Synopsis

Darkness Hides in Unlikely Places

Come here. Come closer.

Halley James knows her marriage is over. But she’s not prepared for the rest of her life to fall apart too.

No one can hear you. No one can help you.

She just lost her job at the forensics lab. Her dad needs emergency surgery. But the biggest blow comes back home in Marchburg, Virginia, where she discovers her mother didn’t actually die in a car crash. Her mom was murdered―and her father lied about it all these years.

I have nothing to hide from you. Are you hiding something from me?

Since she was six years old, it’s been Halley and her dad. Now, she doesn’t know what to believe. Desperate for the truth, Halley chases down a lead in Brockville, Tennessee. But all there is not as it seems. Brockville’s utopian charm hides a chilling darkness. And Halley’s search for answers threatens to expose an unspeakable reality.

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Praise

“My favorite kind of thriller–dark family secrets, high-stakes mystery, and a shocked daughter who will stop at nothing to determine the truth. Wherever J.T. Ellison goes, I want to follow.” —Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Kiss Her Goodbye

“In LAST SEEN, J.T. Ellison weaves a gripping tale of family secrets, broken trust, and the slippery nature of memory. When Halley James learns her mother was murdered—not killed in an accident—her search for the truth leads to a deceptively perfect town hiding dark secrets. With twists that keep you guessing, this masterfully crafted thriller showcases Ellison at the top of her game.” –Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

“Darkly original and bursting with hold-your-breath suspense, LAST SEEN by J.T. Ellison is a haunting deep dive into a harrowing crime, buried memories, and one woman’s obsession to discover the truth no matter the consequences. At the top of her game, Ellison’s expert storytelling is on full display – LAST SEEN is a must-read for thriller fans.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest and The Perfect Hosts

“If someone lies about the things that matter most to you, it’s your right, isn’t it, to go after the truth? So bravo to fearless forensic scientist Halley James for daring to peel away the layers of deceit in this dark, twisty, and gripping thriller that grabs you, pulls you in, and keeps you guessing until you reach the final page with your heart pounding in your chest.” —Kate White, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Time She Saw Him

Review

I am not sure how it is possible that this is only the second book by this author that I have read, but I will say that she knows how to drag you to the depths of wickedness and leave you wondering how you are going to claw your way out!

Halley doesn’t remember much about the day her mother died. The mind is a powerful thing, and will protect us from bad memories. But when she stumbles across a clipping about her mother’s death and that her sister was the one who killed her, it sparks a flash of a memory, and she sets off to find out what happened to Cat.

I was invested from the beginning of this book. There are chapters where the killer is speaking to us, and it is eerie. The story does alternate timelines to provide more background about Cat and what she endured. The book is told primarily from Halley’s perspective, but these other chapters add depth to the story and details we wouldn’t get otherwise.

The town of Brockville seems idyllic, but there is a dark underbelly residing there. There are references to Stepford, and it wouldn’t be too far off. You have to be careful in this town, because it is not as perfect as it appears. The people are friendly, and one man stands out, Noah. He may be the son of the founder, but that doesn’t mean he agrees with everything his family says or does.

Another side story is Halley’s relationship with her husband, Theo. While things seem great on the surface, their marriage is breaking up. Can it be saved? There is chemistry between the two, but a difference is keeping them apart.

This book is perfect for those who love a good thriller and want to shout at the characters to look out!

We give this book 5 paws up.

About the Author

J.T. Ellison, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, crafts domestic noir and psychological thrillers that hook readers deep into the night. She created the Taylor Jackson and Dr. Samantha Owens series, alongside standalone hits like A Very Bad Thing, It’s One of Us, and Lie to Me. With Catherine Coulter, she co-authored six of the “A Brit in the FBI” novels packed with international intrigue—because a good spy twist never gets old. Her books span 30 countries and 18 languages, with millions sold and several optioned for TV. She’s received accolades including the ITW Thriller Award for The Cold Room, Indie Next picks, COSTCO nods, SIBA Okra Picks, LibraryReads selections, Amazon Editor’s Pick honors, and Book of the Month recognition, with Field of Graves and No One Knows hitting the SIBA Southern Book Prize longlist in 2017. She’s now at work on her 35th novel, ready to raise the stakes again.

Ellison co-hosts A Word on Words on Nashville PBS, an Emmy-winning gig that shows she’s as sharp on screen as on the page. She founded Two Tales Press for her short fiction, runs The Wine Vixen, blending her love of food and wine with storytelling flair, and pens The Creative Edge blog to spark inspiration for fellow writers. As Joss Walker, she launched the Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian series, with Tomb of the Queen taking the 2021 Silver Falcon for Best Fantasy Novel.

A former political insider, she lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens—one of whom she swears is a ghost—where she’s always chasing the next twist in suspense and fantasy.

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