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Her Last Few Days: There's a Secret Lurking Beneath the Surface
"A fast-paced emotionally charged thriller." — Indies Today ★★★★★
A grieving daughter takes on a high-stakes investigation to solve her mother's murder and in doing so, unearths a deadly environmental coverup.
There's a Secret Lurking Beneath the Surface...
A secret so big, that those behind it would kill to keep it.
The once small town of Masonville, Minnesota isn’t the quiet town it used to be. Not since it became home to NAPEL, the largest plastics manufacturer in the state.
Claire Chapman, a local bank manager and devoted mom, could never have imagined the danger that awaited her when she stumbled upon a series of suspicious transactions at the bank. When Claire’s life comes to a tragic end in what police deem an “unfortunate accident”, her daughter Lizzy has reason to believe otherwise.
Determined to uncover the truth, Lizzy enlists the help of her new friend, Ian, a scuba enthusiast whose loyalty soon becomes something deeper, and Nat, her mother’s friend and trusted colleague. What they unearth puts all their lives in grave danger.
With gripping suspense and emotional depth, Her Last Few Days is a family-centred story of love, loss, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter.
Fans of thrillers and heart-pounding mysteries with a wholesome romantic subplot will devour Her Last Few Days.
Join Lizzy, Ian and Nat in their dangerous quest for the truth by getting your copy today.
A grieving daughter takes on a high-stakes investigation to solve her mother's murder and in doing so, unearths a deadly environmental coverup.
There's a Secret Lurking Beneath the Surface...
A secret so big, that those behind it would kill to keep it.
The once small town of Masonville, Minnesota isn’t the quiet town it used to be. Not since it became home to NAPEL, the largest plastics manufacturer in the state.
Claire Chapman, a local bank manager and devoted mom, could never have imagined the danger that awaited her when she stumbled upon a series of suspicious transactions at the bank. When Claire’s life comes to a tragic end in what police deem an “unfortunate accident”, her daughter Lizzy has reason to believe otherwise.
Determined to uncover the truth, Lizzy enlists the help of her new friend, Ian, a scuba enthusiast whose loyalty soon becomes something deeper, and Nat, her mother’s friend and trusted colleague. What they unearth puts all their lives in grave danger.
With gripping suspense and emotional depth, Her Last Few Days is a family-centred story of love, loss, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter.
Fans of thrillers and heart-pounding mysteries with a wholesome romantic subplot will devour Her Last Few Days.
Join Lizzy, Ian and Nat in their dangerous quest for the truth by getting your copy today.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
49 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 2, 2025
This was a fast paced twisty thriller novel written to entertain and tantalize.
Told with a dual timeline with Claire (mother) in the past and her daughter Lizzy in the present.
Lizzy learns the value of connections and community when she enlists the help of a diver named Ian, her best friend Morgan, her mom’s friend and coworker Nat and neighbour/reporter Sharon. Together, they pull together pieces of a mystery that puts them in danger not knowing who to trust.
It was a wonderful read and I would highly recommend.
I received an advanced readers copy for free and leave this review voluntarily.
Told with a dual timeline with Claire (mother) in the past and her daughter Lizzy in the present.
Lizzy learns the value of connections and community when she enlists the help of a diver named Ian, her best friend Morgan, her mom’s friend and coworker Nat and neighbour/reporter Sharon. Together, they pull together pieces of a mystery that puts them in danger not knowing who to trust.
It was a wonderful read and I would highly recommend.
I received an advanced readers copy for free and leave this review voluntarily.
August 22, 2025
This book was SO good! It moved at a fast pace which I like because it kept my attention. There are dual timelines so the full story unfolds and it’s easier to understand the plot. I loved the action, loved the scandal, and couldn’t believe the shocks and twists. The fact that a bank robbery starts off the book made me know I would be hooked till the last page and I definitely was. This is a must read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read by this author whose storyline follows a mother and daughter in two different timelines.
Claire works at her local bank and through some unfortunate events ends up crossing paths with the wrong people. Lizzy her daughter years later after dealing with the passing of her mother’s soon discovers that Claire’s death was no accident.
This book starts off with the opening scene in which Claire discovers something is off with one of the accounts in her bank. Trying to solve the mystery behind Clair’s death Lizzy will bring you along a thrilling adventure with so many ups and downs, twist and turns. The suspense builds up as you dive deeper into the book keeps you in a state of suspense. By the end the book has already captivated your attention and left you mesmerized by the unraveling of the truth behind Claire’s and Lizzy’s discovery and the events behind it all.
Overall this was a great book and perfect for this season. Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the opportunity to read and review.
