Set in a small Derbyshire village, a former MP, Gideon Fitzroy has been killed in what was seemingly a car accident involving his two surviving step children. Detective John Byron who is currently on leave from the police force is asked to take a quiet look into his death as part of an ongoing investigation. Whilst the family is at the funeral, a young woman has broken into the family home. When arrested, the woman claims to be Blake Claremont, Fitzroy's daughter from his previous marriage...who went missing 10 years ago and was presumed dead. The family and the entire village are suspicious at her showing up just as her wealthy father has died and she looks different to what people remember - she was 15 when she went missing, she's a grown woman now. But the young woman knows things that only Blake could know. Why is she here now and did she have any involvement in Fitzroy's death? Is she really who she says she is? Nobody is more suspicious and more determined to get rid of Blake than the group of people who murdered her and buried her body a decade ago...
Oh my goodness, this book is full of secrets and twists that kept me guessing the whole way through. I didn't know who or what to believe and the involvement of certain people really shocked me! I really like detective Byron's character, this seems like the start of what's going to be a really good series and from the title it seems we can expect more from Blake, which I love. Tamsin Kennard narrated this brilliantly, it was very easy to tell each character apart and she really brought this story to life.

Content warning - grooming, paedophilia, not graphic.

This was a fucked up family drama with a bit of murder sprinkled in.
Every time I thought I had the whole thing figured out, the author threw a wrench in my theory.
Love when that happens!
Check the triggers warnings. There be a bunch of shitty things that happen in these pages.
Much love to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my DRC.

Firstly a warning that this book deals with the dark and disturbing topic of paedophile rings. However it is written in a way that doesn’t dwell on the deeds themselves or else I couldn’t have read it.
I enjoyed the uncertainty of the story. Who is who and who did what. I was able to guess some points early on whilst others kept me guessing right up to the end. In my mind that makes it an enjoyable read. There were a couple of points that I found less than believable but they were outnumbered by the good points of the story.

A promising start to a new series of novels - Byron & Blake by Zoe Sharp, I haven't read anything of Zoe Sharp before so I don't know if Byron has been in any previous stories or if more will be brought to light in the next installment, but as a new venture this looks like a good pairing, the damaged cop and the streetwise Blake.
The last time she died though has more thrilling twists than a rollercoaster and Tamsin Kennard the narrator did an excellant job to keep it interesting & I look for ward to the next installment.

This got off to a slow start for me. If I could give half stars I would say the book is a 3.5. It just wasn't gripping until more than half way through. When it did get going though, the book was full of twists and turns and some really disturbing secrets come out. I understand there will be a sequel for Blake and Byron. This intrigued me enough in the end that I would like to know where the next book takes them.

AUDIOBOOK. The Last Time She Died (Blake and Byron Thrillers, Book 1
Zoe Sharp (Author), Tamsin Kennard (Narrator)
Welcome to a new series! If you enjoy Zoe Sharp and Charlie Fox or Grace McColl books you will love this new series. The book opens in the small town of. Derbyshire. Gideon Fitzroy recently died in a car accident. As a former member of Parliament, his funeral is quite the event. Upon returning to the family home. GIdeon's current wife Virginia,her two children from a previous marriage are shocked to see an interloper. Even more shocking, the young women claims to be Gideon's 10 years lost daughter Blake.
One of the protagonists of the story is Detective Superintendent John Byron. Byron is on leave from the Met but unofficially asked to look into this unexpected death. Partnered with DC Jane Hudson they attempt to unravel the mysteries of who this young woman is and what happened to Gideon Fitzroy.

Zoe Sharp's novels always feature strong female characters and this one is no different. The chapters were quite short and their were multiple POV's which threw the rhythm off a bit in my opinion. Overall, a great mystery and a great start to a new series. If you like British mysteries and family secrets #TheLastTimeSheDied is for you! thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a fair review.

