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Detective Kimberley King #2
Last Day Alive
One hot summer’s evening, ten-year-old Piper Chase went for a bike ride. She never came home…
Piper cycles off one hot Oklahoma evening for a sleepover with her new friend Miley from summer camp. But when she doesn’t come home, her grandparents raise the alarm. Their little angel is missing, last seen on her pink bicycle, heading towards the dark woods on Black Heart Lane.
Detective Kimberley King knows that the first twenty-four hours in a missing child investigation are the most critical, but with no witnesses, and darkness falling in the small town of Dead Woman Crossing, she begins to fear the worst. She longs to find the little girl with wide blue eyes and an infectious smile, but when her team discovers Piper’s body in a woodland clearing, lying on a bed of moss, something inside her dies.
In a town where people leave their doors unlocked, Kimberley is terrified that another little girl might be snatched, and that night she holds her own daughter tighter. Desperate to find the monster who took the life of an innocent child, Kimberley chases down all the leads she has. The summer camp counsellor, who got too close to Piper and Miley and lost his job. Piper’s shifty uncle, who arrived back in town the day she disappeared…
Then she gets a call that chills her to the bone. Miley has gone missing. Has the killer who stole one little angel just taken another?
Piper cycles off one hot Oklahoma evening for a sleepover with her new friend Miley from summer camp. But when she doesn’t come home, her grandparents raise the alarm. Their little angel is missing, last seen on her pink bicycle, heading towards the dark woods on Black Heart Lane.
Detective Kimberley King knows that the first twenty-four hours in a missing child investigation are the most critical, but with no witnesses, and darkness falling in the small town of Dead Woman Crossing, she begins to fear the worst. She longs to find the little girl with wide blue eyes and an infectious smile, but when her team discovers Piper’s body in a woodland clearing, lying on a bed of moss, something inside her dies.
In a town where people leave their doors unlocked, Kimberley is terrified that another little girl might be snatched, and that night she holds her own daughter tighter. Desperate to find the monster who took the life of an innocent child, Kimberley chases down all the leads she has. The summer camp counsellor, who got too close to Piper and Miley and lost his job. Piper’s shifty uncle, who arrived back in town the day she disappeared…
Then she gets a call that chills her to the bone. Miley has gone missing. Has the killer who stole one little angel just taken another?
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2021
3359 people are currently reading
14334 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Adler
2 books539 followershttps://www.facebook.com/JRAdlerAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/jradlerauthor/
Originally from Wisconsin, J.R. Adler currently lives in Ithaca, New York with her husband, Drew, and her English Bulldog, Winston. When not writing, you can find her reading, playing board games, traveling, and binge-watching The Office for the umpteenth time.
https://www.instagram.com/jradlerauthor/
Originally from Wisconsin, J.R. Adler currently lives in Ithaca, New York with her husband, Drew, and her English Bulldog, Winston. When not writing, you can find her reading, playing board games, traveling, and binge-watching The Office for the umpteenth time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 744 reviews
March 7, 2021
Thank you so much for taking a chance on me! I truly hope you’ve enjoyed LAST DAY ALIVE, and if you did, I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads or both. It makes such a difference in helping people discover my book for the first time.
I hope my efforts brought you an entertaining and twisty story and that you want to continue along with Detective Kimberley King and her journey. In the meantime, you can check out The Perfect Marriage, a twisty, psychological thriller that I wrote under my name Jeneva Rose.
I love meeting and connecting with readers, so feel free to get in touch with me on my social media pages.
Once again, thank you! ❤️
I hope my efforts brought you an entertaining and twisty story and that you want to continue along with Detective Kimberley King and her journey. In the meantime, you can check out The Perfect Marriage, a twisty, psychological thriller that I wrote under my name Jeneva Rose.
I love meeting and connecting with readers, so feel free to get in touch with me on my social media pages.
Once again, thank you! ❤️
July 4, 2023
I’m only giving this 4 stars instead of 5 because of how mad I was after the last chapter. My romance reader brain is furious. I need more closure. 😂😂
April 24, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
Barb was their first line of defense. But Barb was feisty, and Kimberley had recently learned she had a conceal and carry permit. She kept her Glock in her top desk drawer when she was working and then had it holstered on her hip, underneath her flowery, flowy blouses when she was off the clock. She had named it Helen. When Kimberley had asked her why the name Helen? Barb had replied, “Because Helen was an ex-friend that stole my famous chocolate chip cookie recipe, and she was a real bitch. It seemed fitting.”
