This was an interesting story filled with twist and turns that kept me on my toes for the most part.

The prologue plunges us straight into a murder and was enough to keep me anchored in the 'why' element right up until the big reveal. It is most definitely a summer page-turner, helped I'm sure by it being split into three parts, each revealing their own secrets.

It's not without niggles though. I couldn't quite get to grips with certain elements of the timeline, though I'm sure they do make perfect sense when lined up. I don't know, it just felt a little bit clunky, like some of the three parts didn't match. It's not a big issue, and it didn't stop me turning those pages, but I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a bit irritating. Remembering here of course that it's probably my brain causing the issue!

I liked Libby on the whole, even though I found the whole set-up of Jamie's family made her insecure so that she had tendencies towards infuriating in her questioning of things. Mind you considering events she has the right to question I guess, it just doesn't help her is what I suppose I mean. With the exception of Evelyn, the rest of the characters didn't endear themselves to me; finding them cloying, self-absorbed and unhelpful in differing measures. Oh no, I liked Ziggy too, but then that goes without saying really! I shouldn't miss him out though.

By the end Libby finds it hard to escape the web she has carefully constructed, and I did find it, whilst not unsurprising, a little unnecessary. I don't know if the outcome was deliberate or not, but I did feel like it was an injustice too far!

Last Seen Alive is a good read, though like its characters, it isn't perfect.

Thank you to Claire Douglas, Penguin UK (Michael Joseph) and NetGalley for my arc of this book. Having read Local Girl Missing I was keen to try Claire’s latest book. I was however slightly apprehensive that I would be disappointed, her previous book had been so good I didn’t think this one would ever compare. I can’t begin to explain just how totally wrong I was, this book is every bit as fab as the previous one. I was gripped from the beginning and held on to the rollercoaster of emotions with white knuckles throughout. Each time I go to a point where the story started to calm down along came another unexpected twist to knock me sideways. If you haven’t ever read any of Claire’s books I would recommend that you put this one to the top of your to be read pile immediately.

This is the third book from Claire Douglas and the second I have read. The first was Local Girl Missing which I loved and gave 5 stars. So I was more than eager to read Last Seen Alive.

I was expecting a compelling, well written story, what I wasnt expecting was a book that fooled me not once but 3 times. As an avid reader of Mystery/Thriller/Crime books I would like to think that I can pretty much guess the outcome of most or get pretty damn near, Not with Last Seen Alive. I got nowhere near.

Libby has had a tough time of it lately so when a letter is posted through the door enquiring about a possible house swap, Libby,her husband Jamie and Ziggy the Dog jump at the chance of a break in Cornwall. At this point Libby seems to be a little bit paranoid with a few trust issues and Jamie seems to hiding a secret or two of his own. Of course things are never what they seem. The book is split into 3 parts Cornwall,Thailand and Bath told by Libby and Beth what happens over the next 389 pages has more twist and turns than a ride on the Helter Skelter at the Grand Pier in Weston-Super-Mare but not as expensive.

A Psycolgical Thriller that hits the nail firmly on the head and then some. Exceptional reading.

'Last Seen Alive' is Douglas's third book, and whilst I am yet to read her first, I enjoyed 'Local Girl Missing' and was eager to see how this would compare. Reading as an ebook, I was about 20% into the novel and my interest was starting to wane to be honest. The story felt slow, Libby was starting to irritate me with her paranoia and I couldn't see where the story was going. Thankfully I kept reading, because wow! To say the story picked up is an understatement. The tightly-woven plot was full of twists and turns that I completely hadn't anticipated and I ended up reading well into the early hours. I am such a fan of this book I have already bought three copies as gifts and passed my copy on to others. This is a definite must-read and I am so excited to see what Douglas comes up with next!

I have already had the pleasure of reading Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas which was an above average psychological thriller. Last Seen Alive is possibly even better.
It is difficult to review without revealing much of its complex plot and its many twists.
Libby Hall is a teacher and have been married for nine months to Jamie. She recently saved children from a fire at her school and was featured in the local papers hailed as a hero. We don't know much about her beside the fact that she had been involved in another fire, years earlier in Thailand. Her friend died.

Things are not great with her marriage and when she is offered the chance of exchanging her flat in Bath for a house in Cornwall for a week, she takes it. It seems to be a great opportunity for the couple, who have a limited budget, to recharge their batteries. As you can imagine this starts a new nightmare in a dream house.

