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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Kristi Bentz is a true crime author that is attacked on the streets one night with her husband. After the traffic attack that takes the life of her husband, Kristi is thrust deep into speculation, trying to discover who her killer could be. Her father, a detective in the police force, believes the killer to be a resurrected serial killer that he helped take down, much to everyone's disbelief. Both Kristi and her father dive into her past, scouring her famous best-selling true crime novels about local killers and famous murders whilst uncovering clues left behind, targeting Kristi.
This was an intriguing read from start to finish. I did feel that the first half of the book was on the slower side (I did this as a buddy read and read it as a standalone novel). This book is mostly focused on the plot with a tiny bit of character development, which I have to admit, I wish there was a little more in-depth turmoil with the characters. Overall some of the side characters, like Montoya, felt a bit flat to me.
The plot was also slightly complex, moreso focusing on the "who-done-it" aspect while balancing it out with the perspective of the mysterious killer. The conclusion and the murderer was definitely not who I was anticipating it to be, so I am happy to admit that I enjoyed the small plot twist. (09/2023)
This was an intriguing read from start to finish. I did feel that the first half of the book was on the slower side (I did this as a buddy read and read it as a standalone novel). This book is mostly focused on the plot with a tiny bit of character development, which I have to admit, I wish there was a little more in-depth turmoil with the characters. Overall some of the side characters, like Montoya, felt a bit flat to me.
The plot was also slightly complex, moreso focusing on the "who-done-it" aspect while balancing it out with the perspective of the mysterious killer. The conclusion and the murderer was definitely not who I was anticipating it to be, so I am happy to admit that I enjoyed the small plot twist. (09/2023)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder
Minor: Pregnancy
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a buddy read with Cat! I am going to say right now, I would highly recommend looking up trigger warnings before reading this.
Kristi and her husband Jay had just got into a huge argument and Kristi said things she shouldn't have and she regrets it the whole book. Jay ends up getting murdered as he was saving his wife from getting attacked on the streets of New Orleans. The attacker was meaning to kill Kristi but Jay stepped in front and took the bullet for his wife. Kristi now knows that her life will NEVER be the same again. She will have her times of grieving over her husband but she is also a true crime writer as she also publishes her own thriller books. Kristi's top seller book The Rosary Killer is talk of the town. Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya partner together to figure out who the killer is. With New Orleans having past serial killers and horrible homicides being committed Rick is set in stone that he knows who the killer is. Rick is worried sick for the safety of his daughter as she has also just found out she is pregnant and is also trying to figure out who is leaving her threatening messages with bible verses on them, stalking her everywhere she goes, and keeps taunting her. Police have been trying their best to figure this out but it seems like more and more crimes have been happening but the New Orleans police department has more cases on their hands but Kristi's attack is different from the homicides.
Kristi doesn't have any enemies that she can think of right off the bat who would do these hatred things. The killer keeps going after Kristi's family and something has to change. She has promised herself that she wouldn't grieve over her husband anymore and move on with her life. Kristi's author throughout the book is trying to give her an opportunity to start writing a second book but with everything going on she just isn't quite ready to deal with writing yet. Kristi's life is not the only one in danger as she is pregnant and has to think about the life of her unborn child. Rick has promised that she would be much more safer if he lived with her parents until they find out who the killer is but Kristi is NOT going to let the attacker win. With a little push from her body telling her to be herself and investigate, she figures that after the interview she went on, Kristi thought that Reggie and Hamilton Crooke would be behind this since they are the ones that hate her even more for writing a book about their crime and personal life.
Kristi throughout the whole book tries to plan her moves very carefully. Once she finds out she is pregnant she shuts her friends down and she is trying to take baby steps on figuring out her next moves. Kristi doesn't want her child to live the way she did always feeling like she is being watched by someone. She takes matters into her own hands when she decides that she is going to pay the Crookes a visit and see if they have anything to do with all this. Well..... will Kristi find out who the killer is as she walks into the house and sees that both Reggie and Hamilton have been murdered now. Blood all over the floor and it really makes sense to her that there could only be one person behind this but she doesn't know for sure.
This book not only has 1 killer but 2 killers that you will find out. Pay close attention to the details and you will narrow down the killers shortly. i didn't think the ending was going to happen like that. I was right about one of the killers but the second one I was NOT expecting!
I will say Kristi handled herself not in the best way but at least she figured out for herself that things needed to take action. She went out walking her dog Dave at night and with her being pregnant all she was doing is putting herself out there which pissed me off I will say.
