Until Our Last Embrace (Sharyn Howard Series #4) Book

Until Our Last Embrace is the 4th book in the Sharyn Howard Mystery series by the late Joyce and Jim Lavene. This is a re-release of a book originally published in 2001. I have read the Sharyn Howard mysteries in order and would recommend that readers new to this series consider doing the same as the character and plot development grows and flows smoothly from the firth through the fourth book. Until Our Last Embrace can be read as a stand-alone, but it does refer to situations from the past which are essential to reading enjoyment.
Set in the small town of Diamond Springs, North Carolina, Sharyn is the third generation of Howards to serve as the sheriff. Sharyn is busy dealing with a bear attack, and terrified residents when a reporter prints a false story claiming that the bear was rabid. Darva Richmond, the sister-in-law to Beau Richmond, a man previously murdered, is the unfortunate victim. The mauling is tragic and no one suspects foul play until officers explore the evidence. Darva and her husband Donald seemed to be the perfect couple, yet family members claim that they were always fighting and didn't sleep together. Donald is contesting his brother's will because it was changed during the last few months of Beau Richmond's life and millions are at stake.

Sharyn finds herself confronting numerous problems: District Attorney Jack Winter expresses his romantic interest. Sharyn must find a date to attend her mother's engagement party, despite her dislike of Senator Caison Talbot, the man she is engaged to. Her deputies leave her short staffed. To top it off, the dry cleaners dyed her uniforms blue! This mystery is a fast, fun read. The conclusion of Until Our Last Embrace is unexpected, powerful and keeps the reader guessing until the end. As each book in the series gets even better, you have to constantly remind yourself that Sharyn and the town of Diamond Springs are a work of fiction. This is a cozy, but there is some gore although it is fleeting. I do highly recommend this series and this book! I hope more books of this series will be released. Joyce and Jim were both wonderful authors and are greatly missed.

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this review are my own