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)

Narration could have been better

I'm not sure why some narrators talk in a quiet breathy voice. It drives me crazy. Ann Marie Lee's voice is great when she introduces the book, but when she starts reading the book, she speaks like she's trying not to be over heard! So annoying.

The story is great if your into paranormal romance.

Love this series!!!!

This story captivates you right from the beginning. I read the books and love them, and the audio book is great. It brings you into the story, and has you sitting on the edge of your seat. It's like a movie in you head.

Okay, I Hooked

This certainly didn't go where I thought it was going to go in the beginning or as it progressed. Now, of course I have to get the next book in the series.

I applauded the narrator on the voice of Michael. How could you not fall for him?

Sexy Southern drawl, or Honey Boo-Boo?

I can't honestly say whether the story was awful, or simply rendered almost unlistenable by the choice of a narrator who sounds almost like a little girl. It's frankly a little creepy to hear a sex scene read by someone so young, I'd want to see some ID before letting her see some of those words in print.

If you can tune-out the age issue, there remains a serious flaw in the narrator's interpretation of the key male character. He's described as having a sexy, smooth-as-honey Southern drawl. Unfortunately, the voice Lee gives him is a lot more backwoods than Rhett Butler.

Too bad. The story delivers an intriguing premise, with the psychic-medium heroine torn between a nice live guy and a life signs-challenged bad boy. I'm a little curious to know how it will play out in the series, but not enough to listen to more of this miscast production. If I can't resist the sequel, I'll be reading it in paperback.

ARGHH! Not interested in a freaking DEAD lover!!!!

I get it - technically speaking - good writing. However - no interest in reading about HOPELESS romance. Way to close to real life for me. Sorry - too depressing for words. I don't want to be depressed at hopeless love - I can do that on my own time. I don't read ROMANTIC Suspense to be depressed. Big disappointment.

I should have heeded the warning!

Would you ever listen to anything by Karen Robards again?

I think this was Karen's last one for me it was that bad. There are no words to describe haw bad this one sucked!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The narration was good but that was it.

SAVE YOU CREDITS

What disappointed you about The Last Victim?

This is the worse book I have ever listened to. I have listened to and read other books by this author and enjoyed them, I JUST DON"T GET THIS AT ALL I'm more than 1/2 way through and keep asking myself WHY?Listen to something you enjoy . I have bought other books that I have not enjoyed this is the first one that I have written a review on

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I can not find fault with the narrator she could only read what wwas written baaaad

Ummmmmm....

This was really just a weird story. I have liked other books by Karen Robards, but will not be purchasing any more in this series.

Seriously - Ghosts!?

When I purchased this book I had no idea that it was about ghosts. I tried to stick it out, but it was too much for me. There should be information in the description about that. On top of that both the outdated and inappropriately used slang combined with the narrator were enough to make me cringe. I returned the book after a couple of hours of listening.

Awful

If this is the first Karen Robards book you listened to, I’m very sorry. The Guardian series is actually quite good. Why they thought a “doctor”having astral plane sex with an obnoxious ghost would be appealing I have no idea. Yuck. Two steps back for woman kind. Are there seriously four of these??