Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC.

This is my first Laura Griffin novel and I hope it won’t be my last. The Austin details were great, and a tad too real for comfort!

Stephanie Németh-Parker did a wonderful job narrating the story.

I was introduced to this author through Berkley Romance. After I read a novel by Laura Griffin last year, I found myself going back to listen to her entire backlog of released books and am now all caught up and eagerly await her new police procedurals.

Forensic genealogist, Rowan Healy has experienced a career change. For years, she assisted the police to solve crimes, but when the all-consuming stress and pressure became too much, Rowan opted for a change. Now, Rowan is finding her stride and building up her clientele base. Income still isn't steady, but it's going and her peace of mind is worth every lost dime.

Jack Brunner has spent his career chasing the West Campus Rapist and he's certain the perpetrator is back. Stumped and struggling to convince others that the unsub has returned, Jack receives Rowan's name and while he's skeptical to ask for her help, he's hit a wall. As the two struggle to fight their attraction and instant friction, they are also both consumed by the case. Rowan thought she left this life behind, but has she?

Was this my favorite novel? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. I found the character development in this novel to be less well-rounded than her other novels. Laura Griffin often makes nods to characters from her other books which I absolutely love. As I read her backlog, I loved guessing who would become the primary characters in her subsequent novel. In this story, I was intrigued by the case and enjoyed seeing the relationship between Rowan and Jack develop.

I am looking forward to reading her next novel!

A huge thank you to Dreamscape Media and Berkley Publishing for granting me access to this title! I really enjoyed the audiobook narration for this novel! I highly recommend the audio!

Rowan is a forensic genealogist and all she wants is to step away from police work but when she is sought out by Jack Bruner to help with a serial rapist case he has been chasing for five years she has to step up and help. These two have a certain chemistry and work off each other and find what they need to find the clues to find the next step. This story was riveting and intriguing and kept me interested from beginning to end. I had this one in audio and listened to it in nearly one session I was so engrossed. I am not going to give anything away. I will read anything this author puts out and this one did not disappoint!

Wow, just wow. Rowan and Jack story is fast-paced and unique. I could not get through this fast enough. I really enjoyed the discovery of the villain. I think this has a great mix of romance, suspense and mystery.

Good story. The main characters have good chemistry. One is a dedicated police detective and one is a genealogy DNA expert who helps adoptees find their birth families. The come together to solve a cold case where the perpetrator comes back after five years. One thing that is never explained is if the rapist/murderer was active in another location while he was gone.

This is such a good mystery/thriller with a hint of romance. Rowan and Jack are fantastic main characters and together their chemistry was brilliant. Forensic genealogy is so fascinating and its prominence in this book was really enjoyable. This book worked well as an audiobook. The narrator does a great job with the voices of the main and side characters and set up the spooky vibes. I made the mistake of listening on my nightly walk and totally freaked myself out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing an eARC of this audiobook!

Another win from Laura Griffin. I've enjoyed every book I've read from her, and this one was no different.
I really liked Rowan and Jack as individuals but I loved them together! They were strong characters that were easy to fall in love with.
Police procedural books are hit and miss for me, but as I said, Laura Griffin is always a win. It's easy to follow, nothing too complicated so you don't get lost in the police lingo.
I'll definitely be checking out more of her books!
Not to mention, I always LOVE her covers!
The narration was perfection!

This was an engaging read and I enjoyed a lot about it. The characters were realistic and relatable. They were easy to engage it. The dynamic between Rowan and Jack was great. The book started well and was paced really well throughout.

Jack Bruner has been searching for the West Campus Rapist for years. He’s long believed the perpetrator would escalate his crimes from rape to murder, so when the murder of a young woman matches the WCR’s MO Jack becomes even more desperate to catch him. Unfortunately, this criminal has been very careful about leaving an evidence trail. This is where Rowan comes in. In his desperation, Jack asks her to help find the killer’s identity.

