Book review: Innocent to the Last by C. A. Asbrey

The finale to the Innocents Mystery Series is almost here (just a few more days) and fans will be delighted with this last piece of their journey.  Take a peek!

Blurb:

Nat, Abigail, and Jake are hot on the trail of the mysterious man behind the scenes who orchestrated the murder of baby Ava. Determined to bring her killer to justice, they are prepared to do whatever they must, no matter where the clues lead. Rebecca, an attractive newspaper woman investigating the same deadly gang of criminals brings complications into the mix for their plans—and for Jake’s heart.

With a slew of hired killers on their tails, the stars align when they bump into Nat and Jake’s old gang, The Innocents, in the midst of a train robbery. They strike a reluctant deal with The Innocents to take refuge in their old hideout at Ghost Canyon—at a price. Abi’s ability to break into a new type of armored car, one containing a rumored “golden boy” statue, gains them their refuge and buys them some very limited time.

When the hired killers show up at Ghost Canyon, there’s hell to pay with the surprise attack Nat has devised. If Jake survives, will he be able to find peace—and love—with his heart’s desire, at last? Can Nat and Abi deliver retribution for the death of their young daughter?

In a story filled with surprise villains, unexpected love, and gut-wrenching action, these twists and turns keep Nat, Abi, and Jake INNOCENT TO THE LAST…

My review:

Innocent to the Last delivers an explosively entertaining ending to a captivating mystery series.

Starting with a mess and a bang, we reconnect with our heroes on their journey of revenge for the death of Nat and Abi's daughter.  Unexpected twists, entertaining situations, and unique events propel the reader through the story, keeping you on your toes and turning the pages to the end. Becky joins our trio, adding a sweet and refreshing innocent charm to the darker and world-wary group.

Perfectly timed laughter filled one liners balance out heart and mind twisting revelations. And moments of beauty are exposed, showcasing the growth and the strong bonds of love the family has for each other.  I loved getting to see the closeness between Abi and Nat still going strong and then getting to watch Jake and Becky dance around each other till the final notes faded and they finally fall. 

We get the added bonus of going full circle in the series and encounter several previous characters that add a bit of fun and make the world feel more complete.  And as always, the science and mystery/investigative part of the story shines through, giving us pieces of technology and tricks of that time (and honestly a few tricks I kinda wanna try on a much smaller scale myself lol).

Fans of the series will enjoy this final installment of the series, wrapping up loose ends and giving a happily ever after vibe... Well, mostly. I mean, can Nat, Abi, and Jake ever avoid some kind of excitement or challenge?

Favorite quotes:

I have so many highlighted that picking some (spoiler free) ones was a challenge.  So I'm going for more laughter-filled ones.

(Abi talking about Becky)  "She should have better taste than to take up with a criminal."

Jake snickered through the gloom.  "It strikes me that a lotta people would say the same to you."

(someone talking to Nat about Abi)  "Where the hell did you find this woman, Nat?"

"In a barn, covered in s***."

"Nat!" [Abi said.]

"What?"  Nat turned a glittering smile on his wife.  "I didn't tell him it was yours."

(Jake talking with Nat) "I can't get involved with a woman. I'm wanted."

"If you want to be together, we can find a way."  A wry smile licked over Nat's face.  "Have you met my wife?  Let me introduce you to the ex-Pinkerton we kidnapped."

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