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Last Gasp
FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR...Her time may be up…With her amazing job and loving son, single mom Allison Clemmins seems to have the perfect life – but only on the outside. She keeps her past in the dark, refusing to dwell upon that horrifying day when, years ago, she stumbled upon the bodies of her murdered mother and siblings. Shattering the life she once knew, Allison was forced to pick up the pieces alone, forever harboring hatred toward the man who destroyed her her father. Her life changes abruptly for the second time when attorney Seth Walker comes to town bearing new evidence about the crime. As Allison slowly accepts the possibility of her father’s innocence, Seth uncovers untold truths of the past. Along the way, he helps Allison find the most important piece she has missed her entire life – trusting a man. But when the two are at last comfortable in each other’s arms, a raging killer appears out from the shadows to take away Allison’s most cherished treasures…
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2012
8 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 29, 2015
Great suspense book. Fast, easy, and enjoyable story!!!
May 3, 2022
Great twist! Well written, and it’s keeps you guessing on who the actual killer is!
September 25, 2010
Too much like other books. Mostly solving a mystery. I wasn’t drawn into the characters or events enough.
STORY BRIEF:
Fifteen years ago Allison came home from school to find her mother and siblings killed. The mother’s head was chopped off with a hatchet. Her father Hank was accused and put in jail for life. Allison married her high school sweetheart and had a child Sam who is now 12. Her husband died in a car accident shortly after they were married. Allison devoted her life to her son, became a teacher, and never dated anyone else. Seth is a private investigator working for a foundation whose goal is freeing innocent men in jail. Seth believes Hank may be innocent. He comes to town and starts asking questions about the murder. Allison is reluctant at first but then changes her mind and helps him investigate. Someone starts threatening Allison, telling her to stop investigating. Someone in the area begins killing animals – beheading them with a hatchet.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This book is primarily mystery suspense with a little romance on the side. The characters are slowly unraveling the mystery throughout the book. This felt too much like a mystery for me. I prefer more romance. I wasn’t emotionally drawn into the characters or events as much as I’d like. Some people who I thought were good, kept information secret from Allison over the years which was not nice. I didn’t like those characters when I learned this. Although I was pleased with what happened with three other supporting characters. On balance, it wasn’t my kind of book. I think mystery lovers will like this more than I did.
DATA:
Story length: 321 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 1, 4 pages long. Setting: current day Crows Creek, Kansas. Copyright: 2009. Genre: mystery suspense with a little romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Fifteen years ago Allison came home from school to find her mother and siblings killed. The mother’s head was chopped off with a hatchet. Her father Hank was accused and put in jail for life. Allison married her high school sweetheart and had a child Sam who is now 12. Her husband died in a car accident shortly after they were married. Allison devoted her life to her son, became a teacher, and never dated anyone else. Seth is a private investigator working for a foundation whose goal is freeing innocent men in jail. Seth believes Hank may be innocent. He comes to town and starts asking questions about the murder. Allison is reluctant at first but then changes her mind and helps him investigate. Someone starts threatening Allison, telling her to stop investigating. Someone in the area begins killing animals – beheading them with a hatchet.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This book is primarily mystery suspense with a little romance on the side. The characters are slowly unraveling the mystery throughout the book. This felt too much like a mystery for me. I prefer more romance. I wasn’t emotionally drawn into the characters or events as much as I’d like. Some people who I thought were good, kept information secret from Allison over the years which was not nice. I didn’t like those characters when I learned this. Although I was pleased with what happened with three other supporting characters. On balance, it wasn’t my kind of book. I think mystery lovers will like this more than I did.
DATA:
Story length: 321 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 1, 4 pages long. Setting: current day Crows Creek, Kansas. Copyright: 2009. Genre: mystery suspense with a little romance.
April 13, 2009
Carla Cassidy uses a deft pen with her mixture of romance and suspence. Loved the premise of a sole survivor of mass murder. Believable characters made me look forward to returning to the story. Lots of suspects and story twists and turns kept me guessing right up until the last page. Looking forward to the next one.
October 10, 2017
Awesome from start to finish it kept me glued and wanting read more and more.
Carla Cassidy can write and this is just one of great books.
A must read if you have never read Carla Cassidy you should she is really good.
Awesome Book By An Even Awesome Author.
Carla Cassidy can write and this is just one of great books.
A must read if you have never read Carla Cassidy you should she is really good.
Awesome Book By An Even Awesome Author.
May 2, 2021
Good read
July 14, 2025
Oh my goodness guys this book was so heartbreaking and beautiful
May 25, 2016
Last Gasp by Carla Cassidy is mysterious and chaotically suspenseful. Allison Clemmins who is a single mom living with her son Sam, in Crows Creek, lost her siblings and father in a mysterious crime that was thought to have been committed by her father. Seth Walker, an attorney, shows up at her door one day, and may have a different point of view on the crime, however this could get the small town all riled up!