“What do I got to do to get you to call me sir?” … “Build a time machine and take me back to the nineteen-fifties,”
Yeah, her name is Ginger. That’s not even a name. It’s a root… There was a chance I would have gotten back with him. We have kids together, for God’s sake…but now, not a chance in hell. He can have the skanky root vegetable.
He’s trying to woo her… You gotta woo before you do.
You just gotta be patient with Sam. He’s like a ten-thousand-piece puzzle without the box for reference. It just takes a little while longer.
My Review:
I am continuing to enjoy this series and new author. It is surprisingly enjoyable to read a story that incorporates a small rural area that I was once familiar with. I felt so engaged and familiar with the unfolding story that I was expecting to see family names and gossip of the actual denizens reported. The storylines were active, tragic, and tense with anxiety, grief, and frustration as the small rural county police force labored to find a missing child, only to experience the heartbreak of finding her body and then endeavoring past exhaustion to solve her murder with little to go on. So much for a peaceful downsized job after leaving the NYPD.
In addition to the murder case bonus entertainment value was provided by additional servings and tasty offerings of family drama, potential romantic considerations, and observations of small-town issues and the off-beat and eccentric characters residing there. I’m always eager to get the down-low on secrets and amusing sightings of quirk. But, of course, my favorite character continues to be Barb, the ever cheerful, spunky, genius baker, and gun-toting senior citizen who seems to be three steps ahead of everyone's needs, both in and outside the office. We could all use a Barb in our lives.
Barb was their first line of defense. But Barb was feisty, and Kimberley had recently learned she had a conceal and carry permit. She kept her Glock in her top desk drawer when she was working and then had it holstered on her hip, underneath her flowery, flowy blouses when she was off the clock. She had named it Helen. When Kimberley had asked her why the name Helen? Barb had replied, “Because Helen was an ex-friend that stole my famous chocolate chip cookie recipe, and she was a real bitch. It seemed fitting.”
“What do I got to do to get you to call me sir?” … “Build a time machine and take me back to the nineteen-fifties,”
Yeah, her name is Ginger. That’s not even a name. It’s a root… There was a chance I would have gotten back with him. We have kids together, for God’s sake…but now, not a chance in hell. He can have the skanky root vegetable.
He’s trying to woo her… You gotta woo before you do.
You just gotta be patient with Sam. He’s like a ten-thousand-piece puzzle without the box for reference. It just takes a little while longer.
My Review:
I am continuing to enjoy this series and new author. It is surprisingly enjoyable to read a story that incorporates a small rural area that I was once familiar with. I felt so engaged and familiar with the unfolding story that I was expecting to see family names and gossip of the actual denizens reported. The storylines were active, tragic, and tense with anxiety, grief, and frustration as the small rural county police force labored to find a missing child, only to experience the heartbreak of finding her body and then endeavoring past exhaustion to solve her murder with little to go on. So much for a peaceful downsized job after leaving the NYPD.
In addition to the murder case bonus entertainment value was provided by additional servings and tasty offerings of family drama, potential romantic considerations, and observations of small-town issues and the off-beat and eccentric characters residing there. I’m always eager to get the down-low on secrets and amusing sightings of quirk. But, of course, my favorite character continues to be Barb, the ever cheerful, spunky, genius baker, and gun-toting senior citizen who seems to be three steps ahead of everyone's needs, both in and outside the office. We could all use a Barb in our lives.
