Last Breath [Mass Market Paperback]

Rachel Lee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

When popular Father Quinlan is accused of murdering a young parishioner and nailing him to a cross inside the church, private investigator Chloe Ryan knows he's innocent. Soon, Chloe is butting heads--and hearts--with police detective Matthew Diel. Original.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ex-cop Chloe Ryder, the inscrutable heroine in Lee's (With Malice; Breaking all the Rules) issues-oriented thriller, is an attorney with a heart of ice-except when it comes to the Catholic Church and her beloved Father Brendan. So when Brendan's protege, a young gay man named Steve King, is found crucified at Brendan's church and Brendan starts receiving threatening calls, she rushes to his defense. Chloe's cold demeanor distances her from other characters (and readers), but she reluctantly joins forces with Matt Diel, a detective who once defended her when her abusive husband was murdered. Ignoring the passion simmering between them, Chloe and Matt dig up evidence indicating that King's death, and the death of another gay man from Brendan's past, may be part of a government conspiracy. The nature of the conspiracy is partially illuminated through scenes featuring characters known as "The Killer" or "The Man with the Cigar," but Chloe and Matt never unmask all the key players. In the end, Chloe speculates that God may have played a role in the strange events. While this explanation may be enough for some readers, others will end this brisk, too-short tale feeling more than a little cheated.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Someone has hung a real corpse on the crucifix at St. Simeon's, and the police are accusing the church's much-loved priest, Father Brendan Quinlan, of the heinous murder. Fast on the heels of the accusations come rumors of a scandal, seduction, and sexual misconduct. But Chloe Ryder, parishioner, attorney, and former cop, is a big fan of the priest, believes in Father Brendan's innocence, and insists on helping the police with the investigation. Unfortunately, the detective assigned to the case, Matthew Diel, is also Chloe's former lover, and the two of them have a lot of history to work through before they can function as partners. A church is desecrated, faith is challenged, and love is rekindled in this outstanding thriller by the multi-talented Lee, who also writes first-rate romantic comedies as Sue Civil-Brown. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Forever (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446609919
• ISBN-13: 978-0446609913
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,985,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Recommended, May 20, 2003

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Last Breath (Mass Market Paperback)

At twenty, Steve King planned to become a priest. Then one night leaving the church, someone murdered him. Father Brendan Quinlan finds him crucified on Holy Saturday. Church members feel outraged by events, but none more than Chloe Ryder, especially when Father Brendan falls under suspicion. With a background as cop before becoming an attorney, Chloe knows how the system works once someone falls under suspicion.

Detective Matthew Diel immediately recognizes Chloe when he arrives to investigate the murder. Their shared personal history results in an odd mix of attraction and distance, lending their interactions a biting edge. Chloe's Ice Queen persona does not discourage Matthew from agreeing to work with her to find answers. Soon Chloe and Matthew realize that Steve's death was not the target; rather, Father Brendan faces a deadly plan. The case proceeds slowly, with the careful orchestration of a well-concealed conspiracy.

Author Rachel Lee introduces a powerful cast of characters in LAST BREATH. Chloe's painful past gives her a cold exterior that only rarely reveals her vulnerabilities. Matthew's role in her past is unexpected and believable. Father Brendan, however, absolutely dazzles with his devotion to his God and determination to perform his duty to his parishioners. While rich characterizations make LAST BREATH a rewarding reading experience, however, mystery lovers may be unsatisfied with the nebulous conclusion that leaves some questions unanswered. Readers who enjoy LAST BREATH certainly will be hoping for a sequel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sequel needed to tie up loose ends..., September 12, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Last Breath (Mass Market Paperback)

Chloe Ryder left the Tampa police force under a cloud of suspicion, and became a lawyer. There is not much in her life that she has passion for, other than her church and pastor, Father Brendon Quinlan.

When a fellow parishioner is found murdered and crucified on Saint Simeon's altar just before the Easter vigil, and it is revealed that the victim was gay, all eyes suddenly are thrust on Father Brendon. His only real ally is Chloe, who stands by him, while his local diocese tries to find evidence to have him removed.

Detective Matt Diel is Chloe's former partner. He still has feelings for her, despite her icy persona, but has never managed to break through her chilly facade. He agrees with Chloe that the murder appears to be a set up, and asks that they work together on it. As they unravel the clues, and discover Father Brendon's implication in a suicide of a young gay soldier while he was in the Navy, it appears that Brendon is the target of a sinister and far-reaching plot.

While the suspense of the story was good, I was really disappointed with the lack of romance, as well as the incomplete conclusion. I felt like something was missing - was there a book prior... one later that follows up with the characters? I just felt a bit cheated since it is touted as romantic suspense.

2.0 out of 5 stars BORING, December 4, 2011

By 

B. Kaczmarek - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Last Breath (Mass Market Paperback)

I had a hard time reading this book, I was just so bored I had to skip pages just to finish. There was no romance and to many lose ends, nothing worst than finishing a book and still have no idea what happen.