Brent Spencer's "The Last of Her" is a relentless thriller that thrusts readers into the dangerous world of Hella Duran, a disgraced intelligence agent on a mission to prove her innocence. As a gray, trained to blend in and navigate the complexities of espionage, Hella finds herself at the center of a dark conspiracy, facing not only the shadows of her past but also the threat to her family's safety.

The novel's strength lies in its relentless pacing and the portrayal of a resilient and complex protagonist. Hella Duran's character is crafted with depth and authenticity, making her journey from a disgraced agent to a determined investigator both compelling and relatable. The narrative skillfully explores the psychological toll of Hella's experiences and the challenges she faces when her own community rejects her.

Spencer's exploration of the consequences of war and the moral ambiguity faced by intelligence agents adds layers to the story. The themes of betrayal, redemption, and the search for truth create a gripping narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The author's vivid descriptions of the Nebraska Sandhills contribute to the atmospheric tension, enhancing the overall reading experience.

The plot unfolds with intricate twists and turns, and Spencer effectively keeps the suspense building as Hella delves deeper into the conspiracy. The familial and community dynamics explored in the novel add emotional weight to the narrative, highlighting the personal stakes involved in Hella's quest for justice.

While "The Last of Her" is a riveting thriller, some readers may find certain plot elements predictable, particularly in the espionage genre. Additionally, the resolution of the conspiracy may leave a few questions unanswered, requiring readers to embrace some ambiguity.

In conclusion, "The Last of Her" is a four-star thriller that delivers a compelling and relentless narrative. Brent Spencer's exploration of the consequences of war, the resilience of the human spirit, and the pursuit of justice makes for a thought-provoking and engaging read. If you enjoy thrillers with complex protagonists and a blend of espionage and familial drama, "The Last of Her" is a worthwhile addition to your reading list.

Enjoyable, engrossing book, which was a satisfying and fulfilling read. Characters were solid, and I though most of the themes were sensitively handled.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

((the cover for this book confuses me. it needs something gritty - like the main character))

I think this had so much potential. The premise is really interesting, the writing is good, it has a strong female lead.. but unfortunately, it just wasn't the right story for me at this time.

I'd happily try other books by this author.

I didn’t enjoy this one much. I would have DNFed this if I wasn’t curious about how the story will end. The premise of the plot definitely had potential but it was the writing that I fell flat for me.

This story starts with Hella, a discharged soldier who just returned home from Afghanistan after serving her duty. She was tasked to be an undercover to find information on Osama Bin Laden. She relayed what she had found to her commander but things went wrong very quickly and innocent lives were lost. Hella is blamed for not relaying the correct information which caused her to be discharged from her position despite being one of the best soldiers out there. Hella is determined that she was being framed and is desperate to find the truth. When she started her own investigation, she unknowingly puts her own life in danger.

Honestly, I have zero attachment to the main character and her cause, not even when the author was telling Hella’s backstory. I understand what Hella is trying to prove but I didn’t have much care for her. She doesn’t seem to take care of herself very well and she strikes me as very hot-headed and only wants to do things her way.

Despite that, I did like how strong her character is. I also doubted her sanity initially but she was so determined that I find myself rooting for her survival in the end. I would definitely not want to mess with Hella!

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the arc.

An interesting turn which reignited my interest but also made me hate the main character. Nevertheless an easy weekend read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It breaks my heart whenever I do not finish a book, which is a rare scenario, but it happens to me just like to any other readers.

I really liked the premise of this book so I feel so guilty for not being able to finish it at this time being.

I will eventually still try to get back to this one; maybe I’m not in the mood for some military related story lately or it’s just not for me, but I can’t really go past beyond 20%. I’m sad because I’m interested with the premise and I like the author’s writing style but I’m not getting anything beyond my current reading page for this book.

Nevertheless, I will still rate this as a 3/5 for the descriptions and the character - Hella is indeed one hella girl for me.

I hope to be able to love the story when I try reading this again.

Free ARC from NET GALLEY

Tough, after serving more then 10 years in the sand I was pleasantly surprised that this was not another 'super-woman' SEAL story. Well written, pretty plausible, and the violence and action held true to form based on what was and is that theater and those groups. Well DONE!

The premise of a woman determined to prove she was right is fundamental to this book and it is almost an analogy for all women who find themselves questioned and needing to justify their actions. Hella is a really interesting character who is not perfect and this is a good thing as it leaves you wondering just how reliable her narrative is at times. Interesting, action packed and unusual in settting, this book transfers the best ingredients of the modern western thrillers so many of us love into a new and challenging context.,

The story flowed effortlessly from chapter to chapter with a wonderfully descriptive vocabulary, bringing the reader into each character’s personality and surrounding imagery in such a colourful way. A story of a woman trying to redeem herself. Enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did initially find this book a little confusing, but I stayed with it and it was worth doing so. A very interesting read. Recommended.

I found this book to be a little slow and not as enjoyable as I thought it would be. IN spite of this the plot was exciting and the ending was good

I overall enjoyed this book and the writing style was easy to follow. I particularly liked the way conversations were written. I somehow couldn’t fully build a connection to main character though, which is why I am giving this book 3 stars.

Not really my thing but I persisted through this book, undercover spies, Afghanistan, secrets etc.. a woman trying to redeem herself …. ..

'"The hero runs toward trouble.'" -Brent Spencer


"The Last of Her" by Brent Spencer, is the revised version of the book previously published under the name "All Done With Dying". The first chapter begins with Hella Duran returning home to her grandfather's ranch in Nebraska. Hella has served her county and suffered grievous injuries. Her job in Afghanistan was to be a undercover spy and find information on where Osama bin Laden is hiding. She finds unwavering evidence that she has located him. Hella reports this to her commander and gives the correct coordinates for a drone attack, but something goes horribly wrong. Six civilians are killed in a target misfire. Hella is positive her coordinates for the attack were correct, but she is kicked out of the army with a "Other Than Honorable Discharge". Hella suspects a cover-up and needs to find Wade Bledsoe from the drone command center to solve this mystery.


While I enjoyed this book very much, I felt it was a bit confusing at times. It took me a bit to keep up with the character's and names. If you stick with the story, you will quickly catch up and follow the story. I have never read a fiction book that targets Osama bin Laden, but it proved to be a very interesting read.


Trigger Warning: This book is not for the faint at heart. It contains graphic and violent scenes.


Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the honor of reviewing this e-book.