The Last Beach Town

by Deb Richardson-Moore

Sloane Cheney has no intention of ever returning to the South Carolina island town where she grew up. She enjoys her life in the big city and teaching at the college there. The thought of revisiting the place where her mother deserted her family is too painful.

But when Aunt Millicent, town matriarch and owner of the family’s beachfront property, is murdered, Sloane must go back to sign off on the sale of the grand family home to developers. She soon finds that old friendships have shifted, as townspeople disagree over the development that would reshape their sleepy village. Sloane is directly in the line of fire, under suspicion by the police chief because of her inheritance and by her former neighbors who question her long absence.

With family members and old friends swirling treacherously around her, Sloane doesn’t know who to trust, especially after a nearly fatal accident in the beach house. She digs into her family’s history, uncovering new information about her mother’s disappearance. What she discovers raises Was her aunt’s murder a simple case of greed? Or was it related to her mother’s long-ago vanishing?

Genres: Mystery

318 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2025

About the author

Deb Richardson-Moore is a former journalist and former pastor of a church whose parishioners included homeless people. Those experiences combined in her first four books -- a 2012 memoir about her early years at the Triune Mercy Center, and the three-book Branigan Powers mystery series featuring a news reporter and a homeless man.

She has now turned to darker domestic thrillers with the release of "Murder, Forgotten" in 2020.

Deb lives in Greenville, SC, with her husband. They are the parents of three adult children.

(Author's photo by Susan Hood)

Reviews

[Gwen Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good and I highly recommend that all of you reads the book "The Last Beach Town". It has a lot for everyone, mystery, suspense, a little flirting and love thrown into the mix. The plot is good and the characters are all great. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Sloane Cheney has no intention of ever returning to South Carolina and the
little island where she grew up. She enjoys her life in the big city and being a teacher at the local college. And then her Aunt Millicent dies and she goes home for the funeral. Aunt Millicent helped raise her as a child and she is the town matriarch and she owns the family's beachfront property. The very land that Sloane will inherit and make a ton of money from the sale. At the funeral Sloane learns that Aunt Millicent not just died, she was murdered.

The whole town is in turmoil because of the development that would reshape their sleepy village. Friends are turning on friends and Sloane does not know who to trust. But she is under suspicion because of her inheritance and one neighbor questions why she was away so long. Sloane digs up some more of the family history and finds new information about her mother's disappearance. It also makes her question --was her Aunt's murder a simple case of greed? Or was it related to her mother's long-ago vanishing?

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Families. What can you do? In fiction we meet families of all descriptions, often dysfunctional or at least problematic, and usually at the heart of the action. Deb Richardson-Moore’s latest mystery novel, The Last Beach Town, introduces us to a family rife with secrets, grudges, loss, pain and very little connection. The primary character, Sloane Cheney, returns to her coastal South Carolina hometown after a decade when her aunt dies. She is set to inherit her aunt’s home and has planned to sell the prime beachfront property to a developer, to the consternation of many in the community who prefer to keep the town as is. This theme of conflict surrounding growth and change to traditional communities will resonate with many readers, and Richardson-Moore deftly weaves the primary focus of the murder investigation with these concerns and does a fine job of keeping the reader off balance with new revelations and curve-ball plot developments until the final page. The killer’s identity is not easily discerned, and the not-quite-happily-ever-after ending leaves us with questions about what the future holds for Sloane and her family. Let’s hope our future holds another book from this talented and entertaining author.

[Sam Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Beach Town is a riveting murder mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish. Set in a quiet coastal town, the story masterfully blends small-town secrets with tangled family dynamics. Everyone feels like they have something to hide, creating plausible motives throughout the story.

Sloane, the protagonist, isn’t your typical heroine. She’s sharp, flawed, and sometimes hard to root for, but that’s exactly what makes her so compelling. As the plot twists and the stakes rise, my feelings toward her shifted constantly, adding another layer of tension to an already gripping narrative.

The Last Beach Town delivers more than just suspense - it digs into themes of loyalty, family, and the ways secrets shape our lives. It’s a smart, emotionally charged read that genuinely surprised me at the end—but all the clues were there along the way, which made the conclusion even more satisfying.

[Anna Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Last Beach Town” is a riveting page-turner from a masterful writer that will keep the reader guessing until the end.

Deb Richardson-Moore's latest novel weaves a tale of treacherous undercurrents and long held secrets in a sleepy Southern beach town divided over potential development that will change the pace of life there forever.

A flirtation with developers turns deadly, and exposes secrets of domestic abuse that tears a family apart.

After more than a decade away, a woman returns to her hometown to attend the funeral of a beloved aunt, a pillar of the Low Country South Carolina town. She plans to sell her aunt’s beach house, which was left to her, when a revelation at the funeral sparks a chain of events that shatters her beliefs about her family and exposes a tragic past.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a riveting read featuring a family in a small town divided by those who are anxious for development to bring in business, and those who want things to stay as they are. Sloane returns home after a lengthy absence when she and her brother inherits her aunt's house. What seems like a reluctant homecoming changes quickly when an announcement is made that her aunt was murdered. A further murder throws everything into disarray.

I loved the small town setting and the family dynamic where secrets and animosities lie deep but have a habit of coming to the surface. Every character is an unreliable narrator and I loved how I couldn't trust the true essence of what I was reading. What a shock at the end. Fantastic!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is a combination page-turning mystery and family saga. Chapters are told from the perspective of Sloane or Annie. There are many other characters and enough competing plots that it was a bit difficult to keep everything straight. I was glad the author had a list of the characters at the end of the book because I couldn't remember a couple of them.

