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 a clue surfaced related to a local legend of buried treasure that 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 hosting a memorial service on São Miguel, and Sydney’s closest circle returns to honor her fellow campers 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, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Audiobook, Adult Fiction

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published 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

[L A · Rating 4 out of 5]

"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."

An Azores island summer camp for five-weeks for a group of teenagers, would be an ultimate trip. With talk of buried treasure, sunken ships and a local legend, what could go wrong? Ten years ago, a camper "it girl", Sydney Azulay was never seen again. It was thought that she had been murdered and no treasure was ever found.
Now, her father has planned a memorial service for her with her friends and family on Sao Miguel. Olivia, Sydney's sister, was thought to be a suspect many years ago. Aiden, who was a supervisor on the trip. Jules had been a camp counselor. Together, they retrace their steps and agree to a documentary for podcasts. The ships will definitely sink in murky and stormy water, as they tread through their own lies. There are a lot of POVs to help guide their thought process and see that this reunion was a bad idea gone wrong. One of POV you will definitely want to hear is Sydney's. As they get closer to revealing the truth, someone is murdered. "Which means that a murderer has surfaced...again."
A very enjoyable read and fast paced to find out what is really going on. I loved the setting of the island and the history behind it. Thank you NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[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.

[Kimberly R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great cold case mystery that had me hooked from start to finish. It had an interesting cast of characters and was like a locked room mystery. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC that will be released in June!

[Frank Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blimey, did this one have some major issues for me! 😂 Beyond the pacing, I just felt like there wasn’t a whole lot happening for the majority of the book. Things finally picked up toward the very end, only to be followed by an incredibly ambiguous ending—which, in my book, is pretty much the worst way to end a story!

I’ve had a very hot-and-cold relationship with this author. I’ll absolutely love one book, only to be left feeling pretty underwhelmed by the next, and unfortunately, this one falls into the latter category for me. It wasn’t a complete miss, but it definitely didn’t hit the mark I was hoping for.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A summer camp on an island where the kids go on daring hikes and push themselves in rough waters and camping, one girl goes missing. Now, years later believing she's dead, the kids come back as adults to remember the one they lost. But one of them is also starting a podcast and secrets are starting to be revealed. Will they figure out what happened so long ago?

This mystery had me right from the start. I loved the podcast parts and digging into the previous mystery. I loved the X marks the spot silly song and their carefree teenage days. But I struggled to keep all the characters straight, I think we get 7 or 8 POV, and none of them were clearly distinct so I kept having to flip back to the start of the chapter to see who the narrator was and remind myself over and over to keep it all straight.

However, the mystery was so good and I was so hooked it was worth the flipping back and forth. I did like that we got many of the POV because it really gave all the layers of the dirty secrets and just how it all went down. Surprise after surprise kept me hooked. I liked this one.

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.

[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.

[Aaron Todd Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️
1 🔪

The atmosphere and physical setting of the novel are fantastic, and the premise is interesting. There were several characters, and we get to hear from most of their POVs. It almost felt like too many, or at least like none of the voices felt distinct from one another. The plot was a bit outlandish and not always rooted in facts, but it was still a fun adventure overall. Most of these things I can look past when reading a thriller.

The main reason I can’t rate this any higher is because the book felt unfinished. I’m so unsatisfied and frustrated that I don’t know what happened to the remaining characters. I’m so curious why that was the ending choice. It didn’t read like a cliffhanger or something uncanny to me…it felt like the story just stopped.

As a reader, that lack of closure left me genuinely upset.

[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.

[Bel lvndrgms3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

It’s a tepid reunion as 7 individuals, all who used to be part of a yearly summer Jewish camp, return to the Azores for a memorial. Sydney disappeared 10 years ago, the case unsolved. All are suspects including her sister, Olivia, known as the “sister killer”. While back, they’ve agreed to film a documentary that’s being produced by Jules, the former camp counselor. As expected, tensions are high, secrets come out, fingers are pointing, and tragedy strikes again.

This multi POV story felt fragmented and choppy in parts. One of the characters was intolerable and I disliked her chapters. There’s this undercurrent of anger throughout that never eases as they try to solve Sydney’s disappearance.

