Sibel Hodge is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.

Her thrillers are a real rollercoaster ride, absorbing you in from the very first page.

This book did not disappoint.

The book is a great police procedural and the only bad thing about the book was that it ended!

4 Stars.

Six Women found chained and burned to death in an old abandoned building.

Two people found brutally murdered in a home in the suburbs.

Could the two cases related?

Retired Detective Carter gets called to action - to investigate corrupt officers within the Police Department and it’s a call he cannot ignore. Detective Becky Harris, Carter’s former right hand, is investigating the murder of the couple in the suburbs. Leaning on each other is something Carter and Harris have always done and in this case, it leads them to clues they’d never find otherwise.

Corruption, Murder, Deception and Lies. Sibel Hodge spins a masterful mystery / suspense in “Their Last Breath” which kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end.

Another buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Sibel Hodge for the arc.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 11.30.19.

This is another extremely engrossing and addictive read from the wonderful Sibel Hodge.. Plenty of excitement and suspense with a great cast of characters and excellent plot. Highly recommended.

Thrilling police procedural that doesn't hesitate to dive into some of the darker themes of the genre. The characters are will written, and while I had not read the other novels they are featured in, I found myself invested in them and their case and did not feel lost while reading. The novel moves at a blistering pace, making every page count. I would highly recommend this to anyone who like Law and Order: SVU or similar media.

I liked the main detective in this story, retired Warren Carter, and I liked the female sergeant Becky Harris. Becky and Warren respect each other and they've worked together before. Warren has been brought back from retirement to take on an internal affairs case - the warrant card of an officer has been found at the scene of a crime - Why? Whose card is it? Is an officer involved in a cover up?

As the story unfolds Warren's and Becky's two separate cases seem to be linked, and they collaborate to uncover a corrupt officer.

I always admire authors who choose to cover difficult themes. We get to know one of the victims and her hopes for her future. This could be harrowing but in the context of the story as a whole I thought it worked well.

A good read and I hope to read more of Warren and Becky in the future.

A police procedural that will have you white-knuckling your kindle deep into the night!

Sibel Hodge has been a favorite author of mine and rarely disappoints. So after I saw her latest release was available I quickly queued up! And so glad I did! Once again, Ms. Hodge delivered!

Warren Carter has barely stepped foot into retirement. Mourning the loss of his dear wife, combined with the dreaded end of his career as a detective Warren is hoping for a new direction. And what his next step might be.
Cue the timely phone call! It’s headquarters! They’re asking him to return to the force and head up a department that is unusually secretive in its investigations. After all, it is a department that looks into their own. An internal affairs...if you will.

Detective Becky Harris is desperately trying to balance her marriage with the demanding job that seems to demand more and more of her time. Her husband Ian is getting frustrated, tired of sitting on the sidelines. Yet Becky feels her career is just taking flight and remains laser focused.

Detectives Carter and Harris are knee-deep investigating their own homicides when it occurs to them there may be a way to help each other out. A team effort of sorts.

Once again, Sibel Hodge has brought her brilliantly vivid characters to life! You’re nearly walking in their shoes as they struggle both professionally and personally. Even the victims are given a clear voice. Fantastic!

Sibel Hodge will remain firmly planted on my “go to” list of favorite authors. Already looking forward to reading her next release. Ready when you are, Ms.Hodge!

A speedy weekend buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Sibel Hodge for an ARC to read and review.

Sibel Hodge is another author I discovered through NetGalley (much like Mark Edwards, I had one of her books on my list but got a chance to read another one through NetGalley). When I read Into the Darkness, I absolutely got hooked onto her writing style, settings, and characters. And when I saw that an ARC of Their Last Breath was up for review, I (obviously) grabbed it. The fact that it featured Warren Carter from Into the Darkness was a happy bonus. Keep reading to know if Their Last Breath met expectations.


Source: Goodreads
Genre:
Thriller, Mystery

Length:
380 pages

Blurb:
It took just a few short months for Warren Carter to realize that retirement didn't suit him too well, especially with the memories of his last case and the ensuing bloodbath still fresh in his mind. Then, six women die in a fire that claims an abandoned building - six women who were chained to their beds with no means of escape. Carter is called back into the system to investigate members of the police force itself, and find the corrupt officer involved in the heinous crime that claimed six lives. As the case unfolds, Carter finds himself relying on an old, unexpected friend. But will he find the culprits in time? Or will he trust the wrong person and let more people die?

Overall Rating:
10 out of 10

Plot:
10 out of 10

Characterization:
10 out of 10

Primary Element:
8 out of 10

Writing Style:
9 out of 10

Part of a Series:
Their Last Breath features Warren Carter and other characters who were part of Into The Darkness. Warren Carter also makes an appearance in an earlier book. For the most part, though, this can be read as a standalone. References to Into The Darkness are minimal and easily understandable.

Highlighted Takeaway:
There are chapters of the story told from the victim's perspective. This was surprising in the beginning because it seemed like it would give away a lot of the suspense. But Hodge manages to showcase the victim's side of things without really disclosing anything about the mystery, while also evoking stronger association for the victim, consequently making you associate with the fight for justice even more.

What I Liked:
The book and story are very well-rounded, right from the characters to the unfolding of the mystery. In a world where cryptic endings are becoming increasingly common (and are often done well), reading a well-rounded book felt extremely satisfying.

What I Didn’t Like:
Can't think of a single thing that adversely affected the reading experience.

Who Should Read It:
Anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller, but with a touch of real-world ugliness.

Who Should Avoid:
Sibel Hodge is a great writer who is unafraid to dabble in very real events. This may make Their Last Breath a bit too realistic at its essence for some to take. I would still recommend it to all mystery and thriller lovers though - its dark side really adds to the reading experience (which, I suppose, is the intention).

Read It For:
Warren Carter - a great character who knows that things are either good or bad, but that sometimes you have to be both.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a free ARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can safely say that, after Their Last Breath, Sibel Hodge is one of my favorite mystery and thriller authors.

Their Last Breath was released on 24 September 2019 and is now available for sale.

I have not read or heard of this author Sibel Hodge before but it is superb writing, a lot has gone into this novel the characters are beautifully described and is the story of the plight of a few refugees who thought they had found release and hope in the UK on promises of a better life. One part of the novel is the story of Hayet a refugee all alone no parents or siblings and she is speaking of what her vision of a better life would be. Then there is the CPS who found they had a bent police officer but who? The 6 refugees who did manage to get to the UK had to give so much and that's when the heartbreak, betrayal, and exploitation begins. It's gut-wrenching in a way but there is hope that these people traffickers get their just rewards.. Very good read and a page-turner and I would like to thank Amazon Publishing UK for a copy to review. A brilliant piece of work and will look out for this author again.

Highly recommended read from Sibel Hodge, she never seems to disappoint and this book is no different!

The character from previous books makes his 3rd appearance here,retired detective Warren Carter is floundering in his retirement and grieving for his late wife so, when he is offered the chance to return to the force, working for PSD's Anti Corruption Unit to investigate the deaths of six unknown women in an abandoned building, he jumps at the chance, when he gets to the scene of crime and sees what happened to the victims he is determined to make sure the perpetrator is brought to justice. Detective Becky Harris, anither previous character, is investigating a double murder, a man and woman found tied up in a house with multiple stab wounds, further investigations show that these two crimes are inextricably linked and Warren and Becky are brought together to solve these horrific crimes, but there is more to this than normal and it's gotta be someone within one of the teams! Warren and Becky and their teams just need to figure out who it is and why?

