The Last Victim: A Novel (Dr. Charlotte Stone)

This was a fantastic book! I was a little worried from other readers slamming the book, but I figured that a bad book from Karen Robards beats a good book from one of the new indie writers hands down, so I went for it. Another worry was the love affair with a dead serIal killer. Not so!The prologue shows that Charlotte was at her best friend's house, barfing into a toilet, a product of a hangover. She heard screams and figured the parents had caught on to their drinking and there were arguments. When she went to check, there was a killing going on. She escaped to get help and the whole family was killed. First chapter finds Dr. Charlotte Stone interviewing Michael Garland, a convicter serial killer, for her research on serial killers. She's a psychiatrist, and her sole purpose in life is to study what makes a serial killer so she can help future victims. Her present interviewee is an extremely attractive man, totally gorgeous, and she feels the attraction, but rejects it for obvious reasons. Her interview is interrupted because two FBI agents need to talk to her. While Michael is being taken to his cell, another inmate kills him. She tries to save him to no avail and he dies. Then his ghost arises from his body and converses with Charlotte. Thus, we learn that she sees dead people and talks with them too.After this, she meets with the FBI agents, who request her help in apprehending another serial killer, who is either the same one who killed her best friend's family 15 years ago or a copycat. She joins the team and of course, Michael tags along.The ghostly Michael stays with Charlotte because the alternative is a spooky purple haze plaze with things that go bump and hunt, so they form a sort of uncomfortable partnership. Throughout this companionship, their attraction increases, they have a strong chemistry although she rejects it because he's a serial killer. Here is where a lot of readers got disgusted with this departure from regular romantic thrillers. However, if you study closely the book, you realize after the first chapter, that Garland is no serial killer. I highlighted several paragraphs that show he doesn't fill the profile. He's not conniving and manipulative, rather he's in-your-face aggravating and badass. He can be charming at times, like a serial killer does, but when he got angry at Charlie he was royally pissed and a pain in the butt, typically male LOL. Also, he was very protective of Charlie and demanded she get away from danger, getting in the way as a manner of protecting her, even if ineffective. Two times when Charlie asked him to talk to a spirit that didn't see her, he was compassive and kind, even when he was out of his depth. Right afterward, he got pissy. Normal male, right?The FBI investigative part sort of took second place to the romance part, but it was great anyway. The agents were so well defined, I got a feel for each of them. I felt sad for Agent Tony Bartoli, because he was a great choice as a partner for Charlie but he couldn't compete with Michael's sex appeal. Those scenes where they had astral sex, wow, yum.I loved the repartee between Charlie and Michael, some were too funny, especially when he got annoying in public and she could only glare, scowl and narrow her eyes at him, it was like children bickering, very entertaining. The serial killer investigation was interesting work, too.All in all a very entertaining and riveting book. Totally recommend.

**Spoiler**I am a "fence-sitter" -thus, the 3-stars. However, had this book been written by another author, I probably would have given it a 2-star rating. I'll be honest, because it was written by Karen Robards, who I have followed for years; I factored in my loyalty to her, in my decision. I think she is an excellent writer and I have enjoyed all of her previous romantic suspense thrillers.I read through most of the reviews here, and it's obvious there are polarized views. Either people seemed to love this book or they didn't---with strong opinions for both sides. The crux...is it acceptable for a "hero" to be a serial killer. In women's fiction, I guess it can be. However, in the romance genre (this book is billed as a "romantic" thriller), in which Karen Robards has written for years--and has many fans-- a hero who is a serial killer is a stretch.My disappointment in this story mirrors many of the same reasons listed in previous reviews.The fact that a woman (Charlie Stone) who was traumatized by witnessing a brutal murder --by a serial killer --when she was a teenager and now has dedicated her life to psychiatry and research about serial killers could so easily fall for a man (Michael Garland) who she believes is a serial killer--just doesn't sit well (or ring true).I literally stopped reading and set the book (Kindle) aside when I read that the dead Garland "attached his ghost" to Charlie. I knew then and there he was going to be the hero and I couldn't wrap my mind around it. I did pick it back up and continued to read, however, my point is that it interrupted the flow of the book for me.Having said that, I also agree that Michael Garland isn't exactly who we are led to believe he is. I imagine in the next book we will learn the truth about his character. I kept thinking, "I bet he was working undercover in the prison." That would explain the hit on him and the warden's comments about the "other killings" lend support to this premise.If this is, in fact, how Garland's character develops in subsequent books, I think it could have been done sooner. Revealing the "truth" in this book, as early as the second or third visit from Garland's ghost would have made me more accepting of the relationship between Charlie and Michael. Build the suspense as to Garland's true intentions during the first couple visits and show how frightened Charlie is of the creepy dead serial killer, despite him being hot.If/when Garland reveals his true intent and purpose for being in the prison and can give verifiable evidence then I could go along with him as the hero of the book. But this is all conjecture. Who knows what the author has planned for her characters.The potential romantic relationship between Charlie and FBI Special Agent Tony Bartoli never got off the ground even though there were several scenes where we were teased with the possibilities. She consistently comments to herself what a better choice Tony would be ---what a nice guy he is - etc. I hope this doesn't play out like another fictional triad with an Italian good guy and the mysterious bad boy. (Plum, Ranger & Morelli). Make up your mind already.Bottom-line: I didn't hate this book. I think there is potential for a good series.I didn't realize it was the first of her new paranormal romantic thriller series when I bought it. Normally, I am not a big fan of the paranormal genre. But I probably would have still purchased it since Robards is on my auto-ship must-have list.

Have read so many Karen Robards books, she is phenominal in the romantic suspense genre. I had put off reading thr Dr Charlotte Stone series because a paranormal romantic suspense just didn't appeal to me. As i had read the majority of her books i was low on options so decided to give it a whirl. Wow, i absolutely loved this first book in the series. Loved the characters (both living and dead) loved the plot, the suspense. It had it all. Can't wait to read the rest of the series but I'm still desperate for a HEA which can't possibly happen so feeling a little sad too.

The book is gripping, well written and has unexpected twists in it.What I like : it is a hunt for a serial killer. About 1/2 way through the book, I predicted "who dunnit" and i was spot on. It continued to be enjoyable, and the book retained its suspense.The female lead and her difficulties in seeing ghosts, her interaction with the people from the FBI, the female agent and the issues she has in getting along with them - all very good.And then there is the bit about her interaction with the ghost of a serial killer. I thought her fear was real and believable and the slow transformation in the ghost helping her was also believable.What i DID NOT LIKE was the fact that she has sex and falls in love with the ghost of the serial killer. There is some oblique references in the book that the guy didn't really do it (but at the same time she goes through the case file and confirms to herself he really DID kill the women). The weakest part of the story and to some extent spoiled the story for me.

Good plot and characterization. The heroine gets attached to a ?psychopath ghost trying to solve serial killer murder.Intriguing hero

I never review the plots just if I find the book interesting and a good read. I am giving the Dr Charlotte Stone series 5 stars as once started I needed to read until the end.

I'd been avoiding this one thinking I wouldn't like it. I loved it and am hoping for more. Great characters, and the story was angsty and suspenseful, and hilarious in places. I strongly recommend this book.