From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice comes a riveting story of a seaside community shaken by a violent crime and a tragic loss.
Years ago, Beth Lathrop and her sister Kate suffered what they thought would be the worst tragedy of their lives the night both the famous painting Moonlight and their mother were taken. The detective assigned to the case, Conor Reid, swore to … the case, Conor Reid, swore to protect the sisters from then on.
Beth moved on, throwing herself fully into the art world, running the family gallery, and raising a beautiful daughter with her husband Pete. Kate, instead, retreated into herself and took to the skies as a pilot, always on the run. When Beth is found strangled in her home, and Moonlight goes missing again, Detective Reid can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
Reid immediately suspects Beth’s husband, whose affair is a poorly kept secret. He has an airtight alibi—but he also has a motive, and the evidence seems to point to him. Kate and Reid, along with the sisters’ closest childhood friends, struggle to make sense of Beth’s death, but they only find more questions: Who else would have wanted Beth dead? What’s the significance of Moonlight?
Twenty years ago, Reid vowed to protect Beth and Kate—and he’s failed. Now solving the case is turning into an obsession . . .
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In Last Day, Luanne Rice shows once again her unique gift for portraying the emotional landscape of a family. By adding a riveting thread of suspense, she proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that love and murder make brilliant bedfellows.
Luanne Rice is the master of small towns with big secrets. With a deft touch, she draws us into a picture-postcard New England village, behind the closed doors of a well-loved home with its beautiful gardens and perfect family, only to expose the truths within. Surprising, powerful, a total page-turner.
Lovely, lyrical — and lethal. Luanne Rice turns her talents in a new direction and succeeds completely
Luanne Rice is a wonderful writer and Last Day is written beautifully. You might argue the ending but the ride there is masterful.
A brutal murder, a failed marriage, secret lovers, and enough suspects to fill a room. The truth lies somewhere between betrayal and love. A compelling mystery you won’t put down or solve until the final pages.
Last Day, by Luanne Rice, shines with its brilliant plot about four women friends, their families and loves, and, shockingly, a murder. Rice’s writing is flawless and fast, her characters are like the women I have coffee with, and the desire, violence, and betrayals shock me and remind me of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies.
This was my First Reads pick for January. Very suspenseful and a quick read. Good mystery that I did not figure out. It did seem to end abruptly.
I received a free electronic copy of this excellent novel from author Luanne Rice and Thomas & Mercer Publisher. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Luanne Rice to friends and family. She writes an excellent tale.
Luanne Rice creates a tightly drawn tale about family relationships and what makes a friendship work. ‘Last Day’ is an excellent story wrapped around four besties, now pushing 40, but devoted friends from childhood on. We see the relationships they all have with their children, and what it takes to keep it all together when one of those stanchions of the neighborhood and a lifetime of sharing is taken before her time. Illness might be overcome, but this was obviously murder. Again. As was the murder of Helen Woodward. It brings back all the pain and angst of the murder of Beth and Kate’s mother 23 years ago. Those relationships that look firm and tight from afar – really aren’t. Where can you go for facts when everyone is remembering only how it used to be? Someone is lying. Who?
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Well “Twisted” Murder Mystery. Exceptional detail in personality of characters. Smooth read. Just enough murder gore and aside romance. Quite true to life in as much as how defectively “Human” we all are … and how and why we got that way.
I have never read this author before but I will read her books again! This was a page turner and was pretty intense. You really need to pick it up and give it a read, because you will truly like I too. Thanks for the great book Luanne!
I really enjoyed this book. Up until around the half-way point, I felt confident I knew what ha transpired, who the murderer was and where the book was going. But I was wrong. The author weaves in so many different themes in the telling – a deep connection with the past and how it affects all the characters. And nature. Well worth the read.
This is one of Luanne’s best books!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This tragic mystery is an absolutely fantastic book!! Written with panache, the characters make this story real. Luanne Rice’s research for this novel throws it into a category of its own. The twists, the turns, the realism will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Plan on reading in one sitting because you will not be able to put this book down once you’ve opened the cover. Enjoy!
Loved this murder mystery Luanne Rice style. Kate and Beth were sisters who’d experienced the unbelievable when they were teenagers. It changed and shaped their lives in completely different ways. Conor Reid’s life was also deeply affected by the murder of a mother bound to her daughters twenty-three years ago when he was a rookie cop. The investigation and the lives of each person involved in Kate and Beth’s past (and present) uncovers the obvious suspect suspicions about who did commit Beth’s present day murder–which I held on to until the very last part of the book–as well as suggestions of other suspects, to the “never would have thought of that!” solution. Loved the POV shifts and all the heads I got to get inside during this book, plus one symbolic rescue was sweet and surprising. The necessary hints and discovery of evidence were placed strategically, and I somehow knew each one was important and watched for the resolutions, and was not disappointed on that. Nothing was left hanging. Everything got tied up. This is not your regular murder mystery, but more of a psychological study of how murder affects people and the different ways each person deals with it. Loved the subtle romance, and I really wanted Kate to have a full life which included learning to love as her sister Beth had. Loved the Connecticut and beach setting, the art gallery impact, getting to see how this group of one-percenters lived, even the turn toward paranormal at one point, and was riveted by Part III. Recommended read. Another COVID-19 buddy read with my daughter.
Did not want to put it down!
Two sisters, bound by an adolescent experience that simultaneously drives a wedge between them–although the older sister doesn’t admit this until her sister is brutally murdered. The affluent Connecticut town is beautifully depicted with inspiring natural details. Additionally, the art gallery provides a perfect backdrop to give the reader a near art-appreciation course for Impressionist artists. At the same time, a specific painting provides a bridge between the girls’ past and present. My only dissatisfaction is the killer (guessed too early because of several clues) and the killer’s motivation). I didn’t feel cheated, and I will read more of Luann Rice.
This is the story of sisters Beth and Kate. Their best friends Scotty and Lulu too. Beth is found dead with a missing painting from her bedroom wall. The same painting that was stolen several years before which led to Beth, Kate and their !other being tied up in the basement of the art gallery they owned. The cop that rescued them then is now investigating Beth’s death.
I enjoyed this book even though parts of it were predictable. Engaging characters and plot. Had me guessing til the last chapter.
Murder, mystery, secrets and romance in a small town. The plot was good and the story was well told. I enjoyed this book
Favorite Quotes:
He always thought of his first encounter with a homicide victim as two people meeting. An encounter every bit as important in death as it would have been in life, as revelatory as a conversation— in some ways more so.
She had the feeling she might fall off the world. Everything felt dangerous; she wasn’t sure her skin could hold her bones and blood and heart inside.
She was the crème brûlée of mothers: hard shell on the outside, total mush on the inside.
Every few weeks the morgue was called here to remove a body—mostly overdoses, some accidental and some suicides. The walls were soaked with the sadness of lonely people drinking themselves to death in their small rooms.
Surreptitiously, on the side Lulu couldn’t see, Scotty grabbed the roll of fat around her waist. The old commercial used to say if you could pinch more than an inch you needed to eat their cereal and get into shape. Scotty could pinch half a foot.
My Review:
Brilliantly conceived, cunningly plotted, diabolically crafted, shrewdly paced, and skillfully written. This book was da bomb! I was taut with tension with my shoulders in my ears and so sure I knew who had killed Beth, but, silly me, I was – so – very – wrong! This was my introduction to the skilled and breathtaking art form found in the wordcraft of Luanne Rice. I was enthralled, riveted, confounded, and ensorcelled. Ms. Rice was obviously gifted by the fairies of lexicon with mad skills. Her word voodoo is strong. I am her newest and most ardent fangirl.