The Last Time We Saw Her: A Novel

by Jaclyn Goldis

A long-buried disappearance and a long-lost treasure both reemerge over a summer in Portugal’s remote Azores in the new thriller from the critically acclaimed author of The Chateau.

Ten years ago, a group of teenage American summer campers came to São Miguel, an island in the lush and isolated Azores archipelago, for a rugged five-week hiking and heritage trip . But on what became the camp’s last summer in São Miguel, a clue surfaced related to a local legend of buried treasure. Lore had it that, along with vast monetary value, the treasure would turn everything in the finder’s life to gold. The summer devolved into a frenzied treasure hunt, and culminated in the disappearance of “it girl” camper, Sydney Azulay. Sydney was never seen again, rumored to have been murdered, and the treasure never found.

Now, a decade later, Sydney’s father is finally hosting a memorial service on São Miguel, and Sydney’s closest circle returns to honor her memory. Those who make the trip are her fellow campers, including Olivia, Sydney’s sister, once deemed the most likely to have been involved in Sydney’s disappearance; the aloof, handsome Aiden, the supervisor of their trip; and Jules, the counselor so close to her campers she was like another best friend. They’ve also all agreed to participate in a documentary probing what really happened to Sydney. But not everyone has innocent motives for returning to the island all these years later.

The group reunites in paradise and retraces their old haunts, hiking along crater lakes, strolling the town’s charming cobblestone streets, and submerging in thermal hot springs. But amidst the reunion, there are eerie sightings of a woman on the island who looks just like Sydney. And when the documentary filming reveals new, explosive truths, and fresh hints resurrect the tantalizing treasure hunt, the group begins to implode. Old feuds and betrayals reignite—and then one of them turns up dead.

Which means that a murderer has surfaced…again.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Travel

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 16, 2026

About the author

Jaclyn Goldis is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU Law. She practiced estate planning law at a large Chicago firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @jaclyngoldis.

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murders, decades apart. How are the connected? Classic tale of an unsolved case coming back full throttle when someone decides it's high time to investigate again. Overall, I've enjoyed Jaclyn Goldis books in the past. For some reason, the characters in this was did not impress me, and I found myself eager to skim pages or look ahead for more action. There were some suspenseful moments and interesting blended family dynamics, which usually keep me eager to read... but it was a mix this time. I'll still pick up her next book as I enjoy the writing style and plots.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagining myself on a warm tropical beach in Portugal while it’s in reality freezing outside 😅 probably my favourite thing about this book.

The plot sounded interesting, a beach.. a mystery.. lost treasure .. and it does live up to the intrigue, just be prepared for a slow start to the book, once you are introduced to the characters the plot and pacing will kick up and take you on an adventure.

[Tiffany Schulz · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC review
This was a really rough one to get through. If you’re able to stick with it beyond the 60% read spot you get slightly rewarded with a bit of a pick up and unraveling of an interesting who-dunnit
This is set in an island town, and the author gives us a lot of history and culture describing the island, as well as much information on Jewish culture and history in this particular Portuguese island. That was the most fascinating part of the first half of the book for me, because we’ve though the novel opened really strong , it quickly lost its momentum A group of young adults come back to the island to have a memorial for a murdered girl that 10 years prior was part of a summer camp, and the many characters we meet are both disappointing and self absorbed. There are a few bright lights, which makes you hold on as a reader, but over all the struggle to get invested just wasn’t worth it.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Time We Saw Her had an excellent start that had me expecting a story that I would not be able to put down until the final page was read. Instead I found the first few and last couple of chapters incredible and the in-between more family drama filler without much suspense. I just wanted the suspense back.
The podcast seemed a way for the author to tell the reader what the multiple POVs were up to ten years previous, but in doing that it seemed like new information not only for those of us reading but also the characters that actually lived it. They just talked as if they had no recollection of their actions. It really broke up the flow of the story in my opinion. Sadly this was overall a miss for me but I can see where a mystery reader that likes their mystery with more family drama, would for sure enjoy this.

Thank you to @atriabooks for the gifted eARC.

[Trisha]

This cover is gorgeous, the plot sounds intriguing! I'll be looking for this one in June 2026!!