The prologue gave me the chills! Its mention of a secret treasure trove on the island, and the creepy camp song accompanying it definitely set the stage. From there the buildup was good with a few subplots thrown into the mix, and then the twist that caught me off guard. The motive behind Sydney’s demise made sense. Everything after that happened so fast, and I’m mixed on that.

Something I liked very much is the setting - the Azores which is on my bucket list - and learning of its history as a safe haven for the Jewish community during the Inquisition. I also enjoyed the sprinkling of Portuguese in the book.

Overall a decent mystery with the isolated setting being the winner here!

Thanks @atriathrillers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending is awesome! I like the changing viewpoints throughout the story and I was invested and had a hard time putting this down. This is a fantastic thriller and one I would highly recommend! Special Thank You to Jaclyn Goldis, Atria Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Justinstaysreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Omggg this book had me SAT. The twists were unhinged in the best way and everyone was suspicious for no reason 😭

I thought I cracked it like 5 times… I did not. At all.

Dark, twisty, chaotic fun camp story.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

[Pam Kovalic · Rating 2 out of 5]

A group of people come together for a memorial service on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. Ten years earlier, they were all part of a summer camp where they spent five weeks camping, hiking and searching for a treasure. The treasure was a local legend about a buried treasure that would also make the finder’s life golden too - no more health or financial worries. By the end of the trip, one camper - a popular girl named Sydney - had gone missing and was presumed murdered because some blood was found near where she was last seen. Now the group is having a memorial service on the same island and a documentary is also being undertaken by one of the group with the hope that the truth about Sydney’s murder will be revealed. The book has a good “atmospheric” feel to it, the remote island is a great setting. However, I felt the flow was broken up by the large number of characters and all the different points of view. The large number of characters isn’t always a negative, but in this case I think it was, since the characters all lacked depth. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and didn’t really care about any of them. Overall, I thought the book was okay just not great by any means so I am giving it 2.5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kris the retired librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had everything I usually love, but it fizzled out.

A cold case disappearance, a locked-room setup, and an island I'll never get to visit in real life.

Let me start by saying this is going to work for a lot of you, and I want to be upfront about that. It just didn't fully click for me, and after 20 years of handing books to readers I've learned that "not for me" and "not good" aren't the same thing.

Here's the setup. Ten years ago a teenage summer camper named Sydney vanished on São Miguel, a remote island in the Azores, while chasing a rumored treasure. Now her family and friends are back on the island for a memorial weekend marking the anniversary, and a documentary crew is poking at the case. Everyone's together again, and all the secrets and lies they've been sitting on for a decade start surfacing.

What pulled me in: the location. The Azores are completely exotic to me and I loved being dropped somewhere I'll probably never go. The setting is genuinely atmospheric, and I'm a sucker for a cold case plus a locked-room vibe. The multiple POVs and the timeline shifts back to Sydney's disappearance kept things moving structurally.

Where it lost me: the pace. It's a slow burn, which is fine, but I needed more tension to fill that space and it just wasn't there for me. The bigger issue was the characters. They felt bland and broadly drawn, and I never connected with anyone enough to care who was hiding what. That's a shame, because the bones of a much sharper, twistier thriller are right there. And the ending? One thing in particular had me shaking my head going "there's no way that's possible." No spoilers, but you'll know it when you hit it.

If you love a slow-burn thriller heavy on family and friend drama, multiple POVs, and a strong sense of place, this could absolutely be your kind of book. I really wanted to love it more than I did, and I have zero doubt it'll land just right for plenty of readers.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC. Out June 16.

[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.

[sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars!!!

This book solidified that I don't want to read anything from this author again. I feel like my enjoyment of her novels has decreased significantly after every book I read. I had to fight my way through this book because I genuinely did not enjoy it. If I wasn't reading this as an advance copy, I would've DNF'd this book pretty early on because I think this is just a poorly written book. I guessed who killed Sydney (which was the entire plot) as soon as we met the character and honestly, finding out if I was right was the main driving factor for me finishing this novel. I did end up guessing correctly and the big reveal at the end felt so corny. The main reason why I disliked this book so much was because the whole thing was super corny. You want me to believe that these kids were using modern day slang 10 years ago? And not to mention that I've noticed in Jaclyn Goldis' books the characters aren't just unlikable, they're actually all horrible people with no redeeming qualities. This will be my last book written by Goldis because while this might work for the general masses, I need my thrillers to be actually well written and thoughtful.






