After the first couple of chapters I was already giddy that this is the first in a new series because I was already hooked on the characters of Byron and Blake and excited to see how they go from being the investigator and the investigated to a duo of some sort.

Blake went missing when she was 15 years old. Did she run away? Was she taken? Killed? There are those that firmly believe that she was the latter -- because they were the ones who had supposedly done the deed.

But.

Blake shows up ten years later on the day of her father's funeral and everything and everyone is thrown topsy-turvy -- particularly John Byron, a detective who is on leave from the force but comes to help investigate the death of Blake's father as he was a Member of Parliament and there are questions surrounding his accident.

There are a lot of questions surrounding pretty much everyone in the story. I thought more than a couple of times that I knew some of the answers and I was quite wrong and quite pleased about that. It isn't often that I can be so enthrallingly stumped by a book. Even moreso, it isn't often that I can be so hooked on two characters so quickly. Blake is full of snark and Byron is full of purpose and they're both full of pain and secrets that I can't wait to see further explored as the series continues.

The Last Time She Died is the first book in the Blake & Byron Thrillers series by British author, Zoë Sharp. The slim young woman who makes an appearance at the funeral of former British MP, Gideon Fitzroy, and is later discovered having entered his boxy Georgian pile, is a shock to the system for his heirs and this Derbyshire village: she claims to be his daughter, Blake Claremont.

Then a chubby, troubled fifteen-year-old, Blake ran away ten years earlier; no-one has seen her since; quite a few people were sure she was dead; so, is it really her? The local constable, a recent import from the London Met, PC Jane Hudson isn’t convinced. Her one-time mentor, Detective Superintendent John Byron, who is currently taking an unofficial look at Gideon’s death in relation to a sensitive but stalled enquiry into MPs, is unsure.

It’s the talk of the village, and many are puzzled when Gideon’s widow, Virginia Fitzroy seems to accept her claim, rescues her from Jane’s interrogation, and welcomes her to Claremont manor. But even before Gideon’s will is read, even before the young woman’s identity is proven or otherwise, there are some apparent attempts on her life. The widow’s brother, Roger Flint is assaulted, and cottage of the village’s former sergeant is burned down. It seems that her arrival is a catalyst for drama.

Sharp’s protagonists are appealing: smart, talented, but also flawed, and it will be interesting to watch them develop over the series. Their dialogue is snappy and often entertaining. The villagers and other support cast are believably portrayed, including the young constable who is a little too deferential to those with community standing.

Sharp gives the reader such a clever plot that even those astute readers who see past the red herrings, predict some of the twists and deduce the ‘who’ from the list of potential perpetrators, even those clever clogs, will still be sufficiently captivated to read on to the nail-biting climax for the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of it. The second instalment will be eagerly anticipated. Brilliant British crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Bookouture.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Last Time She Died, the first novel in a projected series to feature Detective Superintendent John Byron of the Met and the enigmatic Blake.

Byron is on leave and in Derbyshire unofficially looking into the death of former MP Gideon Fitzroy, who died in a car crash. When an intruder is found in Fitzroy’s home she astonishes everyone by claiming to be Blake, the daughter who vanished ten years earlier.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Time She Died, which is a whirlwind of a novel with never a dull moment and twist upon twist. I was glued to the pages, never knowing what was coming next. It is told from various points of view, not just Byron and Blake, so the reader gets a wider perspective on events. Sometimes I find this approach distracting but it wasn’t the case here. I didn’t, however, like the flashbacks to ten years ago as they did interrupt the flow and could easily have been told in conversation. The upside is they give the reader an idea of what was involved although the who remains hidden.

Is she Blake or isn’t she? Fitzroy’s second wife and her family hope not and most people think she’s running a con. She may well be, because she obviously has an agenda and what that is only becomes clear as the novel progresses. Of course you can’t take her word on anything because she lies to further her agenda. I think the novel is really well done as it arouses the reader’s curiosity and need to know and blows away what they thought they’d learned with another twist. I was mightily impressed, but as I haven’t read any of the author’s previous work, I don’t know if this is standard.

