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The Last Eight Hours
I wake up in a pool of blood beside my new husband’s body. There’s another dead man in my house.
And I have no memory of the last eight hours.
My life had hit a low point when I met handsome businessman Grayson Bennett. But he didn’t care that I worked in a bar. Rich, charming and impossible to resist, he swept me off my feet and gave me a life I could only dream of.
But now I’m in handcuffs — and trapped inside a nightmare.
When I get to the hospital, they tell me I was drugged. Someone stole my memories.
All I know is that my husband and his business partner are dead.
The police think I’m the one who killed them.
What if they’re right?
And I have no memory of the last eight hours.
My life had hit a low point when I met handsome businessman Grayson Bennett. But he didn’t care that I worked in a bar. Rich, charming and impossible to resist, he swept me off my feet and gave me a life I could only dream of.
But now I’m in handcuffs — and trapped inside a nightmare.
When I get to the hospital, they tell me I was drugged. Someone stole my memories.
All I know is that my husband and his business partner are dead.
The police think I’m the one who killed them.
What if they’re right?
- GenresThriller
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2026
About the author
S.C. Shannon
6 books131 followersS.C. Shannon is an award-winning thriller author and law enforcement professional whose work blends psychological suspense with real-world crime experience. Her debut novel, THE THIRD GIRL (Joffe Books), earned two BookFest Awards, an International Impact Book Award, and a Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention. She holds degrees in criminal justice and forensic psychology and is currently pursuing an MA in Writing at Johns Hopkins University. Her next psychological thriller, THE LAST EIGHT HOURS (Joffe Books), is out now.
You can follow her on Instagram @s.c.shannon.author
You can follow her on Instagram @s.c.shannon.author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Review of advance copy
Ok, I’m biased; I wrote it! But it’s a twisty, multi-POV, dual-timeline psychological thriller that you will NEVER guess the ending!
September 27, 2026
This is one of those books where the premise was much stronger than the execution. Waking up covered in blood with no memory of what happened is an effective hook, and I went into this expecting a tense, twisty psychological thriller. The mystery initially grabbed my attention, and my curiosity about what had happened was enough to keep me reading.
Unfortunately, the further I got into the story, the less believable it became. The writing often felt overwritten, and some of the dialogue and internal narration did not feel natural. The investigation also relied on questionable decisions, convenient discoveries, and explanations that were difficult to accept. Several scenes that should have increased the suspense ended up pulling me out of the story instead.
My biggest issue was the way the main character was handled. I enjoy morally gray protagonists, and I do not need the person I am following to be likable or make good choices. However, I do need the story to acknowledge the weight of those choices. Here, the main character causes tremendous harm, manipulates the people around her, and does some truly terrible things, yet she faces very little accountability. The ending ultimately seems to reward her, which left me frustrated rather than satisfied.
There was a strong thriller hiding inside this concept, and I can see why the opening would immediately pull readers in. Unfortunately, the uneven writing, increasingly unbelievable plotting, and lack of meaningful consequences kept the story from living up to its potential. This one simply did not work for me.
Unfortunately, the further I got into the story, the less believable it became. The writing often felt overwritten, and some of the dialogue and internal narration did not feel natural. The investigation also relied on questionable decisions, convenient discoveries, and explanations that were difficult to accept. Several scenes that should have increased the suspense ended up pulling me out of the story instead.
My biggest issue was the way the main character was handled. I enjoy morally gray protagonists, and I do not need the person I am following to be likable or make good choices. However, I do need the story to acknowledge the weight of those choices. Here, the main character causes tremendous harm, manipulates the people around her, and does some truly terrible things, yet she faces very little accountability. The ending ultimately seems to reward her, which left me frustrated rather than satisfied.
There was a strong thriller hiding inside this concept, and I can see why the opening would immediately pull readers in. Unfortunately, the uneven writing, increasingly unbelievable plotting, and lack of meaningful consequences kept the story from living up to its potential. This one simply did not work for me.
September 3, 2026
If you know me, you'll know that I'm hugely influenced by the front covers of books - I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but I can't help it!?
I absolutely love any book that has a hint of blood - I know I'll be getting a good thriller or murder mystery and these are my favourite reads.
Plus, I just love purple!
The idea that the title and tags on the cover put in my head set me off coming up with theories before I even opened the book and I couldn't wait to find out.
This hooked me in right from the start and I actually read most of the book in one sitting - how did I manage to put it down, yep, life happened - but I was desperate to get back to this asap to finish it off.
I loved following Tessa as she scrambled to find the answers of what happened over that last eight hours - it starts to feel like she's going mad, but as pieces of the story comes together - and we follow the backstories - all the information slots into place to form a thrilling read.
There was so much going on through this with many threads explored as we look back at Grayson and Tessa's pasta, but also as the detail around his work starts to be uncovered.
This was my second read by this author and once again, was well written and fast paced.
It was packed with secrets and lies and of course, I love an unreliable narrator which keeps us guessing right to the end.
Such a great read and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.
I absolutely love any book that has a hint of blood - I know I'll be getting a good thriller or murder mystery and these are my favourite reads.
Plus, I just love purple!
The idea that the title and tags on the cover put in my head set me off coming up with theories before I even opened the book and I couldn't wait to find out.
This hooked me in right from the start and I actually read most of the book in one sitting - how did I manage to put it down, yep, life happened - but I was desperate to get back to this asap to finish it off.
