---

New York Post‘s Pick for Best Books of the Week

The scariest kind of serial killer—one you don’t know exists

Martin Barlow was Clare Carlson’s first newspaper editor, a beloved mentor who inspired her career as a journalist. But, since retiring from his newspaper job, he had become a kind of pathetic figure—railing on about conspiracies, cover-ups, and other imaginary stories he was still working on. Clare had been too busy with her own career to pay much attention to him. When Martin Barlow is killed on the street one night during an apparent mugging attempt gone bad, it seems like he was just an old man whose time had come. But Clare—initially out of a sense of guilt for ignoring her old friend and then because of her own journalistic instincts—begins looking into his last story idea.

As she digs deeper and deeper into his secret files, she uncovers shocking evidence of a serial killer worse than Son of Sam, Ted Bundy, or any of the other infamous names in history. This really is the biggest story of Martin Barlow’s career—and Clare’s, too—as she uncovers the path leading to the decades-long killer of at least twenty young women.

All is not as it seems during Clare’s relentless search for this serial killer. Is she setting herself up to be his next victim?

Clare Carlson is perfect for fans of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone and Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski.

99c for a limited time!

AMAZON

and all online digital retailers

Also on sale for 1.99 thru August 31st

Yesterday’s News (Clare Carlson Mystery Book 1) Amazon

Below the Fold (Clare Carlson Mystery Book 2) Amazon

---

Felicia’s review of The Last Scoop

May 1, 2020

5/5 Stars!

Sitting down with a Clare Carlson Mystery is like visiting an old friend.

I like her unapologetic, straightforward attitude. She’s good at her job as a television news director while mostly pleasing no one but herself.

However, this time around, Clare’s self-possessed lifestyle leaves her wracked with guilt. Her beloved mentor, Marty Barlow, is killed on a New York City street. She’s haunted by the countless promises she made to meet the retiree for coffee or help him with a story she never saw through.

After picking her brain over their last conversation… and going through notes retrieved from Marty’s family, Clare realizes Marty was on to something. Corruption and murders. And some of the murders were decades old… committed by a serial killer.

Clare uses the methodical skills learned from Marty when she was a cub reporter to track down and piece together clues. The Pulitzer Prize-winner isn’t looking for another award. She wants to finish Marty’s investigations and find the truth, even as it puts her square in the sights of a killer.

As Clare balances work and Marty’s case, she is still plagued by the only other decision she’s ever felt guilt over, and it’s not any of her three divorces. It’s something she hasn’t even told her BFF, Janet. She wants to make it right, but will it all blow up in her face?

Great writing and multiple plot twists make The Last Scoop an unputdownable must-read, especially for readers who love mysteries, crime thrillers, and suspense.

(This is the third in the Clare Carlson series. Do yourself a favor and grab the first two!)

Enjoy!

---