** Update: OMG THANK YOU! ARC REC'D!!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 4 out of 5]

▹TL;DR Review: While the ending left me wanting, I enjoyed the journey this thriller took me on. I appreciated the “ensemble” POVs.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.75 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: A group of teens head out on a heritage journey in the Azores, but one doesn’t make it back. 10 years later, they reunite for a memorial and documentary to discuss what they think went down. Was it the sister? The best friend? The counselor? Is the victim really dead at all? What lengths would you go to to keep your loved ones safe?
– Location: São Miguel, Azores (Portugal)
– POV: Multiple third-person (including transcripts from a documentary)
– Spice: Not a romance. At most there is kissing or innuendo
– Tropes: reunion of friends/campers, documentary investigation, murder/mystery, treasure hunt, teens to adults (10 year gap between events)
– Content warning: chronic kidney disease, anxiety, fear of being outed, friend/family going missing, betrayal, murder, complex family situations, gaslighting, violence, financial struggles, drug-related crimes (no on- or off-page use), tense family secrets, blackmailing, grief (family member died by off-page suicide), memory issues due to medication/PTSD
– Representation: Sephardic Jews, LGBTQ+ main character

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↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Treasure Hunt (Children’s song)

╰┈➤ ❝We’re going on a treasure hunt, x marks the spot…❞

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★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ This reminded me of a mix of The White Lotus and Yellowjackets (minus the paranormal aspect)
➼ Books like The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, Becoming Marlow Finn by Ellen Won Steil, Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

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⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven—————✧——————Plot Driven
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional

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🎯 My Thoughts:

I had a great time reading this book! From the very first page, the story had me theorizing, tracking red herrings, and watching the entire cast closely. The ensemble structure worked especially well here—multiple POVs without overwhelming the narrative—and the pacing felt intentional and well-balanced throughout.

I’m always drawn to mysteries that make me want to pull out a pencil and start mapping clues, and while this book definitely delivered on intrigue, I found myself wishing the breadcrumb trail had been pushed just a bit further. That said, I still appreciated the bold, slightly unhinged direction the story ultimately took. The ending wasn’t quite a hit for me personally, but it was an interesting take.

Alongside the central mystery, the novel weaves in a touch of romance, a family-healing subplot, and layers of long-buried secrets, all set against a beautifully remote tropical backdrop. (Did I look up flights to the Azores? Yes. Do I want to cross paths with these characters there? Absolutely not—they seem busy enough creating chaos on their own.)

Would I Recommend?: Yes! I would say this is a fun book if you’re in the mood for a thriller/murder mystery and want a palette cleanser.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten years ago a group of campers lost one of their own and none of them has been the same. Love interests, career choices and loyalties have changed but now, a memorial will bring them back to the island paradise that started the nightmare. Will the truth be revealed or will another of their group be lost in order to keep the secrets buried?

A thriller/mystery for young adults with so many twisting paths and possible endings, all kept tightly held until the end.

With its setting of a beautiful island in the Azores, The Last Time We Saw Her screams, “Summer read!” The young adults from 10 years ago, Jules, Lexa, Eli, Olivia, Reuben, and Aiden are now in their late 20s/early 30s and a memorial for Sydney, the girl who disappeared, plus a documentary surrounding her disappearance and probably death is supposed to solve the mystery once and for all. But everyone seems to have a secret. Told from the perspective of all of them means readers will see into the thoughts and deceptions of each one but so many points of view leads to some confusion while reading. The voices have such similarities in tone and experiences, despite the author’s attempt to make them distinctly different, that it may take plenty of rechecks of chapter headings to remember who is doing the narrating. However, their entwined lives and the mystery of what happened during the last big event of the group’s camping trip will keep those pages turning in order to see how it will all play out. The resolution is absolutely satisfying with most big reveals being fairly unexpected with just a few bits being suspected before the end.

*Target age: new adult through adult, although with the lack of sexual spice could conceivably work in some high school collections if frequent Fbombs are not a problem
*Profanity: frequent F-bombs and a moderately heavy sprinkling of other milder cursing
*Violence: murder and mysterious disappearance are key to the book’s plot but very little blood or graphic descriptions
*Sexual content: references to making out, implied sex between married and unmarried couples and characters’ wilder youth included but no graphic descriptions; very low to no spice
*Representation: All the main characters are White but their economic and experiences are diverse. Family configurations are quite different as well with some raised in multigenerational homes, plenty of step parents and siblings present and some whose families are never really defined. Olivia is a lesbian and the rest of the group is heterosexual; Jewish heritage is a significant aspect in the main characters’ lives.

Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Atria Publishing.

[Alan (the Lone Librarian) Teder · Rating 3 out of 5]

White Lotus-y Vibes
A review of the NetGalley ARC eBook released in advance of the Atria / Emily Bestler paperback/eBook/audiobook (expected June 16, 2026)

I'm not actually a fan of the White Lotus TV-series. I understand it as involving a group of mostly unlikeable spoiled characters vacationing in some exotic location with events culminating in murder. That was the vibe I got from this novel which might mean it will have wide appeal as I understand that White Lotus has a large group of dedicated fans. It was more hit and miss for me.

