I really enjoyed this audiobook. My favorite part was the cold case that Detective Jack was investigating and how he used a genealogist, Rowan, to assist with the case. The relationship between the two were also my favorite as well and I loved seeing the way the relationship evolved.

I'm really hoping that we will get more stories about these two.

The story itself is fast paced with lots of twists and turns. The story blindsided me a few times, which is always a bonus to me. I don't want to be able to guess what's going to happen, I want the surprises.

The narrator was amazing with her reading. She kept me hooked to the book. I'm a firm believer that a narrator can make or break a book when it comes to audiobooks and she did well. I would certainly listen to more by her.

I cannot wait until the next Laura Griffin book. Thank you so much netgalley and Dreamscape Media for my ARC audio copy.

4 stars

The last close call is an excellent police procedural that has a focus on forensic genealogy as a crime solving technique. Rowan Healy is the best in her field but the high stakes and pressures of the terrible crimes she was tasked to solve burned her out and she decided she needed to use her gifts in a more family Oriented way by helping people research their family tree and find lost and unknown relatives.

However, when a referral from another detective has Detective Jack Bruner nocking on her door begging her to help solve a violent cold case Rowan finds herself slowly being drawn back in. The case resonates with her and despite her reservations she chooses to help Jack.

This is well written, fast paced and has plenty of heart stopping moments and surprises you won’t see coming. Excellent read and I highly recommend it! I also love that this book stays focused on the case despite a touching and believable slow burn fade to black romance! That’s hard to find these days and I appreciate the effort to have a believable and naturally building relationship that has all the romantic elements without overwhelming or dominating the plot.

The Last Close Call keeps you entertained from the very beginning all the way through the end. Police procedurals are not my favorite but this one was different and kept me engaged throughout. Jack and Rowan link up when Jack's cold case killer starts back up again, and he needs her skill to help find the culprit. This had a nice nugget of romance that I am all for. I enjoyed both Jack and Rowan and the way their characters were written, they were relatable and fit perfectly in the story. I received The Last Close Call as an audio ARC and the narrator did a phenomenal job bringing this story to life. If you aren't really into police procedurals but you want to give them a try, I suggest this story, I think it's one everyone can enjoy.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC and the chance to listen and review it honestly.

Happy reading!

🧬 A L C • R E V I E W 🧬
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Title: The Last Close Call
Author: Laura Griffin
Rating: 3/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
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Every detective has that one case that they cant shake. For Jake - its the West Campus Rapist. It’s when the WCR strikes again that Jack decides to ask for help from genealogist Rowan Healy.
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I am a huge fan of genealogy and was super thrilled to see an author decided to use this as a main focus within a murder mystery! I love how it was incorporated into the story in order to help identify the killer (though because I’m obsessed with genealogy and the science behind it I wish this was more in-depth throughout the story). This was more unique as I haven’t read many books that went this route. The story itself was fairly interesting and I would say more medium paced where there were points that I felt it was unputdownable and other points that felt more slow.
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The characters are super likable. Jack and Rowan definitely have chemistry, but this whole instant attraction thing that led to some crazy intense fling was a little too much for me, not to mention it all kind of came out of left field and I felt like I had missed parts of the audio. I think this story would have been more interesting had the whole romantic suspense been left out, it seemed to overshadow the actual investigation and genealogy majority of the story.
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I listened to this one via audio and the narrator Stephanie Németh-Parker was a great casting for this one. She kept my attention and made this one super easy to follow along with.
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Overall, this was more of a romantic suspense splashed with some murder mystery and genealogy. I enjoyed this one but think I would have enjoyed it more had it been just the investigation and the genealogy part. This was released on 10/24. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Laura Griffin and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

23 and Me genealogy takes on a whole new meaning in this Detective mystery. Rowan Healy has given up her days in forensic genealogy working with the police in favor of more family oriented work. But Detective Jacl Bruner sucks her in with one last intriguing case, that becomes all consuming.

Woven with intricate detail on genealogy and the tracing of familial trees in Detective work, this is a truly educational, heart pounding read.

