Their Last Breath is a fantastic and engrossing book. I could not put it down. Well written and well developed characters.

Warren Carter thought he’d left his career as a police detective behind him, but he’s jolted out of mourning for his departed wife by accusations of police corruption. He returns to work determined to uncover the terrible truth about 6 women in chains left to burn to death in an abandoned building. Could cops have had something to do with this horrendous crime? Carter won’t rest until he uncovers the truth

Sibel Hodge is an author who you know when you pick up one of her books it’s going to be good..you also know that there will be a on point, relevant theme...’Their Last Breath’ is no different
A sturdy police procedural that cleverly tells the story of 2 separate murder investigations, 1 a brutal double killing, the other a fire where 6 women, chained up, are killed
Enter Detective Carter ( fans will know him from Duplicity and Into the Darkness ) retired but now back in action and Detective Harris,( fans will remember her from ‘The Disappeared’) who cover the cases, separately ( at first.... ) is there a link, what is the link and is their a possibility, disgusting as it is to believe that the ‘baddies’ in these cases are actually working for the ‘goodies’
All this is woven into the story of a young girl desperate to leave a Syrian refugee camp
More than that ( and its so difficult in reviews not to give things away ) I am saying no more!!!
It is a well told, dark, informative and procedure packed story that held my interest throughout and with all the authors books gave food for thought on a subject we try to pretend isn’t happening
As expected the writing is geared to the reader, explains all parts of the story excellently and is story telling, based on the world at its best
If you love Sibel’s previous work you will again love this and if you have never read one of her books this is a fab one to start with
10/10.
5 Stars

This is the first time I've read Sibel Hodge's work and I very much look forward to catching up with her other titles. "Their Last Breath" mostly unfolds via three points of view. It's a fast-paced police procedural, with a chillingly plausible plot, which I was unable to put down. I particularly enjoyed Warren Carter's dry humour and I think that Ronnie is a great, quirky character.

Detective Carter is brought out of retirement to help with the investigation into an building where six women are left to die in a fire.
There is also another murder investigation that may be linked to this case.
A police procedural story that keeps you guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the best books I have read this year. From the first chapter the author creates an atmosphere overflowing with tension and excitement. This continues throughout the story with several shocks and plot twists along the way.
I loved DI Warren Carter and was pleased to see that he features in two more thrillers. Hopefully the author plans to write more stories around him as I certainly want to hear how both his personal life and his career progress. I can't wait to read more books by this author.
Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon

Really love sibel Hodge and was great to catch up with detective Warren Carter again. Really scared thriller, thoroughly enjoyed this book would highly recommend

Sibel Hodge’s books have always intrigued me and I approached her latest (thanks to Netgalley) with a lot of expectations and she delivered with a chilling page turner.

Detective Carter is called back to duty when an abandoned building goes up in flames. Six women are chained inside and left to die and the truth dies with them.

One piece of evidence points to the fact that there may be a mole in the force and Carter finds redemption in the investigation. What the heck..he has nothing to lose and he will go to any lengths to find the insider.

His partner Detective Harris is following another case of a double murder with an MO similar to a previous one - Is there a serial killer on the loose?

Are there any connections between the two seemingly unrelated crimes?

Their Last Breath is the latest gripping thriller from the bestselling author of Duplicity and Into The Darkness. Hodge does not disappoint and springs surprises to the reader at every nook and corner. I have always admired Hodge’s writing with her effortless use of language and unrestricted style. She keeps us guessing till the end. A must read for thriller fans. My score 4* /5

This book was very well written. Nice and easy to read and flowed well. Had me on the edge of my seat. Wondering which way it was going to go. Great mystery can’t beat it.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars


A book that makes me want to go back and read the previous installement to see how the two main characters worked together and find the story of bloodbath farm.


Good characters,an all to believable plot,that has a few twists along the way to keep you wondering.
Good outcome,and left me wanting more.

Always a good plot line when the police suspect the police,and serves nicely to remind You,that nothing you do is secret these days.
Good multiple point of view narrative.

Brilliant thriller, I enjoyed reading every page. The characters were all very engaging and I knew it was going to be a keeper from the first page. I will have to read all of Sibel Hodge's previous books after reading this scary at times thriller, highly recommended.

Their Last Breath is a well-written thriller and is full of twists and turns to keep any reader turning the pages. Would recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 brilliant stars

I’ve read all the author’s books and for me they are all 4 or 5 stars, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

Great characters, interesting storyline, really keeps you guessing. This has the makings of a book series as I’d really like to see what happens next with the characters.

Recommended

Wow, what a roller coaster of a read, I have followed Sibel since her very first book and read all her books since then. I just love the way she writes, gets you involved in the story line straight away and this book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and I soon got involved with all the characters.

It was good to catch up with Warren Carter again, I just love his sense of humour there were quite a few lol moments with his comments.

I can thoroughly recommend this book and I hope we read more from Detectives Carter and Harris in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

I started this book yesterday and read until early hours to finish it as couldn't put it down. Gripping from page one, great characters and story. Two seemingly separate investigations led by Carter and Becky that became linked, added to that murder, trafficking, police corruption making a tense crime book that has rocketed into my top ten reads this year.

An early morning call ends Detective Carter's retirement and throws him head first into the unlawful killing of 6 women left to die in a fire....no one on the team could predict what happens next

Sibel Hodge NEVER disappoints! Very happy to read another DI Carter/DS Harris procedural. Along with a new boss, they pursue parallel investigations which are tied. New team members are introduced and we are drug along the horrors of trafficking and murder. Well researched and unfortunately true-to-life make this a plausible and relentless thriller.

The fifth book I have read by Sibel Hodge - who is soon becoming one of my go-to authors - and definitely not one to miss. Their Last Breath welcomes back some characters those familiar with Hodge's books will remember - Detective Carter and Detective Harris - and brings together two separate murder investigations that soon collide into one dark and deceptive storyline. The plot makes you want to continue reading, even into the early hours, by giving just enough away to keep you guessing; full of action and twists, right up until the last chapter. I particularly enjoyed that the novel focussed on current political affairs with first person insight into the lives of those impacted. The only negatives for me were that I found it somewhat slow in places and some of the characters minor back stories a bit too stereotypical (police officer addicted to the job leading to relationship breakdown, etcetc.). A recommended read for anyone who enjoys police procedural, crime novels; I'll definitely be reading more of Hodge's work.

*I received an advance review copy of Their Last Breath from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thanks netgalley and Sibel Hodge for giving me the opportunity to read yet another book in the detective Warren Carter series.
Warren Carter is called out of retirement after six woman were murdered, and the double murder of a couple At home.
Nothing seems simple and a lot of people are involved including corrupt police.
I look forward to the next book about detective Warren Carter.

I absolutely loved Their Last Breath! A killer crime thriller that’s very well written and doesn’t have to rely on silly unbelievable events to keep the plot going!
I was shocked at the darkness at times but it made a fantastic compelling read.
5/5

Their Last Breath is a very twisty thriller
Just when you think you know where the book is heading, it takes a sharp unexpected turn
If you like psychological thrillers that will keep you guessing, this is your book

A group of unidentified women dead in a fire, a police warrant card found under a girl with the name Hayat scratched into the floor. A possible serial killer who enjoys typing up couples and cutting them before strangling them. Are these cases related? If so, how? And who in the force does the warrant card belong to?
An enjoyable (not sure if that's an entirely appropriate word when referring to the subject matter!) read which kept me guessing at if the suspects tied together. A few twists and a not entirely guessavle ending. I've read a few books by Sigel Hodge and this does not disappoint.