There is a chemistry between Byron and Blake, but they are damaged individuals so there is also a lack of trust and a large amount of wariness. I was glad to be in at the start of this series and will be looking out for the next instalment to see where the author takes the characters.

The Last Time She Died is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I'm a *huge* fan of Zoe Sharp's Charlie Fox series so approached this new departure with some trepidation... for me, this story is far more familiar and less unique than the Fox books, and it was clear to see where it was going from very early on so that it becomes tiresome waiting for the police to catch on. There's a strong Brat Farrer vibe, the kind of corruption and cover-up that has fuelled many, many popular thrillers, and too many pov characters along with too many cliff-hanger endings to short chapters. The relationship between Blake and Byron also shadows, though in a cosier way, the dangerous one between Charlie Fox and Sean Meyer. Still, if you're looking for a pacy crime novel with a strong female presence, this might be a good choice.

I didn’t know what to expect from this one. A girl shows up to her fathers funeral 10 years after she went missing… and her father wouldn’t even report her missing. I was nervous that this story would drag on just like other books with similar plots but to my surprise it was fast paced and interesting.

This is a very good start for a promising new series. A modern mystery, set in Derbyshire, it's well written, has interesting characters and enough twists to keep the reader guessing. I liked the main character of Detective Superintendent Byron and his background details. This is a good mix of cold case and current mystery, cleverly plotted and has excellent side characters, especially Lily. I will look forward to the next installment. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

The Last Time She Died is book one in a new series from Zoe Sharp. 10 years ago, when she was 15, Blake ran away from home. The day of her father's funeral she returns. But is it really Blake? Ms Sharp does an excellent job of drawing the reader into the pages. I really enjoyed her main characters and am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy to read.

A good start to a new suspense thriller series.

In the town of Derbyshire, Blake Claremont disappeared ten years ago. Many presumed she ran away, while others were certain she was dead because they most definitely buried her body. Fast forward to the present, Blake returns to her family home, shocking everyone with her sudden reappearance. A few people seem happy to see her, while others think she is an imposter and they desperately want to prove it.

Enter Detective John Byron, who is sent in an unofficial capacity to investigate the suspicious manner of death of Blake’s father, Gideon Fitzroy, a former member of Parliament. Byron quickly discovers that the situation is more convoluted than he previously supposed.

This story has multiple POVs, many of which I thought were unnecessary. The three main perspectives are Blake, Byron and Blake’s stepsister, Lily; however, nearly every character gets a few chapters from their perspective.

The chapters themselves are short, but rather than feeling like this was a propulsive read, I thought it was distracting. Just when I became invested, the chapter would end on a cliffhanger, and the next would be told from a different character, making the wait longer to find out what happened, which became frustrating after a while.

The last 100 pages, or so, picked up, and there were plenty of twists. Most were obvious, some were surprising. It was readily apparent who the antagonists were from reading the opening scene, but it was likely purposefully done that way.

The final quarter is when I became fully invested and wanted to know how everything would turn out. Byron’s character was the most well-developed out of all of them. I don’t know if that’s enough to make me want to continue with the series, but we shall see.

Thank you to Bookoutre for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zoe Sharp for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

Blake has been "missing" for 10 years. Her father has never reported her missing. He is now dead of a automobile accident. A woman comes to the funeral who claims she is Blake. Bryon is a detective who is suspicious of this woman. Is Blake really alive and well? Is she an imposter?

This book was a quick read for me. One thing I really enjoyed was how the characters were flushed out without being too jumbled down with details. The clues left behind in the beginning of the book will slap you out of nowhere when you're at the end.

I am afraid I struggled with this book. It seemed too predictable, and a bit dull, and I just didn't get hooked on it .I see that other readers enjoyed it more, and I am glad. But it wasn't for me..