I loved following Tessa as she scrambled to find the answers of what happened over that last eight hours - it starts to feel like she's going mad, but as pieces of the story comes together - and we follow the backstories - all the information slots into place to form a thrilling read.
There was so much going on through this with many threads explored as we look back at Grayson and Tessa's pasta, but also as the detail around his work starts to be uncovered.
This was my second read by this author and once again, was well written and fast paced.
It was packed with secrets and lies and of course, I love an unreliable narrator which keeps us guessing right to the end.
Such a great read and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.
August 28, 2026
A crazy ride that had me invested. The ending wrapped everything up and answered some difficult questions. I honestly didn't know what would happen. An unreliable narrator trope at its finest.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a wild ride of lies and deceit this story turned out to be! I was captivated from the very start, and setting this book aside felt utterly impossible. You have to dive into this book without any preconceived notions!
The plot unfolds through complex perspectives: Tessa Bennett, both in the present and the past; Mira from her earlier days; and Shelby Wyatt in the current timeline. We’re thrown straight into the action! Tessa wakes up next to her dead husband, Grayson, and his business partner. Confused and in a pool of blood, she realizes she’s been stabbed, yet she finds herself handcuffed in the hospital because, of course, the spouse is always the prime suspect. Not only can she not recall the last eight hours, but she learns that she’s also under the influence of some heavy drugs. What really happened? Who killed her husband and his partner? So many questions, and there’s so little time to unravel them!
Tessa is relatable, but there’s more to her than initially meets the eye, and we gradually piece together her story. This small-town girl hits it big and marries into wealth, making her someone we can all relate to. Who doesn’t dream of hitting it big? Working as a bartender, she knows a thing or two about her regulars. They all try to uncover her secrets while she similarly digs for information about them. However, they have no idea that she, too, has hidden truths, much like Grayson, who keeps his business dealings tightly under wraps. When Tessa finally discovers the truth, I can’t guarantee your heart won’t race!
The author did an incredible job keeping me engaged right from the start! I struggled to walk away from the pages. The story moves at a fast pace, although the middle does slow down a bit. Thankfully, the ending picks up the momentum. It deserves all the stars, but a few sections felt overly detailed, as the conclusion revisits some explanations. Overall, I loved the writing and the thrilling twists that kept coming, especially when we got a glimpse of what was truly happening. I promise you won’t see the ending coming, and I hope you choose to read it!
If you’re a fan of small-town murder mysteries, amateur sleuthing, dark hidden secrets, and the antics of the wealthy who play twisted games, this book will capture your attention! If you enjoy unreliable narrators, morally ambiguous characters, and the suspense of not knowing what’s unfolding until the very end, where everything ties together nicely, this is the read for you! Themes of grief, trauma, amateur investigation, references to AI, escaping death, amnesia, and so much more are woven into the story. I genuinely hope this book makes it onto your TBR pile before you can say, “I’m in!” I’ll be checking! Ha!
Thank you, Joffe Books, for the gifted DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot unfolds through complex perspectives: Tessa Bennett, both in the present and the past; Mira from her earlier days; and Shelby Wyatt in the current timeline. We’re thrown straight into the action! Tessa wakes up next to her dead husband, Grayson, and his business partner. Confused and in a pool of blood, she realizes she’s been stabbed, yet she finds herself handcuffed in the hospital because, of course, the spouse is always the prime suspect. Not only can she not recall the last eight hours, but she learns that she’s also under the influence of some heavy drugs. What really happened? Who killed her husband and his partner? So many questions, and there’s so little time to unravel them!
Tessa is relatable, but there’s more to her than initially meets the eye, and we gradually piece together her story. This small-town girl hits it big and marries into wealth, making her someone we can all relate to. Who doesn’t dream of hitting it big? Working as a bartender, she knows a thing or two about her regulars. They all try to uncover her secrets while she similarly digs for information about them. However, they have no idea that she, too, has hidden truths, much like Grayson, who keeps his business dealings tightly under wraps. When Tessa finally discovers the truth, I can’t guarantee your heart won’t race!
The author did an incredible job keeping me engaged right from the start! I struggled to walk away from the pages. The story moves at a fast pace, although the middle does slow down a bit. Thankfully, the ending picks up the momentum. It deserves all the stars, but a few sections felt overly detailed, as the conclusion revisits some explanations. Overall, I loved the writing and the thrilling twists that kept coming, especially when we got a glimpse of what was truly happening. I promise you won’t see the ending coming, and I hope you choose to read it!
If you’re a fan of small-town murder mysteries, amateur sleuthing, dark hidden secrets, and the antics of the wealthy who play twisted games, this book will capture your attention! If you enjoy unreliable narrators, morally ambiguous characters, and the suspense of not knowing what’s unfolding until the very end, where everything ties together nicely, this is the read for you! Themes of grief, trauma, amateur investigation, references to AI, escaping death, amnesia, and so much more are woven into the story. I genuinely hope this book makes it onto your TBR pile before you can say, “I’m in!” I’ll be checking! Ha!
Thank you, Joffe Books, for the gifted DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 5, 2026
There's something deliciously unsettling about a book that opens with blood already spilled and a mind already blank, and The Last Eight Hours wastes no time pulling you into that unease. I curled up with this one expecting a straightforward thriller, and instead got tangled in a web I'm still thinking about days later the kind of read that makes you want to text a friend at midnight just to say "you HAVE to read this."