February 6, 2025
3.5 stars just a little too slow for me but towards then end you will not want to stop reading
April 20, 2021
Last Day Alive is the second instalment in the Detective Kimberley King series, set in Dead Woman Crossing, Oklahoma. Former NYPD Homicide Detective Kimberley has been working as Chief Deputy for the past 12 months where she had hoped she might see less crime, especially of the murder variety, but one positive is that a relationship may be about to blossom between Kim and single father, Caleb. Once again, though, she and her colleagues are thrust into the middle of a complex investigation when, in the middle of her surprise birthday party at the station in which they are all binging on cake and coffee, an urgent call comes in and they must set aside their moment of indulgence. Kimberley and Sherriff Sam Walker gear up and head to the home of missing 10-year-old Piper who has now been gone for over 12 hours. Her grandparents inform them that Piper had cycled to friend Miley's house for a girly sleepover and they had no clue anything was wrong until Miley had called them this morning looking for her. The team immediately release an Amber Alert, to make other Police in the area aware that they should be on the lookout for her, and they mobilise a series of search parties to scour the area hoping that she may have gotten lost or just wandered off. However, the following evening Piper's body is discovered extinguishing any hope the family may have had of finding her safe and alive. So the missing person’s case has now become a murder inquiry and the Police are hellbent on catching the vicious killer in their midst. They poke around in the private lives of her family for any discontent or dark secrets and look into Piper's absent parents and the story behind their separation from their young daughter.
Although there's no doubting the family is broken everyone questioned so far has a solid alibi. Then, unbelievably, the Police receive a call claiming that Miley has vanished too and they jump into action given the previous horrific outcome hoping they might be able to find her alive given that she hasn't been gone long. They revisit the areas searched when looking for Piper in the hopes of a better conclusion but all they can find is Piper's vibrant pink bicycle. Kimberley soon finds herself in the crosshairs - trapped by a demented killer. Can her team come to her aid before the monster can end another innocent life? This is a compulsive and absorbing police procedural with an expertly hidden perpetrator, plenty of motives, twists that leave you open-mouthed and a series of events that are well woven. Almost solely told from Kimberley's perspective, with some interspersed chapters featuring the deranged killer's thoughts and reasoning, this allows for easy immersion within the story adding to the enjoyment. Protagonist, Kim, is a durable woman who knows exactly what she wants and who isn't afraid of hard work; she is also not sure if she feels more than just platonic love for Sam. Everything moves at a decent clip and there are plenty of tense, heart in your mouth moments as the Sheriff's Office pool their resources to find the two girls. The way Adler assembles each suspect and then slowly rules them out had me clamouring to find out who the culprit was yet despite several guesses I was nowhere near the mark. It's wickedly twisty and the author makes good use of red herrings/misdirection, which fooled me, a seasoned crime reader, on more than one occasion. Highly recommended.
Although there's no doubting the family is broken everyone questioned so far has a solid alibi. Then, unbelievably, the Police receive a call claiming that Miley has vanished too and they jump into action given the previous horrific outcome hoping they might be able to find her alive given that she hasn't been gone long. They revisit the areas searched when looking for Piper in the hopes of a better conclusion but all they can find is Piper's vibrant pink bicycle. Kimberley soon finds herself in the crosshairs - trapped by a demented killer. Can her team come to her aid before the monster can end another innocent life? This is a compulsive and absorbing police procedural with an expertly hidden perpetrator, plenty of motives, twists that leave you open-mouthed and a series of events that are well woven. Almost solely told from Kimberley's perspective, with some interspersed chapters featuring the deranged killer's thoughts and reasoning, this allows for easy immersion within the story adding to the enjoyment. Protagonist, Kim, is a durable woman who knows exactly what she wants and who isn't afraid of hard work; she is also not sure if she feels more than just platonic love for Sam. Everything moves at a decent clip and there are plenty of tense, heart in your mouth moments as the Sheriff's Office pool their resources to find the two girls. The way Adler assembles each suspect and then slowly rules them out had me clamouring to find out who the culprit was yet despite several guesses I was nowhere near the mark. It's wickedly twisty and the author makes good use of red herrings/misdirection, which fooled me, a seasoned crime reader, on more than one occasion. Highly recommended.
June 1, 2021
This is the second book by this author that I have read and it was good . The first book got 5 stars and landed on my favorites list which is hard to do. This book had one strike against it right from the start an dthat was the topic lol. I am tired of missing kid books, redone serial killer books and goofy multiple point of view books. This one was about a misisng kids meh but it was well told. I thought the story flowed well and it never bogged down. I like the main and secondary characters . I did think some of the personal actions by the main characters were a little given what was going on in the story. i thought she did a good job with the bad person but the very very end I saw coming a mile away and I felt meh I would read the next book in the series she has a lot of talent. . I just wonder how much can happen in this small town. I would give it about 3.7 stars. I just could not give it 4 stars. I would say go and give ita spin.
