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Detective Katie Scott #2
Her Last Whisper
Katie focuses her mind, trying to keep another anxiety attack at bay. The victim’s long brown hair is slick and wet, her body rigid in the grass. She looks more like a mannequin than the woman Katie had spoken with only yesterday, the woman she had promised to protect…
When a cold, naked body is discovered by a couple on a jog through the lush woodlands of Pine Valley, California, new recruit Detective Katie Scott is stunned to discover the victim is Amanda Payton – a much-loved local nurse and the woman at the heart of an unsolved case she’s been investigating whilst getting a grip on her crippling PTSD.
Weeks earlier, Amanda had run, battered and bruised, out into the headlights of a passing patrol car. She claimed to have just escaped a kidnapping, but with no strong evidence, the case went cold. The Pine Valley police made a fatal mistake…
Katie is certain the marks on Amanda’s wrists complete a pattern of women being taken, held captive and then showing up dead in remote locations around Pine Valley – and she won’t let someone die on her watch again.
But then a beautiful office worker with a link to the hospital where Amanda worked goes missing. With only days before the next body is due to show up, can Katie make amends for her past by saving this innocent life?
Totally gripping crime fiction for fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh. Nothing will prepare you for this nail-biting roller-coaster ride…
When a cold, naked body is discovered by a couple on a jog through the lush woodlands of Pine Valley, California, new recruit Detective Katie Scott is stunned to discover the victim is Amanda Payton – a much-loved local nurse and the woman at the heart of an unsolved case she’s been investigating whilst getting a grip on her crippling PTSD.
Weeks earlier, Amanda had run, battered and bruised, out into the headlights of a passing patrol car. She claimed to have just escaped a kidnapping, but with no strong evidence, the case went cold. The Pine Valley police made a fatal mistake…
Katie is certain the marks on Amanda’s wrists complete a pattern of women being taken, held captive and then showing up dead in remote locations around Pine Valley – and she won’t let someone die on her watch again.
But then a beautiful office worker with a link to the hospital where Amanda worked goes missing. With only days before the next body is due to show up, can Katie make amends for her past by saving this innocent life?
Totally gripping crime fiction for fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh. Nothing will prepare you for this nail-biting roller-coaster ride…
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2019
4734 people are currently reading
1697 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Chase
32 books586 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today Best Selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. She has written the popular Detective Katie Scott Series and the Emily Stone Thriller Series.
Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.
She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers. www.authorjenniferchase.com
Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today Best Selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. She has written the popular Detective Katie Scott Series and the Emily Stone Thriller Series.
Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.
She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers. www.authorjenniferchase.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
October 25, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Back in June I reviewed Jennifer Chase’s first book in the Detective Katie Scott series, ‘Little Girls Sleeping‘ and absolutely loved it, so when I heard book two, ‘Her Last Whisper’ was out I just had to read it.
The series follows ex-army officer Katie Scott who now works for Pine Valley Police Department as a detective. In book two Katie is assigned to the Cold Cases department to see if she can find any new leads on cases that were filed away months or years early and where nobody was charged with an offence.
Whilst going through the files she comes across a case that is only six-months-old. The kidnapping of Amanda Peyton. Amanda was discovered one night by two officers whose car she ran in front of. She was distressed and told the officers that she had been kidnapped, but the location she gave the officers could not be found and without any other evidence, the case was closed for the time being until new evidence was found.
Katie is not happy with the way the case was handled and decided to make it her first cold case to work on. On talking to Amanda she discovers that Amanda believes her kidnapper is watching her, waiting to pounce again. Katie also discovers that evidence taken from Amanda on the night was not processed nor did anyone search the location she gave thoroughly. She was dismissed as being mentally ill.
Katie’s leads take her to an asylum where a woman claims to have no memory of who she is, but her case is similar to Amanda’s, could the cases be related? Does the woman really not know who she is or is she pretending to protect herself? And who is leaving Katie notes telling her whether she is on the right or the wrong trail?
Detective Katie Scott is a fabulous character. Although she is a detective, she was in the army for so long that she thinks more like a soldier. She also has her old partner and service dog Cisco with her who is always on alert and ready to protect Katie at a moment’s notice.
The plot for ‘Her Last Whisper’ is harrowing, women being attacked from behind, knocked unconscious, blind folder and taken to an unknown location. The kidnapper rarely speaks to them except he when he wants his victims to ‘tell him the truth’ and gets off on hearing their confessions.
Katie is trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and has a few suspects in her sights, but she is concerned that someone is playing games with her too.
The book is filled with twists, turns, and red herrings and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially the snippet sections from the kidnapper/killer who seemed to be very calculating and unhinged.
Just like with the first book I was invested from the first page to the last wanting to know who the culprit was and why he was targeting these women. I raced through the pages needing to know more. The conclusion whilst not a complete surprise was certainly fulfilling.
If you love detective thrillers then this series is amongst the best out there, believe me, I have read a lot of them. I would highly recommend ‘Her Last Whisper’, however, although I believe it could be read as a standalone to understand Katie and her way of thinking you really need to read book one first.
Back in June I reviewed Jennifer Chase’s first book in the Detective Katie Scott series, ‘Little Girls Sleeping‘ and absolutely loved it, so when I heard book two, ‘Her Last Whisper’ was out I just had to read it.
The series follows ex-army officer Katie Scott who now works for Pine Valley Police Department as a detective. In book two Katie is assigned to the Cold Cases department to see if she can find any new leads on cases that were filed away months or years early and where nobody was charged with an offence.
Whilst going through the files she comes across a case that is only six-months-old. The kidnapping of Amanda Peyton. Amanda was discovered one night by two officers whose car she ran in front of. She was distressed and told the officers that she had been kidnapped, but the location she gave the officers could not be found and without any other evidence, the case was closed for the time being until new evidence was found.
Katie is not happy with the way the case was handled and decided to make it her first cold case to work on. On talking to Amanda she discovers that Amanda believes her kidnapper is watching her, waiting to pounce again. Katie also discovers that evidence taken from Amanda on the night was not processed nor did anyone search the location she gave thoroughly. She was dismissed as being mentally ill.
Katie’s leads take her to an asylum where a woman claims to have no memory of who she is, but her case is similar to Amanda’s, could the cases be related? Does the woman really not know who she is or is she pretending to protect herself? And who is leaving Katie notes telling her whether she is on the right or the wrong trail?
Detective Katie Scott is a fabulous character. Although she is a detective, she was in the army for so long that she thinks more like a soldier. She also has her old partner and service dog Cisco with her who is always on alert and ready to protect Katie at a moment’s notice.
The plot for ‘Her Last Whisper’ is harrowing, women being attacked from behind, knocked unconscious, blind folder and taken to an unknown location. The kidnapper rarely speaks to them except he when he wants his victims to ‘tell him the truth’ and gets off on hearing their confessions.
Katie is trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and has a few suspects in her sights, but she is concerned that someone is playing games with her too.
The book is filled with twists, turns, and red herrings and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially the snippet sections from the kidnapper/killer who seemed to be very calculating and unhinged.
Just like with the first book I was invested from the first page to the last wanting to know who the culprit was and why he was targeting these women. I raced through the pages needing to know more. The conclusion whilst not a complete surprise was certainly fulfilling.
If you love detective thrillers then this series is amongst the best out there, believe me, I have read a lot of them. I would highly recommend ‘Her Last Whisper’, however, although I believe it could be read as a standalone to understand Katie and her way of thinking you really need to read book one first.
October 18, 2019
Brilliant! Brilliant! Absolutely freaking brilliant!! I had liked author Jennifer Chase's first book, I knew that she had to develop her main character. This book proved my predictions and my faith in the author right. The writing had a maturity that the story and its main character Katie deserved.
A police procedural, where Detective Katie Scott was in charge of the cold cases which led her to a 6 month old case and the kidnapping of Amanda Peyton who managed to escape. Katie met with her and promised to keep her safe. A day later, she was called to a murder scene - murder of Amanda Peyton!!
The author took the book from this point and showed me how an investigation ought to be done, with careful examination of each probable suspect and their points of intersection with the victim. Another escaped woman, a dead body and a kidnapped woman added to the ordeal. It was obvious someone was targeting the women. I liked how the author narrowed the field of investigation with every chapter making me feel that Katie was closing in.
Katie was fantastic and so real. Gut instincts and her time in the military gave her an added flair to solve the cases. PTSD affected her, but her sheer strength helped her to overcome it, at least deal with it. Her K9 Cisco was a darling, always by her side. I wished he had been used more in the investigation. McGavern was her partner, loved how in-sync they were.
It was Katie who led the book from beginning to end. Her passion and drive were never ending. The story also had hope in her personal life weaved into it which gave me an added insight about her. I liked her in book 1, I loved her in this book.