Wow. What an absolute scorcher of a book. This was dark and thrilling with the right amount of mystery and suspense. Brilliant five stars

Thrilling story of human trafficking, police corruption and the slightest hint of a romance.

Everything you look for in a thriller, murder, intrigue, flawed detectives and romance.

I really enjoyed this book

Already a fan of Sibel Hodge, I knew I was going to love this book and I most definitely wasn't disappointed. A taut, dark, suspenseful police procedural/crime thriller that kept me turning pages. The only reason for the four rather than five stars is that I found it quite formulaic. I would highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review.

Their Last Breath is a brilliant police procedural book. It starts slowly but quickly builds into a unputdownable story. Sibel Hodge writes about subjects that are hard to read because we all know these crimes are real and actually happening. She writes with sensitivity, this is the second book of Ms Hodges I've read and she always leaves me wanting to read more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sibel Hodge for the opportunity to read this book

I've read quite a few books by Sibel Hodge and am always excited when I see a new one is soon to be published. So I was thrilled to have a chance to read Their Last Breath! The story is clever ad well plotted, but the author especially shines in her creation of characters. Recommended!

Gillian comes home from a business trip and finds something not right in her house. She sees a man, flees her home and starts running down the street. The man gives chase until Gil is hit by a car. 📚
A fire destroys an abandoned warehouse warehouse, but leaves behind evidence of six women who were chained up and killed in the fire.
📚
Warren comes out of retirement to assist Becky with the investigation. Are the two cases tied together? Is this an inside cover-up?
📚
A pretty straight forward police procedural book, which while not absolutely thrilling, will keep you turning the pages. Took me two days to read this one. Which, if you know, says a lot about this book...
📚
Thanks @netgalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
📚📚📚/5

Their Last Breath by Sibel Hodge is a dark police procedural that keeps you guessing. I am a big fan of this author and jumped at the chance to read her latest book. She is absolutely a go to writer for me. This one was a little slower than usual but I still really enjoyed it. Great characters with a twisty story.

There are some familiar characters in this story but it is definitely a stand alone. We see the return of Warren Carter out of retirement when 2 murder cases have the teams working overtime. There is the murder of 6 women in an abandoned house fire and the murder for a couple who are tied up in their home. Are the 2 cases connected? Why was a police warrant card found at one murder scene? This is a story of police corruption and human trafficking at its darkest. Not for the faint of heart.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

I very reluctantly give this book a 3 star. The horrible thing is that if the book had good editing it could have been a 4 star..... not a 4 star literary tome, but a 4 star mystery.

When a book is divided into 3 points of view, it gets very complicated and confusing. And the book was way too long and too repetitive. It needed simple editing just so that the same ideas, same thoughts, same conversations are not put forth time and time again.

But the main problem is the section with Becky. That didn't need to be a whole new voice. The part of the story that refers to her murder inquiry could be shortened and added into Warren's very simply. The Warren story combined with the Hayat story should be and is the main thrust of the book, as the Hayat story is the most emotional and is the one that propels the reader to find out what is going to happen.

Always a Sibel Hodge fan! I really enjoyed this book, I finished a few days ago and it has still stayed with me. DC Carter and DS Harris are such great characters, you want to keep learning more about their lives and what is to come for them. This was a an amazing twisted story about separate crimes and a story of survival. It was emotional and thrilling at the same time.

WOW! Two intricate stories weaved together to create one seamless story...Sib el Hodge has done it again with another pulse pounding thriller that is utterly un put downable. She proves time and time again that she not only why she is my favorite author but why is also one of the best thriller writers in the game!

I was literally so excited when I read the description and saw that my favorite DI ever would be returning for another case. I can't begin to tell you how much I love reading through the eyes of Warren Carter and now DI Becky Harris!!! Each of them brought so much life into this book and seeing how both executes a case (or how similarly at times), it was really well done. Both being in Hodges previous novels, I really hope she continues on a path with these two.

The plot was so original dealing with a topic that i have not seen some before, it was intriguing, disturbing, yet thought provoking as it takes you into some of the new threats developing in the dark underbelly of society. I read this one in one sitting, i just how to know how all the players were connected and how it would all play out. Definitely in my top 3 of Hodges novels. Told mainly from the POVs of Carter and Harris, there were also the POV of a woman named Hayat who heartbreakingly describes her life in Salaam refugee camp in Jordan and also the POV of Gilliam, wife if Neal Lane, who is an intricate part of the story. These 4 POVs come together in such a harmonious way so that you see the entire story from different angels and perspectives.

As I began to learn more about each of the two different cases and background if the characters, at around 30% I did begin to start putting pieces together and did figure out some of the story but it only truly came together fully as it was explained by the characters as they pierce it together themselves. And let me just tell you those last 4 pages... I gasped as my hand flew to my chest in a major OMG moment. Shocking!

Definitely read this one. Twists turns conspiracies coverups. This one has it all!!! I can't wait to see what Hodge does next! (Please have it continue with Carter and Harris!!!

I want to thank netgalley and the publish for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve really enjoyed Sibel Hodge’s previous novels and settled down for another rollercoaster ride of a book .
So happy to see Detective Warren Carter is back from retirement to investigate a really terrible crime. We’ve gotten to know him and his wry view of the world from other books. Another crime and another dectective we know may be related. Please let them get together again every time. A timely and engrossing story, this is a gripping fast moving well paced police procedural but it’s their partnership that makes the story so good! Loved it!

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

An amazing book. Six women are found - killed in a fire - chained to walls in individual 'rooms'. Why were they there? Is it possible that a serial killing is actually linked to these women, rather than the double murder they are thought to be linked to? Which information is disinformation?

Loved it. The 'who' doesn't matter as much as the 'why' and 'how'.

I received a free advance review copy of this book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

A new author for me but will certainly be reading more after this. Not a pleasant underlying theme but who knows what goes on in these terribly sad camps?
It seemed as if there were two very separate plots but of course they were eventually linked. Characters were believable and there was a little bit of karma in there too.
Try it, you'll like it

This is my first read by this author and it won't be my last. A complex plot full of suspense and tension. The cast of characters is compelling. The story is well written and perfectly paced. This book grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

Wow, wow, wow. I loved this book from the start, it drew me in from the first page and got better the more I read. The story was told by different characters and I liked the style, and felt it came together really well. There were lots of twists and turns in the book, and what started as two separate police investigations became linked together as the book gained pace. Whilst there are a few references to a previous police investigation, this book can be read on its own though. I will be looking at other books by Sibel Hodge now. Very well written and worth a read in my opinion. If I could give more stars I would and highly recommend this book.

just finished this book. Loads of characters, which took me a time to work out who was who, but once I established this I really enjoyed the book. Police corruption shown at its worst and justice came to the corrupt in the end. Well done for the highlighting of this subject. I know it’s fiction but also possible. Would recommend this book to Sibel Hodges books. Thank you TBC for the opportunity to read this., and NetGalley for my copy.

The best book I've read in a while.....
As someone who has spent time working with refugees and in camps this book has a sad ring of truth to the levels of exploitation and abuse of people that I've witnessed and highlights some very real issues.

