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published August 7th 2012 by Ballantine Books (first published August 1st 2012)

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Nov 05, 2012 Miki rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: never-read-again

This book was sick, and I mean that in the worst possible sense of the word. Supposedly a romantic thriller, the romance comes from the sexual attraction between the lead character and the ghost of a serial killer. Yep, that's right...the lead character - a criminal psychologist, no less! - has an out-of-body affair with the ghost of a man who murdered women.

I couldn't finish it. The storyline was so overwhelmingly disturbing and unpleasant that I stopped reading after about 2 chapters. I skimm...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* rated it 2 of 5 stars

Wont continue this series.(Tried to read again.)

Did one of my favorite romantic suspense authors really write this??
The author takes a walk on the ghostly side with this weird paranormal thriller. A police proceural crossed with a ghost story,and a hunt for a serial killer that is rather creepy in many ways.
SUMMARY:
When she was a teen,Dr. Charlotte Stone was the only survivor of the Boardwalk Killer. It was that event that caused Charlie to become a leading expert in serial killers. One day,whil...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Nicole rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, read-in-2012, review, rom-suspense

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/08/13/...

I was looking forward to trying Robards, because so many people talked up just how wonderful her romantic suspense books are. I was a little hesitant because this was a new paranormal series, but I like paranormal as well, so I figured all would work out. Yeah, not so much.

Charlie has dedicated her life to studying serial killers after the traumatic event of her childhood. The last thing she ever expected was to be tapped by...more Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/08/13/...

I was looking forward to trying Robards, because so many people talked up just how wonderful her romantic suspense books are. I was a little hesitant because this was a new paranormal series, but I like paranormal as well, so I figured all would work out. Yeah, not so much.

Charlie has dedicated her life to studying serial killers after the traumatic event of her childhood. The last thing she ever expected was to be tapped by the FBI to act as a consultant on the case that is looking to be more and more like the serial killer from her past. Charlie doesn’t want to go, but the FBI convinces her it’s best. So with her FBI protection detail and shaky nerves Charlie goes off to help the case.

But the FBI doesn’t know about Charlie’s gift/curse of seeing people right after they die a horrific death. While it helps with finding and tracking down murderers, Charlie has a slight problem, one of the serial killers, Michael Garland, she was profiling in prison has attached himself to her and is actively haunting her. Garland refuses to be ignored, but is also willing to help her out in any way he can. With her gift, Garland’s help and the FBI team, they just might be able to solve this case before Charlie becomes the next victim.

I will admit that I liked the overall premise of the book. I liked that Charlie could see ghosts, interact with them, etc. I liked the serial killer case, it was creepy and scary and all around suspenseful. However, the romance in this book was horrible. I didn’t like it at all. Charlie had a few shared kisses with sexy and understanding FBI agent Tony, but the real romance of this story was between Charlie and Garland, the man she had been profiling as a serial killer for who knows how long. That is creepy, and gross, and creepy, and gross!!

The romance between these two was uncomfortable for me to read. Charlie never really seemed to think, at any time, that Garland WASN’T a serial killer. She even had to remind herself time and time again that he killer numerous women, that he was a stone-cold killer. Then she would turn around in her own ghost form (while astral projecting) and get down and dirty with the guy. I can’t count the number of times my eyes popped out of my head and I screamed at her: “HE’S A SERIAL KILLER! WTF??”

Even though the case with the killer was intriguing, I couldn’t get over the romance. I tried to get past it, tried to ignore the whole sleeping with a serial-killer aspect, but I just couldn’t. The direction that Robards chose to go with the romance clouded the rest of what could have been a stellar series. I can honestly say I probably won’t be picking up any of her books in this series in the future.

All in all this story was lost on me. While I think this could have been a solid story: it had an interesting premise and world and an intense and unique serial killer case that kept me guessing until the very end, the romance was so poorly done IMO, it ruined everyone else. I don’t know that anything other than a move away from the romance between Charlie and Garland could have made this book better for me.
I give The Last Victim a D-(less)

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Aug 11, 2012 Clarry added it

Shelves: firstreads-giveaway-wins

Reading an advanced copy from a first-reads giveaway.