Disclaimer:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Claire works at her local bank and through some unfortunate events ends up crossing paths with the wrong people. Lizzy her daughter years later after dealing with the passing of her mother’s soon discovers that Claire’s death was no accident.
This book starts off with the opening scene in which Claire discovers something is off with one of the accounts in her bank. Trying to solve the mystery behind Clair’s death Lizzy will bring you along a thrilling adventure with so many ups and downs, twist and turns. The suspense builds up as you dive deeper into the book keeps you in a state of suspense. By the end the book has already captivated your attention and left you mesmerized by the unraveling of the truth behind Claire’s and Lizzy’s discovery and the events behind it all.
Overall this was a great book and perfect for this season. Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the opportunity to read and review.
Disclaimer:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 1, 2025
Lizzy graduates college mere months after losing her mother during a supposed car accident. She returns home and unintentionally discovers that her mom was investigating some discrepancies with an account at the bank where she worked. As Lizzy starts to investigate with her friend, Ian, strange and dangerous things start to happen to them.
This book was fast paced and action packed. A lot of books take the first half to slowly build the back story, but this one takes a different turn. It is attention grabbing and fascinating. You just have to read one more chapter and keep going until you find out what happens. The past and present merge seamlessly. I do wish, however, there was a little more detail to the ending of the book with connecting the plastics manufacturer. A great read! *I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was fast paced and action packed. A lot of books take the first half to slowly build the back story, but this one takes a different turn. It is attention grabbing and fascinating. You just have to read one more chapter and keep going until you find out what happens. The past and present merge seamlessly. I do wish, however, there was a little more detail to the ending of the book with connecting the plastics manufacturer. A great read! *I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 24, 2025
A Fast-Paced and Original Whodunnit-Style Psychological Thriller, With Twists That Are a Breath of Fresh Air to the Genre. A Great Read!
Too often in psychological thrillers, someone will grow wise to an illegal operation and spend most of the rest of the story pursuing evidence and, ultimately, justice. They might be questioned along the way about the validity of their claims, and they might even come head-to-head with those they're trying to incriminate. But generally, these truth seekers find themselves in a fast-paced, action-packed chase for truth before seeing the bad guys behind bars, a great new life for themselves, and possibly even new love. It's inspiring and fun to read, but definitely overdone.
That's why it's so important that Laurel Martin decided to do things differently.
In Her Last Few Days, the reader thinks that they're going to follow Claire Chapman, who's come across a series of questionable and perhaps incriminating transactions at the bank where she works, throughout the duration of the book, like a standard psychological thriller… but her line of questioning soon finds her dead, with the police covering the incident and calling it a tragic accident. Fishy, right?
Fortunately for Claire, her efforts and her memory are not in vain, because her search for truth becomes a sort of legacy and brings together a few key people from her life, including her adult daughter (Lizzy), Lizzy’s scuba-diver friend (Ian), as well as Claire's bank colleague and good friend, Nat, who misses her late friend terribly. Together, the trio review the evidence Claire believed she'd already found, try to answer the questions she'd already posed when she died, and quickly find that there was much more for Claire to find if she only could have survived a little longer.
While it's a psychological thriller, Her Last Few Days is a wonderful story centered around friendship and loyalty, the legacies we leave behind, and what we're willing to risk in pursuit of what is right, even if it means facing imminent danger.
If you're looking for your next psychological thriller with interesting characters, unexpected relationship dynamics, unique psychological questions that you don't always see in the genre, and an overall special twist (if not almost final girl-esque!) on the psychological thriller—pushing the genre to do and be more—look no further than Her Last Few Days. Laurel Martin has done an incredible job and undoubtedly will do it again in her next book.
Too often in psychological thrillers, someone will grow wise to an illegal operation and spend most of the rest of the story pursuing evidence and, ultimately, justice. They might be questioned along the way about the validity of their claims, and they might even come head-to-head with those they're trying to incriminate. But generally, these truth seekers find themselves in a fast-paced, action-packed chase for truth before seeing the bad guys behind bars, a great new life for themselves, and possibly even new love. It's inspiring and fun to read, but definitely overdone.
That's why it's so important that Laurel Martin decided to do things differently.
In Her Last Few Days, the reader thinks that they're going to follow Claire Chapman, who's come across a series of questionable and perhaps incriminating transactions at the bank where she works, throughout the duration of the book, like a standard psychological thriller… but her line of questioning soon finds her dead, with the police covering the incident and calling it a tragic accident. Fishy, right?
