The Last Kiss Goodbye: A Novel

By Karen Robards

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY RT BOOK REVIEWS

When New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards brought her irresistible brand of hot passion and chilling suspense to the paranormal romance scene with The Last Victim, it was just the beginning. Now her series cranks up the deadly danger and intense desire to the next level, as sexy serial killer hunter Charlotte Stone returns to action in her thrilling second adventure.
 
THE LAST KISS GOODBYE
 
Dr. Charlotte “Charlie” Stone has dedicated her career as a psychiatrist to exploring the darkest territory of all: the hearts and minds of serial killers. It’s a job she’s uniquely suited for, thanks to the secret talent that gives her an uncanny edge—Charlie can see dead people, whose tormented spirits cry out to her for the justice only she can provide. This blessing—or curse—gives Charlie the power to hunt down and catch madmen and murderers. It’s also turned her love life upside down by drawing her into a hopelessly passionate relationship with the lingering ghost of charismatic bad boy Michael Garland.
 
But there’s little time for romance with her supernatural suitor when murder comes pounding at Charlie’s door in the form of a terrified young woman fleeing a homicidal maniac. Saving her life places Charlie squarely in the cross-hairs of a sadistic predator nicknamed “the Gingerbread Man,” notorious for manipulating his victims like pawns in a deadly chess game. And now the queen this psychopath’s bent on capturing is Charlie. Refusal to play will only put more innocent lives in danger. Matching wits with this cunningly twisted opponent will require all of Charlie’s training and expert skills. But even with her devilish “guardian angel”—not to mention her favorite flesh-and-blood Fed, Tony Bartoli—watching her beautiful back, the Gingerbread Man’s horrifying grin might be the last thing Charlie ever sees.

Features a preview of the next Charlotte Stone novel, HER LAST WHISPER

Praise for The Last Kiss Goodbye
 
"Top-notch . . . Suspense mixed with heart-pounding sensual tension."—Kirkus Reviews

“Filled with gritty thrills and featuring a psychopathic madman, this suspense tale will truly have you on the edge of your seat!”—RT Book Reviews
 
Praise for Karen Robards
 
“One of the most popular voices in women’s fiction.”—Newsweek
 
“Draw a line between two extremely popular genres, mysteries and romance novels, and in the middle you will find the bestselling Robards. She merges the two worlds like no one else, deftly interlacing plot and passion.”—Albany Times Union
 
Praise for The Last Victim
 
“[An] exceptional storyteller . . . Leave it to Robards to deliver the start of a series that is distinctive and unforgettable!”—RT Book Reviews
 
“Excellent . . . This story is going to haunt you.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
“Thrilling . . . a fun and sexy read.”—Booklist

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9780345535832

Karen Robards

Karen Robards is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. Karen published her first novel at age twenty-four and has won multiple awards throughout her career, including six Silver Pens for favorite author. Karen was described by The Daily Mail as “one of the most reliable thriller...writers in the world.” She is the mother of three boys and lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews for The Last Kiss Goodbye

[thelibraryhag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Charlotte (Charlie) Stone has no sooner returned home from her first case with the FBI than she is drawn into another serial killer hunt, when a victim rushes into her house seeking help. This is the work of the Gingerbread Man who take 3 victims at a time and forces them to kill each other with the promise that he will release the survivor. He has recently been leaving notes with serial killer experts saying "You Can't Catch Me". Thus the Gingerbread Man. Anyway, as the recipient of one of these notes, Charlie is determined to help solve this case. But will ghostly shadow Michael allow it?I am not sure why but I love these books. I like Charlie. I like the FBI agents she works with, particularly Toni, who Charlie is interested in. I just love Michael and can't wait to find out his true story. I could do with a little less out of body sex, but other than that these books are exciting and interesting.