Editing notes: Pg 27 (spelling error), 74 (weird paragraph break), 77 (paragraph break), 160 (change between third/first person narration), 215 (sp), 218 (space needed between words), 314 (paragraph break), 317 (missing period).

I love the goodreads giveaways and the fact that they give me a chance to read different genres that I may not otherwise seek out to read. I do not wish to rate this book since I am not personally enjoying it, and don...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Denise McDonald rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 02, 2012 Cassandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, sn, 2012

Won an advance reader copy in goodreads giveaways! Will hopefully start reading it as soon as I get it, but that depends none when I get it.

Wow. I love this book. Give me a moment and I might manage to write a useful review.

I was drawn into this book from the start, a little confused since Charlie was 15 in that first chapter. That chapter sets up the main plot of the story. I hate to say this, but a female studying serial killers has to be a bad idea. I know that's sexist, but I wouldn't want...more Won an advance reader copy in goodreads giveaways! Will hopefully start reading it as soon as I get it, but that depends none when I get it.

Wow. I love this book. Give me a moment and I might manage to write a useful review.

I was drawn into this book from the start, a little confused since Charlie was 15 in that first chapter. That chapter sets up the main plot of the story. I hate to say this, but a female studying serial killers has to be a bad idea. I know that's sexist, but I wouldn't want to study serial killers. Interesting or not, it would freak me out too much.

I have to remember to read the summaries better. I wasn't expecting her be able to see spirits/ghosts. It's clearly stated in the summery, but I didn't read that far down!

This book is part mystery part supernatural. The end is kind of open ended, I'm wondering if there's going to be a sequel? I liked the char in this book, Charlie most of all. I also liked Garland, which might be a bad thing to admit. I know claiming that you didn't really do it is a common thing among people in prisons, but I wonder if he wasn't telling the truth. (view spoiler)

I'm not really sure I liked Tony that much. I know Charlie liked him (view spoiler) I disliked Kaminsky, which is clear bias on my part. Insulting psychiatry is insulting psychology!

The plot was both subtle and surprising. In most mysteries you have some idea of who it might have been. In this one, most of the book is them hoping to save the girl (do they? I won't say!) And the end of the book is sudden and open ended. (view spoiler) I both hated and loved said open ending.(less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Wynn rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointing, families-crimes-against, ghosts-stupid-ones, narrator-ann-marie-lee, never-again, state-of-north-carolina, serial-killers, series-part-of, fbi, worst-book-ever

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I’m angry over this one. When does a convicted serial killer become a romantic lead? How can the highly educated main character, Dr. Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Stone, even think of having a romantic relationship with convicted serial killer, Michael Garland? She studies these killers for a living. If she studies them, wouldn’t she have access to horrific and graphic crime scene photos? Wouldn’t she have access to Garland’s arrest reports and trial transcripts so she could study his behavior? Plus, Char...more I’m angry over this one. When does a convicted serial killer become a romantic lead? How can the highly educated main character, Dr. Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Stone, even think of having a romantic relationship with convicted serial killer, Michael Garland? She studies these killers for a living. If she studies them, wouldn’t she have access to horrific and graphic crime scene photos? Wouldn’t she have access to Garland’s arrest reports and trial transcripts so she could study his behavior? Plus, Charlie escaped a serial killer as a teenager and now as an adult she wants to be with one romantically? When Garland is murdered in prison, his ghost attaches to Charlie. He harasses her in “spirit”, watches her in private moments, and is generally crude in behavior and language. (Also not romantic). The real romance should have been with the hunky FBI agent, Tony Bartoli. She was attracted to him and he was attracted to her, but she wanted Garland more. I was so disturbed by Charlie’s lust for Garland; I couldn’t stay focused on the murder investigations. Some readers have stated that they didn’t believe Garland was really guilty of murdering women or since he was protective of Charlie he’s a good guy. Even if there is some bizarre twist and he was wrongly convicted, the reader and Charlie are never made aware of it. From the beginning of the book to the end, Garland was to my knowledge a serial killer. I can’t image a twist that would turn him into a good guy. Was he an undercover agent sitting on DEATH ROW investigating the prison system or another crime? Was he set up by his evil identical DNA sharing twin brother? Was he a law student investigating how juries convict innocent men even with DNA evidence?

