Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Her Last Breath by Alison Belsham is an enthralling and gripping crime thriller that keeps you hooked right to the very end. The novel follows Detective Francis Sullivan as he is pulled into a deadly race against time to save a young woman's life, but it is only to soon be cut short when she passes away with a tattoo left on her body. From there on, another woman disappears and the plot takes an exciting and suspenseful twist.

Belsham manages to paint a vivid picture of the characters and plotline as she takes the reader on an action-packed journey to the unexpected conclusion. I would highly recommend this to readers of all ages, who enjoy a good crime thriller, as this book does not fail to deliver.

A good read, which kept my attention throughout. I would recommend this as a good holiday reading book. Very enjoyable.

Her Last Breath is the second book in the DI Sullivan series and an absolute belter of a read. There is enough background in my personal opinion for this one to work as a stand alone if you haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading The Tattoo Thief.

Brilliant, couldn't stop reading Great twists. Really looking forward to reading more from the author.

I wasn’t aware when reading that this was a book as part of a series however, didn’t feel as though I was missing anything too important. Alison has written a brilliant and intriguing thriller leaving the reader asking for more.

Really good read. Good depth in the characters and I didn’t pick the killer until right at the end. Lots of storylines and really well wrapped up. Will read more of this author. Recommend.

I didn’t realise this was the second book in the series but it honestly didn’t take away from the enjoyment of this one. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. A superb crime thriller that really is a must read.

Loved this book, a great read did not want to put it down. Can’t wait to read more from this wonderful author!

Fast paced and on the edge of my seat. I really felt like it was me racing to get the answers and find the killer. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this - all opinions are my own.

I cannot believe how long I waited to read this one! It seems crazy now that I picked it up and blew right through it, loving every page.

The second in a series (although can clearly be read as a standalone since I didn't even know it was a series until I started), I have to say I am fully hooked. I love a good crime/suspense read and this one delivers on all my favorite fronts - scrappy characters, demented killers, intense atmosphere and an entirely compelling plot. It was so fast paced that I flew through it in an afternoon.

This is the perfect mix of police procedural that feels like a thriller and I will be getting my hands on the first book next....and then hopefully the third one day soon!

If you didn't already know then I should probably advise that Alison Belsham is an author who pulls no punches. Her murders, fictional of course, are gruesome and very very inventive, and probably not for the faint of heart. That said, little of the action takes place on the page, but readers are left in no doubt as to the really heinous nature of the killers at large. You have been warned. To be honest, after the very unique nature of the murders in The Tattoo Thief, I did wonder how she would manage to come up with a suitably dark and twisted story a second time over. I needn't have worried though as she most certainly did, and it appears there are no ends to the depravity of the murderous souls in Brighton. And I always pictured it as a lovely, if somewhat busy, seaside town too ...

We join this story quite some time after the events of book one, although the author manages to intertwine the two tales as Francis Sullivan and Marni Mullins are waiting to give testimony in the trial of the eponymous Tattoo Thief. As if finding herself caught up in one grizzly murder case wasn't enough, Marni is pulled back into Sullivan's world when her son, Alex's, girlfriend is attacked and left for dead after walking out on him in a nightclub. Now the savvy reader will know simply by the extent of the injuries, that he's not really a viable suspect, at least in the eyes of this reader, but he's the only one the police have and that means trouble for Marni and for Sullivan. Some of the scenes in this book kind of put me in mind of a particular season of the TV show Dexter, and if you are a fan of it, you'll understand what I mean. There is a very strong theme, and very clear undertones to the attack which put this above your average lover's tiff, but I don't want to say too much as it may lead to spoilers. For me, it pointed my attention in a very particular direction, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story.

