LAST SEEN ALIVE by Joanna Schaffhausen

 

Last Seen Alive is the fifth book in Joanna Schaffhausen's heartpounding Ellery Hathaway mystery series.

Boston detective Ellery Hathaway met FBI agent Reed Markham when he pried open a serial killer’s closet to rescue her. Years on, their relationship remains defined by that moment and by Francis Coben’s horrific crimes. To free herself from Coben’s legacy, Ellery had to walk away from Reed, too. But Coben is not letting go so easily. He has an impossible proposition: Coben will finally give up the location of the remaining bodies, on one condition—Reed must bring him Ellery.

Now the families of the missing victims are crying out for justice that only Ellery can deliver. The media hungers for a sequel and Coben is their camera-ready star. He claims he is sorry and wants to make amends. But Ellery is the one living person who has seen the monster behind the mask and she doesn’t believe he can be redeemed. Not after everything he’s done. Not after what she’s been through. And certainly not after a fresh body turns up with Coben’s signature all over it.

MY THOUGHTS

This is the fifth book in this series. I read the last one also but not the previous three. It can be easily read as a standalone with all the background info it contains. It's pretty brutal so be warned. This serial killer is truly sick. Truly horrible and has no conscience at all. No thought to any of his victims.

This is the story of Ellery Hathaway and Francis Coben. Also the detective, Reed, who saved Ellery way back when. This book is pretty intense. Pretty spot on in its descriptions and brutal in many ways. But it's well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way. Keeps you guessing as to what is coming next. Who will survive. Who may be helping Coben. Who may be a copycat or possibly more. 

You learn a lot about what Ellery went through all those years ago. What Agent Reed went through. How cold blooded Coben truly is. You will mourn for what happened to these young women. Most just very young girls. Ellery was only fourteen when she was taken. Held for three days and tortured beyond belief. But she lived. She survived to help take Coben down. Her life was never the same after though. Everyone knows her and Agent Reed no matter where they go or what they do. 

You will feel the walls of the prison closing in on you as you read. The fire in the cabin bringing warmth even though it's in an evil place. The pain that someone feels when stabbed. The sorrow that a family feels when they are awaiting to find their long lost daughter. So much is going on in this book yet you never lose your way. You root for the good guys and wonder why this monster isn't dead yet. 

Then the unthinkable happens.....

Thank you #NetGalley, #JoannaSchaffhausen, #StMartinsPress for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

4/5 stars. It lost one because I did figure out who was helping fairly quickly. And there was one question I had and never got an answer for. I do highly recommend this book and this author. It's so good. Edge of your seat good.