🏊Drama and death in Denton: loved the suspenseful chase😊!

This Pennsylvania college town-set Detective Josie Quinn murder mystery was a great read start to finish!  Several seemingly unrelated and odd deaths, A good range of suspected motives and killers with some mystery going on with Josie's frequently incommunicado live-in boyfriend Detective Nick Fraley too.  The writing kept the story moving at a good pace and the number of key lead and secondary characters was not too large to keep straight.  Did I guess the culprit?  I may have had an inkling in the back of my mind, but the author kept me guessing for most of the book.

I can't think of any elements that did not work in this story.  Yes, A few times author Lisa Regan went into a great deal of detail describing something I just could not visualize, like the interior structure of a bell tower or a bridge, but that probably works for some readers who can picture the scene from these details.  I can't, but I can say that it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

This is a series I will definitely be seeking more of in the future.

Thanks to publishers Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

This book was in a word amazing! Mrs. Regan has another strong entry with book #10 in this series. In this book we find Josie trying to solve what looks to be tragic accidents, a swimmer who accidentally drowns, a firefighter in a house fire. But to Josie and her team something feels off about it all.  Add in cryptic messages found with the victims, " Be a mermaid" and " Be a torch", I found myself so enthralled with this  book, I read it in 2 days! I really enjoyed the chapters from the killer's  point of view, it really added to the story's atmosphere. I would highly recommend this book to not only fans of the series, but to anyone who enjoys  great suspense thrillers. well done Mrs. Regan, I now look forward  to the next book in this series!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

Breathe Your Last is the tenth book in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan. It is a stand alone, Ms Regan does an excellent job of throwing in enough background that the reader can easily follow the story if they haven't read previous titles. I highly suggest starting with the first book, Vanishing Girls. Having followed this series from the beginning I feel like each book is an update of a friend's life. In Breathe Your Last I'm warning you there may be tears. I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy to review.

Another great mystery in the Josie Quinn series.  I recommend that anyone looking for a starting a good series of stories, start with the first book. The characters become like friends that you catch up on from time to time, and you get a good mystery too.

After a laundry accident, detective Josie Quinn meets her brother at his job in the university swimming pool. By accident, they find the clothed body of a young woman floating in the water. It turns out to be Nysa, a swimming champion. So, how could she drown? CC-
TV shows that she didn’t bring her swimming gear or backpack. No-one else entered or left the building. And why did she come at 6 am?
Not much later a retired fireman nearly dies in a house fire. His grandchildren that miraculously are saved by Josie, tell the police that he set the fire himself while acting very strange.
The readers know that there’s a serial killer at work who does away with people that have offended or upset him/her, people that deserve to die.
Josie is convinced that both incidents are related and that there’s a drug involved that makes people docile and obedient without incapacitating them. Nobody believes her. She feels that this case is slipping through her fingers with no real leads and she fears that she won’t be able to solve it. Her relationship with her colleague Noah is under a lot of strain as they both are preoccupied with work and spend that much time working that they hardly see each other.

Josie’s personal life is more than a little complicated. Much of the background story has been told in the previous instalments of this series but the most relevant facts are given again. As I remarked in the previous book, the personal life of the protagonist form a large part of the narrative but there is also more than enough action and suspense that are merged into a really thrilling story. There are more than enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The information and the clues are released a little bit at the time so that I figured out a few things but not much sooner than Josie self. The development of the case with painstakingly difficult, multiple interviews and forensics that sometimes fail to give the expected or much-needed clues, this case feels like a realistic police investigation. Only at the end, there is a grand finale with a life or death chase to conclude the case.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided me with and this is my honest, unbiased review.

A champion swimmer isn't supposed to drown, especially not in the practice pool she uses daily. Detective Josie Quinn was only taking her brother's laundry back to him she didn't expect to be trying to save a life at the same time. By the end of the following day she has two equally confusing cases to deal with but there seems no answers to be had. 

Needing the reassurances of her team around her she is concerned when boyfriend and partner Noah keeps disappearing and missing her text messages. Josie knows their perp is both dangerous and cunning which means they will have to look at things from a different angle if she is to solve this before there are more fatalities with or without Noah at her side. 

This is the tenth book in this series and the standard is as high as ever. There is a tension which rises chaper after chapter until reading through your fingers is probably recommended! This instalment surprised me throughout, the crimes themselves led to the science which led to the vital clues which led to a denouement which left me astounded. 

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own.  Whether you started at the beginning or with book ten this is an excellent read.

A skilled swimmer drowns, found with her belongings is a cryptic message to “be a mermaid.” Then a heroic retired firefighter, who spends his days babysitting the grand-kids, is rescued from his burning home; his last words, “be a match.” Are the two cases connected? If so, what connects a college-aged woman and a retired firefighter? Don’t worry, Josie Quinn is on the case and will figure it all out.