We meet Tessa in the worst possible moment of her life: sore, disoriented, and standing over the bodies of her husband and his business partner. She can't remember the last eight hours. She doesn't know if she did this. Honestly, neither do we, and that shared confusion is what makes the opening so gripping , we're figuring it out right alongside her.
From there, we read as Tessa returns home to Cascade Bay, falling into a whirlwind romance with the charming Grayson, and meeting his friend Simon, who quietly threads through the story in ways that feel small at first but matter more than you'd think. Watching Tessa build a life she believes is golden, all while knowing it's headed somewhere dark, gives the whole first act a lovely, aching tension.
Then the rug gets pulled. As Tessa digs for answers to clear her name, she uncovers a husband who wasn't nearly as innocent as she believed, and the story deepens in ways I genuinely didn't see coming. The introduction of Mira, caught up in a memory-wiping trial in the eerie, clinical Whitestone facility, adds a layer of almost sci-fi intrigue that ties back into Tessa's story in a way that had me flipping pages faster and faster.
This is a book for anyone who loves a good identity-twisting, revenge-tinged thriller, the kind where nothing is quite as it seems and everyone might be hiding something. SC Shannon balances the emotional whirlwind romance with the cold, clever plotting of a psychological thriller beautifully, and the payoff is worth every page.
Curl up with a blanket and your favourite cuppa for this one you'll want to be settled in, because you won't want to get up once it grabs hold.
September 18, 2026
Twisty • Mysterious • Unpredictable
Tessa wakes up beside the body of her new husband, Grayson Bennett, with another dead man in the house - his business partner, Ronan Whitaker. The problem? She has absolutely no memory of the previous eight hours.
The Last Eight Hours throws you straight into the chaos, and I was hooked from the opening chapter. Waking up covered in blood beside your husband’s body, with absolutely no idea what happened during the previous eight hours, is one hell of a way to start a book!
I really liked Tessa as a protagonist because we’re just as in the dark as she is. She doesn’t know who to trust, we don’t know who to trust, and every new piece of information seemed to raise another question.
I particularly enjoyed the way the story moves between Tessa’s past and present. Slowly discovering more about her relationship with Grayson and the life she thought she had built, while knowing there was so much she didn’t know, worked really well.
Then there’s the Whitestone Foundation - I thought this added a great element to the story, giving it dark edge. As Tessa starts uncovering what really happened, the story takes some turns I genuinely didn’t see coming. I also really liked how everything came together - and that ending definitely worked for me!
The Last Eight Hours - A gripping psychological thriller with plenty of secrets, twists and unanswered questions.
Tessa wakes up beside the body of her new husband, Grayson Bennett, with another dead man in the house - his business partner, Ronan Whitaker. The problem? She has absolutely no memory of the previous eight hours.
The Last Eight Hours throws you straight into the chaos, and I was hooked from the opening chapter. Waking up covered in blood beside your husband’s body, with absolutely no idea what happened during the previous eight hours, is one hell of a way to start a book!
I really liked Tessa as a protagonist because we’re just as in the dark as she is. She doesn’t know who to trust, we don’t know who to trust, and every new piece of information seemed to raise another question.
I particularly enjoyed the way the story moves between Tessa’s past and present. Slowly discovering more about her relationship with Grayson and the life she thought she had built, while knowing there was so much she didn’t know, worked really well.
Then there’s the Whitestone Foundation - I thought this added a great element to the story, giving it dark edge. As Tessa starts uncovering what really happened, the story takes some turns I genuinely didn’t see coming. I also really liked how everything came together - and that ending definitely worked for me!
The Last Eight Hours - A gripping psychological thriller with plenty of secrets, twists and unanswered questions.
September 17, 2026
ARC received from NetGalley
I love thrillers; I love the anxiety and the confusion that comes from not knowing what is going to happen (or what happened already), and this book gave me exactly that.
We follow Tessa, who wakes up hurt and beside the bodies of both her husband, Grayson, and his business partner, Ronan, while having no memory of what happened in the previous hours.
I thought the thriller aspect was extremely well done; the different POVs and timelines kept the story going as we uncovered who was really innocent and who was really the bad guy. I won't say much more because I feel like it is better to go into it pretty blindly, but I’ll say that it had me confused for a big chunk of it.
It was also very addictive; once I got completely into the mystery, I could not stop reading until I finished it.
If you are into fast-paced thrillers that keep you hooked and confused, this will be perfect for you.
I love thrillers; I love the anxiety and the confusion that comes from not knowing what is going to happen (or what happened already), and this book gave me exactly that.
We follow Tessa, who wakes up hurt and beside the bodies of both her husband, Grayson, and his business partner, Ronan, while having no memory of what happened in the previous hours.
I thought the thriller aspect was extremely well done; the different POVs and timelines kept the story going as we uncovered who was really innocent and who was really the bad guy. I won't say much more because I feel like it is better to go into it pretty blindly, but I’ll say that it had me confused for a big chunk of it.
It was also very addictive; once I got completely into the mystery, I could not stop reading until I finished it.
If you are into fast-paced thrillers that keep you hooked and confused, this will be perfect for you.
September 5, 2026
Holy moly that was insane!!
@s.c.shannon.author had me hooked from the first page. Tessa was an incredible character. As the book progresses and information becomes available, it feels like you are right there sharing the moments with her as she remembers.