A police procedural, where Detective Katie Scott was in charge of the cold cases which led her to a 6 month old case and the kidnapping of Amanda Peyton who managed to escape. Katie met with her and promised to keep her safe. A day later, she was called to a murder scene - murder of Amanda Peyton!!
The author took the book from this point and showed me how an investigation ought to be done, with careful examination of each probable suspect and their points of intersection with the victim. Another escaped woman, a dead body and a kidnapped woman added to the ordeal. It was obvious someone was targeting the women. I liked how the author narrowed the field of investigation with every chapter making me feel that Katie was closing in.
Katie was fantastic and so real. Gut instincts and her time in the military gave her an added flair to solve the cases. PTSD affected her, but her sheer strength helped her to overcome it, at least deal with it. Her K9 Cisco was a darling, always by her side. I wished he had been used more in the investigation. McGavern was her partner, loved how in-sync they were.
It was Katie who led the book from beginning to end. Her passion and drive were never ending. The story also had hope in her personal life weaved into it which gave me an added insight about her. I liked her in book 1, I loved her in this book.
October 25, 2019
Her Last Whisper is the second book in the Detective Katie Scott series and is a cross between a thriller and a police procedural. Former Afghanistan bomb disposal expert and PTSD sufferer, Katie has just joined a cold case squad and is combing the books for open cases she may be able to solve when she discovers the kidnapping of Amanda Payton. Payton managed to escape her twisted captor and so Katie decides to pay her a visit to see what information she can provide despite it being six months later. She then learns of Amanda's demise a day later; she has been brutally murdered and her body dumped like rubbish. Above all, Katie feels extremely guilt-ridden as she had only a day earlier promised to protect Amanda, and then another woman goes missing.
Although lacking a bit of grit I felt this was a well written, gripping and intense thriller with enough mystery and criminality to keep you turning the pages. The plot is full of excitement, suspense and a few shocks along the way, with chapters primarily from Katie's perspective but also some dedicated to the suffering of the last victim and a look inside the warped mind of the killer himself; I always enjoy these extra insights as it immerses you in the whole story more. Ms Chase has done a sterling job of striking the right balance between keeping the outcome concealed and teasing us with some small but intriguing reveals throughout. I like protagonist, Katie, and look forward to watching her blossom as the series continues. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
Although lacking a bit of grit I felt this was a well written, gripping and intense thriller with enough mystery and criminality to keep you turning the pages. The plot is full of excitement, suspense and a few shocks along the way, with chapters primarily from Katie's perspective but also some dedicated to the suffering of the last victim and a look inside the warped mind of the killer himself; I always enjoy these extra insights as it immerses you in the whole story more. Ms Chase has done a sterling job of striking the right balance between keeping the outcome concealed and teasing us with some small but intriguing reveals throughout. I like protagonist, Katie, and look forward to watching her blossom as the series continues. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
June 11, 2024
3.5
Detective Katie Scott #2 and gorgeous Cisco!
PTSD sufferer Katie is now i/c a cold case unit in Pine Valley, California and has a host of cases to examine but picks the fairly recent case of nurse Amanda Payton. Amanda is picked up in a terrible state by a passing patrol car. She claims to have escaped a kidnapper but the police find no evidence and the case goes cold. Katie is sure this is part of a much larger case and begins investigating with the help of Detective McGaven.
I don’t think this is as good as book one and doesn’t always hold my attention. There’s some tension and good misdirection, I don’t see the perpetrator coming for example. I like Katie although she remains an enigma with understandable walls around her, maybe we’ll see the true personality in future books and it will be loyal Cisco that keeps me reading on. I like McGaven and a good partnership is emerging here.
I don’t like the continual interruptions to the storytelling with Katie’s army flashbacks, they become really annoying and I skim them. Some dialogue is awful especially between the perp and victims. Some situations lead absolutely nowhere and just seem to be there to fill the space - for instance, why do we need army buddy Nick’s story? Also, has he not got a watch? Why turn up at her house in the depths of the night? Makes no sense!! I don’t find the ending as exciting as I should.
Overall, it’s an easy read despite the issues. The first half is better than the second but imo it’s more mystery than thriller.
Kindle Unlimited
Detective Katie Scott #2 and gorgeous Cisco!
PTSD sufferer Katie is now i/c a cold case unit in Pine Valley, California and has a host of cases to examine but picks the fairly recent case of nurse Amanda Payton. Amanda is picked up in a terrible state by a passing patrol car. She claims to have escaped a kidnapper but the police find no evidence and the case goes cold. Katie is sure this is part of a much larger case and begins investigating with the help of Detective McGaven.
I don’t think this is as good as book one and doesn’t always hold my attention. There’s some tension and good misdirection, I don’t see the perpetrator coming for example. I like Katie although she remains an enigma with understandable walls around her, maybe we’ll see the true personality in future books and it will be loyal Cisco that keeps me reading on. I like McGaven and a good partnership is emerging here.
I don’t like the continual interruptions to the storytelling with Katie’s army flashbacks, they become really annoying and I skim them. Some dialogue is awful especially between the perp and victims. Some situations lead absolutely nowhere and just seem to be there to fill the space - for instance, why do we need army buddy Nick’s story? Also, has he not got a watch? Why turn up at her house in the depths of the night? Makes no sense!! I don’t find the ending as exciting as I should.
Overall, it’s an easy read despite the issues. The first half is better than the second but imo it’s more mystery than thriller.
Kindle Unlimited
October 21, 2019
Detective Katie Scott is back in charge of the cold case department of the Pine Valley police department. She picks her first case to investigate ....
Six months ago two patrolmen came across a young woman, battered and bruised, claiming to have been kidnapped. She was held for several days. She doesn't know where ..she never saw her assailant, but she does remember what he wanted from her ... the truth.
The truth hurts but the lies kill ....
The day after she interviews the woman, her body is found by a jogging couple. Has the kidnapper come back to finish the job he started?
Katie finds a pattern of women being taken captive and showing up dead in remote locations. She and her partner start following the bodies and hoping that they can solve the case before any more victims are taken.
Well written, this one has lots of twists, many plausible suspects to take a look at, and looking into backgrounds of all the victims. I enjoy her back story, and the blend of professional and personal are seamless, making this a credible read.
Many thanks to the author/ Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/police procedural. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 7, 2020
Her Last Whisper is the second book in the Detective Katie Scott series by author Jennifer Chase. It’s another gripping police procedural, and an improvement over the already good first entry in the series.
After the events of the first book, Katie Scott has been formally instated as Detective and named head of the new cold cases department by her uncle, Pine Valley’s sherif. Her K9 army partner, Cisco, has also been loosely confirmed as a tagalong. Katie Scott is still determined to fight her undiagnosed PTSD by herself, in spite of the strain it puts on her work and relationships.
The first case she takes on is only six months old. Amanda Payton has been found staggering in the middle of the road by two patrol officers. In whispers, she says she had told « the truth », before revealing she had been kidnapped. The case has been filed cold early when the victim became uncooperative with the detective in charge.
Katie Scott attempts to relaunch the investigation and to get Amanda Payton, still fearing for her life, to talk. She investigates her place of work, her colleagues, and searches for potential similar cases. She finds one, a Jane Doe, under the care of a shifty head of psychiatric ward. When Amanda Payton is found murdered, the cold case suddenly becomes hot again, and another woman disappears.
Katie Scott is partnered once again with Deputy McGaven, and they start chasing every lead. Clues and leads abound, and they weirdly send the detectives in too many directions. New events pile up faster than the investigation progresses, with an UNSUB apparently playing games with the detectives.
The solid police work in cold case investigation is remindful of Harry Bosch’s stint in LA cold cases. This is praise, just in case it made any doubt.
Katie Scott evolves as a character. She starts by antagonizing veteran detectives again, but quickly earns newfound respect. She’s building confidence, and taking possession of her department. McGaven takes a liking to detective work himself, so let’s hope he’ll earn a promotion somewhere down the road.
The pacing of the book is slower than in the first novel, with more substance. The detective work was already expertly detailed in the first book, so it mainly benefits character development. We get to know Katie Scott, her past, and the supporting cast way better, and the story is the richer for it. The journal kept by Katie Scott in the first book has disappeared in favor of much more efficient first person accounts of her PTSD flashbacks.
You can guess the identity of a person of interest very early in the story, which is somewhat rewarding, especially when the investigation is too complex for us to be sure it will end with him. The final unfolding is thrilling, and Cisco has a big enough part in the events, which is paramount to me. Because K9 officers !
Beware : Don’t close the book too soon, as there is a post credits deleted scene (I’m serious).
