The Last to Know by Mary Alford is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first three lines: “He’d promised. Sworn the last time would be the last time. He’d lied.” This one will keep you from going to sleep until you finish it!
But first the photo and verse: My friend in Tupelo, Mississippi, took this photo at sunset one evening as they sat out by their lake. I’ve sat there, too, just not at sunset, but it is one of the most peaceful places I know. I hope you enjoy it, and this verse came to mind when he sent the photo.
Now for The Last to Know by Mary Alford. Here’s the cover and back copy:
An FBI agent with a dark secret.
A killer on a mission.
A murderous past that unearths an unexpected connection.
BAU Special Agent Hannah London’s troubled past reminds her that life is fragile. And hers has an expiration date that can’t be denied.
When the bottom drops out of Hannah’s world, and a killer ramps up his victim count, Hannah and fellow agent, Cooper Delaney are in a race against time to catch the killer. A bombshell revelation has Hannah and Cooper reeling after the killer’s cryptic messages seem to hint at a connection. . .to Hannah.
As Hannah’s feelings for Cooper deepen, her head tells her to end things before Cooper gets hurt. But her heart, the one that threatens to betray her, doesn’t want to walk away.
My Take:
Oh, wow! This is a fast-paced that wouldn’t let me put it down. Hannah and Cooper are FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit Special Agents dealing with the worst of the worst. In The Last to Know Mary Alford wove an intense suspense story filled with twists and turns I didn’t see coming.
Both Hannah and Cooper have secrets that are exposed — Hannah is a heart transplant recipient, something she hasn’t told anyone about, and Cooper is the son of a serial killer, The Embalmer, who died in prison years ago. But now someone is copying his murders.
I loved watching the love story unfold and the complications their secrets brought to the story. Hannah was afraid to love because she knew her body could reject the transplanted heart at any time. That had happened to her best friend just weeks ago. And Cooper is reeling from his father’s old cases being reopened.
This is a great suspense that will keep you flipping the pages (I tend to try to do that while reading on my Kindle) until the end!
You can read The Last to Know in KU or purchase on Amazon.
Readers, what are you reading this week? Leave your first lines in the comments and I’ll enter you in a May drawing for a book from my library!
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Comments 34
Oooh, this photo! Wow, isn’t strong enough. It’s magnificent. Only the creator could make something like this. The Scripture is perfect.
Loved your take on Mary Alford’s book. Oh my word, it looks like a page-turner for sure! Can’t wait to read it.
“Blasted pirates. Dirty filthy, rotten—
Emmett Carter concentrated on keeping his head above churning dark water. The Wicked River could swallow a man whole in a matter of moments” are the first few lines of River Queen by Stephenia McGee
Author
Thank you, Barbara! I love sitting around my friend’s firepit and looking at the lake. I haven’t been there this time of the evening, but I know it’s so peaceful. I love Stephenia McGee’s books. One summer we spent a few days together with two other authors brainstorming. She is a sweetheart and writes so beautifully!
Yes, Pat, sitting around the fire pit by the water at dusk would be wonderful. I can see it now. And, if you got that kind of sunset. . . well a double blessing.
Yes, Stephanie is a sweetheart. She mentioned her mother made the gown on the cover of River Queen. This gown is out of this world gorgeous. I do love her books. Thanks to you for introducing us to her writing!!
I love the photo and the verse. I pray the verse a lot for the Church.
The Last to Know sounds gripping! I am also reading a suspenseful story, The Garden Girls by Jessica Patch. It’s a Christian thriller with a bad-guy kidnapper and the FBI. The first line: Sharp claws scrape along my neck.
Chills!
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I’m glad you enjoyed the photo and verse, Priscilla! It’s a verse I pray for the country a whole lot! If you like the Garden Girls, you’ll really enjoy The Last To Know!
I’ve recently finished “The Garden Girls”. That is indeed a page turner, and a bit on the gritty side. Jessica Patch is a master at writing tough suspense.
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You’ll enjoy this one, too, Tim! And your right, Jessica Patch is a master at suspense. 🙂
Excellent photo, Pat. Our country really needs to take that verse to heart.
I am currently reading the latest Elite Guardians (Savannah) Book, “Hunting Justice” by Sami Abrams. It begins with, “The bodies in the Savannah, Georgia county morgue had nothing on medical examiner Dr. Jonah Harris.”
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Oh, I have to get Sami’s new book, Tim!
