The Last Gasp

Written by Chautona Havig

Narrated by Christa DelSorbo

At the pinnacle of his Hollywood career, Garrison Prince’s reign ends tonight.

As plain old Gary Prinz, he can pursue his Bible education, buy a bungalow in Pasadena, acquire a few chickens, and marry the girl of his dreams. He just never imagined trading the silver screen for a pulpit would wreak such havoc.

A cigarillo girl, Lucinda Ashton spends her days with her boyfriend, Gary, and her evenings selling candy and “gaspers” to the Hollywood elite at the Taj Mahal Theater.

However, when gunshots ring out just as intermission begins, Lucinda finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a brouhaha that leaves three dead, and no one has a clue why.

All the police know is that the evidence points to Lucinda as the killer and Gary as the intended target.

Four new friends, one young orphan, and a potluck of clues that don’t seem to fit anywhere leave the police baffled, Lucinda in fear for her freedom, and Gary ready to trade in his acting shoes for gumshoes if it’ll save his “Cinda.”

The first book in the Ever After Mysteries combines beloved fairy tales and mysteries, The Last Gasp. This Cinderella retelling blends murder with enough crime and story clues to keep you on the edge of your seat.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing
• Release date: Dec 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781951839444

Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig is a prolific writer of fiction, including the popular Past Forward series and Ready or Not, among many other novels. When not writing, she enjoys paper crafting, sewing, and, of course, reading. She lives in a small, remote town in California’s Mojave Desert with her husband and seven of her nine children.

Reviews for The Last Gasp

[eccl-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Last Gasp by Chautona Havig is the first book in the Ever After Mystery series. This is a cute story that retells the story of Cinderella losing her slipper. This story takes place in the 1920’s with murders that take place at a moving showing. A young lady becomes a suspect when her shoe is found.This is such an enjoyable story to read. It is a who done is mystery that is filled with action and suspense. I enjoyed the main characters in the story and the strength of their relationship. I liked Gary’s determination to leave the luxury life in Hollywood to pursue a Bible education and his dream to marry Lucinda, who knows so little about him and his past.I received a complimentary copy of this story, this is my honest reivew.

[grammy57 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was given a copy of this audiobook through CelebrateLit and this review is my own, honest opinion. I truly enjoyed the story and the narration, both. The story flowed well. It kept my attention from the very beginning. It is a Christian book that shows God's love without being preachy or offensive. It shows how people depend on God in good times and bad. The characters were quite well developed, even the minor players were believable. The story flowed well without any bumps in the telling. I was sorry to have the story end. As for the narration, I truly enjoyed listening to her. She added just the right inflections and did a good job changing her voice to fit the various characters. She has a pleasant, even voice that was easy to listen to. Overall I would rate this book a 4 out of 5-stars. I enjoyed the book and if you are looking for a clean, Christian, mystery audiobook this is for you. You won't be disappointed.

[stardust_fiddle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As a child, I was never really enamored with princesses and fairy tales the way that other girls were. Romance just isn’t my cup of tea. Unless, of course, the subject is Belle: secluded castle, grand library with a sliding book ladder…but I digress. With the exception of wearing a rather glitzy Cinderella dress for my first piano recital in second grade (a harbinger, perhaps, since I quit a few years later), I have been staunchly in the pioneer, historical-fiction camp. I do, however, love mysteries, and that is what caught my eye with Celebrate Lit’s new series, “Ever After Mysteries.” Intrigued by the amalgamation of fairy tale adaption, historical fiction, and mystery, I had to check it out.Chautona Havig kicks off the Ever After Mysteries with “The Last Gasp,” a 1920s adaptation of Cinderella. I know little about this time period, particularly in regard to theater and film, which made it fun to read about. The main character, Lucinda “Cinda” Ashton, works as a cigarillo girl, selling candy and cigarettes at the Taj Mahal Theater, until a night of chaos and murder points to her as the prime suspect. Her boyfriend, Gary Prinz, a charming little orphan boy named Herbie, and a cast of others band together to figure out who is behind the curtain of this crime spree.Humor adds just enough lightheartedness to bring a smile to readers without detracting from the mystery, and the literary nods that Havig includes amuse those who look for them. I noticed, for instance, an homage to Snoopy early on in the narrative. The names used in “The Last Gasp” are, of course, very apropos, and several other parallels between the famous story that most know and cherish pop up throughout the narrative. Because of the combination of romantic and alarming elements, “The Last Gasp” does seem like an admirable merging of the Disney and Brothers Grimm versions! For anyone with concerns, however, this adaptation is clean and does not contain graphic details beyond a few brief mentions of blood. There were times when the story execution reminded me of the movie “Clue” due to the wit and comical nature of some of the scenes, but there is also a deep undercurrent of faith and love. My favorite scene is when Gary witnesses to a wondering Mrs. Cohen, explaining “As for my reward, I have it already—salvation. I know it isn’t the done thing to talk about in society, but you asked. Some men are eager to share how to receive the Lord’s gift. I wish to teach those who already have it how to live in a way that reflects their gratitude for it.” To me, this speaks to the ultimate message of “The Last Gasp”: jealousy never cultivates contentment, and no matter how much or how little anyone has here on earth, the greatest possession of all is a relationship not with Prince Charming, but with King Jesus. I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Let’s journey back to the 1920’s as the author pens a retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales. I could see the movie theater as actors were greeted with smiles and adorations. The cigarillo girls parading up and down the aisles with candy and cigarettes were fun to read about. It is hard to think about a time where someone would bring you refreshments as you sat in your seat ready for the picture to begin.I began to wonder with the mystery taking center stage how the story of Cinderella would tie in. Oh but I needed not to wait long as the author crafts a web of twists that feature a shoe and a young woman who learns to believe in herself. Cinda finds herself behind bars and trapped as she tries to prove her innocence. Here is where I started piecing together fairy tale and story as I remembered Cinda’s landlord. Oh what an evil woman she was trying to get favors for the other girls by having Cinda do something that would get her in trouble.I loved how the author made the story historically accurate with her intensive research and details. It is easy to place yourself there as the murders were committed and the chaos that followed. I really tried to figure who the guilty person was and why they did it but was unable too. The author gives us a twist on a fairy tale in a very clever way with mystery, danger and characters that come to life. As I finished the book I thought about what the story meant to me. I witnessed people idolizing others and belittling those who seemed not as important. However the best lesson I received was how faith can give us hope. He sees past our imperfections and lovingly gives us grace.I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.