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The Last Trace
What if you're scared you committed a crime but can't remember? From the bestselling author of Six Minutes and The Liars comes an unputdownable thriller about the secrets we keep from each other - and ourselves.
Family. It means everything to Sheridan. Her brother Lachy is finally home in Australia and she's excited about Easter with him and their nephew. But when a traumatic incident tears the families apart, she blames him.
Lachy knows he's not coping right now but his sister doesn't have the full story. And nor does he. There are some gaps in his memory. How is he connected to a DNA request, a missing woman, and a hit and run?
To untangle the truth, he must decide who he can trust. His friends? His family? Himself?
A gripping thriller about siblings and secrets, and the traces we can never erase.
Family. It means everything to Sheridan. Her brother Lachy is finally home in Australia and she's excited about Easter with him and their nephew. But when a traumatic incident tears the families apart, she blames him.
Lachy knows he's not coping right now but his sister doesn't have the full story. And nor does he. There are some gaps in his memory. How is he connected to a DNA request, a missing woman, and a hit and run?
To untangle the truth, he must decide who he can trust. His friends? His family? Himself?
A gripping thriller about siblings and secrets, and the traces we can never erase.
368 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2024
22 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Petronella McGovern
4 books225 followersPetronella McGovern writes psychological thrillers focusing on everyday characters and contemporary issues.
Petronella is fascinated by what makes us tick, the lies we tell, and the secrets we keep. She is the best-selling author of Six Minutes, The Good Teacher, The Liars and The Last Trace. Her books have been nominated in the Ned Kelly Awards, the Davitt Awards and the Australian Independent Bookseller Awards. The Liars was selected in the Top 100 Big W/Better Reading list for 2023.
Petronella grew up in a large family on a farm in New South Wales. Australian landscapes and the bush feature strongly in her stories. Among other adventures, she has worked on a summer camp in America and travelled in eastern Africa which inspired parts of her fourth novel, The Last Trace.
She has also co-written two non-fiction books - a travelogue of the 1960s, For Love and a Beetle with Ivan Hodge; and an Olympic memoir, Trailblazers: Australia's First Olympic Equestrians with Wyatt Thompson.
Follow Petronella on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PetronellaMc... or Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petronellam...
Petronella is fascinated by what makes us tick, the lies we tell, and the secrets we keep. She is the best-selling author of Six Minutes, The Good Teacher, The Liars and The Last Trace. Her books have been nominated in the Ned Kelly Awards, the Davitt Awards and the Australian Independent Bookseller Awards. The Liars was selected in the Top 100 Big W/Better Reading list for 2023.
Petronella grew up in a large family on a farm in New South Wales. Australian landscapes and the bush feature strongly in her stories. Among other adventures, she has worked on a summer camp in America and travelled in eastern Africa which inspired parts of her fourth novel, The Last Trace.
She has also co-written two non-fiction books - a travelogue of the 1960s, For Love and a Beetle with Ivan Hodge; and an Olympic memoir, Trailblazers: Australia's First Olympic Equestrians with Wyatt Thompson.
Follow Petronella on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PetronellaMc... or Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petronellam...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
June 26, 2024
Lachy, now home in Australia and living in the Snowy Mountains with his son Kai, knew he had problems. His mental blackouts were a real worry as he couldn't remember anything about what happened during them. When he became 'aware' he was at the pub with Kai, eating dinner, but not remembering how he got there, he was frightened. And when the local paper told the story of him rescuing a local - Fred - from a ditch, they called him a hero. But his memories brought up zilch, absolutely nothing. What was happening to him?
Lachy's sister Sheridan, husband Neil and two small daughters were due to arrive for the Easter weekend, and fifteen year old Kai was excited to see his aunt again. But he was worried about his dad too. He would talk to Sheridan when she arrived. Lachy wasn't coping with his job overseas; he was sure he was burnt out. But there was much more to it than that. And Sheridan was sure to bring the subject up. But on the Friday night when Sheridan and her family arrived, it wasn't long before a frightening event occurred and they rushed to the Cooma hospital. What had happened? Why couldn't the doctors find the answers? And why was it Lachy's fault?
The Last Trace is my fourth read by Aussie author Petronella McGovern and I enjoyed the first three very much. With two time frames - one set in 1968 surrounding a religious family with a strict and cruel father; the other set in current times, with family issues, secrets, drugs, alcohol and more, I enjoyed the current time the most as I found it difficult to read the earlier story, but found the ending came together well. Recommended for fans of family thrillers.
With thanks to NetGalley & Allen & Unwin AU for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Lachy's sister Sheridan, husband Neil and two small daughters were due to arrive for the Easter weekend, and fifteen year old Kai was excited to see his aunt again. But he was worried about his dad too. He would talk to Sheridan when she arrived. Lachy wasn't coping with his job overseas; he was sure he was burnt out. But there was much more to it than that. And Sheridan was sure to bring the subject up. But on the Friday night when Sheridan and her family arrived, it wasn't long before a frightening event occurred and they rushed to the Cooma hospital. What had happened? Why couldn't the doctors find the answers? And why was it Lachy's fault?
The Last Trace is my fourth read by Aussie author Petronella McGovern and I enjoyed the first three very much. With two time frames - one set in 1968 surrounding a religious family with a strict and cruel father; the other set in current times, with family issues, secrets, drugs, alcohol and more, I enjoyed the current time the most as I found it difficult to read the earlier story, but found the ending came together well. Recommended for fans of family thrillers.
With thanks to NetGalley & Allen & Unwin AU for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2024
What happens when you have a memory blank, could you have committed a crime, this is what happens to Lachy Wilson it has happened a few times now and it is starting to worry him, he is now got the care of his fifteen year old son Kia and there is also the fact that he has been asked for a DNA test by a young woman he doesn’t really remember, life is getting hard for Lachy how will this all turn out?
Sheridan loves her brother, Lachy and her nephew Kia they are a very close family and with the loss of their father and their mother now in care suffering from dementia and Lachy back in Australia they are planning Easter at the family property something that has been done for many years but it soon turns into a near tragedy and everything changes.
Lachy and Kia take a trip to the States so as Lachy can first chase up the woman who requested his DNA, also to look up a young woman from his past and to talk to his boss about a workmate but pretty much as soon as he arrives the police are requesting an interview about the DNA test.
Soon the past is being unraveled and secrets unearthed will Lachy finally be able to put the past to rest and think about the future for him and his son and family, his American family finally know what happened to their sister and Lachy and Sheridan have a better understanding about their mother’s early years.
This story takes in family and secrets set in 1968 in America and now two different eras in two different countries how times change, Lachy woks around the world helping with water resources and cares about the environment, this one was slow to start for me but the ending worked out really well and I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
Sheridan loves her brother, Lachy and her nephew Kia they are a very close family and with the loss of their father and their mother now in care suffering from dementia and Lachy back in Australia they are planning Easter at the family property something that has been done for many years but it soon turns into a near tragedy and everything changes.
Lachy and Kia take a trip to the States so as Lachy can first chase up the woman who requested his DNA, also to look up a young woman from his past and to talk to his boss about a workmate but pretty much as soon as he arrives the police are requesting an interview about the DNA test.
Soon the past is being unraveled and secrets unearthed will Lachy finally be able to put the past to rest and think about the future for him and his son and family, his American family finally know what happened to their sister and Lachy and Sheridan have a better understanding about their mother’s early years.
This story takes in family and secrets set in 1968 in America and now two different eras in two different countries how times change, Lachy woks around the world helping with water resources and cares about the environment, this one was slow to start for me but the ending worked out really well and I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
June 23, 2024
The Last Trace is an edgy family drama laced with secrets from the past, fear of the unknown and the burden of doing the right thing regardless of the personal cost. Petronella McGovern has woven together the main story set in Australia in the present day with heartbreaking events in the USA in 1968.