There are some very personal moments in the novel for both Sullivan and Marni, and not just surrounding the impending trial. Sullivan is left reeling after a personal loss, which affects his normal focus whilst at work, and with forces working against him both inside and outside of the team, he really does have a bit of a torrid time in this story. I like Sullivan. He's definitely a troubled soul, quite stoic and straight laced, but there is something about the way in which Alison Belsham has developed his character that makes me want to see him succeed, against all adversity. And there is plenty of that. Likewise, Marni is really up against is, and not just because of the suspicion Alex. A face from her past returns to stir up big trouble and her turbulent friendship with Sullivan is really put to the test here. This pair really are chalk and cheese, and yet together they really work. Whilst it may appear that Marni's role in this story is simply the angsty mother, she still plays a vital role in uncovering a clue to the attackers true identity, one which is hidden within passages throughout the story, stories from the past, designed to instill doubts i the reader, something it does quite successfully.

This is a fast paced, action and tension filled read that I absolutely blasted through, finishing i a single afternoon. If you like your crime fiction on the darker side, but still with great characters, a very human aspect to them and will a truly compelling storyline, then you really need to sink your teeth into these books. If you've not read The Tattoo Thief yet, I really do recommend you start there. I'm off to devour The Embalmer, so to speak. Cannot wait.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

This was a fast paced book that kept me gripped throughout. Loved it! I hadn't read (or realised) that there was a previous book in the series but that didn't matter as I didn't feel like I was missing out pieces of the puzzle as the book gave me everything I needed to know.

I really enjoyed The Tattoo Thief and couldn't wait to read this second book in the series. The mix of (reluctant) team work between tattoo artist Marni Mullins and Dectective Francis Sullivan is a really interesting and new concept to me.

The story is told over two timelines, the present where Marni's son is under suspicion for the recent attack on a local young woman and the past which gives a disturbing glimpse into someone's past. These two timelines come together to reveal the attacker. As well as the new murder enquiry Marni and Francis are still dealing with the aftermath of the last case and it seems this is one that will stay with them both for a long time.

An excellent follow up but I do wonder how many more tattoo based books there can be in this series?

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Her Last Breath but that has in no way influenced my review.

I read The Tattoo Thief, the author's debut, back in 2018 and really enjoyed it. It was a dark read with a really interesting, different lead detective. So I was keen to get stuck into Her Last Breath and oh boy, I loved it. The Tattoo Thief was good but Her Last Breath is an absolute corker!

A young woman is savagely attacked and left with horrific wounds on a beach in Brighton. The woman, Tash Brady, is the girlfriend of Alex Mullins - son of local tattoo artist Marni Mullins, who is still recovering from her recent run-in with the Tattoo Thief. Marni does the only thing she can think of to help Tash and that's call a man she hoped to never see again, DI Francis Sullivan. Sullivan and the team are put on the case but days later, Tash tragically dies. Shortly after Tash's death, another young woman is attacked. Her wounds match those of the first victim and Sullivan fears the worst. They have a serial killer on their hands. And one clear suspect - Marni's son, Alex...

What a page-turner! I enjoyed the first book but found it hard to warm to the characters. That was not the case in Her Last Breath. I adored Marni's complete faith in her son's innocence and her dogged determination to prove it. Sullivan has matured and grown into his role and even though he has moments of doubt, he stands tall and leads the team from the front. DS Rory Mackay is still biting at his heels and wants Sullivan's job, which he feels should be his anyway, but Sullivan's increased confidence and leadership keeps him at bay. Other members of the team are equally as strong as Sullivan and Mackay, and add to the gripping storyline.

Killer tattoos. I mean, how fantastic is that?! This is the type of plot I devour. Something a little different, something that I haven't seen before, something to keep me on the edge of my seat - which is exactly what Her Last Breath did. With many of the team focussing all of their resources on one suspect, looking to pin something - anything (!) - on Alex, they're not looking at the bigger picture, which results in a second woman being attacked. Sullivan senses that Alex isn't their man, but he's got to prove it and find out who is. I loved the intense race against time to find the killer. The way the author makes you question Alex's innocence. The heart-stopping, claustrophobic ending set in one of the most revolting locations I've ever read in a book was so brilliantly written - I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved Her Last Breath and I'm eagerly waiting for book three so I can be reunited with Sullivan and Marni again. And, of course, find out how tattoos will feature in the plot! I would strongly recommend that you read The Tattoo Thief first before Her Last Breath, as the case in the first book is mentioned and referred to often with lots of spoilers. Going in with some knowledge of past happenings will help. Her Last Breath is a gritty, captivating police procedural with a difference and I loved every minute I spent in Brighton with the team. Gripping, engaging and absolutely riveting. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Her Last Breath. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

