B.R. Spangler (https://brspangler.com) is the author of more than 20 novels. Her Last Hour is the 11th book in his Detective Casey White series and it was released a few days ago. It is the 21st book I completed reading in 2024.

Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

Casey White is a Detective in the Barrier Islands of North Carolina. She encounters locals trying to report a disappearance one morning when she arrives at her office. Ruby Evans, 17, had been stopped on a deserted section of highway by a police car. Only now, it looks more like she was stopped by someone masquerading as a policeman. White can relate to the trauma Ruby’s mother is going through. Her own 3-year-old daughter had been kidnapped in front of her eyes twenty years earlier.

A message in a bottle is found on the beach. It is from the kidnapper and it is addressed to White. She is being taunted, and the note says Ruby has less than 24 hours. White and the police department scramble to find Ruby, but their efforts are to no avail. Ruby is found on the beach and dies soon afterward. Another message arrives for White that implies someone close to the investigation will be the next victim. When one of her team goes missing, they all fear the worst.

While this is going on White attends the parole hearing for Dr. Boécemo at a nearby prison. She had helped to put him away for child abuse. Much to the Boécemo’s agitation, White convinces the parole board to deny the his parole request. Not long afterwards, White receives a call from the Dr. Even though he has been in prison for several years, he claims to have information about Rudy’s kidnapper. Boécemo wants White to speak on his behalf at the next parole hearing. In exchange, he will share what he knows.

White and fiancé Jericho Flynn have been foster parents to Thomas and Tabitha since the couple rescued the kids. Now, they are attempting to adopt them. Both White and Flynn work in law enforcement. Dangerous jobs that take them away from home. The two fear that their request for adoption may be declined.

Operating on little sleep, little food, and pressure from all sides, While must do her best to find the kidnapper. She is torn by the thought of contributing to the release of a man she considers a monster, even though that might lead to the rescue of her teammate. The fear of their adoption petition being turned down, and even worse, the possibility of the children being taken from their foster care, weighs heavily on her mind.

I enjoyed the 6.5 hours I spent reading this 276-page mystery. This was a short novel. It could have easily been stretched out to a longer read. I like the chosen cover art, but it does not relate to the plot. I give this novel a rating of 3.8 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

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Her Last Hour will grip you from the beginning and not let go until the thrilling end. Her Last Hour is book 11 in the Detective Casey White series by B.R. Spangler. This is the first book I've read in the series and I'm so glad I did! This series is incredible and I can't wait for the next book to drop!. Ruby Evans is a seventeen year old high school student who is on her way home after volunteering at a nursing home for people with dementia. Her grandmother is a patient there and she feels compelled to give as much of her time as possible to these patients. As Ruby is driving home, there are bright headlights in her rearview mirror. She can't wait to get home after the long day. All of a sudden she sees blue lights flashing behind her and she pulls over. Ruby had swerved as she lost focus a little bit ago. Maybe that's why the cop was pulling her over.

As the policeman came to her window, Ruby put her window down, and was blinded as a flashlight was pointed in her face. She asked the policeman to lower it, but he said it was for his safety. She handed him her license and registration and asked why she swerved back there? She said she was thinking about something and it won't happen again. She told the policeman she was coming from the nursing home after volunteering there this evening. When he comes back, he says he smells alcohol. Ruby tells him it's because of the hand sanitizer she has to use multiple times each shift. He tells her to get out of the car. Ruby doesn't understand. She's clearly not drunk and is coming from the nursing home. She does what he asks and walks with him to his car. She asks to call her mom, but he says she can call from the station. A car is coming. It's one of Ruby's high school classmates and she waves at him. As she looks inside the car, she notices that this isn't a police car at all. What's going on? It's too late as he hits her on the back of her head and pushes her in the back seat, wrapping her wrists and ankles with duct tape.

The classmate sees Ruby and notices that the man is trying to get her into his car. He knows it's not a police car, but he thinks Ruby thinks that it is. He goes up and turns around. When he gets back, the car is gone, Ruby is gone, and her car is left on the side of the road. He calls his Dad and tells him what happened. They go to the police and the search for Ruby begins. Ruby's mother is distraught and terrified. She lost her husband a year ago and Ruby is all she has. Detective Casey White starts with the classmate and what he remembers, then goes to where Ruby's car was left. As the investigation continues, a message in a bottle is dropped off at the station. It was found on the beach and it had Casey's name on it. The letter claims to be from the kidnapper and he says that Casey has 24 hours to find Ruby before it's too late.