At times it’s even sillier as Charlie refers to Garland as “Casper” and talks of his return to “spookville”. I realize readers must participate in the suspension of disbelief, but I can only go so far. Sorry, I’ll pass on this absurd series.(less)

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Aug 24, 2012 Alexa marked it as didnt-finish

Recommended to Alexa by: Goodreads First Reads winner

Shelves: adult, first-reads, arc, gave-away

Hmm... I'm not sure when I'm going to finish this book. I think I stopped at chapter two or three. It was pretty intriguing, but the font size was a turn off. I actually skimmed the ending and was shocked by the romance. I don't even understand how those two ended up in a relationship...or whatever the heck that was. o_O Apparently this is going to be a series. It does make me wonder how the romance is going to turn out, so maybe I'll finish this one day...

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Feb 12, 2013 Lynsey A marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: library-book, romantic-suspense, paranormal-romance, coming-2012, ghost

OK. Skeevy doesn't even begin to describe this book. It's not the first time I've read a book where the hero is a ghost but when said ghost is a serial killer....well just not for me.

Now in all honesty I didn't get too far but the way the story was going it made me uneasy so I read some reviews and then skimmed thru. The ending was kind of open ended and I want my HEA and not with a ghost who is a supposed serial killer.

Normally I like her romantic suspense books but this was too much for me.

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May 30, 2013 Robin Brennan rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is a favorite author, but this book did not make the cut or perhaps I’m not into ghostly serial killers. Think it’s more the whole package. Found the idea of the heroine being romantically involved with a serial killer ghost repulsive. That he is supposed to be hot, blond, good looking etc. is beside the point. The ghost begins the book as a prisoner whom the heroine, Charlie, is researching for a better understanding of serial killers. Charlie is a doctor, an expert in criminal pathology a...more

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May 24, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fifteen years ago , Charlotte aka Charlie was at a friends house when someone broke in and killed her friends entire family. Somehow by a miracle Charlie escaped and now fifteen years later she is working for the Justice Department as a Psychologist. Whilst working at the hospital with a serial killer , he is stabbed and dies - normally once they die that is it but not for Charlie Stone as she has the ability to see ghosts and knows things that others can or never will know or understand. Now C...more

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May 22, 2013 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished

Dr. Charlotte Stone (aka Charlie) became an expert on serial killers because she survived the serial killing of her friend and that friend's family by "The Boardwalk Killer," so named because his young victims were always found in the vicinity of a boardwalk in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Coincidentally, she also sees the spirits of the newly departed who have been victims of a violent death. Her work involves the research of serial killers at the prison near where she lives. And the man sh...more

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May 13, 2013 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 2 of 5 stars

A Doctor, an FBI agent and the ghost of a serial killer try to solve a case -- does this sound like the start of a bad joke? No, it is not really a joke, but the book itself will be a little difficult for some to swallow and the premise teeters on the knife-edge of being jokish.

I grant you that ghosts are now becoming the in thing to write about but in this case I think the author takes it one little step too far. Charlie (the criminal pathologist) is interviewing a hottie serial killer when ano...more

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May 09, 2013 Bookmom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dr Charlotte Stone is a psychiatrist and the leading expert on serial killers. She got into this field after being the only survivor of the Boardwalk Killer fifteen years ago. She’s absolutely horrified when the FBI need her help. It seems the Boardwalk Killer, or a copycat is active again and there’s a race against time to find a missing teen.

