Let's just start by saying WOW! This is the second book in the Clara Jefferies series and it was just as great as the first. Suspense throughout the whole book ! This author just grabs a hold of you from the very first pages until you can't put down the book!! Highly recommend reading this series!

Her Final Prayer by Kathryn Casey
Detective Clara Jeffries #2

Clara Jeffries went home a few months before this story begins to try and find her missing sister. As a homicide detective in Dallas she had the skills and tenacity to do the job but what she found was not pretty. At the end of the first book in the series some of Clara’s secrets had been revealed, we met a man from her past that meant a great deal to her, the polygamous religious sect she had once been a member of and the community they lived in was given a close look, and the foundation was put in place for the series that would follow. Whether or not she would stay in Alber, Utah was left up in the air. As book two begins we soon find out that Clara did stay, at least temporarily, as police chief for Alber. In book two of the series Clara and Max with the rest of the police and forensics team work to solve a heinous slaughter of innocents.  

What I liked: 
* Clara: strong, determined, intelligent, conflicted, dealing with her past, not sure how to move forward – I liked her. 
* Max: strong, determined, loving, good father, Chief Deputy of Sheriff’s Department, a man possibly ready to move on, interested (still) in Clara – I hope he will win Clara over
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* Learning more about the small town and community of Alber
* Thinking about how community and religion form beliefs…and what it takes to move away from them
* That the story was different
* The writing, plot and story telling
* Information about Max and Clara as well as the sect that continues to be shared
* The police team
* The title…perfect for this book
* That it made me think…about the story, religion, my change in religious belief over time, etc
* I cared and was invested in the story
* That the killer was eventually caught

What I did not like: 
* The loss of innocent life and the ripple effect it had on so many
* The bigotry
* Being reminded of the power religion/brain washing can have on people
* Knowing that sects/cults like this still exist 
* Not having book three in my hand to read right now. 

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review. 

5 Stars

This is the second book in the Clara Jefferies series and man what a ride! I had the hardest time figuring out whodunit!

This series is set in Alber, Utah which is a polygamy community that is teetering on the brink of collapsing since their “prophet” was arrested. We learn a bit of what happened with that in book one. Our main character Clara grew up in that community but ran away from some bad things and is now a detective from Dallas. In the first book she comes back to help solve a case involving her sister and now she is the police chief of Alber and tension is still pretty high with having her there as she is considered an “apostate” and to be shunned.

In this one it starts out with the discovery of four murder victims and one attempted murder as the man is still alive even though his throat was cut. Clare is called out to the scene along with Max who is the Chief deputy (if I remember that right) and what they find is horrible. One of Jacob’s wives and her two small children dead, then as they go inside they find Jacob still alive but verily and then his other wife upstairs has is also dead.

One of the wives is detective Mullin’s daughter and he is pretty sure he knows exactly who is the culprit and they pretty much have to try and contain him so they can get the guy and ask him questions. Though Mullins is sure it’s him they also find out some information about another guy. Laurel as in love with Myles before she was forced to marry Jacob and so Myles is also a suspect.

Not only does Clara have to deal with this horrific crime but there are a lot of people who don’t want her there as tensions rise with this murder there are a lot of protester out in from of the police station wanting her to go back home.

I thought this was a very well done mystery and I was stumped until I could come to no other conclusion than the one I did towards the end before Clara has it figured out. I like it when I get a bit stumped.

I also really like the main character Clara, she has a lot of baggage from her past to deal with and sometimes I am not really sure why she stayed there. I do know one of her main reason is because of Max who was her first love from when she lived there but he has a lot of baggage too.

I really liked this series and think it is fast becoming a new favorite and can’t wait to see what happens next. I am not a huge fan of the polygamy thing but it does make for an interesting backdrop. 🙂 I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery/crime novels.

This was a great crime thriller that I really enjoyed. It was a suspenseful storyline with religious tensions that seems to have many different layers and  really hooked me in. You can tell the main character Clara loves her job and just wants to see justice served and will go to any lengths to achieve this. She is a very likeable character that instantly draws you to her and I so wanted her to succeed. I will definitely look to read more by this author.

