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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THE LAST SISTER by Kendra Elliot brings mystery and suspense to a police procedural and romantic suspense novel set in Bartonville, Oregon. This is the first book in the Columbia River series but brings in characters from other series as well. It’s the first book that I have read by this author.
Emily Mills’ father was murdered twenty years ago and she found his body hanging from a tree in the backyard. Since then, she has tried to forget everything about that night. However, when a similar murder occurs in contemporary times, and Emily finds another body, her life is about to change. Questions abound. Are the deaths related? If so, how and why?
Our protagonists, FBI Special Agent Zander Wells and Emily Mills, bring an interesting dynamic to this novel. Despite Emily being a witness, there is an attraction between them. How will it affect the case? Emily is resilient, but she wants to protect her family, and she has secrets to keep too. Zander is a dedicated FBI agent and has a heartbreaking backstory. Great characters tend to develop from the ups and downs of life, and Zander and Emily emerge as believable characters with some shortcomings, just like real people. The secondary characters had a range of depths, but all enhanced the story without overwhelming it.
The plot was suspenseful and very complex. There were a multitude of conflicts that kept me engaged in the story line. The author did a great job of letting this reader see Emily’s inner conflicts, motivations and personality. There were plenty of plot twists and turns, and a few surprises along the way. A consistent pace from scene to scene – until the action-packed ending, where the subplots tied together – had me quickly turning the pages. The romantic part of this novel took a backseat and did not detract from the story line. This is not an instant-love type of romantic suspense, but a slow building of respect and attraction. The author did a great job of world-building. The descriptions were vivid and gave a clear sense of place. It felt like I was on the Oregon coast experiencing the vagaries of the weather and small town attitudes.
Overall, this was a compelling crime thriller that tackled some very serious themes ranging from murder, secrets and family relationships to racism, drugs and much more. This is the first book I have read by Kendra Elliott, but I am happy to say that I own five others and can’t wait to read them. If you enjoy crime novels and police procedurals set in a small town with a small amount of romance, then I recommend that you check out this series.
I purchased a digital copy of this novel. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was January 14, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
I really enjoyed reading this story. Learning more about Zander and the three sisters that lost a lot in their young lives. Mystery.
Emily’s life has been anything but easy. Her father was murdered, her mother committed suicide and her older sister has been gone ever since. Her younger sister and her Great Aunts are all she has left. Unfortunately everything is about to be stirred up again when she discovers her employee murdered along with her husband. Enter Zander and his partner Ava from the FBI and things are never going to be the same. Thrilling, action pact easy read that will leave you satisfied and looking forward to the next one!
I discovered this author a few months ago at a low point when I couldn’t read but could only listen to audio books and her books were like life to me. Now she has a new series with Ava and Zander being brought in to a small town where there appears to be a hate crime but there is much more going on. Emily Mills finds the bodies of her friends, her co-worker and her husband, 20 years after her father was found hung and their home was burned. Coincidence? There are lots of questions and twists and turns. At the same time we get to see Ava and Mason and know the wedding is still on but with bullets flying will they make it to the altar? This one was great and I kept it on my kindle until the next one comes out so I could read them back to back! Yay me!
As with all of Kendra’s books this one just keeps you guessing. It is a true page turner and I for one can’t wait for the next book. Thanks for another great hot Kendra!
Wonderful first in series! From the twisted murders, twisted plot, and great characters— all the ingredients for a fabulous read. Listening to the audio was a bonus!
Elliot delivers with the first in a new series. Overlapping characters and interwoven stories make this extra special for longtime fans. I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre.
This book and the Audible reading were very good. It kept me engaged from the very start. This is slightly outside my normal genre, but I’m glad I chose it. I liked the characters, the multiple point of view, and how the past and present connected. I liked how well developed the scenes were and that the ensign did not feel rushed.
I did only 4 stars because while there wasn’t a ton of language there was some
This is the first book that I have read from Kendra Elliot. I read it in one afternoon, none stop (except for bathroom breaks), laying on my hammock under two tall trees. My atmosphere, was much sunnier then that in the book.
The story takes place in a small town in Oregon. Twenty years ago, thirteen year old Emily Mills, found her father, Lincoln, hanging from a tree in the back yard and her house on fire. She managed to wake up her younger sister, Madison, and mother and get them to safety. Older sister Tara was spending the night with a friend. With everything gone and nowhere else to go, they move into the Barton family mansion, once grand, but now neglected, where their three maternal aunts live. Shortly thereafter, Tara takes off, never to be heard from again and finally their mother, longo suffering from manic depression, kills herself.
But time goes on and Emily and Madison support the household be running a diner. When one of her waitresses, Lindsay, fails to show up for her shift and neither she or husband, the high school science teacher answer their phones, Emily comes by and discovers another grisly murder, Lindsay stabbed numerous times in their bed and a trail of blood leading outdoors to Sean’s body hanging from a tree. When she then witnesses the inept way the first responder acts, she calls the FBI.
Enter special FBI agents from Portland, Zander Wells and Ava McLane. They methodically investigate the victims and the town. Everyone in the Barton family has secrets, as do the agents. Someone is targeting the Barton mansion and particularly Emily. As the agents slowly put the pieces of the puzzle together, Zander is distracted by his attraction to Emily, but they agree to putting their future on hold until the case is solved.
Thorough descriptions of the scenes and scenery, interesting characters, some a bit zany and steady-pace action make this a intriguing read. I was lucky to have won a free copy from Writerspace.com. This is unbiased and voluntary review.
History repeats itself when people forget or ignore the past. Three sisters lose their father as he was mudered ….hanged in his own backyard. Their mom commits suicide soon after and the oldest sister runs away.
Twenty years go by in this small Oregon town and it has fallen on hard times. Emily and Madison live with their three ancient aunts in a run down family mansion.
Emily has the horror of finding the murdered bodies of the Fitch family. Sean Fitch is in the backyard, wife upstairs with many wounds, dead. Sean is dead but for Emily the nightmare is the fact Sean was hung……like her Dad.
Em and Madison have secrets from each other and the secrets are coming back to haunt from twenty years ago. Two FBI agents arrive and are shocked by trampling of evidence and that hate crime and murder were not listed in the deaths.
Small towns like to gloss over the old KKK, the shanghai of workers, how certain groups were big in Oregon. Ava and Zander try to solve the crime and look into the old murder.
Great atmosphere with good characters. Also a history lesson, good police procedural and an indepth look at three sisters almost destroyed by the past. And do the agents feel safe if the local cops or others are hiding things?
When a suicide becomes a murder, all bets are off. Very intriguing mystery with a great cast of people and insight into a small community with drugs, out of work people, and the kindness shown to people like Alice and Isaac elevate the book as does the depth of love between sisters. 4 stars
I did not see that coming! This was a great book and I hope the rest of the series is as good. I was so invested in this book, I had to finish it in a day. About the time I was going to put it down a new twist popped up and I had to keep going. This book has a great cast of characters and a unique story.
This brand new book in a new series seems to be more of a spinoff from a previous series by the author, but that did not keep me from enjoying and understanding all of the action and events. The recurring characters are FBI agents Zander Wells and Ava McLean, two agents who are focused and who make the story what it is. This is a police procedural with a lot of mystery about the past before the current murder even occurs. Emily Mills’ father Lincoln was hanged in their backyard, her mom committed suicide shortly thereafter, her older sister Tara disappeared and her younger sister Madison says she didn’t see anything since she slept through the whole thing. Currently, Sean Fitch, a young black man, is hanged in his backyard while his white wife Lindsay is brutally stabbed to death inside their home. This crime brings the FBI into town since it certainly appears to be a hate crime. Tacking the themes of racism, hatred and family secrets, Kendra Elliot did a masterful job of drawing me quickly into the web of her story and keeping me there with the gripping events as secrets were revealed. I liked the doggedness of the town’s sheriff who is faced with a town that is facing what looks like a murder spree. The action is quick-paced and totally engaging, with crimes that could make today’s headlines. My favorite characters were the eccentric aunts and Emily, a young woman who has her own secrets and a lot to deal with given the current murder is so similar to her father’s. The mystery was suspenseful, but I didn’t see a lot of romance. But that didn’t disappoint me because I was so absorbed by the mysteries.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
A couple discovered murdered, the husband hung from a tree. Found by the daughter of a man murdered and hung two decades ago. This sets the scene for this book.
I found it well written with twists and turns a plenty which expose the rotten secrets of some folk in a small Oregon town.
It keeps you guessing as to the identity and motive of the killer right up to the end.