Due to past experience, she can’t share with anyone that she sees and interacts with ghosts of victims of violent deaths. And unfortunately, being around...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Isis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: advanced-readers-copy, free, mystery-and-or-fantasy, horror, romance

I was lucky enough to receive a free copy if this in exchange for an honest review, and happily I can give a solidly positive review. This book takes the somewhat overused concept of the spunky female excelling in the male dominated field of criminal pathology.

Dr. Charlotte Stone, known as Charlie to friends and co-workers, elected to take a terrible trauma from her youth and turn it into a dazzling career. Charlie is the only living witness of a serial killer's spree, but that was years ago and...more I was lucky enough to receive a free copy if this in exchange for an honest review, and happily I can give a solidly positive review. This book takes the somewhat overused concept of the spunky female excelling in the male dominated field of criminal pathology.

Dr. Charlotte Stone, known as Charlie to friends and co-workers, elected to take a terrible trauma from her youth and turn it into a dazzling career. Charlie is the only living witness of a serial killer's spree, but that was years ago and she likes to think she has made as much peace with surviving as she ever will.

While in a local prison interviewing accused & convicted serial killer Michael Garland - her's was never caught and could still be out there - Charlie is pulled away from her interview by some FBI agents. At the moment she gets pulled away from her subject something terrible happens, but the hardest part is that she can't tell anyone the worst part of the experience. She simply has to live with it and do her best to ignore it while she tries to help local law enforcement & the FBI team that dragged her into this mess.

It seems that either the serial killer that she escaped has returned to his games, or there is a sick copycat killer out there. Many think Charlie is their best shot at getting the most recently abducted teenage girl back before it is too late.

Ms. Robards has taken a tried and true formula and made it her own. The characters have interesting layers and uncharted depths to be plumbed in future books. Charlie's personal quirk can possibly help her save the young girl's life, but at what cost to Charlie? Not only is she wrestling with her own demons from her past, but she is also wrestling with a big secret - a very opinionated secret at that!

This book has a well developed story arc, or more like two parallel arcs, and clever plot devices that help make it stand out from the run of the mill police procedurals. It is fun working the case with the team and watching as Charlie learns to starting taking what she wants from life, consequences be damned. Watching Charlie wrestle with her emotions regarding her own personal antagonist-protagonist is a real treat, and I look forward to seeing where things go in the next book.(less)

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Apr 17, 2013 Amber rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts-and-ghoulies, mystery, paranormal

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 15, 2013 Lita Bouquard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I so enjoyed this book. Others have written a thorough review- this is not. I miss when Karen Robards wrote thrillers that were funny. There are so many talented authors who write suspense/mystery books but very few with the ability to do it and make me laugh as her past novels have done- for example -Walking after Midnight, or Whispers at Midnight.

Spoiler
That said, there are a few quirky- smile inducing (not funny) moments in the story of an "I see dead people" psychiatrist who researches ser...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Suspense Magazine added it

This paranormal romantic thriller—emphasis on the romance—is the first of a new series featuring Dr. Charlotte (Charlie) Stone. She’s a serial killer expert with a personal tie to serial killers and an extra ability she wishes she didn’t have.

Fifteen years ago, when she was teenager, she survived one of the attacks of a killer who murdered three entire families in their homes. The killer was never caught, and left Charlie traumatized for years. The killer slaughtered the families and abducted th...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Sand rated it 3 of 5 stars

The conclusion of this one wasn't at all conclusive.

I've liked almost every Karen Robards book I've ever read. This one falls short in many areas. It's definitely exciting, the action is constant, the pacing is fast, the solution to the crime is satisfying. The romance angle............... whew.