July 21, 2021
Piper Chase's grandparents didn't mind giving their ten-year-old granddaughter more freedom and responsibilities. Piper was to bike over to her friend's house nearby, instead she disappeared without a clue. Since she was going to have a sleepover with her friend Miley, her grandparents were not worried. It was the next day, however, that they realized that something was dreadfully wrong.
When Detective Kimberley King is assigned the case, she is shocked to realize that nearly 24 hours had passed since Piper was last seen. Where will she start? A former FBI Special Agent and now living in the town of Dead Woman Crossing, she is no stranger to difficult cases. And the case does find its worst possible situation - Piper's body was soon found in the woods. This breaks Kimberley's heart.
With hopes of finding the kidnapper, Kimberley worries that another child could be at risk. With no shortage of suspects, Kimberley leaves no stone unturned in her investigation.. When indeed another child goes missing, Kimberley digs even deeper, knowing she has to race against time.
In the first book of this series, Dead Woman Crossing, we see how dedicated Kimberley was during her years at the FBI and what drew her to the town with the unusual name. The cases that Kimberley takes on a difficult at best, but her determination is unrivaled.
What a thrilling book and a great addition to what is already an exciting series! I love how this book is written as it switches between Kimberley's POV and that of the killer's. This goes a long way to increasing the tension in this intense read. With shocking twists and turns and a bevy of suspects, the identity of the killer threw me off and the book reached an amazing crescendo as it came to a conclusion. I simply cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
When Detective Kimberley King is assigned the case, she is shocked to realize that nearly 24 hours had passed since Piper was last seen. Where will she start? A former FBI Special Agent and now living in the town of Dead Woman Crossing, she is no stranger to difficult cases. And the case does find its worst possible situation - Piper's body was soon found in the woods. This breaks Kimberley's heart.
With hopes of finding the kidnapper, Kimberley worries that another child could be at risk. With no shortage of suspects, Kimberley leaves no stone unturned in her investigation.. When indeed another child goes missing, Kimberley digs even deeper, knowing she has to race against time.
In the first book of this series, Dead Woman Crossing, we see how dedicated Kimberley was during her years at the FBI and what drew her to the town with the unusual name. The cases that Kimberley takes on a difficult at best, but her determination is unrivaled.
What a thrilling book and a great addition to what is already an exciting series! I love how this book is written as it switches between Kimberley's POV and that of the killer's. This goes a long way to increasing the tension in this intense read. With shocking twists and turns and a bevy of suspects, the identity of the killer threw me off and the book reached an amazing crescendo as it came to a conclusion. I simply cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
March 12, 2021
After having read Dead Woman Crossing, which is the first book in the Detective Kimberley King series, I could not wait to read Last Day Alive which is the second book to this series. Let’s just say that this book did not disappoint! In fact, I believe I enjoyed this book better than the first one!
Detective Kimberley King kept me on the edge of my seat and I could not turn the pages fast enough!
Although the case from the story was solved, the ending left a bit of a question as to what will happen in Detective King’s personal life. Which makes me think that another book to this series will be coming out soon? (Hurry up please!)
If you love crime and thriller books as much as I do, then you will love Last Day Alive. I highly recommend this book and everything else that J.R. Adler writes.
I would also like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my early review copy :)
Detective Kimberley King kept me on the edge of my seat and I could not turn the pages fast enough!
Although the case from the story was solved, the ending left a bit of a question as to what will happen in Detective King’s personal life. Which makes me think that another book to this series will be coming out soon? (Hurry up please!)
If you love crime and thriller books as much as I do, then you will love Last Day Alive. I highly recommend this book and everything else that J.R. Adler writes.
I would also like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my early review copy :)
May 5, 2024
Jeneva Rose hit it out of the park with book 2! My favorite crime thriller to date, but I really need more!
We need to talk about how that romance part ended! Yes, there is a splash of romance, and it is perfection!😍
👶🏼 Jessica, Kimberley’s baby girl, is still as precious as ever, even more so, in book 2.
This is a true nail biter of a story, super suspenseful, so strap in…you are about to go on the ride of your life. The perfect buddy read.