Fortunately for Claire, her efforts and her memory are not in vain, because her search for truth becomes a sort of legacy and brings together a few key people from her life, including her adult daughter (Lizzy), Lizzy’s scuba-diver friend (Ian), as well as Claire's bank colleague and good friend, Nat, who misses her late friend terribly. Together, the trio review the evidence Claire believed she'd already found, try to answer the questions she'd already posed when she died, and quickly find that there was much more for Claire to find if she only could have survived a little longer.
While it's a psychological thriller, Her Last Few Days is a wonderful story centered around friendship and loyalty, the legacies we leave behind, and what we're willing to risk in pursuit of what is right, even if it means facing imminent danger.
If you're looking for your next psychological thriller with interesting characters, unexpected relationship dynamics, unique psychological questions that you don't always see in the genre, and an overall special twist (if not almost final girl-esque!) on the psychological thriller—pushing the genre to do and be more—look no further than Her Last Few Days. Laurel Martin has done an incredible job and undoubtedly will do it again in her next book.
December 24, 2025
A fresh, clever, and emotionally resonant twist on the psychological thriller that pulls the rug out from under the reader in the best possible way. Her Last Few Days begins with a familiar premise: bank manager Claire Chapman uncovers suspicious transactions, raising alarms about the powerful local plastics plant. But when Claire’s investigation is abruptly cut short, the novel deftly shifts focus, becoming a compelling story about legacy, friendship, and the courage to pick up where someone left off.
Laurel Martin’s smartest move is subverting genre expectations. Rather than a lone protagonist’s chase, the narrative becomes a collective quest driven by Claire’s daughter Lizzy, her scuba-diving friend Ian, and Claire’s loyal colleague Nat. This reframing adds rich layers of character dynamics and emotional depth, grounding the suspense in genuine relationships and shared grief. The trio’s investigation feels dangerous and urgent, revealing that Claire’s discoveries were only the tip of a deeply sinister iceberg.
The pacing is taut, the small-town Minnesota setting is effectively claustrophobic, and the corporate conspiracy plot feels timely and plausible. While the thriller elements deliver satisfying twists and tension, it’s the focus on loyalty, legacy, and ordinary people stepping into extraordinary danger that makes this novel stand out. A must-read for fans of the genre who crave something both familiar and inventively new.
Laurel Martin’s smartest move is subverting genre expectations. Rather than a lone protagonist’s chase, the narrative becomes a collective quest driven by Claire’s daughter Lizzy, her scuba-diving friend Ian, and Claire’s loyal colleague Nat. This reframing adds rich layers of character dynamics and emotional depth, grounding the suspense in genuine relationships and shared grief. The trio’s investigation feels dangerous and urgent, revealing that Claire’s discoveries were only the tip of a deeply sinister iceberg.
The pacing is taut, the small-town Minnesota setting is effectively claustrophobic, and the corporate conspiracy plot feels timely and plausible. While the thriller elements deliver satisfying twists and tension, it’s the focus on loyalty, legacy, and ordinary people stepping into extraordinary danger that makes this novel stand out. A must-read for fans of the genre who crave something both familiar and inventively new.
September 23, 2025
This book really kicked things off with a bang. From chapter one, it dives straight into the action and never lets up. There’s mystery woven in too, and I had fun trying to put the pieces together along the way. It definitely had that “keep you guessing” vibe that I enjoy.
The one thing that didn’t click for me was the structure. It shifted between past and present in nearly every other chapter. I do like flashbacks when they add depth, but here the constant back-and-forth broke up the flow for me. That’s more of a personal quirk than a dealbreaker, though.
Overall, it’s suspenseful, full of intrigue, and the mystery element was really well done. I think readers who enjoy dual timelines will get even more out of it than I did.
The one thing that didn’t click for me was the structure. It shifted between past and present in nearly every other chapter. I do like flashbacks when they add depth, but here the constant back-and-forth broke up the flow for me. That’s more of a personal quirk than a dealbreaker, though.
Overall, it’s suspenseful, full of intrigue, and the mystery element was really well done. I think readers who enjoy dual timelines will get even more out of it than I did.
October 1, 2025
This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. I look forward to reading more from them in the future. This is a story about big secrets, who keeps tham and the grave danger it puts the characters in. I enjoyed this author's use of details that made the twists and turns come to life. I enjoyed the characters and what they brought to the story. They are strong, engaging characters that will keep you coming back for more. I enjoyed watching the growth of the plot which made the story hard to put down. Thsi is a fast paced and entertaining story and one you don't want to miss. This is a great story that I highly recommend.
August 25, 2025
This is a decent thriller book with a storyline that is interesting to follow.
Claire is a local bank manager and devoted mom who stumbled upon a series of suspicious transactions at the bank which takes her down a dangerous road in searching for answers.
Lizzy is Claire's daughter that stumbles upon the same information in a unique way and also starts heading down the dangerous path to find answers that puts her and the people that she loves in harms way.
