The Last County


Fiction - Suspense
356 Pages
Reviewed on 02/02/2025
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Last County by Monty R Lemley follows Sheriff Bleu Calhoun as he seeks a fresh start in Pershing County, Nevada. Known for his unrelenting pursuit of criminals, Bleu has never been as successful in matters of the heart. Hoping to leave his past behind, he arrives in Pershing County with dreams of settling down. However, when a murder case disrupts his plans, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous web of romance and espionage. To figure this case out, Bleu must confront not only the mystery before him but also the secrets of his past that threaten to resurface. As he delves into the case, Bleu finds himself drawn into a world of intrigue and romance while simultaneously grappling with his longing for companionship. Will Bleu let his personal life get in the way of his professionalism?

Monty R Lemley masterfully balances suspense and emotion, crafting a protagonist who is both tough and introspective. I loved Bleu and his cynicism. He was rough around the edges, a little lost, but razor-focused on his job. Bleu is a compelling figure; his sharp investigative skills contrast well with his deep longing for connection, making him a character readers can root for. The isolated mountain community adds a sense of atmosphere and intrigue, which I absolutely love. The setting of rural Nevada gives a unique backdrop, and the descriptions of the rugged beauty and small-town complexities make the story even more entertaining. The pace is fast without being too much, the character development is amazing, and I loved how Bleu remained the focal point. I loved the blend of crime, romance, and personal redemption, and how author Monty R. Lemley executed this well-thought-out story.

Stephen Christopher

Pershing County Sheriff Bleu Calhoun is investigating the stabbing murder of Madison Stone, a Las Vegas resident found dead in his jurisdiction. There’s something about this case that reminds him of another one. Is this murder connected to something in his past? His investigations take him to Las Vegas, where he is almost killed twice. That’s not all he has to deal with; he is being constantly badgered to catch the scoundrel who broke Grace Doyle’s window. Throw in the woman who loves him, but who he sees as a friend, and the woman he loves who won’t accept his many marriage proposals. Bleu Calhoun has a lot on his plate. Does he solve the murder quickly and sort out his messy love life? Read The Last County by Monty R Lemley to find out.

Bleu Calhoun is the kind of county sheriff everyone wants to cheer for. He’s far from perfect; he has many demons, yet the reader can’t help wanting him to succeed. One of the appealing aspects of this novel is that Monty R Lemley has set it in 1982, so there are no mobile phones or the internet. All the investigations are done the hard way, and it’s refreshing to find out how they were done back then. The victim, Madison Stone, turns out to be an intriguing character, and each revelation gives the reader something to be shocked about. I found myself going, ‘Wow, wow, wow,' on many occasions. The Last County is a riveting thriller that will enthrall the reader from the first page to the last.

Keith Mbuya

After his move from Clark County, Las Vegas, to Pershing County, Nevada, Bleu Calhoun, a former investigator, had been quickly installed as the county’s sheriff. Calhoun is barely into his second term when the body of a young woman, Madison Stone, is discovered dumped in a remote area in the county. While the sheriff was no stranger to murder cases, it was the autopsy results that rattled him. Madison had been stabbed and killed by a professional. Going after clues to hunt for the killer, Calhoun finds himself treading a slippery path as a past romance ignites, and his life and those of his loved ones are on the line. An unknown force is willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to block Calhoun’s investigation. Is there more to Madison’s murder? Can Calhoun get to the bottom of it all? Find out in Monty R. Lemley’s The Last County.

If you are looking for a gripping whodunnit laced with crime, adventure, thrills, drama, and romantic intrigue, Monty R. Lemley’s The Last County is just what you should be looking for. Spinning a web of mystery around an intriguing plot, Lemley unfolds the storyline through a double timeline. The edge-of-the-seat suspense and the spell-binding plot twists hooked me, turning page after page. The evocative depictions brought the scenes to life on the pages. I was drawn into a world of blackmail, murder, power, dark secrets, love, loyalty, redemption, and more. Lemley features a dynamic and fascinating cast, giving them an animated quality. The conversations were real and layered. Alongside the sentiment of the storyline, they gave depth to the cast’s complex traits, allowed me to experience their emotions, and made it easy to connect with them.

K.C. Finn

The Last County by Monty R Lemley is a suspenseful tale of justice, romance, and hidden truths that grips readers from the first page. Sheriff Bleu Calhoun's search for love is interrupted by a homicide that draws him into a world of espionage and dark secrets in the rugged landscape of Pershing County. The novel masterfully weaves together elements of romance and mystery, creating a rich tapestry of small-town life shadowed by international intrigue. Through Lemley's skilled storytelling, readers experience both the warmth of budding romance and the chill of mounting danger as Calhoun uncovers layers of deception in his seemingly peaceful jurisdiction. The atmospheric setting of Pershing County becomes a character in itself, with vivid descriptions that bring the rugged beauty and hidden dangers of the landscape to life and perfectly match the different emotional moods of each scene.

Author Monty R Lemley's engaging narrative balances multiple genres without losing focus on the central mystery plot. The portrayal of Bleu Calhoun offers readers a compelling protagonist whose personal struggles and professional challenges intertwine naturally. I was invested in both the romantic subplot and the central mystery, thanks to the author's ability to maintain tension on multiple fronts with superb pacing, descriptions, and keen attention to detail. This intricate plot is also packed with exciting twists that keep readers guessing while remaining grounded in believable human motivations. The author explores themes of redemption and justice through a double lens of both the personal relationships around Bleu and his professional duty. The way the story unfolds reveals deeper truths about human nature and the cost of seeking justice in an unjust world, making the journey both thrilling and thought-provoking, but also offering a deeper emotional read than many thrillers. Overall, I highly recommend The Last County to readers who enjoy complex characters and multilayered mysteries that delve beyond surface-level suspense.

Lucinda E Clarke

Set mostly in Nevada, The Last County by Monty R Lemley is a mix of a love story, espionage, and the hunt for ruthless killers, set between October 1982 and March 1983 during Reagan's presidency. Bleu Calhoun is the sheriff of Pershing County, a place where nothing much happens until the body of a girl is found. As in his previous cases, Calhoun is obsessed with solving the crime. The only other case to attend to is Mrs Doyle’s broken window. In following numerous leads, Bleu’s investigations take him to several places, until there is a dramatic twist. The murdered girl worked at a research facility which is determined to protect secrets. A foreign power is involved, along with the CIA and the FBI, but is anyone really who they pretend to be? And yet again Bleu falls in love. Life is complicated.

The Last County by Monty R Lemley is a fast-action thriller with several twists and turns. There is plenty of action, car chases with bullets flying in all directions, state secrets to be protected, and a romantic tangle all mixed up in one tale. Bleu Calhoun the star, is a likable character, although he does rub people up the wrong way. He fell in love yet again so quickly, despite his unhappy childhood and his chequered past. The author manages to describe him so well. He is a likable character. The reader needs to pay close attention as the action races from place to place. Bleu, with help from his deputy, has lots of innovative ways to elude and destroy the legions of enemies who come to kill him and the girl he plans to marry. I enjoyed this book as it kept my interest from the first page to the last, the action never lets up, and, as each piece of the puzzle is solved more questions are posed. An eclectic mix of espionage, police work, and romance makes this book suitable for a wide audience.