Member Reviews

Love me a bit of Gina Harte and this one was just as good as the 15 previous ones! Anyone picking up one of those 16 will be able to pick up on Gina’s back story pretty quickly - but I do recommend reading them from the start.
This time we have a murder victim left in her garden with her eyes removed.
Gina as always has her work cut out as there are multiple suspects and multiple people in danger! Ends with a slight tease into what will happen in book 17 and o cannot wait!!

Was this review helpful?

Loved it!! The Detective Gina Harte Series is definitely one of my favorites. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put the book down because I had to know who was behind the murders and why. I'm really not sure how so many women fell for Ross Craven. It's not like he was a catch and brought much to any relationship, except maybe tragedy. Plus, he had an obsession with his children keeping diaries. There were so many twists and turns. I was suspicious of so many people, but never guessed who was actually behind everything. Matty seemed especially creepy. I was sure he was hiding something from Maeve. Darrah was another likely suspect, but with the amount of alcohol he was drinking he would need a partner. Abigail was a crazy, jealous girlfriend and I wouldn't put anything past her. I was definitely shocked when everything was finally revealed. So much effort was put into getting revenge, when it really wasn't Nell's fault. The book kept me guessing until the very end. Honestly, I was scared Gina was going to fall over dead every time she chased after someone. I was afraid she was about to die of a heart attack. She needs to take some time off and cuddle with Ebony and of course Briggs. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Stephen is a piece of work. His mind games are horrible and the lengths he goes to terrorize Gina are obsessive and disturbing. I'm guessing the next book will be all about him and Gina's ex-husband's family. Maybe Hannah will finally see the truth about her father and his family.

Definitely recommend the book and the previous ones in the series. This was a great mystery/thriller. Loved the characters, writing style and story. I can't wait to find out what's next for Det. Gina Harte. So glad DCI Briggs and Gina are still a couple. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the book cover.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

My heart raced as the book kept foreshadowing something happening to Gina. Pair that with the victim’s eyes being removed and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire read.

I loved that Sally is back. She is a great character and gives me more love for the series. The characters as well as the plot keep me coming back for each new installment. Both the regular, supporting, and the characters specific to a book are complex and compelling. Don’t mistake that to think the plot and crime is lacking. It’s layered with a plethora of suspects that kept me guessing. The book is fast paced and tension filled.

A unique aspect of this one is diary entries that along with the multiple POVs fill in some of the facts of the case as Gina and her team work to stop the killer before they strike again.

If you are looking for a complex crime novel with great characters look no further than this book and series.

Was this review helpful?

Detective Gina Harte book 16.

This was a cracking page turner that kept me hooked. I was convinced I knew who the killer was but no, I was wrong. Again! I love this series and I cannot wait to read the next book.

She races home, her young son clasped tightly to her chest, glancing over her shoulder at every face she passes. She reaches the safety of her home, closing the door behind her. Little does she know the danger that awaits her inside…

When local vicar, Sally, packs away the brightly coloured toys and dog-eared books left over from a morning parent and toddler group, her heart pounds as she discovers a note left behind:

‘Help me.’

Sally knows the mother who sat in that spot. Rushing to Nell’s small house nearby, her feeling of dread grows. Her frantic knock goes unanswered. Inside, she hears Nell’s one-year-old son Alfie crying, but still Nell doesn’t come.

Running to the back of the house, Sally’s breath catches at the sight of Nell’s lifeless body laid out in the garden.

When police investigate the young mother’s tragic death, rumours start to spread. Some say Nell had enemies. Some say she wasn’t telling the truth about who she really was. And some say she was running from a dark past.

With reports of a mysterious figure seen watching Nell’s house, it’s clear whoever took her life is close by. And when a break-in at the church ends with a brutal attack on Sally, the vicar who found Nell’s body, it’s clear that this killer isn’t finished yet.

Was this review helpful?

Sally, a local vicar, is straitening things up after a church service. Finding a note that says “Help me God” is truly jarring. She was just talking with a young mother named Nell and is sure it was Nell who left the desperate note.

Sally rushes to Nell’s home, only to find her dead body with her infant son Alfie now left alone. Sally is now caring for him at the vicarage while Detective Gina Harte searches for both the killer and any other family that Alfie might have. As Gina digs more into the case, she begins to see a pattern, a pattern that just might reach into the past.

As is usual for murder cases, things take a turn, leaving clues but bringing Gina and her partner Jacob no closer to finding the killer. All the while, Gina is secretly experiencing tight pains in her chest, but determinedly ignores them as she races to find the killer.

What a compelling read! This thrilling book was utterly impossible to put down and as the conclusion reached a crescendo, an opening is left for the next book in the series, and definitely left me wanting.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

One Last Prayer is book 16 in the Detective Gina Harte series by Carla Kovach.
This is a gripping crime thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
The characters are interesting and likable and the plot is twisty and exciting. This is the sort of story is really hard to put down.
This series keeps getting better and better. Always gripping with some edge of the seat twists and turns, I read this book in a couple of days.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Was this review helpful?