“Lachy had barely slept, tossing and turning, berating himself. Scumbag, loser, irresponsible dickhead. In between those thoughts, he tried to piece together the missing hours. How had he behaved in front of his son? Of course, none of the memories returned. Whoosh, gone after three minutes, gone forever. The fear that he’d done something terrible made him jittery, craving a whisky to calm his nerves. But no, he was never touching the stuff again. Shit, how could he have had a blackout with Kai around? How could he have driven in that state? He knew he was in a bad way but moving here was supposed to make him better. Not worse.”
Lachy suffers from blackout episodes. He has done so for years but they appear to be getting more frequent. His latest one ended when he found himself at the pub with his son, Kai, and he couldn’t remember if he’d driven there while out.
Kai notices that something’s up with his dad. He’s been visiting, living with his dad on the remote property in the Snowy Mountains. Concerned, he calls his aunt. Sheridan is Lachy’s sister and has long been the responsible voice of reason for the family. When Kai calls, she makes the trip to visit them.
But a near tragedy threatens to rip the family unit apart and then, there’s news from the US where Lachy had been working until recently. Allegations have been made, careers are in jeopardy and lives have been put on hold. The agreed response is for Lachy to return to the States and get back to work.
The second timeline takes us back to 1968 where we follow the life of a young woman, the daughter of a strict religious man, as she navigates her way through a forbidden affair. It’s clear that the family she belongs to is connected to Lachy and Sheridan and we’re headed for a significant revelation somewhere down the track.
It’s when Lachy and Kai take a trip to the US that events really move forward and the significance of a DNA test that Lachy had taken is going to become important. The history of blackouts and some questions about events that took place years ago are going to come back and make Lachy’s life extremely uncomfortable.
There was only one part of the storyline that I thought could be expanded upon and used a little better, and that was to do with Lachy’s job and the ructions that had taken place between him and one of his colleagues. It was used as one of a number of problems that Lachy was facing and could have provided a fascinating showdown if it were explored a little more fully. I was a bit disappointed when it ended up being explained away in a mere couple of sentences.
The Last Trace is a strong family drama that uses DNA matching in an interesting way. Plot twists are nicely engineered with a cast of strong characters given well developed backgrounds helping to create a thoroughly riveting story. The past is used to bring the actions of the present day characters into relevance, occasionally raising some slight rumblings of disquiet, particularly for Lachy - those darn pesky blackouts.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin and NetGalley for a digital copy of the ARC that has allowed me to read, enjoy and review this book.
“Lachy had barely slept, tossing and turning, berating himself. Scumbag, loser, irresponsible dickhead. In between those thoughts, he tried to piece together the missing hours. How had he behaved in front of his son? Of course, none of the memories returned. Whoosh, gone after three minutes, gone forever. The fear that he’d done something terrible made him jittery, craving a whisky to calm his nerves. But no, he was never touching the stuff again. Shit, how could he have had a blackout with Kai around? How could he have driven in that state? He knew he was in a bad way but moving here was supposed to make him better. Not worse.”
Lachy suffers from blackout episodes. He has done so for years but they appear to be getting more frequent. His latest one ended when he found himself at the pub with his son, Kai, and he couldn’t remember if he’d driven there while out.
Kai notices that something’s up with his dad. He’s been visiting, living with his dad on the remote property in the Snowy Mountains. Concerned, he calls his aunt. Sheridan is Lachy’s sister and has long been the responsible voice of reason for the family. When Kai calls, she makes the trip to visit them.
But a near tragedy threatens to rip the family unit apart and then, there’s news from the US where Lachy had been working until recently. Allegations have been made, careers are in jeopardy and lives have been put on hold. The agreed response is for Lachy to return to the States and get back to work.
The second timeline takes us back to 1968 where we follow the life of a young woman, the daughter of a strict religious man, as she navigates her way through a forbidden affair. It’s clear that the family she belongs to is connected to Lachy and Sheridan and we’re headed for a significant revelation somewhere down the track.
It’s when Lachy and Kai take a trip to the US that events really move forward and the significance of a DNA test that Lachy had taken is going to become important. The history of blackouts and some questions about events that took place years ago are going to come back and make Lachy’s life extremely uncomfortable.
There was only one part of the storyline that I thought could be expanded upon and used a little better, and that was to do with Lachy’s job and the ructions that had taken place between him and one of his colleagues. It was used as one of a number of problems that Lachy was facing and could have provided a fascinating showdown if it were explored a little more fully. I was a bit disappointed when it ended up being explained away in a mere couple of sentences.
The Last Trace is a strong family drama that uses DNA matching in an interesting way. Plot twists are nicely engineered with a cast of strong characters given well developed backgrounds helping to create a thoroughly riveting story. The past is used to bring the actions of the present day characters into relevance, occasionally raising some slight rumblings of disquiet, particularly for Lachy - those darn pesky blackouts.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin and NetGalley for a digital copy of the ARC that has allowed me to read, enjoy and review this book.
July 30, 2025
By the time I finished this book I had quite mixed feelings about it. It was an entertaining read with a few different dramas occurring. However, I found the various storylines in relation to different characters a bit disjointed with a lot going on. Did it come together in the end? I would say mostly, but I still think there was too much happening in the one book. Working across two timelines and multiple character perspectives, the storylines cover unexpected pregnancy, family abuse, dementia, drug and alcohol abuse, marital/relationship issues, family secrets, sexual assault, missing persons, environmental issues, family trauma and dysfunction, conspiracy theories... like I said, it's a lot. I think readers will either find this a really gripping and intriguing read, or a convoluted and slightly frustrating read. I myself am somewhere in the middle as I liked parts of it but it was a bit difficult to follow at times.
July 6, 2024
The Last Trace is a compelling family drama/thriller that will keep you turning those pages. I loved how the story was set in both Australia and the US, with family at the core. A second timeline from the past was so interesting and helped to put the pieces together in the current day.
A devastating incident at Easter threatens to tear a family apart. All the members of the family are keep secrets from each other, which increases the tension between them all. The DNA part of the story was fascinating, and I thought that I had it all worked out and happy to say that I was way off the mark.
Not all the characters were likeable from the start, and it took a while for me to warm to them. There was so much not being said which was frustrating for the reader, but was building the plot.
Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on July 2nd.
A devastating incident at Easter threatens to tear a family apart. All the members of the family are keep secrets from each other, which increases the tension between them all. The DNA part of the story was fascinating, and I thought that I had it all worked out and happy to say that I was way off the mark.
Not all the characters were likeable from the start, and it took a while for me to warm to them. There was so much not being said which was frustrating for the reader, but was building the plot.
Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on July 2nd.
August 2, 2024
“Memory. It worked in such mysterious ways. Lodging certain things in the brain, discarding others. Sometimes protecting us from our worst experiences, sometimes replaying them over and over, sometimes lying to us.”
The Last Trace is the fourth novel by best-selling Australian author, Petronella McGovern. The audio version is narrated by Madeleine Jones. After fourteen years as a water engineer working on overseas aid projects, Lachlan Wilson is back in Australia on extended leave. He’s living in the family’s remote holiday cabin near Dalgety, Mimosa Hideout, with his fifteen-year-old son, Kai.
In the week before Easter, Kai contacts his Aunt Sheridan, Lachy’s older sister, because he’s worried about his dad’s memory. Privately, Lachy is worried too: he can’t remember the incident that put him on the front page of the local paper as a hero because he was blacked out at the time. “That was the trouble with memory: if you didn’t know what you were supposed to remember, it was impossible to fake.” The fact that he drove to the pub with Kai whilst in that state is concerning. And it’s not the first time.