The third book in the series, Flowers on her Grave, will be released March, 24 2020. As I’ve been granted an ARC of it, review will come soon.
Review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
After the events of the first book, Katie Scott has been formally instated as Detective and named head of the new cold cases department by her uncle, Pine Valley’s sherif. Her K9 army partner, Cisco, has also been loosely confirmed as a tagalong. Katie Scott is still determined to fight her undiagnosed PTSD by herself, in spite of the strain it puts on her work and relationships.
The first case she takes on is only six months old. Amanda Payton has been found staggering in the middle of the road by two patrol officers. In whispers, she says she had told « the truth », before revealing she had been kidnapped. The case has been filed cold early when the victim became uncooperative with the detective in charge.
Katie Scott attempts to relaunch the investigation and to get Amanda Payton, still fearing for her life, to talk. She investigates her place of work, her colleagues, and searches for potential similar cases. She finds one, a Jane Doe, under the care of a shifty head of psychiatric ward. When Amanda Payton is found murdered, the cold case suddenly becomes hot again, and another woman disappears.
Katie Scott is partnered once again with Deputy McGaven, and they start chasing every lead. Clues and leads abound, and they weirdly send the detectives in too many directions. New events pile up faster than the investigation progresses, with an UNSUB apparently playing games with the detectives.
The solid police work in cold case investigation is remindful of Harry Bosch’s stint in LA cold cases. This is praise, just in case it made any doubt.
Katie Scott evolves as a character. She starts by antagonizing veteran detectives again, but quickly earns newfound respect. She’s building confidence, and taking possession of her department. McGaven takes a liking to detective work himself, so let’s hope he’ll earn a promotion somewhere down the road.
The pacing of the book is slower than in the first novel, with more substance. The detective work was already expertly detailed in the first book, so it mainly benefits character development. We get to know Katie Scott, her past, and the supporting cast way better, and the story is the richer for it. The journal kept by Katie Scott in the first book has disappeared in favor of much more efficient first person accounts of her PTSD flashbacks.
You can guess the identity of a person of interest very early in the story, which is somewhat rewarding, especially when the investigation is too complex for us to be sure it will end with him. The final unfolding is thrilling, and Cisco has a big enough part in the events, which is paramount to me. Because K9 officers !
Beware : Don’t close the book too soon, as there is a post credits deleted scene (I’m serious).
The third book in the series, Flowers on her Grave, will be released March, 24 2020. As I’ve been granted an ARC of it, review will come soon.
Review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 14, 2019
Reading the previous book in the Detective Katie Scott series got me hooked on not only the character of Katie but that of all in this series. So when the second installment of this series was out I absolutely HAD to get my hand on it! Her Last Whisper is an equally thrilling and gripping crime thriller I enjoyed devouring! It opens with a scene that grips you from the get-go and keeps the momentum going till the very end!
When the cold body of beloved local nurse Amanda Payton is discovered on a jogging trail in Pine Valley, Detective Katie Scott known for her skillful handling of cold cases is assigned the case. Weeks earlier, Amanda was discovered by two police officers running away. incoherent and in a deep state of emotional trauma. But with no viable leads, the case soon goes cold. Katie gets Amanda to help the police with finding her kidnapper promising to protect her and get her the justice she deserves. Soon after Amanda is silenced, her death shocking Katie to the core. When Katie discovers another case with a similar story and accusations of kidnapping, she tracks down the victim who refuses to help her out. Soon Katie realizes that someone is on the hunt for women, kidnapping them and torturing them. When another office-worker goes missing, Katie must race against time to save her. Will she be too late?
The plot of this book is excellent and the twists really kept me going till the very end. I found this book very hard to put down. I really like how driven Katie is and how methodically she approaches every case. Katie primarily deals with cold cases, so often discovers skeletons in the closet, pun intended. Her cold cases take her to cases in the present where the perpetrator is still active and kicking and killing. Off course this and a current threat to someone are what keeps the chapters so tense, that its a crime not to read just that one more chapter. I find the battle between will she? or won't she to be too hard to resist. However, it would be great to see her dig into cases that have gone cold a long time ago. Apart from the kidnapping-killing case, this book also has her working on another personal case. Katie is helping a fellow vet, find his missing brother. Although the coverage of this case is way less than the other one, it shows us yet another compassionate and emotional side of Katie Scott. With her ever-increasing episodes of PTSD, her juggling two cases at a time show me just how driven and passionate she is about her job and doing the right thing. I am a fan of this series and can't wait for the next.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and Jennifer Chase for an arc!
When the cold body of beloved local nurse Amanda Payton is discovered on a jogging trail in Pine Valley, Detective Katie Scott known for her skillful handling of cold cases is assigned the case. Weeks earlier, Amanda was discovered by two police officers running away. incoherent and in a deep state of emotional trauma. But with no viable leads, the case soon goes cold. Katie gets Amanda to help the police with finding her kidnapper promising to protect her and get her the justice she deserves. Soon after Amanda is silenced, her death shocking Katie to the core. When Katie discovers another case with a similar story and accusations of kidnapping, she tracks down the victim who refuses to help her out. Soon Katie realizes that someone is on the hunt for women, kidnapping them and torturing them. When another office-worker goes missing, Katie must race against time to save her. Will she be too late?
The plot of this book is excellent and the twists really kept me going till the very end. I found this book very hard to put down. I really like how driven Katie is and how methodically she approaches every case. Katie primarily deals with cold cases, so often discovers skeletons in the closet, pun intended. Her cold cases take her to cases in the present where the perpetrator is still active and kicking and killing. Off course this and a current threat to someone are what keeps the chapters so tense, that its a crime not to read just that one more chapter. I find the battle between will she? or won't she to be too hard to resist. However, it would be great to see her dig into cases that have gone cold a long time ago. Apart from the kidnapping-killing case, this book also has her working on another personal case. Katie is helping a fellow vet, find his missing brother. Although the coverage of this case is way less than the other one, it shows us yet another compassionate and emotional side of Katie Scott. With her ever-increasing episodes of PTSD, her juggling two cases at a time show me just how driven and passionate she is about her job and doing the right thing. I am a fan of this series and can't wait for the next.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and Jennifer Chase for an arc!
November 4, 2019
I was a little late to the party, reading this book. I nearly missed it altogether but I am glad that I didn't! This is the second book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone (although now I want to read the first one).
Katie Scott is a newly minted Detective who is excited to be working in the cold case department. It is nice and quiet, which suits her, and she can spend the time she needs just percolating the information in the case files through her active brain. She has some lovely colleagues in various departments at the station, who help her, and of course her dog, Cisco, is never far away. I loved her dog so much! I also liked the relationship she had with McGaven, and also Nick, her buddy from her Army days. All in all, Katie is quite a force to be reckoned with.
There were certainly lots of different threads to weave in this book but it worked out very well indeed. I was tossing up who the murderer could be but I genuinely didn't know until the author revealed it! This story had me on the edge of my seat more than once. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Katie Scott is a newly minted Detective who is excited to be working in the cold case department. It is nice and quiet, which suits her, and she can spend the time she needs just percolating the information in the case files through her active brain. She has some lovely colleagues in various departments at the station, who help her, and of course her dog, Cisco, is never far away. I loved her dog so much! I also liked the relationship she had with McGaven, and also Nick, her buddy from her Army days. All in all, Katie is quite a force to be reckoned with.
There were certainly lots of different threads to weave in this book but it worked out very well indeed. I was tossing up who the murderer could be but I genuinely didn't know until the author revealed it! This story had me on the edge of my seat more than once. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
January 2, 2020
I received a free electronic copy of this modern police procedural from Netgalley, Jennifer Chase, and the publisher Bookouture. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Her Last Whisper is the second of a new series by Jennifer Chase - yeah! I am happy to recommend Jennifer Chase to friends and family. She writes a tight, compelling mystery.
Set in the small California town of Pine Valley, Katie Scott is the orphaned niece of the County Sheriff and is appointed by him to head a new cold case department in his shop on her return from active military duty overseas. One of the lucky ones, she was able to bring her working dog Cisco home which helps with her PTSD. Other than her aunt and uncle Katie has no family except Cisco and her fellow military family, most of whom are still on active duty. Several of the personnel at the county lockup are childhood friends, however, and she feels at home in her new basement office.
She begins her new job in a new department with trepidation - she is not sure her unexpected mental reruns into the horror of her military days will allow her to be an effective detective. On the bright side, she and Cisco can exercise and train with the official police dogs and trainers of the county, and when she is working in the field alone she can take Cisco to work with her in both her personal vehicle and that issued by the county, as both are equipped with an electronically-opening canine door emergency release. She is also assigned Chad Ferguson as an assistant. She and Chad were sidekicks since they were eight years old, so the fit was perfect.
