The Last Thread: A Chilling Psychological Thriller with Domestic Suspense

by Michelle Powers

ONE THREAD CAN UNRAVEL EVERYTHING...

After a painful divorce, Jenna Rowe thought she’d finally found peace in the quiet town of Widow’s Bluff. But loneliness has a way of creeping in—especially at night. That’s when she logs on, joining a true crime forum where amateur sleuths trade theories, chase cold cases, and hunt for justice from behind their screens. For Jenna, it’s just a distraction. Until one case feels too familiar. Too close.

As she digs deeper, disturbing details begin to surface—about a girl who vanished decades ago, and whispers in the woods that never really stopped. the closer Jenna gets to the truth, the more dangerous the game becomes. Because in Widow’s Bluff, some threads were never meant to be pulled.

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2025

About the author

Michelle Powers writes the kind of thrillers that keep you up way past bedtime—just one more chapter, right? What started with her breakout novella, The First Murder, quickly snowballed into a full-blown obsession with killers, clues, and crime scenes (the fictional kind, of course). She’s the internationally recognized indie author behind the addictive Detective Willoughby series, the fan-favorite Detective Kate Brown series, and a growing stack of standalone thrillers that will make you second-guess everyone you know. In 2024, she proudly earned the coveted KDP All-Star title—a gold star for authors who live on coffee, plot twists, and sheer grit. When she’s not working her day job in logistics or plotting her next murder (on paper, we swear), Michelle can be found writing at her desk with her Rottweiler sidekick, Ozzy, snoring nearby. Follow her on Facebook for new releases, giveaways, and all things murdery and mysterious. Just maybe leave the lights on.

Reviews

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a painful divorce, Jenna Rowe relocates to the seemingly quiet town of Widow's Bluff to start fresh. But, peace is fleeting. After a true crime forum post connects her to a long ago cold case involving a missing girl, suddenly everything she thought she knew begins to unravel. As Jenna teams up with other amateur sleuths, they begin to dig deeper into Widow's Bluff and it's dark underbelly. Jenna must decide how far she is willing to go, even if it means putting herself and others in danger.

Michelle Powers is a rising indie voice in psychological suspense and I am so happy to have the honor to be a part of her ARC team! In typical Powers fashion, The Last Thread is full of fast-paced twists and compelling characters. With razor sharp tension and emotional depth, this book pulls you into the unsettling town of Widow's Bluff, and refuses to let you go. Jenna as our main character is real, relatable, and vulnerable. The pacing is A+, slow and atmospheric to start, then gradually accelerates as the stakes, and shadows, grow darker. Widow's Bluff is practically a character in itself, with its eerie calm, buried secrets, and the ever-present feeling of eyes watching. The twists hit hard with a gut punch and the ending? Wow! Overall, The Last Thread definitely deserves a place on your TBR if you love atmospheric and gripping psychological thrillers!

Thank you so much Michelle for another amazing read! And for letting me be a part of the team! Can't wait to see what comes next!

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Last Thread” by Michelle Powers is a heart-pounding thriller that grips you from the very first page. Powers weaves a dark and suspenseful tale filled with secrets that were never meant to be uncovered. Jenna is determined and fearless, refusing to back down as she digs into the town’s buried truths and hunts for answers about a missing girl. The story is packed with tension, deception, and twists that will keep you guessing until the very end.

What really stood out, though, was the unexpected humor and sharp banter woven throughout. I absolutely loved the back-and-forth—it added the perfect touch of levity to balance the darker moments and made the characters feel even more real. If you enjoy thrillers with mystery, depth, and a dash of wit, this one’s a must-read.

[Karen Brooks - TheTxLitChic · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Thread

~ Michelle Powers

 

“To every woman reclaiming her narrative. Take up space. Speak your truth. Shine unapologetically.”

 

What a beautiful and poignant dedication. Inspiring and strong, just like women are meant to be.

 

“It was beautiful in the way a blade is beautiful – sleek, pristine, and meant to hurt.”

 

What. A. Powerful. Statement.

 

This isn't in the prologue, or even the first chapter. Yet this statement is one that I felt deserved recognition. It will be up to you to find it. To read The Last Thread. But once you do, and you find this statement, you will never look at things in the same manner.

Jenna Rowe (FMC), freshly divorced and emotionally drained, returns to her quiet hometown of Widow’s Bluff in search of peace and a fresh start. Betrayed by her husband, David Rowe, and her best friend, Nicole Barnes - and with her children now grown and gone - Jenna settles into a serene lakeside rental hoping to rebuild her life. What she doesn’t know is that her new home hides chilling secrets darker than she ever imagined.