This is the second book in the Detective Clara Jefferies book and every bit as good a read as the first one. Set in Utah, Clara is called to investigate multiple murders at a ranch. As Chief of Police in a Mormon community, she is shunned by locals and meets with a wall of silence during her investigation .This is a very well written and fast paced psychological thriller which will leave you reluctant to put down as there is plenty of action, as well as twists and turns. I would recommend the read but hang on tight for a rollercoaster ride. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Book Description:

Her pulse pounded in her ears as she scanned the house. Her eyes traveled over the porch where three empty chairs lazily rocked in the breeze, surrounded by scattered children’s toys. In the yard, there were mounds of earth. Graves. Only big enough for children…

When Detective Clara Jefferies is called to a family ranch just outside of Alber, Utah, she’s horrified to find two innocent young children murdered alongside their mothers. But she arrives at the scene quickly enough to rush their father, Jacob Johansson, to hospital where he begins fighting for his life, and to save his two-month-old son Jeremy, left untouched in his crib.

As Clara begins to investigate, nothing she finds out makes sense. Though she uncovers photos of one of Jacob’s wives in his best friend’s trailer, her flower necklace underneath his bed, there are rumors that she was in love with a different man altogether. And as the close-knit community comes together to support Jacob, Clara’s own family shut her out of the investigation…

But Clara won’t give up. With the killer still at large, baby Jeremy is at risk, and every moment her family are helping Jacob they are also in danger. To earn her family’s trust, Clara finally has to face the past, but can she do it before it’s too late?

Impossible to put down, Her Final Prayer is perfect for readers of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. You’ll race through the pages until the final heart-pounding twist.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW 

Review for 'Her Final Prayer' by Kathryn Casey. 

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous 

Publication date 3rd October 2020

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It is the second book in the 'Detective Clara Jefferies' series. Although this book is second in a series it can be read as a standalone, as I did quite easily. 

I was originally drawn to this book by  its intriguing and beautiful cover and interesting sounding blurb. I was also drawn to the fact that the blurb stated it was perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. I am a big fan of both so it will be very interesting to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture  that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 40 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case! 

This book is mainly written in first person perspective with the protagonist being Detective Clara Jefferies. I enjoy books written in first person perspective as as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. There are also chapters written from Max's perspective in third person narrative. I really enjoyed that the books was mixed first and third party narrative as it gave the best of both worlds, feeling as though your being spoken directly to whole having the overview from another characters perspective. It helps paint a bigger picture. 

This book is based in Utah, US 🇺🇸. 

This book is very well written and sucked me straight into the storyline. It had great descriptions which helped me picture everything easily. I enjoyed that the perspective of Clara was written from first person perspective and Max as third person. I haven't seen this done in anither book yet and I think it was done extremely well with no mix ups and giving the reader a much larger insight of what was going on from different perspectives. I thought it was very helpful that some of the descriptions of medical terms were explained in layman terms as it helps readers understand what they mean if they don't understand. 

I really enjoyed the characters and lied their strong personalities. I loved that Clara speaks about victims as people using their names and visualises alot which helps to set the scenes. I also love the fact that there is a strong female lead, being female myself this is always a bonus!! I also liked Max and how he supported Clara and I look forward to seeing more of how their relationship develops. 

The storyline was action packed and filled with mysteries and twists and turns. It kept me up until late turning the pages. Just when I thought I could put it down for the night BOOM another surprise was just around the corner!! I didn't guess who the killer was so definitely bonus points there!! I read alot of crime books so I'm finding it harder to be surprised but I did not expect that one coming.i also found that the storyline about Elijah's people was quite interesting and I was glad it explains some of their "rules" per say. 

I would love to see this turned into a movie and am looking forward to reading the next book in this explosive series. 

Overall a fast paced psychological crime thriller that will keep you up late at night guessing and turning the pages. 

Genres covered include Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Police Procedural and Crime Fiction. 

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Angela Marsons, Melinda Leigh, C. L Taylor and Kendra Elliot. 

336 pages.

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 

Rated 5/5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 

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Author Bio:

A novelist and award-winning journalist, Kathryn Casey is the author of eleven highly acclaimed true crime books and the creator of the Sarah Armstrong mystery series. Library Journal picked THE KILLING STORM as one of the best mysteries of 2010. Her latest true crime, IN PLAIN SIGHT, investigates the Kaufman County prosecutor murders, a case that made worldwide headlines. Casey has appeared on Oprah, 20/20, the Today Show, Good Morning America, the Biography Channel,  Reelz, The Travel Network, Investigation Discovery, and many other venues. Ann Rule called Casey “one of the best in the true crime genre.”   

 http://www.kathryncasey.com/
Twitter: @KathrynCasey

Buy Links:

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Detective Clara Jefferies is called to the home of a family in the small Alber, Utah polygamous community. She’s faced with something no one would want to face, a family brutally murdered including two young children. The only survivors are an infant and the father. As the father fights to stay alive, Clara makes sure the baby is protected. 