Thank you to Atria and Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!

Thank you Goodreads for my ARC of The Last Time We Saw Her!

I see most people’s biggest complaint is how informative this book is about the Azores. But as someone who is Azorean Portuguese, I absolutely loved getting to learn more about the islands and history!

This mystery had me hooked from start to finish. I could not put this book down. I was either reading it in a cozy chair or listening to the audio. I loved the twists and turns. I loved the motives and secrets everyone had. I loved the description of the islands and the history and foods. This was a fantastically atmospheric mystery done right!

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a suspenseful mystery thriller set in the Azores, picking up ten years after a camper goes missing from a summer camp overnight trip. The premise had potential, but the execution didn't get there for me. Things are overexplained in a way that made the pace drag, the opposite of what I need from this genre. None of the characters were interesting or likeable, which made the alternating perspectives more of a slog than a draw. I wasn't looking forward to any of them. There's information along the way, but it's delivered in a heavy-handed, teachy way that didn’t feel organic. I was never surprised, and that's really the death of my interest here.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this book.

[Madelyn]

thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

DNF at 40%. I realized I was not enjoying any of this at all - it is completely lacking in suspense or tension, there are too many characters and none of them are interesting or even all that distinguishable, and nothing had happened - and bailed. I hate to DNF ARCs but it is what it is!

(also it's an ARC so I'm not holding it against the book but it did have the sentence "I turn then and flea," which is one of the funniest homophone errors I've ever seen.)

[Beth Eats And Reads Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a (very) slow burn thriller, about a (large) group of friends who meet up again on the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of one of them. Secrets abound, and if you can manage to stick with it til the end, there is a fun payoff. But there are really too many characters with convoluted connections and not enough happening to keep me fully invested.
Thank you to @atriabooks for my advanced copy.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

How well can you trust your friends and family?

This story takes you on a roller coaster ride of a group of friends who, ten years ago at summer camp in the Azores, last saw their friend Sydney. All these years later, they’ve come back together to help their friend film a documentary to potentially finally get to the bottom of what happened to Sydney.

This story started out very strong. It changed perspectives and sometimes timeline every chapter, which gets you to become attached and want to know what happens. The pacing was going well and then the end came extremely quickly.

It was fun to piece a little more together after each chapter and made me want to visit the Azores, but some of it felt a little over the top. Still curious to read this author’s other work!

Thank you so much to the author, Jaclyn Goldis, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Last Time We Saw Her!

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

Read my full review of The Last Time We Saw Her, with Jen's Quick Take to help you decide if the book is for you AND protected spoilers on Jen Ryland Reviews

I have a bit of a mixed record when it comes to this author's books. I really loved The Safari, which reminded me a lot of The Guest List in all the best ways. I was less enamored of The Chateau and The Main Character.

The Last Time I Saw Her has a premise I love (in fact, I dedicated an entire book list to it: the Friend Group Suspense Story.)

In this book, a group of former teen summer campers gather back in the Azores ten years after their friend disappeared for a commemorative ceremony. Will It Girl Syd finally be found, or will her killer be unmasked? Or both?

I loved the travelogue and learned a lot about Sephardic Jews and their experiences during the Inquisitions (if you haven't read The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, you should!)

But the friend group was bland (hey all seemed to have crushed on or hooked up with one another; very Melrose Place!) and the ending was hard to swallow (an 11 year old child was the murderer and was able to throw stab the victim and throw the body off a cliff.) .

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review! I'm sorry this one wasn't for me, as I was really hoping I would love it!

[Haley ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

*yawn* Maybe it was because I read two bleh books before that I couldn't really look at this one through a fresh pair of eyes.

