The Last Good Place

By: Robin Burcell

Narrated by: Travis Baldree

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Robin Burcell has worked as a cop, hostage negotiator, and as an FBI-trained forensic artist. She's also the author of award-winning thrillers. Now she uses that unparalleled experience to continue Carolyn Weston's groundbreaking series of books, which were the basis for the hit TV show The Streets of San Francisco.

Sgt. Al Krug and his younger, college-educated partner Casey Kellog are investigating a string of strangulation killings when another victim is found at the Presidio...but a surprising, violent incident at the crime scene makes them wonder if everything is what it seems. The two mismatched cops, with sharply conflicting approaches to detective work, are under intense pressure to get results. It's a race-against-the-clock investigation that propels them into the deadly intersection of politics, real estate, media and vice...the fertile, fog-shrouded killing field of a ruthless murderer.

©2015 Brash Books LLC (P)2017 Brash Books LLC

Critic Reviews

"Robin Burcell has expertly updated the Krug & Kellogg series for old and new readers alike. She knows her stuff and puts it to good use in this entertaining and authentic police procedural." (Alafair Burke, New York Times best-selling author of All Day and a Night)

"A whip-smart, fast-paced tale with more twists and turns than a San Francisco street, The Last Good Place is a terrific read. Robin Burcell is a true pro!" (Alison Gaylin, USA Today best-selling author)

"Burcell brilliantly revisits Weston's cop duo and delivers a modern, dark, twisting tale of murder and deception with a puzzle that will keep you guessing until the end." (Jamie Freveletti, author of Robert Ludlum's The Geneva Strategy)

One Hundred Gold Stars

Any additional comments?

This murder mystery thriller is an absolutely fantastic listen. From diverse, dynamic characters to an off-limits romance, to a well conceived of and written story, this book really has it all. Unpredictable twists abound - I finished this book in a little over one day, I really couldn't put it down. Robin Burcell hits the nail on the head for this genre (not surprising, as she's a former cop, hostage negotiator and forensic artist) and left me hungry for more stories by her. Travis Baldree does of wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, I was very impressed by his narration. I would recommend "The Last Good Place" to anyone who enjoys a mystery/thriller - this truly is an awesome one!

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A good police procedural

What did you love best about The Last Good Place?

The book really has the feel of "The Streets of San Francisco" and other good TV police series you can think of:) It has a couple of detectives you get to like from their first appearance, a murder investigation - or two, rather - with a lot of clues and as many misguiding trails, and you have quite a bit of action, too... And it all described so vividly that you really have a feeling of watching a movie, not listening to a book:)
But that's not surprising taking into account the author's experience with the police work:) - it really shows in the best possible way...

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot is very well developed; it moves fast, but still there is time for a few of Kellog's inner monologues that allow us to get to know his character closer - which I personally liked a lot, as it made me relate to him better. I also think it was a good idea to have two murder investigations go on simultaneously, with some elements that intertwined them, as that made the story more gripping and action-packed. And although at some point I realized the who and the why (before the detectives did) it really didn't bother me as the author was able to keep my interest in how they will come up with the solution and how they will approach the murderer:)

What does Travis Baldree bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr Baldree's narration helped me visualise the story. I like his voicing of Al Krug especially; in this interpretation Al has all the qualities a good mentor should have: he is supportive, sometimes a little bit sarcastic, but never overpowering... He's been written this way by Ms Burcell but comes to life excellently in Mr Baldree's interpretation.
I generally liked all the male voices, no problems there; as for female voices, most of their parts were very well done, with only a few (really few) instances where I thought the woman sounded a little strange, but as these instances were few and apart, no star deduction for that:)
Generally, it's a great police procedural by Ms Burcell very well read by Mr Baldree:)

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Come back to the streets of San Francisco... to solve new crimes:)

Any additional comments?

DISCLAIMER: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Thank you

Thank you for a great "cop" story. Thank you for great narration. This story has good tempo and not filled with a bunch of extraneous filler but not so simple as to be boring. Enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Love all the different voices that bring the characters to life.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I can't say enough good things about this..

This is an absolutely thrilling novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end. I finished this audiobook in less than a day! A jealous/ unstable wife, a scandalous neighbor, and a copycat murder. Who did it? It might seem obvious at first, but is everything what it seems?

The author did an amazing job of character and storyline development. I loved the pairing of the young hotshot detective with the old grizzled veteran detective. It follows not only the original murder, but a serial murder case and how they might be connected. Adding the (non-partisan) political element and how politics can affect am investigation, was fascinating and a great addition.

I'm very impressed with the narrator, he really brought the characters to life. Every character is believable and the portrayal of everyone, from young women to old men, was on point and I believe the narrator's talent is what made this audiobook go from a really good novel to a great piece of performance art. I'll definitely be looking into both narrator and author for my future purchases.

*This audiobook was provided to me at no cost in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A good, solid cop procedural...

The Last Good Place by Robin Burcell was a good, solid listen. Al Krug and Casey Kellog make a solid team, though they are far from the same school of thinking. Casey is pretty much the main character in this novel and I found he and most of the other characters likable and well developed. The characters that I didn't care for were bad guys, so I think it's safe to say that isn't a bad thing. There are multiple facets to the whole story and I liked how Ms. Burcell tied them together throughout the novel. At first I thought that the Presidio murder was going to be the main focus of this story, but quickly learned otherwise. I'd definitely recommend this book if the summary and reviews intrigue you!

