Brilliant as ever, this story is the second in the DI Jan Talantire series. Jan is having a quiet evening away when she, foolishly, looks at her work phone. There's a accident and she's the closest. It's horrific - stolen car, 5 teenagers, going too fast, over a wall and ended upside down in a Victorian greenhouse. One dead and the others unconscious so witness statements will have to wait. then a distraught mother reports a missing daughter, best friend of the teenagers and thought to have been with them. Was she or was she not? Lies and damned lies abound when Jan and team interviews parents, other relatives and friends. Drugs are found and there's a related story about them. Some more of Jan's history is explored but not such as to interfere with the detecting story. It's well-written, characters are relatable, if not always in a pleasant way, and plenty of twists and turns. Jan is rapidly becoming a good replacement for Craig Gillard whose time to retire had come. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Late at night, a stolen car full of teenagers crashes on the edge of Bodmin Moor. Off-duty but staying nearby, DI Jan Talantire arrives to find a scene of destruction. What appears to be a tragic accident soon takes a mysterious turn when a woman turns up at the scene claiming her daughter, a friend of those involved, is missing. When an eyewitness reports seeing a girl running away from the crash, Jan begins to wonder whether they are one and the same and if so, where is she?

This is the second in the DI Jan Talantire series after the brilliant The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle but this could definitely be read as a standalone. Jan is proving to be a great character, good at her job and relatable and as we see from the sub-plot featuring her superior officer, has an interesting back story that we have, so far, only scratched the surface of.

This is a genuine mystery story as we, along with Jan, try to figure out what has happened to the missing girl and whether or not she was in the car when it crashed. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way as evidence is presented that helps to tell the story of the events that fateful night. The Last Ride is well paced and engaging and kept me gripped until the end.

Really enjoyed this faced paced police procedural from Nick Louth

Jan Talentire is fast becoming one of my favourite detectives.

A real page turner

Looking forward to the next one

This is the second book in the DI Jan Talantire. The story begins with a road traffic accident, where a car full of teenagers crash in a lonely spot on the edge of Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. I find the story compelling especially when the elderly homeowner insists he saw a girl running from the crash! The story is full of twists and turns with a few red herrings, which led to a dramatic ending.

Enjoyed his Gillard series and this new one is on the same track to be equally as good. Enjoyed the backstories and characterisation. Plenty of suspense throughout. Would definitely read the next edition. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Second book in the DI Jan Tallentire series.

I like the Devon Cornwall setting, lots of ready familiar characters and some interesting new members to the police team. The plot was actually quite original, focussing on the investigation following a horrific car crash.
Lots to think about and a good degree of tension.

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I have read all of Nick Louth’s books. I like his stories. This book is part of a series set in Cornwall and Devon. Lots of strands to unravel. Who is telling the truth, who is involved and who is at fault. I enjoyed the pace of the story and the underlying tension between Jan and her superior officer Brent ( they had a relationship a while ago). I look forward to more of this series.

This was my first book by Nick Louth and I enjoyed it very much. It's a police procedure with down-to-earth likeable characters. What sets it apart from others in the genre is the more detailed analysis of the forensics. This is a good satisfying read. Now, where are Nick Louth's other books?

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers Canelo, and the author for the eARC of this book. This is the second in the DI Jan Talantire series set in Devon and Cornwall.

Jan and her team are called out to Bodmin Moor to the scene of a horrific crash. Joy riding teenagers have crashed a stolen Mercedes killing everybody but one young girl. She was pulled from the wreckage by an elderly homeowner and is clinging to life. The homeowner thought he saw someone running away but it's discounted as he was very shacken up by the scene and his heroics in rescuing the one girl. Then a missing person call comes in. A young girl, and friend of the accident victims, has been reported missing by her mother. It doesn't seem possible that she was in the car and walked away. But, if not in the car, why was she on the scene and where is she now.

It's a book about secrets and lies, and Jan's team must cut through them all to discover the truth. An excellent book. 4 out of 5 stars.

This is book 2 in a promising new series featuring DI Jan Tallantire, who is a very engaging character. The team dynamics were good and the book is packed with atmosphere and tension until the end. The Cornwall setting is beautifully described by the author, it was easy to imagine oneself being on the moor. The pacing was steady throughout, with a bit of a cliffhanger ending, in that Jan's boss has disappeared off the scene in dubious circumstances, which leads nicely into book 3 in the future. I really enjoyed the read and would recommend to lovers of police procedurals. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A brilliant follow up to the first book in this series, featuring DI Jan Ballantire.

When a group of teenaged joyriders crash on Bodmin Moor, Jan is straight on the scene. With one dead and others sustaining life changing injuries, it is initially thought to be a tragic accident. But when another girl, who is thought to have been in the car, is reported missing, the investigation ramps up.