4 ☆
"murder was always my specialty rather than vice"

Gideon Fitzroy, a former Member of Parliament and local bigwig in the Derbyshire Dales, died in a car accident. It's an opportune time to dig up secrets rather than let him take them to his grave. Detective Superintendent John Byron unobtrusively observes the mourners in attendance at the funeral and notes the more furtive among them. Byron is technically on leave from the Met but Commander Daud has asked him to look into Fitzroy's unexpected death.

"'If I don't keep pushing myself, I'll never know if I'm ready to come back." He kept his voice light enough to belie the truth in his words. "Besides, you've probably saved my sanity.'

'Hm. Either that or become the focus for your madness.'

'Yes, ma'am,' he agreed. 'There is that possibility also.'"

Fitzroy's second wife Virginia and her two children from her previous marriage occupy Claremont, the estate that belonged to Fitzroy's first wife. Shortly after the interment, the alarm company used by Claremont sends an intruder alert to the police. Accompanied by Byron and the newly retired Sargeant Ed Underhill, PC Jane Hudson checks the house and they find a young woman whom Byron had noticed earlier at the graveyard.

Questioning at the police station leads to a claim by the stranger of being Blake, the 25-year old daughter from Fitzroy's first marriage. Blake has been absent from the Dales for the past ten years and had never been reported as missing. Who ever this woman is, she's quite self-assured and unflappable.

"She'd learn to tailor her speech patterns to the company she was in and the effect she wanted to have - either to fit in or stand out.
And any weapon that knocked her off her game was fair play.
Clearly, the assumption was that she'd been selling her body, without consideration that her brain might be a far more valuable asset."

Is this young woman truly Blake or someone taking advantage of a locally prominent man's death? Fitzroy's closest neighbor seems convinced as Anne Harding had acted like a second mom after Blake's mother had died from cancer. But Virginia's brother, Roger Flint, wants to get rid of "Blake." Roger has been closely involved with Fitzroy's affairs as he has been a longterm employee and the one who introduced the MP to his second wife. He also lives in Claremont with his sister Virginia's family.

Meanwhile amidst the family drama, Byron quietly proceeds with his investigation. Both Byron and "Blake" sense each other's strengths, as well as their physical attractiveness, but warily circle around one another.

"'Trust has to be earned!'
'And therein lies the problem. Clearly, you've learned that lesson the hard way. You've been let down, betrayed even. So now, you trust no one and are proud of your own self-reliance, yes?' His voice became clipped as he detached himself from his own words."

I'm a tremendous fan of Zoë Sharp's Charlie Fox series, as Charlie is my top favorite female protagonist in crime fiction. I can count upon Sharp for intriguing female leads, clever mysteries, and unpredictable plot twists.

Like many other longterm fans of crime fiction, solving the mystery as I read one is part of the fun. To my surprise, I accurately anticipated several things before the book's midpoint. But from the 60 percent mark on, my faith in Sharp's imaginative plot flips was fully restored and the novel became a page-turner. The resolution was chilling because of the nature and extent of the societal and moral corruption.

As this is positioned as the debut of a new series, knowing that in advance is a bit spoiler-y in itself. By the end of the novel, "Blake" remains a woman of mystique and she protectively retains her secrets. I'm quite curious how this could be turned into a series given the occupations of the respective protagonists. "Blake" has a lot of promise as a lead character, clearly with enough potential to match Charlie Fox in garnering my loyal admiration.

WOW, did not see that ending coming. Kept me hooked all the way through, as I had no idea how it would all tie together. And some of those characters, oh my lord, do they have so much more to give in the future. All in all, a very promising start to a new series, which I will continue to follow.

If you are looking for a story packed with mystery, suspicion, tension and a whole host of brilliant characters, then you need look no further, Combining all the best elements of Zoë Sharp's writing with a tale that is most definitely topical and anger inducing, The Last Time She Died is the start of a series I hope we are going to see plenty of in the future.

