For New Orleans Detectives Bentz and Montoya, a fake priest who killed prostitutes years ago was supposed to have been killed by Bentz years ago, but it seems he is not dead and is in fact back in the city killing again. But could there be more than one killer committing the new round of murders? The murders don't seem to be the pattern of the fake priest. Some fit his pattern but the rest seem to be committed by someone out to get revenge against the police and Bentz in particular.

Written for those who love crime thrillers and police procedurals, The Last Sinner by Lisa Jackson has a chilling, calculating, and sinister start with a look into the mind of a killer. Some killers are so depraved that they leave a mark on their victims, the police, and others who encounter them. For Detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya, Father John is one such criminal. Father John was a fake priest who used the sharpened beads of a rosary to strangle women. Bentz thought he killed Father John years ago, but a new victim has been found. Did Father John survive or is this the work of a copycat?

Besides Bentz and Montoya, the other main character is Bentz’s daughter, Kristi Bentz McKnight. All three are well-developed characters, but Kristi’s characterization was especially effective as was that of the killer. She’s a true-crime author and working on her next book. This causes some strife with her husband Jay who considers it dangerous work and wants her to stop.

This book takes place in and around New Orleans, Louisiana. The nearby bayou is almost like another character, the world-building for it is so good. However, I didn’t get a great feel for New Orleans itself other than through the mention of places such as the Garden District and the French Quarter.

The plot is twisty and changing throughout. However, there are really three sub-plots in this novel. I felt they could have been made into three separate books rather than combined here. Nevertheless, the author did a great job of bringing them together into a fantastic story line. Additionally, the plot comes alive with a tremendous amount of conflict. There are plenty of exciting scenes and an antagonist who is dark and terrifyingly realistic.

The book has an intensity that hooked me with a believable plot and strong characters. The author also does a great job of incorporating real-world issues into the story that add depth. These include survivor’s guilt, grief, work-life balance, friendships, family, murder, retribution, and much more.

Overall, this was a riveting mystery with unpredictable moments in the story and a deeply involved plot. The author did a great job of building suspense throughout the story, providing action, and giving readers a lot to contemplate as they try to solve the crimes. I look forward to seeing what is next in this series. Readers of gritty mysteries, crime thrillers, and police procedurals will likely enjoy this series. By reading the series in order, the character growth and the relationships that develop over time are better understood. However, this ninth novel in the series can be read as a stand-alone.

Kensington Books and Lisa Jackson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for June 27, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

The Last Sinner has Father John, the creepiest, most despicable villain in New Orleans, keeping the suspense riveting. The author does not disappoint. Ms. Jackson has a way of getting right into my head with her descriptions of situations. I can feel the tension rising almost as though he were in my neighborhood. My one ‘hmmm?’ moment is, however, why does the author have her female characters be so naïve? Who in their right mind would go out running alone when she knows positively that someone wants – and has tried – to kill her? That brought this from a five-star to a four-star rating.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed it immensely.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Sinner is the newest book in the New Orleans (Bentz and Montoya) series, which hasn't had an installment since 2015. You don't need to have read the earlier books, not even Hot Blooded, though they would add some context.

The book begins with Kristi Bentz being stalked and then attacked by someone hell-bent on revenge, and a prostitute has been found brutally murdered with signs that she was strangled with a rosary - Father John's MO. Is he back? And who wants Kristi dead?

I generally like the Bentz and Montoya team and I love the NOLA setting, but this book was a little long-winded. I found it hard to get into and to stay interested.

The Last Sinner by Lisa Jackson is a very highly recommended twisty Southern Gothic thriller which has led me to declare that I am never visiting New Orleans.

New Orleans homicide detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya are back. When a crazed killer targets Kristi Bentz, she is injured, but her husband Jay McKnight is killed defending her. Kristi has a series of true crime best sellers and one of the killer she wrote about may be after her. At the same time it appears that Father John, a fake priest obsessed with killing women that they though was killed and left for dead in a swamp, may be back or a copycat is at work. Several recent murders have followed Father John's modus operandi, choking victims to death by a string of sharpened rosary beads.

The set ups of the attacks happening and questions surrounding them work up to a frantic nail-biting pace that will keep you glued to the pages as they flew by. I was surprised at the page count as it felt shorter when I was reading. Is Father John back and responsible for all the murders and attempt on Kristi's life? She did write a book about him. Or is it someone else Kristi wrote about? What is happening is unpredictable and held my attention from beginning to end.

