I love this series and this story did not disappoint me, I couldn’t put it down. Amanda and Trent race to find the murderer of a mother and daughter, despite many twists this book really gets you involved, and just when you think they have cracked it., you find they haven’t. Very well written as always.

Book Review: “Her Final Breath An addictive and totally gripping crime thriller (Detective Amanda Steele Book 7)” By Carolyn Arnold

Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own.
“Her Final Breath” is scheduled for a February 17,2023 release

Steele is back with a case that hits too close to home

Amanda Steele is called to the scene of an early morning discovery in a local park. When what initially appears to be the shallow grave of a lone female turns into a the final resting place of a small child as well, Amanda vows to catch the culprit. Her and Stenson feel that this could be an open and shut case when the victim IDs come back quickly, but with their prime suspect being a fellow law enforcement official they must do everything by the book. With the surprising help of Sergeant Graves, Steele and Stenson begin to build a case, but when a second set of bodies turn up in the same park they realize they are looking at the wrong person. Shifting their focus to women with a history of abuse they branch out to some of the local area resources. After interviewing a nurse who relays the story of a battered woman and her daughter that she lost contact with after helping, Amanda is determined to find the killer. If it means potentially saving two lives instead of recovering more bodies, she will even put herself in danger to do it. As her and Stenson close in on the perp, Amanda finds herself in an “act now or regret it forever”, but even that revelation may not stop this case from being her most psyche shaking to date.

Carolyn Arnold is back with the seventh installment of the Detective Amanda Steele series of novels with Her Final Breath. Taking place an undisclosed time after Last Seen Alive, Amanda is settling into a comfortable relationship with Logan and her adopted daughter Zoe seems to approve. Overall, her family situation is also looking up as she has started to form somewhat of a comfortable relationship with newly discovered half brother Spencer as well as his mother CSI Blair. The details of this case are particularly disturbing for Amanda as she is no doubt reminded of how Zoe came to be in her custody after her parents were brutally murdered in The Silent Witness. If she can keep another child from going through what her adopted daughter had to, she is going to stop at nothing to do it. What is particularly interesting is Sergeant Graves’ sudden change of heart from almost insufferable stickler to an almost helpful ally as she offered assistance with the case in ways she hadn’t previously. It was interesting to see the sergeant begin to loosen up and become more open with Amanda, especially after the details of the case started to hit the press resulting in less than favorable public opinion. It can only be seen in future installments if Graves’ change of heart and softening of attitude was due to just the details hitting some as yet undisclosed nerve in her humanity or if she will begin to become more than just a thorn in Amanda’s side. While Her Final Breath is part of a larger series and true to all books in the, Detective Amanda Steele books this title also works well as a stand-alone. If you are new to this series, you would have no problem reading Her Final Breath first, and then going back to the beginning to pick up the backstories if you are so inclined.

This is the seventh book of Detective Amanda Steele series. I have read nearly every single one of the series and make sure to read all of Amanda Steele series.

The story starts out with a dog walker discovering the bodies of a mother and a child in a park. Detectives Amanda and her partner Trent discover that the bodies belong to a woman named Jill Archer and her six year old Charlotte and Jill's husband is a police officer. But Jill has been suffering from domestic abuse and initially they suspected that Jill's husband might have been responsible. But when they find the remains of another set of bodies, Amanda and Trent realized that they are dealing with a deranged serial killer.

This was well written, and the author managed to put us on the edge with her writing. This book was quiet unputdownable and there were some twists and turns you find along the book, as we do not know who the real suspect behind the killers is. The book was fast paced which made it really interesting and intriguing and the ending was really great. What's more, while in the midst of solving the case, I like how Amanda's personal life was also labeled out in the book.

Overall, this was a great thriller that will keep you up all night--worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

This is book seven in the Detective Amanda Steele case and another fab edition to the series. I joined the series several books ago and it's great to be able to pick up the thread, this book focused more on the professional element of Amanda's life were as the previous ones have had not more insight into her personal life too, I missed the character of Zoe.

This book focused on the issue of PTSD in ex-military and clearly portrays the plight that exits for these hero's in terms of the emotional support they receive when they join civilian life and they lasting impact that their service can have on them and those around then, it brings awareness to the need for action.