There are a few timeliness, which added to the mystery and the writing is detailed, you are kept engaged the whole way through. The lies and deceit that is slowly uncovered shook me to the bones and I felt the anger and disappointment come through in the writing as the story progressed.
This was a fast paced pshycological thriller that will keep you on your toes till the last page. The race to uncover the truth was riddled with questions and uncertainty and this combined with some morally grey characters made for a heart stopping read that I devoured in one sitting, I highly recommend this to all thriller fans!
@s.c.shannon.author had me hooked from the first page. Tessa was an incredible character. As the book progresses and information becomes available, it feels like you are right there sharing the moments with her as she remembers.
There are a few timeliness, which added to the mystery and the writing is detailed, you are kept engaged the whole way through. The lies and deceit that is slowly uncovered shook me to the bones and I felt the anger and disappointment come through in the writing as the story progressed.
This was a fast paced pshycological thriller that will keep you on your toes till the last page. The race to uncover the truth was riddled with questions and uncertainty and this combined with some morally grey characters made for a heart stopping read that I devoured in one sitting, I highly recommend this to all thriller fans!
September 8, 2026
Shannon is or should I say was a new-to-me author at the start of The Last Eight Hours. Now I just want to read everything she's ever written.
It was addictively good and the whole 'one more chapter' before bed went right out the window. I lost sleep but it was well worth it.
There were multiple threads, unreliable narrators, and a whole load of secrets and lies waiting in the wings.
Pace was fast and only got faster, twists got twisty, and the ending got me. I didn't see that one coming...
It was addictively good and the whole 'one more chapter' before bed went right out the window. I lost sleep but it was well worth it.
There were multiple threads, unreliable narrators, and a whole load of secrets and lies waiting in the wings.
Pace was fast and only got faster, twists got twisty, and the ending got me. I didn't see that one coming...
September 29, 2026
get you someone who loves you as much as simon loves tessa🫰🏼
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
Review of an advance copy received from Joffe Books
Wow! What a book! Definitely grilled me with such a huge revelation beyond the double homicide.
I mean, look. A double homicide already takes a lot to solve here, especially when the suspect is smart enough to hide behind something like amnesia or memory loss. Yet on the plate now, we have some sort of invisible threads leading to several other jaw-dropping things that make you shake your head in disbelief.
First, there’s a multimillion-dollar sinister gambling operation disguised as a mental rehabilitation center. That business is why so many people have gone missing in town. And yes, something about it ties back to Grayson and Tessa’s upbringings too.
I’m not spilling everything here, but what you should know is this. Everything starts coming down one by one as Tessa plays around with her memory-loss excuse.
The part I love the most is when pieces of Tessa’s memory from the murder night keep peeking through her dreams and hallucinations. Every single time those scenes return, I get undeniable goosebumps.
While I truly feel sorry for everything in Tessa’s past, I’d still say she deserves to be haunted by those mental breakdowns.
After finishing this book, Tessa leaves me with nothing but mixed feelings.
I find her audacity so hilarious. There’s one part where she says she’s not a bad person. She says she’s just the product of a cruel world. Bruh!
Tell me what am I supposed to do other than roll my eyes after hearing her call herself not a bad person, knowing she hid behind her memory-loss excuse, and tucked away all the evidence where investigators would never think to look? Hmmm.
But at the same time, she somehow feels like the hero of the story too. If it weren’t because of Tessa, nobody would’ve uncovered that gambling operation. Nobody would’ve exposed the fake mental rehabilitation center.
But I guess once you use one crime to expose another, you are still the villain. It still makes you the villain. Am I right?
“So, here I am now. In one week from today, I am going to kill Grayson Bennett. He will never see it coming.”
Tessa Bennett plans a big revenge on her rich and successful husband. Only to wake up with memory loss. Only to become the woman lying beside two dead bodies later identified as Grayson Bennett and Ronan Whitaker.
Yes. Two dead bodies. Her husband’s business partner also dies in that house. Unplanned. But how?
Tessa says she has no memory of the night of the murders. Ever since the Cascade Bay Police Department finds her lying in the living room, covered in blood beside those bodies, she keeps telling everyone she can’t remember the last eight hours, and that she wishes she had something to say to help with the investigation.
Memory loss. Forgetting everything. Of course that sounds like one hell of an excuse to get away with murder.
Honestly? It appears so cringe and pretentious… yet unbelievably intriguing at the same time. An excuse that looks obviously fabricated, yet one that made this book completely unputdownable for me. It tickled my curiosity really bad, even before I decided to grab this book.
But well, Tessa’s claim is apparently supported by her hospital toxicology report.
She was heavily drugged. The substance found in her bloodstream can actually cause severe amnesia. Plus, she also has a concussion by the time she is found.
Just when her story almost starts sounding believable to the detectives, something shows that the investigation is being played. Clues are scattered in pages of Grayson‘s books, hiding in the least expected places.
Wow! What a book! Definitely grilled me with such a huge revelation beyond the double homicide.
I mean, look. A double homicide already takes a lot to solve here, especially when the suspect is smart enough to hide behind something like amnesia or memory loss. Yet on the plate now, we have some sort of invisible threads leading to several other jaw-dropping things that make you shake your head in disbelief.
First, there’s a multimillion-dollar sinister gambling operation disguised as a mental rehabilitation center. That business is why so many people have gone missing in town. And yes, something about it ties back to Grayson and Tessa’s upbringings too.