Cassidy uses many illustrative descriptions and metaphors throughout the book. For example, "A disco ball hung above the room, sending sparkly shards of light like starbursts around the room"(Cassidy, 127). This helps us as the readers to picture the setting, and helps the audience imagine what it would be like to be in the story themselves. Using strong imagery also help to elevate the diction and create a mysterious mood for the readers. Throughout the entire story, I feel I am on the edge of my seat, and at the end of every chapter I am always left hanging and wanting more. Throughout the middle of the story there is a serious plot twist that left me in awe. We were lead to believe something different through he entire story, but then the novel took an intense turn. This was ultimately what made the story so mysterious and a total potboiler.
The romance aspect that is mixed in through out the book creates an emotional appeal to the readers and lightens some of the mystery and horror of the story. Allison is describing her passion for Seth and states "It was as if in that moment their hearts and minds, their very souls, were one"(Cassidy, 206). There is a fascination and enchantment between them that is endearing to the audience. In the midst of a serious crime, a love story is unfolding and adding more tension for the readers. There is a sensual mood created by the romance and it is almost contagious to read about. Overall, this is a wonderful novel that is mystifying, romancing, sensual, and suspenseful in the most shocking of ways. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to any of you who like mystery. I would read it over again in a few months.
Cassidy uses many illustrative descriptions and metaphors throughout the book. For example, "A disco ball hung above the room, sending sparkly shards of light like starbursts around the room"(Cassidy, 127). This helps us as the readers to picture the setting, and helps the audience imagine what it would be like to be in the story themselves. Using strong imagery also help to elevate the diction and create a mysterious mood for the readers. Throughout the entire story, I feel I am on the edge of my seat, and at the end of every chapter I am always left hanging and wanting more. Throughout the middle of the story there is a serious plot twist that left me in awe. We were lead to believe something different through he entire story, but then the novel took an intense turn. This was ultimately what made the story so mysterious and a total potboiler.
The romance aspect that is mixed in through out the book creates an emotional appeal to the readers and lightens some of the mystery and horror of the story. Allison is describing her passion for Seth and states "It was as if in that moment their hearts and minds, their very souls, were one"(Cassidy, 206). There is a fascination and enchantment between them that is endearing to the audience. In the midst of a serious crime, a love story is unfolding and adding more tension for the readers. There is a sensual mood created by the romance and it is almost contagious to read about. Overall, this is a wonderful novel that is mystifying, romancing, sensual, and suspenseful in the most shocking of ways. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to any of you who like mystery. I would read it over again in a few months.
July 2, 2016
Almost a perfect 5. Gave it 4-1/2 stars because the pacing dragged a bit at times then rushed at the end. Overall, great mystery and suspense. The little bit of romance was backseat but pretty good. I kind wanted the epilogue to be different. . This book is another reason (besides the movie Fatal Attraction) that you should never have a rabbit as a pet.
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Quote: "Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn’t it?” Michelle said dryly. “That the boy most likely to become the next Unabomber has a crush on you?”
[image error]
Quote: "Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn’t it?” Michelle said dryly. “That the boy most likely to become the next Unabomber has a crush on you?”
April 22, 2009
I really liked this book, it was a very fast read and captured my attention until the very end. I agree with some of the other people who have posted reviews, it definitely had a nice mixture of suspense, and a little romance to make those horrible mass murders seem less horrible. Overall it was a nice easy enjoyable read...a good book to read in-between book club books!
January 28, 2010
This would have been a far better read if it hadn't turned into Harlequin Romance meets mystery thriller. It was definitely a 4 until all the heart-pounding turned from serial killer to love interest.
February 7, 2011
This was a good book. I was definitely surprised at the end! This is the second book that I have read by this author and both have similar themes. I would like to see her write outside of the box a bit.
June 29, 2009
I highly reccommend this romantic/suspense that includes good characterization, outstanding plot line that has a surprising twist.
May 29, 2009
Eh I didn't like it.
June 8, 2009
I had an inkling early on of who the guilty party was, but then kept second guessing myself as new clues came about.
February 1, 2010
Plot twist was so predictable. Bad book
February 8, 2010
This writer has suspense down pat. i've enjoyed several of her books and this one is one of them.
February 12, 2010
Had a good twist...kept me guessing almost to the end
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July 28, 2011good. but not my favorite
February 5, 2013
Very enjoyable quick read. I hadn't guessed the killer so was a good twist right at the end.
Read
February 6, 20162010
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews