A clever new crime series, I particularly like the writing style and the voice of Dan. Interested to see how the series develops.

This book by Weatherley offers up an interesting plot, unfolding from the point of view of our lead detective, DI Dan Riley and a woman we learn goes by multiple names and has murderous tendencies and intent on playing out a nursery rhyme to satisfy childhood angst.

I have to admit though that I found neither lead particularly likeable. Of course Danni-Jo (as she’s mostly known when we meet her) is supposed to be socio / psychopathic and – in reality – she’s probably a little more complex than Dan who I didn’t really engage with at all. He’s still struggling since his pregnant girlfriend was killed two years earlier and He. Talks. About. Her. Constantly. Like, seriously we’re in his head and he doesn’t shut up about her. The dude needs some serious therapy. However, there’s a glimmer of hope for him as he meets someone online and is tempted, for the first time since Rachael. But he’s very judge-y and not particularly nice about his colleagues and had few redeemable qualities. I’m not sure if Weatherley meant to write him like this, or if I just took a dislike to the poor guy.

I did think the book could have done with a bit more of an edit and noted a proliferation of adjectives and adverbs in the early part in particular. As I’m pretty wordy myself I can sympathise with Weatherley on this front but think it’s something an editor should pick up, as well as some phrasing that I don’t think is completely accurate around schizophrenia (vs multiple personality disorder) and injection of ‘cognitive dissonance’ and the like.

It does however have a lot of potential and I quite enjoyed the ending, which doesn’t really go down the usual predictable route in terms of a standoff and protagonist’s life being threatened before the big reveal. It was a bit twistier than that which I liked.

Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Last Cry by Anna-Lou Weatherley is book 1 in the Detective Dan Riley Series.

Wow this is easily one of the best books I have read this year. I feel like I have been inside the head of a psychopath and I now know what makes them tick!

The book was fast paced and engaging and kept me turning pages unable to put the book down. It was shocking and dark but also had times of bright compassion and empathy. The balance of dark and light was excellent.

Detective Dan Riley is struggling after the death of his girlfriend, still in mourning and battling his grief he throws himself into this case trying to find a serial killer. With many twists, turns and surprises this book will keep you on your toes and guessing about what is coming next.

Last Cry is pretty unputdownable (is that even a word! LOL), I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into the story and living it through to the gory end. This book Is one to read so don’t miss it you won’t regret it.

I am giving Last Cry a bit fat 5 stars, it totally deserves it and I highly recommend it. Bring on book 2!

Last Cry by Anna-Lou Weatherley is a book you just have to give a try. A female serial killer is pretty unique in itself but this book adds more than just murder and mayhem, it also gives you mystery and psychological insights to the killer that interest and even tugs at your heartstrings a tad. Detective Dan Riley is after this mysterious serial killer while stil trying to get past his pregnant girlfriend being killed in an accident...he unknowingly meets up and has an attraction to "Florence" the serial killer on his first computer date, what are the odds! This book will grab you and drag you through to the end leaving you wanting more from this author! Looking forward to reading more in this series, thank you Anna-Lou Weatherley and Netgalley for this chance to read a great book!

This was a fun hunter/prey sort of mystery novel that isn't too gory. I usually hate stories where we know who the killer already is, but here it's the whole point. The novel is built around Detective RIley hunting a serial murderer who is killing based on the Goldilocks and the three bears story, and tries to make each scene look like a suicide. He is trying to move past the death of his pregnant fiancee (which is a tired cliche, but only somewhat interferes with the actual murder plot) and begins to flirt with the woman the reader knows is the killer. There is a fair amount of psychology discussed, and reading the thoughts of the murderer is actually creepy. Aside from the dead fiancee, the old cliche of seducing a security guard to get footage shows up, which I really think they might have trained for. It was still a fun take on hunting a killer, especially with a female killer. and the cliche moments are usually easy to forget about.

"Fear is the most debilitating of all the emotions. It paralyses you, governs your every waking moment and thought. It conditions you. And I lived in fear."

