The Last Good Day

by Peter Blauner

Moving their family to a safe and tranquil suburb, Lynn and Barry Schulman are horrified to discover the town's sinister side, which is revealed after an old friend is murdered and an old boyfriend begins to stalk Lynn.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

432 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Peter Blauner (b. 1959) is the Edgar-winning, New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including SLOW MOTION RIOT and THE INTRUDER. A native of New York City, he apprenticed under famed newspaper columnist Pete Hamill and first broke into print as a journalist for New York magazine. His books are detailed, character-driven crime novels that have attracted a devoted cult following. His newest novel, PICTURE IN THE SAND, due out in January 2023, is his first work of historical fiction.

Reviews

[John Geraghty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful story, gives a look, somewhat biased, at the machinations of living the American Suburban dream gone bad. I identified with the social strata and hidden promises life in an evolving community the author brings to life in a realistic manner. The last few pages were exciting and had me reading faster and faster.

[D.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeking the safety of suburbia, Lynn and Barry Schulman fled Manhattan following 911 and moved to Riverside, New York, a slow-paced, soccer mom community where Lynn had attended high school and several of her long-time friends still resided. All seemed to be going well until the headless body of a woman surfaced on the river beside the train station, terrifying local commuters and sending the small town into turmoil.

The body turned out to be Lynn’s best friend, and the small-town detective assigned to investigate the murder was Lynn’s high school boyfriend, Mike, who still had an unhealthy flame for Lynn and a distain for the lifestyle she chose over him many years ago. The socio-economic division that existed between the multigenerational families of Riverside and the nouveau riche who’d recently claimed the town widened as the investigation of the murder proceeded.

The book got off to a fast start, rapidly building the background of the characters and the mystery surrounding the murder. I was instantly intrigued and excited about the prospect of a page turning thriller. Unfortunately, what I discovered was I would need to turn about 150 more pages before the story returned to its murder mystery roots. Much of the story was about the behind-the-scenes stress and strain faced by the upwardly mobile commuters of Riverside and how their troubled lives intersected the dead woman. You learned that life was not always as it seemed for these families – their companies were losing money, their personal histories were jaded, their relationships were suffering, and their outwardly beautiful homes were barren from within. I wondered at times if the author was writing a murder mystery or providing a documentary on the unseen family trauma associated with suburban life.

In the final third of the book, Peter Bluaner returned to the maniacal infatuation that Mike still had for Lynn, and steamy relationship Mike had pursued with the deceased woman , building him as the prime suspect in her death. Other motives and suspects quickly surfaced as the drama once again built to its thrilling conclusion.

Peter Blauner is undeniably a very talented writer and story teller. It was just a lot of the story he told in THE LAST GOOD DAY didn’t interest me, and it came at a time when I really wanted to be interested. That said, the beginning and end of the novel were suspenseful and well worth a reader’s time.

[bookyeti · Rating 1 out of 5]

Forgettable mystery, un-thrilling thriller

The Last Good Day, a tepid less-than-riveting mystery/thriller, is Blauner’s unsuccessful attempt at creating a believable tense backdrop of New York suburban life shortly after September 11, 2001. While some parts of the storyline ‘hold water’, the majority of the novel lays fallow and unfortunately fails to deliver on almost every level imaginable.

The various not-so-subtle references to 9-11 are not apropos to the plot, and as a result, appear to be a flimsy attempt to draw curious readers possibly scouting for terrorist intrigue. The shallow two-dimensional, and often gutter-mouthed, characters fail to engage the reader, and only highlight the carelessly constructed plot which is neither absorbing or captivating.

Is it just me or does Last Good Day read like a tacky made-for-TV movie? It certainly meets all the criteria, which seem blatantly placed there to appeal to the so-called ‘trendy’…far too melodramatic, ladder-climbing elitists, gratuitous severity, and obscenities too proliferate to excuse. Take my advice and give this one a pass.

Any redeeming qualities to the novel? The photo on the cover is nice…

- reviewed for Time Warner books

[Sue]

This book took me awhile to really get
Into it, but when I did-I really enjoyed it. I was drawn into each characters life and could relate to where the story took place as I lived in Northern NJ for 10 yrs. I was surprised at the way it ended but thought it was very appropriate in the way the author played it out. Will read more books by this author as I like his style.

[ACWA · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a small coastal Hudson river community a murder hangs over the heads of the residents, while a cloud of smoke still hangs over Ground Zero and New York City. I can still remember the weeks following 9/11 and the author really hits the nail on the head and puts into perspective the overall sense of dread and paranoia. This is the third book I have read by Blauner, when it comes to writing believable characters that seem like you someone you would pass on the street, he is second only to Stephen King. This book is what seems a murder mystery in a small Hudson town in the days following 9/11, but it is filled with a solid cast of characters each with their own backstory and motives just below the surface. I wont give anything away, but this is certainly Blauner's best I have read so far.

[Neil Friedman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this based on the recommendation of a FB friend. For ther first 200 pages, the plot, about modern subruban life, drags. I was tempted to fuggedabod it, but decided to stay with it.
The pace picked up after the primary story focused on the crime and it drew me in as the pages quikly paased.
Nevertheless, I didn't appreciate the author's constant device of excessive descriptions of characters and/or their thoughts being compared to the obvious.
I had planned on reading another of the auhor's books, but I'm passing.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A saved arc from days at bkstore. Don’t know why it wasn’t given away but I’m glad I didn’t. Was slow at first but ended up being rather good. Taking place just after 9/11, it used that confusing times sparingly. A headless corpse washed ashore in bedroom community of nyc, known by some, suspicion of who the guilty person is & why, a small police force, a photographer of some talent & involved in tangle of lies & long history w all involved, old friendships, old loves, secrets from high school days, rearing children - all explored in some aspects. Rather good.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynn and her family return to suburban life where she grew up but shortly after a friend of hers ends up decapitated and her ex boyfriend, who is a cop, tries to enter her life. Can she hold her life and family together and find out who did this to her friend. Lots of complicated circles in this novel - suspenseful as times.

