My review in one sentence: I read this book in 24 hours.

But in case that was insufficient to tell you how amazing I thought the book was, let me expound. 

Josie Quinn didn't expect to find a dead body in the swimming pool when she went to see her brother at his job on the campus of the local college. But find one she did, and unexpectedly, it's a championship swimmer. Drowned. How does that happen? Others might want to rule it a bizarre and unexpected accident, but Josie doesn't think so. The problem is proving her theory that foul play was involved. But when other seemingly unexplainable incidents start happening, Josie knows she's got to get to the bottom of things.

Josie is a likable character - a tough, dedicated detective who's trying to learn how to let others get close to her. She's good at her job and when she thinks she's right, she doesn't back down. She isn't such a hardnose that she lacks empathy for the people she's trying to help, but she will push to get the information she needs. 

But we don't see the story unfold only from Josie's point of view. The killer's thoughts are interspersed throughout the book, too. I found those little tidbits to be absolutely fascinating. And even with insights into what was on the killer's mind, I didn't see the big reveal coming until it hit me upside the head. I'd think, okay, I've got it figured out, and then there was a sudden shift, and I found myself right back in the dark. Well done, Ms. Regan. Well done!

This was the first of Lisa Regan's Josie Quinn series that I've read. I got enough backstory to follow along with no problems, but now I've got to go read books one through nine to catch up!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Breathe Your Last is the latest Josie Quinn book.  I’m really drawn to this series.  Josie is a no nonsense police detective.  And Lisa Regan writes Josie with balance in her home life, family, friends, and work. I really connect with Josie and her team. And while Josie isn’t perfect, you root for her.  From book to book you get to watch Josie grow and evolve. 

While there is always a little storyline floating from book to book, in this one Josie and her team are investigating why the top swimmer at the local university has drowned. Hitting a dead end with little evidence, other strange things start to happen.  This book is both suspenseful and thrilling.  I am not easily fooled and I was guessing up to the end.  And to take this up a notch, there are chapters told from the killer’s point of view.  You get a chill reading their words.  You didn’t think I’d slip and spoil it did you?

As with this genre you get action, thrills and twists in addition to connecting with Josie and the group of family and friends that surround her.  

I always look forward to a new installment and I know no matter my reading mood, I know I’ll enjoy the book.   I highly recommend this for anyone who likes a good mystery.

This is a superb police crime thriller story in the Detective Josie Quinn series, a series I can't recommend highly enough to anyone who enjoys this genre. It is a fascinating read in which there are a sequence of seemingly unconnected but strange events in which people die or are seriously injured. . . . a championship swimmer drowns, a retired fireman sets his home alight even though he and his grand children are inside it . . .just what is the connection? As Josie strives to discover the links and determine just who is causing it, she also has concerns over just what her partner is up to and why is he avoiding her? As more danger threatens, cover ups and secrets are slowly revealed but can she help stop any more people dying at the hands of the perpetrator(s)(?) and keep herself and those she loves safe?

This is another fascinating read, a real page turner, which skilfully blends the investigation with Josie's daily life, family and romance. You just have to love Harris, he's such a delightful four year old and even copes with all the 'training' Josie gives him to keep him safe! The tension escalates as the story proceeds, with plenty of clues, misdirection, drama and mystery. I'd never heard of the horrendous cause of all the mystery but I'm not revealing it here, either, and was amazed to discover it really exists. This is a superb read with great characters, full of twists and turns and has whet my appetite to want to read more by this highly talented author. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Book 10 and still going strong!  I've read this series from Book 1, still fresh and engaging.  Solid mystery with a few surprises in store, keeps you turning the pages until you get there.  Characters are well developed to the point I almost feel like I know them - but if you haven't read any prior, you can still jump into this one and enjoy it.  Some emotionally charged scenes that actually had me a bit teary, and that's not me!   Definitely a good read and a good series!  Keep them coming.