I’m not spilling everything here, but what you should know is this. Everything starts coming down one by one as Tessa plays around with her memory-loss excuse.
The part I love the most is when pieces of Tessa’s memory from the murder night keep peeking through her dreams and hallucinations. Every single time those scenes return, I get undeniable goosebumps.
While I truly feel sorry for everything in Tessa’s past, I’d still say she deserves to be haunted by those mental breakdowns.
After finishing this book, Tessa leaves me with nothing but mixed feelings.
I find her audacity so hilarious. There’s one part where she says she’s not a bad person. She says she’s just the product of a cruel world. Bruh!
Tell me what am I supposed to do other than roll my eyes after hearing her call herself not a bad person, knowing she hid behind her memory-loss excuse, and tucked away all the evidence where investigators would never think to look? Hmmm.
But at the same time, she somehow feels like the hero of the story too. If it weren’t because of Tessa, nobody would’ve uncovered that gambling operation. Nobody would’ve exposed the fake mental rehabilitation center.
But I guess once you use one crime to expose another, you are still the villain. It still makes you the villain. Am I right?
“So, here I am now. In one week from today, I am going to kill Grayson Bennett. He will never see it coming.”
Tessa Bennett plans a big revenge on her rich and successful husband. Only to wake up with memory loss. Only to become the woman lying beside two dead bodies later identified as Grayson Bennett and Ronan Whitaker.
Yes. Two dead bodies. Her husband’s business partner also dies in that house. Unplanned. But how?
Tessa says she has no memory of the night of the murders. Ever since the Cascade Bay Police Department finds her lying in the living room, covered in blood beside those bodies, she keeps telling everyone she can’t remember the last eight hours, and that she wishes she had something to say to help with the investigation.
Memory loss. Forgetting everything. Of course that sounds like one hell of an excuse to get away with murder.
Honestly? It appears so cringe and pretentious… yet unbelievably intriguing at the same time. An excuse that looks obviously fabricated, yet one that made this book completely unputdownable for me. It tickled my curiosity really bad, even before I decided to grab this book.
But well, Tessa’s claim is apparently supported by her hospital toxicology report.
She was heavily drugged. The substance found in her bloodstream can actually cause severe amnesia. Plus, she also has a concussion by the time she is found.
Just when her story almost starts sounding believable to the detectives, something shows that the investigation is being played. Clues are scattered in pages of Grayson‘s books, hiding in the least expected places.
September 3, 2026
From the very first chapter, The Last Eight Hours pulls you straight into a terrifying situation. We are introduced to Tessa, whose life is about to become a whole lot worse. She is woken by the police and ordered to get up and put her hands in the air. Completely confused, she has no idea why they are there—until she looks around and sees the blood and two bodies.
One of the bodies is her husband, Grayson. The other is his business partner, Ronan Whitaker. The biggest problem? Tessa has absolutely no memory of what happened during the last eight hours.
The story then moves between the past and present, gradually revealing more about Tessa's life and the events that have led her to this point. We discover how she first met Grayson and, perhaps more intriguingly, that Tessa has spent time at a mysterious private facility called The Whitestone Foundation. This is no ordinary facility. It is invitation-only and offers people the opportunity to erase parts of their past. In Tessa's case, she has gone there to have certain memories erased.
In the present, Tessa is released without charge, but that doesn't mean her nightmare is over. The press are camped outside her home, everyone seems convinced that she is guilty, and the police investigation and interviews begin to take their toll. To make matters even more unsettling, Tessa starts experiencing what appear to be hallucinations. Then she begins receiving anonymous messages warning her that she is in danger.
With so many unanswered questions, Tessa starts to wonder whether she can trust the police to find the truth—or whether she needs to investigate for herself.
That's when Ethan Hauser enters the story. A former police officer who has since become a private investigator, Ethan offers to help clear Tessa's name. But he wants something in return. He believes that Grayson may have been involved with The Whitestone Project and wants Tessa to help him investigate. There have been a number of missing people, and Ethan suspects there could be a connection between their disappearances, The Whitestone Project, Grayson and Ronan.
As Tessa and Ethan dig deeper, more of the mystery begins to unravel, and the story takes some unexpected turns. There are some great twists along the way that really add to the drama and keep you questioning what is actually happening.
I really enjoyed this book. The alternating timelines worked really well, slowly revealing pieces of Tessa's past while keeping you invested in what is happening to her in the present. There is a constant feeling that there is more to the story than Tessa herself knows, which kept me turning the pages.
And that ending! I thought it was fantastic. Everything comes together in a way that makes the journey worthwhile and brings the story to a very satisfying conclusion.
A gripping and suspenseful read with plenty of mystery, twists and unanswered questions. A really great book that kept me guessing right until the end.
One of the bodies is her husband, Grayson. The other is his business partner, Ronan Whitaker. The biggest problem? Tessa has absolutely no memory of what happened during the last eight hours.
The story then moves between the past and present, gradually revealing more about Tessa's life and the events that have led her to this point. We discover how she first met Grayson and, perhaps more intriguingly, that Tessa has spent time at a mysterious private facility called The Whitestone Foundation. This is no ordinary facility. It is invitation-only and offers people the opportunity to erase parts of their past. In Tessa's case, she has gone there to have certain memories erased.
In the present, Tessa is released without charge, but that doesn't mean her nightmare is over. The press are camped outside her home, everyone seems convinced that she is guilty, and the police investigation and interviews begin to take their toll. To make matters even more unsettling, Tessa starts experiencing what appear to be hallucinations. Then she begins receiving anonymous messages warning her that she is in danger.