It was just hard to really enjoy this one. There was bickering that made the characters seem in their teens versus grown adults... Synopsis was interesting: sister goes missing after a treasure hunt (where real treasure might be involved) - only she's never found again and presumed to be dead. So during the anniversary of her death, why not invite everyone back to host a documentary and figure out the truth. dun dun dunnn

The concept was neat, the atmospheric writing was not really it for me (although has never really been). I don't need to be reading in detail how something is described just get to the point, I want ACTION, secrets, mysteries!!

Again, maybe if I picked up at a different point then I *maybe* could have enjoyed it more, but unlikely.

[The One Where Aimee Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LAST TIME WE SAW HER is THE thriller to read this summer! Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a twisty, unpredictable and wild ride! WHEW. My eyeballs were glued to this novel, I voraciously read every word with a desperate need to crack its mystery. Yet friends, I could not crack it.There are many POVs and the characters are all so perfectly imperfect, it was more than plausible that each of them could have been responsible for murder. Bravo to Jaclyn Goldis for crafting a multi-POV thriller where I loved each of the POVs equally. It's no small feat to execute this so successfully. 

THE LAST TIME WE SAW HER transports you to the Azores Islands in Portugal. The setting is stunning and the beauty of the natural landscape is vividly brought to life. Still, the setting is more than just a pretty background; the characters traverse sites that present many dangers and even the lore and history of the islands influence the plot. I also love, love, LOVE how Goldis periodically and casually weaves Jewish representation into the novel via references to Azores' Jewish past.

And that ending, ohhhhh that ending. It is so dramatic! I gasped. I wanted more. It was perfect. I thought, "Damn, what a bold way to end a book."

Kudos to Jaclyn Goldis! 

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey, Siri, Alexa, Grok, ChatGPT —
“What's the name of the book where a girl disappears or dies during summer camp or on vacation and years later most of the people who were there reunite at the same place and solve the mystery of her death or disappearance?”
Thinking, thinking, thinking…..
“The Last Time I Lied” by Riley Sager
“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
“The Note” by Alifair Burke
“The Woods” by Harlan Coben
“In a Dark, Dark Wood” by Ruth Ware
“One of Us is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
and…”The Last Time We Saw Her” by Jaclyn Goldis! (Kudos to Grok for including the Goldis book!)

I have absolutely loved Goldis’ last three 5 star thrillers, “The Safari,” “The Main Character,” and “The Chateau.” That makes her books an auto-buy for me, but getting into her latest was definitely “I’ve heard this storyline before…..” After looking at the list above, I also realized I loved all of them, so I shouldn’t dismiss this book because it seems familiar, and neither should you.

Author Goldis sets her tales with a central character/victim and then populates an Agatha Christie-like crime scene with multiple suspects. I know that often creates a hesitation to dive into a novel of many unreliable narrators, but, trust me, this author is a master at developing each introduced character and keeping their stories intertwined, but easily separated.

Set on São Miguel, an island in the archipelago of the Portuguese Azores in the middle Atlantic Ocean, our group was at a five week Jewish heritage adventure camp and were actually chasing mythical buried treasure, when Sydney went missing. Ten years later, they’re back for a memorial set up by her father and potentially the truth, never mind that Sydney’s doppelgänger is living the island life right there. We also have a documentary crew doing a “what really happened to…” segment on the decade old tragedy.

The multiple narrators and camp attendees:
Sydney — the missing girl
Olivia — her sister, considered “most likely to have disposed of Sydney,” but also a successful YA author who has set her novels in São Miguel
Lexa — now married to Eli, part owner of a hotel empire, but also Sydney’s last boyfriend
Jules — former camp counselor along with Aiden; she was 23 to Olivia’s 17 back then, now the filmmaker
Reuben and Cass — now step- siblings to Sydney and Olivia, mom is their dad’s plastic trophy wife

Goldis has a clever way of unfolding the mystery via multiple narrators. The story is also infused with the fascinating history of Jews who fled the Portuguese Inquisition in the 15th century for the Azores, some becoming “crypto-Jews” who seemingly practiced Catholicism, but secretly maintained their Judaic customs. Some of the current Azoreans are descendants of the people forced to convert and have integrated Jewish traditions into their modern day culture. This historic gem is woven into the thriller and it’s the unique piece that makes “The Last Time We Saw Her” more than just a summer camp tragic reunion trope. 4.5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Olivia has sage green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO We do get a sense of the island horticulture with elephant ear plants and camellia japonica trees.

Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

[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.
─────────────────────────

○★○ 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

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Treasure Hunt (Children’s song)

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

─────────────────────────

★○ 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

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

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

─────────────────────────

🎯 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.

[Amanda Webster · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s a very specific thriller trope that seems to be everywhere lately: a group of deeply unlikable friends reunites years after a tragedy, all carrying secrets, grudges, and unresolved romantic baggage while slowly turning on one another. To be honest, I’m getting a little bored with the trope, and unfortunately, The Last Time We Saw Her by Jaclyn Goldis doesn’t really do much to elevate that formula beyond what we’ve already seen many times before.

Ten years after a camper named Sydney vanished during a treasure hunt on an island in the Azores, her old friend group reunites to participate in a documentary about what happened. Naturally, everyone has something to hide, everyone distrusts everyone else, and absolutely none of these people seem emotionally capable of moving on with their lives. Some are still obsessed with old relationships, some are married within the friend group for reasons that never entirely make sense, and nearly all of them seem trapped in the emotional mindset of that long-ago summer.

The novel rotates through multiple POV characters, which at least gives readers insight into everyone’s paranoia and self-justifications. Every character insists they aren’t responsible for Sydney’s disappearance, yet all of them feel unreliable in one way or another. That part works well enough for a while. The bigger problem is that spending hundreds of pages inside the heads of people this irritating becomes exhausting.

The documentary transcript sections are especially rough. I genuinely couldn’t decide whether the documentary filmmaker, Jules, was intentionally supposed to be terrible at her job or whether the writing itself simply doesn’t understand how documentaries or interviews work. Jules constantly asks leading questions, struggles to control group interviews, and makes bafflingly amateur decisions despite supposedly dreaming of a filmmaking career for years. Instead of interviewing people individually and comparing inconsistencies later, she gathers everyone together at once and somehow expects meaningful truth to emerge from chaos. The whole thing feels less like a real documentary process and more like a plot device forcing characters to blurt out exposition.

And honestly, after someone’s life is threatened and the police start circling again, the fact that these people continue happily participating on camera makes them all seem unbelievably stupid. At some point, common sense should kick in. I mean, come on people—lawyer up already!

The ending also spirals into something so convoluted and over-the-top that it borders on ridiculous. By the time all the reveals arrive, the story feels less shocking than desperately tangled.

That said, I did genuinely enjoy the setting. The Azores atmosphere is easily the strongest part of the novel. The volcanic lakes, thermal springs, and isolated island backdrop create an immersive environment that made me want to visit even more than I already did. If you love destination thrillers and you still enjoy the “toxic friend reunion after tragedy” setup, you may have a better time with this than I did. But for me, this felt like a very familiar thriller populated almost entirely by frustrating people making baffling decisions.

An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jules The Book Junkie Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Time We Saw Her is an ambitious thriller that blends a stuck-on-an-island reunion mystery with family drama, historical intrigue, and moral reckoning. The story unfolds through the viewpoints of all the principal characters—the former campers and counselors who have gathered ten years after a fellow camper, Sydney, disappeared during their last summer together. The novel also employs multiple timelines, alternating between the present-day reunion and nonlinear memories of the past, allowing each narrator to gradually reveal pieces of the truth.

The first half of the novel is largely devoted to introducing the characters and establishing motives. Each former camper harbors secrets, often involving another member of the group, and the narrative works hard to make every character seem like a plausible suspect in Sydney’s disappearance. Unfortunately, this section moves slowly. While the mystery is intriguing, I found myself wondering whether I would finish the book. It doesn’t help that nearly every character is somewhat unlikable. Olivia is perhaps the most sympathetic of the group, but even she is not presented as substantially more innocent than the others.

By the halfway point, however, the pace accelerates considerably. The novel sheds most of its character-study weight and embraces its identity as a murder mystery thriller. New revelations arrive more frequently, tensions rise, and the story becomes engaging. I correctly guessed the culprit fairly early on, but I still enjoyed having my assumptions challenged as fresh information emerged and complicated the picture.