The first cold case she looks into - the one near the top of the top box of files her uncle sent down - is only six months old but is intriguing. Amanda Peyton, a Pine Valley woman and a nurse in the ICU unit of the hospital, is found in the wilds of an abandoned subdivision wearing only her panties and a tank top, restraint injuries to both wrists and ankles and very confused and dehydrated. She says she was kidnapped in the parking lot of the local grocery and held a prisoner for about a week, but managed finally to escape. She never saw her captor - though he had taken the duct tape off of her mouth he kept her eyes duct-taped over the whole time. She had not been sexually assaulted but when he was there he had whispered to her over and over, to tell the truth. For long periods of time, she thought she had been alone. She was terrified and disoriented when found, and not making a lot of sense. Her doctor at the hospital sends her to the local South Street Psychiatric Hospital for a 72-hour evaluation but when released she disappears. Feeling like she wasn't being taken seriously, she quit her job, left her apartment, so the case was stalemated and eventually became another cold case. Katie finds her and tries to assure her that they are trying to find her abductor but have very little to go on. Amanda is very sure he is still looking for her, and that he will kill her when he finds her again. Katie begins looking for similar cases back through time and finds one from several months ago rings bells but that victim is still at the psychiatric hospital, a woman who cannot remember who she is, found wearing only underwear and bruising and the chaffing of restraints. Are they looking for a serial killer? Jane Doe disappears into a more modern psychiatric hospital about an hour away, but she cannot have visitors. Why? And then Amanda is indeed found dead. Yet another woman is found dead in very similar circumstances. And yet another woman, Tess Regan, is reported missing...
Katie and Chad have their hands full and new clues are few and far between. Will they be able to identify Jane Doe? Do the clues tying the Jamison Doctors of both the local psychiatric hospital and the ICU at the local hospital with the abandoned sub-division have any validity? Will they find Tess before it's too late?
Reviewed on Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo and GooglePlay on November 27, 2019.
Set in the small California town of Pine Valley, Katie Scott is the orphaned niece of the County Sheriff and is appointed by him to head a new cold case department in his shop on her return from active military duty overseas. One of the lucky ones, she was able to bring her working dog Cisco home which helps with her PTSD. Other than her aunt and uncle Katie has no family except Cisco and her fellow military family, most of whom are still on active duty. Several of the personnel at the county lockup are childhood friends, however, and she feels at home in her new basement office.
She begins her new job in a new department with trepidation - she is not sure her unexpected mental reruns into the horror of her military days will allow her to be an effective detective. On the bright side, she and Cisco can exercise and train with the official police dogs and trainers of the county, and when she is working in the field alone she can take Cisco to work with her in both her personal vehicle and that issued by the county, as both are equipped with an electronically-opening canine door emergency release. She is also assigned Chad Ferguson as an assistant. She and Chad were sidekicks since they were eight years old, so the fit was perfect.
The first cold case she looks into - the one near the top of the top box of files her uncle sent down - is only six months old but is intriguing. Amanda Peyton, a Pine Valley woman and a nurse in the ICU unit of the hospital, is found in the wilds of an abandoned subdivision wearing only her panties and a tank top, restraint injuries to both wrists and ankles and very confused and dehydrated. She says she was kidnapped in the parking lot of the local grocery and held a prisoner for about a week, but managed finally to escape. She never saw her captor - though he had taken the duct tape off of her mouth he kept her eyes duct-taped over the whole time. She had not been sexually assaulted but when he was there he had whispered to her over and over, to tell the truth. For long periods of time, she thought she had been alone. She was terrified and disoriented when found, and not making a lot of sense. Her doctor at the hospital sends her to the local South Street Psychiatric Hospital for a 72-hour evaluation but when released she disappears. Feeling like she wasn't being taken seriously, she quit her job, left her apartment, so the case was stalemated and eventually became another cold case. Katie finds her and tries to assure her that they are trying to find her abductor but have very little to go on. Amanda is very sure he is still looking for her, and that he will kill her when he finds her again. Katie begins looking for similar cases back through time and finds one from several months ago rings bells but that victim is still at the psychiatric hospital, a woman who cannot remember who she is, found wearing only underwear and bruising and the chaffing of restraints. Are they looking for a serial killer? Jane Doe disappears into a more modern psychiatric hospital about an hour away, but she cannot have visitors. Why? And then Amanda is indeed found dead. Yet another woman is found dead in very similar circumstances. And yet another woman, Tess Regan, is reported missing...
Katie and Chad have their hands full and new clues are few and far between. Will they be able to identify Jane Doe? Do the clues tying the Jamison Doctors of both the local psychiatric hospital and the ICU at the local hospital with the abandoned sub-division have any validity? Will they find Tess before it's too late?
Reviewed on Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo and GooglePlay on November 27, 2019.
August 24, 2020
Readers got to meet Detective Katie Scott in the first book of the series,
Little Girls Sleeping.
Katie dealt with a difficult case previously as it reminded her of when her friend had gone missing years before. So, she suffers from anxiety attacks, and with her current case, things get more difficult for her. Coping with PTSD is hard on anyone, with her being still rather new in her job Katie definitely has her challenges.
Her newest case is that of a woman found by joggers. Katie recognizes the woman to be a local nurse named Amanda Payton. Previously, Amanda went to the police, bruised and battered, saying she had escaped a kidnapper. The police did not have enough evidence so things were left unresolved. Tragically, soon Katie and her fellow officers are shocked to discover that it is Amanda's body that has been found. When another woman goes missing, connected to the same hospital that Amanda worked at, Katie realizes that the clock is ticking before yet another body is discovered.
I already fell in love with Katie in the first book, but even more so no. I deal with some emotional issues, including PTSD, so I was easily able to relate to Katie. However, because of her job, her handle on the triggers relating to that had to be handled, all while she kept putting one foot in front of the other. I also got to really got to see Katie's relationship with her K9 partner Cisco grow. As I always enjoy this type of partnership in books, this was an extra bonus. Also, she is again partnered with Deputy McGaven and they make a good team.
Her Last Whisper is an excellent sophomore novel to a series that I am thoroughly enjoying. It is well-written, with compelling characters, an excellent plot, some nice twists and turns and a riveting conclusion.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Her newest case is that of a woman found by joggers. Katie recognizes the woman to be a local nurse named Amanda Payton. Previously, Amanda went to the police, bruised and battered, saying she had escaped a kidnapper. The police did not have enough evidence so things were left unresolved. Tragically, soon Katie and her fellow officers are shocked to discover that it is Amanda's body that has been found. When another woman goes missing, connected to the same hospital that Amanda worked at, Katie realizes that the clock is ticking before yet another body is discovered.
I already fell in love with Katie in the first book, but even more so no. I deal with some emotional issues, including PTSD, so I was easily able to relate to Katie. However, because of her job, her handle on the triggers relating to that had to be handled, all while she kept putting one foot in front of the other. I also got to really got to see Katie's relationship with her K9 partner Cisco grow. As I always enjoy this type of partnership in books, this was an extra bonus. Also, she is again partnered with Deputy McGaven and they make a good team.
Her Last Whisper is an excellent sophomore novel to a series that I am thoroughly enjoying. It is well-written, with compelling characters, an excellent plot, some nice twists and turns and a riveting conclusion.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 17, 2022
I'm really enjoying this series. I loved d detective Katie Scott and the whole gang. Plus love yhst she's been assigned cold cases which ofcourse became a lot less cold when she investigated it.
This was chilling the phrase I told the truth, I don't think I will ever hear it again without feeling uncomfortable. What was she telling the truth about and why Is the re opening of this supposed kidnapping going to have deadly repercussions. So good.
100% recommend to all fans of crime thrillers by authors like Lisa regan, DK Hood, Ruhi Choudary or Wendy Drainfield etc you will enjoy the writing style of Jennifer Chase. Now book 3
This was chilling the phrase I told the truth, I don't think I will ever hear it again without feeling uncomfortable. What was she telling the truth about and why Is the re opening of this supposed kidnapping going to have deadly repercussions. So good.
100% recommend to all fans of crime thrillers by authors like Lisa regan, DK Hood, Ruhi Choudary or Wendy Drainfield etc you will enjoy the writing style of Jennifer Chase. Now book 3
October 20, 2019
What he craves is their truth. "...the unadulterated reality they hid from everyone else. Their most personal secret."