The positives here for me were the descriptive backgrounds and settings of the Azores island group, set far off in the Atlantic Ocean from its Portuguese roots. The history of its first colonization and evolving history were all fascinating tidbits that the author spread throughout.

The multiple POVs of the unlikeable characters was more of a downside though. Although we are supposedly included in their innermost thoughts, they never reveal the secrets that they are hiding until the reveals come along late in the book. That is of course necessary to make for a book of novel length but when it involves a rotating cast of so many people it becomes a bit wearisome.

That makes for the reveals to be even crazier than you would otherwise expect with a most unlikely culprit finally brought to light. There was a final downside with one of my not-so-favorite tricks, the reader having to write their own ending. The twists and reveals are taken up to the brink of a final confrontation at a culminating moment and there it ends. You can then write your own ending in which the villains are suitably punished, the innocents are finally rewarded, etc. For me those kinds of endings lack the payoff owed to a reader for their investment of time.

It was still a 3-star Like for the atmosphere and historical background setting, and a few (very few) likeable characters.

My thanks to Atria / Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.

Trivia and Links
Author Jaclyn Goldis is a former estate planning lawyer who turned to writing novels, often set in exotic locales and settings. Her most popular novel (based on current GR reviews and ratings) is The Chateau (2023).

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Time We Saw Her isn’t Goldis’ best. It reads a little YA (could be due to the fact that it is about a group of 20-somethings but reminisces heavily on their teen years) and the characters have stereotyped personas. Also, the ending is way too crazy, wrapped up, and left on too much of a cliffhanger all at once. In true Goldis fashion, she takes us to an exotic location—this time the Azores, an island off Portugal. The setting was one of the strong points of the book.

Plot: Sydney Azulay was murdered 10 years ago during a camp trip to the Azores—or was she? Her body was never found, could she just be missing? Her sister and fellow camp mates are determined to get to the bottom of this mystery as they reconvene on the island for her memorial and to film a documentary about the events that led to Sydney’s disappearance. Olivia, dubbed the “sister killer,” wants to set the record straight—however, she has turned quite a profit by writing fiction books based off of real life events from camp. Lexa was Sydney’s bff then ended up marrying her boyfriend at the time, Eli Da Costa. Eli’s a rick kid who’s a little oblivious and sweet to everyone—bottom of the suspect list. Reuben was Lexa’s camp boyfriend and is not Olivia’s stepbrother; keeping up with this crazy cast? Jules was a camp counselor and really needs the documentary to go well in order to get her big break in filmmaking. Aiden was their other counselor and camp heartthrob. When this bunch gets together they don’t all make it out alive. Who among them is a murderer and is the treasure that has been af the heart of camp lore real?

Boy oh boy did this story take a hard right turn there at about 80%. The twist was a little tooooo much for me and was crazier than it needed to be. Gotta keep this extremely vague but I needed more details on Jules at the end. Side note, Isaac Azulay is the worst. Basically everyone related to anyone at this camp is kinda crazy. The multiple POVs were fun because there were a lot of cliffhangers through the book and just as you thought you were figuring out one situation, it would switch to another. Fans of outlandish teen drama will enjoy this one.

Thank you so much to Atria Books, Jaclyn Goldis, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Last Time We Saw Her.

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller

A decade ago, Sydney disappeared on a remote island while being among teenagers who went for a summer camp trip. This happened during a mysterious treasure hunt. Now the same group is returning to the island for a reunion to revisit the past and participate in a documentary.

The premise of the book is something I was very interested in, and I thought I’d enjoy it a lot. The idea of a long-buried secret that resurfaces and haunts the involved parties is also compelling. To be fair, the book succeeded in creating that dreadful, uneasy atmosphere. That tension keeps increasing as you progress in the reading. I had that feeling that every single character was hiding something.

One of the strengths of the book is its neat structure. Yes, there are multiple points of view, and the shift between past and present timelines made things somewhat confusing. However, the author clearly put thought into how the story unfolds. The pieces do come together in the end, giving you the bigger picture, even if getting there wasn’t as smooth as I would’ve liked.

The biggest issue for me, though, was the pacing. This isn’t a particularly long book, yet it felt much longer than it actually is. Many scenes felt stretched more than needed. I feel a tighter edit would have made a huge difference, and a faster pace would have made the story more engaging.

In terms of the characters, in general, the author did a decent job with them—especially when it comes to their history as a group of teenagers during the past. However, not all the characters are fully developed. This could be intentional, so the book won’t get longer. I might be mistaken.

The book is decent but not particularly memorable. The revelations and twists do bring some kind of closure and might give you some surprise moments, but they don’t quite elevate the tale into something special and unforgettable. In other words, that lasting impact is not as strong as I’d hoped for.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

https://constantinebooks.blogspot.com...