This is the tenth book in the Josie Quinn series, although not my favourite. It started off very slow for the first third of the book but definitely picked up pace from there on in as the plot became more complex. There was plenty tension, the book flowed and I love the character of Josie. The book kept me guessing until the end as to who the killer was. I really like this author and would definitely recommend this series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I think that a book that kept you reading till 3 am should be rated in a special way, like 5 OMG or 5-TOO-GOOD. It happened with this book and the day after I was still thinking about the plot and the characters.
It’s not easy to review a book that was an emotional rollercoaster because the usual phrase “It kept me on the edge” does not describes what you were feeling and how fast you were reading.
This is an excellent series, I read other books but this was WOW!
It’s dark, complex, emotionally charged and gripping. It’s told by the POV of Josie and the killer and I found the killer chilling and disturbing.
There’s a lot of character development in this story and Josie has to face professional and personal issues that make her character grow.
Lisa Regan is a talented storyteller and her plot and characters are well written and fascinating.
The plot is full of twists and turns and the emotions run high as you cannot help being involved in what you are reading.
The solution came as a surprise and I wasn’t able to guess or suspect.
A fabulous story that left me craving for more.
I can’t wait for the next story, this one is strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Breath Your Last is the 10th book in the Detective Josie Quinn series but it can be read as a stand-alone. This was a page-turning thriller that had non-stop action. You would think Josie had nine lives. The ending was intense and completely blew my mind. This is one of those books that keeps you guessing on who the killer could be and the reveal at the end is a shock. This was another great addition to the series and I can't wait for the next book. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lisa Regan for a copy of "Breathe Your Last" in exchange of an honest review.

What does the death of a champion swimmer and a retired firefighter have in common? For Detective Josie Quinn, this is the million dollar question and one that herself and the team will have their work cut out for them in getting the answer to…

The premise for this story immediately had my attention and things are kicked into high gear right from the prologue. Lisa Regan is a force to be reckoned with and once she gets going, she just does not stop! Good luck trying to put this one down as I definitely couldn’t!

The story is duel narrated, in the main through Josie, but is also interspersed with chapters from the killer, who’s twisted mind gives you chills. There were many times where my nerves were on edge, wondering what their next move was going to be. What I also loved, it was never obvious to me their identity, which made for a more satisfying reveal once exposed.

Josie Quinn’s tenaciousness in trying to solve crimes is second to none and this has not changed in this book, but Lisa Regan does give the reader more of her vulnerable side this time around, which makes her even more relatable and believable. 

Lisa Regan’s skills and talent just shine through the pages of this book and she is such an exciting voice in the crime thriller genre. I am so glad that I have now been exposed to her work and she has fast become another author to add to my list of favourites.

Breathe Your Last is only my second read from the Detective Josie Quinn series and is another outstanding piece of work. Full of twists and turns it will have you enthralled from the beginning and that ending… I can’t wait to see where the series will go next. It was a pleasure to read and review Breathe Your Last which I highly recommend.

Breathe Your Last is #10 in the Detective Josie Quinn series, and every time I read a new one, I say the series gets better with each book. Lisa Regan changes things up a notch here in this one by adding a bold, and bizarre case that left me with many questions. She tests not only Josie and her team but us readers with those exciting, “what is going on” twists to the crime and our beloved characters.

My love for the series is all about Josie and her dynamics with the people in her life. Lisa Regan keeps this fresh and exciting by exploring stories and crimes that involve the people in her life while adding new characters to that dynamics. While I enjoy all the mysteries and crimes in the stories, they don’t usually take center stage for me as the one here in this story did. I still loved the dynamics with the characters that take a different turn when Noah becomes distant and distracted from Josie.

The case here is darkly bold, strange, and unquie and touches on a dark reality that is not often explored, and at times, I did question some of the reality of the story and how Lisa was going to pull off that line between reality and entertainment.

The action and climax to the story are like nothing I have seen from Lisa, and I was on the edge of my seat with my mouth wide open in shock with the heart-wrenching turn the story took. The action is exciting and tense. That heart-wrenching turn pushed my shock to the point I almost messaged Lisa to ask what she was thinking, throwing that at us readers, however, I put my trust in Lisa and enjoyed the emotional pull she brilliantly layered on us.

As always, I highly recommend this series!!

I received a copy from the publisher through NG.