**4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones**

Marni Mullins is still a bit rage from unfinished business from book one with Detective Francis Sullivan. Marni is a tattoo artist and helped out with a previous case that got a wee bit personal and dangerous, she is done with the cops. However when a young girl is horrifically attacked and then another and her son Alex becomes a person of interest Marni finds herself having to look to Francis for help. With a sadistic killer, her son looking like the prime suspect Marni has to put aside person feelings of distrust and anger with the police to try and clear her boys name.

The attacks on the young ladies are shocking and horrific but very unusual and the amount of crime fiction I read it takes a bit to find a new method. The book kicks of pretty quickly then we head into police investigation, the personal side from Marnie and Francis, the police treatment of their suspect. I haven't been so angered at fictional characters in ages! The police and their pursuit of their "suspect" was absolutely infuriating and shocking but makes for compelling reading. You want the bad guy caught, you want the police to be called to task for some of their shady behaviour/pursuit of the case.

We also see the personal side between Francis and Marnie, Marnie and her husband and the family dynamics as well as Marnie's past creeping back in throughout the book. Really good pace, racism (so expect to be angered), danger, police investigation, relationships, murder and that is just the beginning. 4/5 for me this time, very much looking forward to seeing the next in the book series!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, one I thought was a first in series but actually is the second. I will definitely be reading the fist, The Tattoo Thief, now but there is enough detail in Her Last Breath for that not to be necessary.

The unlikely pairing of Mullins and Francis as an item provides a great distraction from the matter at hand, that of finding a killer. Marni Mullins’ son Alex is prime suspect but then the body count rises. Add into the frame Marni’s ex and the action is gaining pace. It is a fast-paced, gritty read and one which keeps you guessing.

Brighton is a place I’ve never visited but Alison Belsham took me there with just enough detail to set the scene in my head without over-describing it. The jump-backs to 1985 (from 2017) add to the suspense.

The last and next instalment in the series are definitely in my TBR pile!

Firstly I must say, disregard the premise. It is incorrect with it's opening line "After old remains resurface in a heatwave, a young woman is attacked..." This is so misleading is annoys me! I have to wonder if those who write these premises have actually read the book?? It also gives away something of a spoiler which is key to the mystery...even more irritating.

The second in the Tattoo Thief series based in Brighton, HER LAST BREATH is a dark tale that is, in parts, gruesome (though not graphic) and is an addictive page turner. Featuring the young DI Francis Sullivan who, along with his own troubles, heads up a team of detectives hot on the trail of a sadistic serial killer.

Tash Brady is attacked on her way home from a nightclub after a tiff with her boyfriend Alex Mullins when she is attacked and left for dead. Found in the bandstand along Brighton beach the following morning after calling Alex for help, she is rushed to hospital where she dies just 24 hours later. The medical staff is at a loss as to what killed her as none of her wounds were life threatening and had been treated, yet she continued to get worse until she went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead shortly after. Tash's mother, who wasn't aware of her daughter's relationship with Alex, promptly points the finger at him claiming he killed her daughter and demanded he be arrested immediately.

With wounds of the stigmata on her hands and feet, a stab wound to her side, Tash had also been tattooed in Latin on her back. DI Sullivan recognised the words as being from a choral piece he'd sung in a choir as a boy. But what reference did it have to the case? And why was she given the stigmata and tattooed?