This is a decent suspenseful thriller/mystery, however, I did see some of the twists coming and could predict the end.
Claire is a local bank manager and devoted mom who stumbled upon a series of suspicious transactions at the bank which takes her down a dangerous road in searching for answers.
Lizzy is Claire's daughter that stumbles upon the same information in a unique way and also starts heading down the dangerous path to find answers that puts her and the people that she loves in harms way.
This is a decent suspenseful thriller/mystery, however, I did see some of the twists coming and could predict the end.
October 22, 2025
-ARC reader, and this is my voluntary unpaid review.
The beginning of the book was very interesting and sucked you in, overall a good thriller that keeps you on your toes.
The flashbacks were really consistent which I’m not particularly a fan of but it had you continuing to guess and the overall storyline of the daughter in the future and mother in the past is a different aspect I’ve never seen before.
While intriguing – I think a reader who enjoys flashbacks, dual pointed views from different time frames and a thriller with lots of mystery. Would love this book.
The beginning of the book was very interesting and sucked you in, overall a good thriller that keeps you on your toes.
The flashbacks were really consistent which I’m not particularly a fan of but it had you continuing to guess and the overall storyline of the daughter in the future and mother in the past is a different aspect I’ve never seen before.
While intriguing – I think a reader who enjoys flashbacks, dual pointed views from different time frames and a thriller with lots of mystery. Would love this book.
October 24, 2025
This book is written with 2 storylines/ timelines, the one of a mother Claire and her daughter Lizzy.
When Lizzy finds out that the death of her mother Claire was not an accident, she is trying to find out what happened. This “quest” is not without dangers and it’s hard to know who she can really trust.
This book offers a high suspense with a lot of twists and turns.
It captured my attention from the first page and surprised me until the very last one! 🤩
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When Lizzy finds out that the death of her mother Claire was not an accident, she is trying to find out what happened. This “quest” is not without dangers and it’s hard to know who she can really trust.
This book offers a high suspense with a lot of twists and turns.
It captured my attention from the first page and surprised me until the very last one! 🤩
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 4, 2025
A new author to me and I believe this is her second book and I think she did a great job of holding my attention and kept me turning the pages. I was glad of the past being brought into the story so I could get a better picture of what was really going on. I'll gladly read more from this author.
A fast paced story that I enjoyed from start to finish.
I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
A fast paced story that I enjoyed from start to finish.
I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
November 1, 2025
amazing thriller! this book was action packed, dual time lines, twists and turns. I loved the characters, and everything they went through to try and solve what happened to Claire. Lizzy was hell bent on finding out the truth. lives were put in danger, but so many things unsurfaced. this book had me turning the pages wanting to know more. absolutely great read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 16, 2026
Good guys and bad guys
Typical story where the good guys are very good and the bad guys are very bad. Something I wonder about in thrillers is that the heroes always get beaten up by the bad guys but never take weeks to recover like normal people instead they are ready for another confrontation the next day. I guess you have to compress your timeline in books to keep the urgency exciting.
Typical story where the good guys are very good and the bad guys are very bad. Something I wonder about in thrillers is that the heroes always get beaten up by the bad guys but never take weeks to recover like normal people instead they are ready for another confrontation the next day. I guess you have to compress your timeline in books to keep the urgency exciting.
January 17, 2026
The story keeps you on the edge of your seat!!
I would recommend "Her Last Few Days: There's a Secret Lurking Beneath the Surface" to anyone who likes a suspenseful story. Laurel Martin keeps wanting you to keep reading & not breaking from the story line. The story has you guessing what goes on in the factory & who killed who.
I would recommend "Her Last Few Days: There's a Secret Lurking Beneath the Surface" to anyone who likes a suspenseful story. Laurel Martin keeps wanting you to keep reading & not breaking from the story line. The story has you guessing what goes on in the factory & who killed who.
October 30, 2025
Thanks to BookSirens, publishers and author for an ARC of Her Last Few Days.
True rating 3.5 rounded up.
Good chase thriller, with an interesting storyline and a hard hitting subject.
True rating 3.5 rounded up.
Good chase thriller, with an interesting storyline and a hard hitting subject.
November 13, 2025
Her Last Few Days is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller, blending suspense, family bonds, and high-stakes investigation into an unforgettable story.
December 31, 2025
Fast read. Solid story
Complex and well composed storylines. Intrigue, suspense, light romance entangled with sadness and loss. Kept my attention to stay up late to finish it.
Complex and well composed storylines. Intrigue, suspense, light romance entangled with sadness and loss. Kept my attention to stay up late to finish it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews