The Last Encore

by Rebecca Heath

Don't miss the latest gripping thriller from INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Rebecca Heath!

A REMOTE ISLAND
It's been eighteen years since the accidental explosion that killed The Cedrics Band lead singer Jonny Rake, and a special documentary is bringing the rest of the band back to play together for the first time. With Jonny's daughter, Monet, stepping into her father's role, and a private island secured as the perfect reunion backdrop, it's set to be a special occasion.

A REUNION CONCERT
But everyone remembers what happened on that fatal night differently, and as questions are asked about the band's rise and sudden tragic fall, not everyone likes the answers. Old wounds reopen and tempers flare… Then a body is found.

A KILLER ON STAGE
They're trapped on the island together until help arrives, but that might be too late. Because Jonny's death wasn't an accident, and someone wants revenge.

Praise for Rebecca Heath

'Unputdownable from start to finish' THE AUSTRALIAN
'The perfect beach read' THE HERALD SUN
'Escapism at its best' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
'Tense, compelling... a gripping mystery' BETTER READING

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 4, 2026

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reunion of a boyband who haven’t spoken for 18 years, on a remote island with no wifi… where do I get this! The Last Encore was a book that was made for me I feel. A locked room mystery with a boyband at the centre of the story…and written by an Aussie author. Whats not to love there.

The Cedric Band were the hottest thing in music almost 20 years ago. That is until their lead singer was killed in a horrific accident. They have all since gone their seperate ways, but now a documentary maker has convinced them all to come back for a one off weekend to film and do an exclusive concert, with Jonny’s daughter singing. There is no phones, no social media, it is all secret squirrel. What could possibly go wrong?

I do love a story where the characters are stranded or isolated when trouble happens. I was hooked, trying to put all the pieces together and work out who had killed one of them. They certainly all had motive and opportunity. So many secrets being kept from each other and built up tension just had to explode eventually. The storyline was clever and the ending so well done. So much fun to read.

Thanks so much to Aria and Aries on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Get it preordered. Now. Out on January 21st

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stepping into The Last Encore felt like tuning into a genre that I don’t usually jam with - music, band life, and the gritty backstage drama of the industry. But throw in a murder mystery and some juicy “whodunit” twists? I’m down for it!

This story follows The Cedrics, a once-famous band now scattered and scarred, given a shot at redemption through a documentary eighteen years after their fall from grace. Fame, loss, secrets - they’ve lived it all. But as the cameras roll, so do the skeletons out of their closets. Healing is hard, reconciliation is harder. And just when you think they’re ready to move forward… Well, are they?

What Hit the Right Notes:
• Multiple POVs that let me dive deep into each character’s psyche
• A nostalgic spark from rekindling an old flame
• A clever twist where the underdog plays the game and wins

What Fell Flat:
• One character’s misogynistic remarks were uncomfortable and unnecessary
• The plot leaned too heavily on predictability
• The villains felt like recycled tropes

Ratings
Setting: 5⭐️
Character Building: 3⭐️
Writing Style: 3⭐️
Message: 3⭐️
Overall: 3⭐️

I finished it in two days - it’s a quick and entertaining read. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. The ending didn’t surprise me, and the twists lacked that jaw-dropping punch. Still, if you’re in the mood for a weekend mystery with a musical backdrop, this one might just be it for you.

Thanks to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, and Rebecca Heath for the ARC. My opinions remain my own.

~JaNnA~

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Encore by Rebecca Heath features the gathering of surviving members of a once-popular band on a remote island to play one last concert with the daughter of the lead singer replacing her father (the aptly-named Jonny Rake) who died tragically 18 years before. Heath offers us an interesting group of rather unlikeable characters including three remaining band members who seemingly do not get on at all and their manager who grates on everyone's nerves. Then there's Ivy, Jonny's former partner and mother of his daughter (Monet) who seems to have inherited her parents' talent. We also meet the fame-hungry wife of one of the band members, the owners of the resort and a documentary-maker and his wife, there to capture the reunion and live concert.

After a slow start featuring bickering, arguments and even some physical violence things heat up towards the later stages of the novel with characters missing and others searching for escape options. I must confess I got a little confused at one point because so many of the characters have secrets and grudges, but it also means Heath keeps us guessing at motives and the identity of victims AND killer/s. She also throws in a few late twists for good measure making this an addictive read.