Breathe Your Last is the tenth instalment in the Detective Josie Quinn series, set in and around the city of Denton, Pennsylvania. It begins with a chilling prologue providing an insight into the twisted killer’s glee at seeing his victims’ families distraught, as he awaits the news of the passing of the bright young woman he left for dead. Meanwhile, Josie is driving friend Misty and her four-year-old son, Harris, complete with his green dinosaur backpack, to Tiny Tykes Gardens and Pre-K Daycare centre for his first day and both of the women are really nervous. Josie then returns home and must run an errand for her younger brother Patrick who is currently a sophomore at Denton University. She had been helping him with his laundry and had a mishap and now every item of clothing he owned was tinged pink. Needing his work shirt for his job as a towel assistant at the swimming pool on campus, Josie visits him only to discover the fully-clothed body of elite swimming starlet, Nysa Summers, floating lifelessly face down in the water. But how exactly does a strong swimmer drown accidentally? Elsewhere, a devastating house fire guts the home of a retired firefighter, who survives but only just.

What is the connection between two cases where both victims were killed/injured in a fashion they knew so much about? This is a captivating, convoluted and exciting police procedural with one of the most immoral and hateworthy characters I've encountered recently in the disgusting narcissistic and disturbed serial killer, who I came to despise. I am always a fan of strong female protagonists so to be treated to the great dynamic between the kickass, fierce Josie and her amazing team was a real treat. It is mainly told from Josie’s perspective making the narrative straightforward and therefore much more immersive, although there are intermittent chapters from the unidentified killer’s point of view which act as a window into his warped mindset. Regan makes excellent use of twists, turns and misdirection throughout bringing some surprises to the narrative and the whole thing moves at a pretty brisk pace. It's a refreshingly original thriller with plenty of intrigue surrounding the mind of the psychopath who seemingly wants revenge at any cost and who takes enormous pleasure in other people's misery—usually the misery he himself has caused. An entertaining and compulsive, clever and engrossing read, which is a nailbiting page-turner from the get-go. Highly recommended.

Author Lisa Regan had the tenth book out, how could I not read it? Detective Josie Quinn had great instincts in the past 9 books, and in this too, they were ramping up as the stakes heightened with each death.

A champion swimmer was found floating in the swimming pool with a strange symbol and a note – Be the mermaid. A firefighter’s house was set alit with the same symbol and a note – Be the match. An abandoned backpack had the food wrappers in it. Josie saw connections where the rest could not. The Lone Ranger got to investigating in her own way.

Quite a bizarre case was this where it called upon their collective hard work to crack it. There was friction with alternate viewpoints, but Josie managed to overcome the hurdles. Filled with action and intelligent scenes, I found the book to be a fast read. There were moments where I was completely immersed in the plotline.

Amongst all the police procedurals I’d read, Lisa Quinn wrote the friendliest one where I could understand the dynamics of the team even when I didn’t remember what had happened in the last case. Reading the rest of the books was not needed, but fear not, the entire series is quite addictive. I went back to read the books I had missed.

With the dual POV of Josie and the killer, the story held on to its suspense and intrigue as I flew through the pages. Emotions were heightened, and romance was interspersed in the prose. Twists were the norm, and the author kindly provided a wrenching one at the end. The characters were developed well, and the author kept the camaraderie going. I loved how they supported Josie.

Quite a compelling crime thriller where the dose of realism in the cops’ lives worked well with the twisted thoughts of the killer.

Another beautifully crafted book by the master of the genre :) I have read all of the Josie Quinn books and I think the series is just getting better and better.

Josie Quinn is called to investigate the death of a star swimmer - by drowning. There are things about the scene which don't make sense but she can't quite put her finger on it and when her partner Noah starts acting strange as well, Josie's world really starts tilting on its axis. 

As always, I love the main character and all of the secondary characters as well. There are so many really good people in Josie's orbit who give her support or a bit of a nudge when she needs it, even as she puts her life and health on the line, over and over again.

This is a gripping book that flows very well.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

What does a star swimmer a decorated hero and a police officer have in common? That is what Detective Josie Quinn must figure out. And fast before this elusive killer strikes again. In this case the serial killer has a unique modus operandi which gives them the wherewithal to kill from afar and watch the chaos ensue from a safe distance.