The book introduces us to Detective Superintendent John Byron, a man who has more than his fair share of secrets and demons to cope with. On a kind of sabbatical from the Met police, the reasons for which are slowly revealed throughout the course of the novel. As he is on leave he is dispatched on an unofficial investigation into the death of a former MP in a traffic accident. But nothing is every straightforward in Zoë Sharp's fictional lands and what should be a simple fact finding mission, soon becomes far more complicated, and potentially deadly, than anyone expects. Enter stage left, or from the shadows of the churchyard at. the very least, Blake, a young woman whose presence is about to set off a very unexpected chain of events.

The opening to this book really sets off the tone, and gives readers something of a clue as to what is to come. Byron and Blake between them seek to uncover a well hidden and very dark truth. There is an undulating tension that runs through the novel, and not just because of the very clear threat to Blake. There is a real chemistry between the pair and although trust is not something that comes easily to Blake, and often they find themselves on opposite sides of the investigation, they make a brilliant and formidable team.

I really liked them both. The more we learn about Byron, the more his quirks, his reticence about his job, is understandable. As for Blake ... well there are very clear reasons not to entirely trust her which are apparent as you read the book, but there is something about her conviction that really brings you on side. It's one of the author's real strengths, quickly establishing that bond between reader and her principal characters in a way which makes you want to go on that journey with them. And I'm excited for what is to come in future novels, as I think they are going to be a really fun pair to follow.

There is a dark side to this story, the theme of abuse, but it is handled in a delicate and non sensational way. It is a vehicle to drive the central thread of the story, but it is not the whole story. This book is about trust, betrayal, loyalty, family and so much more. It is police based crime fiction, but tipped on a slight angle and it works brilliantly. Full of misdirection, just when you think you have a handle on the story, the author throws a complete curveball and makes you reassess it all. It will keep you guessing to the end, and although you will uncover some of the. truths quite quickly, so much will still take you by surprise.

Fast paced, and with perfectly pitched humour throughout, I can't wait for the next book.

Gideon Fitzroy, a former MP (who, with a name like Gideon Fitzroy, couldn't really have become anything other than a Tory MP), has died in an accident. While everyone is out at the funeral, a girl breaks into the family home. She's not just any girl though - she claims to be Fitzroy's estranged daughter, Blake, who ran away from home ten years ago aged fifteen - and hasn't been seen since. Can she really be Blake? And why has she come back now?

John Byron, on medical leave from the Met, finds himself drawn into the orbit of Blake, the Fitzroy family and the wider community.

It took me a while to get into the story, but at some point it did start to grab hold of me, although I'm not sure I really engaged with any of the characters. Lily, Fitzroy's stepdaughter, seemed much younger than the twelve she was meant to be. I liked the setting in the Derbyshire Dales.

The "Blake and Byron Thrillers" series title, suggesting a team, does feel like a bit of a spoiler, given that Blake is an enigmatic figure with an unknown agenda for most of the story (and has apparent links to criminals). I'm interested to see where the series goes from here, though.

The Last Time She Died is a contemporary mystery set in Derbyshire, England, and the start of a new series about Detective Superintendent John Byron. Zoë Sharp is one of my favourite authors, so after getting over my disappointment that this was not a new Charlie Fox or Grace McColl book, I didn’t hesitate to request an ARC. It’s a well-told crime thriller with a twisty plot and intriguing protagonists.

John Byron, a detective on leave for personal reasons, but working unofficially on a secret investigation, attends the funeral of Gideon Fitzroy, former MP and patron of various local worthy causes, who died in a suspicious car accident. When a young woman breaks into the family’s estate, claiming to be Blake, Fitzroy’s daughter, who disappeared ten years earlier, Byron is as sceptical as everyone else, but how could she know so much about the house and it’s secrets - and what is she really after?

This was a cleverly wrought mixture of cold case and current mystery, with the central question, Is she, or Isn’t she Blake, perpetuated well into the book. Each time you think you know what’s going on, you discover that Sharp has led you there deliberately to wrong-foot you once more.
I recommend being careful to avoid spoilers going in, although the fact that this is billed as a Blake & Byron series, not to mention the tiresome tagline about a “mindblowing twist” and the blurb, do make the outcome less surprising than I would’ve liked.