Sibel Hodge is one of my go to authors and therefore was so happy to see this on NetGalley and I snatched it up!

Their Last Breath welcomes back Detective Carter and Detective Harris. Detective Carter is called out of retirement after six women are murdered. Two separate murder investigations along with a dark, twisty plot had me turning the pages and guessing until the end. If you like psychological thrillers which are a little dark, I definitely recommend. I look forward to reading more from these characters and from this author.

A big thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Their Last Breath has some really good characters in it however I was just not able to really connect with this story. I think the plot was good but there wasn’t enough excitement in it for my taste.

Six unidentified woman left for dead. Chained to the walls in a building that has gone up in flames. A man and a woman tied to chairs, stabbed repeatedly and then strangled to death. Another “couple” seemingly killed in the same way. A piece of evidence at one scene linking the police somehow. Detective Warren Carter is called out of retirement to investigate how a police officers warrant card is found at the scene of the death of six women. An interesting thriller that weaves together multiple story lines fairly seamlessly even if a little predictably. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Their Last Breath. Warren Carter comes out of retirement to join PSD on a case surrounding 6 women found in a burning building. Detective Becky Harris is working on a separate double murder case. They find that their cases could be linked and work to uncover the horrible truth. Another fantastic book from Sibel Hodge

Having read Duplicity by the same author, I had super high hopes for this novel. It definately didn't disappoint. Fast paced page Turner and really loved how 2 intricate storylines have been weaved in to the plot. Really adds to the atmosphere

I look forward to every book by the hugely talented Sibel Hodge. This wasn’t a disappointment. Fast paced, two stories in one. Another winner

I tried sibel hodge as people keep raving about her books. So I thought where better to start. And whilst her books are technically very well written it didn't get my heart racing which is what I want from a crime book.

Each time I read a new book by this author I know that I am in for a real rollercoaster of a read. A fire at a disused hospital is being investigated. In separate rooms are women who are chained by their ankle and the chain is attached to the wall. That was it I was gripped. A DARK tale of trafficking, but what these women are being used for was abhorrent and I was shocked. As I said a real page turner, I could not put this book down. It was heartbraking to read the depths of depravity these people are willing go to make money. Entire retired detective Warren Carter who is not handling his retirement very well and he is still getting over the death of his wife.. He gets a phone call late at night asking for his help. The police have found a burnt warrant card near one of the bodies at the hospital. Police corruption but how far does it go? I was hooked from the first to the last page, this read had me sitting on the edge of my seat and tapping my kindle faster and faster. I have run the gamit of all my emotions while reading this book. Another five star read from this amazing storyteller. A definite MUST READ and so highly recommended.
I would like to thank the author, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Having read a few of her previous books I was delighted to get my handso Mathis one . A great police procedural story intertwining two different tales . Fast paced and page turning I really enjoyed this with one star less as was a little disappointed towards the end .

Having read all of Sibel's previous books I was super excited to be approved for an advance copy of this book. I hoped I was in for a treat and I was right. This had everything that I expected from the book and much more. It was fast paced and gripping from the first word until the last.

It was nice to see the return of the characters, Detective Warren Carter and Detective Becky Harris, who had played their parts in previous books but you don't have to read these to enjoy this book to the full.

Warren Carter is retired but when we receives a call from the Professional Standards Anti Corruption Unit he is drawn back to the force. Six women have been found in a burned building and there is all the evidence to support that this is a human trafficking issue.

Becky Harris is assigned to investigate a double murder. Two bodies have been found bound and stabbed to death and words scrawled across the wall. The circumstances are similar to a previous case and it's looking likely that there is a serial killer in town.

Harris is warned by her superior that she needs to tow the line and that her gut instinct needs to be reined in and she has to follow orders but when she contacts Carter and the cases start to show an underlying thread, Harris against all orders, follows her heart to reveal the truth. Carter and Harris are soon teamed up and the race is on to bring justice for the 6 dead women.

This is not just a police procedural story it is so much more. intertwined is the heartbreaking story of one of the refugee's. She so desperately wants to escape the prison that she feels she is in close to Syria and start a better life for herself. She has lost everything and everyone in the world and feels that with a little help and a little hope that she can finally be free. Little does she know of the danger that she is placing herself in.

The book flips seamlessly from case to case and ultimately is joined together perfectly to bring about the fabulous conclusion. Those that we trust are not always the people that they appear to be.

This books covers the theme of trafficking which Sibel has previously published before but the clever way that she has of writing makes each novel fresh and standalone from her previous work. This books kept me reading late into the night and I am so please to rate this a 5 star read. I loved, loved, loved this book.

Thank you for my ARC

Six women were chained inside an abandoned building and left to die when the building burned down. Next to one body was the charred remains of a policeman's warrant card.

Retired Warren Carter is given the chance to come back to work in order to investigate this crime that involves a corrupt police officer. But who can he trust?

Meanwhile, a man and woman were tortured then killed in the man's home. When the wife comes home, she finds their bodies tied to chairs ... and a man wearing a balaclava who then chases her out the house .. until she runs in front of a moving car.

It's when the two cases start merging that Carter is aware that he must step outside the box to bring justice to all these victims.

This is a well-written thriller filled with non-stop action ... a real page turner. The characters have been carefully structured as to be credible. The story premise is solid .. and I'm hoping this points to another book in the near future featuring Carter.

Many thanks to the author / TBC Reviewer Request Group / Amazon Publishing UK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Wow what a fantastic read. A suspense filled police mystery. I loved this book from the very first page to the last.. It was fast moving and I would thoroughly recommend it. I shall certainly be looking our for more books by Sibel Hodge.

Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC for which I have given my unbiased review.

One of the best books I have read in a long while. Congratulation to Sibel Hodge for an intriguing storyline that keeps the readers interest to the very last page. A must read for all lovers of crime stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Sibel Hodge for the opportunity to read and review her latest thriller - another 5 star read! It was so good to get back into the lives of these characters - certainly hope there'll be another one soon!

Although these characters are from two previous books by Sibel Hodge, you don't need to read them to enjoy this book. This is a great police procedural involving a horrible subject - human trafficking.

Detective Warren Carter is retired from the police force and still struggling with grief over the death of his wife. He can't sleep and finds it hard to fill his days. Then he gets a call from the unit charged with investigating their own officers. The commander, Carolyn, wants Carter back on the case to investigate the murder of 6 women who were chained in an abandoned building that caught on fire. Meanwhile, Detective Becky Harris is investigating the brutal murders of two people and the attempted murder of another person. Are these cases related?

These are wonderful characters and I highly recommend you read these books! Can't wait for the next one!

Retired Detective Carter is still in mourning for his wife wondering what to do with all the spare time he now has when he gets a phone all from his old boss. He's asked to help investigate the deaths of six women who were chained to the wall of a building that had went up in flames. A police officers warrant card had been found at the scene. Then they realise another Detective working on a separate case, could be connected.

