This was a great small town, who done it. The past is also at play and affects the present. I eventually figured it out, but I loved the twists and turns along the way.

Lucy is an air shooter with aspirations to go to the Olympics. She comes from a small town with a tragic past, and you get to know all of the main players at hand throughout the book. People have disappeared, people have died, and you get to unravel the mystery of what is really happening and who is responsible.

Great read.. 4.5stars.

Thank you to net galley and Thomas Nelson publishers for the arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the story and thought the main character was interesting. I really don't understand the title, and that left me very confused.

She just wants to forget the past and pursue her dream of being an Olympic air-rifle shooter, but her past refuses to be ignored. It starts with her stepbrother going missing and turning up dead—along with one of Lucy’s childhood friends. She shouldn’t dig, but Lucy has information that could lead to an arrest. The only question is, will she share what she knows if it means implicating someone close to her as the killer?
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🫧This was a really intriguing small town mystery. I was immediately hooked into Martin’s disappearance and felt like I was right alongside Lucy as she went further down the rabbit hole that connects Martin with the town’s dark past, and the suspicious death of Lucy’s younger brother. As suspenseful as this was, it was just as heartbreaking. Lots of messy dark drama that I really enjoyed.

Other things I loved were how dynamic the plot was, how Stevens kept me guessing, and the bit of bloody retribution at the end. The plot was super twisty with multiple layers to it, and Lucy was a great MC to lead us along. All the stars and high recommendation from me!

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for this free Kindle book in exchange for an honest review.

This book deals with some tough themes such as; trama, murder, and complicated family and friend relationships. This book is also non-stop suspense that will keep you riveted to it's pages. Steven's weaves the past and present together so well, that it creates an intricate plot.

Young Lucy, nearing high school graduation and getting ready to try out for the air rifle Olympic team has always felt guilty about her younger brother's death and now her step-brother is missing. As more information is release about two murders, Lucy is determined to get to the truth as she believes the death of her younger brother Clay and these new murders eight years later are connected.

As Lucy gets closer and closer to the truth there are more deaths and her own life is in danger. Does Lucy survive to solve the crimes? Whois guilty in this small town?

This is a great thriller that kept me engaged until the very end! It is classified as YA thriller but is enjoyable for adults too.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy

Thank you netgalley and thomas nelson for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

rating 2/5 stars

the story was good at first, but I couldn't get past the step-sibling relationship, which i felt a bit weird and inappropriate. Also wasn't a huge fan of the cultural references that didn't seem well-researched in my opinion. The story had potential but came off with some weird vibes.

From the first sentence to last you’re propelled forward at breakneck speed. Full of complex characters, this mystery is labeled as YA but I feel it’s easily adult fiction and I’m buying it for our adult collection. It’s a heartbreaking story that is a well written mystery. I’m going to become a fan of this author.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.

I had a hard time getting into this book. The pacing was all over and most of the characfers felt quite flat. And the step-slibings relationship gave me the ick.
1.5 stars

This book hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. It's full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the end. Loved it and highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

DNF @.21%

I know this is a short book that would be easy to finish, but I just don't care about the plot and I don't like the way the story is being told.

"If you intend to arm a bomb, you don't do it where you sleep" (location 1275). While this book is listed as a young adult thriller, I think anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller would like it. It didn't feel like a young adult novel to me even though several of the main characters were late teens, early twenties. It was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tragedy struck years ago when a dam broke. Now Lucy's brother is convinced it wasn't an accident. When tragedy strikes again, it's hard not to start connecting the dots. Lucy is an interesting character. She is trying to make the Olympic air rifle team. She wants justice for the victims of the tragedy yet she can't bear to be in the place where they all lived. She struggles with the past and has a hard time embracing the future with so much baggage clinging to her.

There is a lot of mystery that needs to be unraveled. There are big twists and turns in the case. Not all is as it seems. It was exciting and hard to put down. I'd highly recommend it.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

2.75/5

The thriller part, though sometimes rather predictable, isn't bad. The author manages to reel you in quite easily with her writing style.

What turned me away from this book were the very white tropes and clichés every white author seems to write these days.
The Harry Potter references in 2023, making it clear this author is most likely not a safe person for readers like me.
The she's not like anyone else trope because the fmc has a special eyesight which makes her such a good shot. It added nothing of value to the story or the fmc.
The inappropriate relationship between the fmc and her stepbrother.
Also not a huge fan of a white author referencing historical sites (Indian Mounds) and events (the Alamo) without any hint of cultural sensitivity.