With so many unanswered questions, Tessa starts to wonder whether she can trust the police to find the truth—or whether she needs to investigate for herself.
That's when Ethan Hauser enters the story. A former police officer who has since become a private investigator, Ethan offers to help clear Tessa's name. But he wants something in return. He believes that Grayson may have been involved with The Whitestone Project and wants Tessa to help him investigate. There have been a number of missing people, and Ethan suspects there could be a connection between their disappearances, The Whitestone Project, Grayson and Ronan.
As Tessa and Ethan dig deeper, more of the mystery begins to unravel, and the story takes some unexpected turns. There are some great twists along the way that really add to the drama and keep you questioning what is actually happening.
I really enjoyed this book. The alternating timelines worked really well, slowly revealing pieces of Tessa's past while keeping you invested in what is happening to her in the present. There is a constant feeling that there is more to the story than Tessa herself knows, which kept me turning the pages.
And that ending! I thought it was fantastic. Everything comes together in a way that makes the journey worthwhile and brings the story to a very satisfying conclusion.
A gripping and suspenseful read with plenty of mystery, twists and unanswered questions. A really great book that kept me guessing right until the end.
September 9, 2026
I struggled in rating this book. It was crazy, out there, lots of twists, fast paced. I couldn’t decide whether 3.5 or 4 so I just went to 4⭐️ Dual POV’s and timelines.
Tessa comes to in a hospital, chained to the bed and no memory of how she got there. All she can remember was a bright light shined on her and police telling her to put her hands in the air. She was covered in blood next to a body while another body lay near. Tessa finds out she was drugged the night of the murders and doesn’t know if she’s innocent or guilty. In the aftermath, her husband and her husband’s business partner are dead and she’s been stabbed. Knowing she will have to provide an interview with detectives, she sets out on her own investigation to uncover the truth that her fractured mind won’t allow her recover.
Spoilers along with the my thoughts and one huge issue I had with the book
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Mira. It’s not long after being introduced that some of the facts of Mira’s story are too familiar and you realize what was going on. I just wasn’t sure why the name change or difference until further explained. It was kind of like a, well duh moment.
I like that we find out Tessa is the one behind her sister’s blackmail and ultimately takes on the guilt and shame of her sister’s death. What she did landed her at Whitestone in the first place but if it hadn’t been for Grayson, she wouldn’t have been heartbroken in the first place. I understood the reason she “blackmailed” her. Thinking it would only point to Grayson since the photos were for him, but I can’t help but to think that’s cold blooded. Couldn’t she think of another way to get him out of her sister’s life?
My main issue with this entire story is, if Grayson was dating the sister (already forgot her name as it was hardly mentioned, Google said Vicky), how would he not know who little sister Tessa was? And even without that, when Mira infiltrated Whitestone as a ‘guest’, how just a few years later would he not recognize one of the ones who got away?! That would have been huge and pivotal. She didn’t change her appearance. 20 years didn’t go by. It’s like wtf! Yes a lot of ppl came to the wellness retreat but how many escaped? It seems like it would have only been her and he would have remembered.
The plot to kill and have a scapegoat and back as to not let an innocent person go away for the murders was top tier. The added twist that her best friend knew about Whitestone and wasn’t against it when her own brother died to it as well was mind blowing 🤯 and a great twist. Her turning on her best friend as well! Jaw dropped.
I had a feeling it would have a Wild things ending and I’m glad it did.
Tessa comes to in a hospital, chained to the bed and no memory of how she got there. All she can remember was a bright light shined on her and police telling her to put her hands in the air. She was covered in blood next to a body while another body lay near. Tessa finds out she was drugged the night of the murders and doesn’t know if she’s innocent or guilty. In the aftermath, her husband and her husband’s business partner are dead and she’s been stabbed. Knowing she will have to provide an interview with detectives, she sets out on her own investigation to uncover the truth that her fractured mind won’t allow her recover.
Spoilers along with the my thoughts and one huge issue I had with the book
‼️
‼️
‼️
‼️
Mira. It’s not long after being introduced that some of the facts of Mira’s story are too familiar and you realize what was going on. I just wasn’t sure why the name change or difference until further explained. It was kind of like a, well duh moment.
I like that we find out Tessa is the one behind her sister’s blackmail and ultimately takes on the guilt and shame of her sister’s death. What she did landed her at Whitestone in the first place but if it hadn’t been for Grayson, she wouldn’t have been heartbroken in the first place. I understood the reason she “blackmailed” her. Thinking it would only point to Grayson since the photos were for him, but I can’t help but to think that’s cold blooded. Couldn’t she think of another way to get him out of her sister’s life?
My main issue with this entire story is, if Grayson was dating the sister (already forgot her name as it was hardly mentioned, Google said Vicky), how would he not know who little sister Tessa was? And even without that, when Mira infiltrated Whitestone as a ‘guest’, how just a few years later would he not recognize one of the ones who got away?! That would have been huge and pivotal. She didn’t change her appearance. 20 years didn’t go by. It’s like wtf! Yes a lot of ppl came to the wellness retreat but how many escaped? It seems like it would have only been her and he would have remembered.
The plot to kill and have a scapegoat and back as to not let an innocent person go away for the murders was top tier. The added twist that her best friend knew about Whitestone and wasn’t against it when her own brother died to it as well was mind blowing 🤯 and a great twist. Her turning on her best friend as well! Jaw dropped.
I had a feeling it would have a Wild things ending and I’m glad it did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2026
Here’s my review for The Last Eight Hours by S C Shannon
I was totally addicted, gripped and hooked by this brilliant psychological thriller that I just couldn’t put it down. Tessa originally grew up in Cascade Bay but left for a few years before returning and working behind a bar. She caught the eye of Grayson Bennett, a rich millionaire who often conducted business interviews in her bar where she worked. After saying ‘no’ several times, she finally succumbed, said yes and after a few dates, Grayson asked Tessa to marry him. She agreed and after a whirlwind romance, they had a small registry office wedding. Now though, she is being woken up by police officers saying instructions to her and she's in a pool of blood beside her husband's body. When she's finally standing, she sees another man on the sofa covered in blood. The police cuff her like a suspect but she has no memory of the last eight hours. The hospital tells her she's been drugged along with a concussion. Detective Wyatt confirms her husband is dead. She screams at the news.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this terrific thriller that was full of questions, tension, suspense and twists. It was written as a dual pov story, ie Tessa and Mira but it covered Tessa, past and present. This way we learnt so much more about the story and what was happening. The characters were intriguing and there was great detail to them. The first few pages really drew me into this fantastic story, then I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. The writing is very descriptive and everything is described in great detail. The story is superbly written, extremely well plotted and excellently thought out. I have read this author before and really enjoy reading their books. I'm looking forward to their next one.
Synopsis :
I wake up in a pool of blood beside my new husband’s body. There’s another dead man in my house.
And I have no memory of the last eight hours.
My life had hit a low point when I met handsome businessman Grayson Bennett. But he didn’t care that I worked in a bar. Rich, charming and impossible to resist, he swept me off my feet and gave me a life I could only dream of.
But now I’m in handcuffs — and trapped inside a nightmare.
When I get to the hospital, they tell me I was drugged. Someone stole my memories.
All I know is that my husband and his business partner are dead.
The police think I’m the one who killed them.
What if they’re right?
Perfect for fans of Jeneva Rose, B.A. Paris, McGarvey Black, Gone Girl and The Housemaid.
I was totally addicted, gripped and hooked by this brilliant psychological thriller that I just couldn’t put it down. Tessa originally grew up in Cascade Bay but left for a few years before returning and working behind a bar. She caught the eye of Grayson Bennett, a rich millionaire who often conducted business interviews in her bar where she worked. After saying ‘no’ several times, she finally succumbed, said yes and after a few dates, Grayson asked Tessa to marry him. She agreed and after a whirlwind romance, they had a small registry office wedding. Now though, she is being woken up by police officers saying instructions to her and she's in a pool of blood beside her husband's body. When she's finally standing, she sees another man on the sofa covered in blood. The police cuff her like a suspect but she has no memory of the last eight hours. The hospital tells her she's been drugged along with a concussion. Detective Wyatt confirms her husband is dead. She screams at the news.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this terrific thriller that was full of questions, tension, suspense and twists. It was written as a dual pov story, ie Tessa and Mira but it covered Tessa, past and present. This way we learnt so much more about the story and what was happening. The characters were intriguing and there was great detail to them. The first few pages really drew me into this fantastic story, then I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. The writing is very descriptive and everything is described in great detail. The story is superbly written, extremely well plotted and excellently thought out. I have read this author before and really enjoy reading their books. I'm looking forward to their next one.
Synopsis :
I wake up in a pool of blood beside my new husband’s body. There’s another dead man in my house.
And I have no memory of the last eight hours.
My life had hit a low point when I met handsome businessman Grayson Bennett. But he didn’t care that I worked in a bar. Rich, charming and impossible to resist, he swept me off my feet and gave me a life I could only dream of.
But now I’m in handcuffs — and trapped inside a nightmare.
When I get to the hospital, they tell me I was drugged. Someone stole my memories.
All I know is that my husband and his business partner are dead.
The police think I’m the one who killed them.
What if they’re right?
Perfect for fans of Jeneva Rose, B.A. Paris, McGarvey Black, Gone Girl and The Housemaid.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to netgalley for this advanced reader copy, This book does really start off in force with an opening chapter of a woman next to two dead people one being her husband. I felt like the book delves into lots of crevices and takes along a storyline of its own. How does Tessa even being to explain this to the police with no memory.
The reader also meets another character and it looks to be two storylines where we meet Mira, at first its odd to see how it connects but it connects perfectly as you make your way through. I dont want to say to much about Mira as you need to read for yourself. The storyline flits from before and now, which is why you have to keep careful track.
This book certainly has a creeping dread in it when you turn the pages, you know its not going to be good , but its a whole different type of book. The parts start to link together as the truth starts to emerge, it really does give you that horrible feeling in your tummy, its also dark in places .
I think it took me 3 days to finish this, it was easy reading and good to follow but you must keep track of what is happening. There's a lot of moving pieces again in this book that work but it follows a detective type strategy.
The way that Grayson is portrayed is the perfect narcissistic husband that most woman would happily fall for , rich and wanting the perfectly quiet stay at home house wife , who will not question a thing. Who will admire and swoon over her husband all day long and prepare tea, accept Tessa just isn’t that woman she's destined for different things and although Grayson plays her for dumb, she really isn’t.