Things are really heating up for Detective Katie Scott as she's just been named as the head of the cold case unit with the Pine Valley Sheriff's Department. Her fist day finds her looking through files and getting used to her new office in the basement of the building, close to Forensics. She's coming off some rest after her previous missing girls case when her uncle, Sheriff Wayne Scott, gives her the new assignment and she's immediately put into action. The first item she notices to work on has to do with a 6-month old report on a possible kidnapping and assault case that was dropped because the witness was uncooperative. It surprises her that this is already a cold case but she's completely shocked when Amanda Payton, a 31-year-old nurse at First Memorial Hospital is found dead in a vacant lot near Whispering Pines. Then another woman claims that she also was abducted and managed to escape but is now a fearful resident at the local psychiatric facility. Who is taking these women and why? There's a lot more going on in this complicated investigation. NO SPOILERS.
I enjoyed this second in the series as much as the first. Katie Scott is a very interesting female character with her history of military service in Afghanistan and her Army K-9 training. Her dog, Cisco, is an important member of her team as well as her new partner, Deputy Sean McGaven. Her love interest, Chad Ferguson, a firefighter, has been a life-long friend. Katie, unfortunately, has some issues with PTSD from her time in service and her experiences there. She's tough but quite good at her job. The narrative moves along with plenty of background information allowing the reader to get to know the character as well as the police procedural details. The writing is good and all of Katie's personal and professional relationships enhance the story. I can't wait to read the next installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Things are really heating up for Detective Katie Scott as she's just been named as the head of the cold case unit with the Pine Valley Sheriff's Department. Her fist day finds her looking through files and getting used to her new office in the basement of the building, close to Forensics. She's coming off some rest after her previous missing girls case when her uncle, Sheriff Wayne Scott, gives her the new assignment and she's immediately put into action. The first item she notices to work on has to do with a 6-month old report on a possible kidnapping and assault case that was dropped because the witness was uncooperative. It surprises her that this is already a cold case but she's completely shocked when Amanda Payton, a 31-year-old nurse at First Memorial Hospital is found dead in a vacant lot near Whispering Pines. Then another woman claims that she also was abducted and managed to escape but is now a fearful resident at the local psychiatric facility. Who is taking these women and why? There's a lot more going on in this complicated investigation. NO SPOILERS.
I enjoyed this second in the series as much as the first. Katie Scott is a very interesting female character with her history of military service in Afghanistan and her Army K-9 training. Her dog, Cisco, is an important member of her team as well as her new partner, Deputy Sean McGaven. Her love interest, Chad Ferguson, a firefighter, has been a life-long friend. Katie, unfortunately, has some issues with PTSD from her time in service and her experiences there. She's tough but quite good at her job. The narrative moves along with plenty of background information allowing the reader to get to know the character as well as the police procedural details. The writing is good and all of Katie's personal and professional relationships enhance the story. I can't wait to read the next installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
October 13, 2019
3 Stars
Police procedural that unfortunately felt too choreographed/off-kilter to me.
Pros: I liked the ending, the intensity here is described well. I liked the K9 inclusion.
I also did not see the true culprits identity coming.
Cons: Events seem too choreographed and character dynamics felt misplaced, dialogue sometimes felt forced/too convenient. The PTSD flashbacks also broke immersion. I also had trouble with the inclusive thoughts of "truth" during some of the intense scenes, this made it feel out of place.
I also struggled to feel the terror of the culprit's presence, they seemed too PG-friendly, and again misplaced as a character.
I would suggest shifting the use of language around a little so the world doesn't seem to happily revolve around Detective Scott, and perhaps looking into some abnormal psychology for the culprit. This police procedural is missing a bit of that dark grit that crime thriller's really need.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture publishers for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Police procedural that unfortunately felt too choreographed/off-kilter to me.
Pros: I liked the ending, the intensity here is described well. I liked the K9 inclusion.
I also did not see the true culprits identity coming.
Cons: Events seem too choreographed and character dynamics felt misplaced, dialogue sometimes felt forced/too convenient. The PTSD flashbacks also broke immersion. I also had trouble with the inclusive thoughts of "truth" during some of the intense scenes, this made it feel out of place.
I also struggled to feel the terror of the culprit's presence, they seemed too PG-friendly, and again misplaced as a character.
I would suggest shifting the use of language around a little so the world doesn't seem to happily revolve around Detective Scott, and perhaps looking into some abnormal psychology for the culprit. This police procedural is missing a bit of that dark grit that crime thriller's really need.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture publishers for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2019
This is a great series and I really enjoyed this book.
Katie starts her new job looking at cold cases but soon a body is found and she’s asked to lead on the case.
Katie has been to see the victim the day before and feels like she’s let her down so does all she can to find the killer.
Her dog Cisco is part of the story again, and I love that he’s part of the investigation too.
McGaven works alongside Katie and they make a great team working their way though all the leads.
I really liked how this book built up to a breathtaking conclusion which had me racing through the pages.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Katie starts her new job looking at cold cases but soon a body is found and she’s asked to lead on the case.
Katie has been to see the victim the day before and feels like she’s let her down so does all she can to find the killer.
Her dog Cisco is part of the story again, and I love that he’s part of the investigation too.
McGaven works alongside Katie and they make a great team working their way though all the leads.
I really liked how this book built up to a breathtaking conclusion which had me racing through the pages.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 11, 2022
If I could give the writing a 1, but the plot a 4.5 I would. An overall 3 will have to do.
October 13, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Her Last Whisper, the second novel to feature Detective Katie Scott of the Pine Valley, California Sheriff’ Department.
Katie has just started as a Cold Case Detective and is looking over the open cases to find one suitable for investigation. She finds the sixth month old case of Amanda Payton who was kidnapped and held prisoner until she managed to escape. Katie visits Amanda to ask for help but is horrified when Amanda’s body is found murdered the next day. Then another woman disappears.
I thoroughly enjoyed Her Last Whisper which is a tense, exciting read with an interesting plot. It is told mainly from Katie’s third person perspective but there are glimpses of the latest victim’s suffering and the unnamed killer’s thoughts and actions. These latter are fairly standard and recount a twisted mind and the victim’s suffering, leaving the reader to try and guess the motive behind it. It’s fairly well done but doesn’t really interest me as I’m all about the investigation and I loved it in this novel. It covers a fair amount of ground, seems fairly logical and has enough reveals to keep the reader interested without giving too much away.
Katie Scott is a good protagonist. She is a smart, instinctual detective who trusts her “gut” to move the investigation forward in the right direction. It’s a good plot device to keep the reader interested but it sometimes requires a little swallowing of realism. She also suffers from undiagnosed PTSD from her time in the army but the novel doesn’t dwell on it although it gives the author the opportunity to emphasise the bonds of friendship she has and the need to count your blessings as life is too short etc. (a bit touchy-feely for me but maybe I’m just callous).
Her Last Whisper is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Katie has just started as a Cold Case Detective and is looking over the open cases to find one suitable for investigation. She finds the sixth month old case of Amanda Payton who was kidnapped and held prisoner until she managed to escape. Katie visits Amanda to ask for help but is horrified when Amanda’s body is found murdered the next day. Then another woman disappears.
I thoroughly enjoyed Her Last Whisper which is a tense, exciting read with an interesting plot. It is told mainly from Katie’s third person perspective but there are glimpses of the latest victim’s suffering and the unnamed killer’s thoughts and actions. These latter are fairly standard and recount a twisted mind and the victim’s suffering, leaving the reader to try and guess the motive behind it. It’s fairly well done but doesn’t really interest me as I’m all about the investigation and I loved it in this novel. It covers a fair amount of ground, seems fairly logical and has enough reveals to keep the reader interested without giving too much away.
Katie Scott is a good protagonist. She is a smart, instinctual detective who trusts her “gut” to move the investigation forward in the right direction. It’s a good plot device to keep the reader interested but it sometimes requires a little swallowing of realism. She also suffers from undiagnosed PTSD from her time in the army but the novel doesn’t dwell on it although it gives the author the opportunity to emphasise the bonds of friendship she has and the need to count your blessings as life is too short etc. (a bit touchy-feely for me but maybe I’m just callous).
Her Last Whisper is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
October 25, 2019
The first book in this series was hitting bull’s eye and now Katie is back!
We already saw when we first met her that she certainly is no kitty to handle without gloves. Despite everything she has been through she is determined like a dog with a bone. She does not give up until she has uncovered every detail and has put a stop to the culprit’s actions.
It does not matter how many hours you invest in your job, do not put love, family and friends on the backburner.
This was a creepy, complex and oh so captivating book. I just loved it. I hope Katie will be back soon. 5 stars.
Thank you, Jennifer Chase and Bookouture (via Netgalley)
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
We already saw when we first met her that she certainly is no kitty to handle without gloves. Despite everything she has been through she is determined like a dog with a bone. She does not give up until she has uncovered every detail and has put a stop to the culprit’s actions.
It does not matter how many hours you invest in your job, do not put love, family and friends on the backburner.