One lonely evening, while watching a true crime documentary about unsolved cases, a website flashes on the screen just before the credits roll. Intrigued - and always one to excel at puzzle-based games - Jenna decides to logon. What starts as innocent curiosity quickly spirals into obsession, pulling her deep into a rabbit hole that leads to a string of cold cases shockingly close to home.

She soon connects with three other amateur sleuths online - Maya, Erin, and Andrea - who are investigating a “vanished without a trace” case in Widow’s Bluff. Agreeing to meet in person at Perkatory, a local coffee shop, the women instantly click. Together, they dive headfirst into the mystery, tugging on threads better left untouched.

But how far is Jenna willing to go before she puts herself - and others - in danger? How deeply does the web of deception and disappearance run through Widow’s Bluff? And will she be able to pull herself back out, or will it take tragedy to bring the truth to light?

Powers has a gift for crafting layered, emotionally rich characters, and Jenna is no exception. Her journey starts with the collapse of her marriage, but deeper traumas soon surface, enriching the narrative and making her feel raw, real, and heartbreakingly relatable.

The supporting cast is refreshingly unconventional. While minimal backstory is offered for most, it’s surprisingly effective. Characters like David - a former investigator the missing persons case the girls just happen to be looking into - remain enigmatic, yet compelling. His full history only begins to unfold in the last third of the book, but it’s enough. Similarly, Maya, Erin, and Andrea aren’t fleshed out through lengthy backstories, but their presence and personalities are fully felt in the present, proving that sometimes less truly is more.

The Last Thread is a masterclass in atmospheric suspense. Powers keeps the pacing tight and the transitions seamless, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. With gripping tension and unpredictable twists, every chapter leaves you craving the next.

Even amid personal chaos in my house - my father in hospice, pets underfoot, a bustling household of grandkids - I found myself completely transported. That’s the power of this story.

If you’re seeking a psychological thriller that wraps you in its grip and refuses to let go, The Last Thread is your next must-read. Coming July 31st, prepare to lose sleep, grip your seat, and question everything as you follow Jenna down a path of secrets, lies, and chilling discoveries.

 

Thank you to Michelle Powers for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC read of The Last Thread. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author, present or future, in exchange for my review.

If you enjoyed this review, check out my social media for more engaging reviews amongst other literary craziness! TheTxLitChic on IG, FB, Pinterest and TT
 
 

[Darin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s a woman to do once the kids are grown and out of the house, and her husband turns out to be a lying, cheating piece of shizzit? Get rid of everything—the husband, the house, and every tainted memory that comes with it. It’s time to make a fresh start, and for Jenna Rowe, returning to the small community where she was raised holds a certain appeal. Settling into her lakeside rental house in Widow’s Bluff, she spends her days at a job that’s increasingly uncomfortable—her position came courtesy of her ex-husband’s friendship with her boss—and her nights watching true-crime documentaries alone in a darkened room.

When one of those documentaries features a local unsolved missing persons case, Jenna is intrigued. She vaguely remembers the young girl’s disappearance and is stunned to find out that the case was never solved. She’s even more surprised to learn the girl was last seen near the lake bordering her property. Never one to walk away from a good puzzle, Jenna begins researching the case online and soon stumbles upon a forum where she can namelessly trade theories with like-minded ladies similarly invested in finding resolution to one of the town’s most notorious cold cases. Before long, the ladies have joined forces face-to-face, and all are receiving anonymous threats via text. It is apparent they’ve attracted the attention of someone who will do whatever it takes to protect their legacy of secrets—and no one is truly safe.

Fast-paced, high-concept thriller is anchored by Powers’ winning and vivid characterization of her central characters although it requires just a little suspension of disbelief—but then again, so does a lot of engaging entertainment. Each of the women who Jenna meets brings a piece of the puzzle to the table, whether incidentally or by intention, and the scenes depicting their easy banter and relentless determination effortlessly draw you into their plight. Powers continues to ramp up the tension as revelations are dispensed with regularity, saving the biggest and most surprising jolts for the grand finale.

My only quibble (and in the end, isn’t even really a quibble) is Powers’ overuse of similes when describing her world. In less capable hands, those descriptive moments might have bogged down the proceedings, but Powers has a real gift for creative comparison, and ultimately, I would rather not risk losing any of these inventive turns of phrase, many of which are laugh-out-loud funny. (It would make one heck of a drinking game, though. It would have taken a lot longer to read the book, though…🫢)

Nicely done! With twenty titles to her credit and more on the way, I’ll have plenty to choose from when I come back for more. And I WILL be back…

[Book Blogging Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to fall so hard for this book, but I should’ve known better because it is a Michelle Powers book after all and I have loved everything by her I’ve read so far– she never disappoints. This one hooked me quietly and then sunk its teeth in deep.

At first glance, The Last Thread felt like it was going to be a story about divorce, grief, and starting over—but it’s not that at all. It’s about the stories women aren’t allowed to tell out loud. About trauma that doesn’t come with police reports. About how we women cope when the world doesn’t see us, or believe us, until we’re the cautionary tale.