ALL THE STARS!
♾️✨✨✨✨✨
🎧Excellent narration by Patricia Rodriguez
💥Bring tissues for the very, very hard parts.
⚠️⚠️⚠️Check the trigger warnings before reading⚠️⚠️⚠️
We need to talk about how that romance part ended! Yes, there is a splash of romance, and it is perfection!😍
👶🏼 Jessica, Kimberley’s baby girl, is still as precious as ever, even more so, in book 2.
This is a true nail biter of a story, super suspenseful, so strap in…you are about to go on the ride of your life. The perfect buddy read.
ALL THE STARS!
♾️✨✨✨✨✨
🎧Excellent narration by Patricia Rodriguez
💥Bring tissues for the very, very hard parts.
⚠️⚠️⚠️Check the trigger warnings before reading⚠️⚠️⚠️
April 12, 2021
Ten year old Piper takes off on her bike one night to go visit her best friend and is never seen again. Detective Kimberly King is heading up the investigation and does in fact find Piper. Unfortunately, Piper is dead. As she is still processing the case, she gets a call that Piper’s best friend, Miley, is now missing. Kimberly and her partner Sam chase down lead after lead, hoping to find a Miley before it’s too late.
This was definitely a slow burn for me but there were several huge twists that made me change my list of suspects, which was awesome. And I loved that the main character was a strong, independent woman! She didn’t take crap from anyone and she was well liked and well respected in her new hometown, despite only living there for the past year or so.
Although this is book 2 in the series, I haven’t read the first one and had no issues because of it. However there are definitely some triggers for some people-child abduction and murder, mental health among them. There were some good support characters as well-I loved Barb (although maybe I’m biased lol)
All in all, I liked this one and I will probably go back and read the first one and any others that come in the series.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
This was definitely a slow burn for me but there were several huge twists that made me change my list of suspects, which was awesome. And I loved that the main character was a strong, independent woman! She didn’t take crap from anyone and she was well liked and well respected in her new hometown, despite only living there for the past year or so.
Although this is book 2 in the series, I haven’t read the first one and had no issues because of it. However there are definitely some triggers for some people-child abduction and murder, mental health among them. There were some good support characters as well-I loved Barb (although maybe I’m biased lol)
All in all, I liked this one and I will probably go back and read the first one and any others that come in the series.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
February 7, 2023
This is the 2nd novel in the Detective Kimberly King series by Jeneva Rose. Her pen name was J. R. Adler but she has had the books reprinted.
A heart wrenching novel about a ten-year-old Piper who goes to play with her friend Miley, but never arrives home. Sadly her parents thought she was spending the night and did not realize until the next morning she was missing.
Detective Kimberley King is on the investigation and she knows timing is critical in the disappearance of children. This is small town Dead Woman Crossing where children play out until dark, the doors are not locked, and everyone knows everyone’s business.
Sadly Piper is not found alive and there are a few suspects. I was shocked with the ending and as a parent this was hard to read. Gripping!
A heart wrenching novel about a ten-year-old Piper who goes to play with her friend Miley, but never arrives home. Sadly her parents thought she was spending the night and did not realize until the next morning she was missing.
Detective Kimberley King is on the investigation and she knows timing is critical in the disappearance of children. This is small town Dead Woman Crossing where children play out until dark, the doors are not locked, and everyone knows everyone’s business.
Sadly Piper is not found alive and there are a few suspects. I was shocked with the ending and as a parent this was hard to read. Gripping!
October 3, 2023
3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I can’t tell if this is just a duet or if I should expect more books? I feel like there’s a lot of unanswered questions.
April 20, 2021
Reading a book by J.R Adler is like sipping a fine wine. Sit back, relax and enjoy every glorious word. There are very few series that I enjoy (other than in the romance genre) and Adler’s Detective Deputy King series is on the top of my list. I know this is only book 2 but I became a huge fan after reading Dead Woman Crossing, the first book in the series. I am definitely hoping and praying this will be a very, very long series because I just can’t get enough of Chief deputy Kimberly King.
I know when I read a book by Adler I will easily get sucked right in. It happened with the first in the series and again with this newest release. Adler has such a way with words that easily draws you in and doesn;t let go until you get to the very last page. Then, you will wish there was another book in the series you could read next. Grrr! I hate waiting!
