The Last Close Call is the latest book release from author Laura Griffin. Her hero, detective Jack Bruner, is a man who is obsessed with some of his older, colder cases. In spite of that flaw, he enlists the help of genealogist Rowan Healy.

Rowan Healy formerly used her skills to help law enforcement, but the trauma of the cases caused her to leave that type of work. She now focuses her skills on helping individuals, who are adopted, to find their birth parents. She's has started a new company and has received an unexpected request for her help that she can't seem to refuse. Jack Bruner has come into her life and won’t take no for an answer regarding her help on a rape case.

Jack and Rowan's relationship is very interesting one with many ups and downs. Rowan's been in a relationship with a detective before, and it didn't go well. Jack is too dedicated to his job to hold on to a relationship and make it successful.

A very well written thriller and Laura Griffin has delivered another outstanding book! It’s a tale of sizzling chemistry, suspense, and intrigue to keep the reader totally engaged! It was hard to put the book

The Last Close Call frustrated me. I thought I would be reading a crime novel that used genetic testing to help solve the case, but instead, I got a romantic suspense novel between a genealogist and a detective. The dialogue was cheesy, the plot was more focused on the budding romance than the solving of the case itself, and I genuinely did not enjoy this novel.
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(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin is the latest novel by the author. This is the first novel by Laura Griffin I have read.

Jack Bruner is a detective who enlists the help of genealogist Rowan Healey to help catch a serial rapist/killer. This book is a bit thriller, procedural, and romance all in one. I enjoyed the genealogy that was explained in the book and how fit together to find a suspect.

Things I Liked:
The science of DNA and genealogy.
Short chapters, easy to read.
The characters of Jack and Rowan and their romance.
Interesting storyline.

Things I Disliked:
A few loose ends that weren’t reconciled by the end of the book.
I would have liked to know more about the suspects motivations.

Overall, I enjoyed The Last Close Call and recommend it to anyone who likes police procedurals, thrillers and some romance. Going in, I was afraid it could be gruesome or disturbing because of the subject matter but it was neither of those things.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest assessment.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Laura Griffin always does it for me. This shouldn't be a surprise at this point, honestly. I've loved every single book I've ever read by her, and The Last Close Call is no different.

This story utilized forensic genealogy, a field I'm not super familiar with, to find the cold case offender that has never been identified. When Jack can't find the offender in the cold case of the West Campus Rapist, he seeks out Rowan to help him trace the offenders familial line as a last resort.

It was so good! The suspense was top-notch, the romance was spicy, and the plot had me gripped until the last page. I'll always read any book Laura Griffin puts out and I can't wait for the next one!

This book is genius. The duo of a genealogist and a detective is something I am here for. With all of today's advances, it makes perfect sense for them to pair up to find a ruthless killer.
I enjoyed not just the story itself, but the characters won me over fairly quickly. I was all-in for the complete story from start to finish.
Griffin always delivers a unique story with winning characters. I don't know how she does it, but I will keep reading as long as she keeps writing.

“A talented genetic analyst and a detective who’s haunted by an elusive cold case team up in the new standalone romantic suspense.”

This book, with its interesting premise, several points of view, and a satisfying bonus mystery made for a worthwhile read.

I did, however, wish there was way more depth to the main character’s profession. We got very little information about the science and technique behind Forensic Genealogy, and I was disappointed. Open door scenes are great and all, but I GIMME ALL THE SCIENCE.

Also: I was really put off by the MMC’s “Time is of the essence, but also I’m too manly to take anyone’s help” bullshit. Smash the patriarchy, my dude. It’s hurting you and your cases.

This is my third by this author and I’m looking forward to her next work.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Dreamscape Media for this tense ARC.

This was such a fun and entertaining read and as always, Laura's romances are great balance to the mystery. I'll read anything she writes at this point!

The Last Close Call is for readers who are fans of The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James and Pretty Young Things by Jessica Knoll. The book follows the trail of a college murderer who is targeting the unsuspecting...

A Texas detective wants to solve a cold case. A genealogist is brought in to help. They work together to locate a ruthless killer.

The Last Close Call is told using the alternating points of view of Rowan and Jack. Rowan prefers to use her genealogist skills to help adoptees find their biological families. She is hesitant to work with the police, but Jack convinces her to help. Jack is haunted by the case of a serial rapist that he believes is back, and now killing his victims.

Likable and interesting characters and an intriguing mystery. Recommended for fans of romantic suspense and dark mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Laura Griffin writes a compelling story filled with mystery, romance and a lot of suspense. The Last Close Call, her latest book, had me on the edge of my seat, quickly turning the pages to find out what would happen next.

This enthralling story takes place in Texas. The two main characters Rowen, a genealogist and Jack, a detective meet while working on a case involving a serial rapist. Jack and Rowen have an immediate connection, lots of chemistry and I enjoyed all of their interactions. They are both dedicated to their jobs and don’t have time for relationships, but the pull they feel toward each other is impossible to resist.

This intriguing story was the perfect mixture of romance and suspense. The plot is interesting and the story held me spellbound. I felt like I was right there with Jack and Rowen and this story kept me interested until the very end. I enjoyed reading about all the behind the scenes police work Jack is doing trying to catch the serial rapist. Jack feels a lot of pressure because he knows time is running out, until the rapist strikes again. Laura Griffin is one of my favorite authors because she knows how to write an intriguing romantic story and she never disappoints me.

"The Last Close Call" by Laura Griffin is a heart-pounding romantic suspense novel that masterfully blends danger and desire. Set in the high-stakes world of investigative journalism, the story follows seasoned reporter Karly Bonham as she uncovers a web of conspiracy. Griffin's writing is sharp and suspenseful, creating a gripping narrative with well-drawn characters. The chemistry between Karly and her ex, FBI agent Taryn, adds a layer of intensity to the plot. With its fast-paced action and a perfect balance of romance, "The Last Close Call" is a thrilling and satisfying read that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Laura Griffin writes a dependable suspense, with well-developed characters, an exciting story, and a fast-paced plot.

A easy read that had many ups and downs. We never really know what goes on in other people’s life. This book will make you think and keep you on edge about what is next. I hope this author continues to write more books.

Laura Griffin is a go to author for me because if she writes it, I'm going to enjoy it.




Every single time.




And this one was no different. I was literally 3% into the book and my heart was in my throat.




An unexpected and casually tossed off 10 word sentence and I'm already all in on this book.




I was also all in with Jack and Rowan. I loved them together and the complexities of their relationship was handled well...the balance of the criminal and investigation parts of the story and the romantic woven together in such a way that neither of them seemed out of place.




And that's the strength of a title by Laura Griffin. She's figured out how to write a romantic suspense/crime story that fully tells both stories without sacrificing one or the other.




I enjoyed and recommend this title.

This is an intriguing psychological thriller with action, drama, mystery and suspense. Jack’s and Rowan’s budding romance added a bit of spice to the narrative. The plot was so well executed and entertaining. Another amazing story by an amazing author. (This was a complimentary copy and this is my honest review)

The Last Close Call is the latest book by the talented Laura Griffin. This novel is about a genealogist who helps a detective figure out the identity of an unsub in a case. Will Rowan and Jack be able to catch the perp before he strikes again? Read The Last Close Call to find out.
I loved getting to know Rowan and Jack’s characters and following the undeniable chemistry between them turn into something more. I loved how the bad guy was stopped mainly because of genealogy. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes romantic suspense novels, especially ones where one of the main characters is a cop.

Genealogy research combines with an ongoing murder investigation to give us an exciting hunt to stop a serial killer.

Rowan had a super interesting job doing genealogist research. She was reluctantly drawn back into using her skills for law enforcement and I just loved how that fit in with Jack’s investigation. Joy and Evelyn added interesting dimensions to the story and I enjoyed reading about their own well-developed emotional journeys.

Jack and Rowan tried to fit dating into the mix because they shared a mutual attraction, but the case also kept pulling them together in their professional capacities. Their chemistry fell a bit flat for me, but as professional partners, they meshed extremely well.

This is a standalone book and I can highly recommend it if you like thrilling police dramas, with romance and suspense mixed together.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked the characters in this one and the science aspect of the story was very interesting to me. I read through it very quickly. I did feel that their romance developed very quickly, I would've liked a little more build up. But overall, a great book.

I just love this author’s books. While she writes a lot of series, this is a stand alone book and great place to start.

This contemporary suspense book reminds me so much of what was my go to read a few years ago. There is the right blend of suspense and romance and characters you really want to root for.

I love the forensic genealogy that is at the crux of this one. Rowan’s, the FMC, specialty is tracing genealogy and while she has stepped away from helping the police with this skill, she is asked to step in by a gorgeous man. How could she say no? But seriously she also has a connection to the cold case he is investigating and it isn’t just his charm and good looks that twist her arm to join in. I am always amazed at the different aspects law enforcement uses in trying to solve a case and enjoyed learning about this new to me technique.

Of course I am also a fan of the characters the author creates. A strong alpha man with a softer side and an independent woman that can still be a little vulnerable. They play so well off of each other and yet have a great pull that makes me want to root for them both separately and together.

I both read and listened to this one and loved both ways to read this one. Stephanie Németh-Parker really brought the story to life in the audiobook.

If you’re a fan of mystery, suspense and romance, you can’t go wrong with this book or any of her other the books.

I am a romantic suspense junkie, and I read a LOT of books each month. That means sometimes it’s hard to remember whose books I’ve read before and whose I have not. Laura Griffin was a new-to-me author with Vanishing Hour, but when it comes to this genre, I’m always willing to take a chance. And with her reputation, I was more than willing to try it and was not disappointed! At this point, I’m slowly working my way through her backlist while simultaneously attempting to catch her new releases.

I started this book in the evening and couldn’t put it down, even when I should have been sleeping. The plot was intriguing and relatively fast-paced, the suspense kept me guessing until the end, and the characters were relatable, realistic, and engaging. So far, Laura Griffin is another go-to author in my favorite romance genre.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭑ (4.5)