Last Breath: A Novel of Suspense [Hardcover]

Mariah Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2007

You’ve taken your Last Look. You’ve spoken your Last Words. Now prepare to surrender your Last Breath to New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart, in this tour de force of suspense, romance, and action.

As renowned archaeologist Dr. Daria McGowan readies the most important project of her career–a University museum exhibit showcasing the priceless artifacts her great-grandfather unearthed a century earlier in the Middle East–she makes a shocking discovery: many of the most significant pieces have vanished. Panicked, Daria turns to the FBI.

Solving the mystery is an assignment that Connor Shields is more than happy to accept: Daria is the same intriguing blonde archaeologist he’s had on his mind since their paths first crossed two years ago. Working together to track down the stolen artifacts, Daria and Connor discover a trail of bodies–collectors who have met brutal, bizarre ends at the hands of a killer whose murderous methods are based on the rituals of an ancient civilization.

Amid rumors of a curse and mounting pressure from both the FBI and the University, Daria and Connor race to unmask their enemy and unravel a mystery stretching across oceans and centuries. All the while, an ingenious murderer follows a sinister plan to gather the coveted antiquities and one last acquisition–Daria.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Devoted fans will be satisfied with the comfortably predictable final volume of Stewart's Last trilogy (after Last Look and Last Words), but others may find the formulaic plot a little hard to swallow. Attractive archeologist Daria McGowan has been retained by an eminent university to catalogue the findings of one of her ancestors, who was rumored to have discovered proof of a legendary lost civilization. Her initial survey reveals that some priceless items have disappeared, and she soon learns that their innocent purchasers have been ritually butchered. She calls on a past lover, hunky FBI agent Connor Shields, and as they hunt for the killer, sparks fly between them. There's little doubt that all will end happily, both for the Shields-McGowan relationship and for the university, making this a romantic thriller of more sweetness than substance.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In this third in a series of mysteries with interconnected characters, archaeologist Daria McGowan travels to Howe University to create an exhibit containing artifacts from the ancient city of Shandihar, found and excavated by her great-grandfather in the early 1900s. While inventorying the boxes at the university, she discovers that some of the artifacts are missing from the storage room and contacts FBI agent Connor Shields. After locating the missing items via the Internet, the two try to visit the people who purchased them and find they have died in a gruesome manner, reminiscent of the way people were punished in Shandihar. Daria and Connor race to discover who originally stole the missing items and who is murdering and then reclaiming them. Are the descendants of the ancient protectors of Shandihar at work, or is it someone pretending the legend has come to life? Likable characters, details of archaeology, fast pacing, and Daria and Connor's developing romantic relationship add to the story. O'Brien, Sue

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345492242
• ISBN-13: 978-0345492241
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,202,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mariah Stewart is the bestselling author of ten novels and three novellas. A RITA finalist for romantic suspense, she is the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, a RIO (Reviewers International) Award honoring excellence in women's fiction, a Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine, and a two-time recipient of the Golden Leaf Award for contemporary romance. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives amidst the rolling hills of Chester County, PA, with her husband, one geriatric gold retriever and one rambunctious mixed breed rescue dog. She's currently neglecting her garden and working on her next book. In past lives, she's been a teacher and an insurance executive, but firmly believes she's found the perfect job: sitting in her sunny office in old sweats and J. Crew flip flops, making up stories and the characters who live in them, and getting paid for it. Could life be sweeter?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good. Not the author's best though., August 1, 2007

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Last Breath: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

At the turn of the twentieth century Alistair McGowan, an archaeologist, found and excavated the lost city of Shandihar. Since the expedition had been funded by a newly chartered university, led by the wealthy Benjamin Howe, the treasures and artifacts went there.

Today, Daria McGowan is a very well known archaeologist (on an international level). Daria is thrilled when the President of Howe University asks her to organize a project at the university. The university wants Daria to set up an exhibition of Shandihar, celebrating the hundredth anniversary of her great-grandfather's expedition. However, as Daria goes through the crates, she learns that several of the items have been stolen over time. Daria calls Connor Shields, the FBI agent she met briefly not too long ago.

Connor Shields has been hoping to see Daria again; but this is not the way he'd envisioned it. Connor and Daria team up to locate the stolen items. Within the last hundred years someone had sold the items to collectors who never knew the objects were stolen goods. As Connor and Daria travel to meet with the current owners and dealers, they learn that each person has been brutally murdered recently and the Shandihar items taken. The situation becomes extremely personal when Daria's home is broken in to. Facts show that the thief/murderer may be on campus. Connor is determined to make sure Daria keeps breathing.

*** This story clearly shows that the author went through A LOT of research to make this tale as realistic as possible. However, the story starts out slow, followed by many details about the goddess that the people of Shandihar worshiped and of the Shandihar culture. The information is necessary for readers to understand the MO of the murderer, but only readers who enjoy learning historical facts will be hooked during these sections. Once the main characters begin traveling (to see the owners of the stolen objects) things begin to really heat up. From then on I was totally enthralled with all the mystery, suspense, and light romance. This novel is perfect for some beach or camp reading. ***

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remains riveting to the very end., August 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Last Breath: A Novel of Suspense (Audio CD)

Last Breath is a suspenseful murder mystery, written by Mariah Stewart and narrated by professional actor Laural Merlington. When skilled archaeologist Dr. Daria McGowan discovers that priceless artifacts uncovered by her great-grandfather in the Middle East have gone missing, she turns to the FBI for help. Connor Shields, whom she first met two years ago, is assigned to the case. As they search for the stolen artifacts, they find a trial of bodies - unfortunate collectors murdered in a number of brutal and bizarre ways connected to the rituals of an ancient civilization. A mystery that transcends centuries lies at the heart of Last Breath, which remains riveting to the very end. 8 compact discs, approximately 9 hours, unabridged.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting FBI romantic suspense thriller, August 8, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Last Breath: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

Internationally renowned archeologist Dr. Daria McGowan is euphoric that Howe University has provided with the first public exhibit of the incredible find of her great grandfather. In 1908 in Asia Minor, Alistair McGowan located the lost ancient city of Shandihar. The artifacts he brought home a century ago will finally be on display in Pennsylvania.

As Daria prepares the exhibit, she notices some of the more valuable items listed in the meticulously accurate catalogue are missing. She turns to FBI Agent Connor Shields, whom she previously met for assistance. Connor has not forgotten her and sees this as an opportunity to see where their attraction leads them. They follow leads to the new owners of the artifacts, but in each case that person was brutally slain in a ritual killing with the artifact gone. Connor assumes that a Middle East based cult sworn to die to protect and in this case recover the treasures of the lost city are the killers, which means Daria is on the hit list.

The latest Shields FBI romantic suspense thriller (see LAST WORD and LAST LOOK) is a thrilling whodunit that grips the audience from the onset when the person in the shadows vows to correct his failure and never slows down until the finish. The story is a fast-paced cat and mouse struggle between the lead pair and a diabolical dedicated killer with a lucid objective to cleanse the mistake of the last century. Mariah Stewart is at her best with the final Shields saga.

Harriet Klausner