But we’re just not here for the cases, we’re here for the cast of characters that make-up Denton, Pennsylvania. Josie’s brother, Patrick, is going to school in Denton so he’s around now. Drake and Trinity come to town. And Harris, Misty’s son, starts Kindergarten! *GASP* Little Harris is growing up way too quickly!

This is book ten in the Detective Josie Quinn series and we have come a long way since book one. But some things don’t change, like Lisa’s ability to write an intriguing crime that grabs your attention from the get-go or the fact that Josie always solves her case – I would never bet against her!

I hope you have been reading this series in its proper order otherwise you have missed out on all the character growth, the evolving character relationships, the wins, the losses, the happy times, the sad times, and all the little tidbits of history that have been revealed about the characters over time. We have seen ex-husband’s die, romantic relationships end, new romantic relationships begin, we have seen co-workers become friends, and ex-husband’s girlfriends become family.  

I love the relationships that Josie has with Misty but I especially love her relationship with Harris – if you like that too then you’re in for a real treat with this book because we get some great Josie/Harris moments.

We all know Josie as a tough and competent police officer who kicks ass, takes names, and closes cases but it’s those little glimpses of vulnerability that we get that makes Josie so lovable. We get some vulnerable Josie here and it just makes me love her even more.

I also love the relationship Josie has with Noah. And you guys…Noah is not acting like him self in this book! So not only did the case have me on the edge of my seat, I was kept on the edge because Noah was being secretive AF and I needed answers!

Lisa is a wonderful writer and this book is paced well. There’s a few twists and turns but nothing feels rushed or overly drawn out.

No spoilers but I LOVED the ending, I hope you do too.

Two thumbs up for this book, I’d give it more thumbs if I had more hands!

But really, if you haven’t read the other books in the series you should start with book 1 and not book 10! Otherwise you miss out an all the growth and evolution the characters have been through and you’re really cheating yourself!
I would like to thank Netgalley for an advance copy of Breathe Your Last by Lisa Regan.

Absolutely stunning installment of Josie Quinn's life!
Great characters, a gripping plot and twists that meant I couldn't put it down. I was trying to work out the culprit even while I was at work!
I was unsure of the main storyline at first. A champion swimmer who drowns has been done several times recently, but this was done expertly and soon there were other incidents to consider!
Highly recommended!

I loved this book. I'm a fan of Josie anyway so was always going to read the next installment but I wasn't expecting this! Such a different story to those I've read recently, I literally couldn't put this down. Josie and Noah are great characters, I love catching up with them.

There was lots of twists in the story which I loved, and the ending is heart stopping. Can't wait for the next one!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book.

 That is a book worth reading, I liked the unusual twist and turns . I like the Josie Quinn series

Josie Quinn is talking to her brother Patrick early in the morning at the Denton University pool, where he has a part time job. Before she leaves, she glances at the pool and to her shock sees a fully clothed body floating on the surface. Despite administering cpr, neither Josie or the paramedics are able to revive the young woman, a student and talented member of the swim team. She had no reason to commit suicide and, as a swimmer subject to random drug testing, didn't use drugs but no one can think of a reason why such a strong swimmer could accidentally drown. 

With so little to go on forensically, Josie and her team have their work cut out trying to find out how the young student died. Other strange events begin to occur with people nearly dying through inexplicable acts and Josie begins to wonder what is happening to the people of Denton. One of the strengths of this series is the continuing lives of Josie and her team and friends and family. Josie has her own issues to deal with as she shares her sister's anxiety about her nephew starting kindergarten. She's also concerned that her boyfriend Noah is behaving strangely and missing at odd hours from work and home and worries that something is wrong.

The plot moves at a good pace as Josie tries to hunt down connections in the cases that she feels sure are there. It takes a strange drawing and some good detective work to eventually point to the cause of the drowning and other bizarre episodes but it may be too late to save the lives of more innocent people. A literal cliff hanger provides a nail biting ending with plenty of drama, particularly for Josie.

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.  This is the 10th book in the Detective Josie Quinn series and I have to say, I think every one gets better.  The very beginning of this book I couldn't get into.  Josie and Misty are dropping Harris off on his first day of preschool.  Then a swimming star drowns,  Josie and her team are trying to figure out if illegal drugs or alcohol were involved.  After that, for me, this book picked up, immensely.  This was action packed, full of drama, full of heartbreak.  I was in shock, I was sad, I was mad.  Same characters that we all know and love.  Josie, Gretchen, Mett and Noah work as quickly as they can to solve this crime.  Even Chief Chitwood seems to be a little softer and less gruff (not by much mind you).  This book is set to release on Dec 9th and if you haven't started this series, I encourage you to.   Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Lisa Regan!

Book 10 in the Josie Quinn series the story starts off quickly bring readers into Lisa Regan world he has created full of mystery.  The characters have grown throughout the series developing as strong female character that is willing to do what it takes to find the killer.  

The story will have readers even shocked at a moment in the story that will stop them from reading forward.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of Lisa Regan Breathe Your Last.