** I did have some questions that I'm hoping others answer... such as, Was there a concert planned at all? **

Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*
Eighteen years ago, an explosion killed the lead singer of a band at their height of fame. The band fell apart, all going their seperate ways.
Now, a documentary maker has brought them all to a remote island, hoping to film their reunion. Not everyone is happy to be there. And when someone is found brutally murdered, they start to realise that there is more going on here than they first thought.

I found myself struggling to get into this one to start with, and debated giving up on it. It felt like I needed to take notes just to keep track of who was who, and their stories. The story is told from multiple POVs, and each person speaking wasn't completely truthful about their intentions. Everyone has secrets. I clocked on fairly early that the documentary clearly wasn't a documentary, but the other twists did take me by surprise. The last 20% was the best part of the book and is what bumped my rating up. The threads all came together nicely. The only question I was left with, was why did Edward do what he did to Lara? There didn't seem to be any real explanation. Unless I missed it somehow.
If you like isolated settings, locked door mysteries, and boybands this one is for you.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Locked In Drama, Mystery History, Twisty Chaos

- - -
I’ve got a love/hate relationship with locked room style thrillers (or in this case, a locked, isolated island). I love the tight suspense and the small cast of suspects, but sometimes the Agatha Christie-esque setup can be a bit predictable.

But this one was fun!

This was my second Rebecca Heath read and just as enjoyable. Multiple POVs kept me guessing especially when every character was holding secrets and telling half truths. The guessing only intensified once the first body turned up and I put my reader detective hat firmly on.

The band aspect added a cool spin and I was hooked by the messy backstories, domestic drama and the second half that really delivered with flames, bodies stacking up, old mysteries unraveling and big reveals.

The final half was so jam packed that I got a little lost (short reading bursts didn’t help so this could be reader error 😅). Some of the many storylines going on didn’t tie up as cleanly as I’d usually like but the fast paced, action heavy ending made up for it.

Moody, character driven and packed with intrigue, if you’ve enjoyed Rebecca’s earlier books, this encore will be right up your alley.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Rebecca’s previous thrillers and was excited to read her latest offering. The Last Encore is a cross between Daisy Jones and the Six and Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Eighteen years after The Cedric’s Band lead singer Jonny is killed in an explosion at a concert, the band is brought back together for a reunion concert with Jonny’s daughter taking the starring role. During some tense interviews with the band members, the band’s manager is found dead and the wife of the keyboardist goes missing.

The novel starts with a bang, it’s then slows its pace as we meet the different band members and get their back story. The story unfolds over multiple points of views and The Cedric’s Band fan blog run by Ricky, the band’s number one fan. Once I got my head around all the different characters I was hooked and loved all the juicy behind the scenes gossip. There was an interesting mix of characters some likable and others who were not! The secrets and twists then start coming and it builds to a big finish.

Moving away from Heath’s usual party setting, the remote island of Sparrow Hawk made for the perfect atmospheric backdrop. Rebecca was masterful as she set things up, both the victims were extremely unlikeable and I developed many theories as to what happened to them both. I was kept guessing and taken by surprise by a few twists. The tension she built towards the end had my heart racing and my body tight as I turned the pages to see what happened next. Another fabulous thriller for Heath who has now cemented herself as one of my auto-buy authors.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Heath reinvigorates the classic island‑mystery setup (think Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None) with a sleek, character‑driven thriller in The Last Encore. When a formerly successful band is lured to a remote island under the pretense of a reunion, everyone arrives with hidden agendas. Heath uses multiple first-person perspectives to great effect, shifting seamlessly between characters and allowing the reader insight into fractured motives—and bitter grudges—that simmer beneath the surface.

At its core, The Last Encore examines betrayal; specifically how long-held resentments and past betrayals can erode trust. By placing familiar conflict (professional and personal) in an unfamiliar, secluded setting, Heath magnifies the stakes. The island setting becomes almost a character itself, amplifying paranoia and forcing characters to confront both literal and psychological isolation.

The Last Encore delivers a tense, character‑focused thriller that pays homage to its classic roots while delivering fresh dynamics. If you enjoy psychological suspense and unraveling group secrets in an isolated setting, this is a solid and entertaining read.