Another great book in a great series by a great author!!! I can’t say this loud enough…I LOVE Kendra Elliot books!!!
This is the first book in the Columbia River series, but we get to see old friends (characters) and meet some new ones, which I hope to see in future books of this series.
If you love edge of your seat, page turning, action packed with murder, unpredictable twists & turns, believable story lines, amazing characters, along with a little racism, blackmail, and who did what moments than this is the book for you.
#Emily #Zander #ZanyAunts #MissingSister #KKK #Hanging #LovedIt
Guess 2020 is my year for stumbling across talented authors. Kendra Elliot blew me away with this solid action-packed thriller. The story begins with FBI agents Zander Wells and his partner Ava McClane who venture to a small town in Oregon—on the trail of a hot case. A horrific murder had taken place and they’re not sure if it’s a double murder, or a murder suicide. Emily Mills, a friend of the deceased couple is forced to rehash her father’s murder, which ironically is parallel to the couple. The FBI agents are stumped as to who’s the killer but can’t help feeling watched at every turn.
This book has it all…
*Suspense
*Mystery
*Great characters
*A bit of romance.
I’d like send a big thank you to NetGalley for providing me this amazing ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this twisty story that had a the good makings of an entertaining read: great characters, and old family mystery, secrets, missing siblings, new romance, and small town dynamics.
A couple of great surprises that had me gasping which is always so fun.
I’m a northwesterner so know Astoria well – there’s no ocean view there. It’s a crappy little town facing the rough, unattractive Columbia River. Other than that nit picky detail it was an enjoyable story.
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 their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed.
But is it? Another murder happens in this quaint town and when the FBI comes in, well it seems to open up a can of worms. This story was slow going in the beginning and although I was a bit bored with it…things started to come together. I am still surprised at the ending having no idea who the real killer was (my kind of book). Also, one of the sisters does not show up until the end – which gives it the glue that was holding this story together. Great book. #KindleUnlimited #fourstars
The residents of a small town in Oregon are concerned when an interracial couple is found violently murdered. Sean Fitch was found hanging from a tree and his wife Lindsay was stabbed multiple times. Sean’s forehead had a Klan symbol engraved leaving folks to wonder if this was a hate crime. Both bodies were found by their friend Emily Mills.
Emily’s father was murdered in the same way twenty years ago forcing her to relive her past. Memories of his death begin to resurface but the facts are hazy since she and her sisters were young when he died. Her sisters do not discuss the topic and are emotionally closed off from one another. Emily is convinced that her father’s death is related to this murder while assisting the current investigation to uncover suspects and motives.
The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot is a suspenseful story that includes a dysfunctional family and a hint of romance. This was the first book that I read by Kendra Elliot, and I am excited for the sequel.
This was my first Kendra Elliott read and I am now a fan of this amazing and exciting fast paced murder mystery police procedural read. This read was so satisfying for me for the brilliant plot, suspenseful storyline and not so predictable mystery. Nothing like a small town murder mystery that makes the story more captivating and intensely unputdownable. The characterization and complex plot lines are what sold me. I really loved and enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
This is my first Kendra Elliot book and she certainly delivered a story full of mystery, suspense, intrigue, and just a hint of romance. This book had a darker edge to it due to the subject matter and I really felt that the it matched the Pacific Northwest setting perfectly.
Right from the start I was pulled into the mystery surrounding the double slaying in the quiet Oregon logging town. As characters are introduced, it was clear that there was a mystery that runs deep and there are people who just wanted this case closed. And when it looked like there may be a connection to events of the past, things really started to get interesting…and dangerous! There are multiple threads to the story line, and I loved how everything came together at the end to tie up the mysteries from the current day and the past. There’s a hint of romance/attraction between Zander, the FBI agent, and Emily, the main witness, and I liked that the romance was kept at just an attraction level until the mystery was solved.
Although there was a lot to keep track in this book, Ms. Elliot does a great job of organizing the plot to make it easy to follow along with what is going on and keeping track of who is who and how they tie into the story. Although I had ultimately figured out the biggest part of the mystery fairly early (lucky guess on my part!), there were twists and turns and a lot of other little things that took me by surprise and wrapped things up nicely. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the past history of the town and its residents and look forward to seeing where this series goes. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery/crime thriller!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book I received from the Publisher on NetGalley.