The characters are complex in this well written, fast paced police procedural that I found hard to put down. I just needed to know what had happened. A story of human trafficking and corruption in the police force. The two crime stories are woven beautifully together seamlessly. The story is told mainly from Carter and Harris's point of view, but we also get told a heartbreaking story from a woman called Hay. I did figure out some of the story but this never spoils it for me.with plenty of twists, this story had me on the edge of my seat. I could not read it quickly enough.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Amazon Publishing Uk and the author Sibel Hodge for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a steady, paced crime procedural.
My husband was reading ‘Duplicity’ by the same author and about the same detective, Warren Carter, at the same time as I was reading this. He was enthralled and stayed up way past bedtime to get it finished. I said to him that this one wouldn’t keep him up all night. However, this isn’t always a negative as this book was still captivating but in a more regular fashion. It keeps a constant rhythm going throughout the book to still leave you sated, interested and intrigued.
There is such a lot going on, and to begin with, I thought there were two separate stories. We have Acting Detective Inspector Warren Carter. He has been brought out of retirement to investigate a horrific crime where six unidentified women have been found dead. The only lead is a police officer’s warrant card.
Detective Sergeant Becky Harris, on the other hand, rushes to a crime scene where a man and a woman have been brutally murdered.
We follow each investigation independently, wondering how they could be related, as they must be. The author does a fantastic job of interweaving the stories, the evidence, the secrets and the lies together. It is hard to keep up, so much is going on, but not in an ‘I have no idea what is going on’ way, more ‘my head is spinning’ way!
ADI Carter is such a grumpy old man that he is lovable; he is thorough and good at his job. He is enjoyable to read about. You feel as if you are along for the ride with the investigations as you are discovering things at the same time as the characters and I like that. You feel a part of the story.
Overall, a really enjoyable read and now I need to go back and read the keep-me-up-till-all-hours ‘Duplicity’ so that I have Carter’s full story!

This is the second book that i have read by Sibel Hodge and once again, i have really enjoyed. I love a book that has so many twists and turns and 'Their Last Breath' certainly had quite a few. A well written book and one that i can highly recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.

I got very excited when I saw Sibel Hodge had a new book out, I couldn’t wait to get my teeth into it…. What an absolute shocker of a read, trafficking, police corruption to name but a few…. When retired Detective Warren Carter is asked by Professional Standards Anti Corruption Unit to attend a scene of a fire where 6 women, all contained in their own rooms, shackled to a wall have perished in a fire, although the fire appears to have been started accidentally, clearly the women did not chain themselves to the wall… the reason Carter is called is that the remnants of a police badge is discovered in one of the rooms and he needs to figure out what happened to these women, why and who in the police force is corrupt at the same time… he has a job on his hands.

A gripping dark read with twists at each turn, one woman’s wish for freedom and the lengths someone would go to secure it…. I found myself wishing and hoping against hope that Carter would discover the identities of these women to at least give them a name, that they did not die and be forgotten and unnamed….

Highly recommend this, you will not want to put it down, so make some room in your diary, as once you turn the first page…. You’re hooked and in it for the long haul… Enjoy

This author always tells a fantastic story. The plot is slow going at the start but soon picks up to be a story of police corruption and human trafficking, A topic that’s hard to swallow but brilliantly written by the author. Great returning characters but definitely a stand alone read.

I really liked the way this book started. Six women are found in an abandoned building after the building has burned down. No one seems to know who these women are or why they were there. Retired Detective Warren Carter works closely with the police department to see if it is somehow an inside job. What transpires shocks everyone.

The premise behind the book is excellent. There is a bit of science involved as well as some bright characters. The book seemed to drag on for such a long time before anything really comes to light though and it lost my interest midway. I had to put the book down and continue through the boring middle of the book until the shocking ending was finally revealed.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sibel Hodge, and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great crime thriller.
When Warren Carter receives a call asking him to come out of retirement and take on the role of acting Detective Inspector in PSD, he accepts.
He knows a few of the team and soon gets stuck into the case.
There has been six bodies found in an old hospital and they have been badly burned in a fire. A warrant card is found on site, hence the involvement of PSD.
Becky is working on a double murder and bumps into to Carter and discusses her concerns about her new team and soon this opens a huge can of worms.
This is quite a complex crime thriller and is not a straight forward ‘who-dunnit’ and I liked trying to work out who was behind everything.
This is a real page turner and I loved the way the story ended.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Their Last Breath is an engrossing British police procedural where nothing is as you expect.

Gillian Lane is running for her life down a quiet English lane from a masked assailant when she is hit by a taxi and taken to hospital. When the police investigate, they find her husband and another woman tortured and strangled in her kitchen.

Meanwhile, retired detective Warren is called back to duty to investigate a mass death scene that appears to implicate one of the police’s own. An abandoned hospital is the site of a horrific fire where six women are found chained to their room’s wall. Five are dead when the firefighters arrive but one is clinging precariously to life. Could the name scratched on the floor, Hayat, be the same woman telling her tale of being a Syrian refugee in alternate chapters?

It doesn’t take a Mensa ID to figure out the dead woman is the refugee. But how the cases are connected and especially the thrilling twist at the end makes Their Last Breath a great read for police procedural fans. 4 stars!

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! I am now convinced that Sibel Hodge can do no wrong. Her new title, The Last Breath, is a fast-paced, entertaining page-turner.

There are two parallel story lines. In one story, detectives make a gruesome discovery. Six women burnt alive in an old hospital. All six were in chains. In the second story-line, an attack occurs in the middle of the night leaving one witness who didn’t really see much. I knew there had to be a connection between the two stories but just couldn’t guess what it was. My jaw dropped when the dots started connecting.

This was a tense, gripping story with so many twists and turns.

I loved everything about the case. The Lead Detectives were so easy to root for and I also enjoyed reading about the other characters.

The investigation was well detailed and I love how the authors led me to the twists while making it hard for me to guess them beforehand.

For fans of crime thrillers/police procedural, this is one not to miss. Well-written, captivating and twisty, Their Last Breath by Sibel Hodge had everything that makes me enjoy this genre so much.

Overall, this is a very interesting and captivating police procedural, and it even has a little action thrown in. The plot and characters are very good, but there are some things I don't like. First is the changing POV that makes no sense, especially as there are two different first persons in between third person POVs. Second is the unnecessary descriptions of things that are already clear.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sibel Hodge and Amazon Publishing UK for the free e-book in exchange for the free e-book.

I was so interested in this novel and I was flying through the first 60% just needing to know what was happening and how these cases were all tied together. But then my husband and I went through a terrible loss and this was the book I was reading when I found out. This left me unable to finish reading this one – I tried multiple times but I felt like I had a little PTSD and this book was totally wasted because of the circumstances. I definitely still recommend it even though I can’t finish it, but I can tell you that the lead up made me feel like I could still recommend reading it! Which really should tell you a lot. Someday maybe I will be able to finish it and find out what happens in the end.

Out now!

Their Last Breath, Sibel Hodge

There are three main strands in this book. The investigation into a crime, and the life of the Officer who investigates it, and the life story of a victim.

The Crime, is one of the most hideous there can be, people trafficking. But this is only discovered after a fire in a building, a fire that leaves six women dead.

The fire was accidental but the circumstances the women are found in is anything but accidental. They are all chained up, in different rooms, they are all unidentifiable because there is no record of them, they are illegal immigrants, but why have they been brought to the country.

The Officer, Detective Carter, recently retired and suffering the death of his wife, he responds to a call for help from his old colleague. Staffing is short due to the cut backs and the Police are running short of experienced detectives.

Carter is lured back and starts to investigate the death of the women in the fire, what he discovers will shock the core of the Force.

The victim, a strong woman, a refugee, a woman so desperate she allows herself to be conned into being smuggled to Britain in the back of a Lorry. From escaping her own horrors in her own country to being trapped in a burning building, this could have been a book on its own.