This is my first in the New Orleans series and I think I need to read the previous installments. It does work as a stand-alone for anyone who wants to start here, but you'll feel the same way and want to revisit previous novels in the series. All of the characters are great and feel like realistic, unique individuals. The plot was totally unpredictable and kept me guessing to the end. The Last Sinner is a winning summer read!
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Kensington via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

I have loved Lisa Jackson since I was a child. I started reading her books at a very early age, and I’ve read them all. The Last Sinner is the latest book in my absolute favorite series, I have followed Bentz and Montoya for years. This book did not disappoint! Father John is back but he’s not the only one this time… if you’ve been reading this series this is a must read.

I’d like to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Last Sinner’, the nineth and final book in the Detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya series written by Lisa Jackson, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

There are two threads to ‘The Last Sinner’, the first one as New Orleans Homicide Detectives Bentz and Montoya investigate a strangled woman with her killer disguised as a priest and they have to decide if Father John the fake priest Bentz thought he’d killed has come back to haunt them or if it’s a copycat killer? The second thread is of True Crime writer Kristi Bentz, the daughter of Rick Bentz, whose husband Jay has been attacked and she needs to find out the reason for the attack and his ultimate death.

This is the first I’ve read in this series and although I may have benefited from reading some of the previous novels it hasn’t detracted from my enjoyment. The plot is exciting and action-packed with numerous twists and turns that’s had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It’s well-written with a gripping plot and although slightly overlong and drawn out it’s still had the ability to pull me into the story. I’d like to read more of Kristi and hope she’ll appear in future books.

I really enjoyed this introduction into this world and I just couldn’t get enough of it. I just so thoroughly enjoyed meeting these new characters and getting to go on their journey. I will most definitely be reading more wonderful books from this author.

The Last Sinner. This book is a thrilling surprise. I was hooked from the first few pages. The characters are exciting and engaging. The book I will say is engaging as well. The killer is amazing.Even though I think that he should have more show time in this eight hour book. He was bloody marvelous. The writer did an excellent job of having the reader experience the book through the killers mind. The intensity level is top notch when the hunting takes place between the killer and the prey. Bents, his daughter Kristi and Montana a great. It was awesome to read how each character took part in this hunt by doing their own investigation. For me it was like who would catch hi first. Awesome writing from the writer.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This was actually my first Lisa Jackson novel. I’ve been wanting to read her books for awhile so when I saw this one on NetGalley I knew I had to request it. After a quick check online I saw it was fine to read this series as stand alones.

I do wish I had read Hot Blooded first but everything still made sense.

Detective Bentz and Montoya are hunting a new - or is it new? - killer. The victims are eerily similar to Father John, a fake priest that killed prostitutes, that Bentz previously took down.

Is the new killer Father John or a copy cat? I was flipping these pages (tapping my screen) so fast to get through this book to find out what was going to happen next.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and can say with certainty I will be starting back at the beginning of this series to read the rest of the books!

The Last Sinner
by Lisa Jackson
Pub Date: 27 Jun 2023

Although this book is from a series of books I have not read I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It can be read as a stand alone. I've read several books by Lisa Jackson and have always found them to be fast paced, interesting and hard to put down.

I was very excited to receive an ARC copy of this book and definitely was not disappointed. Fast paced and had two stories going throughout. Had a hard time putting it down.

Thank you #KensingtonBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read #TheLastSinner.

The Last Sinner
Lisa Jackson
June 27, 2023

Jackson has outdone herself with the follow up in the Bentz/Montoya series. She opens The Last Sinner up with a harrowing scene where Bentz’s daughter has just left her house to attend her yoga class. Her husband Jay McKnight reminds her again of the problems that could occur from her true crime books she has published and made films of. Some of the featured assassins are out of prison and would take joy at persecuting her or her dad, Det. Bentz for putting them away.
As always in her thrilling New Orleans series, Detectives Bentz and Montoya have solved many cases. With Bentz hoping to prove (and find) Father John, the wayward loner who lives in an old cabin hidden in the Bayou. He is known as the Rosary Killer as he strangled his victims with a rosary made of polished, sharpened stones.
The Last Sinner will be published on June 27, 2023 by Kensington Books. I appreciated their allowing me to read and review book 9 in this series. I have read all of the Bentz/Montoya mysteries. Throughout the years I have looked forward to each new one published. The Last Sinner is absolutely a stunner in its plot and suspense. From page one I was taken aback at the fantastic writing Jackson brought to her pages. It is truly one not to miss. It’s a long one that brings back characters from past crimes via Kristy Bentz books. Do Enjoy!

