This unique and fast-paced thriller, set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, offers a fresh-voiced and riveting story.

The Last Mardi Gras is the first book in author Bill Black’s new series, the Code Crackers Thrillers, featuring founder Genevieve “Genny” Clarke, her right-hand woman, Rhonda Dickerman, and FBI Special Agent Alex Williams, one of Genny’s former boyfriends. From the horrific opening events to the heart-pounding race to its resolution on the Mississippi River, I was absorbed by this tense and thrilling tale.

Genny Clarke is a world-class hacker who uses her knowledge and abilities for good. She’s built her reputation and a very specialized business, helping companies safeguard and reinforce their online assets and access. She recognizes she’s got weak areas and calls for backup from an old college friend and super-hacker, Rhonda Dickerman. Together, these two are dynamite: fun-loving and formidable behind their computer keyboards.

Leading the official investigation is experienced FBI Special Agent Alex Williams, who must carefully coordinate with counterparts in several other agencies and gain their willing cooperation. Readers are privy to his point of view and know that Alex consciously tamps down his ego and strives to avoid ruffling the feathers of these much-needed colleagues, including Genny’s.

Local detective Carmine Scioli and Chief Warrant Officer Moira Halloran of the U.S. Coast Guard round out the team. Scioli is a warm, friendly guy and a long-tenured stalwart of the NOPD. Halloran and the Coast Guard are authentic additions to the story, considering where the crime was committed. The glimpses into their responsibilities, capabilities, and rescue operations were fresh and interesting. I would love to see more of these characters in future books.

The protagonists must deal with an overwhelming number of theories and suspects to get to the truth. Readers are fully aware of the perpetrator’s plans, so the story is more of a “will they stop and catch him” tale than a “who done it.” There are some tense near misses as the investigators close in on the bad guys, and the reasons behind their plot are intriguing and plausible. The riveting eleventh-hour climax was as tense as they come. Finally, with a cold case involving Genny’s father left unresolved, the author promises more to come.

The author’s writing style was easy to read and compelling, with natural-sounding dialogue, quips, and descriptive comments that sparkled with humor. I greatly enjoyed the insider’s view of New Orleans during Mardi Gras, and the mentions of well-known restaurants mixed with those only locals frequent made me want to book a trip there soon.

I recommend THE LAST MARDI GRAS to readers of thrillers, mysteries, and police procedurals and to those who enjoy stories set in New Orleans.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery. ( )