[Addison Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this premise, and the Azores locale was one of the highlights of this book, though I have to be honest that this was technically a DNF for me because I skimmed roughly the last 20% (only to regret doing so because seriously?). The characters are highly unlikable, and I wasn’t rooting for anyone at all, which tends to doom a book for me.

More than that, the writing style made the book feel unbearably long, with lots of extended scenes that could have been described with far fewer words. The prose also contained a boatload of sentence-level grammatical errors, the most egregious being the unfettered use of sentence fragments and the author’s refusal to combine sentences properly with connectors or commas. I suppose that this was intentional because of the age/generation of the characters, but it made them all sound like airheads, and caused my attention to snag on the errors because I constantly thought I had accidentally skipped some text. (Seriously, once you notice how frequently the author starts sentences with And, But, Like, So, Even though, etc instead of just writing complete sentences, the process of reading this book is just painful.)

Some random samples that could have used an editor’s touch:

“But the sight of Lexa now, in this scene, has me jumpy, almost as if Sydney’s about to pop out. Even though I know better. Just, those two were the best of friends, but decidedly different.”

“But suddenly I am keenly anxious to escape that interaction. Get my thoughts straight before I confront Lexa about what I heard last night.”

“But they have to fear me too. Even more. They made a huge mistake today by failing at their plan. Showing themselves in the open. Leveling up this whole thing. And for that, I intend to extract a heavier price.”

In short, this has the makings of a decent mystery with a great setting (hence the two stars, not just one), but the writing is tedious, the ending frustrated me, and I’m sorry I wasted my time reading.

In any case, thanks go to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and share my honest feedback on this ARC!

[Torrie Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Last Time We Saw Her grabbed my attention with a description boasting a decade-old disappearance, an isolated setting, and a group of friends returning to the scene, both to memorialize and confront what happened that summer. Based on those details alone this book should have worked for me, so I was eager to jump in. Unfortunately, this one wasn't what I had hoped and wasn't right for me- but that's okay! Let's talk about it anyway, because it might be right for you!

A few things in this book that I did love:
• The prologue grabbed immediate attention.
• I always enjoy when a book has multiple viewpoints and timelines included to deepen the story.

What didn't work for me:
Mostly, I struggled with the writing. There was a lot of repetition, and not repetition used as a way to advance the plot but moreso multiple characters having the same thought in nearly identical wording, small phrases used multiple times in rapid succession, etc. Please note that this could just be a me thing, but it took me out of the story and made the writing feel robotic. Dialogue also felt very unnatural throughout the story, with the interactions between characters coming off forced and uncomfortable, even between characters who should have an easy rapport. Overall, things felt very disjointed and kept the story from evoking the responses it should.

Pacing is something we should also discuss. I am someone who typically enjoys a slow burn, but I definitely understand that a slow burn would not work well given the timeframe our characters were working in. Even noting that, the pacing here didn't make sense and resulted in a book that felt very forced without much payoff.

I do think this book would work well for those who love fast-paced pacing, short chapters, and messy soap-opera style characters. If that's you, then this book may be one you enjoy more than I did- I know its audience is out there!

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Atria Books, & Jaclyn Goldis for this complimentary copy.))

[Hope Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars — come for the mystery, stay because you’ve already committed and refuse to quit now

So The Last Time We Saw Her is one of those thrillers where everything sounds incredible on paper: a missing girl, a cursed treasure, a glamorous island, and a group of “friends” who clearly would not even like each other’s Instagram posts.

And to be fair, the setup? Delicious. Messy. Full of potential. You can practically hear the dramatic music swelling as secrets start spilling.
Unfortunately, then the characters open their mouths.

This book features a rotating cast of people who all have something to hide, and also, apparently, something deeply irritating about their personalities. Spending time in their heads feels less like uncovering a mystery and more like being trapped at a reunion where everyone is lying and also kind of insufferable. You don’t root for anyone so much as you… tolerate them aggressively.

The pacing is another adventure. The beginning pulls you in, the ending wakes you back up, and the middle? The middle is on island time. Like, really on island time. At one point I wasn’t sure if we were solving a disappearance or just vibing indefinitely with unresolved tension.

That said, the book does know how to stir up drama. The twists show up ready to cause problems, and there’s enough intrigue to keep you flipping pages, even if it’s partly fueled by spite and curiosity. (“I’ve come this far, I deserve answers.”)

Final verdict:
It’s entertaining in the way reality TV is entertaining—messy people, questionable decisions, and you’re not proud of how invested you get. A solid 3 stars for keeping me hooked while also making me want to shake every character and say, “Please. Just make one good choice.”

[AnnaDea Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of teens travels to the Azores on a heritage trip… and one of them never comes home.

Ten years later, the remaining friends reunite for a memorial—and a documentary—to finally share their versions of what happened.