Libby and Jamie are both likeable characters, they don't appear to have any enemies and it is difficult to work out what is going on. At the beginning it might be just Libby worrying too much. As in other books in this genre, you don't know who to trust anymore and who has secrets and what secrets.

It’s the end of term and Libby Hall is exhausted. She has had a difficult time lately which included saving children from a fire in the school kitchen, a miscarriage and also breaking her arm. When she finds a note pushed through the door offering a house-swap in Cornwall, she persuades hubby Jamie that it would be good for them and Ziggy the dog to get away. And so they leave their flat in Bath and make their way to ‘Hideaway’ in Cornwall.

However, things do not go well for the Halls, and their lives spiral wildly out of control.

It is not easy to give any more of the plot away without providing spoilers, and so all I can say is that the background of this thriller lies in Southeast Asia where Libby spent some time with a group of friends she picked up on the way.

The characters are well-defined and the plot moves relentlessly on, but there are many twists and turns on the way, culminating with a finale that was unexpected.

Thank you, Claire Douglas, for a very interesting, exciting and entertaining read.

Sméagol

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

Last Seen Alive is a gripping novel that is very weird but full of twists i would definitely recommend

A fast paced, exciting and gripping novel. The story line is intriguing with various twists and turns along the way. I couldn't put the book down as I wanted to know what was going to happen! The characters are well-developed, and the setting is described well. The story switches between different time periods and settings, which builds builds the suspense and tension even more.
I don't like to give the details of the storyline in my reviews - as the plot can be seen easily elsewhere - but simply plot this is a brilliant psychological thriller and I highly recommend it!

Libby Hall and her husband Jamie are desperately in need of a holiday after a series of traumatic events when a stranger fortuitously posts a leaflet through their letterbox suggesting a house swap as he needs the use of a flat in Bath in order be near his daughter in hospital.  The swap is agreed by phone and Libby and Jamie take up residence in the stranger's swanky modernist house in a beautifully windswept and remote part of Cornwall. 

All goes well at first but then a series of disturbing and increasingly sinister events lead Libby and Jaimie into a web of paranoia, suspicion and danger.  There are hints throughout the book that Libby has a bit of a dodgy past and she's generally rather prickly and not the most likeable of characters.  Up until about halfway through the book I was thinking it was going to be a three star read as it rattled along at a bit of a breakneck pace with not much depth to the characters or plot, but then there's a twist (as there inevitably is in this sort of thriller), and it's a really good one!  Melodramatic yes, far fetched almost certainly, but very clever and well executed.   I was gripped for the last third of the book, intrigued to see how Libby would get herself out of the hole she had dug for herself.    A great read.

Absolutely loved this book, Libby and Jamie go on holiday after being offered a house swap. Libby appears paranoid about things happening whilst they are away. Is their something Libby is hiding, or is it Jamie. I like books that keep you guessing till the end and there is plenty of that! Even as it finishes, well you will have to read the book!

4.5 Stars

This is the story of Libby and Jamie, who after going through some marital problems decide to agree to a house swap after receiving a leaflet through the door. Swapping their small flat in Bath for a Cottage in Cornwall for a week. However, this is just the start of things that will turn all their lives upside down.

Wow! This book had me hooked, page after page and I really could not predict what was next to come. This book packed so much story into the pages and was truly incredibly written and I cannot stress how much this is a total must read! I really want to say so much about this book with so much to the story, it's hard to go into detail without posting any spoilers.

The only reason I cannot give this a full 5 Stars, is because of the ending. I had too many questions that were left open and I felt as if there was a chunk of the book missing at the end. Despite this, though the book is a must read and perfect for taking on holiday.

An engaging, tense thriller. That you will want to read in one sitting. Libby and Jamie Hall agree of a house swap after a leaflet is posted through their door. But, all is not what it seems when they get there . Libby is quite jittery after a tragedy that is gets paranoid that someone is watching her. and then things start to happen.

Also the story includes Libbys past when she backpacked and got involved in a fire.