This was a creepy, complex and oh so captivating book. I just loved it. I hope Katie will be back soon. 5 stars.
Thank you, Jennifer Chase and Bookouture (via Netgalley)
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
June 6, 2022
Now a fully fledged Detective, Army veteran Katie Scott has been put in charge of her uncle's Sheriff Department's cold cases. And the case Katie decides to focus on happens to be more complex than first thought.
Nurse Amanda Payton escaped from a hostage situation six months prior, literally straight into police. Despite being completely distressed and disoriented, Amanda was able to provide information about her kidnapping. But, upon investigation, there wasn't any evidence, and the case ran cold.
Wanting to solve the case once and for all, Katie tracks down Amanda. The now former nurse is still traumatised by her ordeal, and whilst Katie believes her encounter, something just doesn't add up. A day later, Amanda's body is discovered near an abandoned housing estate. Lo and behold, Katie is suddenly placed in charge of her first homicide.
Very quickly, it becomes apparent that the murder is linked to similar abductions and other attacks. All victims were known to Amanda, and not only is the housing estate, but also a busy hospital are the keys to solve this once and for all...
I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment. We learn more about Katie's experiences serving in Afghanistan, with the arrival of her former Seargant and also through flashbacks. Katie's loyal companion, Cisco also gets more action, now working as an unofficial police K-9. The partnership between Katie and Deputy McGaven is brilliant and it's easy to tell that they are going to become good mates away from work!
I've just read the sypnosis for the third book, and it's going to be a doozy!! This series is fast becoming very addictive!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🎆/5
Nurse Amanda Payton escaped from a hostage situation six months prior, literally straight into police. Despite being completely distressed and disoriented, Amanda was able to provide information about her kidnapping. But, upon investigation, there wasn't any evidence, and the case ran cold.
Wanting to solve the case once and for all, Katie tracks down Amanda. The now former nurse is still traumatised by her ordeal, and whilst Katie believes her encounter, something just doesn't add up. A day later, Amanda's body is discovered near an abandoned housing estate. Lo and behold, Katie is suddenly placed in charge of her first homicide.
Very quickly, it becomes apparent that the murder is linked to similar abductions and other attacks. All victims were known to Amanda, and not only is the housing estate, but also a busy hospital are the keys to solve this once and for all...
I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment. We learn more about Katie's experiences serving in Afghanistan, with the arrival of her former Seargant and also through flashbacks. Katie's loyal companion, Cisco also gets more action, now working as an unofficial police K-9. The partnership between Katie and Deputy McGaven is brilliant and it's easy to tell that they are going to become good mates away from work!
I've just read the sypnosis for the third book, and it's going to be a doozy!! This series is fast becoming very addictive!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🎆/5
September 10, 2021
Another interesting visit with Detective Katie Scott. She has permanently joined her uncles squad and is heading the cold case squad. In this book she takes on a case only 6 months old but just didn’t sit right with her. I really enjoy this series. Diving into next book.
January 1, 2020
From the gripping opening scene, to the dramatic climax, Her Last Whisper is an intriguing and explosive thriller. You will not be able to put it down.
No wait, seriously, you won't. Just ask my husband, who kept reminding me to turn off the lamp and go to sleep. Or when he reminded me that the kids will be getting up in a few hours, so it might be a good idea to be conscious when they do. Also, this gem, that coffee can only do so much. He was right, but don't tell him that.
Besides the amazing plot, I really loved Katie Scott. Not only is she a well rounded character, but Jennifer Chase does an amazing job depicting her PTSD. Mental health is such an important and relevant topic, and I love when authors really get it right. I felt like I was in Katie's head and feeling everything with her. Which is a lot.
I read book one in this series and absolutely had to read book two. Katie is now one of my favorite literary detectives, probably because I can relate to her so much. It doesn't hurt that her partner in crime is an adorable, protective dog named Cisco.
If you like crime thrillers, grab this series right now. It's a lot like the Women's Murder Club by James Patterson, but with even more heart.
No wait, seriously, you won't. Just ask my husband, who kept reminding me to turn off the lamp and go to sleep. Or when he reminded me that the kids will be getting up in a few hours, so it might be a good idea to be conscious when they do. Also, this gem, that coffee can only do so much. He was right, but don't tell him that.
Besides the amazing plot, I really loved Katie Scott. Not only is she a well rounded character, but Jennifer Chase does an amazing job depicting her PTSD. Mental health is such an important and relevant topic, and I love when authors really get it right. I felt like I was in Katie's head and feeling everything with her. Which is a lot.
I read book one in this series and absolutely had to read book two. Katie is now one of my favorite literary detectives, probably because I can relate to her so much. It doesn't hurt that her partner in crime is an adorable, protective dog named Cisco.
If you like crime thrillers, grab this series right now. It's a lot like the Women's Murder Club by James Patterson, but with even more heart.
October 21, 2019
Her Last Whisper by Jennifer Chase
Detective Katie Scott #2
Wham...a woman comes from nowhere and puts herself in front of a police car claiming she escaped from kidnapping that lasted for almost a week. Nearly incoherent and fearful the main word that she says, and is mentioned throughout the book, is TRUTH. That is the hook but we don’t see this woman again till Katie Scott is back on the job after a rest from whatever happened in the first book of the series. Katie’s first cold case happens to be the kidnapping even though the woman is still alive. And there I realized that cold cases are not always murders.
Katie is working in her uncle’s police department, is a war veteran who worked as a K-9 handler in the army and is back on the job as a policeman after her time in the war. She has flashbacks and PTSD and is a bit of a mess but manages to hold it together most of the time. When she goes to interview Peyton, the kidnapped woman, she finds a woman still fearful for her life and very difficult to talk to. When Peyton ends up dead...things heat up. There are more kidnappings and murders, red herrings here and there, a friend from the army that shows up needing her to help him find someone, a woman that she eventually helps, an old friend (Chad) that could be more if she is willing and of course...finding out who the serial murder is and the motivation for the murders.
I am not sure what I think of Katie. I never really got a “feel” for who she is and what makes her tick. I liked her relationship with Cisco, her K-9 dog from the military now retired, but never really saw who she had been before or during the war or what she found important in her life. She could be intense on the job and focused but she didn’t have “friends” that I could see. For some reason I felt she was guarded and unwilling to put herself out there in situations with people she might be able to be friends with. Perhaps the first book had more about her or the future books will.
On the case Katie works with a number of people that will be part of the series and over time become “family”. It seems that she and Chad will be testing the waters for “more” in the next book as he fights fires and she closes cold cases.
What I liked:
* Not knowing who the killer was right away
* Cisco – great dog
* The men in Katie’s life – all seemed nice guys who really cared about herrings
* Katie’s logical mind and the way she pursued the case
* Nick’s part in the book – wonder if he and his brother will show up in future books
* Deputy McGaven – seems like a good man
* Jane Doe’s happy ending
What I did not like:
* The sicko serial killer (that’s a given)
* Not being able to get a real feel for Katie
Did I enjoy this book? I think so
Would I read more in this series? Perhaps...to see if Katie grows on me
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
Detective Katie Scott #2
Wham...a woman comes from nowhere and puts herself in front of a police car claiming she escaped from kidnapping that lasted for almost a week. Nearly incoherent and fearful the main word that she says, and is mentioned throughout the book, is TRUTH. That is the hook but we don’t see this woman again till Katie Scott is back on the job after a rest from whatever happened in the first book of the series. Katie’s first cold case happens to be the kidnapping even though the woman is still alive. And there I realized that cold cases are not always murders.
Katie is working in her uncle’s police department, is a war veteran who worked as a K-9 handler in the army and is back on the job as a policeman after her time in the war. She has flashbacks and PTSD and is a bit of a mess but manages to hold it together most of the time. When she goes to interview Peyton, the kidnapped woman, she finds a woman still fearful for her life and very difficult to talk to. When Peyton ends up dead...things heat up. There are more kidnappings and murders, red herrings here and there, a friend from the army that shows up needing her to help him find someone, a woman that she eventually helps, an old friend (Chad) that could be more if she is willing and of course...finding out who the serial murder is and the motivation for the murders.
I am not sure what I think of Katie. I never really got a “feel” for who she is and what makes her tick. I liked her relationship with Cisco, her K-9 dog from the military now retired, but never really saw who she had been before or during the war or what she found important in her life. She could be intense on the job and focused but she didn’t have “friends” that I could see. For some reason I felt she was guarded and unwilling to put herself out there in situations with people she might be able to be friends with. Perhaps the first book had more about her or the future books will.
On the case Katie works with a number of people that will be part of the series and over time become “family”. It seems that she and Chad will be testing the waters for “more” in the next book as he fights fires and she closes cold cases.