Was it the sister? The best friend? The counselor? Is she even really dead? And how far would you go to protect the people you love?

This one pulled me in right away. I love when a thriller makes me suspicious of everyone, and from page one I was quietly building my case files—tracking motives, second-guessing timelines, and side-eyeing every “innocent” comment. The multiple POV structure really worked for me here. It added layers without feeling messy, and the pacing felt thoughtful and controlled the whole way through.

I will say, I kept hoping for just a few more breadcrumbs—those tiny, blink-and-you-miss-it clues that make the final reveal feel inevitable. The story definitely delivers on intrigue, but I wanted to dig even deeper. That said, I appreciated the boldness of where it ultimately went. It takes a swing. The ending wasn’t perfectly aligned with my personal taste, but it was memorable—and I’m still thinking about it.

You also get threads of romance, complicated family healing, and the weight of secrets carried for a decade, all set against a lush, remote Azorean backdrop. (Yes, I absolutely looked up flights. No, I would not want to vacation with this friend group. They are exhausting in the most entertaining way.)

Would I recommend it? I would. It’s a twisty, engaging thriller that keeps you guessing and makes for a satisfying, slightly dramatic escape—especially if you’re in the mood for something propulsive and fun.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books/Simon and Schuster Canada for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

In complete transparency, I picked this up almost entirely because it is set in the Azores, the land of my people, and I was excited to see it portrayed in fiction. I think that also made me a bit more critical.

Ten years ago, a teenager disappeared during a camp "Survival Day," but their body was never found, and a presumed murderer was never charged. Now, her father is holding a memorial in the same place his daughter went missing, the Azores. One of the camp counselors is attempting to film a documentary to finally uncover the truth of what happened, and tensions are high. It really is everyone for themselves when one of their own turns up dead.

Honestly, I found the book interesting from the start, but I wasn't compelled to pick it up when I wasn't reading it. It picked up in the second half, but I felt like the first half could have been more intriguing while still setting up the necessary parts of the story. There were lots of twists! But there were also some parts that I found myself rolling my eyes at. Again, I'm sure I'm being extra critical because it's set in the Azores and I wanted to love it, but I didn't. I do however want to tell other people about the Azores and I hope other people set their books there.

I did appreciate that the author mentioned some Jewish history of the island. As said in the book, the Azores is predominantly Christian, so I was surprised to learn of the history of Judaism there.

CW: murder, disappearance, infidelity, pregnancy, blood, violence, gaslighting

[Laramie Graber · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Time We Saw Her has an entertaining, twisty murder mystery with real punch. Unfortunately, lackluster characterizations don’t allow it to fully land.

Ten years ago, while at summer camp, Sydney Azulay disappeared without a trace, and her body was never found. Now, her fellow campers have returned to the island camp to film a documentary which seeks to answer one simple question: which one of them killed her? (Also, I would advise not reading all the way to the end of the novel’s description. It gives away something that happens after the halfway point.)

For me, the best mystery plot delivers plenty of twists and an ending which is surprising, inevitable, and believable. This one comes close to meeting all my criteria. It has plenty of twists and I did not see the reveal coming at all, despite hints making the mystery clear all along. However, it isn’t quite believable, as some characters have unrealistic thoughts to conceal the mystery.

While the book succeeds as a mystery, the characters fail to come to life. We’re given a lot of details about them, but it can feel like an initial conversation with a stranger. It’s often hard to tell how their relationships, their identities, and their traumas affect how they move through the world. The multiple first-person POV’s often fail to give the characters distinctive voices and at the same time slow the pacing. Too often we’re told the characters care about each other rather than being shown that they do.

If the premise intrigues you, give The Last Time We Saw Her a look. You might not be emotionally invested, but you will be entertained.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

[Jenae Gilchrist · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This was a very interesting and engaging read that kept my attention throughout. The story follows six former campers (Olivia, Alexa, Eli, Reuben, Jules & Aiden) who are reunited ten years after the disappearance of their friend Sydney, returning to Portugal for a memorial meant to bring closure. Of course, unresolved grief, unanswered questions, and long-buried secrets quickly rise to the surface, making it clear that the past is far from settled.

One of my favourite aspects of the novel was the sibling relationship between Reuben and Cass. Their dynamic felt authentic and emotionally layered, grounding the story even as things took a darker turn. And wow! I was absolutely not prepared for how twisted the revelations became. Just when I thought I understood what kind of story I was reading, it completely flipped my expectations.

I also really appreciated the inclusion of Jewish traditions and history throughout the novel. The way Judaism and Portugal’s historical context were woven into the narrative felt thoughtful and informative, and I learned several things I hadn’t known before. These elements added depth and richness to the story without feeling overwhelming.