Kai has been sent to live with his dad because of an incident with drugs in which his best mate was hospitalised, and Lachy is meant to be checking on him. But he is distracted: back in Washington DC, months earlier, he was with Juliet during such a blackout, and she now claims to be pregnant. She has convinced him by email to do a DNA test. It has him wondering what happened with camp counsellor Tiffany during his first blackout, eighteen years earlier…
And he’s avoiding even looking at work emails because of what he found out about his immediate supervisor, Henrik, and the organisation’s reaction to that. He doesn’t even want to think about what happened in Kenya but the things he wants to forget wouldn’t leave him alone while other stuff vanishes into the ether.
Meanwhile, Sheridan arrives early for the Easter weekend, subtly checking on Lachy before her husband and daughters arrive. Parties are strictly forbidden by his nagging mother and step-father, but Kai has convinced his dad to let him go to a bonfire with his new schoolmates. He’s hoping to make friends by handing out pingers, but it doesn’t quite work out that way.
Already burdened with being the default person for their mother, Gloria, in a care facility due to early onset dementia, Sheridan has always looked out for her younger brother, and her nephew. But then an incident with potentially tragic consequences prompts a change in attitude towards them.
The story is told through four narrative strands: from the perspectives of Lachy, Kai and Sheridan in the present day, and Elizabeth, living in a strict religious family, some fifty-five years earlier. McGovern gives the reader a tale that explores memory, family relationships, cult religion, peer group pressure, and secrets and lies to which even good people resort when pushed. There are red herrings and a twist or two before a very neat resolution. A riveting and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and WF Howes Ltd
The Last Trace is the fourth novel by best-selling Australian author, Petronella McGovern. The audio version is narrated by Madeleine Jones. After fourteen years as a water engineer working on overseas aid projects, Lachlan Wilson is back in Australia on extended leave. He’s living in the family’s remote holiday cabin near Dalgety, Mimosa Hideout, with his fifteen-year-old son, Kai.
In the week before Easter, Kai contacts his Aunt Sheridan, Lachy’s older sister, because he’s worried about his dad’s memory. Privately, Lachy is worried too: he can’t remember the incident that put him on the front page of the local paper as a hero because he was blacked out at the time. “That was the trouble with memory: if you didn’t know what you were supposed to remember, it was impossible to fake.” The fact that he drove to the pub with Kai whilst in that state is concerning. And it’s not the first time.
Kai has been sent to live with his dad because of an incident with drugs in which his best mate was hospitalised, and Lachy is meant to be checking on him. But he is distracted: back in Washington DC, months earlier, he was with Juliet during such a blackout, and she now claims to be pregnant. She has convinced him by email to do a DNA test. It has him wondering what happened with camp counsellor Tiffany during his first blackout, eighteen years earlier…
And he’s avoiding even looking at work emails because of what he found out about his immediate supervisor, Henrik, and the organisation’s reaction to that. He doesn’t even want to think about what happened in Kenya but the things he wants to forget wouldn’t leave him alone while other stuff vanishes into the ether.
Meanwhile, Sheridan arrives early for the Easter weekend, subtly checking on Lachy before her husband and daughters arrive. Parties are strictly forbidden by his nagging mother and step-father, but Kai has convinced his dad to let him go to a bonfire with his new schoolmates. He’s hoping to make friends by handing out pingers, but it doesn’t quite work out that way.
Already burdened with being the default person for their mother, Gloria, in a care facility due to early onset dementia, Sheridan has always looked out for her younger brother, and her nephew. But then an incident with potentially tragic consequences prompts a change in attitude towards them.
The story is told through four narrative strands: from the perspectives of Lachy, Kai and Sheridan in the present day, and Elizabeth, living in a strict religious family, some fifty-five years earlier. McGovern gives the reader a tale that explores memory, family relationships, cult religion, peer group pressure, and secrets and lies to which even good people resort when pushed. There are red herrings and a twist or two before a very neat resolution. A riveting and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and WF Howes Ltd
June 18, 2024
This is a hard book to review as I found it hard to put down but also it was kind of frustrating. Lots of characters with issues and multiple themes, not that there’s anything wrong with that and mostly the construction of the novel makes sense as it moves from character to character. There’s a historical mystery about a young woman in a strict religious family in the US. Then there’s the current timeline with her sisters children, Lachy and Sheridan. Sheridan has stuff going on with her husband and looking after mother and daughters but Lachy’s life is more complicated with work and his teenage son and drugs. Themes of women and pregnancy, and parenting and drugs and men in powerful positions taking advantage of young women in their care, alcohol, taking responsibility and facing up to your mistakes and much more. Not a bad read but I found the historical mystery the most interesting part so it could’ve lost a lot of the modern issues for me.
June 14, 2024
What if you're scared you committed a crime but can't remember?
The Last Trace is a story about family and is told from multiple points of view being Lachy, Kai and Sheridan. Lachy is hiding a secret, he gets blackouts when he has been drinking too fast and suffers amnesia. He can never remember what has happened and worries he has done something bad. He gets an email from a woman who suspects Lachy to be the father of her unborn child and requests a DNA sample. Lachy not thinking agrees and sends the swab away. Will this come back to bite him? Sheridan is trying desperately to keep the family together but can she do that after what happened at Easter? Kai just wants to be back in Sydney with his mates partying but after being caught with drugs that isn't going to happen anytime soon.
I can safely say I enjoyed the DNA part of this book and how it can connect you to crimes and also to relatives. I flew quickly through the pages of this one. It is told in dual timelines with a cast of characters. Don't worry it is easy to follow along with. I also enjoyed the different perspective of 1968. It was researched and written perfectly. I felt for Elizabeth and had a cry for her. This was my first read from the author and now I want to pick up her other books.
Thank you Allen and Unwin and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this book for my honest book review.
The Last Trace is a story about family and is told from multiple points of view being Lachy, Kai and Sheridan. Lachy is hiding a secret, he gets blackouts when he has been drinking too fast and suffers amnesia. He can never remember what has happened and worries he has done something bad. He gets an email from a woman who suspects Lachy to be the father of her unborn child and requests a DNA sample. Lachy not thinking agrees and sends the swab away. Will this come back to bite him? Sheridan is trying desperately to keep the family together but can she do that after what happened at Easter? Kai just wants to be back in Sydney with his mates partying but after being caught with drugs that isn't going to happen anytime soon.
I can safely say I enjoyed the DNA part of this book and how it can connect you to crimes and also to relatives. I flew quickly through the pages of this one. It is told in dual timelines with a cast of characters. Don't worry it is easy to follow along with. I also enjoyed the different perspective of 1968. It was researched and written perfectly. I felt for Elizabeth and had a cry for her. This was my first read from the author and now I want to pick up her other books.
Thank you Allen and Unwin and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this book for my honest book review.
July 8, 2024
Thank you Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Bestselling Aussie author Petronella McGovern has just released her fourth unforgettable suburban thriller that will give you the spine chills.
An absorbing, sharp and gripping tale that has a victorious combination of plot, character, setting and atmosphere.
It’s the Easter holidays and Sheridan is grateful to be spending it with family.
Her brood and her brother Lachy and his son, Kai.
Soon bliss turns to tragedy and with secrets beginning to unravel as well as ample chaos.
To add to the mess, Lachy has been experiencing blackouts and cracks in his memory.
There’s much going on but no one is telling the full story.
What is the truth……
A family drama that pits dysfunction, dynamics, secrets, rivalry, tragedy and heartbreak themes against each other.
Petronella pens her story with numerous gasp worthy scenes, exploration of social issues and the influences of blood.
With the mix of locations, Australia and the US added to the glowing display of the narrative for this edgy, gritty and raw storyline.
A balanced domestic drama, smart plot twists, emotional heartstrings, sombre mood and pulse pounding, making for an exciting reading experience.