This is a gripping thriller about a woman, Jenna, who gets sucked into a true crime mystery that she can’t seem to get out of her mind after scrolling through an online forum. Jenna is too curious for her own safety. Her late-night scrolling through this true crime forum felt way too familiar (how many of us have done that at 2am, chasing someone else’s pain because it distracts from our own?). But what she finds there… that cold case… the way it loops back into her life? Absolutely chilling. Not in the “boo!” way. In the “this could actually happen” way. In the “is this really happening to her” way.

And Widow’s Bluff? Creepy little coastal town that somehow manages to be both sleepy and suffocating, yet sounds like a picturesque place I’d love to live. I could smell the damp air and feel the weight of all the unsaid things. The women Jenna meets there—seem to be the instant best friends she has needed so badly. And when the threads they start to pull at are tangled with Jenna’s personal life? Goosebumps.

This book dared me to follow the thread and encourage the women to get to the bottom of it all, even when I knew they shouldn’t. And when they did? It unraveled everything.

One of the most human seemingly realistic mysteries I’ve read in a while that felt like it could have been either based on a true story or should be made into a movie tomorrow. Quietly brutal, beautifully written, and sharp in all the right places. You don’t want to miss this one for sure!

[KellyJ1028 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenna is newly divorced and emotionally distraught by the infidelity of her husband & former friend, so she returns to her quiet hometown of Widow’s Bluff in search of a new start.

One night Jenna logs on to a website & soon connects with three other women (Erin, Andrea & Maya and they start investigating a "vanished without a trace" case that happened 20 yrs prior in Widow's Bluff . They decide to meet in person at a local coffee shop named Purkatory (love that name) and that begins the foursome on a whirlwind of investigations of cold cases in the area.

I absolutely LOVED this book, I was so creeped out reading it at night that I had to stop and finish it during the day. The storyline was riveting and kept me engaged & on the edge of my seat.

The main female characters & the way their story unfolds still blows my mind.
There were 2 twists I didnt guess, the pacing was impeccable, the lies & secrets that come undone throughout the book were genius!

This is a gripping psychological thriller you do not want to miss. And I would love to see these four women in another book :)

Thank you to Michelle Powers for the opportunity to arc read The Last Thread in return for my honest review.

[C.A. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a gripping read! The prologue immediately hooked me, and within just a few pages, I was fully immersed in Jenna’s world—entangled in the mystery surrounding Widow’s Bluff.

Michelle has a real gift for building suspense — the pacing was tight, the atmosphere was unsettling, and just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist knocked me off course.

I especially appreciated how the thriller wasn’t just about solving a cold case. It was layered with emotional depth — Jenna’s vulnerability, the quiet power of female friendship, and the sense of reclaiming control in a place haunted by secrets. The women she connects with along the way are strong, complex, and refreshingly authentic.

If you enjoy thrillers that keep you hooked but also offer a meaningful emotional core, The Last Thread is absolutely worth reading. It’s haunting, compelling, and deeply satisfying.

[Marin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
After a divorce, Jenna Rowe moved to a quiet town Widow’s Bluff. Getting addicted to true crime, she joins a true crime forum where other amateur investigators chase theories and search for justice. But, one "cold case" hits close to home. As Jenna and her new friends dig deeper, everything gets more dangerous.

Review:
"The Last Thread" is a atmospheric suspence thriller that holds your interest from the first page to the last one. With many twist and turns I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. If you are looking for a gripping suspensful story and a fan of internet sleuths, cold cases and mystery, "The Last Thread" is a book for you.

[Elisa Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third book by Michelle Powers, and once again, she did not disappoint. The Last Thread hooked me from the very first page. I especially loved the unique style of incorporating online chats into the narrative—it gave the story a fresh, modern twist that made it stand out from other books I’ve read.

This is the kind of book that keeps you up way past your bedtime, whispering to yourself, “Just one more chapter…” until you realize it’s two in the morning. Those are my favorite kinds of reads—the ones that completely pull you in and don’t let go.

If you’re looking for a gripping, unputdownable story with a creative twist, I highly recommend The Last Thread.

[Kayla Wiklanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you willing to pull the thread?

Cold case of a missing girl. Deep rooted secrets exposed. A town of deception. Who can Jenna really trust?

You think this may be just another whodunnit. Think again. This is a lifetime of secrets, self discovery, and the hidden horrors buried in a town. A complex woven network that doesn't allow any loose threads to unravel.

I was shocked by the path I was taken on. I thought it was a group of sleuths taking on a missing person's case. Easy peasey. That case led to so much more. I was not trusting a single character. The twists shocked me. There's a lot of depth and layers which Michelle does a fantastic job wrapping up at the end with a pretty bow.