What I liked:
* Not knowing who the killer was right away
* Cisco – great dog
* The men in Katie’s life – all seemed nice guys who really cared about herrings
* Katie’s logical mind and the way she pursued the case
* Nick’s part in the book – wonder if he and his brother will show up in future books
* Deputy McGaven – seems like a good man
* Jane Doe’s happy ending
What I did not like:
* The sicko serial killer (that’s a given)
* Not being able to get a real feel for Katie
Did I enjoy this book? I think so
Would I read more in this series? Perhaps...to see if Katie grows on me
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
October 21, 2019
WoW.............What a brilliant book Her Last Whisper by Jennifer Chase was. This is the second book in the Detective Katie Scott series.
I loved the first book called Little girls Sleeping and this was cracking read as well.
Detective Katie Scott has finally taking up a new post at the Pine Valley Police Department as a stand alone detective in the new cold cases department. Detective Katie Scott returned to her new position after a period of rest and recovery after working as a member of staff who were working on a very distressing case. Katie suffers from PTSD and sometimes her job role can bring back all emotions and sadness she would like to forget from her past memory. Within this new position she has a chance to investigate old cases that have gone cold and are unsolved within the Pine Valley Police Department and hopefully solve the cases which help loved ones live again after the unexplained death of a loved one.
Detective Katie Scott starts to investigate a cold case from 6 months ago which involved a kidnapping of a young woman called Amanda Peyton, she is a much loved nurse. Amanda was battered and bruised, she had escaped and ran out into the headlights of a passing patrol car. She claimed to have just escaped a kidnapping, but with no strong evidence. The case went cold and it was closed.
Katie mets with Amanda and asks her questions on what happen to her 6 months ago and she promises to keep her safe, especially as Amanda does not feel safe. She knows he will come and kidnap her again. She may not survive this time.
Did the Pine Valley police made a fatal mistake??
However, a day later Detective Katie Scott is called to a murder scene, a couple who were out jogging through the beautiful woodlands of Pine Valley, found the victim of a naked body of a woman. She looked more like a mannequin than a woman, her long brown hair is slick and wet, her body rigid in the grass. Katie recognises her as Amanda Payton, who she was talking to yesterday, this was the woman she promised to protect!!!!!
Who kidnapped and then murdered Amanda Peyton?
Will Detective Katie Scott catch the killer before they strike again?
This book has lots of twists and turns throughout and I enjoyed this book throughout. I highly recommend Her last whisper it was just brilliant!
Big Thank you to NetGalley, the author Jennifer Chase and Bookouture publishers for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the first book called Little girls Sleeping and this was cracking read as well.
Detective Katie Scott has finally taking up a new post at the Pine Valley Police Department as a stand alone detective in the new cold cases department. Detective Katie Scott returned to her new position after a period of rest and recovery after working as a member of staff who were working on a very distressing case. Katie suffers from PTSD and sometimes her job role can bring back all emotions and sadness she would like to forget from her past memory. Within this new position she has a chance to investigate old cases that have gone cold and are unsolved within the Pine Valley Police Department and hopefully solve the cases which help loved ones live again after the unexplained death of a loved one.
Detective Katie Scott starts to investigate a cold case from 6 months ago which involved a kidnapping of a young woman called Amanda Peyton, she is a much loved nurse. Amanda was battered and bruised, she had escaped and ran out into the headlights of a passing patrol car. She claimed to have just escaped a kidnapping, but with no strong evidence. The case went cold and it was closed.
Katie mets with Amanda and asks her questions on what happen to her 6 months ago and she promises to keep her safe, especially as Amanda does not feel safe. She knows he will come and kidnap her again. She may not survive this time.
Did the Pine Valley police made a fatal mistake??
However, a day later Detective Katie Scott is called to a murder scene, a couple who were out jogging through the beautiful woodlands of Pine Valley, found the victim of a naked body of a woman. She looked more like a mannequin than a woman, her long brown hair is slick and wet, her body rigid in the grass. Katie recognises her as Amanda Payton, who she was talking to yesterday, this was the woman she promised to protect!!!!!
Who kidnapped and then murdered Amanda Peyton?
Will Detective Katie Scott catch the killer before they strike again?
This book has lots of twists and turns throughout and I enjoyed this book throughout. I highly recommend Her last whisper it was just brilliant!
Big Thank you to NetGalley, the author Jennifer Chase and Bookouture publishers for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2019
I don't expect much more than some some quick and easy entertainment when I pick up a thriller or a mystery, and while this one did have that, it also had just too many distractions for me to really like it.
Pros: I did like that the main character was a female detective who had her life pretty focused even with PTSD. I will always love when a dog is thrown into the mix, especially a hero dog. The book was fast paced and the basic mystery was... fine. You don't know who the bad guy is until it's revealed, and it wasn't an illogical choice. Also, though this is Book #2, there appears to be no need to have read Book #1.
Cons: Dialog wasn't always logical (to my mind), and there were a lot of weird red herrings that didn't really go anywhere and also didn't really make sense. It was also really weird that Katie's uncle (the sheriff) was worried that she was taking too much on and was overworked. The woman had ONE case to solve, and at that point hadn't been working more than 8 hour days. She even had time for a side search for her friend's missing brother *during* those 8 hours. She wasn't remotely overworked. I skimmed through the PTSD flashbacks. The circumstances of Nick's arrival made no sense and seemed just a reason to cause drama (why drop by in the middle of the night thumping around the house in the dark, when you have another place to stay and could have just come by in the daytime like a normal person???). And finally my one giant pet peeve: The killer delays killing the protagonist just so he can brag/confess everything he's done.
It is a quick and easy thriller with a bunch of unforced errors that killed my enthusiasm. This book could have easily been cleaned up, deleted a bunch of these left turns in the plot, and ended up with a very nice mystery/thriller. I wish they had, but as is I can't give it more than 3 stars.
Side Note: The synopsis on Goodreads and NetGalley is not at all accurate and that really irritates me. Who wrote it?? Did you even read the book? This had no effect on my review, but that is seriously irritating. Give me that job.
I did receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this, but I wouldn't encourage it either. I do see a great future for the character of Katie Scott and hope her next mystery is a little more cleaned up.
Pros: I did like that the main character was a female detective who had her life pretty focused even with PTSD. I will always love when a dog is thrown into the mix, especially a hero dog. The book was fast paced and the basic mystery was... fine. You don't know who the bad guy is until it's revealed, and it wasn't an illogical choice. Also, though this is Book #2, there appears to be no need to have read Book #1.
Cons: Dialog wasn't always logical (to my mind), and there were a lot of weird red herrings that didn't really go anywhere and also didn't really make sense. It was also really weird that Katie's uncle (the sheriff) was worried that she was taking too much on and was overworked. The woman had ONE case to solve, and at that point hadn't been working more than 8 hour days. She even had time for a side search for her friend's missing brother *during* those 8 hours. She wasn't remotely overworked. I skimmed through the PTSD flashbacks. The circumstances of Nick's arrival made no sense and seemed just a reason to cause drama (why drop by in the middle of the night thumping around the house in the dark, when you have another place to stay and could have just come by in the daytime like a normal person???). And finally my one giant pet peeve: The killer delays killing the protagonist just so he can brag/confess everything he's done.
It is a quick and easy thriller with a bunch of unforced errors that killed my enthusiasm. This book could have easily been cleaned up, deleted a bunch of these left turns in the plot, and ended up with a very nice mystery/thriller. I wish they had, but as is I can't give it more than 3 stars.
Side Note: The synopsis on Goodreads and NetGalley is not at all accurate and that really irritates me. Who wrote it?? Did you even read the book? This had no effect on my review, but that is seriously irritating. Give me that job.
I did receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this, but I wouldn't encourage it either. I do see a great future for the character of Katie Scott and hope her next mystery is a little more cleaned up.
October 24, 2019
Her Last Whisper is the second in the police procedural series featuring Detective Katie Scott. Having delighted in the first book in the series - Little Girls Sleeping - I was desperately keen to jump straight in and read this next superb instalment.
Set in Pine Valley, California, newly recruited Katie is called upon to investigate the mysterious circumstances when a naked body is discovered in the woodlands by a couple out jogging. Working in her new role in the Cold Cases Department, Katie is horrified to learn that the dead woman is Amanda Payton - a much-loved local nurse and the woman at the heart of an unsolved case she’s been investigating.
Once again, Katie brings her warming and personable attributes to this thrilling story, even though she is still suffering the symptoms of crippling PTSD.
This novel was a fantastic, solid and well-balanced police procedural that had me glued to the pages and I didn't want to put it down as I was desperate to know the outcome of the story.