I can accept the fact that the lead character, Dr. Charlotte Stone, is becoming increasingly doubtful as to the guilt of the serial killer whose ghost is haunting her, though that is mostly on a subconsc...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Regan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book. As a psychic medium, and someone who studied criminal psychology/forensics in college in hopes to become a profiler who used her gifts, I really related to the main character in this book. She was awesome. I really enjoyed the humor between her and her spirit attachment "Garland." I know there is a lot of talk amongst those who have reviewed the book regarding the main character's love interest with a "serial killer" spirit. I wasn't bothered by it for a coupl...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Marilyn Rondeau rated it 5 of 5 stars

Charlotte (Charlie) Stone is a survivor. The only witness to an infamous Boardwalk serial killer’s bloody massacre of her friends family. That was twenty years ago, and now Charlie is a famous and sought-after expert in criminal pathology who sits face-to-face with madmen. Charlie has made it her life’s work to learn what makes a human being turn into a monstrous animal like killing machine. The Boardwalk killer was never found, possibly went under ground because of Charlie’s witnessing his crim...more Charlotte (Charlie) Stone is a survivor. The only witness to an infamous Boardwalk serial killer’s bloody massacre of her friends family. That was twenty years ago, and now Charlie is a famous and sought-after expert in criminal pathology who sits face-to-face with madmen. Charlie has made it her life’s work to learn what makes a human being turn into a monstrous animal like killing machine. The Boardwalk killer was never found, possibly went under ground because of Charlie’s witnessing his crime. Now, either the Boardwalk killer or a copycat has resurfaced and the FBI has come to Charlie for help. Only Charlie really wants no part of visiting murder scenes, mainly because the souls/spirits of the newly murdered victims aren’t really gone - Charlie sees them.

*** Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! I was immediately ensnared with THE LAST VICTIM from the very first pages. A serial killer resurfaces after twenty years, or is he a copy cat? Our heroine Charlie sees dead people, and some of them even talk to her. Wow, I mean THE LAST VICTIM was in a word - Amazing!

Charlie was just trying to carry on with her life the best she could. Working with inmates in a high security prison the reader is introduced to Michael Garland serving time as a bad-ass serial killer, who just happens to be drop dead gorgeous (think Ted Bundy) charming serial killer. As it turns out, Garland is knifed in prison and try as she might to save him, he dies as Charlie did her best to save him. Only, a day later he comes back asking her to help him figure out what’s going on. This is where the story, which I thought was going to be a serious suspense action takes a turn at some very humorous antics when Garland keeps popping up at the most inopportune times and Charlie is flustered, being seen to be either talking/arguing at air all the while she is trying to help to track down the newest serial killer.

By Ms. Robards tossing in some cleverly created FBI agents including a possible love interest for Charlie, a Gung Ho female agent trying to act tough, and a variety of other ghostly sightings that Charlie can’t confess to seeing (Or she’d be shipped off to a looney bin), the pace is fast and furious. Add to that the clues and the seriousness of trying to prevent another teenage girl from being murdered and tossed under the boardwalk, you have a completely thrilling ride.

Now give it a ( never saw it coming) twist at the end, coupled with the ghostly spirit of Garland complete with Charlie’s flustered and sensual interactions, THE LAST VICTIM is a book to sit up and take notice. AND, if there are sequels planned for Charlie and Garland’s ghost waiting in the future - I for one cannot wait! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!
(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Marlene rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally published at Reading Reality

The Last Victim is one of those books that didn't know what it wanted to be when it grew up. Maybe got finished would be the better way of putting that. Even after writing a dual review with Lea over at Book Lovers Inc. I still can't get this one out of my head (not in a good way) so I'm taking another stab at it. Or stabbing it again.

It starts out as a mystery/suspense/thriller with a paranormal twist. Charlie Stone is the only survivor of a brutal serial...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Judy Goodnight rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fbi-agent, thriller, paranormal-romance

Synopsis of the book widely available elsewhere.

I usually love Karen Robards' books so I read through the whole book and was left with quite a lot of disappointment. The serial killer storylines, i.e., the first killer whose attack Charlotte (Charlie) Stone survived and the second series of killings 15 years later, were compelling. Is it the same killer, is it a copycat? The revelation of the truth caught me by surprise & I'm not sure I totally buy it, but be that as it may.