This is a great story. It is the latest in a series. I haven’t read any of the previous books featuring Detective Carter, but I’m going to track them down and read them.

Books that make me think, as well as entertain me, are always my favourite. Without giving the plot away there was a couple of things that sent me to the internet, and my knowledge is better for it.

Pages: 376
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Available now on Amazon

A tense and gripping police thriller from the brilliant crime writer, Sibel Hodge. We see the return of detectives we have met before, retired DI Warren Carter and Becky Harris in this fast paced and dark story with two seeming separate police investigations. A warehouse fire holds a macabre discovery, the burnt corpses of 6 unidentified women chained up and a brutal double murder. In a story of police corruption, human trafficking, the heartbreaking narrative is suspenseful and twisted. This is an action paced, complex and fast paced read, well written and well plotted, which had me glued to the pages from beginning to the thrilling end. Can't wait to see what Sibel Hodge comes up with next. Great read. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing for an ARC.

# Their Last Breath # Netgalley
Wow wow and triple wow. I was so engrossed in this book I completely lost time. I blocked everything around me out. Sible Hodge is one of the beast creative writers I have ever read. She literally brings her books to life.. I can not praise this woman enough. Once again another knockout book. With more twist and turns than a bobbing of cotton. They go on and on. Absolutely superb. You can not help be hooked on the book with the first chapter. This you must read.. you don’t just read her books you become part of them. Absolutely brilliant, superb.

EXCERPT: I smile as I take in the room. There is a bed in the centre. A doorway to a small bathroom to my right. There are curtains at the window, which are closed.

And then...I am confused. There is a chain attached to the wall with a cuff on one end.

I turn to look at him, my eyes wide. 'What is-'

But I do not get to finish. He pushes me roughly forwards. I stumble and stagger until I fall face forward onto the bed. His weight is on top of me, and I think he will rape me.

I scream, but my voice is muffled between the mattress and the sheets. I feel his body jerking. Then I feel something cold and hard wrapped around my wrist. When his weight lifts away I look at the cuff on my arm.

'What? No!' I cry.

But he is already backing out of the room.

'No!' I twist around on the bed and look at him, tears in my eyes, my stomach as cold as the winter desert winds. 'Please come back!'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Detective Carter knows all about torture – but he’s never known a case as dark as this one.

The Six…

An abandoned building goes up in flames. Six women are chained inside and left to die – the truth is left to burn with them. Only one piece of evidence remains, but will it be enough to find their killer?

The Detective…

Retired detective Warren Carter has been suffocated by grief for his wife and is looking for a new start. But when he gets a call that cuts to the heart of the force, investigating a corrupt police officer, he has to accept. This time, though, he’s going to have to face his demons and work out who to trust when the truth is guarded by his own colleagues.

The Bad Cop…

It was supposed to be the perfect crime: they knew the system well enough to beat it and get away with murder. But they didn’t know Detective Carter, and how far a man will go when he has nothing left to lose…

MY THOUGHTS: Sibel Hodge has written another winner.

Despite a bit of a slow start, I was soon immersed in this multi-faceted story that kept me off balance right to the end.

The story is told mainly from the point of view of Detective Warren Carter, brought out of retirement to run an investigation for Professional Standards. His methods of working are definitely unorthodox to the point where, should some of his procedures be discovered, he would be out of a job. He fights for what is right, 'and bugger the politics and consequences '.

Hodge has written in the past about human trafficking, and it is something she does very well. This time she combines the refugee crisis with another, the increasingly common problem of infertility.

This is a topical and engaging piece of fiction that has strong roots in reality.

#TheirLastBreath #NetGalley

💙💚💛🧡.5

THE AUTHOR: Sibel Hodge is the author of the #1 Bestsellers Look Behind You, Untouchable, and Duplicity. Her books have sold over one million copies and are international bestsellers in the UK, USA, Australia, France, Canada and Germany. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, and is a passionate human and animal rights advocate.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Their Last Breath by Sibel Hodge for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others is also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Their Last Breathe
By Sibel Hodge

4 stars.

A classic murder mystery that hooks the reader from the first page.

With the exposure of corruption within the police force linking two unseemingly connected murders.

Plot flows well with tension and action building throughout the story. The characters leap off the page as you progress.

I found that once I started it was hard to put the book down until the dying pages.

Retired detective Warren Carter has been suffocated by grief for his wife and is looking for a new start. But when he gets a call that cuts to the heart of the force, investigating a corrupt police officer, he has to accept. This time, though, he’s going to have to face his demons and work out who to trust when the truth is guarded by his own colleagues.

It was supposed to be the perfect crime: they knew the system well enough to beat it and get away with murder. But they didn’t know Detective Carter, and how far a man will go when he has nothing left to lose…

This title has been reviewed by www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

This title was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

#TheirLastBreathe #NetGalley

This is a thriller ideal for days where you want to sit and read, speeding through the book to find out what happens next... Or even days where you weren't intending to but got sucked in to the plot!

Detectives Warren Carter and Becky Harris find their cases beginning to overlap - one a double murder (with an intended victim surviving), and the other an arson case which caused the deaths of six women mysteriously chained up in the building... It is a race to identify the murdered women, and work out how their case may or may not relate to a murder, and not all the participants want it to be won.

I enjoyed how the book made use of various narrators to keep you guessing what was happening, as well as who could be responsible. The plot was also entertaining and thought-provoking at times, especially the <spoiler>human trafficking being the</spoiler> reason behind the deaths of the characters. Both primary narrators (Warren and Becky) had voices which carried through to the reader and felt authentic.

I deducted a star because I felt at times the plot could be a little too predictable, which did detract at times from my enjoyment of the book.

Overall - definitely one worth reading for those who love anything crime, mystery, or thriller.

The story has two detectives investigating two different crimes which are brought together two thirds of the way through. The status of refugees in war torn countries is brought out well and is moving. The ending where justice prevails is very good. Engrossing read.

A great little police procedural that addresses the very real issue of human trafficking but with a spin I've never come across before. I'm not familiar with Sibel Hodge's other books featuring Warren Carter, but although there are a few references in this one to previous cases, it works perfectly well as a standalone. Warren and Becky are both really appealing characters who are striving to do the best to achieve justice in an imperfect system. And I loved the sections from Hayat's point of view – very moving and gave the victims a voice. Definitely recommended and I will seek out more books by this author.

A detective story with a difference. An absolutely heartbreaking subject of women being trafficked which really has opened my eyes to the horror of refugees and the cruelty of some people's lives. I adored the character of Warren Carter and will be purchasing the other books with him in. A dark but stunning read with great characters good and bad. Despite the heartbreaking subject this has a wonderful ending.

This is another well written and compelling read from Sibel Hodge.

Detective Inspector Warren Carter returns from retirement to head up an investigation into a fire at an 'abandoned' hospital where the bodies of six women are found dead. This is a complex story which weaves two stories together to create a well paced and intriguing read that had me guessing all the way through it.

Although it is the third book to feature D.I. Carter but it can be read as a standalone with no problem.

Their Last Breath is a well written police procedural set in Southern England by a new author to me, but one whose name I was familiar with. It is mainly told from the perspective of detective Warren Carter, but other chapters follow DS Becky Harris - both of the characters have appeared in earlier books but confusingly this was not billed as a series.