[Michelle Morley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tragic explosion takes the life of The Cedrics Band front man. Eighteen years later, the band reunites on a small vacation island to film a documentary. Taking the lead role this time round is the teenage daughter of the deceased frontman. Everyone on the island has a secret they will do anything to keep hidden, and when a body is found, it's clear one of the party will even go as far as murder.

The first half is a slow burn where we are introduced to each of the characters, and hints are placed at what they might be hiding. Once the body is found, it is a high-speed journey of twists and turns, misdirection, and second guesses until we reach this thrilling books conclusion.

I struggled to keep going during the first half as there wasn't enough happening to drive my curiosity, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. Every character has a significant part to play, even though it may be presented to the reader in a manner that says otherwise. Rebecca Heath has delivered to us an intricate web of lies, secrets, and long-awaited revenge.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read by Rebecca Heath, my current favourite out of all my reads by the authors work.

A pop band has reunited after 18 years to make a documentary after the tragic explosion that killed the lead leader, the survivors from that day will soon dig up secrets that others would rather they stayed secret. Revenge, secrets, twists and turns all occur throughout this book and you learn more about the tragic past and what lead up to it. I enjoyed the characters and i was wondering how some were with each especially after such an event if they were ever as close as maybe they once were.

Not everybody is happy about the documentary but soon after a body is found and now tension, suspense and mystery are all piled up and wonder if someone else is going to be next and what everyone is hiding.

A fun filled experience with draws in what comes with fame and is it really what everyone makes it out to be, i enjoyed this arc and would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Aria & Aries for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

4.5 stars

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The band Cedric’s Band split 18 years ago following the accidental death of their lead singer Jonny Rake.
The remaining members have been persuaded to re-form for one more special gig, with an associated documentary, on a remote island, by Jonny’s daughter Monet. Florence, the owner of the island resort, has her own reasons for wanting the reunion.
Along with the band members, and Florence and her husband, are their unpopular manager, Monet’s mother, the wife of a band member, and the documentary maker..
Everybody has their own motives, and memories differ about the accident that killed Jonny.
Told through multiple voices, the tension builds as old arguments are re-hashed, and all seems to be heading to a devastating climax which unfortunately really doesn’t deliver. (I can’t comment more without going into spoilers)
A great book until the final section. Disappointing.


Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this book.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A band on its way to phenomenal success. A lead singer who is tragically killed in his early 20s. A morning, obsessive fandom. A reunion concert that does not go as planned...!

But given that most of the band members cannot stand each other, all of them have problematic secrets, and there are others players involved who have their own agendas, that can be a surprise to no-one. Though the extent of what is at play here is actually quite shocking - and requires a suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader.

If the plot can be taken at face value, this is an entertaining story, as Rebecca Heath invariably delivers. It will be especially enjoyed by fans of her earlier books. It gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Tiyasha Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know it's going to be good when you are unable to put the book down. This is a serious page turner which I completed over the weekend. The book keeps you guessing and has some serious character development to keep the reader invested.

Told in multiple perspectives, every character is filled with red herrings and suspicious motives. The remote locked room mystery brings in the chills and has good visualization to raise the stakes.

The music backdrop is a good setting. I also liked how some of the twist came together which I didn't see coming. Absolutely recommend!

Thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

[Anabela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen years after tragedy tore them apart, a mega-popular band reunites on a remote island for one last concert — and a documentary capturing it all. But as the cameras roll and old wounds resurface, long-buried secrets and simmering tensions threaten to destroy more than just the comeback performance.

Suspenseful and atmospheric, The Last Encore is filled with unreliable characters, hidden motives, and an undercurrent of unease that keeps you guessing right to the end. Rebecca Heath perfectly blends glamour, grief, and tension in this moody, page-turning mystery.

Thanks to @netgalley and Aria & Aries for the ARC.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really enjoying this book, when it just seemed like it was a tale of getting the old gang back together again after so long... the old resentments still there, the new found allegiances... and of course the ghost of the dead lead singer.
Then there were a few creepy things, and a body.
Non of this is helped by the claustrophobic location.
Pretty much ramps up from there into an incredibly fun read whilst I worked out the who's and whys.
I read for entertainment, and I definitely got it here.
Highly recommend... perfect for that beach read you might be looking for.