Bestselling Aussie author Petronella McGovern has just released her fourth unforgettable suburban thriller that will give you the spine chills.
An absorbing, sharp and gripping tale that has a victorious combination of plot, character, setting and atmosphere.
It’s the Easter holidays and Sheridan is grateful to be spending it with family.
Her brood and her brother Lachy and his son, Kai.
Soon bliss turns to tragedy and with secrets beginning to unravel as well as ample chaos.
To add to the mess, Lachy has been experiencing blackouts and cracks in his memory.
There’s much going on but no one is telling the full story.
What is the truth……
A family drama that pits dysfunction, dynamics, secrets, rivalry, tragedy and heartbreak themes against each other.
Petronella pens her story with numerous gasp worthy scenes, exploration of social issues and the influences of blood.
With the mix of locations, Australia and the US added to the glowing display of the narrative for this edgy, gritty and raw storyline.
A balanced domestic drama, smart plot twists, emotional heartstrings, sombre mood and pulse pounding, making for an exciting reading experience.
January 8, 2025
Devoured this book in a day.
Plenty of interesting characters, told from many POVs, but easy to keep track.
I picked the villain early, but that's only because I write in the same genre. Didn't detract from my enjoyment of the novel at all. Couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
Loved it.
Plenty of interesting characters, told from many POVs, but easy to keep track.
I picked the villain early, but that's only because I write in the same genre. Didn't detract from my enjoyment of the novel at all. Couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
Loved it.
August 30, 2024
(2.5 stars)
The Last Trace is a mishmash of themes. It's about burdensome sibling relationships, amnesia, sexual assault, families, climate change, a serial killer and the treatment of women in America in the 1960s, caused by "religious constraints, social norms and abortion laws". The book doesn't particularly gel very well together as a result. The teenager, Kai, goes from finding out the actions of his religious pastor grandfather led to the death of his aunt, then decides to join a Christian group about five minutes after hoping an event he attends has drugs. He just doesn't feel like a realistic character.
In general The Last Trace felt all a bit twee. Nick turns out to have lied to his family and partner Sheridan: "The sight of him feeling sorry for himself without a thought for his son disgusted her." Next minute they're playing happy families going on a hike with the kid from the partner he denied having. "Since a young age, Sheridan had been thrust into a carer role and never escaped it. He’d been relying on his big sister for too long," is another example of unrealistic character development. Younger siblings who have been taught to rely on their older siblings in loco parentis don't magically change their behaviour overnight. I suspect this sense of things being a bit too easily solved comes from the author trying to cram too many themes into a single book. Despite enjoying The Liars, which made me pick this one up, I would not try another book by Petronella McGovern as a result of reading this one.
The Last Trace is a mishmash of themes. It's about burdensome sibling relationships, amnesia, sexual assault, families, climate change, a serial killer and the treatment of women in America in the 1960s, caused by "religious constraints, social norms and abortion laws". The book doesn't particularly gel very well together as a result. The teenager, Kai, goes from finding out the actions of his religious pastor grandfather led to the death of his aunt, then decides to join a Christian group about five minutes after hoping an event he attends has drugs. He just doesn't feel like a realistic character.
In general The Last Trace felt all a bit twee. Nick turns out to have lied to his family and partner Sheridan: "The sight of him feeling sorry for himself without a thought for his son disgusted her." Next minute they're playing happy families going on a hike with the kid from the partner he denied having. "Since a young age, Sheridan had been thrust into a carer role and never escaped it. He’d been relying on his big sister for too long," is another example of unrealistic character development. Younger siblings who have been taught to rely on their older siblings in loco parentis don't magically change their behaviour overnight. I suspect this sense of things being a bit too easily solved comes from the author trying to cram too many themes into a single book. Despite enjoying The Liars, which made me pick this one up, I would not try another book by Petronella McGovern as a result of reading this one.
July 23, 2024
Ho hum!
This authors books are often a hit or a miss for me and this one was a big miss!
I was bored from the start! Lachy was a pain in the arse, no redeeming qualities at all! He was 37ish going on 17! It seemed he was depressed about everything and had no idea how to make an adult decision! And if he said one more time that the environment and its supposed demise was making him depressed, I was going to scream! He had more important things going on than the frigging environment!
There was lots of little subplots that tied in but essentially the story revolved around Lachy and all the supposed problems he had going on! And why the hell didn’t he see a doctor for his blackouts?!
The only interesting part of the story was the perspective of Elizabeth in 1968, that was really interesting and I enjoyed that aspect. That’s the only reason I gave it 2 ⭐️
There were some parts that didn’t make sense and seemed contradictory but I couldn’t be bothered to go back and re-read it to work it out, I just wanted to finish it!
By the end I couldn’t care less and it wrapped up in a nice little bow, cheesy and boring!
This authors books are often a hit or a miss for me and this one was a big miss!
I was bored from the start! Lachy was a pain in the arse, no redeeming qualities at all! He was 37ish going on 17! It seemed he was depressed about everything and had no idea how to make an adult decision! And if he said one more time that the environment and its supposed demise was making him depressed, I was going to scream! He had more important things going on than the frigging environment!
There was lots of little subplots that tied in but essentially the story revolved around Lachy and all the supposed problems he had going on! And why the hell didn’t he see a doctor for his blackouts?!
The only interesting part of the story was the perspective of Elizabeth in 1968, that was really interesting and I enjoyed that aspect. That’s the only reason I gave it 2 ⭐️
There were some parts that didn’t make sense and seemed contradictory but I couldn’t be bothered to go back and re-read it to work it out, I just wanted to finish it!
By the end I couldn’t care less and it wrapped up in a nice little bow, cheesy and boring!
August 23, 2024
4.5*
[IN PROGRESS]
The Last Trace opens with single father Lachy Wilson emerging from a mental blackout, during which he’s driven his 15-year-old son Kai through a dangerous windstorm from their remote cabin in New South Wales’s Snowy Mountains, to the nearest country pub. Along the way, he’s acquired an injury to his arm and earned the gratitude of an elderly neighbour, but he has no memory of the lost hours. It transpires that Lachy has experienced several of these periods of dissociation, the first occurring when he was a 19-year-old camp counsellor in the USA. Most of the incidents have coincided either with trauma or Lachy’s over-consumption of alcohol, but what else might be causing them? Trauma associated with his work in impoverished communities in developing countries, early-onset dementia of the type that afflicts his ageing mother?
[IN PROGRESS]
The Last Trace opens with single father Lachy Wilson emerging from a mental blackout, during which he’s driven his 15-year-old son Kai through a dangerous windstorm from their remote cabin in New South Wales’s Snowy Mountains, to the nearest country pub. Along the way, he’s acquired an injury to his arm and earned the gratitude of an elderly neighbour, but he has no memory of the lost hours. It transpires that Lachy has experienced several of these periods of dissociation, the first occurring when he was a 19-year-old camp counsellor in the USA. Most of the incidents have coincided either with trauma or Lachy’s over-consumption of alcohol, but what else might be causing them? Trauma associated with his work in impoverished communities in developing countries, early-onset dementia of the type that afflicts his ageing mother?
August 15, 2024
I found the format very disjointed and confusing. A disappointing underwhelming read. Definitely didn’t live up to the hype and felt fragmented at every stage
July 12, 2024
This was right up my street. There’s a lot going on, but it’s so well written and narrated that it’s really easy to follow. Part family drama, part thriller and part historical thriller, and for once I wasn’t clinging on to the historical parts of the story, I enjoyed the now every single bit as much as the then!
This novel gives a lot to think about, from the complexity’s of family relationships to genealogy and traits we inherit from our ancestors. The effects of cult like religion, the planet and history. There’s lots to capture the imagination and hold the interest.
