Book Review: Save Your Breath by Melinda Leigh

“Save Your Breath,” book 6 and the final installment of the Morgan Dane series has stayed true to its police procedural DNA while also giving all the main characters a proper farewell as they proverbially rode to towards the sunset. But before they reach that part, a nail-biting kidnapping case has Lance Kruger, Morgan Dane and Lincoln Sharpe running for their lives.

The book opens with the terrifying scene of Olivia Cruz’s kidnapping. Then it’s followed by a seemingly unrelated incident of a suicide of Morgan Dane’s prospective client in the parking lot.

Around the same time, Lincoln Sharpe hears of about the disappearance of his girlfriend Olivia, who also happens to be a true crime writer. And as Morgan, Lance and Lincoln follow lead after lead that turn out to be dead ends, they also know that time is running out for Olivia since the kidnapper has not asked for a ransom.

Save Your Breath (Morgan Dane Book 6)

Fast-paced with accompanying adrenaline, “Save Your Breath” is aptly titled both for the readers and for the characters. For the readers because, you just can’t turn the pages fast enough to know what happens next.

As for the characters, Morgan, Lance and Lincoln are running on fumes. There was no time to sleep and barely enough time to eat, Morgan and Lance still must honor parental obligations while Lincoln has to be supportive of Olivia’s family.

Olivia herself was not doing well under the “care” of her kidnapper. She knows that her chances of survival go down every minute without medication for her medical condition.

Suspenseful is not enough to describe this final book for Morgan Dane. Author Melinda Leigh is a true master of her craft. With so many twists and turns, she had kept the readers guessing until the end. And yes, “Save Your Breath” is a beautiful send off to all the characters that fans have fallen in love with.

If this is the first time that you are reading Morgan Dane, don’t worry. You will enjoy it even though you have not read the first 5. But I have to warn you; I won’t be a surprised if you decide to read the whole series.

The Morgan Dane series is police procedural at its best. A woman as the lead character is a bonus.

I received an ARC of Save Your Breath but also listened to its audio. Cris Dukehart is excellent as the book’s narrator as she gave distinct voices to all the characters, including the children. And yes, they do sound like little girls! This is my first listen for Cris Dukehart and I’m impressed.

“Save Your Breath” is Rated T for Teens due to violence. Parental guidance is strongly advised. There are no sex scenes in this book.

Title: Save Your Breath
Author: Melinda Leigh
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Publisher: Montlake

Summary

When true-crime writer Olivia Cruz disappears with no signs of foul play, her new boyfriend, Lincoln Sharp, suspects the worst. He knows she didn’t leave willingly and turns to attorney Morgan Dane and PI Lance Kruger to find her before it’s too late.

As they dig through Olivia’s life, they are shocked to discover a connection between her current book research on two cold murder cases and the suicide of one of Morgan’s prospective clients.

As Morgan and Lance investigate, the number of suspects grows, but time is running out to find Olivia alive. When danger comes knocking at their door, Morgan and Lance realize that they may be the killer’s next targets.