Three sisters’ secrets collide in a shocking novel of suspense by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Mercy Kilpatrick series.Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove … friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed.
Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night—until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past.
When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her.
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3.5 stars
I would categorize Kendra Elliot’s ‘The Last Sister’ as a more of a mystery/thriller, and not a romantic suspense novel. This is not a bad thing in my mind, but I think those who have read previous Elliot novels (which I have not) might be surprised by the lack of romantic exposition in this particular book.
When Emily Mills happens upon a horrendous murder in her small Oregonian town, she immediately recognizes the similarities with her father’s murder 20 years prior. When her fears trigger an FBI investigation (which includes the arrival of compelling FBI agent, Zander Wells), the ghosts of prior and current misdeeds will be revealed.
I enjoyed the fact that this book kept me guessing throughout the narrative arc. It was an interesting story, with timely subject matter. I appreciated Elliot’s willingness to delve into the horrors of Oregon’s racist origins, and the continuing presence of white supremacy today, especially given our current political climate. I did appreciate the presence of a romantic-ish secondary storyline between Emily and Zander, but felt that the novel was strongest in its portrayal of the female relationships amongst the Mills family, as well as the partnership between agents Wells and McLane. While this novel reads well as a standalone, I feel like knowing Zander’s and Ava’s backstories would have enriched the plot even more.
In all, I think this is a good mystery and an important work in a larger conversation about how the concealment of the past can harm the present (and the future).
**Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.**
Emily Mills has stumbled across two gruesome crime scenes twenty years apart. Can they be related?
Twenty years ago Emily Mills ran outside in the middle of the night and found her father hanging from a tree. Now she has stopped by her employee Lindsay’s house to see why she hasn’t shown up for work. What she discovers at Lindsay’s house is horrifying. Lindsay is dead in her bed stabbed multiple times. After following a blood trail from the bedroom outside Emily finds Lindsay’s husband Sean hanging from a tree and bled out. What a nightmare! Too similar to her nightmares after her father’s death. From the symbol Emily sees carved into Sean’s forehead she believes this is a hate crime but the sheriff pooh-poohs that idea. Emily strongly believes that a hate crime has been committed so she goes over the sheriff’s head and calls the nearest FBI office. She is so insistent that FBI agents Zander Wells and Ava McLane are sent to the small, rural Oregon town of Bartonville to investigate. When they arrive they find a corrupted crime scene and an adament Emily Mills. The investigation into these gruesome murders becomes complicated. Does this recent crime have any connection to the hanging death of Emily’s father? How could that be since his confessed killer is in prison serving a life sentence? Then fairly close to thecurrent crime scene skeletal remains are found. Does this have any connection to the current crime? Keep turning the pages to find out.
The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot is the first book in her new Columbia River series. The plot is full of new and old mysteries to be solved. There’s plenty of action to keep the reader turning the pages. The characters are well-developed and very likeable. The relationship between Emily and Agent Zander develops slowly and realistically. I liked the methodical step-by-step investigation in this story. This is an interesting beginning to the author’s new series.
Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read and review The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot this is my fair and honest review.
This book will take you on a rollercoaster ride. Things never stay buried forever, and this book does its best to prove that fact. This is a very well written book, action packed touching on several different issues that are still prevelant in todays day and time. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
Kendra Elliot can always be counted on for a suspenseful wild ride. Emily Mills father was murdered 30 years ago. Her whole family was torn apart. FBI Special Agent Zander Wells is called into this small Oregon town to investigate another murder similar to the one 20 years ago. Everyone in this small town is keeping secrets. This is actually the first book in this new series. We do see some of our favorite characters from previous books. I really would like to see more of Emily and Zander’s love story in future books.Overall another great mystery from one of my favorite authors.
4 stars
This was my 1st book from this author and it was so good. I liked the writing and would never guessed who the culprit was. I know this was series until midway thru so you obviously don’t have to read any of the others before this one but I may just go back and read them now.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
How fabulous is it when an author can give a highly requested secondary character from one of her series their own book. Seems like its been years in the making but FBI special agent Zander Wells finally gets his story.
This book totally stands on its own but does include Ava McLane from the Callahan & McLane series who is Zander’s partner. In a departure from most books there were 4 main characters/POVs. Zander and Emily Mills along with her two sisters, Tara and Madison.
Emily finds the bodies of a husband and wife – with the husband being hung in the backyard. This triggers bad childhood memories as Emily was the one to find her father murdered in a similar way which led to more tragedy for her mother, herself and her sisters.
Zander and Ava are assigned the case and it’s clear that in some way Emily and her sisters are tied to the current murders. Lots of secrets and twists throughout that are slowly revealed to a surprise ending.