by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of the post on how to enter to win a copy of Til Death and a link to order it from Amazon and an indie bookstore.

Former paramedic Zoe Chambers is now fully immersed in her new job as the Chief Deputy Coroner of Monongahela County, but there’s a new venture looming in her future that is somewhat terrifying. In just two weeks Zoe will be marrying Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams, and it seems that everyone in both their Pennsylvania towns plans on attending. Zoe’s hopes for a small, intimate wedding are dwindling fast, although just getting her feuding new relatives together in one room may already be impossible. Nothing forces Zoe to focus on what’s important than the death of her mentor and boss County Coroner Franklin Marshall, who unexpected collapsed in the middle of an autopsy. His death was nearly as unexpected as that of their latest subject, a young mother Zoe knew from high school. Pete’s own past comes back to haunt him when a judge overturns the murder conviction of a man whom Pete had investigated and put in prison. Dustin Landis claims to have evidence that his wife was murdered by a still-active serial killer, and the District Attorney wants Pete to ensure that a new trial will result in another guilty decision. It’s a no-win situation for Pete, as he either put an innocent man behind bars while a killer roamed free, or Pete may have to release a man who murdered his wife.

What I love about this latest – and perhaps last – of the series is how it continually veers in unexpected directions and never takes the obvious path. Just when a seemingly obvious culprit is identified, the plot swerves and reveals another delightful twist. Pete and Zoe take the lead in alternating chapters focusing on their investigations, with Zoe facing not just the loss of someone close but the stress of her arriving family. “Complicated” doesn’t come close to describing Zoe’s relationships with her newly discovered relatives, most of whom Peter either arrested or outright put in jail. The reluctance to apologize or easily forgive are traits they all do seem to share, which will make Zoe’s walk down the aisle a bumpy one.

The path Zoe’s life has taken from her first appearance in Circle of Influence has been skillfully and compellingly depicted throughout these ten novels, and the journey has been as thought-provoking and educational for readers as it has been for Zoe. Loyal readers will be rewarded for following Zoe’s adventures with a finale that is as unexpected as it is heart-warming and satisfying. While readers can jump into any of the books and be quickly caught-up to speed, to get the true experience of seeing her development one should delve into them all. Zoe is smart, vulnerable, and quick-witted, living in a Pennsylvania town populated by equally authentic characters with interwoven lives. While another entry in this series would be more than welcome, this ends on a high note is the perfect conclusion to a winning series.

Check out other Henery Press mysteries on their website.

To enter to win a copy of Til Death, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “til,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 18, 2020. U.S. residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If you are entering via email please include you mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like. BE AWARE THAT IT WILL TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL FOR WINNERS TO GET THEIR BOOKS DUE TO THE CURRENT CRISIS.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. One of Larissa’s books is featured in a past episode. A new episode went up this week.

You can use this link to purchase this book from indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy, and KRL gets a portion of the sale:

Til Death (Zoe Chambers Mystery #10)

You can use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.