And just like that, Josie Quinn is back! She's more determined and tenacious than ever. When she's called to investigate a drowning, things don't seem as simple as it looks. As she begins interviewing friends of the drowning victim, she finds out that the young girl was a champion swimmer. So how did she drown? Questions mount and she's been asked to consider it a simple drowning. Another incident (a fire that has been set deliberately by a retired fire captain), doesn't make sense either. There are too many if's and too much doubt!

The novel was an amazing ride (or read)! It started slow and, as I chewed my nails, bam! I found myself going at warp speed!  This is a must read! If you can, try to read the other Josie Quinn books. You'll be able to understand her character better.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy!

Holy crap. Lisa Regan’s books just keep getting better and better with each addition to the Josie Quinn series. The twist in this book is one I never saw coming. I cannot sing the praises of Breathe Your Last enough. This is one book that no one should miss.

Detective Josie Quinn finds herself faced with one of her toughest cases yet in this 10th book in the series.
A young student is found dead in the campus swimming pool. Surely she couldn`t have drowned, she was after all the star of the college swim team?
A decorated fire chief apparently sets fire to his own house and sustains life threatening injuries.
Josie cant believe these were accidents, she and her team search for clues, convinced there is a connection .
This is an exciting and dramatic crime thriller that kept me guessing right till the end.
The plot is complex, and races along at speed, the tension mounting as the investigation finally reaches its dramatic ending.
This one had me hooked from the first page, a brilliant read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read this as an ARC, such an easy 5stars from me.

Another gripped and thrilling case to be solved in the Detective Josie Quinn series. This series keeps going from strength to strength. A young student is found drowned in the campus pool. This is no ordinary student, she is the star of the campus swim team. Full of red herrings, fast paced and so gripping. An original plot which blew me away and a killer that had their own warped reasons for what they do. Chilling and another WOW book. A great addition to this gripping and very addictive series. 
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Breathe Your Last is another addicting chapter in the Detective Josie Quinn. As always, Josie's latest case draws you in from page one. Told in alternating first person (killer) and third person (Josie), the case of a champion college swimmer that drowns in a pool takes a dark turn when a sticker ties multiple deaths together. Josie is in a race with the clock in unpredictable whodunit that leaves you guessing until the end for an unexpected but totally enjoyable, suspenseful read. Lisa Regan's mysteries always leave me guessing and coming back for more.  The characters are just icing on the cake of a really sweet read. My voluntary, unbiased review is base upon a review copy from Netgalley.

BREATHE YOUR LAST by Lisa Regan brings mystery and suspense to a well-written and dramatic police procedural and crime thriller set in Denton, Pennsylvania. This is the tenth book in the Detective Josie Quinn series and the second book that I have read by this author.

Josie doesn’t expect to be doing CPR on a star athlete when she meets her brother before his first class. How does a champion swimmer drown accidentally? Once again, Josie and her boyfriend, Lieutenant Noah Fraley, and many others from the Denton police force face a case with few clues. As additional odd events occur, the team is working long hours and getting little sleep. While trying to make sense of what is happening, they wonder if there is a pattern or link that they are missing. 

Josie and Noah are compelling characters you can root for. They felt real and three-dimensional and definitely had both flaws and virtues.  Like many people they often struggle with work-life balance, jealousy and communication issues. Their motivations were believable and the secondary characters were well-rounded and contributed to the story rather than detracting from it. Having characters from Josie’s private life woven into the story made her feel more realistic and believable. This story managed to showcase the emotional landscape of several characters, bringing them to life to this reader.

The plot was suspenseful, fresh, complex and entertaining. The conflicts were both internal and external, arising from characterization and circumstance. There were plenty of plot twists and turns with several surprises. There was a fast pace from scene to scene and the subplots tied together well. The tension, stakes and action built up to an exciting and pulse-quickening dramatic ending. While the romantic relationship between Josie and Noah was interspersed into the plot, it did not detract from the story line. 

Once again, this author has brought mystery, family dynamics, mental illness and much more to life in a page turner that kept me engaged throughout. Her ability to bring fresh approaches to an established genre and series are fantastic.

Overall, this was a dramatic crime thriller that hooked me with the first sentence and didn’t let go until it was finished. It’s the second book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to the next one. I recommend it to those that enjoy crime thrillers or police procedurals. While not absolutely necessary, I would recommend reading the series in order to gain more insight into the characters and their backgrounds.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture and Lisa Regan via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 9, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Will there ever be a time that Lisa Regan releases a book I don’t finish in one sitting? Chances aren’t likely.

In Breathe Your Last Breath, our favorite team is dealt with a number of crimes that don’t seem related at all. In fact, they don’t seem to make much sense either. As the pieces of the puzzle slowly come together, you’re still left guessing... at least til the very end. (Speaking of the end, make sure you have your tissues ready, because you’re going to need them!)

As always, get ready for an adventure that keeps getting better than the last one.