Very enjoyable read. Good storyline with lots of twists and turns. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

This book started well, I enjoyed the idea of a house swap where things aren't as they seem.

I found the characters engaging and I liked how the backstory was drip fed through in little bits. It really added to the mystery.

I liked the bit set in Thailand and I didn't see the twist coming at all. I liked that it tied everything together and that you can't really hide from the past.

However, I found the ending a bit meh. I wasn't sure if it was enirely necessary. Why couldn't they have walked away from each other and put it behind them?

A cleverly written exciting novel with twists and turns that kept me guessing. Would definitely read this author again.

Thank you to Michael Joseph/Penguin and Netgalley for this ARC, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A psychological thriller with a difference. Libby Hall is married to Jamie, they have a dog called Ziggy and Jamie has an over bearing Mother and a snooty sister. The Mother and Sister are very close to Jamie's ex Hannah. Libby feels that she is not good enough for Jamie in his family's eyes, but Jamie loves her, chose her and married her.
Things haven't been going great for Libby and Jamie recently. They have lost their much wanted baby and Jamie's business isn't going as well as it should.

So when Libby returns home to their basement flat and finds a flyer offering them a house swap in Cornwall, they decide it is exactly what they need. Phillip Heywood and his wife Tara need a flat near to Bath's hospital as their daughter needs a heart operation and it would appear that Libby and James' flat fits the bill.

They drive down to Cornwall and are surprised and astounded to see the Heywood's property is a huge house set atop a cliff with steps leading to the beach.
Then things start to happen that leave Libby feeling uneasy. She is wary of sharing her fears as Jamie's Mother is a firm believer in 'sharing' whilst Libby likes to keep her problems to herself. Libby has the feeling they are being watched and at a visit to a lighthouse she notices a man training his camera on Jamie, the same man later shoves into Jamie, which in turn knocks Libby over and leaves her rolling towards the cliff edge. The same man is then seen in the garden of the house watching them while they walk Ziggy on the beach.
After Jamie ends up seriously ill in hospital with food poisoning they decide to return to Bath. Philip Heywood has telephoned to say that their daughter has been discharged and they have returned to their home in London.

More and more strange events occur including items being delivered to the flat that they haven't ordered and a man knocking on the door asking for sex with Jamie!
Libby is totally unnerved, is someone from her past trying to scare her? Why would Philip and Tara Heywood have an issue with them? Could Jamie's ex Hannah be involved?

So many questions that nobody can answer and Libby is afraid. Jamie is the only person she has, but someone is clearly trying to make trouble.

I really enjoyed this book. It had many twists and turns and I must admit I reread some parts to get clear in my head who was talking. The story is set now and in the past when Libby was travelling through Thailand.
Claire Douglas describes the characters well and I found myself loathing Jamie's sister Katie and his ex Hannah. Libby bats away their snide comments like a tennis pro!

I look forward to reading more from Claire Douglas.

Last Seen Alive by Claire Douglas is deliciously twisty and comp,ex enough to keep you hooked right from the start. Libby and husband Tim are in need of a break. He's just set up in business and she's a teacher, recovering from a broken arm. They do a home swap and end up in a designer home in Cornwall. But all is not as it seems. The marriage is clearly not perfect; hubby is still friendly with his ex, Hannah and Libby has a secret past. when strange things start to happen to the couple, it's difficult to know how much is genuine threat and how much is imagined.

So the scene is set for a psychological thriller which suddenly ratchets up the pace and the entire story moves to Bangkok. And that's when the real mysteries develop with friendships, betrayals, lies and obsession creeping in to shape the future for a number of people in very different ways. What I thought was going to be a fairly straightforward story became so dark and twisted, it was difficult to know what to expect next. The clever part of the writing is that by and large, it's kept just on the right side of plausible. So many situations, past and present, revenge and retribution, love and lies and I was totally gripped. Definitely ne of the best so far this year and my thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley. I loved this and I'll be looking for more by Claire Douglas.

Having read previous books by Claire Douglas, this book had a lot to live up to. I have to say it didn't disappoint, it had everything I wasn't in a great psychological thriller; it is fast paced, twists and turns a plenty, great characters and plot. The Central character, like those in her previous novels, has a secret lurking in their past that is about to destroy their future. I like the slow release of information, it adds both tension of the novel. Throughout you are never sure is telling the truth and just when you think you may know where it is going the plot takes a completely different turn. This is a brilliantly fast paced, thriller, full of twists and turns another triumph for Claire Douglas.

