Member Reviews

Another great book by Rachel Abbott in the Stephanie King series.
Ellis Cobain thinks he can do no wrong - but Stephanie King notices that there is an unusual dynamic going on at a small hotel in Cornwall Celia, Nadia and Juliette are strangers who meet at this hotel - and they all have one thing in common - they have been wronged by Cobain.
When he is found dead, Stephanie stays on to try to solve the murder - but will the women realise they have something in common, and will they do something about it?
Thank you to @Netgalley for the advanced copy of #TheLastTimeISawHim

Was this review helpful?

This is the fourth book in the Stephanie King series, I have read the previous one, but not the first two. This is a bit of a whodunnit (you have a few to pick from) as well as a how did they do it!
There are a few twists and turns along the way, but I think the biggest shock is the ending! I did enjoy this book and I enjoy Rachel Abbott's other novels. I look forward to reading more from her.

Was this review helpful?

Every chapter of this book has me guessing what really happened as each of the women tell their story and of each other and how they’re linked. As the story was coming together towards the end, I totally didn’t see the ending coming. I enjoyed the book as I thought it would end one way but went a completely different way!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Mixed feelings about this one, it was a so-so read for me. I wasn't keen on the ending.

Was this review helpful?

First book I have read of this author, it is part of a series but the book was fine to read on its own. The plot had lots of twists and turns and really did keep me guessing. Not sure I really liked any of the main characters, but maybe that was the idea. Certainly I had to get to the end to find out what was going on

Was this review helpful?

This is the fourth (and possibly the last) in Rachel Abbott’s brilliant Stephanie King series. I suspect it works fine as a standalone, but for the full, emotional experience of knowing Stephanie‘s background and her relationship with DCI Gus Brodie, I would highly recommend reading the first three installments.

Abbott excels at crafting crime thrillers that combine detailed procedural elements with a fast-paced, twisty plot. This one was especially absorbing, as it wasn’t just a simple case of whodunnit but more importantly, how the heck DID they do it?

The plot revolves around the mysterious death of Ellis Cobain, a wealthy philanthropist, who is found murdered on his yacht. What has everyone baffled is that the yacht is moored offshore, and there is no evidence of it being accessed during the critical time.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of three women, Celia, Juliette and Nadia, strangers to each other but all sharing an axe to grind where Ellis is concerned. Their alibis, however, are watertight.

What follows, as the plot plays out, is a compelling, twisty tale of bluff, collusion and revenge. Abbott teases with tantalizing foreshadowing; a piece of the puzzle here, another there, slowly building the tension, until everything finally unravels and explodes.

I’m used to Abbott’s clever plotting, but this was genius-level smart. What I wasn’t prepared for, though, was the way the book came to a close after the case was solved. Will there be another installment? I’m sad to say, I just don’t see it happening.

Was this review helpful?

A very dramatic read with good twists. Kept me hooked until the end and unable to sleep until I had finished. I'll definitely be looking into other books by Abbott

Was this review helpful?

A new author for me but one I’d read again. This was a suspenseful, well plotted story that had a number of twists and turns I didn’t expect. Great characters- though not very likeable - and a great ending.

Was this review helpful?

This is another suspenseful story from Rachel Abbott. The tension remains throughout. I recommend it to fans of the author and anyone who enjoys a good old fashioned who done it.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for this advanced copy.

Was this review helpful?

Book four in this series
A good read you will not want to put it down
An ending I didn’t see coming
Thanks NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to read this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Amazon.

Holiday read

Was this review helpful?

A psychological thriller with a few too many coincidences and twists. I couldn’t get invested in the characters and struggled to get into it.

Was this review helpful?

Many thanks to Netgalley and Headline for a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When detective Stephanie King is staying on the Cornish coast, she doesn't expect to meet three women she will soon be investigating. Woven together by shared wrongs from Ellis Corbain, the three women never expected to be caught up in the investigation into his death. But who is telling the whole truth, and who has more to hide?

When I finally got into this, I actually really enjoyed it, its just that I have to say, it didn't grip me until maybe the last third of the book. The twists weren't that shocking to me either, but that doesn't really matter to me in a detective book - I actually like having a good idea who the murderer is. I also think a twist near the end would have hit harder if I'd read the previous Stephanie King books, but this was my first.

It was quite interesting having a victim who you weren't that upset was dead - in some ways I quite enjoyed that no-one was particularly devastated by his death, but it did also mean you weren't as invested in his murderer. I didn't really see this as a thriller, more of a mystery, and if I'd gone in expecting a twisty thriller I'd have been disappointed.

I did enjoy the ending, though I think people who have read the previous books might have been more likely to not like it. It felt right for the story for me, and like it was a satisfying end.

Was this review helpful?

Okay I like horrors but unfortunately I don't think this book was for me. I think I wasn't in thf right mindset at the time.

Was this review helpful?

As always a fantastic book by a consistently brilliant author. I always regret their ending and always look forward to the next book thanks

Was this review helpful?

I am new to this series and new to the author but I will definitely be looking at other books by her. A great story with twists and turns, would be a great holiday read!

Was this review helpful?

A good story but I found it hard to care about any of the main characters. It would be a good holiday read, however.

Was this review helpful?

I found this hard to get in to, I will try and see if a physical copy holds by interest and review on social media

Was this review helpful?

Celia, Juliette & Nadia, seemingly strangers, have one thing in common - arrogant Ellis Cobain
When they realise their connection, they form a pact to blackmail him and free themselves
The next morning, when his dead body is found on his luxurious yacht, they are left scrambling to try and cover their tracks

This novel is the latest in the Stephanie King series

It’s a well crafted thriller told from the perspective of all three women, with great twists and turns and a shocking end I didn’t see coming
Loved the Cornish setting and the writing style, the author captures your attention straightaway

Thanks @rachelabbottwriter @headlinebooks & @netgalley for the explosive thriller

Was this review helpful?

Sadly this book wasn’t for me just couldn’t get into it I didn’t find it very engaging so I’ll not review publically

Was this review helpful?