When the bodies of six women are found in an isolated abandoned hospital, and a force warrant card is found on site, the Caroline Barker, chief of the Professional Standards Department (who investigate suspected police corruption cases) asks Carter to come out of retirement to help. Grieving for his wife, and guilt-ridden over his secret role in a previous case, he agrees, but as he discovers what happened to the victims he is determined to seek justice for them. Meanwhile his former colleague Becky risks her marriage to the increasingly impatient Ian, when she investigates the murder of a man at home, with a woman who is not his wife, in identical circumstances to a previous case, but something tells her this is not a serial killer her new boss insists.

The plot raises the plight of Syrian refugees trapped in massive camps in Jordan who have lost everything and will do anything to escape, leaving them completely vulnerable to despicable exploitation. We meet Hayat, a young woman whose whole family are dead, telling her story to a journalist as she dreams of working as a hotel maid in the UK. Quite a lot of harrowing information is woven in without becoming preachy or detracting from the story.
The author is clearly knowledgeable on this subject and has written other books about it. While we hear a lot generally about people trafficking, the particularly sinister fate of these women was something new to me, but felt plausible.

I liked Carter as a hero but found the repeated mentions if his previous case frustrating, as had I known that there was a previous book (Into the Darkness) I would’ve made time to read that first, but by the time I got to it my review was already overdue; I don’t like reading series out of order although do plan to read the earlier one as I’m intrigued by the Vigilante character. Similarly Becky’s situation would’ve made more sense if I’d read her prior book, The Disappeared. This story does stand alone but I still think they should be labelled properly.

This wasn’t so much of a mystery and there are no major twists - the identity of the baddies was heavily signposted from early on with some attempts at obfuscation but the suspense was mostly around how they would be caught and who would survive. I liked the ending but felt some minor characters’ fates were left unresolved, like Gillian. I assume we will meet Becky and Carter again so will eventually find out whether she told her grumpy husband to get lost.

While it has dark themes, there was little overt violence and minimal swearing, and while terrible things have happened to the victims, we hear about it only in hindsight so it’s not as gruesome as you might think from the blurb. The story was well-paced and the characters interesting. Overall I enjoyed it and would be keen to read more from this author. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies that it is a few days late. Their Last Breath is available now.

3.5 stars rounded down.

Their Last Breath, by Sibel Hodge, is a very well-written, multifaceted police procedural. Told mostly from Detective Warren Carter's view point, others telling their stories include Hayat, Gillian, and Detective Becky Harris.

Apparently, and this is a little annoying to me because I like to read all book series in order, a prior book, Into the Darkness, tells another Warren Carter story...one which is referenced multiple times in Their Last Breath. While this book can act as a standalone, I think I'd have enjoyed it more had I had more background on the characters.

This isn't a particularly twisty story...the people you expect to be the bad guys, are indeed the bad guys. It's definitely a slow-burner, but it kept me mostly entertained. I will say it's not a book I was dying to pick up, but when I did, I was never bored.

I just needed something more...something unexpected. Everything was made too obvious from the get-go. I do, however, think most will find the conclusion incredibly satisfying.

Final thoughts: A pretty average book, but one I'd definitely recommend to those who love police procedural stories.

**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Solid British Police Procedural. This was my second British police procedural in the same month, and this one was a much easier read than the other. The mystery is gripping and compelling - 6 women are found dead after a fire rages through an abandoned hospital on the same night that two other people are stabbed to death in a home. Touching on several issues in the public arena even in America, Hodge manages to deftly tie together several different ideas into a truly fantastic work. Very much recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon UK Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Six women are killed when an old hospital goes up in flames. Meanwhile, a man and a woman that isn't his wife are murdered in his home. The wife arrives when the killer is still there and she manages to evade him. Two separate detective units investigate these seemingly unlinked cases.

4.5 stars.

This was a really good police procedural that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked the characters Warren and Becky. This was my first read from this author so I am not sure if they have appeared in other novels, but I would read more with them and more from this author.

No really my thing. I didn't expect it to be so heavy on the police procedural. The crime sounded intriguing but I just wasn't interested in the writing style. I'm sure if procedurals are your things then you'd like it!

I always enjoy Sibel Hodge’s books and this book was one of her best. We are reintroduced to Detective Warren Carter and Detective Becky Harris. Warren has now retired and is struggling after the death of his wife. A telephone call changes all that, as he is asked to take on the investigation into the deaths of six women who were chained to a wall and found in a burnt out building which makes it look like a human trafficking case. A burnt police warrant card is found near the bodies which is why the Police Anti Corruption Squad are involved. Becky Harris is involved in a double murder investigation. The circumstances of these deaths looks like a similar case where the bodies were stabbed and bound with writing on the wall which leads Becky to think they are dealing with a serial killer. Becky and Warren meet up and discuss the cases and Becky’s concerns about her new team. She finds that both cases may be linked and has to go against instructions to reveal the truth and put her own life in danger doing so. The chapters alternate between the cases which makes the book hard to put down and it had me totally gripped from the beginning. Another five star read from Sibel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have never read anything by Sibel Hodge but this read makes me want to go buy the ones I missed. The story starts out with Gillian returning from a business trip at 2:30 am to interrupt a killer in her home. He chases her out the door and she is hit by a car. The story then goes to DI Warren Carter who is called into service from retirement to help Professional Standards Department on a case where six women were found dead from a fire. They were all chained to a wall in separate rooms in an abandoned hospital. The reason that PSD is handling the investigation is the finding of a mostly burned police warrant card inches from one of the dead girls body.. This meant one of theirs was at the scene of human trafficking. Suffering from insomnia after the death of his wife fifteen months prior and a case that haunted him from the past he jumped at the chance to go back as Acting Detective Inspector role for this case. The story also is told in the perspective of another DI Becky Harris who is working the case of Gillian who ran from a killer in her home. She lived but her husband and another woman who was with him in his house were murdered and tortured. And finally the perspective of one of the women victims who ended up chained to a wall in a small room. She only wanted her freedom to live her life and thought she was getting that. When Beckys boss stops her excellent detictive instincts and insists she go in anther direction in the case Becky has to go alone even if it's against her bosses orders. She and Warren are friends and past co-workers and soon find their paths cross during their investigations. Finding their cases killers is paramount and they both will do what it takes to solve them. Sibel Hodge writes about human trafficking and how it's not always for sex slaves it can be for other diabolical reasons. Thank you NetGalley and Sibel Hodge and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book. This is my honest opinion. Human trafficking is way out of control we all need awareness.

A great story as always from Sibel Hodge, a definite rollercoaster of a read and it's difficult to give a review without giving the story away but the way the story evolves keeps you reading and the characters are engaging, so you really care about them. I !look forward to Me Hodges next book.

A fire in an abandoned building leads to the discovery of 6 women chained and left to die. Left behind is a potential clue... a warrant card. Could whoever have left that card behind be the killer? Is the owner of the card a dirty cop? And this is just the beginning. So many questions to answer! Their Last Breath by Sibel Hodge is a dark police procedural mystery. Told through alternating voices the story keeps you peeling back the layers until all the deep dark secrets are revealed. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC!!!

This was such an amazing read that I couldn’t put it down. It went everywhere with me. To the doctors office, the dentist, the eye doctor. IT WENT ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. I was so sad when it ended that I immediately went and bought more books from this author!