The narration is lovely.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, it’s an easy 5 🌟
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
My thanks to Wavesound from W F Howes LTD and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.
This novel gives a lot to think about, from the complexity’s of family relationships to genealogy and traits we inherit from our ancestors. The effects of cult like religion, the planet and history. There’s lots to capture the imagination and hold the interest.
The narration is lovely.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, it’s an easy 5 🌟
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
My thanks to Wavesound from W F Howes LTD and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.
July 31, 2024
I did the audio version of The Last Trace and I really enjoyed the trill.
Everyday characters with everyday issues and the way it was written throughout the generations. So good!
Learning the truth of what happened to those girls and the reason why. I found myself pointing the finger to the wrong suspect!
Loved my first read from Australia Author Petronella McGovern, definitely won't be my last.
Everyday characters with everyday issues and the way it was written throughout the generations. So good!
Learning the truth of what happened to those girls and the reason why. I found myself pointing the finger to the wrong suspect!
Loved my first read from Australia Author Petronella McGovern, definitely won't be my last.
July 11, 2024
Not sure what to say about this one… liked it a lot! But also didn’t LOVEEEE.
July 13, 2024
This novel had a few twists and turns that I did not predict and it really kept me engaged throughout. As I got closer to the end, I did not want to put it down so I could find out exactly what was going to happen. Lachy has been experiencing blackouts, leaving him with huge gaps that he cannot recall. With his teenage son now living with him, it is more crucial than ever for Lachy to try and piece together the missing times, especially when he wakes up battered and bruised. Then the Police contact him about some murders and Lachy is in trouble, But what does this have to do with a long lost family member? A great read.
July 17, 2024
The premise of The Last Trace is quite a frightening study into what it would be like if you had a memory problem from black outs and could not remember what you did the night before. And what if during those black outs you actually may have murdered someone? It is a scary thought: especially for people who would not consider themselves capable of such an act. This novel delves into the psychological effects and implications of such a condition.
The Last Trace is also a story about a close knit family and their importance to each other. But when the cracks appear, and they will, when under the gun, there will be conflicts, surprises and secrets before solutions are rendered. More than one member has memory problems. Their mother suffers from dementia, but Lachy has a serious memory problem that comes and goes. There are big gaps in his memory that make him question his connection to a hit and run, a missing woman and a DNA request. What does this all mean? His mind is riddled with fear as a result. He is blanketed with accusations from himself. Could he have done such acts of violence and cowardice? There are a lot of clues and truths to unpack. He needs to get to the bottom of it all but who can he trust? Those closest to him like his family? And if he shares his secrets, what will they do with what they learn? Will they turn him in?
Lachy has returned home from overseas and is now living in the Snowy Mountain region with his son Kai, who knows he has some mental issues and not coping with his job. When they are sitting in a restaurant and a newspaper story is mentioned that paints Lachy as a hero for saving a local fellow, it startles him to know he cannot remember anything about this event.
Lachy’s sister Sheridan is planning to join the family for Easter with her husband and two young daughters. We get her perspective on the family, as well as Kai’s who wants to talk to his sister about his father’s issues. They have lost their father and as mentioned their mother is suffering from dementia. They come together for an Easter reunion. But things don’t go well. For the past manages to catch up when a near tragedy occurs that sends them to the hospital on Good Friday. The experience sends them reeling in the revelation of one family member’s activities that overshadows another.
But with all that is happening at home, bigger issues are pressing in on Lachy and he must take a trip back to the states (where his job is). His son joins him for the journey and gets to know some of his relatives in the US, while he tries to look up a woman from his past that may have some answers for him. The police contact him almost as soon as he lands in the country (picked up by his passport), to discuss DNA tests. He doesn’t know what they know but we soon learn it is not what he expected. A shocking surprise increases the tension when the past begins to infiltrate the present.
There are two timelines in this novel. The current is told through Lachy, Sheridan and Kai. The 1968 thread told by Elizabeth, sister of Lachy and Sheridan’s mother, gives us the backstory of Lachy’s mother’s family. This one provides a shocking display of child abuse and religious control and its terrible effects on the children—particularly Elizabeth who does not bend to the rules. I found the historic thread very sad as it is also about a young woman who trusted the wrong man and the outcome was awful. When she finds herself in trouble, she has no family support and the revelation of what happens to her comes out many years later in the present thread. I won’t say anymore so as not to give anything away but I was deeply moved by this part of the novel.
With topics like religious control, child abuse, parental rights and competency, drug and alcohol dangers and the shocking serial murders covered in The Last Trace, there are plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages. Strong elements of suspense and shock make this a solid mystery thriller.
Petronella McGovern writes some very twisty mystery-thrillers and leaves a trail of evidence that makes you question everything and everyone! DNA is part of this novel’s revelations and how the cases in this story are solved. It is an intriguing plotline that raises many questions and makes you think and panic! Confusion clears when it all comes together in a satisfying ending as the past slides into the present and solves the mystery. I definitely recommend The Last Trace as it is a solid compelling novel. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a review copy.
The Last Trace is also a story about a close knit family and their importance to each other. But when the cracks appear, and they will, when under the gun, there will be conflicts, surprises and secrets before solutions are rendered. More than one member has memory problems. Their mother suffers from dementia, but Lachy has a serious memory problem that comes and goes. There are big gaps in his memory that make him question his connection to a hit and run, a missing woman and a DNA request. What does this all mean? His mind is riddled with fear as a result. He is blanketed with accusations from himself. Could he have done such acts of violence and cowardice? There are a lot of clues and truths to unpack. He needs to get to the bottom of it all but who can he trust? Those closest to him like his family? And if he shares his secrets, what will they do with what they learn? Will they turn him in?
Lachy has returned home from overseas and is now living in the Snowy Mountain region with his son Kai, who knows he has some mental issues and not coping with his job. When they are sitting in a restaurant and a newspaper story is mentioned that paints Lachy as a hero for saving a local fellow, it startles him to know he cannot remember anything about this event.
Lachy’s sister Sheridan is planning to join the family for Easter with her husband and two young daughters. We get her perspective on the family, as well as Kai’s who wants to talk to his sister about his father’s issues. They have lost their father and as mentioned their mother is suffering from dementia. They come together for an Easter reunion. But things don’t go well. For the past manages to catch up when a near tragedy occurs that sends them to the hospital on Good Friday. The experience sends them reeling in the revelation of one family member’s activities that overshadows another.
But with all that is happening at home, bigger issues are pressing in on Lachy and he must take a trip back to the states (where his job is). His son joins him for the journey and gets to know some of his relatives in the US, while he tries to look up a woman from his past that may have some answers for him. The police contact him almost as soon as he lands in the country (picked up by his passport), to discuss DNA tests. He doesn’t know what they know but we soon learn it is not what he expected. A shocking surprise increases the tension when the past begins to infiltrate the present.
There are two timelines in this novel. The current is told through Lachy, Sheridan and Kai. The 1968 thread told by Elizabeth, sister of Lachy and Sheridan’s mother, gives us the backstory of Lachy’s mother’s family. This one provides a shocking display of child abuse and religious control and its terrible effects on the children—particularly Elizabeth who does not bend to the rules. I found the historic thread very sad as it is also about a young woman who trusted the wrong man and the outcome was awful. When she finds herself in trouble, she has no family support and the revelation of what happens to her comes out many years later in the present thread. I won’t say anymore so as not to give anything away but I was deeply moved by this part of the novel.
With topics like religious control, child abuse, parental rights and competency, drug and alcohol dangers and the shocking serial murders covered in The Last Trace, there are plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages. Strong elements of suspense and shock make this a solid mystery thriller.