As a forensic genealogist, Rowan can trace DNA back through a particular family tree and pinpoint the killer’s identity. She’s worked with the police in the past, but she was disturbed by the cases, and became burned out. Now Rowan tries to only take private cases where a person is trying to find out about or locate relatives for many different reasons. However, when she finds out that Jack is working to find the West Campus Rapist, she agrees. Rowan attended the college where the WCR attacked and assaulted a fellow student, and the event left a mark.

This case felt true to life, and it’s a crime that’s been committed over and over. Women, of course, are the targets. I was eager for this guy to be caught and brought to justice! I was on the edge of my seat as the story played out worried over the next potential victim!

I loved The Last Close Call! Laura Griffin features exciting new methods of solving crimes in her mysteries, like Rowan’s profession. I find forensic genealogy fascinating, especially since it’s become such an important tool in solving real life crimes like the Golden State Killer. But The Last Close Call was more than just following clues to find a killer. Jack and Rowan were both likeable and relatable characters, thrown together under dark circumstances. Although neither were looking for love there was an immediate attraction, instant chemistry, and I was fully on board with their romance!

I alternately listened to and read The Last Close call and recommend either version! Stephanie Németh-Parker’s performance was a wonderful, both female and male characters. I enjoyed her subtle Southern accent. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

I really liked this book. The characters were very realistically written. Real reactions to scenarios. Some of the characters felt as though they were just thrown in there to throw you off the track and therefore felt unfinished because what happened to them?

This definitely had the feel of the beginning of a series. I’m not sure whether it will be but it could be.

Thanks Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook version of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

In this novel we meet Rowan, a forensic genealogist who uses her skills for good by helping adoptive families match up with biological family members. She used to help in crime but burned out. An Austin detective, Jack, convinces her to help with a case of a serial rapist that is escalating.

Of course Jack and Rowan begin a romantic relationship as they work on the case. I honestly could have enjoyed the book more without the romance as it felt more of a convenience than attraction. The storyline was strong enough without adding in romance.

Overall, an ok read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how this book started as it was so sudden and gripping. The crimes Rowan and Jack are attempting to solve with genetic analysis are gripping and chilling. I likes how the genetic analysis was used to solve the crimes as it was the focus and make the story more unique. This was a pretty good crime novel and the romance between Rowan and Jack was great.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Not all predators show up with a ski mask."

The tension is palpable in the heart pounding The Last Close Call by suspense romance queen Laura Griffin. Reading and listening to this latest standalone from one of my favorite romance suspense authors I alternated between nail biting that the pathetic serial rapist wouldn't be caught before claiming another victim and swooning at the growing sexual tension between the smart nerdy scientist and the rugged handsome alpha cop.

Forensic genealogist Rowan Healy is burnt out from years of hunting down vicious criminals through her unique ability to track them through their genetic family tree; much like how The Golden State Killer was finally caught a few years ago. Just as she is starting her new career helping adopted and estranged families find each other, she is sought out by Detective Jack Bruner begging her to help track the notorious West Campus Rapist, who haunts Jack as the one that got away. He hasn't attacked in a while until now and his violent rage has escalated to a deadly outcome.

As Rowan and Jack work tirelessly to catch him they try to not act on the closeness they are feeling for one another. Jack falls first and you can't blame a girl for falling for a man that just wants to protect and serve. A round of applause to voice actress Stephanie Nemeth-Parker who seamlessly went from vulnerable victims, to a conflicted Rowan and then a determined Jack. She made it real and when Rowan's connection to the rapist is revealed she made this writer's words come alive. Though a standalone, I 'd love for this to be a series and not the last call on Rowan and Jack.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the copy of The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin.

This book had it all! The characters were so interesting and kept me hooked! I didn’t necessarily care for the narrators voice changes, but I did appreciate the effort! This book made me think of the 4MK series. Very good read!

First I would like to thank Dreamscape Media for providing me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Jack, APD Detective, who has been working on finding a serial rapist for years and when he hears about Rowan, Forensic Genealogist, he decides to shoot his shot and ask for her help. Rowan has stepped away from the criminal side of genealogy but when Jack presents her with DNA from a case that is close to her she decides to help. As they dig deeper into the case the the stakes continue to raise Jack and Rowan lean on each other personally and professionally to find the suspect.