Kimbery King is definitely a force to be reckoned with. She is passionate about her job and takes her career seriously. Originally a detective in NYC, she moved to Dead Woman Crossing because of an old case that has not been resolved. Her mother, Nicole, is in the small little town as well, but their relationship is rocky at best. She loves her mother but may not necessarily always agree with her choices. Kimberly is also a devoted mother to her two year old daughter, Jessica and would do anything to keep her daughter safe.
I really love the dynamic between her and Sam, her boss. The sparks between the two are off the charts and I am desperately waiting for them to get together! Gah! It NEEDS to happen!
Adler throws a lot of red herrings in regards to the perpetrator and with numerous leads, I kept going back and forth on who might be behind it all. I also do love that we get to see in the mind of the perpetrator which in itself was extremely creepy.
Great book, great story, great series and always fantastic storytelling. Adler has a real winner with Last Seen Alive. Another five star read for me!
I know when I read a book by Adler I will easily get sucked right in. It happened with the first in the series and again with this newest release. Adler has such a way with words that easily draws you in and doesn;t let go until you get to the very last page. Then, you will wish there was another book in the series you could read next. Grrr! I hate waiting!
Kimbery King is definitely a force to be reckoned with. She is passionate about her job and takes her career seriously. Originally a detective in NYC, she moved to Dead Woman Crossing because of an old case that has not been resolved. Her mother, Nicole, is in the small little town as well, but their relationship is rocky at best. She loves her mother but may not necessarily always agree with her choices. Kimberly is also a devoted mother to her two year old daughter, Jessica and would do anything to keep her daughter safe.
I really love the dynamic between her and Sam, her boss. The sparks between the two are off the charts and I am desperately waiting for them to get together! Gah! It NEEDS to happen!
Adler throws a lot of red herrings in regards to the perpetrator and with numerous leads, I kept going back and forth on who might be behind it all. I also do love that we get to see in the mind of the perpetrator which in itself was extremely creepy.
Great book, great story, great series and always fantastic storytelling. Adler has a real winner with Last Seen Alive. Another five star read for me!
July 14, 2021
Last Day Alive was a gripping, tense new installment to the Det. Kimberley King series. While I've read similar plots before & felt familiar with the way the story was heading, the characters set this book apart. I loved the tension between King & Walker. With the introduction of a new potential love interest for Kimberley I can't help but wonder where this story will go. I love that Det King makes well-balanced decisions that dont feel extremely emotional or sappy, neither does she give in to emotional blackmail & play an emotional victim- which is something of a recurring theme in many books & I absolutely hate! I sincerely hope Kimberley gets a chance to finally solve the case that haunts her & lay her demons to rest. The characters were great. The plot was good too but I felt a lack of closure at the end because I didn't know if the perpetrator was sentenced or punished. That one bit added in would have been great. I also was missing the creepy flashback memories Kimberley has so frequently in the first book. Knowing that there is a criminal there who has in in for Kimberley made the first book so damn exciting. This book somehow lacked that element of tease. Otherwise I liked this book a lot & look forward to a thrilling series.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture & J.R. Adler for an arc!
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture & J.R. Adler for an arc!
February 28, 2025
This was an interesting also but sad book. I thought I had it figured out who the killer was, but I wasn’t expecting it to be who it was.
December 2, 2024
Oh my god, the ending! 😭
It broke my heart!
But nonetheless, this was such a good read. I had a hunch who could be the villian, and I was right! Easiest 5 stars.
It broke my heart!
But nonetheless, this was such a good read. I had a hunch who could be the villian, and I was right! Easiest 5 stars.
June 4, 2021
Me oh my, what a wild ride this second installment in the Detective Kimberley King series was!
Please excuse me a moment as I gather myself and catch my breath….
I devoured this book in one sitting, ONE… SITTING! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Jeneva Rose is an incredible writer, her books are wicked fun as she consistently throws readers into the nitty-gritty of these thrillers she continues to write.