What really threw...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

In one exciting opening, The Last Victim begins with a teen age party gone awry. ‘Way awry as the entire family is murdered with the exception of Charlie (Charlotte) Stone, a friend who happened to be hurling in the bathroom at the time. She saw the killer, she remembers him and she went to college, then med school to explore how to put people like him behind bars.
Gaining a Federal grant is next to impossible but Charlie does and is the middle of studying serial killer in prison when the Fibbies...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dr. Charlotte “Charlie” Stone is a serial killer expert. Currently Dr. Stone is working at Ridge State Prison. Dr. Stone’s current patient is inmate Michael Allen Garland. Charlotte is interrupted by the appearance of the FBI. They want Charlotte’s help. It seems that the “Boardwalk Killer” has returned. This is important for Charlie because she survived the “Boardwalk Killer” when she was a teen.

An alarm sounds in the prison. Garland has been murdered. Charlie agrees to help the FBI. Garland’s...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received this book through goodreads first reads. I was doubly excited to receive it because i am a big Karen Robards fan. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book that i have read of hers, thus far.
However, i was bit worried as to how I would enjoy this book. The book has an added paranormal element to it, unlike the rest of her romantic suspense books. The paranormal realm doesn't bug me at all, but what really threw me off was the fact that the main character, charlie, falls somewhat in love w...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Carl Brookins rated it 4 of 5 stars

This first novel in a new series by this veteran writer is a ghost story. A romantic hot ghost story. I’m not a fan of ghost or paranormal stories. It’s not that I don’t believe in the possibility of another dimension or two. I do, but too often the paranormal element in a good crime fiction novel breeds sloppiness. Not in this case.

All too often, the inclusion of a strong romantic element in a good crime novel is just a way for the novelist to beef up a weak plot line. Not in this novel. There’...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Aarann rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really dug this book. It was fast-paced (well, except for one dream sequence, but we'll get to that in a minute), suspenseful, and hard to put down. I liked Charlie, even though Robards seemed to have some problems figuring out who this character is (is she the cool, unflappable psychologist with iron control of herself that we meet in the beginning? Or is she the woman whose face is easily readable and who seems to lose her temper at the drop of a hat we meet for the rest of the book?), but I...more I really dug this book. It was fast-paced (well, except for one dream sequence, but we'll get to that in a minute), suspenseful, and hard to put down. I liked Charlie, even though Robards seemed to have some problems figuring out who this character is (is she the cool, unflappable psychologist with iron control of herself that we meet in the beginning? Or is she the woman whose face is easily readable and who seems to lose her temper at the drop of a hat we meet for the rest of the book?), but I liked her love interest even more.

I think I had an advantage here - I picked this up when I read the words "serial killer expert who sees ghosts" (paraphrasing, obviously) in the blurb, and stopped reading at that point, so a lot of what happened in the story with Garland surprised me. I think Garland MIGHT have officially replaced 90's-era Devon Sawa as my favorite ghost.

I don't think I need to go too in-depth as far as the plot goes, since the blurb does it pretty well. When Charlie was a teenager, she was a witness to the slaughter of a school friend's family and the last person to see her friend alive. She went to school and became a psychologist and a pre-eminent expert in serial killers. This is where one of my complaints comes into play: most of the observations Charlie uses when profiling the serial killer are the same basic observations you see on shows like "Criminal Minds". I get that Robards probably isn't really an expert on serial killers, but I would have hoped to get a few more insights than, "Caucasian male, 25 to 35, lives alone, no brothers or sisters" from a character who is allegedly the best of the best where serial killers are concerned.