If you have read the other books by Clare douglas you will enjoy this one too. Its a great book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity of reading this book as an arc.
Wow, this is a cracker! Newly married couple Libby and Jamie get the chance to do a temporary houseswap, their flat in Bath for a luxury house in Cornwall near the seaside. The couple have recently experienced som difficult times and they see this as an opportunity to take some time out and relax together. However, Libby immediately feels uneasy at the house and paranoia soon sets in after some unsettling events.
This is a real rollercoaster ride of a book, the twists and turns come thick and fast and towards the end of the book I really had to concentrate to keep on track with who was who and what was going on! Your perceptions of the characters certainly change as the story progresses and there are plenty of shocks in store! Brilliant book, I would certainly recommend it.

This is the first time that I have read anything by Claire Douglas and it won't be the last either. We were promised a book of mystery and suspense and Claire delivered so much more!

It started out with a couple of newly weds looking to rekindle the passion in their marriage after a series of set backs and it ended up blowing my mind, as it took twists and turns that I didn't see coming, with a twist at the very end that has left me reeling. Not exactly sure I feel about that!!

I was absolutely enthralled throughout the book as the author skillfully created a compelling story, weaving a twisted tale of paranoia and suspense that is sure to keep you on your toes. Honestly this book had me on edge as Libby's paranoia slowly got the better of her, it started rubbing off on me.

My only issue was that I was a left a little confused when the POV changed from Libby to Beth but it was just so unexpected and my brain needed a little to sort through that, on top of everything else.

This is a very twisty, turny kind of book that will leave your mind feeling bettered by the end. The author is certainly very talented, if you haven't one clicked this yet, you should.

I enjoyed this book as I felt it was different to other things I had read before. I enjoyed the twist in the middle of the book as to who Libby was. I thought that the ending was well written and overall it was one of those books I continue to read even when my eyes are shutting because I am tired!

I really enjoyed this book as it kept me intrigued throughout trying to work out what was happening. A very clever concept with lots of twists and turns. An unexpected ending which tied up the whole story. I knew I was going to enjoy this book from the very first page. Would highly recommend.

Wow this is a page turner full of twists and surprises. It is a fast paced thriller that kept me up late into the night. It is clever, sinister and downright spooky.

Libby and Jamie enter into a home swap exchanging their flat in Bath for a remote house in Cornwall. Libby responded to a leaflet put through their door requesting somewhere for a couple to stay whilst their daughter was in a local hospital. The wisdom of this is a bit tenuous as she doesn’t meet the person making this request. She does google him and speak to him on the phone. You do have to suspend disbelief a little but the cracking story does make up for this.

Libby becomes increasingly paranoid as weird stuff happens. She even begins to suspect that Jamie is not the loyal husband she thought he was.

This is another book where to go further into the plot would create spoilers. It has more twists than a souk in Cairo and is thoroughly enjoyable even when it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

I would really recommend this book.

ARC received from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Really enjoyed this! Kept me in suspense, enjoyed this author very much! Definite read for everyone

4 STARS - 'Last seen alive' Claire Douglas.

I finished this book a while ago but I dropped my phone down the toilet (come on I know I'm not the only one who has done this) so wasn't able to write my review until now.

I don't know where to start! This hits the nail on psychological thriller's head! Libby Hall is the local hero after saving a child from a fire that breaks out at her workplace but it has left her feeling paranoid and brought back horrible memories of a fire from her past. A past when she was more care free and was travelling the world and a fire that killed her bestfriend. Libby decides that she and her husband deserve a break so when the school holidays begin and they receive a letter through the door from a desperate father wanting to swap his home in Cornwall for their home in Bath it seems like all of Libby's prayers have been answered.

However letting a stranger into your home has risks and living in a secluded Cornwall mansion where the nearest neighbour is at least 2 miles away also has risks and when more and more strange things start to occur Libby is left asking herself is she going crazy or is someone from her past out to get revenge.

This is an enthralling read that is nothing like any thriller I have read to date. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thriller that leaves you guessing until the end and makes you question your own paranoia whilst reading the story.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Libby and Jamie have only been married for a few months but they're struggling and need to re-connect. By chance a note through their door asks them to take part in a house swap at a remote house in Cornwall. Getting away from it all seems like the perfect solution and they're soon leaving their flat in Bath and heading to Cornwall with their beloved dog Ziggy.

Although, it seems that all is not as it should be. Discoveries are made in the house and Libby feels she is being watched but is she just being paranoid?

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. It's gritty, fast paced and draws you into the plot. With some fab twists and turns along the way, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK Michael Joseph and Claire Douglas for the chance to review.