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izey's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down! I had read the first book in this series and was excited to get into this one, the second Lucy Harwin book. A great story with gruesome murders that twists and turns right until the end. Highly recommend this series. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review
lalabristow's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the first novel in the Detective Lucy Harwin Series. I had a few problems with Dark House (aka Lost Children) but it was enjoyable overall.
I was extremely excited about Dying Breath, but I have to say I’m a bit disappointed with it.
The story was interesting but the execution left much to be desired... A lot of telling instead of showing, weird behavior by the characters, a red herring that was painfully obvious and such an abrupt ending that I stared at my kindle for 5 minutes wondering what the hell had happened.
I LOVE this type of book, I’m completely addicted to book series that fit this awesome genre, but I do hope that the Lucy Harwin series get better. I will be giving it a chance if there is a third book, however I don’t think I can do more than that :(
*This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange of a honest review
I was extremely excited about Dying Breath, but I have to say I’m a bit disappointed with it.
The story was interesting but the execution left much to be desired... A lot of telling instead of showing, weird behavior by the characters, a red herring that was painfully obvious and such an abrupt ending that I stared at my kindle for 5 minutes wondering what the hell had happened.
I LOVE this type of book, I’m completely addicted to book series that fit this awesome genre, but I do hope that the Lucy Harwin series get better. I will be giving it a chance if there is a third book, however I don’t think I can do more than that :(
*This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange of a honest review
sarahrobins11's review against another edition
4.0
I just love Helen Phifer books. For anyone who loves crime detectives stories then this is for you. It’s the 2nd book following detective Lucy Harwin and it hits all the right spots. Face paced and even though you can kind of guess who it is it doesn’t ruin it. I love how it’s written from different perspectives of different people and it has a super exciting ending that makes you not put the book down till it’s finished. Well done Helen, can’t wait to read more.
ankysbookbubble's review against another edition
5.0
First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me a chance to read and review this awesome book!
Dying Breath was chilling, exciting and so very awesome.
I love psychological thrillers and especially the ones with serial killers. I love trying to figure out a killer's pattern, and who he/she might be.
Dying Breath was everything the blurb promised and more! It was exciting, it was full of suspense and just plain awesome.
Lucy Harwin was a strong and real character. I loved her for her dedication to her job, and because she wasn't a super-human ;)
Dying Breath kept me on my toes, gave me goosebumps and made me look twice at everyone I saw for a whole day (seriously, you could turn into a serial killer's next target by just being in the same shopping center with him!)
Basically, I loved it.
Dying Breath was chilling, exciting and so very awesome.
I love psychological thrillers and especially the ones with serial killers. I love trying to figure out a killer's pattern, and who he/she might be.
Dying Breath was everything the blurb promised and more! It was exciting, it was full of suspense and just plain awesome.
Lucy Harwin was a strong and real character. I loved her for her dedication to her job, and because she wasn't a super-human ;)
Dying Breath kept me on my toes, gave me goosebumps and made me look twice at everyone I saw for a whole day (seriously, you could turn into a serial killer's next target by just being in the same shopping center with him!)
Basically, I loved it.
fixatedonfiction's review against another edition
4.0
Great crime book! Did not see that ending at all coming. Love it.
angelahayes's review against another edition
5.0
5 Stars
Dying Breath is the second book in the Detective Lucy Harwin series by Helen Phifer. I am hooked on this author, and series- this story was such a thrill ride! Highly recommended!
Dying Breath is the second book in the Detective Lucy Harwin series by Helen Phifer. I am hooked on this author, and series- this story was such a thrill ride! Highly recommended!
chloemc99's review against another edition
4.0
So happy I finally picked up the second book!
You are thrown immediately into the book and hooked from the very first chapter.
Helen Phifer is very detailed in her writing, her characters are written so good you forget that these aren't real people.
This book defiantly has it all, its dark, its creepy, it has really good twists and turns and best of all, you really don't guess who the killer is until the few last chapters.
You are thrown immediately into the book and hooked from the very first chapter.
Helen Phifer is very detailed in her writing, her characters are written so good you forget that these aren't real people.
This book defiantly has it all, its dark, its creepy, it has really good twists and turns and best of all, you really don't guess who the killer is until the few last chapters.
sarahwithersblogs's review against another edition
4.0
This book was received from the publisher in return for an honest review
Today I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog blast for Dying Breath by Helen Phifer. Dying Breath is the second story in the Detective Lucy Harwin series which began in March 2017 with The Lost Children, which was later renamed Dark House.