[bookdivasreads · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was a book I was looking forward to reading and after I completed it realized it didn't really strike any accord with me. I had difficulty with the ongoing paranormal relationship between Dr. Charlotte Stone and Michael Garland. The only part of the story I enjoyed reading was the possibility that Michael might be innocent after all. Of course it doesn't do him much good since he's dead. Presumably there will be another story to tie up the loose ends presented in this book. I can't say if I'll be reading it or not, guess I'll have to wait and see if the synopsis grabs my attention or not. This wasn't a bad read it just wasn't as good as others by this author.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My rating: 3 of 5 starsThe Last Kiss Goodbye by Karen Robards is Random House/Ballantine publication, released in August 2013.I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Charlie, a psychologist and expert profiler that works with the FBI, also sees dead people. Right now she is being haunted by Michael, a man believed to be a serial killer. When a girl shows up at Charlie's home screaming that a man is after her and will kill her, Charlie is sucked into the hunt for the notorious "Gingerbread Man" killer.This killer is particularly sadistic. He kidnaps a group of people, then allows one to escape. The catch is that if you live, you will have to kill the other kidnap victims.Michael helps Charlie with the investigation and bugs the crap out of her as well. But, he also has her falling in love with him. Charlie fights to be normal and go out with Tony, an FBI agent that is attractive, and nice. But, Michael is always around doing his level best to keep anything from developing between them. Was Michael innocent of the crimes he was convicted of? Who is the Gingerbread Man and is he after Charlie and other psychologist as well? This is the sequel to "The Last Victim". I did not read the first book, and I can't really tell if one might benefit from reading that book first. I had the feeling all throughout this book that I was missing a key element in the relationship between Charlie and Michael. There is a love story between the two of them, but for me it was just flat. They argued and had conversations that couldn't be completed because someone was always watching and Charlie would have looked like she was talking to herself. The mystery and investigation was also hard to get into. The culprit was pretty easy to figure out and the investigation seemed too rushed. I was interested at times, but bored at others. There was maybe too much dialogue and not enough action. This is not Karen Robards bet work in my opinion. It was enjoyable, but I have read much better from this author. But, everyone has a title here and there that just doesn't work for everyone. So, I'll give this one a C.

[niaomiya · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First of all, before I get into my review, I should say that if you have not read Robards's prequel to this book, The Last Victim, stop and go read that one first. Although it's not critical that you read that book first, it does help a lot in understanding key character and plot elements. The Last Kiss Goodbye picks up exactly where The Last Victim stopped.Ok, now on to my review...I loved The Last Victim, this book's prequel. Ever since The Last Victim came out, I'd been waiting on pins and needles for The Last Kiss Goodbye to find out what happens to Charlie's relationships with Michael the ghost and Tony the FBI agent. I was a bit disappointed with this followup. The suspense part of this romantic suspense novel was actually quite good; I enjoyed the search for the serial killer The Gingerbread Man. The diabolical m.o. of the killer was so twisted and horrible; I was impressed with the originality of it, given all the serial killer novels out today. What disappointed me was how slooooooow the book was in the beginning. It was all about Charlie and Michael - which is GREAT and exactly what I wanted - but I expected a lot more heat in the relationship. Instead, Michael was actually quite irritating. And if Robards described Michael as "badass" one more time, I was going to throw the book at the wall. Really? Use the word one time, maybe twice, but after that, please use a synonym. I got really tired of hearing Charlie observe how badass Michael looked.Charlie and Michael didn't heat up until well past the middle of the book. When there was finally some believable sexual tension between them, all I could think was "Well, it's about time!" C'mon, Robards, you know this is what your readers have been waiting for. Why wait so long to satisfy us?I didn't really get into the book until about 1/3 of the way through, when I started to feel engaged by the plot and character development. This, in and of itself, was a huge disappointment because I'm used to Robards's books grabbing me from the start and never letting go. I was expecting a thrill-ride of a book, and I didn't get that thrilling feeling until halfway through.Having said all this, though, I am still looking forward to the next book in the series because I do have a vested interest in seeing what happens with Charlie, Michael, and Tony. I just hope that the next book grabs me from the beginning. I want a book that I can't put down. Robards has done it before; I'm counting her to do it again with the next book. I'll consider this one an anomaly.

[dearheart_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When late at night, a bloody and frightened young woman pounds on her door saying a man with a gun is going to kill her, forensic psychiatrist Dr Charlotte (Charlie) Stone finds herself in the middle of The Gingerbread Man serial killer case. The guy picks out various authorities on the subject to “Catch me if you can” and she’s just been invited to catch him.She’s worked with the FBI before on a serial killer case as her field is research on what makes them tick. Her expertise makes her an asset, as does the ghost of a convicted serial killer who is somehow tied to her. She can see and communicate with the ghosts of the recently, violently killed and she’d been at the prison when Michael had been killed by another inmate. It turns out the super sexy guy who is as attracted to her as she is to him, just might be innocent.She’s once again working with the FBI team headed up by Special Agent Tony Bartoli who is also attracted to Charlie. This provides a level of humor as Michael, who must stay within 50 feet of Charlie, certainly doesn’t like the attention Tony pays to her, or Charlie’s attempt to have a relationship with someone normal. No one else knows she can see ghosts or that Michael is around and it’s difficult to explain some of her words or actions as she tries not to respond to Michael’s comments when around others. But Michael is super protective of Charlie and his observations help the case.The overall story seems to be heavier on the relationship between Charlie and Michael, than on the mystery, at least on Charlie’s part. Go away! OMIGOD, what if he’s gone? Extremely attracted but where could it go? And he’s jealous of Tony and will do whatever he can to prevent that relationship from going anywhere.The mystery is much more realistic when it comes to uncovering clues and the danger Charlie faces. The killer will surprise you. I really like Charlie and Michael. Heck, I wouldn’t mind having a guy like Michael in my own life. I enjoyed the story but would have preferred a little less on Charlie’s continual back and forth thoughts on Michael--which would be difficult since he's always there--and a little more on the mystery.