Byron is your standard Damaged Detective with a tragic past, but not unlikeable, while Blake is a more mysterious figure. There are some great support characters, like formidable Commander Daud and precocious but sensitive brat Lily, and I do hope we get to see more of Blake’s shady but helpful friend Lev in the next book.
I would like to add a trigger warning, but can’t do so without revealing part of the book’s secret - let’s just say that things are referred to but not described, so unless you’re particularly sensitive, it shouldn’t worry most readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Last Time She Died is published on October 20th.

I’ve heard really good things about Zoë Sharp’s writing, however, shamefully, I haven’t managed to get round to reading her books yet. When I heard about The Night She Died, I jumped at the chance to read it and I’m so pleased I did. This is a pacy, addictive read, and I thought the lead character Detective John Byron, was very intriguing. I’m hoping that there are many more books featuring him to come.

The set-up hooked me in from the opening pages. Following the funeral of Gideon Fitzroy, a woman appears claiming to be Gideon’s long-lost daughter, Blake, who vanished ten years ago. But there are many questions surrounding her disappearance. Why has she suddenly decided to turn up now when her father is dead? Why has he never reported her missing?

Blake was such a fascinating character. I wanted to get to the bottom of why she had gone missing in the first place. Was she really who she claimed to be? I also wanted to find out more about her family. Was there anything they were holding back about what had happened all those years ago?

There is plenty of intrigue in The Night She Died which kept me turning the pages. Detective John Byron is a very interesting character. He is currently on leave and is regarded as one of the Mets brightest stars. I wanted to know more about his background. He shouldn’t really be getting involved in this case and this added another layer of intrigue and suspense. He is determined to get the bottom of what is going on with this family.

I loved how Zoë Sharp pulled everything together in this book and the motives of the characters became very clear. I could see the reasons why Blake had chosen to act in the way that she had. There are some very damming revelations as Zoë Sharp reveals more about what happened to the characters years ago. I could feel the hurt and the anger and it made me desperate to find out what was going to happen in the end.

This is a fantastic read which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I am hoping that these characters might return in a future book.

What a great introduction to a series, I am impressed by the plot and character development, I see strong potential here for a series I will return to and look forward to. The plot was immediately engaging, even breath taking at times with the pace and intrigue, and I found the relationship between the main characters to be realistic and incredibly well written. I appreciated the action and pacing along with excellent writing and style. I greatly appreciate this new series from Zoe Sharp and appreciate the copy from NetGalley and Bookoutoure. I look forward to the next book and hope it is published soon!

I requested this book as it was recommended for fans of Kendra Elliot and I really enjoy her books and I am so glad it was recommended to this fan base, the suggestion makes a lot of sense!

recommended for mystery and thriller fans, my mystery book club will be hearing about this as one of my selections at our October book picking party.

This book was incredible, normally italk about how the endging of books blew me away - which this one did by the way- but the opening of this book is absolutely in a different class it blew my socks off. It is a gripping story with great characters and a plot that is so well written, it was full of tension and suspense, i couldnt think about putting it down I had to know what happened

Wow great first book , loving the relationship developing between the policeman and the main character . Loved the story with all the twists and turns . This is possibly the start of a new exciting series from this author I can’t wait for book 2 . Definitely a five star from me

I was sitting, relaxed, on the sofa when I started to read this book but after reading the first chapter I was sitting on the edge of it and I stayed there the whole time. 

I have to say that after that pulling-me-in first part, I became totally confused. Confused in a very good way, because I was constantly thrown between thinking I now knew if they were for real and being confronted with the fact I so didn't. ;)

It was, once again, hard realising that some people are convinced that what they are doing is allowed because they find pleasure in it. They might have to take a moment or to to reflect on that, but they won't. They think they are almighty and they don't feel ashamed at all. They even seem to be proud of their behaviour. Shame on them!

Although there is not yet a Byron and Blake in the beginning, it certainly seems in the make. :)

A great first book where I was being introduced to some characters I liked a lot and which kept be intrigued the whole time. 5 stars