Kristi and her husband Jay had just got into a huge argument and Kristi said things she shouldn't have and she regrets it the whole book. Jay ends up getting murdered as he was saving his wife from getting attacked on the streets of New Orleans. The attacker was meaning to kill Kristi but Jay stepped in front and took the bullet for his wife. Kristi now knows that her life will NEVER be the same again. She will have her times of grieving over her husband but she is also a true crime writer as she also publishes her own thriller books. Kristi's top seller book The Rosary Killer is talk of the town. Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya partner together to figure out who the killer is. With New Orleans having past serial killers and horrible homicides being committed Rick is set in stone that he knows who the killer is. Rick is worried sick for the safety of his daughter as she has also just found out she is pregnant and is also trying to figure out who is leaving her threatening messages with bible verses on them, stalking her everywhere she goes, and keeps taunting her. Police have been trying their best to figure this out but it seems like more and more crimes have been happening but the New Orleans police department has more cases on their hands but Kristi's attack is different from the homicides.
Kristi doesn't have any enemies that she can think of right off the bat who would do these hatred things. The killer keeps going after Kristi's family and something has to change. She has promised herself that she wouldn't grieve over her husband anymore and move on with her life. Kristi's author throughout the book is trying to give her an opportunity to start writing a second book but with everything going on she just isn't quite ready to deal with writing yet. Kristi's life is not the only one in danger as she is pregnant and has to think about the life of her unborn child. Rick has promised that she would be much more safer if he lived with her parents until they find out who the killer is but Kristi is NOT going to let the attacker win. With a little push from her body telling her to be herself and investigate, she figures that after the interview she went on, Kristi thought that Reggie and Hamilton Crooke would be behind this since they are the ones that hate her even more for writing a book about their crime and personal life.
Kristi throughout the whole book tries to plan her moves very carefully. Once she finds out she is pregnant she shuts her friends down and she is trying to take baby steps on figuring out her next moves. Kristi doesn't want her child to live the way she did always feeling like she is being watched by someone. She takes matters into her own hands when she decides that she is going to pay the Crookes a visit and see if they have anything to do with all this. Well..... will Kristi find out who the killer is as she walks into the house and sees that both Reggie and Hamilton have been murdered now. Blood all over the floor and it really makes sense to her that there could only be one person behind this but she doesn't know for sure.
This book not only has 1 killer but 2 killers that you will find out. Pay close attention to the details and you will narrow down the killers shortly. i didn't think the ending was going to happen like that. I was right about one of the killers but the second one I was NOT expecting!
I will say Kristi handled herself not in the best way but at least she figured out for herself that things needed to take action. She went out walking her dog Dave at night and with her being pregnant all she was doing is putting herself out there which pissed me off I will say.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Solid suspense thriller. I was instantly riveted to the story, despite the fact that I had not read a single one of the series before! It was easy to catch up. I imagine there are things I would have missed had I been an avid reader of these, but as it was, I had no issue reading it as a stand alone.
I enjoyed the tension from the dual crimes/events occurring. It made the tension between Rick and his partner realistic and propelled the story. I enjoyed the final ending, but it felt like a part of this was added to kick off another series. Which is fine, but I don't particularly gravitate toward series, so it was a bit wasted on me. Maybe. I may have to grab her next one to try that theory out!
I enjoyed the tension from the dual crimes/events occurring. It made the tension between Rick and his partner realistic and propelled the story. I enjoyed the final ending, but it felt like a part of this was added to kick off another series. Which is fine, but I don't particularly gravitate toward series, so it was a bit wasted on me. Maybe. I may have to grab her next one to try that theory out!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An enjoyable thriller - part of a detective series, but can definitely be read as a standalone (I wasn’t confused jumping in here at all).
We’re following two homicide detectives - Bentz and Montoya - as they uneasily suspect that a serial killer has come back to haunt New Orleans. Father John, who disguised himself as a priest when he strangled his victims with a rosary, was left for dead years ago in a swamp. But his body was never recovered. So are these new crimes a copycat - or is he really back?
The other perspective in The Last Sinner is Kristi, Bentz’s daughter who has just suffered a terrible tragedy. Could this be Father John as well? Or is someone else targeting her because of her career writing true crime novels?
I enjoyed reading from Kristi’s perspective most of all - as she navigates fresh grief, takes in two adorable animals, and tries to keep herself safe while also not allowing her stalker to take over her life.
I also liked the New Orleans setting, particularly the scenes in the bayou (gators galore!).
The book did drag a bit (I honestly think 100 pages could have been cut and the plot wouldn’t have changed), and there were some repetitive moments. I also didn’t love the brief fatphobic framing of a minor character.
But overall, I was pretty engaged.
CW: murder, death, stalking, abuse, religious bigotry, blood, fatphobia, gore, drug use, gun violence, infidelity, kidnapping, grief, pregnancy
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
dark
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder