Last Breath

Detective Erika Foster, Book 4

By: Robert Bryndza

Narrated by: Jan Cramer

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

He's your perfect date. You're his next victim.

When the tortured body of a young woman is found in a dumpster, her eyes swollen shut and her clothes soaked with blood, detective Erika Foster is one of the first at the crime scene. The trouble is, this time it's not her case.

While she fights to secure her place on the investigation team, Erika can't help but get involved and quickly finds a link to the unsolved murder of a woman four months earlier. Dumped in a similar location, both women have identical wounds - a fatal incision to the femoral artery.

Stalking his victims online, the killer is preying on young pretty women using a fake identity. How will Erika catch a murderer who doesn't seem to exist?

Then another girl is abducted while waiting for a date. Erika and her team must get to her before she becomes another dead victim and come face to face with a terrifyingly sadistic individual.

Gripping, tense, and impossible to turn off, Last Breath will have you on the edge of your seat until the final dramatic moment.

©2017 Robert Bryndza (P)2017 Bookouture

The Erika Foster series never disappoints!!

With Last Breath British author Robert Bryndza has another 5 star suspense thriller in his Detective Erika Foster series. Erika Foster is, in my opinion, as compelling a character as any homicide detective in novels currently in print; indeed, she may be the best. Prior to beginning the Erika Foster series with The Girl in the Ice Robert Bryndza was best known for writing romantic comedy novels much like those written by Nick Spalding, another Brit. After writing the four novels (so far) in this series he has firmly established himself as a top author of the suspense mystery genre. This four novel suspense thriller series is an absolute must read for those who like lots of action, intense suspense, and smart and decisive crime solving. British actor Jan Cramer as narrator is a perfect fit for Bryndza's novels. She is a gem as a narrator.

Erika Foster series is a must for procedural fans

Bryndza's Foster series is sharp, witty, clever and extremely entertaining.

Foster is a self confessed "b___h. She is smart, indescreet, impulsive and demanding. She is constantly at odds with her peers and her superiors. And most of all she is a brilliant detective. The same can be said for Department Q's Carl Mork. So if you love Department Q you will love the Foster series.

Tense and nail-biting addition to series

As an Audible newbie last summer I became hooked on Bryndza's series. I snapped up the first when it appeared on Recommendations and can highly recommend Last Breath. Jan Cramer's narration is excellent and is as "atmospheric" as the story.

Love Erika Foster

Not as good as the first 3, especially when I was impatiently waiting...but good enough to want another. My favorite female sleuths: Erika Foster, Tracy Crossehite, Elise Sandburg, and Kim Stone. Need more stories!!!

I'm hooked!

Stories so well written and read. I look forward to checking out their other works!

A little too much standard serial killer formula

Silence of the Lambs, Kiss the Girls, and this book follow the ABCs of writing serial killer books. Each books starts after the killer has moved beyond an initial victim, features a hidden torture room/lair, and ends with bedraggled, abused girls rescued amidst a climactic shootout. Oh, and there’s a tough as nails, but uppity, lady, either a survivor victim or a lady officer/agent. It isn’t a bad formula, but it does make some of the story more tedious and unpalatable, especially where we are subjected to the grisly details of all the places that the bad guy put his scalpel. I prefer clever sleuthing to torture-p🤢rn. Unfortunately, following clues is a distant second to describing the gory parts.

This author’s personal formula quirks are also present. He uses water and wetness prominently, lots of rain, wet clothes, and puddles of blood. And he loves the “I see dead people” thing, whether Erika’s nightmares or the killer hallucinating/dreaming about past trauma or victims.

The level of Erika’s prickliness against every authority figure, and the “I lost my cop husband” angst also annoyed me. These have been constant themes in the series, but they were over the top here.

Remember- No Jan Cramer

Good story I enjoy Robert Bryndza. The narrator almost ruined it. I say almost because I was able to get through it on 1.3 speed. Barely. Jan Cramer narrates a “thriller” about a serial killer like she is reading a happy little children’s book to a toddler.

Awful narrator ruins the book for me

The narrator is terrible - her intonation is totally out of synch with the text. She sounds like she reads a cook book or a ladies magazine when describing a murder victim.

It’s a rookie performance. Why are they using her again? Please get another narrator. This one is do annoying that she ruined the book for me.

Exciting throughout. Best Foster book so far.

I like this one the best of the 4 I have listened to so far. Not too many twists but a great build up to a satisfying ending. I enjoy the main characters a lot

Top notch police procedural

The combination of Bryndza's masterful craftsmanship and Cramer's brilliant performance once again creates a story you just can't stop listening to. I'm already eager for the next.

A gripping serial killer thriller!

The fourth outing for Detective Erika Foster who has fast become one of my favourite characters. She is feisty and rebellious but at the same time vulnerable and emotional.

Robert Bryndza's writing goes from strength to strength.

This is a great series so get reading. Highly recommended!

Excellent novel but let down by reader

Any additional comments?

I've enjoyed all of Robert Bryndza's books and this was the first one I listened to rather than read. I had previously returned a book read by Jan Cramer (Silent Scream) because the performance was awful. This time the performance was marginally better. I only considered this audio book because I had enjoyed all of Robert Bryndza's other books.
Jan Cramer's performance was ok for the main character and the descriptions, but for all other characters her delivery and her accents (particularly the male characters) were awful. Overall I enjoyed the novel but Cramer's performance took a lot from it.

Another Corker by Robert!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Last Breath to be better than the print version?

I only listen to audible so i can not compare, however the narration by by jan Cramer is, as usual top notch, she really brings the characters to life

What other book might you compare Last Breath to, and why?

I hate comparing books with each other, so i am not going too, lets just say, Robert has done another phenomenal job on book 4!!!

Have you listened to any of Jan Cramer’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I think Jan has to be one of the best narrators out there, she always brings her all to the characters, bring them to life and giving them their characters. as apposed to other narrators out ther with very monotone boring voices. she brings a real spark to the books.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes definetly, alas, my schedule does not allow for this, however i did finish it within 4 days, so not bad going

Any additional comments?

Robert is a wonderful new author, all 4 of his Erika Fostr books have been superb. I am very excited for the next installment and hope i dont have to wait too long!!!

Love it!!

As usual I loved listening to this book. These are a great series. Looking forward to more investigations! The narrator is also excellent.

Another corking story

What did you like most about Last Breath?

I've read all of the previous Erika Foster books so the character continuation, as well as the new storyline, was great

What was one of the most memorable moments of Last Breath?

SPOILER ALERT!! Probably the death of Sparks, i thought his death may have been suspicious.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

SPOILER ALERT DCI Erika Foster in the commissioner's office with DCI Melanie Hudson after the news conference and before Sparks funeral

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I'm now familiar with the characters and enjoy following their lives as well as their careers. Long may it continue.

Another cracking read!!

Entertaining and gripping- another great read!


I couldn't put it down and was hooked from the very start!

great story

really good story, good narration, great set of characters, fast paced story which keeps you on the edge of your seat.

brilliant

love the series of books
great stories.
fantastic narrator
brilliant murder mysteries
great female lead ..
really worth getting

Fab!

Loved it! Best one of the series so far. Brought a tear to my eye.
look forward to the next instalment

Another great book in the series!

Have loved all the books in the Erica Foster series, can't wait for the next one. Narrator was also really good.