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namitakhanna's review
5.0
Last Seen Alive is the 5th book in the Ellery Hathaway series. It could be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the entire series in order to understand the backstory of Ellery , Reed and Francis Coben. I highly recommend this thoroughly enjoyable , suspenseful read that I quickly devoured in just a couple sittings
I would like to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
I would like to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
marilynw's review
4.0
Last Seen Alive (Ellery Hathaway #5)
by Joanna Schaffhausen
Boston detective Ellery Hathaway and FBI agent Reed Markham have a very long history. They met when Reed rescued fourteen year old Ellery from a serial killer who had tortured, mutilated, and slain over a dozen young women. Ellery's rescue put an end to Francis Cohen's reign of terror although he never left her mind and he never left her alone. In the last few years, Ellery and Reed have had a rocky relationship, as friends and lovers, never able to get out from under the weight of how they first met.
Now Cohen will give up the location of bodies if he can have a face to face meeting with Ellery. It's Reed who Cohen contacts and it's Reed who has to ask Ellery to do the last thing she'd ever want to do...be in the presence of the monster who overshadows everything in her life. Ellery says yes because she wants to bring closure to the families of the girls whose bodies have never been found.
The entire series is a dark one, the crimes as horrible as one can imagine. This book brings the story of Ellery Hathaway full circle. Despite seventeen years having passed since she was kidnapped and terrorized by Cohen, she's finally going to face her fears and all she has unsuccessfully tried to put behind her. Reed will be there for the journey, just as he's always been part of her story. He actually wrote her story, their story, becoming a best selling author in the process. Now there are people who want to make a documentary out of Ellery's meeting with Cohen and Ellery will be there only for the victims.
But, then, there is a murder of a young women and it's definitely a copycat killing. Obviously Cohen has fans and friends who are helping him get his way from inside prison. Ellery's nightmare isn't over since the one thing that Cohen really wants is Ellery and to be able to finish what he started seventeen years ago. This is a fine addition to the Ellery Hathaway series as she faces all her memories and fears, and attempts to break free of the hold Cohen has had on her life.
Pub January 25, 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
by Joanna Schaffhausen
Boston detective Ellery Hathaway and FBI agent Reed Markham have a very long history. They met when Reed rescued fourteen year old Ellery from a serial killer who had tortured, mutilated, and slain over a dozen young women. Ellery's rescue put an end to Francis Cohen's reign of terror although he never left her mind and he never left her alone. In the last few years, Ellery and Reed have had a rocky relationship, as friends and lovers, never able to get out from under the weight of how they first met.
Now Cohen will give up the location of bodies if he can have a face to face meeting with Ellery. It's Reed who Cohen contacts and it's Reed who has to ask Ellery to do the last thing she'd ever want to do...be in the presence of the monster who overshadows everything in her life. Ellery says yes because she wants to bring closure to the families of the girls whose bodies have never been found.
The entire series is a dark one, the crimes as horrible as one can imagine. This book brings the story of Ellery Hathaway full circle. Despite seventeen years having passed since she was kidnapped and terrorized by Cohen, she's finally going to face her fears and all she has unsuccessfully tried to put behind her. Reed will be there for the journey, just as he's always been part of her story. He actually wrote her story, their story, becoming a best selling author in the process. Now there are people who want to make a documentary out of Ellery's meeting with Cohen and Ellery will be there only for the victims.
But, then, there is a murder of a young women and it's definitely a copycat killing. Obviously Cohen has fans and friends who are helping him get his way from inside prison. Ellery's nightmare isn't over since the one thing that Cohen really wants is Ellery and to be able to finish what he started seventeen years ago. This is a fine addition to the Ellery Hathaway series as she faces all her memories and fears, and attempts to break free of the hold Cohen has had on her life.
Pub January 25, 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
fluffyturtle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
hollys_book_nook's review
5.0
Boston detective Ellery Hathaway met FBI agent Reed Markham when he pried open a serial killer’s closet to rescue her. To free herself of Francis Coben, Ellery just let go of Reed too. But Coben refuses to give up so easily. In exchange for Reed bringing him Ellery, he will finally give up the locations of the other missing women.
This is my second book by Joanna Schaffhausen and I was once again blown away! I had no idea this book was part of a series and I will definitely be going back and reading the other four books. This can be read as a stand-alone, I never found myself feeling lost. I was on the edge of my seat from the very first page! Just when you think the situation couldn’t get any worse, look out! The characters were all so unique and interesting. I really liked how the author touched on the subject of how obsessed people have become with serial killers and how there are countless documentaries and books about them.
Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Joanna Schaffhausen for my E-ARC!
This is my second book by Joanna Schaffhausen and I was once again blown away! I had no idea this book was part of a series and I will definitely be going back and reading the other four books. This can be read as a stand-alone, I never found myself feeling lost. I was on the edge of my seat from the very first page! Just when you think the situation couldn’t get any worse, look out! The characters were all so unique and interesting. I really liked how the author touched on the subject of how obsessed people have become with serial killers and how there are countless documentaries and books about them.
Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Joanna Schaffhausen for my E-ARC!
catreader18's review
5.0
Absolutely thrilling novel that will keep you hooked. Ellery was kidnapped and tortured as a child and is the only living victim of a serial killer. Now she must return to him to find out the identity of all of his other victims.
The writing in this book is amazing! I could visualize everything from Ellet’s scars to the jail cell, just everything. I could not stop reading this book and read it in one day. The story is compelling and kept me guessing. This is one of the best books I’ve read in 2022!
The writing in this book is amazing! I could visualize everything from Ellet’s scars to the jail cell, just everything. I could not stop reading this book and read it in one day. The story is compelling and kept me guessing. This is one of the best books I’ve read in 2022!
rainelle_barrett's review
4.0
Last Seen Alive, by Joanna Schaffhausen. Oh my gosh this book was magnificent! I literally could not stop reading this thriller story. Coben was absolutely marvelous in this book. I believe his character stole the light from the other characters.
Ellery and Reed were along for the ride. Everything about this book was flawless. I pulled in by the intriguing plot and the history that’s between Ellery and Reed. Their pre story laid the path for me to better understand why Ellery reacted to certain events, details and people in not so normal way. Other normal people didn’t have a serial killer hunting them down.
Reed was outstanding! He was the strong force and the armor that had Ellery and every other victims back. The book was very entertaining. It was easy to read for me and I really liked that it was a page turner. The book played well with just the right narrative and dialogue in place. The story didn’t leave me wishing that book would end.
The narrative and dialogue gave me the reader information that was useful for later in the book. I almost felt like a detective myself. Certain scenarios or stories were explained very well in relation to different parts of the book. Basically the book stayed on track with keeping the readers attention. I found the book to informative on certain crime details and how scenarios played out within active cases and the hunt for that clue or puzzle that gets you closer to your suspect.
This story oozed with realism. The details and descriptions of people’s reactions, what crimes scenes looked like or how the villain/ serial killer looked at up close and personal in your face. I mean I could visualize all this while reading. Just outstanding how the writer just intertwined all this together, giving me such a heart pounding, emotional, exciting, on the verge of fearing to turn out my bedroom light book. The entertainment was an A plus for me.
I kept wanting to know more. As I was at the end of the book, I was trying to place the puzzles and who was really who from the book, in my head. You can best believe, I will be waiting for the next book. I give this book two snaps and a, Detective Hathaway we need you back at headquarters. Ben has something to tell you.
My fellow readers, until next time… read on!
Ellery and Reed were along for the ride. Everything about this book was flawless. I pulled in by the intriguing plot and the history that’s between Ellery and Reed. Their pre story laid the path for me to better understand why Ellery reacted to certain events, details and people in not so normal way. Other normal people didn’t have a serial killer hunting them down.
Reed was outstanding! He was the strong force and the armor that had Ellery and every other victims back. The book was very entertaining. It was easy to read for me and I really liked that it was a page turner. The book played well with just the right narrative and dialogue in place. The story didn’t leave me wishing that book would end.
The narrative and dialogue gave me the reader information that was useful for later in the book. I almost felt like a detective myself. Certain scenarios or stories were explained very well in relation to different parts of the book. Basically the book stayed on track with keeping the readers attention. I found the book to informative on certain crime details and how scenarios played out within active cases and the hunt for that clue or puzzle that gets you closer to your suspect.
This story oozed with realism. The details and descriptions of people’s reactions, what crimes scenes looked like or how the villain/ serial killer looked at up close and personal in your face. I mean I could visualize all this while reading. Just outstanding how the writer just intertwined all this together, giving me such a heart pounding, emotional, exciting, on the verge of fearing to turn out my bedroom light book. The entertainment was an A plus for me.
I kept wanting to know more. As I was at the end of the book, I was trying to place the puzzles and who was really who from the book, in my head. You can best believe, I will be waiting for the next book. I give this book two snaps and a, Detective Hathaway we need you back at headquarters. Ben has something to tell you.
My fellow readers, until next time… read on!
pandasbookshelf's review
4.0
My fave book in this series. I just love Ellery, Reed and Coben! This one was tense, fast-paced and unputdownable. I really hope the author keeps writing these. Joanna Schaffhausen is an auto buy author for me now. I will read whatever she writes no questions asked.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Last Seen Alive by Joanna Schaffhausen is a thrilling mystery. Although this newest release is the fifth novel in the fantastic Ellery Hathaway series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I HIGHLY recommend the entire series.
FBI Agent Reed Markham has stayed away from Boston Detective Ellery Hathaway since she ended their relationship a few months earlier. But when serial killer Francis Coben says he will reveal the location of eight more victims, Reed has no choice to call her. Why? Because Coben is only willing to tell her where the bodies are located. Ellery is the sole survivor of his murderous rampage twenty years ago. She still has the physical and mental scars from her time with the deprave murderer. Despite her reluctance to face the man who tortured her, Ellery would like the victims’ families to know the fate of their loved ones. But will she regret agreeing to meet with him?
Ellery and Reed soon discover a Coben copycat is on the loose. They work with local police in hopes of finding out who the killer is and how this person is getting information from Coben. The convicted murderer has no contact with his fellow inmates and his mail is carefully checked over by prison officials. Ellery and Reed meticulously follow every piece of evidence that is unearthed but will they find the killer before another murder?
For the first time since leaving home, Ellery, with Reed at her side, returns to visit her mother. Their history is fraught and Ellery has resisted going back to the scene of her kidnapping. Will the trip help her put some demons to rest?
Last Seen Alive is a fast-paced mystery that is full of suspense. Ellery and Reed find it difficult to keep their relationship strictly professional. But they try not allow their personal life interfere with the investigation. Coben is pure evil and he derives great pleasure from other people’s suffering. With shocking twists and cunning turns, Joanna Schaffhausen brings this tense mystery to a highly satisfying conclusion. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this latest addition to the Ellery Hathaway series.
Last Seen Alive by Joanna Schaffhausen is a thrilling mystery. Although this newest release is the fifth novel in the fantastic Ellery Hathaway series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I HIGHLY recommend the entire series.
FBI Agent Reed Markham has stayed away from Boston Detective Ellery Hathaway since she ended their relationship a few months earlier. But when serial killer Francis Coben says he will reveal the location of eight more victims, Reed has no choice to call her. Why? Because Coben is only willing to tell her where the bodies are located. Ellery is the sole survivor of his murderous rampage twenty years ago. She still has the physical and mental scars from her time with the deprave murderer. Despite her reluctance to face the man who tortured her, Ellery would like the victims’ families to know the fate of their loved ones. But will she regret agreeing to meet with him?
Ellery and Reed soon discover a Coben copycat is on the loose. They work with local police in hopes of finding out who the killer is and how this person is getting information from Coben. The convicted murderer has no contact with his fellow inmates and his mail is carefully checked over by prison officials. Ellery and Reed meticulously follow every piece of evidence that is unearthed but will they find the killer before another murder?
For the first time since leaving home, Ellery, with Reed at her side, returns to visit her mother. Their history is fraught and Ellery has resisted going back to the scene of her kidnapping. Will the trip help her put some demons to rest?
Last Seen Alive is a fast-paced mystery that is full of suspense. Ellery and Reed find it difficult to keep their relationship strictly professional. But they try not allow their personal life interfere with the investigation. Coben is pure evil and he derives great pleasure from other people’s suffering. With shocking twists and cunning turns, Joanna Schaffhausen brings this tense mystery to a highly satisfying conclusion. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this latest addition to the Ellery Hathaway series.
guardyourhonor's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A pitch perfect end to the series. The story was always going to ultimately end with Coben, and minus a few extremely obvious plot points (of course he escaped) , I found it very well done. The characters and their relationships - particularly Ellery and Reed, of course - continue to be my absolute favorite element of the series and I was very happy with how their story resolved, both individually and together.