Clara begins an investigation which takes her in several different directions. None of the pieces to this puzzle fit. Clara’s past comes back to haunt her when the town shuns her. Even her own family turns their back on her. However, Clara is determined to find out the truth despite all the obstacles in her path.  

Clara is a wonderful, strong character. She doesn’t back down from anyone regardless of her emotions. There are so many things going on with her with her relationships with her family and former boyfriend and, yet, she keeps her head on straight and continues the investigation. 

I was quite intrigued with this police procedural. I kept trying to peel away layer after layer of clues, trying to figure this all out. I was totally unsuccessful. I didn’t see that ending coming at all. 

It was a really fast read for me. I kept trying to put the book down and I just couldn’t. I had to know the ending. 

This is the second book in the series. Although they can be read as standalone stories - the mysteries are contained within the story, no cliffhangers, I do think it’s beneficial to read the books in order. Book #1 gives you a full understanding of Clara’s background. This book gives you some info, but it’s really best to read both books in order. I loved the first one, but I loved this one even more and it’s going on my best books of the year list.

I love this novel for the excellent plot and the unusual setting. It’s a gripping and highly entertaining story, full of twists and turns, that kept me hooked till the end.
I loved Claire and was fascinated by the descriptions on the life in a small town where a community of polygamist lives.
Claire was a member of the community but, as it often happens with those that are considered apostate, she’s seen like an outcast. She faces a lot of pressure to resign from her work as chief of police. She’s a strong woman who loves her jobs and wants justice for the victims. A fascinating and intriguing character, well thought as the other characters in this story.
I loved how the author deals with issues like mysoginy, the role of the women and how a close community can turn those who are felt as different.
There are a lot of layers in this book: the mystery, Claire’s personal story and the evolution of people and of a community.
The mystery is grim, full of twists and turns and the solution came as a surprise.
A well written, atmospheric and fascinating story, I can’t wait to read the next instalment.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

😊 This twisty, exhilarating crime thriller had me guessing as it jogged along. I thoroughly enjoyed Her Final Prayer, a deeply engrossing tale of mystery, religious tension and suspense.

Detective Clara Jefferies was at Dallas PD for three years and was very much respected as one of the toughest members of the team, working on some of their most difficult cases. Growing up in Alber, Utah, Clara used to belong to the Mormon community and has spent years avoiding her hometown. Now though, she has recently been promoted and is called to a bloody murder scene at a farm on the outskirts of Alber. Two young children and their mothers have been killed, though Jacob Johansson is still alive, bleeding on the kitchen floor. Johansson's baby boy, Jeremy, is also at the scene, left unharmed in his cot. Clara is determined to gather the evidence and follow up leads no matter what.

Kathryn Casey has a very appealing style of writing, and the characters she creates are very credible. For me, Clara comes across as someone with great tenacity and passion for her job, as well as possessing a strong sense of justice.

Her Final Prayer was a well-plotted and comfortably paced mystery that certainly kept me turning the pages as it touched upon the life within a polygamist community. I liked the way that the author blended Clara’s personal history and memories with the investigation. The complex, layered story was full of twists and turns, and the various unfolding of events and revelations made the book even more absorbing. This was a mesmerising story of exclusion, lies, concealment and harboured secrets, and the ending was unexpected.

Would I read more in this series from Kathryn Casey? An emphatic... yes! 😊

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion

When Detective Clara Jefferies is called to a ranch just outside of Alber, Utah, she’s sickened to find two innocent young children murdered alongside their mothers. Their father, Jacob Johansson, has been rushed to hospital where he fights for his life. Blissfully unaware, his two-month-old son Jeremy has been left untouched in his crib. In the eyes of the community Jacob is the perfect, devout husband, seemingly living a peaceful, happy life. But Clara is certain that the crime is personal: one of Jacob’s wives was killed differently, her lips painted after she died. 
This is the second book in the series & is easily read on its own. I found it a well written interesting read, as it was set in a polygamous community which was a new setting for me & one I know very little about so my interest was enhanced. There are plenty of secrets & red herrings & I avidly read to find out who as guilty. The paced was good & on the whole the characters were likeable. I look forward to more stories in the series
 My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Her Final Prayer is the second instalment in the Detective Clara Jefferies series, set in Alber, Utah. Although certainly preferable it isn't essential to have read the first book before taking the plunge with this one. Clara has recently been promoted to Chief of Police for the small town of Alber and is called in to investigate a bloody and brutal murder scene on a farm on the outskirts. The area is known for being the place in which many adherents to the polygamous Mormon sect reside. Clara used to be one of the followers of the religion but had decided to leave and was now shunned by the rest of the population. So when she attends to find a family massacred in their own home she is very much given the cold shoulder despite her love for the people she knows so well playing a large part in her desire to serve and protect the locals; Jacob Johanssen is discovered bleeding out on his kitchen floor barely clinging to life, but unfortunately, his two wives and two children have not been so lucky and are all dead. A wailing baby boy, Jeremy, survives but it's going to be touch and go for his father who has had his throat slashed from ear to ear and was rushed to ICU. Despite being an apostate, Clara is stubbornly determined to get justice for the townsfolk.

