First & Last: In a sleepy Indiana town, blood is thicker than water.

by Heather Curlee Novak

One murder. Two sisters. A town that won’t forget.

After Lola Messer’s brutal murder, the town of Valparaiso is left shaken—but the killer walks free. For the Messer family, grief isn’t the only battle. With the past haunting their every step, two sisters stand at a stay and fight for justice or leave it all behind for a fresh start.

As secrets unravel and new love emerges, First & Last is a heart-wrenching story of family, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds that define us. But will the ghosts of their past ever let them go?

💔 Suspenseful. Poignant. Unforgettable.
📖 *A gripping finale for fans of The Good Daughter and Big Little Lies.

Read First & Last now—because some stories refuse to stay buried.

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2024

About the author

Heather Curlee Novak, AKA the ‘Lazy Bombshell,’ writes spicy suspense stories packed with humor, unexpected twists, and unforgettable characters who feel like lifelong friends. She’s a lover of all things sparkly, cheeky, and mischievous—qualities that shine through in her work.
When she’s not crafting tales of intrigue and laughter, Heather enjoys motivational speaking and draws inspiration from her years in customer service, sales training, and troubleshooting. Her professional experience fuels her ability to weave relatable, dynamic stories that resonate with readers.
Happily married to her real-life Prince Charming, John, Heather cherishes time with their two fascinating daughters, whom they encourage to live boldly and authentically. She lives each day passionately, striving to "live her love out loud" and bring joy, humor, and a touch of spice to everything she does.

Reviews

[angelpompom · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨💜First & Last ~ 3.5 stars💜✨

This book felt a bit anticlimactic. Nothing really happens in terms on Lola’s case. We just wait for it to unfold, not being controlled by our main characters. Our main characters are grieving and trying to figure what is they want now, which is great to read about as is. I was just hoping (and thinking from the synopsis) that this was going to highlight Lola’s murder and get behind her case more.

[Heather Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter focuses on one of the remaining members of the Messer family. It gives insight to how each of them deal with the grief of losing the family matriarch. While it's heart wrenching, there are certain things that happen that I would have liked to learn about more; how did so-and-so overcome that obstacle? There was a group of women that continued to try to help the family, which was sweet and endearing. Not gonna lie...I thought the reader would follow the investigation into Lola's murder a little more. But I did enjoy it and look forward to reading the other books in the Elm Street Story series.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique perspective on the murder in Small Man, Big Murder. A realistic sibling journey through grief and growth. A great stand alone novella, or as a companion to Small Man, Big Murder. Curlee Novak continues to delight me with her writing!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Especially appreciated the epilogue!

[Megan Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief and family

Heather knows how to write family drama.
After the events of book 1, Rob Abbie, and Sylvia have a long road of self discovery and finding a new normal.