Detectives Bentz and Montoya think that Father John, a serial killing fiend is dead but.....Someone is threatening Kristi Bentz, wh0 has suffered enough, so her father and his partner go on a quest for the truth. I had not read any of the books in this series and that probably didn't matter much. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a plot driven trope-y page turner that will appeal to fans of both Jackson and the genre.

The Last Sinner (New Orleans, #9) by Lisa Jackson
Five stars aren't enough for this book. Lisa knows how to draw you in from the very beginning and keep you there. Bentz and Montoya thriller with murder, returned from the dead killers, angst, suspense, family drama, friends, enemies, love, tears and drama till the end and I can't wait for the next book.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Unpredictable Informative Haunting Great world building Wonderful characters Happily Ever After Twisted Easy-to-read Tragic Tear-jerker Entertaining Scary Page-turner Action-packed.

"The Last Sinner" by Lisa Jackson is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that takes readers on a dark and chilling journey through the streets of New Orleans. In this thrilling installment, Father John, a notorious serial killer thought dead returns with a vengeance or is it a copycat, embarking on a new killing spree that involves hiring prostitutes and strangling them with rosary beads. What's even more disturbing is the hundred dollar bill left behind, with Ben Franklin's eyes burned out, adding a chilling touch to the killer's twisted rituals.

The novel opens with a horrifying attack on Kristi, the daughter of Bentz, a seasoned detective, and a true crime writer. Kristi survives the assault, but tragically, her husband Jay is killed. As the story unfolds, the question arises: Was the attack the work of Father John? Or is there another killer on the loose in New Orleans, driven by his own thirst for revenge against Kristi?

Lisa Jackson masterfully builds suspense and keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate the twisted mind of the elusive and ritualistic killer. The author artfully weaves together multiple storylines, leaving readers guessing and questioning the true identity of the culprit. The uncertainty of whether Father John is responsible for the attack on Kristi and Jay's murder, as well as the string of murdered prostitutes, adds an extra layer of complexity to the plot.

One of the standout aspects of the novel is the strength and courage exhibited by Kristi. Despite the trauma she has endured, she emerges as a resilient and determined character. Her determination to uncover the truth and bring justice to the victims adds depth to her portrayal and makes her a compelling protagonist.

The New Orleans setting plays a vital role in creating a gothic atmosphere throughout the story. The descriptions of the swamp areas are particularly vivid, evoking a sense of unease and fear. The juxtaposition of the city's vibrant culture with the dark underbelly of crime adds to the tension and suspense, making the narrative all the more captivating.

Bentz and Montoya, the detective team investigating the case, make for an engaging duo. Their camaraderie and complementary skills make them a formidable force in their pursuit of justice. Additionally, the enigmatic presence of Montoya's brother adds an intriguing subplot that leaves readers curious about his role and motivations.

Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on June 27, 2023.

In The Last Sinner b y Lisa Jackson, Detectives Bentz and Montoya are back chasing a killer. They thought Father John, a fake priest who used the sharpened beads of a rosary to strangle prostitutes, is dead. But now there are signs he may still be alive. A new victim has surfaced, her ruined body staged in the same detailed manner. It is either a terrifying copycat, or Father John has come back to haunt New Orleans. When there is another striking similar death, Bentz is concerned that Father John is targeting those closest to him. I loved the characters and the setting as well as the story.

Lisa Jackson is at her best when writing alone. True to a thriller style writing. If you have never read a book by this author, I suggest that that you do so. Always a pleasure to get hooked into the story.

Im a sucker for books set in New Orleans. One of my favourite places in the world. Great characterisation and the pairing of Benz and Montoya make a great team.

I've read several books by Lisa Jackson and have always found them to be fast paced, interesting and hard to put down. This one was no different. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I had read other Benz and Montoya books in the past and wasn't crazy about them, but when NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read this one, I decided to take another chance.

I am torn as to how to rate it. There were times it seemed to drag so much, I had to force myself to keep reading. Then there were the times that it was so active that I didn't want to put it down. And I have to mention the times that the language was very unacceptable. i'm going with 3.5 and rounding it off to 4, since the publisher and NetGalley were kind enough to let me read it.