Now Clara knows it's a race against time before the brazen, heartless killer strikes again but she's finding it increasingly difficult to investigate and interview the members of the sect as they not only don't want her there but they refuse to talk to her too. This is a captivating and compulsive read, which I enjoyed immensely, and I can honestly say that the religious tensions made a refreshing change for this genre and made it all the more engrossing. It's an original, fast-paced and compelling novel which is easy to race through, and I found the plotting superb. Mystery, secrets and lies abound and many in the Mormon community find it impossible to believe any one of them could have carried out such a heinous crime. The plot is twist-laden, the characters engaging and the exploration of forced marriage and the entrenched misogyny in their belief system fascinating and I found the cutting off of former community members saddening but it added a unique aspect to the plot. A real must-read which kept me up into the early hours. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

This is the 2nd book to this series and I did read the first one and enjoyed it. This book was as good and can't wait for another one.
When Detective Clara Jefferies is called to a family ranch just outside of Alber, Utah, she’s horrified to find two innocent young children murdered alongside their mothers. But she arrives at the scene quickly enough to rush their father, Jacob Johansson, to hospital where he begins fighting for his life, and to save his two-month-old son Jeremy, left untouched in his crib. This is a community with men married to several women and having many kids. Claire was brought up that way but ran away when she was an older teen and married off to someone she didn't want to be married to. So she came back to town in the last book and this one takes off with the community still shunning her while she is trying to investigate and she is getting letters sent to her office to leave town. Her partner is also she was in love with as a teenager and he wants a relationship with her again.

Detective Clara Jeffries had quite the experience in The Fallen Girls, the first book in the series. Returning to her hometown after several years away was a difficult choice, and the decision to stay on as Chief of Police was even more troublesome. 

This is all because the town of Alber is not a “normal” hometown by most standards. It’s home to a sect of fundamentalist Mormons called Elijah’s People. Clara is considered an apostate for having left, which presents her with unique challenges. Especially in the face of the current investigation. 

Once again, a member of Clara’s family is involved, but this time it’s Mother Naomi who finds a gruesome scene at the farmhouse of a local family. It’s up to Clara, and her longtime friend (possible boyfriend) Chief Deputy Max Anderson to solve the case. 

As with the last book, the author does a good job plotting the investigation so that not too much information is given out all at once. The reader is told of clues as the characters find them – there is not a lot of insight into other characters or from other perspectives that would give the reader a “heads up” on culprits or motives. 

I did think that one aspect of Jacob and Carl’s friendship, and their time in Mexico, seemed a bit out of place. It was interesting, and the influence of their experiences with the other sect certainly had bearing on the case. But I wish there had been a little bit more to it and that the author had followed through with some of the imagery and customs. That could have been interesting. 

I also honestly expected that there was going to be something more to Jacob and Carl’s “friendship.” The way that some of the characters referred to them certainly made it seem like that was going to go in a different direction, which would have definitely caused a stir in town. 

It’s the town and its people who intrigue me most about this series. As I mentioned in my review of the previous book, the author either has experience with or has completed extensive research of the customs, because she brings the alternative lifestyle to the forefront without making judgments or commenting on it. 

I’m not sure if that makes sense. Clara and her experiences (both in town and what she deals with upon her return, even from her own family) serve as information about the people and their beliefs. Because of that, the reader gets a “personal” view of it all, which allows it all to seem realistic while acknowledging the dangers and problems of the lifestyle. 

Clara has a particular difficulty with this case because part of it reminds her of her own time with Max when they were teenagers. She obviously remains influenced by that, even as she tries to fight through it and move on to acceptance of her current situation. 