There's not many clues to go on and the worst happens. A beach cleaner finds Ruby's body partially buried in the sand. He almost ran over her. She was semi-conscious when he found her. She said it wasn't police and said birds. Then she was gone. Casey doesn't know what to make of what she said about birds. The killer did brutal things to Ruby and Casey knows she has to catch this guy before he does it again. A phone call comes in to the station from a child predator that Casey put behind bars. He's calling from prison and says he has information relating to Ruby. He offers to give Casey the name of the killer in exchange for his freedom. Casey gets another message in a bottle and this time the killer is threatening to kill again, only this time he's threatening someone close to Casey.

Will Casey change her mind and free "The Doctor" from prison to get the killer's name? When someone close to Casey is taken, will they find her in time? Will Casey's family be safe? Will Casey and Jericho be able to finally adopt the 2 kids they took in after their parents were killed? This book has everything and will have you wanting more at the end! I'm so glad I found this series and can't wait to read book 12! I rate Her Last Hour 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Her Last Hour in exchange for a fair review. #HerLastHour

Continual Innovation Compels Series Further. This is the first book in this series in a while to have some real innovation both in how the crime happens and in the domestic side of the police procedural format, and both the book at hand and overall series are that much stronger for it. This is one of those tales that tells a complete tale... and yet you're going to be clamoring for the next book immediately, though in a very different way that prior books, including Their Resting Place earlier in this series. Truly one of the more horrific crimes of a series that has had some particularly innovative and horrifying crimes, nearly on a level that would make even Aloysius Pendergast gasp. And yet as always Spangler does a remarkable job balancing the crime and investigation with the domestic elements, and here makes both sides of the story equally compelling and exciting.

Overall yet another strong entrant in a strong series. Very much recommended.

This book was wild!! I was captivated from the start and could not turn the pages quick enough! The intensity of the thrill was awesome! I have found a new favorite author!

Her Last Hour is book 11 in the Detective Casey White series. It’s my first time reading about Casey but I now want to go back and read the other ten books! I was not disappointed. Had enough going on to keep myself interested but not so much where it was hard to keep up with the story. It may be a shorter book but it packs a big punch. I read the whole thing in one sitting.
Oh and I’d love to add, what a beautiful cover. It’s what drew me to the book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and bookouture for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

This was my first book from this author and the Detective Casey White series. This may be the 11th book in the series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read the previous books.

It was a slow burner so it was difficult to read though..I found myself putting the book down a few times even though it is not overly long. I enjoyed the POV change which helped speed up the book more though. The actual story itself was great and very well described. I love murder mystery documentaries so this was a great change!

I would 100% recommend this to people who enjoy crime & murder mysteries with in depth detective cases. Very interesting read!

Another wonderful installment in the Detective Casey White series!

In book 11, the series picks up shortly after the events of Our Sister's Grave. On the personal side, Casey and Jericho are pursuing the adoption of Thomas and Tabitha, the two children found in Two Little Souls. On the law enforcement side, Casey is in pursuit of a new killer. After Ruby Jenkins is abducted, Casey receives a strange note, written in blood, and telling her she has 24 hours to find Ruby. But when Ruby's body is found, Casey's missing person investigation becomes a murder one, complicated by another criminal she caught years ago stating he knows who the killer is. With another victim on the line, Casey and her team are in a raise against time to find out who is really the killer.

I am still loving the Detective Casey White series. B.R. Spangler has stayed true to his original books and character development, and the series is just as enjoyable as the early books. Once again, he crafts an interesting mystery, tying in past cases as well as illuminating more of Casey's past, including her early years as a detective in Philadelphia and the abduction of her own daughter 20-ish years ago. Each novel brings a little more of Casey's story to the forefront, along with providing an intriguing case that Casey must solve.

Book 11 in the brilliant Detective Casey White series.

As with the previous books I was hooked from the first page. I flew through this book in 2 sittings as I had to know what happened. A great book that I wont hesitate to recommend.

When Ruby Evans is abducted on her way home from volunteering at a nursing home in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Detective Casey White’s heart breaks for the inconsolable mother. Terrible memories flood back of when her own darling daughter was taken twenty years ago. Pushing her own pain aside, Casey vows to find Ruby and bring her home.