DI Sullivan and his team have no choice but to bring in Alex Mullins for questioning. He was closest to their victim and he had access to tattooing equipment with both his parents being tattooists. However, Sullivan has something of a personal stake in this suspect, for he knows the boy's mother Marni Mullins from the previous case involving the tattoo thief. The two had become close over the course of that investigation which came close to an affair, though nothing ever happened. Still, he didn't relish telling Marni that Alex had been brought in for questioning. Then a witness comes forth stating that Tash had confided in her that Alex once hit her...and with his other ties to the victim, he becomes prime suspect.

When the post mortem reveals that Tash died from poisoning in the tattoo ink inscribed on her back, Sullivan and his team are now looking for a murderer. And his DS is certain that Alex is their man. But despite the circumstantial evidence against Alex, Sullivan feels sure that he is not their killer.

Then another girl is found with identical wounds and another Latin tattooed inscribed on her back. This time in the aquarium where she was employed as a cleaner. Within hours, she dies. And her last text was sent to Alex Mullins. Two victims both known to their suspect. But this time, it is discovered that the second victim was having a relationship with her art tutor. And both women had at one time or another attended the Brighton Art College. Now they have two suspects. When a third woman turns up and dies shortly after, investigations are ramped up to discover a link between her and Alex. He says he doesn't know her but DS Rory Mackay, intent on proving that he is their killer, doesn't believe him. And Sullivan still has difficulty believing that he is.

With another woman gone missing, his team seemingly out of control and a DCI out to prove him incompetent, Sullivan finds himself face to face with the killer a too little close to home. Can he save this young woman's life before it's too late?

A cat and mouse tale that really doesn't get any more complex than this, HER LAST BREATH is a fast paced thriller with tension building throughout. It is certainly and adrenaline fuelled read that is so addictive you won't want to put it down until the very end.

The narrative flips between various characters - Sullivan, Rory, Marni, Alex, Angie (a DC), the various victims and a girl called Aimee whose story unfolds in the past, revealing a disturbing and horrific childhood. It all very cleverly tied together that comes together at the end.

Despite his troubled demeanour, I actually liked Francis Sullivan. And I don't usually like such flawed characters. I think maybe because he didn't seek his answers in a bottle, whereas most troubled police detectives do. He is trying to juggle his career with his personal life and do the right thing by everyone. I don't understand his interest in Marni, but then I haven't read the first book either.

While this is the second in the series and there are elements in this book that relate back to the first one, HER LAST BREATH can be read as a standalone, just as I have. And despite not having read "The Tattoo Thief" , I am interested to see where the author will take us next.

I would like to thank #AlisonBelsham, #NetGalley and #OrionPublishingGroup and #Trapeze for an ARC of #HerLastBreath in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman is attacked and detectives discover a deadly tattoo on her body. She dies 24 hours later after fighting to survive in hospital. When another young woman disappears, Detective Francis Sullivan and his team fear that a serial killer with a hidden agenda is on the loose in Brighton. However, the main suspect is Alex Mullins, the son of Francis’ former lover. Can he forget his past and catch the killer before more young women disappear?
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I was torn with reviewing this book. It just wasn’t for me. I am usually a massive lover of all things murder mystery and was ready to sit and read this book. However, I just didn’t get into it. It seemed a bit too jumpy for me and the jumps back to 1985 were a little bit hard to read. I wasn’t a fan of the topic, and as a result I did not really want to read certain parts of it. I would say that there is a trigger warning for anyone who is thinking about reading this. There are topics that could be distressing for people to read.
I had to rate this at a 2/5 because I just was not held captive by the mystery and the murders that occurred. I was very average for me and it just didn’t bring anything new to the genre that I hadn’t seen before in other murder mysteries that I have read.
One of my issues was that the killer was not clearly distinguishable. In this sort of book, I want to be surprised but when I look at it, the killer is plausible and really the only person that could have committed the crimes. However, with this book, I felt like the twist was unclear, and that multiple suspects throughout the plot could have easily committed the murders that this book explores. I was a bit let down overall.
I was interested in the MO of the killer. It was fascinating see the tattoos and the injuries inflicted that played a major role in understanding what the killer was attempting to do. I just feel like it was a shame that it was expressed as clearly as I think it could have been.