The Last Close Call
✍️: Laura Griffin


If you are a fan of the police procedural mystery genre, then this book will absolutely satisfy that craving.
It really hits all of the marks for a good mystery, starting off very tense and all too believable which added to how scary it felt. I found myself double checking that my doors were locked at night.
It follows the story of a genetic analysts and detective working together to solve a cold case after a new victim is found.
Among the chaos there is a bit of romance along the way and the ending is pretty wild to say the least!

This one was a combo of a fast-paced thriller and romance. It was really interesting to read a thriller where the whole story wasn't about figuring out who the rapist/killer was, but instead, that happened fairly early on and the rest focused on catching him. I thought the romance part was sweet. Rowan and Jack really worked so well together.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit, so I would recommend it. I think it would be great as a movie.

Rowan has been asked to assist in the West Campus Rapist case. She is a forensic genealogist and she remembers how scared she was when this rapist attacked someone close to her. Austin Detective, Jack Bruner has been on this guys track for quite a while and he is determined to catch him.

Rowan is a smart lady and I really enjoyed her. I love her job being a forensic genealogist, very unique. This is one of the many items in this novel which had be intrigued. Then there is Jack. Jack has some smarts himself and he is also determined. These two make a great team. I love how they work together…in more ways than one!

This is a quick, fast paced thriller and the narrator, Stephanie Németh-Parker, is ok. She is a bit overly dramatic in places. But it could have been the story.

Need a good, suspenseful tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

A good Thriller with a new twist on how to uncover a suspect through forensic genealogy, A great way to fictionally learn about investigations in the crime world. Well done narration by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker.
I enjoyed listening to this audio book. Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for this Audio Book ARC.

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin
Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Romance
Expected Publication Date: October 24, 2023

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin is a standalone mystery featuring a forensic genealogist. This book was fast paced and so good. I highly recommend reading it!

I love that the author writes books based in Texas. It's so neat reading about areas that I am familiar with. This book takes place between Austin and San Antonio, so I actually felt like I was reading something that took place in my local news.

The story was incredible! I loved the characters and the character development! I thought that adding a forensic genealogist brought such a fascinating element to the story. Wow! I enjoyed the mystery and seeing how everything unfolded!

The narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker was incredible! I loved how she brought this book to life!

I highly recommend this quick read! It is so good!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I liked this audio but did not love it. The narrator was good. Some of the writing was repetitive. The chemistry between Rowan and Jack was good. I did find the forensics geneaology very interesting.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the police procedural part of the story as they honed in on the suspect, I felt that the romance between Jack and Rowan lacked real chemistry and could have been scrapped. It ended up trying to be too many things without doing any of it successfully.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I found the romance a bit boring, but I believe patrons who enjoy Nora Roberts and Stacy Abrams may enjoy this title.

When I click request on Net Galley I probably commit the cardinal rule of requesting, I totally judge a book by its cover and title. I had never heard of or read anything by Laura Griffin, and whoa what a great surprise read! I was initially excited because I love to read about genetics and solving cases via the use of genealogy. I think it is cool how authors are bringing in new technology to their books.
Another thing that surprised me in this book was the fact that it was a police procedural, usually those can be more like a Tylenol PM for me. But this one had me guessing and doing a ride along with Jack as he hunted down his guy.
There was a great balance of police work, and then "real life" I loved Rowan and her quirky found family friends.
If you are looking for a fun police procedural that will keep you on the edge of your seat (Uhh what a total cliche to say that...? What is better....hmm..flipping the pages...no that's over done too....okay well how about this: The Last Close Call will make you turn off your Taylor Swift Music and pop in your ear buds to read this instead (wait, that's not saying much for me, but I am assuming you might be a Swifty...)
I cannot wait to read more by Laura Griffin

Thank you Net Galley and Laura Griffin for this advanced copy, I was not influenced or paid in exchange for this honest review.

"The Last Close Call" by Laura Griffin, in audiobook format, delivers a thrilling listening experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat. With expert narration and a suspenseful plot, Griffin's story comes to life, immersing you in a world of danger and intrigue, making it a perfect choice for fans of crime and mystery genres.

