Doom Magnet

The Last Picks, Book 3

By: Gregory Ashe

Narrated by: Andrew Gibson

They say bad things come in threes. Usually, they don’t mean murder.

After several months (and a few murders), Dash is finally starting to feel at home in Hastings Rock. He’s enjoying the quiet after the end of tourist season, he’s comfortable at Hemlock House (the jury is still out on whether it’s haunted), and most importantly, he has friends.

Friends, unfortunately, who have a tendency not to take no for an answer. Which is how Dash finds himself at a cold-water surfing competition only a few days before Halloween—and, even worse, attending a costume party at the surf camp later that evening.

When Dash stumbles across the body of a predatory local real estate developer, he’s the only one who believes it’s murder. Worse, Dash’s friend Deputy Bobby (they’re just friends, thank you very much) is on leave from the sheriff’s office while he and his fiancé prepare for their move to Portland. But Dash is determined not to let a murder go unsolved. And as Dash works to prove that the death was anything but accidental, the killer turns their attention to him.

©2024 Gregory Ashe (P)2024 Gregory Ashe

Surf's Up

Dash is still trying to things figured out. Officer Bobby is complicated. And now there is a murder to figure out. Dash has a lot to sort through. Maybe he might even get something written. #CMCon25

Finally Dash & Bobbie

This is the third book in GA’s cozy mysteries series call The Last Picks. Although there is a good mystery, this installment is mainly about the relationship between Dash and Deputy Bobby. GA really earns his King of the Slow Burn when he left us off on a cliff hanger in the second book. This book addresses some of the UST, but leaves us wanted more. These guys do NOT make things easy on themselves and I can foresee A LOT of complications.

There is miscommunications, inaccurate assumptions and of course stubborn men. Deputy Bobby’s relationship with has fiancés takes a necessary but unexpected turn. But somehow, I feel we haven’t heard the last of this relationship. My favorite part was the heartfelt dialogue between Dash and Bobby; it’s a start. In the end, we are left with more questions than answers, which is why I look forward to the next installment.

We also get a little peek inside Kimi’s back story; I look forward to hearing more about that. The mystery revolves around a murdered scum bag developer. Lots of red herrings with a satisfying conclusion. Mr. Gibson gives us another A+ performance and really brings these characters alive.

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review

Another Murder Mystery

3rd times the charm? Well 3rd murder that is lol
Dash stumbles across another dead body, the police think it’s an accident but Dash saw someone on the cliff just above where he found the body. So Dash and the last Picks investigate with a touch of Officer Bobby joining. Dash and Bobby have a disagreement about his relationship, stop being a cop and moving away.
All works out in the end.

I really loved listening to this book, The narrator did an awesome job.

Whoops he found another....dead body.

Poor poor Dash, he just can't seem to NOT see kinda sorta maybe a murder and have the body fall at his feet....kinda sorta. Book 3 continues to delve into the lives of the Last Picks gang. We learn more about Deputy Bobby and his life while experiencing Dash's continuing social anxiety. Basically Dash is a hot mess that you simultaneously want to slap and hug. How he manages to sort through all the twists and turns that Gregory Ashe devised, and solve the mystery is definitely what keeps me invested.
Andrew Gibson is a delight in giving all these characters their own voices, I adore listening to his nuances in vocal tenor.
I find that with the release of the audible version close to the book, I notice more details than when I just read the book itself since the story is fresher in my mind. Can't wait for the rest!!

My fave of the series so far

What I liked best about this book was seeing Dash (while still being Dash) growing and getting stronger; I like how we're seeing more depth in the other characters, too. I think the narration is solid, even though some of the choices occasionally don't work for me.

I'm giving this 4.5 stars and rounding up because it's a fun read/listen, pure and simple.

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

Dash is definitely a magnet

Love the continuation of this series. Gregory Ashe does a fabulous job of bringing the story along while introducing a new mystery to solve. Bobby and Dash have to tackle a few situations together and the progression of the story is solid. Andrew Gibson did a decent job of narrating this story to bring it to life.

Another enjoyable installment!

Let's be honest about this title, its a frothy delight. However, most of us don't want our who done it portion to be quite this frothy. This book focuses more on the relationship between Dash-West-Bobby, which is ideal as the end of book two was brutal from that standpoint.

Gibson's narration continues to be very enjoyable, especially the quick asides from Dash. He deftly moves from character to character, without going over the top for someone like Milly or West, or too low key for the sheriff or Bobby. Makes listening a pleasure.

The mystery side of the story is quite thin, perhaps intentionally after the very complex crime of the last book. Regardless, when that aspect of the story was completed, I was left thinking something was missing - but I moved on, glad for the cast connections that happened. This series is absolutely worth the investment, I can't wait for the next installment to be released on Audible.

Can I move in too?!

I love the little found family that Gregory Ashe has built in this Last Picks crew. Their dynamic just keeps getting better with each book. This author is one of my favorites for his prose: so descriptive that I can sell Indira’s cooking and feel Millie’s loud exclamations. I don’t love slow burn, but dang if Mr. Ashe isn’t the king of writing it!😝

Dash does it again!

This series just gets better and better. Dash has settled into his new normal but still has some things to work out. Mainly his feelings for a certain Police Deputy.
The mystery is definitely written and paced well. The other main characters are also showing a bit more depth; especially the one who doesn’t speak much! There is still an abundance of funny bits as well as lots of cake. I really enjoyed listening to this book after having previously reading the hard copy when it was released. I’m eagerly looking forward to listening to the next book in the series. Well done Mr. Ashe! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another great adventure for The Last Picks crew!

The right balance of details can dictate the difference between a mediocre book and a spectacular book for me. The strategically incorporated details in Doom Magnet vividly depicted Hastings Rock and provided clues to the murder mystery Dash finds himself trying to solve. The descriptions of Hastings Rock were decidedly spot on. I just happened to be in a small coastal Oregon town very much like Hastings Rock during the fall season. I kept expecting to see the Chipper coffee shop or the Otter Slide bar around the corner. I didn't find them, but I did find some real-life equivalents. Like Dash, I also kept asking myself why I hadn't brought a warmer coat with me.

Despite the serious nature of the mystery and some tense personal conflicts, I had fun listening to this story. Andrew Gibson continues to narrate all of the characters beautifully, and I enjoyed listening to their antics. I was a tiny bit disappointed in the choice of Halloween costumes by The Last Picks crew. The costumes of the kids trick-or-treating at Hemlock House were way better than the adults...except for Dash. Dash's costume was amazing. I adore his sense of humor.

The Last Picks continue to work well together as a team of misfits. Their support of each other brings some positive vibes to a grim story. Dash's internal dialogue is relatable, as he uses the Will Gower character he created to work through difficult situations. I am looking forward to finding out what Dash does with his Will Gower character and whether Will Gower (or Dash) ever finds true love. I am also looking forward to Andrew Gibson's narration of the next book in The Last Picks series with anticipation.