A complex and interesting plot that was intense and well executed this book held me throughout a gripping, emotive and suspenseful read

*4.5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

A very interesting read with great characters. Amanda and Trent work well together most of the time, trying to find out who the killer is. It's not easy when certain things can point one way or another. Same with having to following protocol, but their gut instincts can also pay off. A ending, but also sad.

This crime thriller is one amongst the Detective Amanda Steel’s cases. I was hesitant initially thinking this is the 7th book from this installment and if I would be able to follow the story . But you can pick this up since the author gives you enough background and backstory on all the key characters. And since the cases are individual, there is no problem in understanding the plot.
The story immediately reminded me of popular cop /crime shows on TV and has similar vibes .
It’s a straightforward crime story with race against the clock to find the perpetrator and rescue the victims which makes the reader curious to know the outcome .
This is very first book I am reading from this author and I liked it .
If you are looking for quick read or new to reading thriller genre , you could pick this up.
It’s a 3.5/5 stars ✨ read for me.

Thank you Netgalley , Bookouture publishing and Author Carolyn Arnold for giving me the arc in exchange for a honest review.

You might know the feeling. You are walking in the park or jogging in the woods and suddenly you find a grave or a body. I seriously don't know what I would do. I most certainly would be terrified and I honestly don't know how long it would take to come to my senses again. My first thought would be to run like the wind, but I don't know whether I would be able to move one single muscle. That's probably why I don't walk my dog in the wood or park anymore. :)

Thank God there are people who, even though they are devastated too, call the police. They never know what they are going to find exactly. Sometimes the scene can be peaceful even if the worst thing, murder, has happened. Sometimes the scenes are really horrifying. Sometimes there is even more than one person in the grave.

I was really touched by the way the killer arranged the victims. I know he killed them, but he also showed signs of gentleness, maybe even of love. Of course, it does not change the fact two people are dead, but I felt like the killer was not a sadistic or cruel one. It was as there was something more going on than just killing for pleasure.

Detectives Amanda and Trent don't have a lot of time to dwell on things, because very soon duty calls again. After some serious investigating they find the culprit. But were they able to save his latest victims?

Is it bad to feel sorry in a way for a murderer? Yes, they were wrong in what they were doing, but I sometimes wonder whether there is enough medial staff or services available to help and take care of people with specific needs? 

A very good, but sad book. My heart broke and for all the victims, because a killer is often also a victim, but one who is not strong enough to take control and fight his demons? 5 stars 

Thank you

Detective Amanda Steele is back with an intense murder investigation. Someone is kidnapping and murdering mothers with their daughters. With no clear suspects, Amanda and her team are chasing down even the smallest leads. Who would do such horrific acts? Why is there a stuffed animal with each child? What is the motivation for this perps pattern? Each of the women show signs of physical abuse long before they were kidnapped. Is this some vigilante trying to save the women and children from their abusers? Another mother and daughter are missing, and Amanda races to save them before it's too late.

Five enthusiastic stars again! A breakneck speed thriller that leaves you reading into the wee hours of the dawn.
This author is no holds barred, the stories include some horrifying aspects. My heart was pounding through the whole book. Fear. Sadness, suspense and a lot of “oh. My. God. Moments. The characters are like family at this point, I love them and I love the development as we get to be a part of their lives. The stories within their lives give so much depth to the book.
This is a must read!

Another fast paced, action packed thriller where Amanda and Trent race against the clock to save a woman and her daughter. This series just gets better and better. The detectives have real feelings, and truly think outside the box to help the victims. Truly looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of my absolute favorite detective series and this one definitely didn’t disappoint! Carolyn Arnold does such a lovely job connecting one book to the next and they flow so well. I really enjoy her writing style and the pacing of each book. I really have grown to love Amanda, and she continues to have personal growth in each book. Trent has a hard time in this one, and it was easy to empathize with him. We actually get a lot of insight into many of the side characters with this one and it makes it a really well rounded story. Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my opportunity to provide an honest review.

Her Final Breath is book seven in Carolyn Arnold’s Detective Amanda Steele series.

Prince William County Police Department Homicide Detective, Amanda Steele, is called to the scene of multiple murders in this thriller. She lives up to her reputation of a smart, hard-nosed detective.