Breathe Your Last is the 10th installment in the Josie Quinn mystery series.  Being a first time reader of Lisa Regan I did not find that to be a problem.  I think the novel stood well enough on its own and I was able to get right into the story.   Josie Quinn's character is smart and clever.  She is strong and loving and willing to put her own life at risk to save others, even the bad guys. As a new reader to the series I found that the glimpses into her back story made her all the more more relatable.  I also enjoyed having time Josie Quinn's family even though it took me a minute to figure out who was who.

The plot was fast moving.  Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down.   Here we have a mystery where at first it is not clear how the killer picks their targets.  We as readers get to hear the killer's thoughts in short chapters interspersed between the investigation.  These chapters add an eerie tone to the undercurrent of the novel and make the mystery even more intriguing.  Regan keeps you waiting until the last minute to figure out how and why the killer strikes.  I though it was a clever how she developed this story and the reasoning behind the killings.   I've already looked into where I could get my hands on the earlier books in the series.  Although they are not available through my library to borrow or to order, I found a discounted bundle on the first three books in the series on Amazon here.

This book and I somehow didn’t work. And I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe I was just not in the right mood, because I think the main idea is quite good.

Here I had a problem at the beginning. It seems too slow to me. I felt like nothing has happened in the first third of the book that is not mentioned in the synopsis. And that was not enough for me. I also think it would be easier for me if I read the previous books. I would have become more attached to Josie, the main character, and the rest of the group.

I wish this book worked better for me because I liked the general plot idea. I find it interesting and quite innovative, it is not just another typical serial killer, but something much more interesting. The plot is not too simple, nor is it so complicated that it is absurd. There were some fragments that really held me on the edge of my seat. There are also several probable suspects. The identity of the killer surprised me, but at the same time it didn’t feel that this person appeared out of nowhere. I also think that making this particular person a murderer was an interesting and non-obvious move.

I think I will give this author another chance, maybe I will read one of the previous books in this series. I like her ideas.

Breathe Your Last by Lisa Regan is the tenth in the Detective Josie Quinn series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:  (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)

Once Acting Chief of Police, Josie Quinn is now doing what she is best suited for. She’s back to being a detective and happy. Her team consists of Detective Noah Fraley (who she is dating), Detective Gretchen Palmer, and Detective Finn Mettner.  Their boss is Chief Bob Chitwood.  She is learning to love her new-found family,  including news reporter Trinity Payne,  as well as her brother Patrick, but it is keeping her busy. 


My Synopsis:(No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

While dropping off a t-shirt at the college for Patrick, Josie finds dead body of the school's best swimmer, face-down in the pool, still clothed.  

No one believes that Nysa Somers would have committed suicide, and an accident seems unlikely.  Trying to trace the final hours up to the young girls death,  they finally find her back-pack in a wooded area.  There is an almost empty baggy inside it with a strange sticker on it.  Her phone revealed nothing except a calendar entry for that morning saying "time to be a mermaid".

When a housefire nearly destroys the home of a retired fireman, things get stranger.  Although he survived he can't talk.  However, his grandchildren say he was telling them it was "time to be a match", and that the fireman himself lit the house on fire.

There seems to be a connection, but Josie isn't sure what it is, but when a fellow policeman puts his own life in danger, Josie knows they have to stop this madness soon.  

Meanwhile, Noah and Josie are so busy, they are spending little time together.  


My Opinions:

This was a great addition to the series.  The plot was good and set a fast pace, and the book was action-packed.

Although I am not a romance reader, I don't mind the relationship between Josie and Noah.  It feels normal.  They have issues, but they work them out, and Josie is learning to express her needs.  They fear for the others safety, and Noah is correct that Josie continues to throw herself into dangerous situations without any thought, but I think that may change. 

I like most of the characters.  Sawyer Hayes, who was introduced in the last book appeared again, but the situation is still not stable.  Something will have to happen to bring the two together, but I'm not sure what.

Again, I recommend reading the books in order, because the characters have grown so much since the early days.  

I am definitely looking forward to the next in the series.