[Tiahne Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This plot line had serious potential. A band coming back together but they all hate each other and decide to do a reunion concert on a deserted island sounds very cool.
But I was completely lost for the first 20-30% of the book. The introduction of each character was wildly confusing and I found myself almost wanting tot take notes in order to keep up.
The rest of the story was pretty good. I enjoyed the tension and the paranormal aspects.
The last 20% was like a gut punch and I really enjoyed the twists.
Thank you to NetGalley for proving an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandy Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remote island venue for a reunion for a band torn apart 18 years ago after the lead singer was killed in an explosion. What could go wrong – or more to the point what can go right? It seems very little. A story of revenge, lies and mistrust told from the individuals’ points of view. And another explosive finale. Very much a slow burner at the start of the story and you may well feel like giving up but persevere and see if you can figure out whodunnit. My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC.

[Christine Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Encore is such an interesting book! Author Rebecca Heath depicted the story with unexpected twists and turns. Never thought that a reunion concert would turn out to be a nightmare and a story of survival.

The multiple point-of-view narration gave more depth to the story and how the tragic past affected them and the band members' present relationship. The setting of the story, being in a remote island, already presets the isolation and paranoia that the characters will be subjected to.

Heath meticulously tapped on the other side of fame that is not often talked about, which involved long due resentment and betrayals, which I think is a powerful asset that will keep the readers wanting for more.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid slow-burn thriller with a great premise and atmospheric setting.

However, at times I found it a bit too slow, especially at the start. There were a lot of jumps between characters without much happening. It took a long time first the first body, which had my mind wandering. I also think some of the doco interview scenes would’ve been better off as transcripts just to make them stand out more and be interesting. Instead it just all felt a bit flat.

However, I started to get hooked in the last 25% when various plot threads start tying up and the pace picked up. The big reveal? Clever and I appreciated the motive of the perpetrator.

Thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kate Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a ride! So many secrets, all colliding on a small island slated for the band’s reunion/ memorial gig. So many hoping for revenge. So many thinking they controlled the narrative but in reality it was already out of control. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Alexa Escapita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great thriller! I couldn't figure out who the killer was! There were so many twists, and I think the author did a great job in wrapping everything up. This book kept me interested from the very beginning. I enjoyed the multiple POVs.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars rounded up. I was invited to read an early copy of Rebecca Heath’s “The Last Encore.” This was the second book I’ve read from her.

Eighteen years after an accident killed their lead singer, Jonny Rake, the surviving members of The Cedrics Band are getting back together. The band members have agreed to reunite on a private island for a concert and be filmed for a documentary. It is also the first time Jonny’s teenage daughter, Monet, will perform for the public and launch her singing career.

The island setting looks (and sounds) nice enough, but it is immediately clear there are lurking secrets. As the documentary interviews get underway, new information is revealed about the band and Jonny’s accident. Within a couple days, one of the guests has been found dead.

This was a well-paced book. At the beginning, it was a little hard for me to keep track of everyone and their relationships to each other. Towards the end, the plot seemed to go a little sideways. I would’ve liked a little more information to answer some of the questions I still had.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

[Angelynn23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Rebecca Heath! I have read all her party series and this one didn’t disappoint, I couldn’t put it down and of course the great twists at the end were awesome.

With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Aria & Aries for an amazing arc.

[Tegs Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, atmospheric thriller that hits all the right notes!

Rebecca Heath’s The Last Encore is a fast-paced and twisty whodunnit that kept me hooked from the first chapter. When rock star Jonny Rake is killed on stage in a tragic accident, the band falls apart. Eighteen years later, the surviving members reunite on a remote island for a documentary and reunion show but secrets don't stay buried. Told through multiple compelling POVs, each character brings their own hidden motives and buried truths, intensifying the mystery. When a body is discovered on the island, the real story behind Jonny’s death begins to unravel. The isolated island setting adds a tense atmosphere, and Heath masterfully balances character drama, suspense, and rock 'n' roll nostalgia. A must-read for fans of tightly woven mysteries and locked-room thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC for review. The expected release date is 22 January 2026.

[Scarlet Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Rebecca Heath. A pop band reunited years later after the accidental death of their lead singer, on an island with limited facilities, would be a great place to have their big media-controlled come back concert. But everything that can go wrong, does. Loved the isolated setting with the claustrophobic feel. Plenty of despicable characters that you wouldn’t mind killing yourself, alongside a few you sympathise with, and others who you really don’t want to share is island with. Great read