[Casey Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Easy to read in one sitting (which I did because I couldn’t put it down). It’s amazingly written and instantly grabs you. The MC is done really well and the supporting characters do just that and more. This book envelopes you into the story and takes you for a ride. The twists and turns just about gave me whiplash (but in the best way). Powers will be on my list for best authors that I will always want to read and recommend!

[Ashleigh Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great ARC read by Powers! I really enjoy her writing and find her novels so easy to read.

Jenna is trying to recover from some marital drama, but she has no idea what moving back to her hometown will uncover. A little true crime discussion never hurt anyone right?

Short chapters, lots of secrets, and that terrible feeling of never knowing who you should truly trust... If you love suspense and twisted town secrets, I highly recommend The Last Thread!

[Tina Transformation · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Thread is a beautifully told, emotionally rich story that weaves together memory, grief, and identity. Michelle Powers shows a clear mastery of introspective storytelling. While it's not a high-action novel, it succeeds on the strength of its prose, symbolism, and emotional authenticity. It’s the kind of book that lingers—quietly powerful and deeply human.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Thread is a gripping and mysterious psychological thriller that'll have you on edge until the very end. It's full of intense moments that'll have you fussing at the characters. There's moments of laughter and plenty of shock. It's mysterious and perfectly paced.

Thank you Michelle Powers and Bookfunnel for the ARC. This review is that of my own.

[Jessica Crome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This took some turns I didn’t see happening but I loved every minute of it! The characters are all relatable and remind me of some of my friends. The suspense through the whole book leaves you wanting more while trying to guess what’s going to happen. I’m so glad that it went a different direction than I thought it was going to go. Loved it!

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently divorced Jenna moves back to her hometown of Widow's Bluff, hooking up one night online with some crime buffs who invite her to join their little group looking into a local cold case of a missing girl. Jenna becomes obsessed with the case and the group keep pulling threads which lead to a surprising conclusion. Dark, creepy, and humorous, it's a read read.

[Denise Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great thriller! As soon as I started it, I was pulled in. I wanted to help the characters solve the mystery. This is set in a town where they will do anything so their secrets do not come to light. But there are a few women determined to find out what really happened.
The twist was a surprise!

Release date July 31, 2025.

[Jine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so so damn suspenseful! Oh my god it is appropriately named because they keep pulling on the different threads of the secrets and bam! I really enjoyed this book and it’s the first by this author!

[Suzan Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelle has gone and done it again! This was a great book! We follow Jenna through many twists as she unravels an old disappearance of a girl from the small town she lives in. Along the way she meets some new friends! Great story, most of which Zi didn’t see coming. Loved the ending!

[Melissa Dressler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow was that good! Fast paced, just like I prefer. It flowed well, and even with the different people it was super easy to follow and kept you wanting to know what happened next!

[AmBer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazingly suspenseful story written by Michelle Powers.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another home run from Michelle Powers!! I couldn’t put it down!

The Last Thread is a book about strength, secrets, and survival… You don’t want to miss this one!!

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like kind of a slow start but once it picked up full of twists and turns. Couldn’t put it down.

[Vina]

Dull.

[Julie Kruger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. I read it quickly because it kept me engaged the whole time. The ending tied up all the loose ends which I like. I would definitely read more from this author.

[Momma T's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not see that coming.

"To every woman reclaiming her narrative. Take up space. Speak your truth. Shine unapologetically."

A great way to introduce a read about some strong women. Physically and mentally. And boy, does it take you on a ride. Through every curve of the mountain road, something or someone waits to walk out in front of you. As you near the top, you're taken by a sharp curve that went left instead of right. You are then taken over the edge and down a path you didn’t see coming. There was not a dull moment t in sight.

Great read.

[Janelle Piazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another WOW from Michelle!
She got me hooked from page one (as always). I immediately connected with the characters—especially their shared obsession with unsolved mysteries. It added such a fun, eerie layer to the whole story.

I thought I was being clever and had it all figured out... I did guess—but I was so wrong. And honestly? I loved that. The way the final thread starts to unravel caught me completely off guard in the best way.

The character transitions were so well done. Each one felt distinct, layered, and real—I loved getting to know them and seeing how their stories intertwined.

The twists were unpredictable, the pacing was tight, and the plot? Completely gripping. It was really hard to put down. If you're into character-driven suspense with a few curveballs you won't see coming, this one should be on your list.

[Salty Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you love good crime solving/mysteries? Do you have a group of friends that love it as well. The last thread is a multi twist masterpiece of crime solving girls who won't stop searching for answers for a missing girl despite the warnings to back off. This fast-paced edge of seat thriller will have your jaw-dropping and have you laughing out loud with the banter. Michelle nailed another one! EASY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️