One of the most interesting characters is Isaac, the father of Sydney and Olivia. Although his role appears secondary for much of the story, he proves pivotal to several major plot twists. Isaac and his wife, Daniella, are among the novel’s least admirable characters, and their choices inadvertently set in motion much of the family’s downfall. Their storyline lends the book an almost biblical quality, with themes of sin, consequences, secrets, and generational fallout woven throughout the narrative.

Another strength is the inclusion of Jewish history, particularly the lesser-known history of Jewish communities in the Azores. These historical details enrich the novel and provide welcome depth beyond the central mystery.

As for the ending, it requires a certain suspension of disbelief. Readers who spend too much time dissecting its improbabilities may find it frustrating. But if you’re willing to go along for the ride, the finale is delicious—dramatic, satisfying, and entertaining in exactly the way a thriller’s conclusion should be.

Overall, The Last Time We Saw Her is a slow-burning mystery that takes its time getting started but ultimately rewards patient readers with compelling twists and layered family drama, making it difficult to put down. While the uneven pacing and largely unlikable cast kept it from reaching its full potential for me, the second half and memorable conclusion make it a worthwhile read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC.

📖 **Summary**

Ten years after popular camper Sydney Azulay vanished during a summer camp trip in the Azores, her friends and fellow campers return to the island for a memorial service and documentary exploring what really happened. As old memories resurface and new clues emerge, the group finds themselves pulled back into the mystery that changed their lives forever. When another death occurs, it becomes clear that some secrets refuse to stay buried.

💭 **Review**

The Last Time We Saw Her had such a fantastic premise that I immediately wanted to dive in. A missing girl, a rumored hidden treasure, a remote island setting, and a group of former campers returning years later to uncover the truth? Sign me up.

One of the strongest parts of this novel was definitely the setting. The Azores felt atmospheric, beautiful, and mysterious. The descriptions of the island, hiking trails, crater lakes, thermal springs, and small towns created a vivid backdrop for the story. I found myself wanting to visit despite all the murder and secrets.

This is very much a character driven mystery with a large cast and multiple points of view. The story moves between different characters as they revisit their memories of that final summer. While this approach allowed readers to see many sides of the mystery, it was also where I struggled the most. There were times when I had to stop and remind myself who was who and how everyone connected to the larger story. The constant shifting perspectives occasionally pulled me out of the narrative and made the mystery feel more complicated than it needed to be.

That said, I was still invested enough to keep turning pages. I wanted answers. I wanted to know what happened to Sydney. I wanted to understand the relationships, betrayals, and secrets that continued to haunt this group ten years later. The documentary angle added an interesting layer, and I enjoyed watching long buried tensions resurface as the story unfolded.

The treasure hunt element was also intriguing. It gave the mystery an almost adventure-like feel at times and added another layer of suspense to the narrative. Everyone seemed to be hiding something, which kept me questioning motives and second guessing my theories throughout the book.

While I enjoyed the overall experience, I never felt completely immersed because I spent so much time trying to keep track of the various characters and timelines. For me, the mystery was interesting, but the emotional connections to the characters weren't always as strong as I wanted them to be.

Still, the combination of a missing persons case, old secrets, buried treasure, and a gorgeous island setting made this an entertaining read that mystery fans will likely enjoy.

❓ **Would I Recommend?**

Yes. If you enjoy mysteries with multiple perspectives, long buried secrets, destination settings, and slow unraveling twists, this is worth checking out. Just be prepared to pay close attention to the cast of characters as the story unfolds.

[Allie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8/5

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

The Last Time We Saw Her is a good mystery that keeps you guessing due to the high amount of suspects.

It follows Olivia, who was the main suspect in her sister, Sydney's, disappearance ten years ago at summer camp in Portugal. Now, she returns to the camp for both a memorial in her sister's name and a documentary seeking to find the real source of Sydney's disappearance, since Olivia was never officially charged. With the whole summer camp gang back together, surprising new information comes to light about that summer and the unspoken tension comes to a head when one of the members of the group turns up dead.