Gripping and engaging thriller. It was my first by the author and Detective Gina Harte series, Book 16. I would like to read previous books, as I enjoyed this one. Gina and the Vicar, Sally, both are very realistic and admirable characters. Gina is excellent in her job. The pace of the book is fast, and the twists keep coming throughout. Shocking secrets, twisted revelations one after other makes it unpredictable. The climax is shocking. Recommended. Thanks to @Netgalley and @Bookouture for the eARC.

Was this review helpful?

Book 16 in the series and in my opinion, one of the BEST! Loved everything about it and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

Was this review helpful?

I was given a chance to read the ARC by Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. This was a very complex book. I had to re read some parts and go back a few times to make sure I understood what was going on. Now, I still loved this book. Once I was able to keep track of everything I was able to really enjoy the book. I have only read a couple of books in this series, so I can’t wait to go back to the beginning and really get to know her team better. I suggest reading from book one first to truly understand her team, but you can still read this as a standalone. This was a brilliant book, you just never knew where things were headed and I loved that because just when you thought you knew, you didn’t!

Was this review helpful?

What a fantastic read this was!
From the very first page, I was absolutely hooked and didn’t ever want to put this book down!
I absolutely love this series, and this new instalment just felt darker, creepier and just so full of tension!

I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately but this book completely snapped me out of it!

Was this review helpful?

Detective Gina Harte and her team are back and this time they are investigating the gruesome murder of young mum, Nell, who was discovered slain in her back garden by the local vicar, Sally. Sally had come to check on Nell and her son, Alfie, after the young woman fled the mother and left behind a note asking for help. Rumours quickly circulate that Nell was hiding something. Could her secrets be the key to her murder? As the team investigates things take a distressing turn when Sally is also attacked. It’s clear that this is someone who will go to extreme lengths to keep their secrets. Can Gina and her team find them before they kill again?

The Detective Gina Harte series is one of my favourite series, and every book goes straight onto my must-read list. I discovered this series the same month I joined Bookstagram so it holds a special place in my heart and it is crazy to me that I just read its sixteenth instalment. But the best thing is, this series isn’t slowing down and Carla Kovach has once again delivered a story every bit as gritty, tense, and compelling as its predecessors. The crime is especially intricate, complex and dark this time around and I went through so many different theories and suspects while reading. And that ending. How could you do that to me?

Carla’s skillful storytelling is a big part of what makes these books so special. It is fast-paced, thrilling, and morally complex, with lots of twists and turns keeping you on your toes from start to finish. You can also rely on her to write compelling characters, such as Gina, who is a fantastic protagonist. And while I love returning to Gina and the team, I also love how well-written the background characters are every time. In this book I really enjoyed getting to know Sally more in this book. I hope we see more from her point of view in the future, but not because she’s attacked!

Dark, nail-bitingly tense and addictive, this is a must-read for all thriller fans.

Was this review helpful?

One Last Prayer is book 16 in the Detective Gina Harte series and it will keep you guessing until the very end. Reading this book is very stressful as you don't know who's behind everything going on and things keep happening to people you care about. Sally, the local vicar, is holding a group session for parents and toddlers. When she's cleaning up she finds a note that says Help Me. Sally knows who was sitting here and knows that she's a struggling single mom. Sally rushes to Nell's house to find out what she needs help with. When she gets there she knocks, but no one answers. Sally can hear Alfie, Nell's one year old son, crying inside. Where's Nell? Sally tries the door, but it's locked. Sally goes around back and stops dead in her tracks when she sees Nell's dead body out in the garden. Who would do this? Who would kill a young mother and leave her one year old inside alone? Sally is devastated and calls the police immediately. She is able to get in the back door and comfort Alfie and the dog.

Nell was new to the area and some say she had enemies, some say she was running from her past. Neighbors report having seen a stranger watching Nell's house. Sally tells Gina she'll take care of Alfie until family can be located. She feels so bad for the little boy who now has no mom. Sally takes in the little dog, too. Gina knows things are bad when there's a break-in at the church and Sally is attacked. Who would want to hurt Sally? She helps so many people. Gina and her team have a troubling case and need to find out who's doing this before more people are injured or killed. Who is Alfie's father? No one seems to know anything except it was someone Nell met in Turkey. Could the father be after Alfie? This case will keep you guessing and stressed until the very end. I rate One Last Prayer 5 stars with my highest recommendation. If you've never read the series you can enjoy this book as a standalone. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of One Last Prayer in exchange for a fair review. #OneLastPrayer

Was this review helpful?

"One Last Prayer" is number 16 in the Gina Harte detective series. I started reading this series pretty well into it. These can be read together or as a stand alone. I had no problem jumping right in and getting to know the characters and their backgrounds half way through the series.

All of Kovach's mysteries are well written with great character and plot development. This narrative has the perspective of several different points of views, giving the mystery a bit of a twist for the reader. There's also diary entries from an unknown character that adds to the thrill.

There are several people who make for good suspects, so as more information is known, and the the plot thickens (LOL) the mystery deepens and the thrill builds.

On the subject of several suspects, there were a lot of people to keep track of in this storyline. I was very confused and at times frustrated trying to figure out who was who from previous chapters.

Then, of course, there is the continuing storyline of Detective Gina Harte. This book's involvement in Gina's personal life seemed a bit unexpected yet boring at the same time.

All in all, this was another good read from Carla Kovach! One Last Prayer is out now here in the U.S. so pick up your copy at your favorite book retailer or local library!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. This was a 4 star read!

Happy Reading!

Was this review helpful?

I love Gina Harte and have read all 16 of Carla’s books featuring her and this one does not disappoint in fact I think this is one of the best! When the local vicar Sally is worried about Nell, one of the young mums at the church mother and baby group, she follows her home to find baby Alfie crying and Nell dead. There follows a twisty turny tale that will keep you guessing until the end - I thought I’d figured it out about halfway through but was proved wrong a few pages later! Gina and her team are at their best and I’m already looking forward to book 17!

Was this review helpful?

Gina is back with a twisty case. This one keeps you guessing right up to the jaw dropping reveal. There's also some new things happening in Gina's personal life. This series never fails to deliver intriguing cases.

Was this review helpful?

The mystery in this book was extremely complex and involved a lot of moving parts as well as people, but that is what made it so gripping to me as the reader. I love a challenge when I am reading a crime thriller/mystery. There were curveballs thrown in every direction, just when I thought I had solved the mystery, that would take me in another direction.

This killer is brutal and sadistic. As Gina Harte and the other detectives investigate this case, they realize that almost everyone they have talked with is either lying or, at the very least, withholding information that is needed to solve the young mother's murder. The characters in this book were interesting to the say the least. You will understand when you read it.

This author knows how to spin a tale, and this one was super in every way that is needed to make a crime thriller exciting. Crime thrillers/police procedural lovers will devour this book. Prepare yourself for a thrill ride and put on your thinking cap.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

One Last Prayer by Carla Kovach is the 16th book in this excellent. Detective Gina Harte series. This has been a series that I have been hooked from the very first book and I have loved reading this series. This latest book is full of twists and turns throughout, that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, plus anything you had planned for that day will be out of the window, you will be gripped and want to read more to find out what happens next.

"She races home, her young son clasped tightly to her chest, glancing over her shoulder at every face she passes. She reaches the safety of her home, closing the door behind her. Little does she know the danger that awaits her inside…

When local vicar, Sally, packs away the brightly coloured toys and dog-eared books left over from a morning parent and toddler group, her heart pounds as she discovers a note left

‘Help me.’

Sally knows the mother who sat in that spot. Rushing to Nell’s small house nearby, her feeling of dread grows. Her frantic knock goes unanswered. Inside, she hears Nell’s one-year-old son Alfie crying, but still Nell doesn’t come.

Running to the back of the house, Sally’s breath catches at the sight of Nell’s lifeless body laid out in the garden.

When police investigate the young mother’s tragic death, rumours start to spread. Some say Nell had enemies. Some say she wasn’t telling the truth about who she really was. And some say she was running from a dark past.

With reports of a mysterious figure seen watching Nell’s house, it’s clear whoever took her life is close by. And when a break-in at the church ends with a brutal attack on Sally, the vicar who found Nell’s body, it’s clear that this killer isn’t finished yet…..............."

WoW.....this book is So good I highly recommend all these books within this series, They have all been a 5 star read and this one was no different!

Was this review helpful?

Gina races to find all the answers but she’s fumbling around rather blindly.
The scenes are gruesome and unsightly but also revealing.
I feared Gina would keel over but she sticks it out until the end.
But Kovach left me on a cliff hanger so I have to teem with impatience until the next case with Harte giving it her all!

Was this review helpful?

Number 16 in the Gina Harte series and another belter of a good read.
There are lots of possible villains here, lots of twists and turns, and you're definitely kept on your toes trying to work out who the real culprit is, who turns out to be one I never saw coming.
Along with the great main plot the subplot simmers along nicely, health issues for Gina have you sure she's at a physical crossroads and badgering emails and messages ensure she's at a mental one too.
While the main plot is tied up at the end, we are left at a cliff edge in the subplot, as it seems Gina can never escape her past.

Was this review helpful?

Another brilliant book in the Detective Gina Harte series.
Gina is called when a young woman is found dead in her garden by the local vicar, Sally. Her toddler is alone in the house so Sally agrees to look after him until family can be contacted.
Sally tells Gina that Nell had seemed upset at the church group that morning which is why she went to her house afterwards.
Gina and Jacob start the investigation and it’s clear not everyone is giving them the full facts.
When another body is found it throws the investigation into a new direction and Gina and the team have their hands full trying to track down the killer.
Gina is also suffering from chest pains and with some nasty emails being sent to her as well, she is finding things hard.
This is a brilliant crime thriller that I’d highly recommend.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?