This is my first book by this author, and my first encounter with Warren Carter and Becky Harris.
Warren has retired from the police force following the death of his wife, he is lured back however as acting DI for the Professional Standards Department.
A group of six unidentified women are found burned to death in an unused hospital. They are shackled and the post mortems reveal they have been subject to egg harvesting.
Meanwhile, a prevalent IT expert and a journalist are found murdered, whilst the man’s wife is hit by a car trying to escape their killer.
The two cases are investigated but eventually Becky and Warren connect the dots - Becky is unhappy how her superior DI Munroe is dealing with the situation, she seems intent on arresting a scapegoat for the murders, but Becky is convinced there is more to it.
The two stories eventually merge and the corruption and trafficking that’s uncovered is astounding.
A great original storyline and one I enjoyed very much

Their Last Breath – Sibel Hodge

I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review. This review will also publish to my blog, tropicaldelusions.blog, a few days before publication.

Since joining Netgalley, I’ve been given the opportunity to read more than a few British authors, and have much enjoyed these adventures ‘across the pond’. This newest one, by author Sibel Hodge, did not disappoint, and I will absolutely be reading her again!

It’s 0335 when retired Detective Sargeant Warren Carter answers his phone to hear a former supervisor in his ear, asking for an early morning meeting. Still fearful about his deception from another case being discovered, he’s sure he’s been found out, but the meeting is actually for something quite different. Superintendent Caroline Barker advises him of a structure fire that had occurred earlier that AM. Inside the building were six women who had been found chained to the wall, and all but one was deceased. With one of the bodies was a warrant card that held the logo of their police department. She then asks him to come out of retirement to help her investigate the possible connection. He accepts and becomes the acting investigator for the Police Anti-Corruption Squad.

Flash to a refugee camp in Syria, where a young woman, Hayat, is hoping to barter for a trip to England where she can work and live in safety. She secures a ride out of the camp, but her journey is just beginning…

Meanwhile, DI Becky Harris is hard at work investigating the deaths of two people – seemingly random murders – stumbled upon by Gillian, the wife of the homeowner, returning unexpectedly. More interesting to Becky is that the killer chased Gillian into the street, where she was struck by a car – and who was Gillian’s husband with?

As each investigation continues, Becky begins to suspect that they are somehow connected. Her commanding officer, decorated DCI Munroe, disagrees and continually attempts to refocus Becky’s attention elsewhere. But Becky is not deterred and connects with DS Carter to share her concerns, and the two together bring down a house of police corruption and human trafficking that reaches to the highest level.

Told from the perspectives of Warren, Becky & Hayat, this is a novel of human trafficking, abuse and perseverance, and it will resonate with you long after the final page is turned. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! The plot summary sounded interesting to me, but I was nervous I would not like it since I’ve never read a detective type story before, but this one was definitely worth it! I enjoyed getting to know the characters and I thought they were well rounded. I liked the twists and turns the story took and was very pleased with the ending. I will be reading more books by this author! Thank you again to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the copy of this book!! I will definitely be recommending it to other readers!

I have not read or heard of this author Sibel Hodge before but it is superb writing, a lot has gone into this novel the characters are beautifully described and is the story of the plight of a few refugees who thought they had found release and hope in the UK on promises of a better life. One part of the novel is the story of Hayet a refugee all alone no parents or siblings and she is speaking of what her vision of a better life would be. Then there is the CPS who found they had a bent police officer but who? The 6 refugees who did manage to get to the UK had to give so much and that's when the heartbreak, betrayal, and exploitation begins. It's gut-wrenching in a way but there is hope that these people traffickers get their just rewards.. Very good read and a page-turner and I would like to thank Amazon Publishing UK for a copy to review. A brilliant piece of work and will look out for this author again.

Highly recommended read from Sibel Hodge, she never seems to disappoint and this book is no different!

The character from previous books makes his 3rd appearance here,retired detective Warren Carter is floundering in his retirement and grieving for his late wife so, when he is offered the chance to return to the force, working for PSD's Anti Corruption Unit to investigate the deaths of six unknown women in an abandoned building, he jumps at the chance, when he gets to the scene of crime and sees what happened to the victims he is determined to make sure the perpetrator is brought to justice. Detective Becky Harris, anither previous character, is investigating a double murder, a man and woman found tied up in a house with multiple stab wounds, further investigations show that these two crimes are inextricably linked and Warren and Becky are brought together to solve these horrific crimes, but there is more to this than normal and it's gotta be someone within one of the teams! Warren and Becky and their teams just need to figure out who it is and why?

The story is told from three points of view, Warren, Becky and Hayat and the two crimes are brought together so smoothly that it seems a natural progression! This author is a natural at bringing the horrific to my house and I LIKE it!!! It's a dark police procedural tale of police corruption, human trafficking and everything that comes with the dark side of life...the darkest side actually! Definitely not to be missed, this book is chilling!

A police procedural that will have you white-knuckling your kindle deep into the night!

Sibel Hodge has been a favorite author of mine and rarely disappoints. So after I saw her latest release was available I quickly queued up! And so glad I did! Once again, Ms. Hodge delivered!

Warren Carter has barely stepped foot into retirement. Mourning the loss of his dear wife, combined with the dreaded end of his career as a detective Warren is hoping for a new direction. And what his next step might be.
Cue the timely phone call! It’s headquarters! They’re asking him to return to the force and head up a department that is unusually secretive in its investigations. After all, it is a department that looks into their own. An internal affairs...if you will.

Detective Becky Harris is desperately trying to balance her marriage with the demanding job that seems to demand more and more of her time. Her husband Ian is getting frustrated, tired of sitting on the sidelines. Yet Becky feels her career is just taking flight and remains laser focused.

Detectives Carter and Harris are knee-deep investigating their own homicides when it occurs to them there may be a way to help each other out. A team effort of sorts.

Once again, Sibel Hodge has brought her brilliantly vivid characters to life! You’re nearly walking in their shoes as they struggle both professionally and personally. Even the victims are given a clear voice. Fantastic!

Sibel Hodge will remain firmly planted on my “go to” list of favorite authors. Already looking forward to reading her next release. Ready when you are, Ms.Hodge!

A speedy weekend buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Sibel Hodge for an ARC to read and review.

Sibel Hodge is another author I discovered through NetGalley (much like Mark Edwards, I had one of her books on my list but got a chance to read another one through NetGalley). When I read Into the Darkness, I absolutely got hooked onto her writing style, settings, and characters. And when I saw that an ARC of Their Last Breath was up for review, I (obviously) grabbed it. The fact that it featured Warren Carter from Into the Darkness was a happy bonus. Keep reading to know if Their Last Breath met expectations.


Source: Goodreads
Genre:
Thriller, Mystery

Length:
380 pages

Blurb:
It took just a few short months for Warren Carter to realize that retirement didn't suit him too well, especially with the memories of his last case and the ensuing bloodbath still fresh in his mind. Then, six women die in a fire that claims an abandoned building - six women who were chained to their beds with no means of escape. Carter is called back into the system to investigate members of the police force itself, and find the corrupt officer involved in the heinous crime that claimed six lives. As the case unfolds, Carter finds himself relying on an old, unexpected friend. But will he find the culprits in time? Or will he trust the wrong person and let more people die?