Petronella McGovern writes some very twisty mystery-thrillers and leaves a trail of evidence that makes you question everything and everyone! DNA is part of this novel’s revelations and how the cases in this story are solved. It is an intriguing plotline that raises many questions and makes you think and panic! Confusion clears when it all comes together in a satisfying ending as the past slides into the present and solves the mystery. I definitely recommend The Last Trace as it is a solid compelling novel. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a review copy.
August 2, 2024
“Memory. It worked in such mysterious ways. Lodging certain things in the brain, discarding others. Sometimes protecting us from our worst experiences, sometimes replaying them over and over, sometimes lying to us.”
The Last Trace is the fourth novel by best-selling Australian author, Petronella McGovern. After fourteen years as a water engineer working on overseas aid projects, Lachlan Wilson is back in Australia on extended leave. He’s living in the family’s remote holiday cabin near Dalgety, Mimosa Hideout, with his fifteen-year-old son, Kai.
In the week before Easter, Kai contacts his Aunt Sheridan, Lachy’s older sister, because he’s worried about his dad’s memory. Privately, Lachy is worried too: he can’t remember the incident that put him on the front page of the local paper as a hero because he was blacked out at the time. “That was the trouble with memory: if you didn’t know what you were supposed to remember, it was impossible to fake.” The fact that he drove to the pub with Kai whilst in that state is concerning. And it’s not the first time.
Kai has been sent to live with his dad because of an incident with drugs in which his best mate was hospitalised, and Lachy is meant to be checking on him. But he is distracted: back in Washington DC, months earlier, he was with Juliet during such a blackout, and she now claims to be pregnant. She has convinced him by email to do a DNA test. It has him wondering what happened with camp counsellor Tiffany during his first blackout, eighteen years earlier…
And he’s avoiding even looking at work emails because of what he found out about his immediate supervisor, Henrik, and the organisation’s reaction to that. He doesn’t even want to think about what happened in Kenya but the things he wants to forget wouldn’t leave him alone while other stuff vanishes into the ether.
Meanwhile, Sheridan arrives early for the Easter weekend, subtly checking on Lachy before her husband and daughters arrive. Parties are strictly forbidden by his nagging mother and step-father, but Kai has convinced his dad to let him go to a bonfire with his new schoolmates. He’s hoping to make friends by handing out pingers, but it doesn’t quite work out that way.
Already burdened with being the default person for their mother, Gloria, in a care facility due to early onset dementia, Sheridan has always looked out for her younger brother, and her nephew. But then an incident with potentially tragic consequences prompts a change in attitude towards them.
The story is told through four narrative strands: from the perspectives of Lachy, Kai and Sheridan in the present day, and Elizabeth, living in a strict religious family, some fifty-five years earlier. McGovern gives the reader a tale that explores memory, family relationships, cult religion, peer group pressure, and secrets and lies to which even good people resort when pushed. There are red herrings and a twist or two before a very neat resolution. A riveting and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.
The Last Trace is the fourth novel by best-selling Australian author, Petronella McGovern. After fourteen years as a water engineer working on overseas aid projects, Lachlan Wilson is back in Australia on extended leave. He’s living in the family’s remote holiday cabin near Dalgety, Mimosa Hideout, with his fifteen-year-old son, Kai.
In the week before Easter, Kai contacts his Aunt Sheridan, Lachy’s older sister, because he’s worried about his dad’s memory. Privately, Lachy is worried too: he can’t remember the incident that put him on the front page of the local paper as a hero because he was blacked out at the time. “That was the trouble with memory: if you didn’t know what you were supposed to remember, it was impossible to fake.” The fact that he drove to the pub with Kai whilst in that state is concerning. And it’s not the first time.
Kai has been sent to live with his dad because of an incident with drugs in which his best mate was hospitalised, and Lachy is meant to be checking on him. But he is distracted: back in Washington DC, months earlier, he was with Juliet during such a blackout, and she now claims to be pregnant. She has convinced him by email to do a DNA test. It has him wondering what happened with camp counsellor Tiffany during his first blackout, eighteen years earlier…
And he’s avoiding even looking at work emails because of what he found out about his immediate supervisor, Henrik, and the organisation’s reaction to that. He doesn’t even want to think about what happened in Kenya but the things he wants to forget wouldn’t leave him alone while other stuff vanishes into the ether.
Meanwhile, Sheridan arrives early for the Easter weekend, subtly checking on Lachy before her husband and daughters arrive. Parties are strictly forbidden by his nagging mother and step-father, but Kai has convinced his dad to let him go to a bonfire with his new schoolmates. He’s hoping to make friends by handing out pingers, but it doesn’t quite work out that way.
Already burdened with being the default person for their mother, Gloria, in a care facility due to early onset dementia, Sheridan has always looked out for her younger brother, and her nephew. But then an incident with potentially tragic consequences prompts a change in attitude towards them.
The story is told through four narrative strands: from the perspectives of Lachy, Kai and Sheridan in the present day, and Elizabeth, living in a strict religious family, some fifty-five years earlier. McGovern gives the reader a tale that explores memory, family relationships, cult religion, peer group pressure, and secrets and lies to which even good people resort when pushed. There are red herrings and a twist or two before a very neat resolution. A riveting and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.
January 8, 2025
This led me down lots of different paths, but it was awesome to see things interconnecting as the story progressed.
The Last Trace has alternating dual timelines, current and about a third of the way through the book you are introduced to the events taking place in 1968. Told from the perspective of Lachy the father and brother, Kai his son, and Sheridan is sister, as well as Elizabeth in 1968. The current timeline also sees lots of reminiscing of childhoods and earlier events which enhances the characters as you get a little more of their background.
I loved how as the story moved forward and more information became available, I was captivated more and more, to the point that I just didn’t want to put the book down.
Most of the chapters are on the shorter side and Petronella has achieved a seamless switching between perspectives that keeps you wanting more. What is going to happen? Where is this leading? You want the answers to the questions, but you know that it all has to come out in a certain order so that you get greatest satisfaction. Totally compelling and extremely enjoyable.
Then there’s Betty. I have to say that after meeting “Betty” at one of Petronella’s author events, and hearing her story, I love that she is in this book, giving it her own uniqueness and storyline. She still creeps me out though.
The description of the Mimosa Hideout and surrounding landscape made me feel like I could see it for myself, experience the isolation and conditions that are part of the area, giving the story a little bit more depth.
A lot of the revelations that occurred towards the end, especially the personal ones involving Kai, really had me enjoying the book even more. Added to that, the faster pace of the storyline, and I found myself flying through the pages.
The Last Trace is a little hard to categorise as it’s a thriller, mystery and crime, with family drama, action and some history, but what I can tell you, is that this is a book worth reading. It’s engaging, entertaining and a fabulous read.
#thelasttrace
#petronellamcgovern
#bettyssecrets
#allenandunwin
The Last Trace has alternating dual timelines, current and about a third of the way through the book you are introduced to the events taking place in 1968. Told from the perspective of Lachy the father and brother, Kai his son, and Sheridan is sister, as well as Elizabeth in 1968. The current timeline also sees lots of reminiscing of childhoods and earlier events which enhances the characters as you get a little more of their background.
I loved how as the story moved forward and more information became available, I was captivated more and more, to the point that I just didn’t want to put the book down.
Most of the chapters are on the shorter side and Petronella has achieved a seamless switching between perspectives that keeps you wanting more. What is going to happen? Where is this leading? You want the answers to the questions, but you know that it all has to come out in a certain order so that you get greatest satisfaction. Totally compelling and extremely enjoyable.
Then there’s Betty. I have to say that after meeting “Betty” at one of Petronella’s author events, and hearing her story, I love that she is in this book, giving it her own uniqueness and storyline. She still creeps me out though.