The exciting plot was very cleverly written being so gripping and suspenseful and wonderfully paced, but not unbelievable. As Katie embarked on an exciting and exhilarating mission to solve the case, all of the time the tension was being ratcheted up a notch as Jennifer Chase hit me with some captivating misdirection and planted a few red herrings. The writing flowed effortlessly as the author’s masterful prose elevated the novel above that of traditional police procedurals. I found myself really rooting for the Katie to succeed.
A brilliant, nail-biting and highly recommended read.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Set in Pine Valley, California, newly recruited Katie is called upon to investigate the mysterious circumstances when a naked body is discovered in the woodlands by a couple out jogging. Working in her new role in the Cold Cases Department, Katie is horrified to learn that the dead woman is Amanda Payton - a much-loved local nurse and the woman at the heart of an unsolved case she’s been investigating.
Once again, Katie brings her warming and personable attributes to this thrilling story, even though she is still suffering the symptoms of crippling PTSD.
This novel was a fantastic, solid and well-balanced police procedural that had me glued to the pages and I didn't want to put it down as I was desperate to know the outcome of the story.
The exciting plot was very cleverly written being so gripping and suspenseful and wonderfully paced, but not unbelievable. As Katie embarked on an exciting and exhilarating mission to solve the case, all of the time the tension was being ratcheted up a notch as Jennifer Chase hit me with some captivating misdirection and planted a few red herrings. The writing flowed effortlessly as the author’s masterful prose elevated the novel above that of traditional police procedurals. I found myself really rooting for the Katie to succeed.
A brilliant, nail-biting and highly recommended read.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 8, 2019
4.5 Stars
This is the second book in the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase.
What a great read! I am really enjoying detective fiction and police procedurals right now.
Katie is a new hire in the police department in Pine Valley. She is now head of the cold case division. And her first case turns out to be a doozy. A woman is discovered by two police officers bloody and nearly naked claiming she had been kidnapped. But the officers can find no truth behind her claims. The case goes cold and now six months later, Katie is digging into the details.
I am fascinated by this stuff. There are a couple of love interests here. A bestie from the service, Nick, who asks her for a favor and Chad the firefighter who is jealous of Nick and the time he spends with Katie. It seems the only family around is her uncle who got her the new job and her dog Cisco who used to go on cases with her but now is sort of retired from investigation work.
This isn’t the type of book that scares you and keeps you up at night but it is a solid read that makes you yearn for more. I can’t wait to see what else Jennifer Chase comes up with next for Katie Scott. I will definitely be there at the checkout with my money in hand.
If you love detective fiction or police procedurals, you will want to add this to your TBR for sure!
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the second book in the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase.
What a great read! I am really enjoying detective fiction and police procedurals right now.
Katie is a new hire in the police department in Pine Valley. She is now head of the cold case division. And her first case turns out to be a doozy. A woman is discovered by two police officers bloody and nearly naked claiming she had been kidnapped. But the officers can find no truth behind her claims. The case goes cold and now six months later, Katie is digging into the details.
I am fascinated by this stuff. There are a couple of love interests here. A bestie from the service, Nick, who asks her for a favor and Chad the firefighter who is jealous of Nick and the time he spends with Katie. It seems the only family around is her uncle who got her the new job and her dog Cisco who used to go on cases with her but now is sort of retired from investigation work.
This isn’t the type of book that scares you and keeps you up at night but it is a solid read that makes you yearn for more. I can’t wait to see what else Jennifer Chase comes up with next for Katie Scott. I will definitely be there at the checkout with my money in hand.
If you love detective fiction or police procedurals, you will want to add this to your TBR for sure!
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
December 17, 2019
First, I want to thank Jennifer Chase and Bookouture for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
For such a short fast read Her Last Whisper by Jennifer Chase was filled with incredibly written storylines that will leave you speechless. Jennifer Chase is an incredible writer as she incorporates heartache, important issues in today’s society, very interesting investigations, and unique characters.
My heart immediately went out to Amanda who was abducted, tortured and was luckily able to escape Why did my heart go out to her? Because nobody believed her story!!! That is until Detective Scott came onto the scene! She believed in her but by then it was too late. However, this is just the begging of the mind-blowing story!!
If you like books on abductions, criminal investigations, medical forensics investigations, mystery, suspense, etc. the this is the book for you.
For such a short fast read Her Last Whisper by Jennifer Chase was filled with incredibly written storylines that will leave you speechless. Jennifer Chase is an incredible writer as she incorporates heartache, important issues in today’s society, very interesting investigations, and unique characters.
My heart immediately went out to Amanda who was abducted, tortured and was luckily able to escape Why did my heart go out to her? Because nobody believed her story!!! That is until Detective Scott came onto the scene! She believed in her but by then it was too late. However, this is just the begging of the mind-blowing story!!
If you like books on abductions, criminal investigations, medical forensics investigations, mystery, suspense, etc. the this is the book for you.
November 7, 2019
Katie Scott, suffering from undiagnosed PTSD, has just been promoted to the rank of detective on the Pine Valley police force. Her specific job will be to review and (hopefully) solve the cold cases that have baffled the police. Her first case, just six months old, involves a kidnapping. Fortunately, the victim survived her ordeal but, without evidence, the police have labeled the case “cold”. When her cold case suddenly turns “hot”, Katie is put in charge of solving a murder.
Her Last Whisper is the second book in the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase. It is a well-thought out police procedural with a lot of action and suspense, and an interesting array of characters. Although I haven’t read the first book in the series, it was still fairly easy to catch up with the plot line.
While I enjoyed Her Last Whisper, there were some loose ends and unanswered questions that somewhat diminished my enjoyment of the book. The interspersed stories of her military duty were also distracting, as was the additional investigation involving an old army buddy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed many aspects of the book and will probably read more by this author. I would give it 3.5 stars.
Her Last Whisper is the second book in the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase. It is a well-thought out police procedural with a lot of action and suspense, and an interesting array of characters. Although I haven’t read the first book in the series, it was still fairly easy to catch up with the plot line.
While I enjoyed Her Last Whisper, there were some loose ends and unanswered questions that somewhat diminished my enjoyment of the book. The interspersed stories of her military duty were also distracting, as was the additional investigation involving an old army buddy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed many aspects of the book and will probably read more by this author. I would give it 3.5 stars.
September 29, 2019
Katie Scott has been assigned to the cold case division for the Pine Valley Sheriffs Dept. A case from 6 months ago grabs her attention. A woman ran out in front of a police car, battered, claiming she had been abducted but escaped. When no evidence is found to corroborate her story the lead detective thinks she is lying, so the victim stops co operating. Something about the case raises Katie’s radar and she wants to follow up to see if anything was missed. The path she embarks on is full of twists and turns and when the killer is revealed I was surprised.
This is the 2nd book in a series. I haven’t read the first but had no trouble following this book. Lots of twists and turns in the story. The book also addresses the issue of PTSD. It is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely read her again. I give this book 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
This is the 2nd book in a series. I haven’t read the first but had no trouble following this book. Lots of twists and turns in the story. The book also addresses the issue of PTSD. It is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely read her again. I give this book 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
October 18, 2019
Katie has just been assigned a new assignment. Taking over cold cases is something she looks forward to and in a day she is assigned one which is unusual. Just six months old and already consigned to being a cold case because the "victim is not co operative".
Taking it from there trying to find out what and why Amanda is so terrified is not easy and when she fails and her body is found, Katie is more than determined to find out parallel links to other cases in the county and bring justice to the victims.
When another girl goes missing and then another Katie knows she has her work cut out for her because the suspect is someone who is in plain sight, and none of the detectives seem to be able to see it.
Twisty in the nicest possible way, not very complicated where your head turns in trying to connect the dots, this was a good mystery thriller read.
Taking it from there trying to find out what and why Amanda is so terrified is not easy and when she fails and her body is found, Katie is more than determined to find out parallel links to other cases in the county and bring justice to the victims.
When another girl goes missing and then another Katie knows she has her work cut out for her because the suspect is someone who is in plain sight, and none of the detectives seem to be able to see it.
Twisty in the nicest possible way, not very complicated where your head turns in trying to connect the dots, this was a good mystery thriller read.
November 8, 2019
Detective Katie Scott, is working cold cases in her new position. One is for a woman who was held hostage but there was no further follow up. Katie begins to investigate and soon a body turns up. Can Katie solve this case in a race against time when another woman has gone missing. Keeping her ptsd, and a blossoming romance under control is becoming hard for Katie. Is she strong enough?
What a great second instalment in this series. Katie is really evolving into a brilliant character and I hope she gets more laughs in her next book!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
What a great second instalment in this series. Katie is really evolving into a brilliant character and I hope she gets more laughs in her next book!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
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