What I loved:
- Location, I'm a sucker for books set in and around Austin and this one did a great job with representing central Texas well. It also gave me some creepy vibes when I was around west campus while listening.
- Forensic genealogist, as an avid true crime podcast listener I know how important DNA is becoming to cases and hearing about the role of a forensic genealogist in this context was fascinating
- Twist, Laura Griffin always has a good twist but this one got me good I had something built up in my head and I was WAY off which I love in a good romantic suspense
- Audiobook quality, I am a person who can't listen to an audiobook at regular speed and I love how this book didn't lose any quality when I was listening to it at 2X
- Audiobook narrator, this audiobook has a single narrator who was able to seamlessly flip between the dual POV of Jack and Rowan and she did a pretty good job with some of the odd words we use around here

For all of my romantic suspense readers out there, I would absolutely recommend this book. It has everything I want in a good romantic suspense with a couple who tries to fight the attraction, a good mystery and a twist I wasn't expecting. On top of that the location of this book is close to my heart so anyone who loves Texas based stories this one is for you as well. If you love reading/listening to audiobooks I would definitely recommend this book in audio as it was such high quality, sounding great in my car or through headphones while walking and working around the house.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent. I enjoyed the book, it was an interesting subject and the book held a lot of suspense. The characters were well written and it was just all together a good book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Audio for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this audiobook.
The audio was very well done for which I'm grateful. When you have a bad narrator, it can spoil the whole book even a well-written one.

Rowen Healy is a forensic genealogist who has helped families find each other and, the couple of times she was asked, helped to find a killer or rapist. She has decided not to do that work anymore, that it takes too much out of her. But she can't resist Jack Bruner, the detective assigned to what looks like a serial rapist/death case when he begs her help. As you can guess, there is lots of flirting and romance and, in my opinion, takes away from a good story. I realize detectives are human and attracted to each other especially in heightened emotional times but the interior thinking of both Jack and Rowen felt wrong, off-kilter. I just wanted to wizz past those parts and get to the mystery.

The story is a good one and certainly topical. I did enjoy the book for the most part but please Ms. Griffin, write either romance or mystery. Your characters trying to balance both are not believable.

Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker. Just when you think you know where this story is going it takes you somewhere else. You just never know what secrets you unlock when you trace your genealogy. I loved the narrator. She was just wonderful and added to the experience of this book. I couldn't stop listening to the audio. The plot is vintage Laura Griffin, it is a fantastic blend of romance and heart stopping suspense.

Jack Bruner is an Austin police detective with a heavy case load and a backlog of other cases that are slowly going cold. One case in particular has him looking for new avenues to pursue. The West Campus Rapist haunts him because the guy just stopped, but now he's back and Jack is determined not to let him vanish again.

Rowan Healy is slowly making a name for herself in the area of genealogy by helping adoptees track down their biological parents. After spending years working as a forensic genealogist, she was done working with cops and heart wrenching cases. Her peace has been hard won and she intends to never go back.

Until Jack Bruner crashes into her life and won't take no for an answer. But Rowan has her own reasons for helping Jack and his heart stopping magnetism and strong body have nothing to do with it. Well, maybe not much anyway. The deeper Rowan digs into the genealogy of the suspect, the more danger she finds.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

This was my first Laura Griffin book, but it won’t be my last. I thought the mystery/suspense line was good and the character development of the main characters was great, especially for a story that has a romance “immediately in love” storyline. Rowan has left the world of police work and taken her skills with genetics to the private sector. Jack, a police detective with a burning desire to catch a serial rapist and possible murderer tracks her down and won’t take no for an answer. This fast paced chase for a rapist will have both Rowan and Jack running fast and unable to fully focus on their mutual attraction. I listened to the audiobook and felt like the narrator did a great job, particularly with Rowan.

I believe this is the first book I've read by Laura Griffin and it was decent. I think it dragged in a few spots, which is why I rated it a little low. I really enjoyed the audiobook though. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker was fantastic and was the biggest reason I hung on until the end.