After desperately searching the road where Ruby was last seen, Casey receives a letter from someone claiming to be the kidnapper. In cursive red letters, she is warned that she has less than twenty-four hours to find Ruby alive. And when forensics reveal the letter was written in blood, Casey knows this isn’t a hoax.

Working around the clock, Casey is devastated when her team hit another dead end, and she’s shattered when Ruby’s body is discovered buried on the beach—she’s too late. And then another message is found.

There's plenty of mystery when a 17-year-old girl goes missing. A fellow student noticed her stopped on the side of the road by a cop and took a picture as he drove by. But was it a cop that had her stopped? Then a message is received in a bottle which increases the pressure for Casey and her team as there is now a deadline before Ruby will be killed. But will they be able to solve the clues in the message.

There are many twists to this story, including what an evil predator that Casey helped put behind bars years ago has to do with the current murder. And what a chilling ending.

Her Last Hour is the 11th instalment in the Detective Casey White Series and begins with a kidnapping and murder of a seventeen year’s old girl. There were several glimpses into the past events, but I felt like they were not too distracting, and it is possible to read this book as a standalone.

The crime we follow throughout the story was tragic and a bit gory, but it didn’t swell too much into the details. The pace was a bit slow, but the first chapters were captivating, and I could feel a creepy and suspenseful atmosphere around the story.

Overall, this is a multi-layered story with a plot that developed in ways I didn’t see coming which made it quite a nice read. I recommend it to those who enjoys books full of tensions and suspense.

Thank you, Bookouture & NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

I’m borrowing the phrase “evil fun” from an author but it accurately describes crime fiction.
I’m a big fan of Casey White! She always gets the perp, except in this book she does but she doesn’t.
There’s a pernicious monster who is preying on motorists but what is driving the attacks?
Casey’s time to solve the crimes is quickly winding down.
I loved how the team worked to decipher the puzzles and solve the riddles.
Jericho is even more my hero after the sacrificing gesture he makes for he and Casey’s family.
It’s a happy ending, except for the shadowy perp who I hope makes a return in a future book.

Her Last Hour is book 11 in the excellent Detective Casey White series by B.R. Spangler.
Spangler does it again with an action packed adventure!
I’ve followed the Detective Casey White series from the beginning, and this one was as exceptional as the previous books. It had me on the edge of my seat and flying through the pages to see what would happen next. Spangler always manages to pull a full range of emotions from me, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
The story was unique and well written. This one is like a rollercoaster start to finish.
Simply brilliant.
I love how Spangler does an excellent job immersing the reader with vivid descriptions and tension throughout the story.
Brilliant. Compelling. A gripping, addictive read!

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

4.5⭐

Detective Casey White is back in a cracker of a story! That sees a killer play a ruthless game with Casey.

As kind, caring, volunteer Ruby Evans has been kidnapped and her mother is distraught. And the memories for Casey and her own daughters kidnapping come flooding back. But they also make her determined to bring Ruby home safely.

Yet, Casey doesn't count on this devious killer.

Who sends her a letter warning her she only has twenty-four hours to find Ruby.

And to make matters worse....

The letter is written in blood and as time runs out Casey and her team are eventually faced with a body. And a call from another devious predator already serving time behind bars.

But that's only the start as another letter soon arrives and threats against those closest to her are made.

Which is something Casey can't live with. But neither is the alternative letting a dangerous predator go free.

Only she soon realises she may not have any choice.

And with twists and turns, danger and suspense. This was another fantastic addition to the series, and I would happily recommend it to all.

This was a chilling read that will stay with you long after you close the book. The creep factor is off the charts.

Detective Casey White is pulled into the investigation of a missing teenage girl, Ruby. Anytime Casey is involved in a kidnapping case, it brings all the bad memories from her daughter's kidnapping back to the forefront of her mind. Her car is found abandoned on the side of the road. Later that day the killer sends a message to Casey written in blood and in the form of a riddle foretelling of a murder. Time is not their friend in their search for Ruby. When Ruby's body turns up later that day, Casey is distraught because she could not save Ruby, but she also feels that this killer is not finished.

While investigating this crime, she is also in the process of making sure another vermin is not released from prison early. The good doctor says he has been reformed, but Casey knows better. Casey and her team have their hands full in trying to arrest one killer and keep another one behind the prison walls.

