A ★★★★★ Book Review of One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn in the Dive Team Investigations, Book Three | A Christian fiction romantic suspense novel
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell at Baker Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts below are my own. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links which means I will receive a commission based on sales generated via these links.
All the praise for a fantastic new suspense novel by Lynn H. Blackburn!
In book three of the Dive Team Investigations series, a decade old kidnapping, a budding romance between two intense characters and a recent murder binds the pages of this story together in a riveting read! After reading In Too Deep (Book 2) last November, I was elated to dive into this story and delighted to find out that it did not disappoint but rather exceeded expectations!
Revenge has no statute of limitations — When investigator Gabe Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell, a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him. Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her--the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child. When Anissa's fractured past collides with Gabe's investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they'll have to put aside their complicated history with each other in order to uncover the killer's identity.
Praise for the Dive Team Investigations series — "A genuinely extraordinary novel by an author who is an established master of the genre."--Midwest Book Reviews on In Too Deep
"A real page-turner."--Booklist on Beneath the Surface
"Blackburn grabs readers by the throat and doesn't let go."--Fresh Fiction on Beneath the Surface
★★★★★ | One Final Breath, book three in the Dive Team Investigations series by Lynn H. Blackburn follows the story of homicide detective and dive team captain, Anissa Bell and Investigator Gabe Chavez as they find themselves suddenly thrown into a mysterious shooting and subsequent murder on Lake Porter in Carrington Co., North Carolina. Both characters are intensely professional, strong and wildly passionated about their work, each with their own past influencing their daily lives at present. As the mystery begins to unfold, these two characters find themselves facing a decade old murder and kidnapping case, a current murder and a series of events that leads to Anissa’s life being threatened. With the help of their co-workers and friends, the dive team works together to uncover the truth.
One Final Breath was a definite page turner for me. I had trouble putting it down and enjoyed it even more than In Too Deep. While this story line isn’t constant action, it flows well and has many elements of surprise throughout. The suspense held my interest and the start of a relationship between two dynamic characters was something to savor as they work embrace their newly discovered feelings and connect on a deeper level. Blackburn creates a beautiful vision of professionalism, camaraderie and friendship between the dive teammates and characters from the previous two books, focusing on how each member has a unique talent and uses that gift to uplift others. The elements of faith that Blackburn wove into this novel are subtle yet profound, covering topics such as guilt, forgiveness and reliance on God.
This novel can be read as a standalone but will surely be enjoyed just as much as part of the series. I highly recommend this story to both those who like romantic suspense and those who enjoy mysteries. This novel is appropriate for older teenagers in my opinion. It is a great read, for certain and I hope you enjoy One Final Breath as much as I did!
“Their shared history was... complex. She’d tried to keep her distance, but he kept showing up. On random Saturdays when she went for a run. On Tuesday nights when she stayed late to finish paperwork. And unlike the way he was with the group - loud, flirty, the life of the party - when it was the two of them, he rarely spoke. He was just - there. With her. Not asking for anything, but present. Available. Gabe Chavez. He’d gotten under her skin for years, but lately he’d gotten inside her head.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Image courtesy of www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Beneath the Surface, Hidden Legacy, and Covert Justice. Winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel, Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children.
You can visit her website at www.lynnblackburn.com or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram!
Lastly, pick up your own copy of One Final Breath or borrow it from your local library. Then, I'd love to hear YOUR thoughts on the book in the comments below!