Overall, a compelling and thought-provoking read with strong character relationships, cultural insight, and a surprising edge. A solid choice for readers who enjoy mysteries that slowly unravel and aren’t afraid to take unexpected turns.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another of those books about friends reuniting years after a tragic event to determine what really happened. This time it’s a group of campers and their counselors returning to São Miguel a decade after a heritage trip when one of them, a teenage girl named Sydney, disappeared. Throw in a treasure hunt, and you’ve got the makings of a good mystery. Don’t forget the documentary - it’s being filmed by one of the former campers who needs a big break and the paycheck that goes with it.

Sydney’s sister, Olivia, has long been the main suspect, and most of the story is from her perspective. She’s looking forward to finally being cleared of any involvement in her sister’s disappearance, as she only remained free because they couldn't find enough evidence against her. Her father is hosting a memorial to Sydney (the main point of the reunion), and he lives on the island now with Olivia’s stepmother and stepsiblings, who were also there ten years ago. Talk about one dysfunctional family - they're not what they seem, but readers will pick up on that early. There are plenty of suspects and old secrets ready to be spilled.

There’s plenty of drama to keep the story interesting, especially towards the end when the action really picks up. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the island and its people – that sets it apart from similar stories. It ends on a bang, and I wish there was an epilogue for the fallout because you just know things went berserk at that point!

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the free advanced reading copy of this book.

[Aamira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This has all of the makings to be an exciting thriller. A group of people who come to together on the anniversary of the day their friend went missing to try to discover what truly happened sounds great right? So why did I have to drag myself to the end?

I’m often wary of books with multiple points of view, as it requires a deft hand to really differentiate characters’ personalities and quirks. Unfortunately, the author fails to do that here. We get at least 6 different points of view, and I found myself having to go back to see whose head I’m currently in. The characters themselves aren’t very interesting and are one dimensional. Sure they’re each given their own private struggles and are definitely unreliable narrators, but it’s not enough to create fully realized people. And they’re all just horrible people without clear motives as to why they are the way they are. In a character driven novel, it’s imperative to have compelling characters you can connect to in some way or want to root for or love to hate, but we get none of that. This drags the story so much because there isn’t a lot of action. I also didn’t find the family drama interesting it all. There wasn’t much nuance that sets it apart from other family dramas out there.

The ending was unsatisfying. It was honestly difficult to suspend my belief. There’s nothing worse than forcing yourself to slog through a book in the hopes that the ending will be worth it, only to discover that’s not the case.

[Robyn DeYoung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the complimentary advanced digital copy to read and review before publication, all opinions are my own!

The Last Time We Saw Her is the story of a group of adults returning to the island that changed their lives 10 years ago. See 10 years ago a group of high school students traveled to an isolated Portuguese island, Azores, for an adventure camp to close out all their years of summer camp and to get familiar with their Jewish and Portuguese heritage. What they didn't expect is that the group would be returning home with one less person than it started with, or that no one would know what happened to that person. Now it's the 10 year anniversary and they've agreed to return to the island to pay their respects and participate in a documentary trying to find out what happened all those years ago, hosted by one of their own members.

This book was wild, Sydney, our missing (and presumed dead) victim was not a nice person. She seemed to thrive in inconveniencing others, causing trouble, and hurting the people that cared about her most, so I guess it makes sense that someone wanted her dead, but who actually did it? I spent this whole book trying to figure out who did it and why, I was wrong in every guess - even with my most farfetched guess was wrong.

This is definitely for someone who loves a good locked room, remote setting murder mystery that slow builds to suspense towards the end. If you're looking for a good thriller for the summer, I have to recommend this one!

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very mixed bag for this reader — first, the good (which is actually very good). This book starts with an interesting premise, featuring a detailed set of characters, each with their own POV, in a gorgeous island setting. The story is somewhat centered on a fascinating and horrifying true-life historical context from long-ago, tied to atrocities of the Portuguese Inquisition.

In this read we will encounter a group of friends in their late twenties, reunited ten years after a camping trip to the beautiful Azores which resulted in the unsolved murder of one of their party.

The story starts off with a flourish and is very engrossing, right out of the gate, for this reader, heading towards a solid five-star read. However the pace unfortunately falters by the mid-point and the story, once highly entertaining, began to complicate and bog down with too many dangling clues, left unresolved for too long, kicked around by characters who by this point have become mostly uninteresting.

The ending, when it came, was a twist that was largely predictable, over-the-top, and formulaic.