The Last Time We Saw Her took quite a while to really pick up and grab my interest. While on paper, it's all the things that normally intrigue me, I think the sheer amount of characters overwhelmed me a little bit and prevented me from really connecting with any specific one of them. Since there were so many people in the group from that summer, you find yourself really trying to latch onto any detail that separates one character from another. This is good at the same time, though, because it provides a long list of suspects once things turn deadly.

I do wish that Olivia's perspective had been included a little more in the book because, while she's the main character, I never really felt like I knew her or what she was thinking. You mainly hear about Olivia from other people, usually calling her quiet or suspicious. I think just a couple more chapters early in the book would have made me connect with her a little better.

I like that Sydney is kind of painted to be an unlikable person - like, she's popular, but she has a dark side and gets a lot of attention because of her illness. It complicates things and makes you more suspicious of everyone in the group because they basically all had a motive.

Jules' character is probably the most relatable. She's not filthy rich like a lot of the other characters and is also more of a grounded human than the others, like Lexa or Eli. While Lexa married into the money, she still seems to have blinders on and just thinks money can fix everything. And then Eli might be the most clueless person alive. He seems like he's a genuine person, though.

Other characters each end up having unique stories and pasts that you read enough about to eventually be able to separate them from each other and I found myself to be invested somehow in basically everyone by the end of the book.

I will say that the culprit took me by surprise. They build a lot of suspicion around everyone, but I still didn't see that one coming. So good job, Jaclyn Goldis because that was a good twist!

I wish a little more clues had been presented in Sydney's case. Like, just a couple more chapters leading up to her death that would have hinted at the culprit just a tiny more. But honestly, I'm nitpicking.

Overall, this is a good mystery with a lot of suspects that you definitely need to pay attention to if you want to guess who the bad guy is.

[Tessa Talks Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

One-word review: Frustrating
Emojis: 🏕️🧐😬
Rating: 3 🌟s

My thoughts:

The Last Time We Saw Her started with such an intriguing premise: a Jewish Portuguese summer camp-based murder mystery, a long-lost treasure, a disappearance that still haunts everyone involved, and a reunion in the stunning Azores. Truly, on paper, this had so many elements I usually love. A remote island setting? Yes. A twisty multi-perspective thriller? Also yes. A group of people returning to the scene of old secrets? My nosy little reader heart was ready.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the Sephardic Jewish history and education woven throughout the story. It felt naturally incorporated instead of dropped in like a history lesson wearing a fake mustache. I really appreciated that aspect, and it gave the story a richer cultural layer that stood out to me. I also loved the setting. The Azores came alive through the crater lakes, cobblestone streets, thermal hot springs, and overall lush, isolated atmosphere. It gave the book a strong sense of place, and at times, that setting was doing some serious heavy lifting.

Where this one lost me was with the characters. Each character frustrated me in a very specific “please just say the thing already” kind of way. Everyone seemed to be hinting that they knew something, hiding something, remembering something, or avoiding something, but it happened so often that it became more exhausting than suspenseful. I got the sense early on that they were all unreliable narrators, which can work beautifully in a thriller, but here I needed more setup and more emotional investment before being asked to distrust everyone.

The first half was also very slow for me. The premise was strong, but the pacing took too long to build momentum, and because the characters felt a bit flat, I had a hard time caring as much as I wanted to. I wanted to be pulled into their old friendships, jealousies, betrayals, and guilt, but instead I felt like I was watching from the outside while everyone dramatically clutched their secrets to their chests.

And then there was the ending. Whew. The ending was so unhinged that it bordered on cringe for me. I do love a wild thriller ending when it feels earned, but this one went a little too far over the cliff in a tiny treasure-hunting clown car. The ChatGPT-related part of the plot especially did not work for me and honestly lost the book a star. It pulled me out of the story at the exact moment I wanted to be most invested.

Overall, The Last Time We Saw Her had a fascinating premise, a gorgeous setting, and cultural details I genuinely loved, but the slow first half, frustrating characters, and over-the-top ending kept it from fully working for me. Still, if you enjoy twisty multi-POV thrillers with unreliable narrators, buried secrets, and destination mystery vibes, this may work better for you than it did for me.