Her Last Words is the ninth book in the Detective Amanda Steele series. This can be a stand-alone read but the series is fantastic and worth reading each and every one.

Amanda is on her way home from vacation with her family when she receives a message asking her to call when she gets a moment. The next day she calls Felicity Kelley but a detective she recognizes answers the phone and wants to know why she is calling. She is told that Felicity has been murdered and she heads to the crime scene feeling guilty for not picking up the call.

Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent will be taking over the case since they had worked with the victim in the past. As they search for clues a Queen of Hearts playing card is found in the mouth of the victim. They wonder if it is linked to Felicity's most recent book she had written.

The murders will eerily connect to a cold case from fifteen years ago, a case that Felicity was researching for her next novel, Another body will turn up but is the killer close by and trying to misdirect Amanda and her partner.

This was a great addition to the series. I really enjoy the writing and the characters. It is an intense page turner that is very rewarding.

Love this series so much! Amanda is home from a much needed vacation when she received the news of a murder, but it is someone she knows. A local mystery writer, Felicity Kelley has been killed, and Amanda was the last person she called. The murder is made to look like a scene from Felicity's latest book. Amanda and her partner Trent are given the case and in the process of trying to solve this murder they discover the writers latest project is an unsolved case. Do they tie together? This was well written and I hated that life would not let me read it in one sitting as I wanted. I really like the relationship between Amanda, Logan and Zoe. I think that Amanda and Trent make good partners, need to get him a girl! In the beginning I was lost as to who had committed the crime (s)?, but did figure it out. This, as all the books in this series, was well written and a enjoyable read. I look forward to the next book in the series. thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy

I am obsessed with this series but they can easily be read and appreciated as standalone aswell . This is another original story with the same characters I've grown so fond of. It amazes me that the characters are still growing and developing after this many books but they feel as fresh as they did in book 1. The plot of this book was unique and actually went in a completely unexpected direction! I think j fell for at least half the red herrings and didn't see most of the twists coming. Highly recommend

Red herrings and I followed them! Well except the first one, I think I knew that was a ploy. On a rare vacation, as Amanda does not do "still", she follows up on a voice message and we are off. Murder (S) twists, turns, and life.
Yes life. Learning, or trying to learn how to juggle Detective business, relationship and family. You are care about Amanda and the core players in each book. You struggle and bask in the good when Amanda does. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I personally recommend starting at book 1 to see the road Amanda has traveled. This series always delivers and I appreciate the fact the author never forgets Detective Amanda Steele's past. Her husband and child killed by a drunk driver. I am so betwixt and between with Amanda and Logan's relationship, I was hoping for Trent, but I do not want this to become an issue let Trent move on. Thank you for the arc. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #HerLastWords #DetectiveAmandaSteele #CarolynArnold #Bookouture #NetGalley

Amanda Steele is shocked to find a brutal death scene at the home of local author Felicity Kelley. Amanda knows the victim. She realizes she might have been the last person Felicity contacted while alive - and that her own actions might have prevented Felicity's death. Amanda embarks on a quest to find the killer and solve the mystery behind Felicity's brutal murder. She is determined to uncover the truth - even if it means putting her own life in danger.

Having been a long-time fan of Carolyn Arnold's work, I was delighted to read this book. Amanda Steele is always a wonderful character, willing to take risks to solve cases. Her Last Words is an intriguing read with many twists and turns. Plenty of red herrings keep readers on their toes throughout this thrilling adventure. Amanda's courage and determination, combined with Carolyn Arnold's expert storytelling, make Her Last Words a truly captivating read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this book with me. Carolyn Arnold's books are always a pleasure to read.

Rating: 4.25/5

I've read a couple of books in this series, in no particular order, so I feel they can be read as standalone books. This one featured the death of an author and I have to admit I was in the dark until almost the end over the identity of the murderer. Amanda was balancing the investigation with her home life, while feeling guilty over if she was neglecting anything. This made her seem real and believable. The plot threw up extra questions (and murders) to keep up the guessing. I enjoyed reading it

I am a huge fan of Carolyn Arnold and the Amanda Steele series’s. In Her Last Words, Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent, are taxed again to find the killer of famous author, Felicity Kelley. It’s perplexing as the murder looks like something straight out of one of her books. This case is personal as Amanda investigated the murder of Felicity’s sister and personally new her as well. As the bodies add up, Amanda and Trent race to identify the killer and bring them to justice. Amanda’s family tenaciousness and self-sacrificing personality are just what is needed to stop the killer from continuing to strike. I would love to see more in the area of her relationships, including her boyfriend Logan and the obvious attraction plus more to Trent. This book has many twists and turns and has you guessing up until the end.

