Her Last Kiss

 

Her Last Kiss by Lisa Regan
10/20/26; 374 pages
Bookouture
Detective Josie Quinn #25 

Her Last Kiss by Lisa Regan is another exceptional, very highly recommended crime thriller/procedural and is the 25th book in the Detective Josie Quinn series. As with the previous book in the series, Stolen Family, I again stayed up late to finish it because at a certain point in the gripping plot it becomes impossible to not continue reading as fast as you can while your heart is pounding. This time the investigation follows a serial killer. Although this is the 25th book in the series, Her Last Kiss can be read as a standalone novel.

Trinity, Josie's twin sister and a journalist, is set to interview Sylvia West who was the sole survivor of an encounter with “The Last Kiss” serial killer thirteen years. Only Sylvia is discovered murdered on her bed, strangled, with the trademark lipstick smear on her mouth left by The Last Kiss killer. The house has also been set on fire and Josie manages to witness the crime scene and get Trinity out safely. The serial killer has been on the loose for fifteen years in various locations across the state of Pennsylvania and now he is in Denton. Now the team is taking a deep dive looking into previous cases to try to uncover the killer's identity... and then another victim is found.

The writing is excellent. The lightning-fast pace is propelled forward by the complicated, compelling, and intriguing plot that will hold your complete attention throughout. The procedural part of the narrative is excellent with all the clues logically followed and leads investigated. The narrative includes chapters from the killers point-of-view as the investigation unfolds which serves to increase the tension. This is seriously a riveting, un-put-downable thriller and the danger keeps accelerating with each page right up to the seriously action-packed conclusion.

The focus is always on the tense investigation while the personal interaction between the characters continues to be realistic. All of the characters are portrayed as fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Josie's and Noah's personal life is going well. Their relationship with Wren, the teenager they are custodial parents too, hits some tough struggles, but is making progress. Expect an emotional scene involving the three. Detective Kyle Turner continues to be exasperating with bursts of extreme competence and insight.There is enough of the backstory covered within the plot that new readers can easily follow the characters, however knowing their history will make it a richer reading experience. 

Her Last Kiss is a exceptional crime thriller/procedural and is a perfect choice for everyone following the series. Now I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.