Worth a read for lovers of suspenseful mysteries in exotic locales — this book although not living up to its initial promise in the eyes of this reader, has received some terrific reviews.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

(Three and a half stars, rounded up)

[Amber Boos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already liked this author, Jaclyn Goldis and was pretty sure I would like this book as well. Well, I absolutely did. First off, we have a 10-year-old unsolved murder at a summer camp. Well, heck yeah! Sign me up for that right off the bat! Beautiful setting? The Azores Island checks that box. The campers from 10 years ago gather back on the island to look for treasure and make a murder documentary? I am in reading heaven. Just leave me alone for the day! Sydney is part of a group of teenage American summer campers visiting the Azores Islands for hiking adventures. The rumors of buried treasures just add to the excitement. When the group stumbles upon a supposed clue to this treasure, it becomes pretty much every man for himself to find it. Sydney is never seen again, and the treasure is never found. Now the group has returned. This group also includes Olivia, Sydney's older sister who is rumored to have had something to do with Sydney's disappearance way back when. The beginning is a bit slow, as it is adding some history and backstory. After that, each chapter seems to end with some tidbit to keep you going on to the next one. I enjoyed the current pop-culture references, and the author does an excellent job of making you feel as if you are actually on the island. I enjoyed this story and look forward to more!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jaclyn Goldis and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Helen Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
X marks the spot….ten years ago, 5 American teens, along with two local counselors, set out for the summer of their lives at a rugged, hiking camp in an island in the Azores. They soon discover an old tale of treasure buried somewhere on the island. Immediately the hunt is on until Queen Bee, Sydney, disappears after solo “survival night” camping. A night that each camper is secluded and completely on their own. Blood is found in her campsite but her body is not found and she is never seen again.
Ten years later, the former campers and friends, along with the family of the missing girl, reunite for a memorial service in honor of Sydney. Each comes with their own hidden agenda. Olivia, Sydney’s sister and prime suspect in her disappearance, is still looking for closure and to prove her innocence. Jules, former counselor, is hoping to make it big with a documentary on what really happened that fateful night ten years ago. Eli, Lexa, Reuben, Aiden…they all have something to hide. As the weekend unfolds secret come to light…will the truth finally be told? And the treasure found? Is Sydney still alive?
Jacklyn Goldis spins a fabulous tale of friendship, sibling rivalry, greed, treasure hunting, young love, and murder. All at summer camp. Do not sleep on this one.

[vlm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaclyn Goldis delivers an atmospheric and twisty thriller in *The Last Time We Saw Her*, set against the stunning backdrop of Portugal's Azores.

Ten years after the disappearance of Sydney Azulay during a summer camp trip, her former friends reunite on São Miguel for a memorial and to create a documentary about what really happened. As they retrace their steps through crater lakes, cobblestone streets, and thermal springs, old suspicions resurface. Rumors of a long-lost treasure reignite, eerie sightings unsettle the group, and when one of them turns up dead, it becomes clear that the past is far from buried.

Goldis excels at creating a vivid sense of place, using the island's beauty to heighten both tension and isolation. The multiple perspectives keep the mystery layered, and the shifting loyalties and buried secrets make it difficult to determine who to trust. The documentary angle adds an extra layer of intrigue, as new revelations force the characters to confront their own versions of the truth.

While the large cast can occasionally feel crowded, the pacing remains strong, and the twists are satisfying. This is a compelling destination thriller filled with nostalgia, obsession, and long-simmering betrayal.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Collyn Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

read if you like:
📍 exotic locations
🎥 cold case documentaries
🤷‍♀️ whodunnits

summary:
I loved one of Jaclyn Goldis’ other books so I wanted to check out her newest, THE LAST TIME WE SAW HER. Set in the Azores, it follows a group of friends who returns after a decade to the islands, where their friend Sydney died as part of a camp trip ten years prior. While the group returns to the island for a memorial service, one of them, Jules, decides to use the opportunity to film a documentary on Sydney’s disappearance to try to solve once and for all who was involved.

The book reads like a classic whodunnit — was it Olivia, Sydney’s sister who was viewed as the most suspicious, Auden, the supervisor, Lexa, the wealthy newlywed who would rather put her past behind her, or any of the others? It is told from alternating POV’s, which is a little hard to keep up with at first, but once you get everyone straight, it builds a fuller and broader story of what happened that summer at camp, and what has happened to everyone since then. It starts a little slow, which makes it a little hard to get into, but once the action starts you won’t be able to put it down. Some of the sub-storylines are a bit “larger than life” and seem unrealistic, but they ground within in each other in the end for a more satisfying ending. The location makes for a perfect setting, and Goldis does an incredible job of making you feel apart of the group on the island, and blending the isolation with the beauty as part of the overall tension of the story.

While it wasn’t my favorite book she’s written, if you like a classic whodunnit set in an exotic location, you’ll definitely want to check this out. Thanks to Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy, and make sure you preorder this before its release on June 16, just in time for the beach!