This is a well thought out and complicated story. Keep your wits about you, keep tabs in who is who and you will really enjoy this novel. It's very hard to review the title without spoiling the complex plot.

A novel about honesty and deception, dreams and reality and the lengths some people will go to, in order to escape their reality.

Libby and Jamie have been married for nine months, during that time they have had some up and downs and when Libby finds a notice for a house swap in Cornwall she thinks why not. Libby and Jamie need to get away, she has suffered a miscarriage after a fire at the school where she works and has broken her arm.

They arrive at the house in Cornwall but things are not exactly as they seem, they find strange things in the house, it appears someone is watching them and then Jamie ends up in hospital after eating contaminated food. The people staying at their flat in Bath tell them they are returning to London and they can have their flat back.

The story follows Libby and Jamie’s story once they return home to Bath, there appear to be some strange goings on and Libby has to come clean to Jamie about her life before she met him. She also had to deal with his family who she feels are hostile to her and his ex-girlfriend who is forever in the background.

An excellent story with an interesting plot which has many twists, with a good range of characters. A fantastic book which I would recommend.

Loved loved loved this book as I have with all of Claire Douglas books. The plot was strong and dragged you in and didn't let you go until all the twists and turns were fInished. I didn't see any of it coming though I knew something was, I read it in an evening as I just couldn't put it down!!!!
I'm already looking forward to her next book. I will definite recommended this book to friends and my book club ladies, I would even purchase this for people as gifts as I know they won't be disappointed.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Had to back track half way through when there was a great twist to the story. Look forward to reading more from this author. Local Girl Missing and Sisters are both great books too. Recommend 📚

As I came to the last page of this book my thoughts were ‘Oh, well I didn’t think it would end like that.’ The fact is Last Seen Alive is packed full of surprises.
A note through the door of Jamie and Libby Hall’s flat offering a three week house swap with Philip and Tara Heywood seems too good to be true. They need to stay in Bath while their daughter undergoes surgery at the local hospital. Libby is keen to escape the city after a mysterious fire at the school where she teaches. Not only was she a heroine, saving children, but in the process fractured an arm and miscarried the baby she was expecting. Phil, in the process of setting up his own business, is going through a bit of a tough time and could do with a break.
Libby contacts Philip Heywood through the mobile number on the note and together with their dog Ziggy they are soon heading down to Cornwall. Arriving at the house they feel there’s got to be a mistake. It’s big and beautiful with manicured lawns and sea views. How can this be a fair swap? Nevertheless the couple settle in to their luxurious surroundings but soon become concerned when strange things start to happen. It’s almost like someone is there watching them.
Getting away gives Libby time for reflection. The loss of her baby, a mother in law who doesn’t think she’s good enough for her son, a spiteful young sister in law and Jamie’s ever present ex-girlfriend Hannah. And then there is the fire. Not the one at the school, but one many years back, in Thailand when everything changed for Libby.
And being taken back to the time she was backpacking around South East Asia opens yet another door on this story…with even more surprises.
A thoroughly engrossing read, highly recommended.

This was a really good summer read. There are plenty of twists and turns to hold the reader's attention. It's an unsettling book - but in a good way! Just when you think you've worked out what's happening, the author cleverly changes the situation and you have to keep reading to see what happens next. I liked the structure, where the first half of the book builds up the tension in the present day, with Libby and Jamie's house swap, and then when matters come to a head, the action moves back in time to Thailand. I was quite surprised by Libby, the main character. I thought I knew her, but she turns out to be someone quite different! I think the reader will still be sympathetic towards her but....well, the fire in Thailand changes everything! I enjoyed this book mainly because it was well-written and it surprised me.

Oh boy! Thinking of a house swap? No way! This book was just fabulous. I knew from the first few sentences that I was going to love it and would be unable to put it down and I was right.
This plot got me thinking and whenever I thought I had worked it all out - I changed my mind. The thing was - I just did not know who to believe. Just brilliant writing and I would highly recommend this book. Read it !
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another fab book from Claire Douglas. Just like her previous novel I was hooked from page 1 and couldn't put it down.

