It was ok... The narrative lacked any real depth, the characters were not fully formed... There were lots of opportunities to develop the story line and lots of questions were posed but none were really explored or answered. The Jazzy's sister storyline was a bit pointless. I didn't believe for one second she was the murderess, it was implied she could have been but the author made it obvious from the beginning that she wasn't. Genny and her visions was really an unnecessary cheesey addition. I was sort of like, "Where did that come from?" when she was first introduced. Jacob would have sufficed as the investigator. We didn't need Dallas and that other big wig (I can't even remember his name). Caleb was the most developed out of them all but I just wanted to learn a bit more about him and his background but his relationship with Jazzy was unremarkable and unbelievable. I just couldn't buy into this 'amazing emotional connection'. It all seemed a bit juvenile to me. There was a lot of sex which was also unnecessary, it served no purpose to the plot. Especially that bit with Stan. I mean ok we get it, she's sick in the head and there's obviously a sexual perversion there. But the whole seducing Jamie and then slicing him up and castrating him was enough to demonstrate that. It really didn't need the "pussy pumping" action on Stan.I think there was an attempt to cram too many characters in and not enough plot overall. I actually found myself reading the synopsis on the back cover after I read the book and wondering what book that synopsis was referring to because it certainly didn't reflect anything I had just read. Even the title didn't make sense. Having said that, it was a very easy read. Barton has a lovely writing style and I wouldn't let this book put me off any others of hers.
Although I enjoyed this 2nd book in the Cherokee Pointe Trilogy, I did not like it as much as the first one. I liked the characters of Jazzy and Caleb, but I didn't feel confident at the end of the book that all of the issues between them had been settled. That may come in the third book of the trilogy, but this book just didn't have enough resolution between the hero and heroine to satisfy me. Jasmine "Jazzy" Talbot spent many years loving wastrel Jamie Upton, and he has broken her heart many times. In the previous book, Jamie brought a fiance home to Cherokee Pointe, yet he still tries to resume his relationship with Jazzy. Jazzy is furious with him and threatens him. When Jamie is found dead in The Last To Die, suspicion rests on Jazzy, and she is arrested. As Jazzy's friends work to clear her name, another murder occurs. While this is going on, Jazzy begins a relationship with Caleb McCord, a bouncer in her club. Caleb has secrets that will threaten his future with Jazzy. Jazzy's very life is in danger as an insane murderer focuses on her. I thought that The Last to Die was interesting and I enjoyed reading it, but I wasn't really satisfied with the ending as pertains to the hero and heroine. I just felt that there was still too much standing between them. I hope that the next book in the trilogy resolves their relationship. The killer in this story brutally tortures the victims in this book, and the graphic nature of the descriptions will be a turn off for some readers. I am looking forward to reading the story of Sheriff Jacob Butler in the next book. I am also anxious to read about Jazzy's mysterious birth and her probable relationship to Reve Sorrell.
Didn´t realize until i read some other reviews that this was 2nd book in a trilogy, but that was exactly how it read. Too many characters that I felt I was expected to already know about. Felt cheated at the end as some story lines were not concluded.
—Kim
This book was all wrong. The characters were over the top and unbelievable, not real people, but characterizations of such (the dumb blonde naive fiancee, the womanizing man she loves, the white trash slut but nice woman, the uppity snob rich girl, the brawny bouncer, the sexy Native merican cop, etc....), and they were all one dimensional and flat. There was not a likable one in the whole bunch, and there were way too many characters introduced way too quickly. The prejudices expressed in general dialogue were disturbing. After 8 chapters and over 100 pages, the suspense was non-existent, the mystery was bland, and the tension was contrived. The sex and language was extreme and graphic, but it seemed to be so only to shock, not to add anything to the story. The plot was very thin, the style very choppy and uneven. I can't say I recommend this to anyone. There's too many books to read to waste time on the badly written ones.
—Lorie
I really don't know how many times I've read this book, but I love it. I just reread it again and I can't help but love the dynamic characters. Jazzy's got some fire in her, which I like. But no one tops Caleb McCord. He's the kind of guy that could make any woman swoon. Tough, protective, sensitive, good looking. The man has it all.And I admit, when I reread Barton's books, I read for the romance and not the mystery. The mystery is amazing too, but I already know how it ends, so why read through all the gory details again? If you're reading it for the first time, don't miss out on it! Barton is very skilled at twisting clues around and making it darn near impossible to figure out before she wants you to.
—Holly