Sloane returns to her hometown of Millicent, SC after the death of her aunt, which is being investigated as a murder. There are several red herrings and I was surprised when the murderer was revealed. Lots of other surprises were revealed!

I hope Deb Richardson-Moore will write a sequel. The characters are genuinely flawed but interesting and I'm curious how relationships will play out.

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. I've read several of Deb Richardson Moore's books and enjoyed them all. She is an excellent mystery writer. In this book, which could equally have been called Secrets and Lies, is a complicated story of who knew/knows what, did what, when and why. The centre of the story is around a beautiful old mansion, the subject of developers wanting to change things in an idyllic beach town and the local people who want things to stay the same. The book explores the subject of domestic abuse and the reach of its effects, the way families are affected by events of the past. Sharper readers may realise who the living culprit in the story is, but it came as nearly as much of a surprise to me as it was to the shocked family. Wonderful writing and storytelling.

[Natalie Doll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the small beach town setting of this book and thought it would be a good summer read. It took a bit to get into the true mystery element of thinking about who could be the killer, but once the second murder happened I was very intrigued. A good mystery is one that keeps your mind circulating and rethinking your potential suspicions and this one definitely did that. I probably suspected every main character at one point and was still surprised by the outcome. One element that I wish was a bit more drawn out was the aftermath / motive explanation. I think it would be been nice to get it directly from the killer’s perspective.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melanie Houghton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summer read. For most of the book I couldn’t decide if I liked the main character, Sloane. Is she really so heartless and self centered or just really broken. There isn’t enough character building to get attached to any of the other players even though some of the later chapters are in their perspective. Fast paced and a new wrench is thrown into the mix in every chapter. Towards the end it seemed like too many wrenches and you just wanted it to be over but you couldn’t put it down because you had to see where it was going. I’m intrigued enough to check out some of the authors other books!

[jennifer thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Last Beach Town. I love a good mystery, and this certainly fit the bill. I felt myself going back and forth as to who the killer might be. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another piece of info was revealed that kept me guessing. I was surprised when the killer was finally revealed.

I enjoyed the character development throughout this book, and I'd love to read a future book that expanded more on that. I want to know what happened to everyone after the end of this book.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read, and I'm happy to have found another author to follow.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dynamics that sometimes happen in small groups, whether family members or residents of a small town, can make for some interesting and entertaining stories. It can even be a bit of a mystery at times. We’ve definitely got all of that at work in this story. It seemed like just when I thought I might have a handle on how things were going to shake out and what the answer to the latest mystery was, that something else would happen or come to light making me question it. If you like suspense, this story is great read.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Martha W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery, especially if it is well written and makes me want to keep reading. And, I'm more enthusiastic when it isn't full of blood and gore. This book hit both of these keys perfectly.

I loved the author's descriptions of the environment, people, and action. I smelled the ocean breezes, I visualized the moss laden trees, and traveled every part of this quaint town. I felt I knew the characters-their appearance, their voices, their fears, hurts, hopes and dreams. I got lost in their world. I'm sure you will too.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. The author has an interesting writing style, and I could easily relate to the main character. Sloane is forced to go back to small town that she escaped to follow her big city dreams, when her grandmother was murdered. I felt her feelings. I enjoyed the author's dialogue. It flowed nicely and I could picture it happening in real life.
I received a complimentary copy of this story, and I freely left this review.

[Lynseygibs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens, publishers and author for an ARC of The Last Beach Town.

A complex book with deep seated family issues, The Last Beach Town could have given a lot more in terms of suspense, and a lot less work stress and angst the FMC was enduring. It almost took the focus off the story while I was wondering how was the poor woman going to get it all done.

Readable mystery with a couple of good twists.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the beautiful sea islands of South Carolina, Deb Richardson Moore has created a dark mystery that at it's core is about how secrets, abuse and lies can affect a family. Murder is always a dark subject, but multiple murders at the hands of the one you least expect can leave you a little shocked. This is a page turner, that is rooted in trauma. I liked the book and the writing stye.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page turner by this author. Family drama l, we all have it don't we. We'll get ready to deal with Solane's in this great read. Love the setting of this one. Family issues + South Carolina low country you can't go wrong.Definitely ready for her next book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Sue Ugenti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the overall plot/ mystery and discussion/concern about development of the coast. A lot of characters that the reader really doesn’t get to know very well - I kept having to try to figure out who people were- at the end of the book there is a character list and description - wish I had known this is while reading. I still enjoy this author and her books and look forward to the next one.

[Marsha Basanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love the beach, so the setting was perfect! I kept guessing who was the murderer. Boy! I was wrong!

[cindy davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

great summer read

Easy to get lost in this for an old low country girl. Just like stories I knew of growing up. Enjoyed it.

[Kathleen Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing story.

[robert denes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very well written. I loved the setting which is where I live now. I literally could not put the book down reading it in two days. I met the author recently and discussed her first book “The Weight Of Mercy. I look forward to future endeavors

[Lorelei Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story. The book is about a woman who returns to her former hometown for her aunt's funeral. She finds out that her aunt was murdered and some more suspicious deaths follow.

This book held my interest throughout as I wondered who was doing the killing. The author provided good descriptions of the characters, places and surroundings. The story was presented in a logical order so that it was easy to follow. It had a surprising twist at the end.

If you enjoy murder mysteries, you may wish to read this book

I received a free advance review copy of the book. The opinion that I express is my own.