Excellent book. Great storyline and wonderful main characters. I would recommend this book.

Another brilliant book by this fab author. Was really pleased to have the opportunity to read it thanks.

This is a very good read. The story starts with Libby and Jamie going to Cornwall on a house exchange. Weird things start to happen to them, and they begin to doubt the motives of the person who set up the exchange. It is also clear that Libby had a traumatic experience when she was younger, travelling in Thailand. Eventually, all is revealed and there are some great twists. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

**I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for my own personal and honest review**

This book follows the story of Libby who is your everyday teacher and her dream-like husband Jamie. I found this book engaging and interesting, and I really did not get half of the twists that were slipped in between the pages. What starts as an ideal holiday swap quickly turns into the couple's worst nightmare, and although you think you can work it out along the way, you're probably not right in the end after all. Having read Claire Douglas' first book I was hesitant that this one would live up to expectation, but I really felt that it did.

If you're looking for a thriller to read over the summer, then this really should be on your list.

This is the second book I have read by Claire Douglas; the first book was Local Girl Missing. I found Local Girl Missing captivating and full of twists. Last Seen Alive only cemented my view that Claire Douglas is a brilliant writer.
The prologue is straight to the point and begins with a woman murdering her husband.
“He had such pretty eyes: they were his best feature, the colour of the ocean. Now they are as glassy, and lifeless as a china dolls, staring up at the darkening sky, empty, unseeing…was I seen killing my husband?”
The first chapter in the book begins with James, Libby and their dog Ziggy travelling to Cornwall to the Roseland Peninsula. They are going on a much-needed holiday.
As we follow their journey there are clues that all is not well within their relationship. Libby acknowledges to herself how much they both need this break because “or first nine months of married life haven’t been easy.”
They have been arguing over money, his family, the involvement of his ex-girlfriend Hannah in his life and Jamie constantly mentioning that he thinks she should go to therapy.
Libby and Jamie spend most of the time away tiptoeing around these sensitive issues trying not to erupt into an argument or cause each other any more pain.
“He’s a pinthalffull kind of man, but being made redundant, setting up on his own and constantly worrying about money has taken its toll, and I’ve noticed, over the last few months, that some of his brightness has started to fade like a tarnished coin.”
When they arrive at the house they will be staying in for the duration of their trip, ‘The Hideaway’. Jamie is full of awe at it’s size but all Libby can think about is the remote location and how isolated they are. There isn’t another house around for miles.
Their holiday was unexpected and came about because of a leaflet dropped through their door. The leaflet explained that the houses owners Tara and Philip Heywood needed to swap their house in Cornwall for a week with someone in the area as their daughter was being admitted to a nearby hospital with a serious condition. They were offering up their own house on the beach in return.
Libby expected to have to work hard to convince Jamie that they needed a holiday but he was more than happy to go away.
Libby had recently been hailed a hero following a fire at the school where she works. She had lead the children to safety but at great personal cost. She fell and broke her arm on the way out and then when she was having an x-ray on it she suffered a miscarriage.
Initially both Jamie and Libby feel calm and relaxed in the house but as time goes on Libby becomes increasingly unnerved over strange happenings in the house. Jamie thinks she is suffering from PTSD but Libby can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching them and that the fire at the school was started deliberately.
The only problem is she can’t tell Jamie why she has such dark suspicions as doing so would involve telling Jamie secrets she has kept to herself for years.
“I’ve never really told him about what happened. To me. To Karen. He knows my friend died. He knows I was lucky to escape. It makes me worry sometimes the things I haven’t told him. Because we shouldn’t keep secrets from each other.”
Last Seen Alive is one of those books that makes you dizzy with all the twists and turns within it. Claire Douglas’ writing is masterful and on more than one occasion during the read I felt sick with anticipation.

An excellent, intriguing mystery.

This is the first book I had read by this author-but I can tell you that by 40% of the way through it I was already adding her other books to my 'to read' list. It was such a good book, all the way through, it never faltered.

The book is centred around Libby and Jamie and I don't want to spoil it by mentioning any of the plot-you can see that from the book blurb. I thought it was an excellent, intriguing mystery. A very good read to keep you guessing. It was so easy to get into and had many twists and surprises to keep you reading.