Books on Tour (Review): Her Last Mistake by Clara Kovach

Detective Gina Harte is back, and this time the investigation hits a little closer to home than she would like.

One thing this author does well is setting incredibly detailed scenes. But Ms. Kovach goes a step beyond several other authors and sets active scenes. Not only are static details enumerated, but dynamic moments are as well (the flash of a camera at a crime scene, the sounds of the squad room, etc.). It gives a whole different dimension to reading.

I also like how the people involved in the investigation proceed, especially how they talk things out before an official statement is made, spitballing ideas or general thoughts on the case. This type of discussion is something that happens in real-life investigations, and the author captures it perfectly.  

As to the investigation itself, it’s more personal because aspects of it remind Gina of her own past trauma. These moments do serve to catalyze Gina and drive her to find the killer while adding depth to her character.  However, there were a few times I felt that Gina’s memories bogged the plot down. I wanted to get back to the action of the story.

The crime(s) are pretty gruesome, but not gory. The close proximity of the killer and victims proves that it mostly involves the power the killer feels, and that is detailed in sporadic chapters from the killer’s point of view.

As always, the author does a fantastic job of throwing red herrings and twists in that mimic a real investigation (thinking that it’s suspect A, but maybe it’s suspect B, what does suspect C have to do with it all, anyway?). And just when you think you have it all figured out, you don’t. This author is a master at partial guilt. And that’s all I am going to say about that.

Even though this is part of a series, the sixth to be exact, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. You will just have a better sense of Gina’s (and her team’s) backgrounds if you have read the others.

Author Bio:

Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama ‘Flame,’ psychological thriller ‘To Let,’ crime thriller ‘Whispers Beneath the Pines,’ and holiday comedy, ‘Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.’ Carla also writes stage and screenplays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area. Her feature film ‘Penny for the Guy’ is being made and is set for release in 2019.

Her latest book, Her Last Mistake is the sixth book in the DI Gina Harte crime series.