[peggy.s · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was rather disappointed with this book. I am a Karen Robards fan – and have read the first book in this series (The Last Victim) – and really liked it. Unlike the first book, this one just didn’t “grab” me. I think my problem was that the main character (Dr. Charlotte Stone) wasn't personally threatened by the serial killer her team was trying to catch. It seemed to me that most of this book was dedicated to the relationship between Charlotte and her ghost-lover, Michael – a dead serial killer (explained in the first book). I read this book hoping for a suspenseful thriller – and it turned out to be more of a romance (with a little suspense). As I said, this is the second book in the series about Dr. Stone, a psychiatrist whose specializes in trying to find out what makes serial killers “tick.” I think to get the most from it – you really need to have read the first book (which is more of a thriller – with a little romance thrown in). I do like Ms. Robards’ books – and I will read the third in the series. I just hope it has more suspense in it!

[sharonr53 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Charlotte Stone continues her spectral romance with Michael Garland in this follow up to The Last Victim. Charlotte (Charlie) is a psychologist specializing in serial killers which is how she met Michael. She was interviewing him in prison shortly before he was killed and now he has a psychic attachment to her after death. Charlie is torn between her feelings for Michael, whom she knows will disappear soon, and her mild attraction to hunky FBI agent Tony Bartoli. Charlie gets thrown into another investigation when a terrified young girl bangs on her door after escaping from a killer. This killer turns out to have caused the deaths of his victims in a particularly heinous way and Charlie’s involvement could cause her to be in great danger.This story could be really icky on so many levels as Michael is a ghost and a convicted serial killer no less. Ms. Robards drops more hints in this book that Michael might have been wrongly convicted and there seems to be some solid evidence to support that possibility. Even so, he is a GHOST and how is that going to turn out ok. Every time you think that Charlie has lost her mind something happens to make you just love Michael all over again and you get sucked into the belief that somehow it will work out.The chemistry between Charlie and Michael burns off the pages even as she is trying to keep him at an paranormal arm’s length and work things out with Tony. In addition to the steamy romance theme, the mystery of the manipulative killer is tightly written and full of suspense. There are a couple of big twists in the end that will take the reader by surprise just when it seems that the author has found a way to unite the two lovers.I’m hoping there will soon be another book in this series that will unravel the mystery of Michael even more even as the implausible romance continues….. or not!

[azacia · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the hardest books I have had to rate. I will start off by saying I absolutely loved the first book in this series, The Last Victim. The Last Kiss Goodbye, however I found difficult to get through to the point where I considered putting it down and not finishing it.

About 80% of the book involves the heroine, Dr. Charlotte Stone – criminal psychologist, arguing and giving dirty looks to her love interest suspected serial killer ghost, Michael Garland.

I am actually a fan of the Charlie and Michael romance (yes, despite him being dead and being a convicted serial killer) but the interplay between the two lost points for me in several areas including:
1. Charlie was arguing with Michael over their relationship status and was fretting over him disappearing instead of protecting herself from a serial killer who was right outside her door. Um, hello?!? Even if he was alive, in the flesh, she should have been more concerned with the serial killer stalking her and the victim who ran to her for help than advising Michael to "go to the light"
2. She doesn't trust him enough to really believe he is innocent of the murders, but she trusts him enough to tie his spirit to her for all eternity and to sleep with him?
3. Michael acts like a spoiled child with his comments and taunting her. This plays more of a middle school romance in parts than an adult one. If he cares and loves her so deeply, then why isn't her happiness paramount?
4. Charlie seems to be in love with Michael, but after a passionate night she still threatens to kiss Tony – poor Tony! He is totally being lead on by Charlie and appears to be being used to make Michael jealous rather than to pursue an actual relationship.
5. Charlie and Michael seem to be having the same conversation over and over again throughout the novel. Not much ground was gained or lost, they just kept lamenting their situation. It was tiresome.

The most frustrating part is that the story line and the novel have so much potential! There is a good story in there, buried under a lot of needless back and forth. Charlie Stone appears to be a great detective and psychologist, but her lack of common sense in her relationship and when being pursued by a serial killer is just frustrating.

The books winning moment is that the ending is phenomenal. The last 5% of the book is great and is reminiscent of the first novel in this series. It ends on a fantastic note which sheds a little "light" into the underlying series story. However, I'm not sure the strong ending is enough to make up for the weakness of the majority of the novel.