I loved this tense and atmospheric mystery, Jan is a well developed character. Her determination and empathy make her very relatable and I enjoyed the sub plot around her personal life as well, one that looks to be continued into the next book.

The setting of Bodmin Moor is beautifully described and the plot is flawless, engrossing and very cleverly thought out with some brilliant twists.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Nick Louth and Canelo for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The Last Ride by Nick Louth is book 2 in the DI Jan Talantire police series. There was a tragic car accident, when a stolen car is driven at speed and crashes on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
DI Jan Talantire is the first responder on the scene and is able to see the serious injuries of the very young passengers. Then a worried mother turns up and states that her teenage daughter is missing. This statement also dovetails with the sighting from the elderly householder, whose property the vehicle crashed into, of him seeing a teenage girl fleeing the scene.
There is a very tense and gripping story of who was in what car, when the vehicle crashed and where is the missing girl, Jade? Many twists and turns, lies and deaths before the truth is known.
Highly recommended

Part of a series featuring Detective Jan Talantire. Complex story with loads of suspects and plenty of twists.

teenagers, auto-accident, missing-persons, catastrophic-accident, Cornwall, procedural, grand-theft-auto, riveting, suspicion, office-politics, due-diligence, law-enforcement, deceit, families, investigations, teamwork, crime-thriller*****

There was a catastrophic accident involving teenagers, drugs, and an immovable object. The first person on scene was a 98 year old WW2 hero who was directly responsible for saving one girl's life and providing information about the aftermath. Devon & Cornwall DI Jan Talantire was first officer on scene because she was staying nearby and heard the sounds indicating a need for her to grab her medical and photographic kits and call in all those needed. There were one dead and three more in critical condition. But there was one more who seemed to have vanished. Pressured by the missing girl's mother, the police finally got into the game, but the one in charge turned out to be the grandstander who was a bad personal experience in her in DI Talentire's past. The diligence and all of the personal rabbit trails made this another of the author's riveting crime novels.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected advance review copy from Canelo via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Nov 07, 2024

I am normally not a fan of detective novels, but the beginning caught my attention so I stuck with it. I ended up enjoying it and thought it was well paced and I could see a clear picture of the accident scene and overall setting of the book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Last Ride by Nick Louth is a tense and atmospheric crime thriller that grips readers from the first page. Set against the haunting backdrop of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, this novel is the second in the Detective Jan Talantire series, following the success of “The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle.”

The story kicks off with a catastrophic car crash involving a group of teenage joyriders in a stolen Mercedes. DI Jan Talantire arrives at the scene to find a tragic accident, but the mystery deepens when a worried mother reports her daughter, Jade, missing. Jade was last seen with the joyriders, but her whereabouts remain unknown. As Talantire delves into the investigation, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that challenge her detective skills and her resolve.

Louth’s writing is compelling and evocative, capturing the eerie beauty of the moor and the tension that permeates the small town. The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. One of the novel’s strengths is its focus on the “why” rather than just the “who,” exploring the motivations behind the crimes in a way that adds depth to the narrative.

DI Jan Talantire is a well-developed protagonist, whose determination and empathy make her a relatable and engaging character. I can't wait to read more of her adventures. Her interactions with her team and the townspeople add layers to the story, revealing the complexities of small-town dynamics and the personal stakes involved in the investigation.

The novel also touches on themes of justice, redemption, and the impact of past traumas, making it more than just a straightforward crime thriller. Louth’s ability to weave these elements into the story without slowing down the pace is impressive, ensuring that readers are entertained and moved.

The Last Ride is a standout addition to the crime thriller genre. Nick Louth’s masterful storytelling and keen eye for detail make this a must-read for fans of detective fiction. Whether you’re new to the series or a returning reader, this novel delivers a thrilling and satisfying experience.

Good story
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Very enjoyable.
I would say I prefer the DCI Craig Gillard series
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

This book is a book two in a series but I read it as a stand-alone so I think I did it’s some context that would have helped made this book better. It was still crazy and interesting starting off which a car accident with five children. It was fast paced and entertaining

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This is the second book in this series featuring DI Jan Talantire set in Devon. It is an excellent police procedural with the emphasis on the process of detection. After a slow start the character of Jan Talantire is growing on me. The plot is tightly controlled and full of twists and the book is very well-written. A very entertaining read.

This book is one wild ride! The plot starts off with a major car accident involving five kids in a stolen car. The car appears to have lost control and flew into the greenhouse of an elderly man. From the beginning, there are major twists and turns that kept me guessing from chapter to chapter. The crimes start to pile up, as do the suspects, especially when a missing girl is identified as having also been in the car, but was not at the scene.

This was Nick Louth at his best! Cannot recommend this book enough. Characters were developed, although not all likable! The plot flowed quickly and smoothly, and kept me reading all night long. A must read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.