Dying Breath picks up a few months after the end of Dark House, Detective Harwin is back at work and soon finds herself standing over another dead body and in the midst of a new murder investigation, when a second body is discovered and then a family is found murdered in their own home Lucy is faced with a decision to make: is she hunting for three separate killers, or despite all appearances to the contrary are the three cases linked?
I was so pleased to be immersed back into Lucy’s world, I’d been keeping my eye out for book two from the moment I turned the last page of Dark House and Dying Breath didn’t disappoint. Dying Breath‘s plot is extremely well written with twists and turns to keep you turning the pages, and clues to keep you second guessing yourself. I was right alongside Lucy trying to figure out if the deaths were linked, and if so how, as well as who was doing the killing.
Helen incorporates flashback chapters looking back at the childhood of the unknown killer, I really enjoyed these chapters, I think they added an additional layer of depth to a character that despite being key to any murder mystery tale is often over looked in favour of showing the detective’s prowess, often staying undiscovered and unknown until the final chapter. Helen managed all this without giving away too much, or spoiling the mystery too early.
That’s certainly not to say that the detectives in this story are in any way lacking. Lucy is a wonderful protagonist, she’s clever, dedicated to her job and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Helen builds on what we learnt about Lucy during the first novel, I enjoyed reading the developments in her relationship with her daughter, and to a lesser extent her ex-husband, once again I think Helen managed to really successfully balance personal character development while keeping the main plot moving forwards.
Mattie also returns, he’s not as developed as Lucy but he’s still a really enjoyable character to read about. Like Lucy he’s a solid detective, dedicated to his job and I love the friendship between Lucy and Mattie. I’m really intrigued to see how their relationship develops moving forwards.
Would I Recommend?
It’s a yes for any crime fans reading this. I would definitely recommend picking up Dark House first, the plot in Dying Breath works as a standalone but I think having the back story from the first book and knowing a bit more about the characters makes it even more enjoyable. I’ll be looking forward to the next chapter in the series.
Today I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog blast for Dying Breath by Helen Phifer. Dying Breath is the second story in the Detective Lucy Harwin series which began in March 2017 with The Lost Children, which was later renamed Dark House.
Dying Breath picks up a few months after the end of Dark House, Detective Harwin is back at work and soon finds herself standing over another dead body and in the midst of a new murder investigation, when a second body is discovered and then a family is found murdered in their own home Lucy is faced with a decision to make: is she hunting for three separate killers, or despite all appearances to the contrary are the three cases linked?
I was so pleased to be immersed back into Lucy’s world, I’d been keeping my eye out for book two from the moment I turned the last page of Dark House and Dying Breath didn’t disappoint. Dying Breath‘s plot is extremely well written with twists and turns to keep you turning the pages, and clues to keep you second guessing yourself. I was right alongside Lucy trying to figure out if the deaths were linked, and if so how, as well as who was doing the killing.
Helen incorporates flashback chapters looking back at the childhood of the unknown killer, I really enjoyed these chapters, I think they added an additional layer of depth to a character that despite being key to any murder mystery tale is often over looked in favour of showing the detective’s prowess, often staying undiscovered and unknown until the final chapter. Helen managed all this without giving away too much, or spoiling the mystery too early.
That’s certainly not to say that the detectives in this story are in any way lacking. Lucy is a wonderful protagonist, she’s clever, dedicated to her job and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Helen builds on what we learnt about Lucy during the first novel, I enjoyed reading the developments in her relationship with her daughter, and to a lesser extent her ex-husband, once again I think Helen managed to really successfully balance personal character development while keeping the main plot moving forwards.
Mattie also returns, he’s not as developed as Lucy but he’s still a really enjoyable character to read about. Like Lucy he’s a solid detective, dedicated to his job and I love the friendship between Lucy and Mattie. I’m really intrigued to see how their relationship develops moving forwards.
Would I Recommend?
It’s a yes for any crime fans reading this. I would definitely recommend picking up Dark House first, the plot in Dying Breath works as a standalone but I think having the back story from the first book and knowing a bit more about the characters makes it even more enjoyable. I’ll be looking forward to the next chapter in the series.
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