This was such a great read! Juicy and fun! Dramatic, gripping and unputdownable! I wish I could read it again for the first time

The Last Close Call follows Detective Jack Bruner who is investigating a serial rapist as he enlists the help of forensic genealogist Rowan Healy. It soon becomes clear that not only is their suspect active again but the severity of his crimes seem to be escalating.

I really enjoyed the mystery element of this book and found the police procedural aspects fascinating to follow along with. This book was so fast paced and easy to fly through. I thought the characters were well developed and I liked that each of the protagonists had their own friendship groups and hobbies.

However I felt that the romance developed way too quickly meaning I wasn't invested in them as a couple. Their entire relationship seemed to be filled with miscommunications which is one of my least favourite things in books. Fortunately there were only limited scenes focused on their relationship so this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall this was a fast paced, clever mystery and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a police procedural type novel!

Rowan Healey worked as a forensic genealogist for the police but gave up due to burn out .
Detective Jack Bruner is haunted by an old case , that of the West Campus Rapist - five years have passed with no more cases , or so he thought .
Now a recent case leads him to believe the Rapist is back and has now escalated to murdering his victims
Desperate to prove his theories and stop the Rapist in his tracks he enlists Rowan's help , much against her will ......... for she has a personal link to a past victim of the rapist

The action is fast paced , full of twists and turns , secrets will be revealed - what will they do to keep the secrets just that , secret ?


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I enjoyed this story as Rowan is an intriguing characters and the well plotted and tightly knitted story kept me hooked and reading.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Austin detective Jack Bruner is haunted by the case of the West Campus Rapist, a serial rapist who had attacked a number of women before apparently ending his crime spree five years ago, for reasons that are not at all clear.

However, Jack has a hunch that a recent case is in fact the same offender resurfacing - with the added possibility that he is escalating, given that a victim was murdered after being raped.

Now, although Jack is desperate to catch him, he will have to work alongside another police department for jurisdictional reasons, and also find a way of persuading a talented forensic genealogist - who has been recommended to him by a colleague - to assist him with this investigation.

But Rowan Healy stopped working with the police because she was burned out, and has no desire to return to that life. More recently, she has been assisting adoptees to locate their biological families and enjoys that work.

Though Rowan eventually agrees to help Jack, what he doesn't know is that she has a personal connection to the WCR case...

As both try hard to fight off their increasing mutual attraction, things also come to a head with the investigation and as toxic family secrets begin to unravel, events lead inexorably to a final reckoning.

This was highly readable thriller, clever and compelling. The characters come alive on the page, and the plot twist works well. Recommended for those who enjoy romantic suspense novels.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin in return for my honest review.
I really enjoy reading Laura Griffins books as you get a really nice balance of romance and crime thriller along with likeable characters and The Last Close Call has all of this I highly recommend reading and any of Laura Griffins books you won’t be disappointed.

Jack is a tenacious, dedicated cop makes a leap in linking a series of older sexual assaults and a new murder. But to make everyone else take notice he needs concrete evidence. He's given the name of a Forensic Genealogist who may just be able to solidify that shaky link.

Rowan used to be dedicated to law enforcement but she found herself going to a dark place personally and now makes a name for herself helping to out families back together after adoption or for medical emergencies. She still helps out on police work but rarely does she get presented with a case that peaks her interest. But Jack's case has links to her that he's not aware of. Rowan may just be able to get justice for a friend.

I was so intrigued learning all about forensic genealogy. I knew a little from my day job but this was in much more user-friendly format. Jack and Rowan are both smart, dedicated and seeking justice in their own way. Rowan may not have the strong family that Jack does but her friends are her family and she's do anything for them.

I have my own triggers in dealing with S/A but I felt this was handled so delicately and was not sensationalist or salacious. The tension was handled well and I enjoyed seeing that the woman who triggered the new investigation being able to get closure and move on. There were several plotlines within the story and they were so well interwoven, that nothing really jarred.

Hoping for more of these fab books.

I’m a fan of Laura Griffin's books but I have to say this wasn’t one of my favourites. I normally love the romance mixed with the police procedural but I didn’t really feel the chemistry in this one. I loved Rowan and her friends but the romance side fell a bit flat. I enjoyed the investigation side although it did feel like it was kind of forgotten at the end. The genealogy element was an interesting addition and there were some great characters. It was an enjoyable read but I prefer the Texas murder files series.

3.5 rounded up to 4

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

“ The Last Close Call”was a really interesting read and very up to date in that it is about the police using a genealogist to solve a serial rape and murder case.
As well as DNA matching, Rowan, the genealogist, researches family history using the genealogical websites to build a family tree and identify the perpetrator of the crime . This really struck a chord with me as I have recently started researching my own family tree using DNA and these very websites Rowan uses in the book.
Asked to investigate the case by Jack, Rowan is reluctant as she finds crime research too absorbing and depressing- she has tried to move out of the field and merely do other genealogical work such as tracing long lost relatives.
However the case resonates with her for personal reasons and she decides to help.
Jack and Rowan gradually start to have feelings for each other but Jack’s work as a cop sets alarm bells ringing for Rowan who is not sure she can stand to be around the awfulness Jack’s job brings with it.
As ever this is an enjoyable and all consuming romantic suspense novel, and like Laura Griffin’s earlier books, I found it difficult to put down.
The characters of Rowan and Jack were well rounded and empathetic and the genealogy in the story was very interesting.
Definitely a recommendation to readers who enjoy a crime novel with a bit of romance thrown in. It’s certainly a style I like!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

4.25/5 stars! This was my first book by Laura Griffin. I really enjoyed Rowan and Jack as characters. There was a cast of side characters that I hope we will get to see more of in future stories. There were a few trick twists to mislead the reader that I liked because it kept me guessing. The only part I didn't love was the final twist. There was such amazing suspense built into the story and the payoff didn't quite match that. I will definitely look for further reads by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had the opportunity of reading 'The Last Close Call' by Laura Griffin, and I must say, I was captivated from start to finish. The plot is a heart-pounding blend of romance and suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Forensic genealogist Rowan Healy, weary from her intense work on criminal cases, takes on a new focus, assisting adoptees in finding their biological parents. Enter Austin detective Jack Bruner, grappling with an elusive serial offender. The narrative skillfully weaves their paths, highlighting the tension of a desperate search for justice.
What truly impressed me were the well-crafted suspenseful scenes and unexpected twists that left me breathless. Griffin's narrative prowess truly shines through. The romantic subplot adds a layer of depth to the characters, enhancing their development and making their journey all the more engaging. I believe this book would be a perfect fit for those who relish suspenseful tales intertwined with a touch of romance. I wholeheartedly enjoyed 'The Last Close Call' and highly recommend it to anyone seeking a thrilling read that keeps you guessing until the very end.

An intriguing story,exploring a new area of research using a genealogist to help solve a case. Good characters and plenty of twists.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this book. It drew me in very quickly and kept me immersed until the end!