The description of the Mimosa Hideout and surrounding landscape made me feel like I could see it for myself, experience the isolation and conditions that are part of the area, giving the story a little bit more depth.
A lot of the revelations that occurred towards the end, especially the personal ones involving Kai, really had me enjoying the book even more. Added to that, the faster pace of the storyline, and I found myself flying through the pages.
The Last Trace is a little hard to categorise as it’s a thriller, mystery and crime, with family drama, action and some history, but what I can tell you, is that this is a book worth reading. It’s engaging, entertaining and a fabulous read.
#thelasttrace
#petronellamcgovern
#bettyssecrets
#allenandunwin
September 15, 2024
Family means everything to Sheridan. Her brother Lachy is finally home in Australia and she's excited about Easter with both of their families. But when a traumatic incident tears the families apart, she blames him.
Lachy knows he's not coping right now but his sister doesn't have the full story. And there are some gaps in his memory. How is he connected to a DNA request, a missing woman, and a hit and run?
As soon as I started reading, I immediately recognised Petronella’s storytelling style. The family drama aspect was so good and played so well with the psychological suspense elements.
I loved the concept of DNA being a trace that could never be wiped out. I had no idea where the story would go beyond the first look at the synopsis, and I was wondering where and how the past timeline would meet the current one. But once I realised what it was about, I had a lightbulb moment!
I listened to this on audiobook, and it was narrated really well. I remember I was outside doing chores when I reached the reveal, and I had to stop what I was doing to focus and process the rest of the story. Another well written book from Petronella!
(Thanks to NetGalley and Wavesound Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
Lachy knows he's not coping right now but his sister doesn't have the full story. And there are some gaps in his memory. How is he connected to a DNA request, a missing woman, and a hit and run?
As soon as I started reading, I immediately recognised Petronella’s storytelling style. The family drama aspect was so good and played so well with the psychological suspense elements.
I loved the concept of DNA being a trace that could never be wiped out. I had no idea where the story would go beyond the first look at the synopsis, and I was wondering where and how the past timeline would meet the current one. But once I realised what it was about, I had a lightbulb moment!
I listened to this on audiobook, and it was narrated really well. I remember I was outside doing chores when I reached the reveal, and I had to stop what I was doing to focus and process the rest of the story. Another well written book from Petronella!
(Thanks to NetGalley and Wavesound Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
July 19, 2024
We're hosted by Lachy, son Kai and Lachy's sister Sheridan in the present, but there are also chapters narrated by someone called Elizabeth in 1968. So there's an intriguing mystery tempting us from the past as well as drama in the present. We learn Kai was sent to live with his father after getting involved 'with the wrong crowd' in the city but he's struggling to fit in at his new school. And then there's Lachy who is suffering blackouts and who took a DNA test following a request from a one-night-stand and the results seem to have triggered events from his younger years as a camp counsellor in the US.
This isn't a novel of suspense, thriller or even crime fiction as such, it's more a slow burn of a mystery and it's one of several books I've read recently that have involved the use of DNA / genetic testing to solve old crimes. But there are deeper issues being examined here in addition to the links Lachy might have to unsolved mysteries. McGovern sympathetically but firmly takes on relationships and parenting, long-kept secrets and past shame.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
This isn't a novel of suspense, thriller or even crime fiction as such, it's more a slow burn of a mystery and it's one of several books I've read recently that have involved the use of DNA / genetic testing to solve old crimes. But there are deeper issues being examined here in addition to the links Lachy might have to unsolved mysteries. McGovern sympathetically but firmly takes on relationships and parenting, long-kept secrets and past shame.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
July 9, 2024
Completely my type of crime novel; twisty and realistic ..real families with real family tensions and goodness this is a novel that twists all over the place. There is lots I’m left thinking about too; climate change/ DNA and birth order, religion and peer group pressure…going off the grid and family secrets…this was a fantastic read with a really satisfying conclusion!!!
August 17, 2024
I throughly enjoyed this book. It has a good story line that kept me reading the pages. Great characters as well.
August 25, 2024
Thoroughly Enjoyed this Australian thriller
May 25, 2025
What do you get when you mix family drama, Easter holidays, a hit-and-run, and some very suspicious memory loss? A slow-burn thriller that simmers with secrets until it finally boils over—messily and magnificently.
Sheridan just wanted a peaceful Easter with the fam. Instead, she got trauma, tension, and a brother who may or may not be the world’s most unreliable narrator.
It took me a little while to get into the groove (there were moments I wanted to give the pace a caffeine shot), but when the plot snapped into gear, I was hooked. The web of lies, missing memories, and DNA twists gave serious “trust no one—not even yourself” energy.
Apparently a relaxing mountain getaway is *never* a good idea in an Aussie thriller.
Sheridan just wanted a peaceful Easter with the fam. Instead, she got trauma, tension, and a brother who may or may not be the world’s most unreliable narrator.
It took me a little while to get into the groove (there were moments I wanted to give the pace a caffeine shot), but when the plot snapped into gear, I was hooked. The web of lies, missing memories, and DNA twists gave serious “trust no one—not even yourself” energy.
Apparently a relaxing mountain getaway is *never* a good idea in an Aussie thriller.
August 14, 2024
The Last Trace is the story of brother and sister Lachy and Sheridan and their extended family. It develops slowly, encompassing a number of issues that affect, especially, several individual family members, their background and their origins.
The story starts at Dalgety in the NSW Snowy Country, Lachy and his son Kai having lunch at the local hotel. Lachy has a problem. He suffers unexplained blackouts and, despite a local newspaper calling him a hero, is concerned at how he got grazes and a couple of deeper cuts on his arms through the night just past. A second concern is a request he’s received online for a DNA report from someone in the USA named Janet. Is she someone with whom he had a fling while there on a work trip? Had he hurt someone in a fight? Again, and evidently due to his memory lapses, he has no recollection of Janet, a relationship or a scrap.
Another story runs in the background, that of a young woman, Elizabeth. It takes us all the way back to 1968 where we meet her growing up in rural Pennsylvania, a member of a restrictive, religious family. Father is a zealot, a preacher who rules his family with his tongue and his belt. Elizabeth has several inclusive wishes: finding a loving husband, escaping an overbearing father, and living a better life in Australia.
Interestingly, where the main story is told in the third person, Elizabeth relates her story in the first person. This becomes an important factor through the book, but I must refrain from explanation… In the meantime, working at the local Soldiers’ Home, Elizabeth meets and falls in love with the beautiful, caring Doctor Charlie Stansbury.
Back in modern day Australia, Sheridan and her family visit Lachy for Easter at the old Snowy Mountains property on which they all grew up. There is a medical emergency relating to Sheridan’s two young daughters and the family rushes them to Cooma hospital. Although the cause is uncertain, there are suspicions that have the capacity to tear the family apart.
Lachy, despite years working to establish potable water supplies in a number of poor predominantly African nations, has become uncertain of himself and much of his past, thanks mainly to his memory lapses. He decides it’s more than time he flew to the US. Once there, he can catch up with Head Office and his works supervisor. Also, he will have the opportunity to establish just who the mysterious Janet may be, and why his DNA test should be of concern to her.
The Last Trace - a perfect name for the book, incidentally! - is beautifully written and gains the reader’s attention early on. Its pace develops as it progresses; the end is sufficiently different and proves highly satisfying. The majority of readers will be happy with its storyline, its writing, and its outcome. My sincere thanks to Allen & Unwin for the ARC.
Four stars.
The story starts at Dalgety in the NSW Snowy Country, Lachy and his son Kai having lunch at the local hotel. Lachy has a problem. He suffers unexplained blackouts and, despite a local newspaper calling him a hero, is concerned at how he got grazes and a couple of deeper cuts on his arms through the night just past. A second concern is a request he’s received online for a DNA report from someone in the USA named Janet. Is she someone with whom he had a fling while there on a work trip? Had he hurt someone in a fight? Again, and evidently due to his memory lapses, he has no recollection of Janet, a relationship or a scrap.