The story is told from three points of view, Warren, Becky and Hayat and the two crimes are brought together so smoothly that it seems a natural progression! This author is a natural at bringing the horrific to my house and I LIKE it!!! It's a dark police procedural tale of police corruption, human trafficking and everything that comes with the dark side of life...the darkest side actually! Definitely not to be missed, this book is chilling!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! The plot summary sounded interesting to me, but I was nervous I would not like it since I’ve never read a detective type story before, but this one was definitely worth it! I enjoyed getting to know the characters and I thought they were well rounded. I liked the twists and turns the story took and was very pleased with the ending. I will be reading more books by this author! Thank you again to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the copy of this book!! I will definitely be recommending it to other readers!

A fire in an abandoned building leads to the discovery of 6 women chained and left to die. Left behind is a potential clue... a warrant card. Could whoever have left that card behind be the killer? Is the owner of the card a dirty cop? And this is just the beginning. So many questions to answer! Their Last Breath by Sibel Hodge is a dark police procedural mystery. Told through alternating voices the story keeps you peeling back the layers until all the deep dark secrets are revealed. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC!!!

This was such an amazing read that I couldn’t put it down. It went everywhere with me. To the doctors office, the dentist, the eye doctor. IT WENT ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. I was so sad when it ended that I immediately went and bought more books from this author!

This is my first book by this author, and my first encounter with Warren Carter and Becky Harris.
Warren has retired from the police force following the death of his wife, he is lured back however as acting DI for the Professional Standards Department.
A group of six unidentified women are found burned to death in an unused hospital. They are shackled and the post mortems reveal they have been subject to egg harvesting.
Meanwhile, a prevalent IT expert and a journalist are found murdered, whilst the man’s wife is hit by a car trying to escape their killer.
The two cases are investigated but eventually Becky and Warren connect the dots - Becky is unhappy how her superior DI Munroe is dealing with the situation, she seems intent on arresting a scapegoat for the murders, but Becky is convinced there is more to it.
The two stories eventually merge and the corruption and trafficking that’s uncovered is astounding.
A great original storyline and one I enjoyed very much

Their Last Breath – Sibel Hodge

I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review. This review will also publish to my blog, tropicaldelusions.blog, a few days before publication.

Since joining Netgalley, I’ve been given the opportunity to read more than a few British authors, and have much enjoyed these adventures ‘across the pond’. This newest one, by author Sibel Hodge, did not disappoint, and I will absolutely be reading her again!

It’s 0335 when retired Detective Sargeant Warren Carter answers his phone to hear a former supervisor in his ear, asking for an early morning meeting. Still fearful about his deception from another case being discovered, he’s sure he’s been found out, but the meeting is actually for something quite different. Superintendent Caroline Barker advises him of a structure fire that had occurred earlier that AM. Inside the building were six women who had been found chained to the wall, and all but one was deceased. With one of the bodies was a warrant card that held the logo of their police department. She then asks him to come out of retirement to help her investigate the possible connection. He accepts and becomes the acting investigator for the Police Anti-Corruption Squad.

Flash to a refugee camp in Syria, where a young woman, Hayat, is hoping to barter for a trip to England where she can work and live in safety. She secures a ride out of the camp, but her journey is just beginning…

Meanwhile, DI Becky Harris is hard at work investigating the deaths of two people – seemingly random murders – stumbled upon by Gillian, the wife of the homeowner, returning unexpectedly. More interesting to Becky is that the killer chased Gillian into the street, where she was struck by a car – and who was Gillian’s husband with?

As each investigation continues, Becky begins to suspect that they are somehow connected. Her commanding officer, decorated DCI Munroe, disagrees and continually attempts to refocus Becky’s attention elsewhere. But Becky is not deterred and connects with DS Carter to share her concerns, and the two together bring down a house of police corruption and human trafficking that reaches to the highest level.

Told from the perspectives of Warren, Becky & Hayat, this is a novel of human trafficking, abuse and perseverance, and it will resonate with you long after the final page is turned. I loved it!

This is my second read by this author. A plot with suspense and tension. The cast of characters are a good mix of personalities. The story is well written. It had so much going for it, However, I felt it took a very long time getting to the point. It often had needless detail and descriptions having absolutely nothing to do with the story.