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ten years ago, a group of Jewish kids and their counselors were camping on an Azores island when one of them went missing. The police have been unable to determine what happened to Sydney, and a decade later, everyone involved returns to the island for a memorial at the local synagogue. Since everyone is together again for the first time since Sydney’s disappearance, counselor Jules aspires to make a true crime documentary and interviews everyone who was present on their camping trip.

I don’t think the whole documentary transcript format fit with the rest of the narrative. It led to everyone arguing about their memories and motives and didn’t feel cohesive. Then there’s the whole hidden treasure hunt thing that convoluted the latter part of the book. It was terribly cliched how the villain spent chapters monologuing their crimes to their intended victims before dispensing of them. Considering all the revelations, I was very disappointed in the ambiguous ending. If it hadn’t ended so abruptly, I might have given it three starts. The final third of the book was altogether too messy. Between all the bickering and blaming, it was a tedious affair with an unsatisfactory conclusion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Marissa Marlborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

Thanks so much for this ARC Atria Thrillers! This is my third by Goldis and was a great beach read when I was in Mexico. Goldis writes atmospheric vacation thrillers so well! I didn’t love this one quite as much as “The Chateau” or “The Safari,” but I really enjoyed it. (Out everywhere June 16th!)

In the remote Azores, a teen named Sydney disappeared on a hiking heritage trip. A decade later, she still hadn’t been found - her family and friends gather on the island to honor her memory. One friend wants to film a documentary with those who were on the trip when she vanished, creating a rift in the group. Each member of the group has a secret they were harboring from that summer that comes to light, then suddenly one of them is found dead.

I already wanted to visit the Azores before reading this, but now it’s even higher on my list! Goldis thrillers always make me want to be where the murders are lol 🫢. I enjoyed the pacing and alternate perspectives, but the ending kind of fell apart for me a bit. I still enjoyed this one though!

✨Content Warnings: Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Drugs, Infidelity

✨Themes: Truth, Guilt, Friendship

✨You May Like This If You Enjoyed:
-The Lying Game (Ruth Ware)
-Friends Like These (Kimberly McCreight)

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jaclyn Goldis’s thrillers! The way she infuses them with history and Jewish culture is unparalleled. With that said, The Last Time We Saw Her was the first of her novels to fall flat for me.

I loved learning about the Azores islands, Sephardic Jews, and their Portuguese heritage. Exploration of history and identity is where Goldis excels and what sets her thrillers apart. While I enjoyed these aspects of the story, the plot itself failed to draw me in. The characters felt juvenile - I was unable to separate their past and present selves with the level of jealously and pettiness they showed as “adults.” Goldis usually does a great job developing her characters, but this time everyone felt rather two dimensional and I failed to truly engage with them.

I really wanted to like this novel, but the plot was unoriginal and the ending left me not shocked, but wondering if my copy was missing pages. After the heavy focus on relationships, or lack therefore, I would have preferred a more resolved ending where the characters had to reconcile with their choices. Overall, this thriller just wasn’t up to Goldis’s usual standards.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan Magee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always absolutely adore the idea of a destination spot as a location for a group of former friends to reunite and stake out clues to discover the truth about a long buried body, and usually a murder. This one being set in a remote village in Portugal really sold it for me, and this author truly delivered a "vacation" thriller to its core. I think authors in the thriller genre can absolutely learn from Goldis when it comes to this particular trope. When a group of friends loses one of their own, Sydney, ten years past, the family and friends reconvene at the place it happened to try to trace their steps back. When another body makes its entrance, a real mystery is under way, and we follow along as multiple POVs stake everything out. While I loved the vibe, and some of the characters, I got very confused by the people and timelines shifting. I also don't think I cared for the end as much as I should have. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria/ Emily Bestler Books for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Lauren (sharonoldsfanclub) · Rating 2 out of 5]

(ARC - out 06/16/26 via Atria) (2.5 rounded down) This mystery/thriller was not for me which is a bummer because I’ve enjoyed Goldis’s previous work! The mystery is set on an island in Portugal, where a group of people are reunited ten years after one of them was killed during a treasure hunt of sorts. There are multiple perspectives in this, all of them people who were suspects in the original murder. My favorite part of this was the setting - Goldis is very good at building ambience via location, and the descriptions of Portugal were gorgeous. Everything else was a miss for me. The characters are underdeveloped, overly simplified, and annoying. They’re nearly all awful people and not in a fun awful way, but in a frustrating awful way. The solution felt silly and the final 15% was almost cringey in the dialogue. The pace is also quite slow - I found myself skimming pages throughout, uninterested in the family drama presented (because I didn’t care about the characters at all) and just wanting to see the solution. I was disappointed!