Travis Baldree did a good job with the narration. He read with the perfect amount of emotion as needed and his cadence, various character voices,etc. was all great. I'd definitely listen to another of his performances again in the future. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher for an honest review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great Book!!!!

First off, I didn't read this because I received a free copy like most of the other reviews at the time I listened to this book :). Baldree is a great voice performance and has, in my opinion, enhanced The Last Good Place. I would rate the overall as 4.5 if I could. I eagerly look forward to hear more if there is another book in the series by the author.

I won't go into the plot details, other than to say the following: This is a story about two police homicide detective. One is young, smart, creative, and ambitious. The other is an experienced, wise, patient and thoughtful. The producers summary provides and other reviews will go into the deeper into the book description. If you enjoy police procedurals narrated by talented professionals than try this one. I got my Audible copy with my Kendal membership at a very low cost. However, I would not have felt cheated out of a credit. Remember you can always get a refund of your credit if you don't like it. Enjoy 😊

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Kept me guessing

This was a great book. I listened to it on a road trip and it kept me guessing. My trip flew by and I wanted to keep driving just to finish the last 15 minutes of the book. Great story line with some good twists and turns.
The narrator did a great job.
I was provided this audiobook for free in return for an unbiased review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent Cop Drama

I went into this not realizing that it was a show, or a previous set of books, and now I'm excited to read more about Krug and Kellog! This was an exiting and fast paced crime drama. It felt very authentic. The narrator does a great job at pacing, and giving voice to multiple characters. His voice feels very serious, which pairs nicely with the tone of the book. I would really recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good crime drama/mystery! It will keep you on your toes!
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher. I received this title for free in exchange for an unbiased review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The Last Good Place at Streets of SanFran

The Last Good Place was a decent listen. It had everything I'd expect from a crime/police procedural although it was a bit dry. I remember the television series and enjoyed revisiting the characters of Al Krug and Casey Kellog. There was a lot of dialogue which was good.

The narration by Travis Baldree was excellent. Every characterization including Jen was perfect. He had exceptional voice inflections and I think he was the perfect reader for this story. What I loved was that he made this audiobook sound noir-ish. Overall I'd recommend checking this one out.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review."

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A New Beginning for an Old Favorite!

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

Yes, because it does a good job filling the 1970s feel of homocide detectives. I understand the characters were the original model for the series "Streets of San Francisco". Originally written by and credited on screen to Carolyn Weston. The series holds promise.

What did you like best about this story?

Who doesn't love San Fran? Police Procedurals? Who didn't like the Karl Malden and a really young Michael Douglas characters? Who doesn't enjoy a well developed crime mystery, complete with misdirection, red herrings etc? This is an updated formula with these ingredients.

What does Travis Baldree bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I haven't read a copy of "The Last Good Place" yet. Travis lends a pleasant, listenable voice, he can emulate and express different character ages and sex. I have actually heard him before on another Audible edition. He is consistent and I'm interested in how his talent will develop further.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not laugh or cry, but I became involved with the work.

Any additional comments?

I'm looking forward to more entries in the updated series!

Thanks for the opportunity to listen and offer my opinions on this work!

A review copy was gifted to me at no charge. In return, I am happy to provide an honest review. Also at no charge.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

"Be careful what you wish for."

Any additional comments?

Young Casey Kellogg is ambitious. Already a homicide detective at an unprecedented young age, he has studied hard for his lieutenant's badge, passing the examination easily and is scheduled for the interview soon. He will be competing against much more experienced officers so really wants to prove himself by solving a high profile case - like that of the Landmark Strangler. And it seems like luck is favouring him when another victim is found close by the Golden Gate Bridge.

Trudy and Marcie had been neighbours and friends for a long time and often ran together in the morning. But not this day, and now one of them was dead, strangled. She, her husband and the victim's spouse are understandably upset. It looks like the Strangler had struck again and it's just possible that, through this death, the police have caught him. But interviews have to be made, statements taken and, as always, Casey is impressed by the easy technique of his partner and mentor, Al, in gaining the trust and responses from those he speaks with. Unlike Casey, Al is not P.C., seems to act more on instinct and he gets results when more modern technics seem to fail.

This is an entertaining 'partnership' police procedural story: the old timer, easy and instinctive, working with the enthusiastic but still naïve younger man, looking to make a name for himself. And it works. The murder they are first investigating segues into so much more and the book is packed with incidents, investigations, twists and turns. The characterisations are very well done, not only for the two main protagonist but for almost everyone appearing, giving a realistic alive presence throughout. A little joshing between the cops in conversation and very visual in the brief descriptions of places and people, but not a blood and gore focus. Instead it is the living, not the dead, who take centre place.

The book is well narrated by Travis Baldree, his very pleasant-on-the-ear reading perfectly mirroring the text in pace and emotion. The dialogue of the characters is superb, each being given a distinctive and appropriately personalised voice, which further brings them to life for the listener. An example of best pairing of author and narrator.

The time spent listening to this excellent detective mystery passed all too quickly for me and I will most definitely be looking forward to more from author, Robin Burcell, with whom I was previously unfamiliar. My deep thanks, therefore, to the rights holder who freely gifted me my copy of The Last Good Place, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. It was a real pleasure to hear and a book I have no hesitation in recommending to all who enjoy good detective stories where the focus is on character and procedural rather than anatomical dissection. Well worth reading.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful