Last Breath [Paperback]

Michael Prescott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 5, 2001

I spy with my little eye a pretty young girl who's going to die...

Caitlin Osborn was only ten years old the first time he came for her...

I've been waiting such a long time for this...

Sixteen years later, LAPD Officer Osborn is still suffering from her inescapable childhood fears-made all the more real by a recent wave of bizarre murders. Because Caitlin knows that he is back...

I can feel your breath, Caitlin...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

rescott (The Shadow Hunter) effortlessly intertwines three independent yet equally significant narrative threads in this taut psychological thriller. Tormented since the age of ten by memories of a stalker who escaped after nearly killing her, LAPD officer Caitlin Jean Osborn hides her insecurities behind a facade of fearlessness. Her bravado has even earned her the nickname "Killer" as well as the admiration of the SWAT team's raffish Rick Tanner. The everyday perils that C.J. faces on the job are trivial, however, compared to the danger she faces when she is re-targeted by her childhood stalker and hounded by her adulterous, emotionally disturbed ex-husband. Meanwhile, FBI computer experts race to locate a webmaster who manages a site that illegally broadcasts the private lives of a select number of women over the Internet; unbeknownst to the agents, C.J. is one of those unsuspecting victims. When she is abducted, detectives are unsure whether she's been nabbed by her disgruntled ex or by a chameleon serial killer who uses the Net to spy on his quarry. Without sprinkling his narrative with gratuitous gore, Prescott has managed to delve into the depths of the most twisted minds to produce a chilling, character-driven tale that will revitalize readers on a sleepy, snowbound night.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Signet (December 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451205073
• ISBN-13: 978-0451205070
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in 1960, I grew up in New Jersey and attended Wesleyan University, majoring in Film Studies. After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles, where I wrote scripts for several independent producers. I also worked as a magazine freelancer and archival researcher, and eventually started writing books. I authored six titles under the pseudonym Brian Harper before switching to my new identity as Michael Prescott.

My first Michael Prescott novel, COMES THE DARK, grew out of my interest in ancient religion and mythology. I followed up with STEALING FACES, which made its debut as an electronic book and became the bestselling e-book in the U.S. way back in 1999, and THE SHADOW HUNTER, which was praised by Publishers Weekly for its "brilliant elements of psychological horror." Publishers Weekly also had kind words for LAST BREATH ("a chilling, character-driven tale") and NEXT VICTIM ("unrelentingly suspenseful"). IN DARK PLACES was called a "dark, compulsive read" (Publishers Weekly), a "gripping new drama" (Cemetary Dance), and "hard to predict and thoroughly absorbing ... Michael Prescott at his best" (Round Table Reviews). With DANGEROUS GAMES, I began a trilogy about two female characters, Tess McCallum and Abby Sinclair, who had appeared separately in two of my earlier books. The trilogy continued with MORTAL FAULTS and FINAL SINS. Collectively those three books are my personal favorites.

Changes in the publishing industry made it hard for me to get a print deal after FINAL SINS. Ebooks, however, are more than taking up the slack. In 2010, I self-published RIPTIDE as an ebook and a print-on-demand paperback. This was followed by new ebook editions of SHIVER, MORTAL PURSUIT, and BLIND PURSUIT (three Brian Harper titles), as well as STEALING FACES. All have risen into the Top 100 bestsellers among Kindle's paid titles, with most making it into the top ten. By the end of July 2011 I plan to release my first book written directly for the ebook market, a comedy called DIE STUPID.

In addition, E-Reads has put out ebook editions of NEXT VICTIM, IN DARK PLACES, and DANGEROUS GAMES, and Penguin Books offers an ebook edition of FINAL SINS. Before too long I hope to have all my titles available in ebook form, and to write some new ones for this rapidly expanding market.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

215 of 226 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never disappointed., October 10, 2011

By 

Allen s - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Last Breath (Kindle Edition)

This is my fourth Michael Prescott book.
All have been page turners. I'm not sure why he writes about women heroes, but it didn't seem unnatural to me.
It starts fast, and keeps up a great pace. I never found myself saying, "can we just move along now." For the money, it can't be beat.
Plenty of twists and turns, and I didn't see any technical mistakes.
Child long ago stalked by "the bogeyman", now is a cop and finds herself being stalked again.
She must face her fears or never be sure of herself.

$.99. Why not? I want more.

87 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this Author, October 13, 2011

By 

Betty (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Last Breath (Kindle Edition)

I have read everything available, on Kindle, by this author. He is spell binding. I look everyday for something new. Once I started any one of his novels, I am really hard-put to lay it down.
From first sentence to last page, they are fast moving, keep you on the edge of your seat, entertaining, books.

70 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Overdone, March 18, 2002

By 

Angel L. Soto (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Last Breath (Paperback)

When C. J. Osborn was a little girl she prevented her own kidnapping. She fought the attacker and escaped from the clutches of `The Boogeyman'. Twenty years later, she is working as a police officer who is always looking behind her shoulder waiting for `The Boogeyman' to assault her again. This is the synopsis we get at the back of the book, however the story is completely different.

An ex-husband wants vengeance against the woman who divorced him. As he begins to plan he learns that his ex-wife is being targeted by a serial killer and decides to use this to his advantage. He studies the killer's methods and tries to emulate them when it comes time to kill her and therefore commit the perfect crime. The police will concentrate on the serial killer and ignore the ex-husband who already has an alibi. As it is with most of these novels it does not turn out that way thanks to the quick thinking of Officer Osborn and the police.

The serial killer story is what takes center stage in this book. `The Boogeyman' is only important at the beginning and at the end. The plot of the story takes place in twenty-six hours that does not give enough time for character development. Mr. Prescott should have done the serial killer story exclusively, that story was good. C. J.'s boogeyman turned out to be something flat and I think he could have done something better had he written this novel knowing that there would be a sequel. Fans will be disappointed on the way things turned out in this book.