Last Day Alive follows Detective Kimberley King investigating the murder of one young girl and the disappearance of her friend. Per usual Jeneva fashion – she had me guessing until the final chapter of Last Day Alive, and it was a “HIGH-YAAA!” straight to the feels as the murderer was revealed and that ending… for the love of sweet Barb’s freshly baked apple pies, I did not see that ending comin’! I am eager to read future books in this series and hope you know who and you know who finally do the do already 😉
Please excuse me a moment as I gather myself and catch my breath….
I devoured this book in one sitting, ONE… SITTING! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Jeneva Rose is an incredible writer, her books are wicked fun as she consistently throws readers into the nitty-gritty of these thrillers she continues to write.
Last Day Alive follows Detective Kimberley King investigating the murder of one young girl and the disappearance of her friend. Per usual Jeneva fashion – she had me guessing until the final chapter of Last Day Alive, and it was a “HIGH-YAAA!” straight to the feels as the murderer was revealed and that ending… for the love of sweet Barb’s freshly baked apple pies, I did not see that ending comin’! I am eager to read future books in this series and hope you know who and you know who finally do the do already 😉
December 30, 2022
“One hot summer’s evening, ten-year-old Piper Chase went off on her pink bicycle towards the dark woods on Black Heart Lane.”
Personal review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Jeneva created a character in Cheif Deputy Kimberley King, that is easy to love, a plot with a crime thriller that is even simpler to get sucked into! This book has all the twists and mind blowing revelations that we love. It had me guessing the entire time, and even in the end, I had no idea, until the spider web of reveals came together! This book was a quick read for me, I loved the relationship development between Sam and Kimberley, but I want more!!! My only question is - when is the third book in the trilogy coming out? If you have Kindle Unlimited, this is included in your subscription.
Synopsis: Detective Kimberley King knows that the first twenty-four hours in a missing child investigation are the most critical. Piper was heading to a sleepover at her best friend Miley’s house, just like a hundred times before. But now Piper’s grandparents are blaming themselves, shaking with grief, and Kimberley knows the family will never be the same. With no witnesses, and darkness falling, she begins to fear the worst. She longs to find the little girl with wide blue eyes and an infectious smile, but when her team discovers Piper’s body in a woodland clearing, lying on a bed of moss, something inside her dies. Then she gets a call that chills her to the bone. Piper’s friend Miley has gone missing too.
Personal review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Jeneva created a character in Cheif Deputy Kimberley King, that is easy to love, a plot with a crime thriller that is even simpler to get sucked into! This book has all the twists and mind blowing revelations that we love. It had me guessing the entire time, and even in the end, I had no idea, until the spider web of reveals came together! This book was a quick read for me, I loved the relationship development between Sam and Kimberley, but I want more!!! My only question is - when is the third book in the trilogy coming out? If you have Kindle Unlimited, this is included in your subscription.
Synopsis: Detective Kimberley King knows that the first twenty-four hours in a missing child investigation are the most critical. Piper was heading to a sleepover at her best friend Miley’s house, just like a hundred times before. But now Piper’s grandparents are blaming themselves, shaking with grief, and Kimberley knows the family will never be the same. With no witnesses, and darkness falling, she begins to fear the worst. She longs to find the little girl with wide blue eyes and an infectious smile, but when her team discovers Piper’s body in a woodland clearing, lying on a bed of moss, something inside her dies. Then she gets a call that chills her to the bone. Piper’s friend Miley has gone missing too.
April 25, 2021
Detective Kimberley King is back with a new case and more complications in her life. When a little girl disappears, ten-year-old Piper Chase, Kimberley and her team chase what turn out to be false leads. With the most likely suspects cleared, they seem to be at a standstill and when Piper's body is found, the disappointment is almost unbearable. But then Piper's friend, Miley also disappears. Set in the out of the way town of Dead Woman Crossing, Oklahoma, Kimberley and her boss, Sheriff Sam Walker, refuse to take it easy until the cases are solved, regardless of the risks involved. In the midst of the case, Kimberley's life is thrown off course when she discovers that her mother did not get divorced, and is still communicating with her husband, a convicted murderer. Handling her family complications and considering a move to dating again keeps Kimberley on her toes. Last Day Alive is wickedly twisty and the author makes good use of misdirection, fooling me a number of times. I look forward to seeing what happens in book three.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 14, 2021
Another Detective King book that I absolutely loved and couldn’t put down!!
Now I have to wait how long for book 3 and to see what happens between Kim & Sam?