When a wealthy older man is found with his wrists slit, bled out in a bathtub at an expensive hotel, DI Daniel Riley is called to the scene. It becomes immediately apparent that this was only made to look like a suicide. Something more sinister is going on here. As he and his team investigate and find ties to "Goldilocks" and "Daddy Bear", they are quite certain that another murder will soon take place as the killer completes the story. But what is the reason for The Three Bears theme and the deaths? "Sometimes there is no why." NO SPOILERS. You must get this immediately and read it to find out!

This was a very fast paced and extremely well written thriller with some interesting characters -- in fact, I can't wait for #2 so that I can get to know DI Riley better. I really empathized with him, (but can we give the whole Rachel thing a rest now - it was a little much) and he seems to be a good, decent man who likely will get his head back in the game shortly. The other members of his team aren't that known to us yet, but very curious about them as well. I see a lot of potential for developing this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review. I definitely recommend it as one of the best detective novels I've read lately. It was very hard to put down! SO, Anna-Lou Weatherley, a new author to me, where is your second book -- please don't make me beg or wait too long!

The Last Cry Anna-Lou Weatherley

I struggled with writing this blog. There is so much good to say about this book; the story, the characters, the writing, but there is a couple of things that very nearly put me off it.

I’m glad they didn’t, I’m glad I stuck with it to the end. It’s a great book with a great story so what could I have possibly found wrong with it. I’ll tell you at the end of the blog.

The book starts with a murder in a hotel. I think it’s safe to say that the victim, a successful banker, is killed by a very attractive Escort, or a woman posing as one. The killer is aware of how to stage a scene using Counter Forensics. She makes the death look like a suicide at first inspection, but she knows that a good cop will spot it for what it is straight away. Is that what she wants?

That’s exactly what she gets. DI Dan Riley is sent to the scene and immediately see’s it for what it is. Riley is a complex character who is still in mourning for the loss of his partner, and their unborn child, in a motorcycle accident 2 years ago. As much as he is mourning he is also trying to get his life back on track, and has started to dabble in the dating scene. The scenes where he is conflicted about his basic feelings, of wanting to be with somebody else whilst feeling guilt at charting on his dead partner, are brilliantly written.

The book has two protagonists, the killer, and Dan Riley. Chapters are devoted to each, and every chapter had me hooked. The killer is horrible and everybody will be fully aware of what she is doing, and wonder how stupid the other victims are for not seeing her for what she is. But that’s the thing about killers, they don’t have a sign tattooed on them to give us a warning.

Riley is just the type of man you’d like to share a drink with, or just sit down with and have a chat. He is what most Police Officers are, normal.

The killer is working to a plan and the bodies are starting to pile up, but will Riley managed to identify her, and stop her before she commits her worse crime. I can guarantee that the last 30 pages of this book will have readers gripped, and what an ending. By the time you get to the end you will think you have it all sorted in your mind; but then there’s that last few pages.


So, what were the things that were wrong with this book. I read it on a Kindle and I thought there was a reason that I didn’t know the name of the main protagonist, even though he’s there almost from the start. Then I began to wonder if the author had just forgot that she hadn’t given him a name; but no, we find out his name 14% into the book. I knew everything about him before I knew his name, it just felt strange

Secondly, and this would usually really wind me up, you can drive a bus through the inaccuracies in the Policing in this book. There are problems with procedures and ranks. There are things that happen during the investigation that had me shacking my head, after all if you have CCTV of somebody entering a room, how can you not have footage when they leave the same room.

But if you can get past these, this book is really worth reading. A great story, with a great ending.

Pages: 307
Publishers: Bookouture
Publishing Date: 31st January 2007.
Available to pre-order on Amazon

Fabulous book. A serial killer is hunted by Detective Dan Riley and his team. Grips you and doesn't let go. This is Book 1 and I can't wait for Book 2. Thank you NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Brilliant! From the electrifying first chapter, this book had me hooked and I could not put it down until I had got to the end. This writer is assured and delivers a perfect mystery. Original and compelling, this story stands out, in a league of its own. I loved this book from beginning to end and cannot wait for her next. SO thrilled I discovered this author. Another one to watch out for.