Even though I figured it out before the end, this was still a really good read. Fast-paced, this is a solid addition to the Amanda Steele series.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

I’m totally into this author. This is my third book by her and I love each one more than the last. A murder mystery with Amanda and Trent left me guessing and reguessing who was the killer. It was never who I thought. It had me losing sleep so I could finish and see who it was. The culminated ending was superb. I can’t wait for another!

Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold is a gripping addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series, offering readers a pulse-pounding journey into the world of crime-solving. Set in Prince William County, Northern Virginia, Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent Stenson, are thrust into a chilling murder case involving a successful local author, Felicity Kelley. The novel excels in crafting authentic and relatable characters, particularly in the portrayal of Amanda's internal struggles and dedication to her work. As they investigate, a sinister calling card and a connection to a cold case from fifteen years ago create an engaging and urgent narrative. While the murderer's identity may be somewhat predictable, Her Last Words compensates with an exploration of the why behind the crimes, making it a must-read for fans of police procedurals and crime thrillers with well-drawn characters and an absorbing storyline.

Love love this series!!! Every book is better than the previous one and this one is no exception.
Detective Amanda Steele has finally taking a well deserved vacation when she is unexpectedly called back to investigate the murder of an author who just happened to have left her a voicemail the previous night. Having also investigated and solved the murder of this author's sister not long before, Amanda, along with her partner Trent, will stop at nothing to find the killer. Carolyn Arnold has created an amazing series with incredible characters, full of suspense and thrills. I'm already anxiously awaiting book 10!

Detective Amanda Steele is on leave when she is contacted by her superior about a murder. He asks her to come to the scene, She is feeling a bit bored so she says yes. She arrives to find a famous author has been murdered, and Amanda knows her. In a previous case solved by Amanda, the author's sister was murdered. To complicate things, the deceased had called and left Amanda a message just before her murder. As Amanda and the team search for clues, they discover strange links to an unsolved murder from years ago, and then they learn that the author was using that case as a basis for her new book. It's an exciting read with many twists and turns. I love following along with Amanda's life!

This is easily one of my favorite series, and this last book was a great addition.
Amanda and Trent are on the scene of a murdered author, one who had reached out to Amanda the day before to ask some questions. As always, the two will stop at nothing to get who is responsible, especially when a second body is discovered.
I was not expecting the direction the story took. It was different than some of the others, and I loved it. The characters are not perfect, and that is one of the appeals. Definitely a must read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This authors talent knows no bounds. So well written it becomes an experience. These characters are so well done they feel like family. Terrifying plot full of twists and turns that you don’t see coming. A classic whodunit but ramped up to a terror filled immersive tale. You won’t be able to put this one down once you start reading. There are so many twists to get to the jaw dropping finale. An absolute must read.

This is book #9 in the Detective Amanda Steele series. I have enjoyed this series and the characters and hope the series continues on!

Detective Amanda Steele is just returning from vacation when she learns of the murder of local author, Felicity Kelley. Amanda is personally affected by this brutal murder because Ms. Kelley had just left her a voicemail that she hadn’t had a chance to return. Could she have stopped this murder if she had just been able to take the call?

The investigation seems to mirror Felicity’s writing when it is discovered that she is killed in the same manner as a character in one of her books. Are we dealing with a copycat?

Amanda learns that Felicity was digging around in a real-life cold case as a reference for her next book. Could this have gotten her killed? Fifteen years have passed with no new leads but Amanda will attempt to solve the case in order to unveil Felicity’s killer.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another great read by this author in the continued detective series of Amanda Steele. Amanda and detective Trent are yet again thrown into solving a murder. You can just read these as a one off book but I would recommend you read them all they are that good.

I am loving this series, it gets better with each new book, I this is my favourite story so far. It has a story line that gad me hooked and I love Detective Amanda Steele .

I really like this series of books featuring Detective Amanda Steele. The characterisation and plotting is very good and they are quick, easy reads which draw the reader in from the start. Although I did guess who the murderer was, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book and I was interested until the end. I look forward to the next read in the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I would like to thank netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review.

I have read all the books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I was looking forward to reading this and it did not disappoint. A tense mystery and brilliant partnership kept me hooked from start to finish

3.5 stars rounded up for a good police procedural , set in Prince William County, Virginia. Detective Amanda Steele receives a phone call from Felicity Kelley, an author who has asked her procedural questions in the past. Felicity is murdered before Amanda returned her call. She insists on taking the investigation away from the detective who has the case.
Amanda and her partner do solve the case. I did not suspect the killer until the end.
One quote, from Amanda: 'It was unfortunate there was a need for the justice system. But crime and violence would never go away, and if she gave too much thought to human atrocities, it would send her spiraling into the darkness. She preferred not to visit there willingly. "
#HerLastWords #NetGalley.
Thanks to Bookouture for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.