The Last Victim

A Novel

By: Karen Robards

Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee

Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Electrifying suspense, cutting-edge psychological insight, and an unforgettably sensuous love story - these are the trademarks of Karen Robards' sizzling novels. Now the New York Times best-selling author launches a red-hot new paranormal romantic thriller series featuring the fascinating Dr. Charlotte Stone, a serial killer expert whose extraordinary powers lead her from ecstasy to terror.

Dr. Charlotte Stone sees what others do not. A sought-after expert in criminal pathology, Charlie regularly sits face-to-face with madmen. Obsessed with learning what makes human monsters commit terrible crimes, Charlie desires little else from life - no doubt because when she was 16, she herself survived a serial killer's bloodbath: A man butchered the family of Charlie's best friend, Holly, then left the girl's body on a seaside boardwalk one week later.

Because of the information Charlie gave police, the Boardwalk Killer went underground. She kept to herself her eerie postmortem visions of Holly and her mother. And even years later, knowing her contact with ghosts might undermine her credibility as a psychological expert, Charlie tells no one about the visits she gets from the spirit world.

Now all-too-handsome FBI agent Tony Bartoli is telling Charlie that a teenage girl is missing, her family slaughtered. Bartoli suspects that after 15 years, the Boardwalk Killer - or a sick copycat with his M.O. - is back. Time is running short for an innocent, kidnapped girl, and Bartoli pleads for Charlie's help.

This is the one case Charlie shouldn't go near. But she also knows that she may be the one person in the world who can stop this vicious killer. For Charlie - whose good looks disguise a world of hurt, vulnerability, and potent psychic gifts - a frantic hunt for a madman soon becomes a complex test of cunning, passions, and secrets. Aiding Dr. Stone on her quest to catch a madman is a ghostly presence with bad intentions: the fiery spirit of seductive bad boy Michael Garland who refuses to be ignored, though in his cat and mouse game they may both lose their hearts.

Dr. Charlotte Stone sees what others do not. And she sees the Boardwalk Killer coming for her.

©2012 Karen Robards (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Robards has a true flair for characterization and excels at adding large doses of humor to the spicy mix." ( RT Book Reviews)

"One of the most popular voices in women's fiction." ( Newsweek)

"Robards is one terrific storyteller." ( Chicago Tribune)

<3 Robards, but conflicted ~ Is this a series?

Karen Robards is an auto buy for me ~ she's a KY author, so started out buying her for loyalty, and now I buy her because she's DAMN good, people. Her suspense ROCKS. And one of the things I like best about Karen Robards?
You never know what you're going to get. She's penned books that made me crack up the whole way through, books that made me sob like a baby, books that made me look in back seat ( still to this DAY ) every time I get in my car, and books that deal with the paranormal. And not all in the same books. She totally mixes it up. So had NO idea what The Last Victim was about, just knew I wanted it because Karen Robards had written it.


Dr. Charlotte Stone is an expert in criminal pathology ~ working on a gov. grant, she's made it her life work to study serial killers. What makes them tick, what made them what they've become, etc. Michael Garland is a serial killer on Death Row that Charlie has been interviewing ~ when the FBI show up talk to Charlie, Garland is escorted from the room. While FBI agent Tony Bartoli is explaining to Charlie that the FBI is requesting her help on a case, Garland is shanked by another inmate...and Charlie is the last person he sees before he dies.


The FBI have come to Charlie because as a teen, Charlie had witnessed & survived the brutal murder & kidnapping of a friends family...and given the police a sketch of the man who did it. It's not 17 yrs. later, and after all these years, why would the Boardwalk Killer be back? And can Charlie stand it if he is? And should she tell the FBI the biggest way she can be of help to them is talking to ghosts of the dead people they find?


I'm going to through some SPOILERS out here, guys, so don't read if you don't want them!!


Chalie DOES go to help the FBI ~ and while she's attracted to FBI agent Tony Bartoli, she's MORE attracted to the GHOST who has attached himself to her & is harassing her & following her pretty much everywhere...Michael Garland. Yup, the serial killer. I had SO many thoughts winging through my head on this! NO way, & there's got to be more to this story we're going to find out & he's really a cop &...guess what? Nope. While the story of the Boardwalk Killer is resolved, and it's a great mystery, we're left hanging about Garland and what his role in HIS life really was, and what his future rold in Charlie's life will be.


This HAS to be the start of a series...I haven't found it anywhere yet, but HAS to be. Because truly, the focal point of this story WASN'T the suspense, it was the story of Garland & Charlie, and the fact that Charlie can see & speak to ghosts...the writing was superb, funny moments abound, had a zinger for a whodunnit, but REALLY? You're gonna leave me hanging like that, Karen???


At least tell me there is MORE to come???


If you guys know this is going to be series, tell me, PLEASE!!


And on the Audio book ~ Ann Marie Lee narrates, and the narration on this was excellent. I listened in 2 parts...and that's only because I couldn't listen straight through! She's amazingly skilled at voices...I loved Garland's voice.

Different story line.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I enjoyed it.

Would you be willing to try another book from Karen Robards? Why or why not?

Yes. Good author.

Which character – as performed by Ann Marie Lee – was your favorite?

The main female charactor.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Any additional comments?

It was a different story line and that is what intrigued me.

One of her better books

I enjoyed the interaction between the gost and charlie. The verbal interaction between the characters was fun. The story line was a bit unusual not what I expected. The end was left asking for another book. By the end of the book you find yourself rooting for bad boy Michael Garland. I hope you give this book a listen.

phenomenal

I absolutely loved this book I have read this series about 12 times and that's not an exaggeration. wonderful series full of suspense and love and other worldly views. highly recommended.

Awesome

I truly enjoy everything I read by Karen Robards! I discovered this series by accident last year. I made extra trips everywhere just so I could listen longer. I also enjoy listening to Ann Marie Lee. She has an incredible voice and makes it easy to picture the story as she reads.

The best.

loved it, suspense, love, and a ghost. doesn't get better than that. until the next book.

Loved this story

This was a great story! From the beginning, I didn't want to stop listening.
Definitely recommend this book.

Cant wait for her next one!!!

What did you love best about The Last Victim?

I adored how You were never sure about the main male character, You had to figure it out on your own wether or not he was, what they said he was. I think not. ( Spoiler ) Karen Robards tells you in the book he gets disgusted by what he see's if he really was a killer, I would hedge a bet that he would have enjoyed what was going on rather than being appalled. Loved the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Last Victim?

To many to count. Had me looking behind me on the way out of the house and making sure there wasn't a serial killer.

What does Ann Marie Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She made the Characters stand out and I knew their voices and emotions.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All I will say because I don't want to give to much away was when she has the candle and the incense. I was begging her to stop but could understand why she was doing it.

Any additional comments?

I even bought the book for my sister so she could read it as well just so we could have discussions about it. I highly recommend the book!!! If you want a little paranormal, a little love interest, some laughs and a whole lot of shivers up your spine, this is the book to get!

surprised

I wasn't sure I was gonna like this book but I did. it is on the lines of two shows I have watched Medium and Ghost Whisper!!

Tantalizing

This story was a bit "out there", but entertaining none the less. Hope there is a sequel.