Customer Reviews

Last Breath: A Novel of Suspense

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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

Amazons vendors always have the best products & fast service. What more can I say. Its xmas everytime a package comes.

I have only been disappointed with one of her books. I love all the stories with the FBI interaction. Hope she keeps up the good work.

At the turn of the twentieth century an archaelologist, Alistair McGowan, 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 an exibition of Shandihar celebrating her great grandfathers expedition. However, as Daria goes through the crates, she learns that some of the most important pieces are missing. Daria calls handsome Connor Shields, the FBI agent she met briefly not too long ago. The pair follows the trail of the artworks, and discovers that in each case the private owners of the pilfered items are being brutally and bizarrely killed in a ritual style killing and the artifact taken. Connor assumes that a Middle East based cult sworn to die to protect the artifacts and in this case recover the treasures of the lost city are the killers, which means Daria is on the hit list.

The author did a lot of research to make this tale as realistic as possible. The information is necessary for readers to understand the mind of the murderer, but only readers who enjoy learning historical facts will be hooked during these sections. There are many details about the goddess that the people of Shandihar worshiped and of the Shandihar culture.

Definately not a fast pace book but an interesting read.

"Last Breath," is third in the "Last" series by best selling American novelist Maria Stewart. Stewart, who specializes in romantic suspense, has many affiliations and has won many awards for her efforts in this line, and is author of two other series, "Truth," and "Dead."

Her most current effort is certainly a quick and easy read. It concerns noted archaeologist Dr. Daria McGowan, called back from work in the Mideast to organize a university museum show of works collected by her archaeologist great-grandfather. In so doing, she discovers that some of the most important pieces are missing, and calls on handsome FBI agent Connor Shields for help in finding them. The pair follows the trail of the artworks, and discovers that private owners of the pilfered items are being brutally and bizarrely killed, and the works taken.

Stewart is rather a flat writer, nor is her dialog particularly dynamic. She does not give us much in the way of the descriptions of place and people that can make or break a book, and action tends toward the predictable. And, unhappily, the arc of her plot is really almost as old as those Mideast cities she discusses: I could be mistaken, but I could swear those two twentieth century Scots who pretty much invented mystery fiction, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Dame Agatha Christie, each utilized the same basic idea. It may well be that there are no new stories under the sun, but, if you're going to tell an old one, you'd best give it some new clothes. All in all, this one's a disappointment.

While I have always enjoyed her previous novels, this one was not nearly as satisfying. I found the storyline boring and had trouble finishing this book due to lack of interest. I agree with some of the other reviews that this book is very disappointing compared to her other work. This is the very first review I've written, but I felt compelled to comment. If you appreciate more suspense and excitement, you might want to avoid this one.

While I couldn't have cared less about all the historical/archaological stuff and found it dragged the story down, Mariah Stewart has a way of creating compelling characters that you care about, and that makes this book worth reading.

Don't be put off by the slow start -- it's worth the time!

I HAVE READ ALL OF BOOK HER BOOKS AND WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED IN LAST BREATH.
IT DID NOT LIVE UP THE ALL THE OTHERS SHE HAS WRITTEN.
I USUALLY CAN NOT PUT HER BOOKS DOWN BUT THIS ONE WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO FINISH.