One Last Breath

By Ginny Myers Sain

Book Overview

The New York Times bestselling author of Dark & Shallow Lies delivers another chilling supernatural thriller filled with murder, romance, and a decades long mystery that haunts a small Florida town.

The perfect blend of Natasha Preston, Krystal Sutherland, and Delia Owens, with a paranormal twist.

Mount Orange, Florida, is famous for two things: Cerulean freshwater springs, ideal for free divers who aren't afraid of lurking gators. And the gruesome cold case murder of best friends, Bailey and Celeste, twenty years ago.

Bailey and Celeste's murders cast a permanent darkness over sunny Mount Orange. Tru has always lived in that shadow. Now she's supposed to head to FSU in the fall with her boyfriend, but those unsolved murders -- and the death of her own sister -- invade her every thought. It's only in the shadowy deep of Hidden Glen Springs that she can breathe.

When a strange girl named Rio rolls into town, hell-bent on figuring out who killed Bailey and Celeste, Tru can't resist entangling herself in the thrill of solving the decades old mystery any more than she can resist her familiar, aching attraction to Rio.

As the summer heat ignites, so does the spark between Tru and Rio...along with their other-worldy connection to Bailey and Celeste. But when someone begins stalking them, the girls become convinced the killer is back in town. And if they keep digging into the past, Tru and Rio know this time, it could be their blood that makes the springs run red.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593625455
• ISBN13: 9780593625453
• Release Date: March 2024
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 5.8" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Creepy Atmosphere

This story had a lot going for it, starting with the 20 year anniversary of two girls, Celeste and Bailey who were gruesomely murdered but no one ever found the killer. That casts a shadow over the town, and especially Trulee who feels a connection to the murdered girls even if it happened before she was born, plus the tragedy of Trulee's sister being a victim of a hit and run. That built up the story nicely and it ramps up even more when she meets Rio, a girl with her own secrets and connection the murders of 20 years ago and the reemergence of the killer trying to keep the truth hidden. So, yeah, it had all that going for it but then it got a bit weird as the past was revealed with a bit of the supernatural and the hard work of Trulee and Rio. Now, the bits I did not love. The names were kinda odd, like Jon Boy and Derry (always made me think of a certain town) and Dill and East. I also found the ending a bit confusing with everyone accusing everyone else and then the Glades Reaper being someone mentioned only a few times in passing. The reason for Dani's death also seemed a bit tacked on to make the connection more awful. Ending on a good note though, the deep diving bits were interesting. Not sure I would be brave enough to try that, especially with the gators! And it was a quick read because I did want to find out who the murderer was.

Twisty, unpredictable, atmospheric thriller

Celeste and Bailey were teenage girls who were murdered 20 years ago in the small Florida town of Mount Orange. Trulee has spent her whole life hearing about the murders and feeling haunted by them; however, the gruesome crime has remained unsolved. Rio, a beautiful girl and fellow free diver arrives in town determined to solve the murders. Trulee feels immediately drawn to Rio and they team up to try to figure out what happened all those years ago. As they dig deeper in to the mystery, Trulee and Rio realize someone is watching them and that they are in danger. They also cannot deny the growing connection between them. One Last Breath is a highly suspenseful thriller with multiple twists and turns and queer rep. The setting of a beautiful Florida spring was atmospheric and fascinating, as were the free diving aspects of the story. I ended up researching more about the Florida freshwater springs and learned that they are threatened ecosystems. One Last Breath is a stay-up-all-night compelling, unpredictable YA thriller.