Another story runs in the background, that of a young woman, Elizabeth. It takes us all the way back to 1968 where we meet her growing up in rural Pennsylvania, a member of a restrictive, religious family. Father is a zealot, a preacher who rules his family with his tongue and his belt. Elizabeth has several inclusive wishes: finding a loving husband, escaping an overbearing father, and living a better life in Australia.
Interestingly, where the main story is told in the third person, Elizabeth relates her story in the first person. This becomes an important factor through the book, but I must refrain from explanation… In the meantime, working at the local Soldiers’ Home, Elizabeth meets and falls in love with the beautiful, caring Doctor Charlie Stansbury.
Back in modern day Australia, Sheridan and her family visit Lachy for Easter at the old Snowy Mountains property on which they all grew up. There is a medical emergency relating to Sheridan’s two young daughters and the family rushes them to Cooma hospital. Although the cause is uncertain, there are suspicions that have the capacity to tear the family apart.
Lachy, despite years working to establish potable water supplies in a number of poor predominantly African nations, has become uncertain of himself and much of his past, thanks mainly to his memory lapses. He decides it’s more than time he flew to the US. Once there, he can catch up with Head Office and his works supervisor. Also, he will have the opportunity to establish just who the mysterious Janet may be, and why his DNA test should be of concern to her.
The Last Trace - a perfect name for the book, incidentally! - is beautifully written and gains the reader’s attention early on. Its pace develops as it progresses; the end is sufficiently different and proves highly satisfying. The majority of readers will be happy with its storyline, its writing, and its outcome. My sincere thanks to Allen & Unwin for the ARC.
Four stars.
August 10, 2024
McGovern has written another novel in which a relatively slight plot becomes unputdownable. It’s easy to keep reading this novel, and hard to put it down before you find out how it all works out.
Lachy has a secret, one he’s kept from almost everyone in his life. When he drinks too much alcohol too fast, he suffers from amnesia. To others he seems to be completely normal, even sober. But the next day he has absolutely no memory of anything he’s done.
As the novel opens, Lachy’s trying to piece together another blacked out night. He’s afraid that in the past he might have done some dreadful things, and now he has to work out if something bad happened last night.
I really enjoyed this novel. It’s very easy to read, and surprisingly compelling. The plot is quite slight, and at least one of the major “twists” was incredibly obvious well before the reveal. Despite that, this had me reading just one more chapter… and another… and another… Until Bang! I was finished.
The plot is interesting, and populated by realistic and believable characters. Readers will really feel for Lachy, even as they wonder whether he’s the good guy he wants to consider himself. Many of his failings are very understandable. His unusual problem adds some tension to the pile of problems he has to deal with.
I found all of the characters well rounded, vivid, and generally easy to get involved with. I’m not saying I liked or empathised with all of them, but I could visualise them as real people.
Despite lots and lots of complications, this is a fairly straightforward plot. It’s easy to follow, and even the slightly more far fetched aspects come across as credible. Characters’ emotions are very believable responses to what they’re experiencing.
This was an enjoyable novel to read. It’s not quite a thriller, nor a family drama, but readers of both will find elements to enjoy here. It’s very absorbing. I found myself entertained and interested throughout. I’ve enjoyed all of McGovern’s previous novels, and on the strength of this one, will be looking out for her next.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
Lachy has a secret, one he’s kept from almost everyone in his life. When he drinks too much alcohol too fast, he suffers from amnesia. To others he seems to be completely normal, even sober. But the next day he has absolutely no memory of anything he’s done.
As the novel opens, Lachy’s trying to piece together another blacked out night. He’s afraid that in the past he might have done some dreadful things, and now he has to work out if something bad happened last night.
I really enjoyed this novel. It’s very easy to read, and surprisingly compelling. The plot is quite slight, and at least one of the major “twists” was incredibly obvious well before the reveal. Despite that, this had me reading just one more chapter… and another… and another… Until Bang! I was finished.
The plot is interesting, and populated by realistic and believable characters. Readers will really feel for Lachy, even as they wonder whether he’s the good guy he wants to consider himself. Many of his failings are very understandable. His unusual problem adds some tension to the pile of problems he has to deal with.
I found all of the characters well rounded, vivid, and generally easy to get involved with. I’m not saying I liked or empathised with all of them, but I could visualise them as real people.
Despite lots and lots of complications, this is a fairly straightforward plot. It’s easy to follow, and even the slightly more far fetched aspects come across as credible. Characters’ emotions are very believable responses to what they’re experiencing.
This was an enjoyable novel to read. It’s not quite a thriller, nor a family drama, but readers of both will find elements to enjoy here. It’s very absorbing. I found myself entertained and interested throughout. I’ve enjoyed all of McGovern’s previous novels, and on the strength of this one, will be looking out for her next.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
June 2, 2024
I have been a fan of Petronella McGovern since reading The Liars, and she is becoming one of my favourite Australian authors.
This will probably end up being one of my top reads for 2024. Yes, I know we're not even half way through the year, but this book is one I will be recommending.
Family means everything to Sheridan, and she has taken a leading role in caring for her brother Lachy and nephew Kai. But an incident over Easter threatens to tear the family apart. Lachy experiences blackouts after drinking too fast. Stuff happens during those blackouts that he can't remember. During one of those episodes he meets a girl who later claims she's pregnant and wants him to do a DNA test. That DNA test is then connected to a cold case. Has Lacky committed a crime? The problem is that he can't remember.
This book has it all - family dynamics, drama, mysteries and secrets; a cast of complex characters relevant in today's world, dealing with current issues and dilemmas. The character development is fantastic, and although some are quite flawed and make poor choices, they are relatable. The twists keep coming. I binged this book over a few days and found myself at times holding my breath. I thought I had it figured it out, but no, Petronella keeps switching things up, giving us one morsel at a time, until the end!
The story is told in multiple POVs, Sheridan, Lachy, Kai in the present time, and Elizabeth, Sheridan's and Lachy's aunt, in 1968. Petronella does a great job at giving different perspectives in the present time and we see each character's inner thoughts, flaws, and insecurities. I loved the way the story alternates between the present and the past and how the story comes together at the end revealing the secrets that had been kept for generations.
This was a gripping thriller from start to finish.
This will probably end up being one of my top reads for 2024. Yes, I know we're not even half way through the year, but this book is one I will be recommending.
Family means everything to Sheridan, and she has taken a leading role in caring for her brother Lachy and nephew Kai. But an incident over Easter threatens to tear the family apart. Lachy experiences blackouts after drinking too fast. Stuff happens during those blackouts that he can't remember. During one of those episodes he meets a girl who later claims she's pregnant and wants him to do a DNA test. That DNA test is then connected to a cold case. Has Lacky committed a crime? The problem is that he can't remember.
This book has it all - family dynamics, drama, mysteries and secrets; a cast of complex characters relevant in today's world, dealing with current issues and dilemmas. The character development is fantastic, and although some are quite flawed and make poor choices, they are relatable. The twists keep coming. I binged this book over a few days and found myself at times holding my breath. I thought I had it figured it out, but no, Petronella keeps switching things up, giving us one morsel at a time, until the end!
The story is told in multiple POVs, Sheridan, Lachy, Kai in the present time, and Elizabeth, Sheridan's and Lachy's aunt, in 1968. Petronella does a great job at giving different perspectives in the present time and we see each character's inner thoughts, flaws, and insecurities. I loved the way the story alternates between the present and the past and how the story comes together at the end revealing the secrets that had been kept for generations.
This was a gripping thriller from start to finish.
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