I always enjoy Sibel Hodge’s books and this book was one of her best. We are reintroduced to Detective Warren Carter and Detective Becky Harris. Warren has now retired and is struggling after the death of his wife. A telephone call changes all that, as he is asked to take on the investigation into the deaths of six women who were chained to a wall and found in a burnt out building which makes it look like a human trafficking case. A burnt police warrant card is found near the bodies which is why the Police Anti Corruption Squad are involved. Becky Harris is involved in a double murder investigation. The circumstances of these deaths looks like a similar case where the bodies were stabbed and bound with writing on the wall which leads Becky to think they are dealing with a serial killer. Becky and Warren meet up and discuss the cases and Becky’s concerns about her new team. She finds that both cases may be linked and has to go against instructions to reveal the truth and put her own life in danger doing so. The chapters alternate between the cases which makes the book hard to put down and it had me totally gripped from the beginning. Another five star read from Sibel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have never read anything by Sibel Hodge but this read makes me want to go buy the ones I missed. The story starts out with Gillian returning from a business trip at 2:30 am to interrupt a killer in her home. He chases her out the door and she is hit by a car. The story then goes to DI Warren Carter who is called into service from retirement to help Professional Standards Department on a case where six women were found dead from a fire. They were all chained to a wall in separate rooms in an abandoned hospital. The reason that PSD is handling the investigation is the finding of a mostly burned police warrant card inches from one of the dead girls body.. This meant one of theirs was at the scene of human trafficking. Suffering from insomnia after the death of his wife fifteen months prior and a case that haunted him from the past he jumped at the chance to go back as Acting Detective Inspector role for this case. The story also is told in the perspective of another DI Becky Harris who is working the case of Gillian who ran from a killer in her home. She lived but her husband and another woman who was with him in his house were murdered and tortured. And finally the perspective of one of the women victims who ended up chained to a wall in a small room. She only wanted her freedom to live her life and thought she was getting that. When Beckys boss stops her excellent detictive instincts and insists she go in anther direction in the case Becky has to go alone even if it's against her bosses orders. She and Warren are friends and past co-workers and soon find their paths cross during their investigations. Finding their cases killers is paramount and they both will do what it takes to solve them. Sibel Hodge writes about human trafficking and how it's not always for sex slaves it can be for other diabolical reasons. Thank you NetGalley and Sibel Hodge and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book. This is my honest opinion. Human trafficking is way out of control we all need awareness.

A great story as always from Sibel Hodge, a definite rollercoaster of a read and it's difficult to give a review without giving the story away but the way the story evolves keeps you reading and the characters are engaging, so you really care about them. I !look forward to Me Hodges next book.

3.5 stars rounded down.

Their Last Breath, by Sibel Hodge, is a very well-written, multifaceted police procedural. Told mostly from Detective Warren Carter's view point, others telling their stories include Hayat, Gillian, and Detective Becky Harris.

Apparently, and this is a little annoying to me because I like to read all book series in order, a prior book, Into the Darkness, tells another Warren Carter story...one which is referenced multiple times in Their Last Breath. While this book can act as a standalone, I think I'd have enjoyed it more had I had more background on the characters.

This isn't a particularly twisty story...the people you expect to be the bad guys, are indeed the bad guys. It's definitely a slow-burner, but it kept me mostly entertained. I will say it's not a book I was dying to pick up, but when I did, I was never bored.

I just needed something more...something unexpected. Everything was made too obvious from the get-go. I do, however, think most will find the conclusion incredibly satisfying.

Final thoughts: A pretty average book, but one I'd definitely recommend to those who love police procedural stories.

**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Solid British Police Procedural. This was my second British police procedural in the same month, and this one was a much easier read than the other. The mystery is gripping and compelling - 6 women are found dead after a fire rages through an abandoned hospital on the same night that two other people are stabbed to death in a home. Touching on several issues in the public arena even in America, Hodge manages to deftly tie together several different ideas into a truly fantastic work. Very much recommended.