This series is one of my favorites. I really like the characters. I also like that the characters are humanized. We get to see inside not only their lives in law enforcement, but their personal lives. This makes me feel like I know the characters personally, and as such, I am invested in the story. This particular story was disturbing, especially the manner in which this demented individual traps his prey. The manner of death is even more chilling. This is not a good one to read right before bedtime, for more than one reason. One is the creep factor, but the other is that sleep will be impossible because you will feel compelled to finish it. This dark and creepy mystery will leave you with chills, and the ending will stand your hair on end.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Her Last Hour, the eleventh novel to feature Detective Casey White of the North Banks Police Department.

Ruby Evans is abducted on her way home from work. Casey and her team find her car, but no clues. Then she gets a letter written in blood that tells her she has less than twenty four hours to find Ruby. She is devastated to find Ruby dead and not happy when a predator she put away is prepared to offer a name in return for his freedom or else someone close to her will be next.

I enjoyed Her Last Hour, which is a plot driven procedural with some good twists. It is mostly told Casey’s point of view with the occasional chapter from the unnamed killer. I like this approach as it offers an immersive read and the opportunity to guess alongside her. It is, however, more a game of guessing the twists and the meaning behind the two letters she receives as there isn’t much in the way of suspects.

The plot moves quickly with Ruby’s death and Casey spending more time than she wants to with a game playing psychopathic predator and before the reader knows it, the endgame has started. In a way it is a fairly perfunctory novel with one thing leading to another, but the upside to this is continual forward momentum. There isn’t anything novel in the plot, but the author puts her own spin on events and produces an entertaining read.

Casey is still navigating her relationship with her recently found long lost daughter. This thread was played out over countless novels in the series, so it is a relief to see it entering a new phase of acceptance and playing a less prominent role. Instead, Casey and Jericho, her fiancé, are trying to adopt two children they rescued and fostered. Needless to say it is not going smoothly for reasons I found frankly ludicrous.

Her Last Hour is a good read that I can recommend.

It’s always hard to write something new or original when you are reviewing a novel in one of your favorite series because the strong points are those that make you read another instalment.
There’s always something very original in this series, Casey and Jericho are a strong and well matched couple, and the setting is fascinating.
This is fast paced, twisty and dark. There’s a sort very dark villain, almost a Casey’s Moriarty. There’s murders, someone who’s communicating via bottles and could endanger Casey’s family.
Not a cosy or relaxing read but an adrenaline fuelled and fast paced.
I enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read the next one. This one was a fast and entertaining read
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Her Last Hour begins with the kidnapping and horrific murder of a seventeen year old girl. As Casey White and her team begin to investigate the kidnapping of Ruby Evans, they receive a message in a bottle alluding to the killing. Then they find the body and, within hours, another bottle. This time a member of her team is targeted. Casey ties the deaths to an old case of hers where she had testified against the parole of the doctor, convicted of heinous crimes, to keep him in prison. Casey is desperate to find a link to the murderer before he can act again. Adding to the stress of this case, Casey and her partner Jericho are waiting for a court hearing to finalize the adoption of their three year old twins. Some loose ends to this mystery hint at what will come next for Casey White.

This series, by the talented B.L. Spangler, just keeps getting better, Casey, Jericho and Tracey are familiar friend and the Outer Banks atmosphere is a character itself. I can wait for what comes next. 5 stars.

Yank you to Net Galley, Bookouture and B.L. Spangler for this ARC.

I really tried with this book, and im sure i would have enjoyed it if i had read the previous 10 books, when i joined the tour i was not aware of that, so i was just way to confused. However the writing and story was really interesting

I have done all the books in this series and have enjoyed all of them. I love that each book references some of the previous books and that you don’t have to have read all the others to pick one up and read it. Casey White is a unique character. While I do enjoy following along while she solves a case, the way she pouts about her daughter Tracy has gotten old. I feel like it’s time to move on. That’s my biggest issue is every book has her pouting about her daughter and how their bond isn’t how she wants it. This story was interesting. I am curious is they will ever 100% find out if the doctor is dead or alive. I look forward to the next book to see if he is mentioned. I’m really happy the adoption happened and that they get to start their family! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and B.R. Spangler for my ARC of Her Last Hour. This was my first book from B.R. Spangler and won’t be my last! I loved the writing style! The descriptive writing really helped paint the picture while reading. It was really a page turner! I found myself just needing to get to the end just to know who did it! I didn’t realize that this was book 11 in a series! With that being said I feel like it easily could have been a standalone book. I didn’t feel lost or like I should have read the other ten before this one. I can’t wait to read more of Detective Casey White’s story!