Piper, who lives with her grandparents goes missing then turns up dead. Suddenly, her best friend, Miley is missing too and the detectives are searching everywhere and coming up with no leads. The book is mainly told from the detectives POV but also switches to the killers pov.
I’m a thriller junkie and this is the kind of book where you just don’t know who did it, your completely surprised at the end and then left hanging!
I can not wait for book 3.
Definitely put this on your tbr for April!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced ebook copy.
Now I have to wait how long for book 3 and to see what happens between Kim & Sam?
Piper, who lives with her grandparents goes missing then turns up dead. Suddenly, her best friend, Miley is missing too and the detectives are searching everywhere and coming up with no leads. The book is mainly told from the detectives POV but also switches to the killers pov.
I’m a thriller junkie and this is the kind of book where you just don’t know who did it, your completely surprised at the end and then left hanging!
I can not wait for book 3.
Definitely put this on your tbr for April!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced ebook copy.
December 20, 2025
I recently discovered this was written by a favorite author, Jeneva Rose. It is the second book in the Kimberley King series, but could easily be read as a stand alone. King is a great character as well as the other characters. I enjoyed the relationship between the MC and her mother. Also, the side characters were great. I want to read more about Sam and Kimberley!!!! The mystery was interesting and held my attention. The book is short and fast paced.
I am sad there isn't a part 3!
PLEASE WRITE A PART 3!!!!
An excellent read.
I am sad there isn't a part 3!
PLEASE WRITE A PART 3!!!!
An excellent read.
August 28, 2024
Kept me on my toes the whole time
December 17, 2025
Did not see that coming. I need another book immediately
March 16, 2023
Great read and plot twist!
This one kept me turning pages and surprised me with the final plot twist. I would recommend this book to others. Good read!
This one kept me turning pages and surprised me with the final plot twist. I would recommend this book to others. Good read!
August 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! A little slower than the first one but loved hearing more about Detective King.
May 28, 2023
Just the perfect kind of book I like! Had me guessing, thought I knew, twice and I didn’t know at all!
January 12, 2024
Amazing ending. Read this book so fast. Loved this series.
May 11, 2023
This was the perfect summer read. This author just makes my heart so very happy. A true detective novel through and through. I am hoping there will be a third book eventually.
March 19, 2021
I’m pretty sure my head is still spinning and I’m still like WHAT right now after finishing Last Day Alive. Yet again another J.R. Adler book that had me guessing literally the ENTIRE book and sitting on the edge of my seat. This was a slow burn, but in the best way possible.
Ten year old Piper takes off on her bike one night and never comes home. Detective Kimberley King fears the worst when no witnesses know anything and she was right: Piper’s body was found and she was murdered. And then she gets a chilling call: Piper’s best friend Miley is missing. Kimberley and Sam try to chase down every single lead they have, desperate to find out who this monster is.
Seriously, J.R. Adler, you had me fooled. Again. At one point in the book, I had a mental list of like 5 people that I thought could be the killer. And I was STILL wrong! This was an exciting one. And I love how badass Kimberley King is. I want to be her when I grow up. Last Day Alive gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 from me!
Ten year old Piper takes off on her bike one night and never comes home. Detective Kimberley King fears the worst when no witnesses know anything and she was right: Piper’s body was found and she was murdered. And then she gets a chilling call: Piper’s best friend Miley is missing. Kimberley and Sam try to chase down every single lead they have, desperate to find out who this monster is.
Seriously, J.R. Adler, you had me fooled. Again. At one point in the book, I had a mental list of like 5 people that I thought could be the killer. And I was STILL wrong! This was an exciting one. And I love how badass Kimberley King is. I want to be her when I grow up. Last Day Alive gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 from me!
May 4, 2021
Last Day Alive by J.R.Adler is the 2nd book in the Detective Kimberley King series, and my first book by this author. I enjoyed this book so much I immediately read the first book in the series, Dead Women Crossing, after finishing Last Day Alive. Detective Kimberley King and her team are looking for a 10 year girl who rode her bike to her friends house to spend the night, but never made it. Wow this book grabbed me from the very first page, and kept me going. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. Just when I thought I was on the right track, I realize I wasn't. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. If you love mysteries like I do, than I recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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