MINOR SPOILERS TO FOLLOW: (view spoiler)[ I also wasn't a big fan of Charlie's mental waffling about Garland - as much as I adore him. Either you believe he's a serial killer and keep that in mind while he's seducing you, or you don't and sleeping with him is okay. I didn't love the fact that she would have all this sex with a guy that she allegedly believes is a serial killer. Personally, I believed him that he hadn't killed anyone about halfway through the book (I may have been slow on the uptake on that, but remember, after skipping most of the back cover, I was expecting Tony to be the love interest, not Garland, so I was a little squicked out when I realized Charlie had way more chemistry with the guy who, in the opening scene, she's going all Clarise/Hannibal with who allegedly brutally attacked and killed women than the human guy who helps catch them) and if there had been a moment where Charlie thought to herself, "Oh, hey, he DIDN'T kill those women," I would have been a lot more okay with her mind-humping the ghost. I mean, a big-time awesome expert on serial killers doesn't realize that the guy she's convinced is one doesn't really show any real personality signs of actually being a serial killer? Maybe it would have helped if the author had described the crimes Garland was accused of committing, but the best we got was that it was brutal and that there was apparently some kind of DNA evidence. As it was, having sex (even astral sex) with a guy who she believed capable of viciously killing 7 women seemed like it showed a serious weakness of character for Charlie. (Yes, I'm aware romance novels do things like that all the time -- the "heat of the moment" and all that -- but a guy who is a millionaire who is secretly plotting to take over your father's company while seducing you is a way different animal than a guy who slaughters women for funsies.)

Oh, and the first time she and Garland nearly-almost-kinda-sorta have sex? Four chapters. On just foreplay. Good lord. I'm not exactly a prude (and I've got the e-reader full of hard-core smut to prove it), but it was one of the few parts in the book that ran a little long for me.

Of course I'd REALLY think it was interesting if the author went a different way and made Garland guilty of the crimes he's been accused of (and who knows? Maybe I'm wrong about all of this. Maybe that's what Robards has in mind - to make the reader THINK this is an innocent man framed for things he didn't do). Obviously there are plenty of women who fall for serial killers, even knowing what they are, but I find it hard to believe from a (and I'm sorry to harp on this subject, but it really bothered me) pre-eminent expert on serial killers. I mean, she's not exactly Harleen Quinzel, right? (Kewpie doll points to anyone who gets that reference!) (hide spoiler)]

Like I said though, my very minor problems aside, I really liked this book, and I can't wait to read more by Robards, who is a new author for me. I didn't realize this was part of a series, and I find myself chomping at the bit to find out what happens next. I mean, there is really no way for a Happily Ever After with these two unless Robards ends the series with Charlie's death (at least not unless Robards decides to go with a full-on "Ghost Whisperer" rip-off, or possibly mimics the last scene of "Dollhouse," which was still a pretty sad ending), so I'm not 100% sure what I'm so excited about. Or, perhaps, like Charlie, I'm just missing Garland already.(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romantic-thriller, fiction

First of all, "The Last Victim" was a book that I had won through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I am so glad that I received this book, as I enjoyed it very much. It kept me hooked from the first page and was hard to put down until the end.

Two families are brutally killed in Virginia Beach. FBI agents determine that it is the work of the Boardwalk Killer or perhaps a copycat killer. They approach Dr. Charlotte "Charlie" Stone, an expert on serial killers, and persuade her to help them with...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Melodie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got this ARC via Netgalley despite the fact the blurb mentioned paranormal. I'm not a fan of that genre but have read Robards in the past and decided to give it a shot.
Kudoes to Robards for a fresh way to blend paranormal with thriller. She's got the whole psychic psychiatrist thing down in Charlie, who, true to the thriller genre, witnessed a murder and now has to relive it while solving a copycat crime. And in Garland - the killer-turned-ghost-who-is-too-hot-to-be-really-creepy-bad - she has...more

1 like · like · see review

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About Karen Robards

Karen was born on 24 August 1954 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. She has been writing since she was a teenager. She sold her first short story, when was very young, and was published in the December 1973 Reader's Digest, but she cannot sold her first romance novel until 1981, when she was 24. After it, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career. Today, a regular on the New York Times...more

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The Last Victim (Dr. Charlotte Stone #1)

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