Overall Rating:
10 out of 10

Plot:
10 out of 10

Characterization:
10 out of 10

Primary Element:
8 out of 10

Writing Style:
9 out of 10

Part of a Series:
Their Last Breath features Warren Carter and other characters who were part of Into The Darkness. Warren Carter also makes an appearance in an earlier book. For the most part, though, this can be read as a standalone. References to Into The Darkness are minimal and easily understandable.

Highlighted Takeaway:
There are chapters of the story told from the victim's perspective. This was surprising in the beginning because it seemed like it would give away a lot of the suspense. But Hodge manages to showcase the victim's side of things without really disclosing anything about the mystery, while also evoking stronger association for the victim, consequently making you associate with the fight for justice even more.

What I Liked:
The book and story are very well-rounded, right from the characters to the unfolding of the mystery. In a world where cryptic endings are becoming increasingly common (and are often done well), reading a well-rounded book felt extremely satisfying.

What I Didn’t Like:
Can't think of a single thing that adversely affected the reading experience.

Who Should Read It:
Anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller, but with a touch of real-world ugliness.

Who Should Avoid:
Sibel Hodge is a great writer who is unafraid to dabble in very real events. This may make Their Last Breath a bit too realistic at its essence for some to take. I would still recommend it to all mystery and thriller lovers though - its dark side really adds to the reading experience (which, I suppose, is the intention).

Read It For:
Warren Carter - a great character who knows that things are either good or bad, but that sometimes you have to be both.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a free ARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can safely say that, after Their Last Breath, Sibel Hodge is one of my favorite mystery and thriller authors.

Their Last Breath was released on 24 September 2019 and is now available for sale.

Thrilling police procedural that doesn't hesitate to dive into some of the darker themes of the genre. The characters are will written, and while I had not read the other novels they are featured in, I found myself invested in them and their case and did not feel lost while reading. The novel moves at a blistering pace, making every page count. I would highly recommend this to anyone who like Law and Order: SVU or similar media.

I liked the main detective in this story, retired Warren Carter, and I liked the female sergeant Becky Harris. Becky and Warren respect each other and they've worked together before. Warren has been brought back from retirement to take on an internal affairs case - the warrant card of an officer has been found at the scene of a crime - Why? Whose card is it? Is an officer involved in a cover up?

As the story unfolds Warren's and Becky's two separate cases seem to be linked, and they collaborate to uncover a corrupt officer.

I always admire authors who choose to cover difficult themes. We get to know one of the victims and her hopes for her future. This could be harrowing but in the context of the story as a whole I thought it worked well.

A good read and I hope to read more of Warren and Becky in the future.

4 Stars.

Six Women found chained and burned to death in an old abandoned building.

Two people found brutally murdered in a home in the suburbs.

Could the two cases related?

Retired Detective Carter gets called to action - to investigate corrupt officers within the Police Department and it’s a call he cannot ignore. Detective Becky Harris, Carter’s former right hand, is investigating the murder of the couple in the suburbs. Leaning on each other is something Carter and Harris have always done and in this case, it leads them to clues they’d never find otherwise.

Corruption, Murder, Deception and Lies. Sibel Hodge spins a masterful mystery / suspense in “Their Last Breath” which kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end.

Another buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Sibel Hodge for the arc.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 11.30.19.

This is another extremely engrossing and addictive read from the wonderful Sibel Hodge.. Plenty of excitement and suspense with a great cast of characters and excellent plot. Highly recommended.

Sibel Hodge is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.

Her thrillers are a real rollercoaster ride, absorbing you in from the very first page.

This book did not disappoint.

The book is a great police procedural and the only bad thing about the book was that it ended!

Another cracking read from Sibel Hodge. This book is faultless in terms of pace, plot and characters. A wickedly horrible but clever story that opens your eyes to some very real horrors in this world.

This was once again a brilliant offering by a very talented author! I loved if from beginning to end, and can't wait for the next one.
Recommended.

Sibels novels are always corkers and this one was the same! What a great book that has you gripped from page one and doesn’t let go, loves the main character and the storyline was great too! The ending had me surprised but it was a good one! Get the book!!!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Holy hell, what a read. This book was absolutely amazing.
I literally could not put this book down. There were twists I didn't see coming.
The writing style was fantastic, and the book kept my interest from the first chapter.
It truly was an unique storyline too!!

I love reading books that are based around corruption in the police force and huge companies, but recently all those that are about this topic seem to be copycats of each other.
This was okay, it has a solid premise and the start is certainly captivating for the reader. However, the pacing is far too choppy. I found myself struggling to get through parts as they seemed too boring. Just when I though it was starting to pick up, it would immediately plateau out again . There also felt like something was missing - everything seemed to be too obvious and predictable.

Overall it was pretty average. If you like police procedural storied then you may enjoy this, but I have read better within the genre.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. First one by this author, but for sure it will not be the last. Great book to return too at the end of the day.

Six Women found chained and burned to death in an old abandoned building. Two people found brutally murdered in a home in the suburbs. Could the two cases related? I love police procedurals and this one was WOW!! Fantastic! This kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, I COULD NOT put it down. I read in one sitting and was breathless while reading certain parts.

Gripping and fast-paced with well written characters who stayed with me. They kept me reading way past my bedtime. Det. Carter is an excellent investigator and his methods worked very well.

4.5 big stars.

This book is so good. It’s a police procedural book based in the UK. The topics are well written and I was sucked in from the first chapter. I found myself sneaking in pages on bathroom breaks during work. I loved it and will read anything this author puts out.

Their last breath by Sibel Hodge.
A fantastic read with some great characters. Loved the story keeps you reading. I liked Warren.
I hope there is more to come. 5*.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book for my honest review. I was so excited that I was chosen to read and review Sibel Hodge new book since the other ones I have read I enjoyed, however this book just didn't do it for me.

This was even better than the other ones. I loved Carter and Harris' relationship. It's refreshing to see a healthy father-daughter connection. The books written by Sibel Hodge may be fiction, but they make you think and see people in a different light. The refugee's plight is dire and so many aren't aware of the true nature of their existence. I urge anyone who wants to understand a little bit of the dangers they face to read this book.

Another great read from Sibel Hodges — I couldn't stop reading and was gripped from the start. Plenty of twists and turns and a great set of characters. Can't wait for the next book!

Six women are found chained and burned to death inside an old abandoned building. Retired detective Warren Carter is called back to the force to investigate a corrupt police officer. He will have to work out who to trust when the truth is guarded by his own colleagues.

This was a taut thriller, well written, with great characters. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Sibel. Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for this book.
This is another great book by Sibel Hodge, I really do enjoy her writing style and stories
It was good to have another book with Warren. Scary at times and as always well written, I would highly recommend.

This is another great story from Sibel Hodge. This one brings back characters we have met before, yet still reads well on its own.
There seems to be two sets of unrelated killings, but when the detectives talk to each other, they realise there must be a connection. I enjoyed this story, even though the background is dark.

A fast- paced entertaining page turner full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end.

A great book from Sibel Hodge, Two seemingly unconnected cases being investigated by 2 separate police teams are more connected than at first believed. Six girls are found in a burning building - 5 are dead, 1 has survived. A wife comes home from a business trip early to surprise her husband. She is chased from the house by her husband’s killer and who is the woman in the house who has been murdered alongside him?
A skilfully woven talents lots of twists and turns along the way.

This was a real edge of your seat thriller, with so many twists and turns, you wont know which way is up! Fantastic and gripping read! - Not quite as thrilling as her last title, but still well worth a read!