I really enjoyed this story about a girl who loses everything, then has to come back and face the old story with new information. There were lots of twists and turns, and I thought I knew who did it but I was wrong. So, I like that in a mystery/thriller. The characters were well written, once you got to know them. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

When Lucy gets a call from her mom panicking that her stepbrother is missing at first she doesn’t take it to seriously because she already lost one brother and it can happen twice to the same family right? Yes it can end it does but her brother won’t not be the only victim. Eight years before there was a big flood that took the life of her brother and caught the attention of the national press. Lucy has a lot going on she is practicing for Her attempt to get into the Olympics she’s about to graduate high school and on top of all this she hast to go meet her ex Neal at the local restaurant. Neil goes to Virginia State and is studying environmental science something Lucy Stepfather disregards especially because he recently built a new dam that Neil was totally against. This isn’t the only bone of contention between Lucy and Neil but when his sister Astrid goes missing as well they band together but when Neal becomes the main suspect and everyone thinks him guilty and is put in jail Lucy is left to figure it out on her own. This book was pretty good even when it looks all wrapped up it isn’t in the killer totally surprise me and in my opinion came out of left field… Well not really but kind of. This was a really good book and I don’t believe I read any books by this author before but I will definitely be on the lookout for them in the future I wish I would’ve listen to the audio and may still do that I read the Kindle book and thoroughly enjoyed it I want to thank Thomas Nelson fiction and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Murder mystery crossed with a coming of age story. Kept the pages turning and the past and present come together.

Last Girl Breathing by Court Stevens is a young adult novel that follows Lucy Michaels, who is forced to confront her past when her stepbrother goes missing and her town becomes the site of a murder investigation. With compelling characters and a well-paced plot, you won't want to put this book down.

The novel begins with a tragic event from Lucy's past - the death of her little brother in a flash flood. This event has haunted her ever since, and as the story progresses, Lucy begins to draw connections between her brother's death and her stepbrother's disappearance. Stevens does a fantastic job of weaving together the past and present, creating a layered and intricate plot that will leave you guessing until the very end.

As Lucy delves deeper into the investigation, she begins to uncover secrets about her brother's death and the people around her. The characters in this novel are complex and well-developed, each with their own motivations and secrets. Stevens does an excellent job of creating a sense of paranoia and unease, leaving you wondering who to trust at every turn.

One of the things we loved most about this novel was its pacing. Stevens keeps the story moving at a steady clip, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you engaged. The suspense builds gradually, coming to a head in the final act of the novel. By the time we reached the end, I was on the edge of my seat, desperate to know how it would all turn out.

The themes explored in Last Girl Breathing are also worth noting. The novel tackles issues of trauma, grief, and the complicated relationships between families. Despite the heavy subject matter, Stevens handles these themes with sensitivity and care.

Last Girl Breathing is a fantastic read that will appeal to fans of thrillers and young adult fiction alike. With a compelling plot, well-developed characters, and a tense atmosphere, this novel is sure to keep you guessing until the very end.

The premise of Last Girl Breathing is good, and — for the most part — the story lives up to it.

The story unfolds from Lucy’s point of view. Lucy is strong protagonist, smart, driven, thinks on her feet. She’s not the damsel-in-distress type, nor does she have to discover her inner strength, which is refreshing.

The setting plays to author Court Stevens’ world-building skills. You are immediately transported to the place Lucy knows so intimately. You feel the rain, smell the damp, hear the ground squelch.

There are a lot of plot twists in Last Girl Breathing. Although there’s one big one that doesn’t come as a surprise, yet it feels satisfying nonetheless.

Last Girl Breathing is a fast-moving standalone novel that should appeal to fans of mysteries/thrillers.

I had an enjoyable time reading through this novel. I've been in a reading slump recently and this book was hard to put down. The story was very fast paced and was easy to fall along with. The relationships between the characters were well developed and my only complaint would be that I wish there was more of a relationship between the main character Lucy and her mother that could be seen on the pages. The plot was full of twists and turns and I wasn't sure who to trust at any point throughout.

Such a tragic story about a young girl named Lucy who's suffered the loss of her little brother prior to the beginning of the story, but now her step-brother is missing. I really liked Lucy's character and I felt sorry for her because of how guilty she felt for the way her brother died. I can see why she might've thought it was at least partly her fault, although it was a natural disaster that took his life.

Lucy remained loyal to her boyfriend and believed in his innocence after he was arrested for her step-brother's murder. What happened after his arrest was totally unexpected. I was conflicted on who the person was that might've killed her step-brother and exactly what happened, but I got a pleasant (only because I like them) twist to the story and I loved it.

Wow. I've just finished and I'm still stunned. This is a well-paced, suck-you-in kind of mystery. It was a little jumbly to start - I had to catch on to who everyone was and how they tied together. It took a minute but once I did, I found their unique pieces, the story was easy to slide into.

And I was completely immersed! Lucy was compelling, her story was so sad and horrible. Her shooting isn't something I know about so I was intrigued with this part of her life. I liked that this was based so much on their land and where they lived. They are next to moving water, the Tennessee River, and it feeds and nurtures as much as it hurts and takes.

When Lucy was very young, the dam failed. Her family, along with many others, were caught in the water. This molds most of their lives in the town, as they grow up respecting, loving, and hating the water that has taken so much. Because they are all tied to the water in different ways.

I was surprised that others said they were able to guess the twists. I never saw them coming and enjoyed each twist and turn. The characters had me hooked. I loved this one!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.