Carolyn Arnold adds another excellent installment to this series, expertly maintaining continuity. Detective Amanda Steele remains a strong female protagonist. The plot is strong and compelling with interesting twists that hold the reader’s attention and keep you guessing. Her Final Breath reads as a standalone, earning 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it to all readers of psychological thrillers.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.

I really enjoy following Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent as they solve their cases. In this book, the bodies of women and their daughters are found in shallow graves along with a stuffed animal. Although the clues initially point in the wrong direction, the detectives pursue all possible leads and eventually stop a serial killer.

I have read several of Carolyn Arnold's books and enjoy how her characters are portrayed: life-like with all of the problems that real people have. I look forward to future books by this author.

Her Final Breath is Book 7 in the Detective Amanda Steele series. This is a great series with really interesting and engaging characters. In this installment, there appears to be a serial killer targeting mothers and their young daughters. Amanda and her partner Trent are working against the clock, as it looks like another pair of mother and daughter have gone missing. This series doesn't disappoint as Arnold does a great job with the writing and the flow of the story,

I will leave a review on Amazon and B&N on Feb 17th

This was a thrilling storyline, and one that kept me turning the pages constantly. This author has the ability to pull me into the storyline which I don't find a lot of authors capable of doing. I most definitely would recommend this book to everyone.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Detective Amanda Steele is one of my favorite fictional characters. Her calmness, detail-minded and sometimes her relationship with her partner Trent always made me giggling.

Bodies of mother and young daughter were found buried shallowly in the park. A stuffed elephant was placed near to the daughter. The first suspect was the husband Roy, who was a controlling and abusive man.

When everything was pointing directly to Roy, unfortunately another bodies of mother and daughter were found in the park. Same pattern. But with stuffed rabbit toy this time.

Detective Amanda knew there was a connection and she followed the leads whatever she could. A serial killer. Amanda had to stop this happened again…until she knew there were set victims. Amanda needed to stop it before it ended in tragedy.

I was always impressed by Carolyn in putting all the characters together with sharp and clear personalities for each of them. I always felt like I knew her team..!

The story revealed bit by bit in a relatively comfortable rate. This is one of the best crime thriller I have ever read.

This is yet another great instalment of the Detective Amanda Steele series.
In this 7th book, detective Amanda Steele and her partner Detective Trent Stenson find what appears to be a serial killer targeting mothers and daughters. Furthermore, a common denominator between victims appears to be domestic abuse. Naturally, the involvement of children is upsetting enough but domestic abuse also seems to be a big trigger for Detective Trent Stenson.
This is a brilliant police procedural mystery case once again, with interesting main characters development. What's not to like?
Really looking forward to the next book of the series as ever....:)

Arnold had me at the image of the mother and daughter curled together in the grave with the stuffed elephant! Exciting, twisty, and oh-so-real.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I LOVE this series! I have read every one and enjoyed them very much. This book is no exception.
I think Amanda and Trent work great as partners only.
The subject matter of this book is very sad and heartbreaking.
I look forward to many more Amanda Steele books!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series even though I found it late with my first read by Carolyn Arnold being Black Orchid Girls. So, this is my fourth read in her Detective Amanda Steele series and I really, really enjoyed it. It was great being back with Detectives Steele and Stenson as they investigate two murders of a woman and child who are found in a shallow grave. I love the authors writing style here, I always feel I’m drawn into her books right from the start as the opening chapters immediately grab my attention and certainly holds my interest throughout the story. I liked seeing a very different side to Detective Stenson and could sympathise with his initial struggles with the case. As always the story is beautifully written, it flows seamlessly and is an absolute pleasure to read. Before I knew it I was totally immersed in the story which became a real page turner where I was rooting for the Detectives to find the murderer and at the same time needing to know what would happen next. I liked
finding out a little bit more about Sargeant Graves background too, which for me, has made her a little more likeable and personable. I wasn’t keen on her character initially and she is now beginning to grow on me. I was also surprised to find I had empathy with the murderer which very rarely happens. Overall a very good read which I didn’t want to end. Really looking forward to the next book, and I would recommend this if you’re a fan of solid police procedurals although would say read the books in correct order to know the characters from the beginning. And when I can I will be reading the first three books in this series.

4.5 stars