[David Linzee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder tears a Hudson Valley suburb apart. Blauner is a very good writer with a keen eye for social nuances and a fierce wit. He gets the era of economic slump and post 9/11 alarms and false pieties just right. The characters and settings are more interesting than the plot, which delves into adultery behind the suburban façade in ways that are not as titillating as they used to be.

[Jan Sears · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good read

I didn’t expect much from this book but it grabbed me in the first chapter. It’s an engaging story, even though there isn’t a lot of suspense about who did what to whom. Once you get hooked on the characters, all the suspense is about why they’re doing what they’re doing and hoping to heaven they aren’t really going to do that awful thing you’re imagining they might.

[Dave Delsigne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Peter Blauner ... While the story was a bit slow at times, I like the way he goes into relationships and the various real life status/class levels. I recommend you pickup a Peter Blauner novel and give him a chance to entertain.

[Charles Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely talented and gifted writer.

[Cheshire Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried, I even put it down and picked it back up but it could not hold my interest at all.

[Coreking · Rating 4 out of 5]

the polt doubtless is enganing

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I heard so many good things about this book, so I was really disappointed when I just could not get into it. It was just hard for me to get through because I found it to be unengaging and dull.

[James R Jackson III · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not even close

The author didn't make the characters make enough sense to make the reader want to find out what happened and why. Sorry, I wish I hadn't read it.

[Bob Box · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 2003. A vivid and powerfully imagined thriller. One of my favorites that year.

[Diogenes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The least compelling of the works of a superb, spellbinding author.

[Salahuddin Hourani]

ملاحظة لي: لم اقرا الكتاب بعد

مقترح من ستيفين كينغ

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me awhile to really get "Into" it, but when I did-I really enjoyed it. I was surprised at the way it ended but thought it was very appropriate in the way the author played it out.

[Patti Creazzo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never got past page 30 my first DNF

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story but the characters seem a little off.

When a headless corpse is discovered floating in the waters, commuters soon discover she's a local who grew up with nearly everyone involved in the police investigation.

Like a cop who lives too much in his past and a best friend who doesn't realize harassment charges against the cop will bring out her own dirty laundry. Even the police chief knows her. Then there's his problem of suspecting the cop (who was passed over for the chief's job), who's also a friend, but trying to be impartial. The chief is the most sympathetic character.

The ending wrapped up loose ends but it left me dissatisfied. I won't say why since it'd be a spoiler. I will say that anyone who likes their mysteries dark, this one fits the bill.

[Rebekkila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the thrillers I read are told from the prospective of the police of PI that is investigating the case. This story is told by all the friends and family of the victim. I liked the characters I felt like they were pretty well drawn and I understood where they were coming from most of the time. The problem that I had with the story was that it seemed like the author didn't know where he was going with the story toward the end and made someone the killer and ended it. I did read this pretty quickly and would recommend this to those who like murder lite.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts off pretty slow and boring...took me awhile to force my way through until it picked up a bit, I can't rememeber if it was a Kindle freebie or a deal of the day book for a discounted amount. It is also predictable...they put so much emphasis on one individual to make you think it was that person and you know that's what the author wants you to think so then you know that person is no longer guilty and that puts it on one other individual which is exactly what happened...either way you know one of two for sure...and the ending could have definitely been better!

[Cathi Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trite and stereotyped. Women are all portrayed as vicious status seekers who rip the souls out of men. The whodunnit is not obvious, until it is, but the author gives you nothing to surmise the murderer, and the ending is a "where did that come from" shoot em up and let the bodies fall where they may. Sigh. For a good summer read, with a believable plot and interesting (and believable) character, where the ending doesn't feel like a movie blocking shot--I am still waiting.
Perhaps it is time to give up on the junk reading and Bring up the Bodies.

[Peggy Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one else has reviewed this book? Maybe it's a bit too old. This is a very good murder mystery. The author has a very good writing style. His main character does most of the leaping to conclusions to make the reader follow her thoughts, so it's not bad a misdirection. Good airplane book, but probably mainly for female readers.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Total one-night stand but like his style enough to look at others he has written. Surprised to see pub date as it was on the new books shelf at my local library...trite and crappy ending and cliche characters but language use was occasionally awesome and he captured the creepy-stalker-ex -boyfriend -now-deranged-cop vibe perfectly.

[Craig Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled onto Peter Blauner through one of his TV episodes and I'm glad I did. A terrific writer, and this book is an outstanding example, though not quite as riveting his his Edgar-winning debut Slow Motion Riot. The characters are rich and deep, the story is full of surprises, and the pace driven.

[Jason Jensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I decided to give this book 100 pages. If it didn't grab my attention by then, it was a waste of time. Maybe I didn't try hard enough, but a good book is good right from the start and you should have to try hard to like it. I dropped it.

[Scotchneat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think it's meant to be a thriller, but it's more like a bit of sensationalist authoring.

Plot goes over-the-top with the evil guy being evil, and the straight arrow being straight and all sacrifice-y.

Pass on this one.