Tim, I agree with you about the verse. However, I realized something when I opened the blog post and read it. I have thought the very same thing that you stated whenever I read the verse. The problem seems to be that “our country” is far too generic. Each person who is a Christ-follower, and I’ll put me at the top of the list, needs to replace “our country” with “I.” I really need to take that verse to heart. I need to personalize it. What do you think? The honest truth is that “our country” is never going to take the verse to heart unless enough Christ-followers blaze the trail.
Edward, I don’t disagree with you that each of us Christians must pray for our country. It is the most important and basic thing we can do for our country. Taking the verse in its context, God was speaking to His chosen people of Israel. They were once as faithful to God as any sinful people could be. When our country was formed, I think we were nearly as faithful as Israel once was. I say nearly because there is a clear difference between the two countries; e.g., Israel was explicitly chosen by God to be His people. I believe as a country, we could still get back to that level of faithfulness, but it would indeed be a miracle. Look how the early church grew as former pagans were converted when the Word was preached and the Holy Spirit did His work.
I mentioned the early church, and now I’ll make a shameless plug. There is a Christian based college in Michigan called Hillsdale College. They offer many free on-line courses, and one of them is on the early Christian Church and how it grew. It is taught from a Christian perspective; somewhat of a rare thing these days, and very informative. The quizzes and final exam are optional.
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I’ve taken one course from Hillsdale, Tim…maybe it’s time for another…
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I agree, Edward, that changing our country will start with each individual. Just like when Daniel prayed for Jerusalem, confessing his sin and the country’s sin.
I forgot to add that while I definitely don’t need more books on my TBR (well…YES I DO), I just purchased this one. Your description sold me, Pat. And, this is my first book of Mary Alford’s. I’m going to have to read faster, I guess.
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I’m so glad! You won’t be sorry…unless you start reading at 10 pm like I do and stay up until 2 to finish it! lol
I agree with Barbara, only our Creator could make this masterpiece! He is definitely good at that!
Thanks for this review of The Last to Know. I have read a number of Mary Alford’s books and like them tremendously.
I am reading Out of the Ashes bk 4 of the Knoxville FBI series by Liz Bradford. Aurora sat on the floor in her bedroom in the mountain house playing with the doll her daddy had given her for her birthday
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I agree with you both, Mary G.! And Liz Bradford’s books sounds so good! I’ll have to check it out. *sigh* so many books and so little time…
This book sounds really good and is already on my wish list as well as the first of the series. I am about to start a cozy mystery by Lynn Cahoon. The first line: The business-to-business meeting for May was stuffed with agenda items.
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I love a cozy mystery, Gloria! I’ll have to check that one out, too!
Ooooohhh…So many books and so little time. How do you get them all in??? Love the pic. I am always so amazed at God’s paintings!
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I know, Jennie! I usually read 1-2 books a week…hence I don’t have the best sleeping scores. lol Glad you loved my pic!
Sounds great. As soon as my new Kindle gets here, I’ll load good books like this. Thanks for these posts
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Great, Delores! You will like it…
Thank you for this stunning pic and perfect verse. Yes, I am a sinner. So many books. I have to get crackin! I’ve been in a deep depression since my sons death April 16th. I’m suppose to die first but God needed him back. I’m coming back slowly. He would say, “C’mon mom, think of all our beautiful memories together.”
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DJ, I am truly sorry for your loss and I know some of what you’re going through after losing my daughter almost three years ago. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Time is not a cure, but it does help.
I will definitely get this book.
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It is very good, Judy!
The Long Way Home by Judah Knight is what I am reading right now.
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I haven’t read anythibng by Judah Knight, Shelia…I’ll have to check him out.
That is a beautiful picture! The verse fits (see my comment to Tim).
Mary Alford’s book sounds like one I would definitely enjoy. I don’t remember for sure if I have read any of her books, but I want to read this one.
I’m reading a book by Mary Connealy. It’s the second book in her Wyoming Sunrise series titled The Laws of Attraction. First line: “If I have to make one more pair of chaps . . .” Nell Armstrong heard her own voice. Good grief, thinking about chaps had her talking to herself again.
Just for clarification, the setting is Wyoming in May 1871. Nell opened a dress shop but hasn’t had any orders for dresses, only chaps for the cowboys. She’s making a good living, but she wants to make dresses and bonnets.
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I like Mary’s books, Edward and this one sounds like a good one!
This is a really awesome book. I really enjoyed reading it.
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I think so, too, Patricia!
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From Caryl Kane, who can’t comment…
Love the scripture and photo, Pat!
Thank you for recommending The Last to Know. Sounds like my kind of read!