This was such a fun thriller/romance novel! I loved the crime solving aspect as well as the romance between Roan and Jack. It was so interesting going through the process of solving the crime with the help of genealogy, which hasn’t been a big focus in many books that I read. It helped to develop the characters as well as solve the crime, which I enjoyed! I did feel like it lacked a little something though, and the middle dragged a little bit. Overall a great read, and I would totally recommend!

Thank you to netgalley and dreamscape media for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 Stars

In the search for a serial killer whose violent tendencies have been on the rise, Detective Jack Bruner has enlisted the expertise of Rowan Healy, a forensic genealogist. Unbeknownst to Rowan, the case would alter the course of her life.

While I found this to be a pretty decent read, I feel that it could use a touch more oomph, especially around the middle of the novel. Apart from that, the book was an entertaining read. Perfect for those who have an affinity for both police procedurals and romantic storylines.

*** Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Griffin, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Jack Bruner has been working tirelessly to solve an old cold case of sexual assaults but his biggest fears are coming true when the suspect has started up again and his attacks have escalated turning deadly. The problem is Jack has no leads on who the suspect is. He enlists the help of renowned genealogist Rowan Healy to see if she can help him track down a lead. Although she has sworn off doing police work, she reluctantly agrees to help with the case, for Jack's sake and her old history with the case. Rowan and Jack uncover a possible suspect and his long lost family but can they track down the sadistic monster before he attacks again.

I enjoy crime solving mystery books with a twisty ending but this one left me wanting more. I like Laura Griffin's writing style with a quick pace and I thought Rowan's job as an interesting twist on solving cold cases. That being said I am tired of the specialist woman who interjects herself into an investigation because she believes she can solve it better than the detective. There is no chemistry between Rowan and Jack and the romance is forced. The twist ending is not surprising since it was mentioned early on in the book. I also wish there was more reason why he was attacking these specific women or his motivation other than evil is inherent. Overall the storyline was okay and kept me engaged enough till the end. I had the audio version read by Stephanie Németh-Parker. I liked her general narration but found the female character voices to be whiny and too similar.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house, narrator and author for the opportunity to listen to an ARC copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion of this book.

FBI agent, Jack Bruner, has that case that he couldn't solve, a serial rapist, the West Campus rapist. Jack now thinks that the same offender has moved on to murder. Jack couldn't catch him last time, but is determined to get his man this time around. He enlists the help of Rowan Healy, a genetic researcher to take advantage of the new way to hunt criminals. Rowan at first does not want to take the case but relents as something about Jack calls to her.

As Jack uses Rowan's data to get closer to finding the offender he finds himself thinking about Rowan more and more. There are a few twists to the story that I did not see coming and overall I thought it was a good story. The romance part wasn't necessary, as I didn't really feel the connection between the characters.

The narrator did a great job, her tone and cadence was good and she enjoyable to listen to.

I just love this author’s books. While she writes a lot of series, this is a stand alone book and great place to start.

This contemporary suspense book reminds me so much of what was my go to read a few years ago. There is the right blend of suspense and romance and characters you really want to root for.

I love the forensic genealogy that is at the crux of this one. Rowan’s, the FMC, specialty is tracing genealogy and while she has stepped away from helping the police with this skill, she is asked to step in by a gorgeous man. How could she say no? But seriously she also has a connection to the cold case he is investigating and it isn’t just his charm and good looks that twist her arm to join in. I am always amazed at the different aspects law enforcement uses in trying to solve a case and enjoyed learning about this new to me technique.

Of course I am also a fan of the characters the author creates. A strong alpha man with a softer side and an independent woman that can still be a little vulnerable. They play so well off of each other and yet have a great pull that makes me want to root for them both separately and together.

I both read and listened to this one and loved both ways to read this one. Stephanie Németh-Parker really brought the story to life in the audiobook.

If you’re a fan of mystery, suspense and romance, you can’t go wrong with this book or any of her other the books.