As to whodunit, I’m not going to say (of course), but the author did a good job of keeping the guessing going right up until the very end. I also liked how there seems to be a set up for a big confrontation between Clara and her supporters and the townsfolk who think she shouldn’t have a position of power (or even be allowed back in town at all). 

I’ll be eagerly looking forward to the next book to see how it all shakes out.

This is a great crime thriller. 
Detective Clara Jefferies is called to a horrific crime scene where a family has been killed except for the father and baby boy. 
One of her mothers discovers the bodies and soon Clara and Max are there to try and find out what happened. 
I’d forgotten about the communities in this series as they have multiple wives and therefore multiple mothers which I’ve never quite got my head around. 
Two mothers were killed in the incident but who wanted them dead?
I didn’t guess who the killer was and I enjoyed trying to work it out. 
Clara and Max are getting closer but they’ve both got to leave their parts behind to move forward. 
This is another great crime thriller. 
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I love this series. The community it is based in is fascinating. I enjoy reading about the events in the community as much as I enjoy reading the main storyline. I guessed some of the plot in this book but that did not take away from my enjoyment. 

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Detective Clara Jeffries gets called out to a murder scene on a farm outside the town of Alber, Utah.
There she finds two mothers and two of their children murdered. Their husband Jacob and baby Jeremy survive but Jacob is rushed to ICU with his throat slashed.
This book focuses on a close knit community where the men can have several wives and one which Clara escaped from many years before. Clara's family shun her now and the town increasingly blames Clara for the failure to find the murderer, particularly when further murders occur.
This was a really well written and enjoyable book, shining a light on closed communities, misogyny and the impact it can have on those who break the rules.
Clara's story intertwined with her family and the murders make for great reading. Even though I had worked out who the real murderer was it did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ahead of publishing in return for a fair review.
4 STARS.

This is the second book starring Clara Jefferies who is now the Chief of police.   This time she is solving a family massacre in the town.   Clara is not welcome in the religious community as she left so now has to be shunned.  Solving a murder when people aren’t allowed to talk to her and others are trying to get her to leave is not easy.  There is also unresolved issues with Max her deputy.
I loved how the story developed and the characters you met in book one returning for this second instalment.  I thought I had figured the conclusion but I was wrong and enjoyed the reveal of the real perpetrator.  Can’t wait for book three.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#HerFinalPrayer #NetGalley

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Her Final Prayer, the second novel to feature Clara Jeffries, of the Alber, Utah PD.

Clara is now Chief of Police in Alber which means she is leading the investigation when Jacob Johanssen is found bleeding to death on his kitchen floor and his two wives and children dead. The townspeople have decided on a couple of suspects but Clara is determined to follow the evidence no matter how conflicting.

I thoroughly enjoyed Her Final Prayer which has a good plot and likeable characters, in some cases. The plot isn’t particularly original in its thrust but its setting in a polygamous community gives it a novel twist and makes it much more interesting. It’s not something I know much about it and I find it very difficult to empathise with their unyielding commitment to a misogynistic belief system that shuns the majority of the world. The novel sheds light on this belief system, hence my interest, but does little to change my views.

The plot is well conceived with a series of baffling, contradictory facts and several hidden secrets. Add in only two suspects with no obvious motive and the reader gets a real puzzle. About half way through I got an inkling of a suspect but it was not proven until the denouement so I was still glued to the pages.

I like that the novel takes issue with forced marriage and even more that the author blends Clara’s personal history and memories with the current day investigation. It gives the novel more immediacy and bite. Clara is an apostate and shunned by the community in Alber for leaving. Despite this she is a savvy investigator, determined to do her best for the town. Her burgeoning romance with childhood sweetheart, now Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Max Anderson casts new light on her past and insecurities.

Her Final Prayer is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

An amazing and complex mystery by one of the best! Ms. Casey draws you in to the story, leading you through the evidence and painstaking process until the murderer is revealed. Wonderful second book in this series. Police Chief and Detective Clara Jefferies is called to the scene of a quadruple murder at the home of a polygamist. The husband is barely alive and his young son is alive in his crib. Both of his wives and two children are dead. Who could have committed such evil? Clara, a former Dallas detective, was once a member of the community, but now she is an outsider which makes her job even more difficult. Shunned by even her own family, she has the support from the man she once loved, Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Max Anderson. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

This book surpasses the previous one in the plot, characterisation, suspense, investigation. It is a continuation from the first book for the main characters and their background. So the reader could enjoy the story better by proceeding with the order of the books. The author has neatly tied all the loose threads in the conclusion. Looking forward to reading more on Clara Jeffries and how she wins over her personal demons.