This is a fantastic audiobook and it is one of my favourite books of this year. I really loved it and it kept me pulled in, right until the very end. I loved the way all of the characters, good and bad, were portrayed and they were all developed fully. The tension and excitement of the book kept things moving along quickly, and I didn't want to stop listening. I love when a book really grips me and keeps me wanting more and this one certainly did that.

The story is about 15 year old Blake who apparently ran away from her family many years ago. She was thought to have been dead, but she has turned up alive, and this shocks many people. Jane Hudson and John Byron, who are police, look into a case in which she is connected. The story has so many twists and turns and I was never sure what was going to happen next. This is a family drama, with a lot of different layers, and it is great to find out the truth at the end. I found this story very exciting and I just loved it!

The narrator was fantastic and she did a great job pulling me in and keeping me hooked.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book! The narrator was pleasant to listen to. The characters are a dynamic duo solving a crime together. The sexual tension is great. I would totally recommend it to a friend!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audiobook.

I really enjoyed this! I've been really getting into crime stories lately and this had a good plot, some well thought out twists and I loved the narrator. Definitely recommend!

A fast paced and immersive storyline. Narrated brilliantly.
Definitely kept me guessing all along, just when you thought you knew where the tale was heading it would veer totally in an alternate direction.
Characters that you can really empathise with and others that you can life to hate.
A well thought out and clever plot

The Last Time She Died is the first book in the Blake & Byron Thrillers series by British author, Zoë Sharp. The audio version is narrated by Tamsin Kennard. The slim young woman who makes an appearance at the funeral of former British MP, Gideon Fitzroy, and is later discovered having entered his boxy Georgian pile, is a shock to the system for his heirs and this Derbyshire village: she claims to be his daughter, Blake Claremont.

Then a chubby, troubled fifteen-year-old, Blake ran away ten years earlier; no-one has seen her since; quite a few people were sure she was dead; so, is it really her? The local constable, a recent import from the London Met, PC Jane Hudson isn’t convinced. Her one-time mentor, Detective Superintendent John Byron, who is currently taking an unofficial look at Gideon’s death in relation to a sensitive but stalled enquiry into MPs, is unsure.

It’s the talk of the village, and many are puzzled when Gideon’s widow, Virginia Fitzroy seems to accept her claim, rescues her from Jane’s interrogation, and welcomes her to Claremont manor. But even before Gideon’s will is read, even before the young woman’s identity is proven or otherwise, there are some apparent attempts on her life. The widow’s brother, Roger Flint is assaulted, and cottage of the village’s former sergeant is burned down. It seems that her arrival is a catalyst for drama.

Sharp’s protagonists are appealing: smart, talented, but also flawed, and it will be interesting to watch them develop over the series. Their dialogue is snappy and often entertaining. The villagers and other support cast are believably portrayed, including the young constable who is a little too deferential to those with community standing.

Sharp gives the reader such a clever plot that even those astute readers who see past the red herrings, predict some of the twists and deduce the ‘who’ from the list of potential perpetrators, even those clever clogs, will still be sufficiently captivated to read on to the nail-biting climax for the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of it. The second instalment will be eagerly anticipated. Brilliant British crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Bookouture.

Thank you Netgalley for this beautifully read audio copy. At Gideon Fitzroy's funeral a young woman causes a stir when she turns up claiming to be his long lost daughter Blake who disappeared 10 years ago. The police interview Blake and the family and do a DNA test. Detective John Byron starts to investigate but the case becomes complicated by another girl who went missing on the same night. A great thriller looking forward to reading more in the Blake and Byron series.

Lots of potential, could turn into a good series.
It's definitely got an old school feel to it, like a traditional 'who done it'.

Good story, very well narrated and enough likeability in the main characters that I'll be looking out for the second one.

I want to thank the author, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, Bookouture
for providing me the opportunity to read this new book for my honest review.

I tried and tried to get into this book. I started it over more than once thinking maybe I just wasn't paying attention close enough, but could not get into it at all. I even went to the back to see how it ended and that didn't grab my attention.

