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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
Twisty psychological thriller. Murders. Missing women. Family secrets. This mystery was full of twists and surprises and kept you in suspense right up through the very end!
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC!
This was a fantastic thriller! There were twists and turns on every page, and all my guesses as it kept going were wrong... LOL
I was intrigued the whole time, and Halley just kept digging up more and more random things that kept tying back to the mystery of her half sister. I did not expect the ending, and I feel like it was almost random? That would be the main critique, as since it was so unexpected it almost felt incomplete in a sense. And then part way through the book we were turning to something completely different then where we started. Granted, I get it, mystery thriller, but I feel like you should expect some of the stuff that comes throughout the book.
I think though, all that aside, it was a good mystery thriller read. Got pretty dark at some points, and some of the narration confused me a bit as I didn't realize who was speaking. But it was very good and I was invested the whole time, which is what you want from a good mystery!
This was a fantastic thriller! There were twists and turns on every page, and all my guesses as it kept going were wrong... LOL
I was intrigued the whole time, and Halley just kept digging up more and more random things that kept tying back to the mystery of her half sister. I did not expect the ending, and I feel like it was almost random? That would be the main critique, as since it was so unexpected it almost felt incomplete in a sense. And then part way through the book we were turning to something completely different then where we started. Granted, I get it, mystery thriller, but I feel like you should expect some of the stuff that comes throughout the book.
I think though, all that aside, it was a good mystery thriller read. Got pretty dark at some points, and some of the narration confused me a bit as I didn't realize who was speaking. But it was very good and I was invested the whole time, which is what you want from a good mystery!
slow-paced
Slow burn and, unfortunately, not my cup of tea. I couldn’t connect with the main character and found her incredibly irritating. Whatever thrills and suspense others found, I must have missed. Just didn’t work for me.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I feel like this book didn’t keep my attention. I got bored. I’ve read much better thrillers. It didn’t feel urgent enough with the storyline.
Also- wasn’t it weird how the author didn’t let the main character swear?? “Halley let out a string of very bad words.” There’s no shortage of mature themes in this book so it felt out of place
Also- wasn’t it weird how the author didn’t let the main character swear?? “Halley let out a string of very bad words.” There’s no shortage of mature themes in this book so it felt out of place
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Release: August 1, 2025
Author: JT Ellison
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Rating: 3.75 ★
Halley James thought her crumbling marriage was the worst thing she’d have to face—until everything else in her life starts to fall apart too. She loses her job at the forensics lab, her father suddenly needs emergency surgery, and then comes the biggest shock of all: her mother didn’t die in a car crash like she was always told—she was murdered. And her father has been hiding the truth for years.
With everything she thought she knew unraveling, Halley sets out to uncover the truth. Her search leads her to the seemingly idyllic town of Brockville, Tennessee, but beneath its picture-perfect surface lies something deeply disturbing. As she digs deeper, Halley risks uncovering a terrifying secret—and the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become.
Last Seen is a dark, layered psychological thriller that grabs hold from the first page and doesn’t let go. J.T. Ellison has once again delivered a story that’s part slow-burn family drama, part gothic mystery, and all-consuming suspense.
The story follows Halley James, whose life falls apart all at once—she’s fired from her job, reeling from a failed marriage, and then called back to her hometown to care for her injured father. But that’s just the beginning. What she thought was the tragic death of her mother and sister turns out to be a lie. Her mother was murdered—and her sister may have been the killer.
From there, Halley’s quest for the truth takes her to Brockville, Tennessee, a too-perfect town hiding something deeply sinister beneath its surface. Think Stepford Wives meets small-town cult vibes. As she digs into her family’s past, long-buried secrets begin to claw their way to the surface, threatening her safety—and her sanity.
This book is atmospheric and haunting. Ellison’s writing is sharp and vivid, pulling you into Halley’s unraveling world. The first half is a slow, simmering build with emotional depth, while the second half explodes into chaos, paranoia, and genuine terror. The alternating POVs and timelines are a little disjointed at times, but they add complexity and gradually stitch the full picture together. And just when you think you know where it’s all headed—bam—a twist hits that changes everything.
While a few parts felt slightly bloated and repetitive, the ending more than makes up for it. It’s chilling, satisfying, and lingers long after the last page. Halley’s voice is fierce, flawed, and unforgettable—she’s not just uncovering a crime, she’s unraveling a lifetime of betrayal.
If you’re into thrillers packed with secrets, eerie settings, and emotionally rich characters, Last Seen is well worth your time. Creepy, twisty, and disturbingly real—this one will mess with your head in the best possible way.
Favorite Quote:
“I have nothing to hide from you. Are you hiding something from me?”
dark
tense
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix