Hunted, protected, and falling for the wrong man
Dani Gwynne is the only witness who can lock a brutal killer away—but after losing her son, surviving to testify is all that matters. Deputy U.S. Marshal Matthew Kirby must find, protect, and earn her trust before a relentless threat closes in—and when danger ignites desire, nothing will ever be the same.
From readers and reviewers.
A Chase, A Promise, A Love
After a life-shattering loss, Dani Gwynne hides in witness protection—until her safehouse is breached and she’s thrust into Denver’s crowded streets with a killer on her trail. Deputy U.S. Marshal Matthew Kirby becomes her shield: a lawman who will stop at nothing to keep her alive, even as Dani struggles to trust a man when grief has turned her world inward.
The Last Enemy blends a pulse-pounding manhunt with a slow-burn, forbidden romance—fast-paced action, sharp, dialogue-driven scenes, and an emotional core that centers on a mother’s grief and the fragile work of rebuilding. Perfect for readers who crave law-enforcement heroes, high-stakes suspense, and emotionally urgent romance, this is Pauline Baird Jones at her tautest and most tender.
How much trust—and how much love—can survive while a killer still hunts?
A Mile-High Chase Where Love and Danger Collide
Pauline Baird Jones’s pulse-pounding romantic suspense introduces the Lonesome Lawmen — survival, justice, and an unexpected heart at stake.
When a desperate witness holds the key to locking away a brutal killer, staying alive becomes the only thing that matters. In The Last Enemy, Dani Gwynne flees a breached safehouse and must navigate Denver’s crowded streets with a murderer on her trail and grief heavy in her bones. With her son gone and her future uncertain, testifying is her only path to justice — if she can survive long enough to get there.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Matthew Kirby is assigned to keep Dani safe. Finding her in a big city was supposed to be the hard part; earning her trust is another kind of battle. As Matthew and Dani are pulled together by danger, their growing connection is as unexpected as it is essential. Fast-paced action, sharp dialogue, and surprising twists weave together a story that balances gritty suspense with a tender, slow-burning romance.
Readers who love taut mysteries with emotional stakes and well-drawn relationships will find themselves racing through The Last Enemy. Critics agree: “Jones pulls together many different elements and story lines … to create an engaging, fast-paced story full of unexpected twists and turns.” — Booklist.
Step Inside the World
Claim Your Copy—Feel the Rush Now
Don’t wait—dive into the first gripping installment of Lonesome Lawmen and experience a mile-high mystery that readers can’t put down.
Buy The Last Enemy to climb into a mile-high mystery today!
Pauline Baird Jones is a USA Today bestselling author known for blending suspense, humor, and heart. With a knack for vivid dialogue and cinematic plotting, she delivers stories that stay with readers long after the last page.
More praise for The Last Enemy
“The narration is descriptive and vivid. There are many action scenes, and these scenes are detailed and read like a movie. The tension is also descriptive through the POVs. Pauline Baird Jones is known for her immersive narration, and she does a brilliant job here.” N.N. Light Book Heaven
“I very much enjoyed Ms. Jones’ blend of romance, suspense, and comedy. Her characters are very dimensional. The hit man still haunts me because of the way his depth is revealed as the story unfolds. Action and comedy are smoothly written, making it easy to watch it as a movie in your head. But, don’t count on intermissions, you’ll want to read it straight through.” Midwest Book Review
“A highly suspenseful, should-be-a-movie, totally entertaining tale of derring-do, the Last Enemy defies categorization–at least by me. All I can tell you is: I enjoyed every word and was sorry when I reached the end. If you really liked the movie, Romancing the Stone, then you will absolutely love The Last Enemy and be clamoring at Hollywood’s gates to make this book into the next “really great movie.” Very Highly Recommended, Under the Cover Reviews
“Pauline B. Jones is back with another terrific tale that will make readers want to savor each and every line. More suspenseful than her first book, THE LAST ENEMY still contains a large element of humor that really spices up this dynamite novel.” 4 & 1/2 Stars from Romantic Times
“Jones pulls together many different elements and story lines in her skillfully written novel and combines elements of flowery romances, suspenseful thrillers, and hard-boiled mysteries to create an engaging, fast-paced story full of unexpected twists and turns.” Booklist
“A can’t put it down tale of suspense and romance, The Last Enemy is another great book by Pauline.B.Jones, author of Pig in a Park . Ms. Jones has a talented eye for excellent drama and unforgettable characters.” 4 ½ stars! Affair du Coeur
“Jones pulls together many different elements and story lines in her skillfully written novel and combines elements of flowery romances, suspenseful thrillers, and hard-boiled mysteries to create an engaging, fast-paced story full of unexpected twists and turns.” Booklist, Nov 15, 1999.
“The narration is descriptive and vivid. There are many action scenes, and these scenes are detailed and read like a movie. The tension is also descriptive through the POVs. Pauline Baird Jones is known for her immersive narration, and she does a brilliant job here. This is book one in the Lonesome Lawmen series and it’s really good. I can’t wait to read the next one.” N. N. Light Reviews
“A gifted comic writer, in The Last Enemy Pauline Jones shows how little separates good comedy from great suspense. Suspense and comedy thrive on precision timing, imminent disaster and constant surprise. The Last Enemy delivers all three, topped with a generous helping of great characters.” Four moons, Crescent City Blues
“Pauline Baird Jones is a genius with words that create some of the zaniest, funniest, and down right suspenseful books ever! Her characters are classics, and the plots are superb creations of a master storyteller that gives you unbeatable reads.” Suzanne Coleburn, The Belles and Beaux of Romance
“Pauline Baird Jones’s second novel, THE LAST ENEMY is a superb romantic suspense rich with dark undertones but also brilliantly subtle with Ms. Jones’s signature ingenious humor. The plot triangle pitting wits between a romance author, who’s on the run because she’s witnessed a murder, the serial killer, who’s been hired to kill her, and the U.S. Marshal determined to find and protect her is romantic suspense at its finest! Don’t miss THE LAST ENEMY for a great read and to discover the amazing writing talents of Pauline Baird Jones!” -Patricia Rouse, Romantic Times Columnist