First of all thank you NetGalley, Bookouture audio and Zoe Sharp for this ARC in exchange for an honest review of The last time she died.
A good first novel in the Blake and Byron thriller series.
Ten years ago Blake Claremont disappeared from her home town of Derbyshire. Many presumed she had ran away, whilst others were sure they had buried her body. Now 10 years later, her father Gideon Fitzroy has been involved in a tragic car accident and dies and now Blake has returned to her family home. Although many are happy to see her, there are those who were sure that they buried her body. Now Blake must prove her true identity to expose the real reason why she had to disappear all of those years ago ,what happened to her best friend and bring those responsible to face justice..
I enjoyed this book as it had a few twists and turns and it made me want to read it till the end to find out the truth. So for those psychological thriller buffs out there then this is one book for you.

The narration on this book so fitted this story and I could just escape into the book. I had to keep listening, even though I have read the book recently. My dog got lots of increased walks whilst I was listening.

Both the narrator and author are so talented. Cant wait for more.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Thank you to net Gallery for letting me listen to this book before the release date. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book- the suspense, the twists and turns throughout. I will recommending this audio book to fellow audio booker readers/listeners.

Not read anything from this author before and was suitably impressed, this is number 1 of a series so will definitely look forward to next book. The story starts at the funeral of former MP who dies as a result of a car accident. His daughter from his first marriage appears to claim her inheritance however he has married again and has a new family who believes they will inherit. Local police officer and semi retired detective come to rescue to piece together the family line and an unsolved crime. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

The Last Time She Died (Blake and Byron Thrillers, Book 1) Zoe Sharp (Author), Tamsin Kennard (Narrator)

Tongues are wagging in Derbyshire! On the day of the funeral of Gideon Fitzroy, a former Member of Parliament, his ten years missing daughter, Blake, shows up looking thinner, with dyed white blond hair. But it is her, isn't it? Is she here to lay claim to the inheritance windfall? Why did she leave and where has she been?

Also at the funeral is Detective John Byron, who is there in an unofficial capacity to make inquiries about Fitzroy, despite being on medical leave for physical and emotional reasons. Byron spots Blake immediately because she doesn't even try to fit in and he recognizes someone who is used to hiding more than she reveals. When she if found in Fitzroy's mansion she makes the case that she belongs there since that is her last known address and she is his daughter.

But Blake is supposed to be dead. The story starts ten years earlier, with men throwing a girl's body in a hole and the hole being covered. Blake had been a loose end taken care of but now she's back and there is a lot of scrambling to cover tracks and ties to that past event. Was Fitzroy's fatal car accident really an accident? Just how much is this little village hiding and what does Blake have to do with it?

The relationship between Blake and Byron is interesting. Both are excellent at deception, smart, and always on alert for things out of place. Can they trust each other enough to get to the bottom of what is going on here? And is Blake really who she says she is? There is a dark side to Byron, too, a hero who might have gone too far during a mass slaying the year before.

The audiobook narration is very good and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. Now that Blake and Byron have met each other, we still have a lot of their backgrounds to unearth, but it's obvious they are both interested in the other. And they could do good work together, if Byron is willing to take on a new assignment down the line.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

First book I’ve read/listened to by Zoë Sharp and I’ve enjoyed The Last Time She Died. It’s a multi layered crime thriller, with a current investigation and links to the past. The characters are well depicted. I was intrigued by Byron, the Met officer on sickness absence tasked with taking a look at the death of an MP with a backstory. He’s methodical and a great central hook to the complex plot.

A long lost daughter of the deceased, Blake, turns up for her father’s funeral after leaving home 10 years earlier. Why? Is she who she claims to be? What was going on that caused her to leave? The plot is cleverly constructed with a number of threads which create interest about dark secrets from the past. The layers are unravelled bitty bit and all in all this is a very satisfying, even paced thriller, with a neat twist…enjoyed it.

My thanks to the publisher for an audio review copy. Narration throughout is excellent.