Detective Josie Quinn is back with another heart pounding mystery. Josie finds a young woman floating in the Denton University pool. How does the captain of the swim team drown? The chief says accident or suicide, but Josie is not so sure. As she and her team investigate, Josie rushes to rescue two young girls and their grandfather from his burning home. How did the home of the retired fire chief catch on fire? The answer will stun the police. As more bizarre events occur, Josie believes they have a killer who is not only targeting specific victims, but others in the community. How are they getting the victim to injure or kill themselves? An amazingly complex mystery as throughout the book the unknown murderer explains why the victims deserved what happened to them. Josie begins to get closer to the murderer, but will she be too late to save someone she loves? This mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Breathe Your Last is a book that had me guessing the entire time! Josie Quinn has come a long way since Vanishing Girls, and this case has to be one of the most intense ones she has faced yet!

When a star swimmer is murdered at the college Josie's brother attends, Josie throws herself into the case with very little to go on. Not only was Nysa a star swimmer, she was loved by everyone. The only clues Josie has are some brownie crumbs, a sticker, and a weird message that says "time to be mermaid". It seems like Nysa OD'd and while Josie's chief would like nothing more than to leave it at that, Josie knows there is more to the story and is determined to find out who committed the crime.

This book was incredible and one of my favorites so far! I loved everything about it. I had NO idea who the killer was and to me, that's important. I don't want to figure it out right away! The story fascinated me. 

I love Josie's interactions with her godson, Harris.  I think it shows how far Josie's character has come since the beginning of the series and I adore that. 

In addition to that, the ending had my heart pounding so hard-- it was excellent! I almost screamed! I had to briefly put the book down to catch my breath.

I highly recommend this one. It's one of the best in the series. 

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.  Thank you, Lisa Regan, for continuing to write such incredible books. I hope Josie is around for a long time!

This is one of my favourite series and I love catching up with Josie, Noah and Misty.
Josie is having a stressful morning having just dropped Harris off for the first time at Tiny Tykes and she then comes across the dead body of a college student. 
It seems she’s drowned but what made her go into the pool, fully clothed?
It’s definitely a strange case for Josie and the team and they struggle to find any leads. 
They do find a bag with crumbs in and a strange looking sticker, but what does it mean?
Josie then comes across a small girl shouting for help as her grandfather and her sister are trapped in a burning house. Josie rescues the other little girl and leaves the experts to get the man out. 
Nysa was a strong swimmer, yet drowned and Clay was a brave firefighter left fighting for his life.
Josie is puzzled by their actions and thinks they were under the influence of something, but can she prove it?
This is a gripping crime thriller and the shock near the end of the book nearly sent me over the edge....
I love this series and can highly recommend it. 
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this breathtaking book

why does an elite swimmer drown
why does an retired honoured fireman burn his house down with him inside it....

just two of the incidents that josie and her team have to investigate, could there be a link between the two cases 

and then josie has to rescue one of her officers...

oh my word my heart was in my mouth on this one and that ending, thought i was going to have an heart attack with the tension

brilliantly written and the tension is for real when reading this book...people need a warning before they even start this one...but it was lovely to catch up with josie and her team

cant wait for the next one

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Breathe Your Last’, the tenth in the Detective Josie Quinn series written by Lisa Regan, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Detective Josie Quinn is visiting Denton University when she discovers the fully-clothed body of championship swimmer Nysa Somers floating in the swimming pool, the words ‘be a mermaid’ on her phone’s calendar.  The next day she saves the lives of the granddaughters of hero firefighter, Clay Walsh, when there’s a horrendous fire at his home.  The last thing the little girls hear their grandad saying is ‘be a match’.  As the body count starts to rise Josie needs to find a link between these crimes and also uncover if videos taken of the university’s students are connected before the killer can claim more victims.

‘Breathe Your Last’ is another brilliant addition to this incredible series with Josie Quinn and her hardworking detectives Mett and Gretchen and boyfriend Lieutenant Noah Fraley.  I was gripped from page one through each heart-stopping incident, each twist and turn, trying to guess the identity of the killer but failing.  There’s bucketloads of drama, suspense, convincing characters, events that left me open-mouthed with surprise and an ending that was shocking, completely unexpected, and had me crying.  I love this series, thoroughly enjoy catching up with how Josie and Noah’s relationship is progressing, and can’t wait for the next one.