I love Tessa's courage she's damaged but strong and resilient, she doesn’t let that flame that keeps her alight go out despite what life throws at her. The public put her down as vulnerable but they really know nothing, more fool them for taking her at face value . This is a woman who has bided her time and sat patiently, collecting and not forgetting. The ending is done very well and i love how Tessa has build some complicated relationships but people get her in a way that others dont.
The reader also meets another character and it looks to be two storylines where we meet Mira, at first its odd to see how it connects but it connects perfectly as you make your way through. I dont want to say to much about Mira as you need to read for yourself. The storyline flits from before and now, which is why you have to keep careful track.
This book certainly has a creeping dread in it when you turn the pages, you know its not going to be good , but its a whole different type of book. The parts start to link together as the truth starts to emerge, it really does give you that horrible feeling in your tummy, its also dark in places .
I think it took me 3 days to finish this, it was easy reading and good to follow but you must keep track of what is happening. There's a lot of moving pieces again in this book that work but it follows a detective type strategy.
The way that Grayson is portrayed is the perfect narcissistic husband that most woman would happily fall for , rich and wanting the perfectly quiet stay at home house wife , who will not question a thing. Who will admire and swoon over her husband all day long and prepare tea, accept Tessa just isn’t that woman she's destined for different things and although Grayson plays her for dumb, she really isn’t.
I love Tessa's courage she's damaged but strong and resilient, she doesn’t let that flame that keeps her alight go out despite what life throws at her. The public put her down as vulnerable but they really know nothing, more fool them for taking her at face value . This is a woman who has bided her time and sat patiently, collecting and not forgetting. The ending is done very well and i love how Tessa has build some complicated relationships but people get her in a way that others dont.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Do you remember what you did in the last eight hours?
Tessa doesn’t.
Eight hours are completely missing from her memory—and what happened during those hours is far more disturbing than she could have imagined.
The Last Eight Hours pulled me in almost immediately and refused to let go. It’s dark, unsettling, mysterious, and genuinely creepy in a way that slowly gets under your skin. This isn’t just a book you read—it’s a book that makes you suddenly very aware of every sound in your house.
The bump.
The tap.
The tick.
I was literally huddled under my covers waiting for the next noise while telling myself I was absolutely going to stop reading after just one more chapter.
I didn’t.
Every time I thought I had figured out what was happening, S.C. Shannon ripped that theory apart and sent me in another direction. The twists kept coming, the questions kept piling up, and I became increasingly desperate to find out exactly what happened during those missing eight hours.
There were moments that creeped me out, moments that frustrated me, and moments that had me questioning absolutely everything. It’s suspenseful, maddening, eerie, and completely addictive.
I could not put it down.
And when a thriller has me suspicious of every bump in the night long after I should have gone to sleep? That’s a five-star read for me.
So, ask yourself:
Will you remember your next eight hours?
Because after reading this book, you definitely will.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — creepy, twisty, and impossible to put down.
Do you remember what you did in the last eight hours?
Tessa doesn’t.
Eight hours are completely missing from her memory—and what happened during those hours is far more disturbing than she could have imagined.
The Last Eight Hours pulled me in almost immediately and refused to let go. It’s dark, unsettling, mysterious, and genuinely creepy in a way that slowly gets under your skin. This isn’t just a book you read—it’s a book that makes you suddenly very aware of every sound in your house.
The bump.
The tap.
The tick.
I was literally huddled under my covers waiting for the next noise while telling myself I was absolutely going to stop reading after just one more chapter.
I didn’t.
Every time I thought I had figured out what was happening, S.C. Shannon ripped that theory apart and sent me in another direction. The twists kept coming, the questions kept piling up, and I became increasingly desperate to find out exactly what happened during those missing eight hours.
There were moments that creeped me out, moments that frustrated me, and moments that had me questioning absolutely everything. It’s suspenseful, maddening, eerie, and completely addictive.
I could not put it down.
And when a thriller has me suspicious of every bump in the night long after I should have gone to sleep? That’s a five-star read for me.
So, ask yourself:
Will you remember your next eight hours?
Because after reading this book, you definitely will.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — creepy, twisty, and impossible to put down.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"I'll get Grayson out of the picture soon enough."
A multi-faceted tale of trauma, regret, and murder.
What a traumatically terrifying opening scene! Grayson Bennet, husband and the "epitome of evil", dead, found in a pool of blood at home alongside his wife. Tessa Bennet presents with amnesia, a convenient diagnosis. Detectives must let Tessa go as they don't have evidence proving she committed these suspicious crimes. Plural. Because there's a second body.
Told from multiple POV's in dual timelines with various "before" scenes and present day happenings, readers mostly follow Tessa as she tries to help detectives solve her husband's murder. Using Google and AI to help this amateur sleuth in her investigation, clues and memories begin to fall into place as Tessa takes investigating into her own hands.
"Something nefarious is taking place here"
Tessa faces a death-defying escape to save her life as she attempts to determine a motive for the murders- Home invasion? Planned revenge? Heat of the moment? Accident?- as secrets begin unfurling at every turn. And what the heck is happening in Room 114?!?
Troupes: amnesia, unreliable narrator, murder mystery, dual timeline, amateur sleuth, multiple POV, secret identity, shocking twist, big reveal, secret organization, villainous victim
Spice: 1/5 🌶️
Gore: 3/5 🩸
Language: 4/5 👀
Triggers: assault, battery, murder
Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
"I'll get Grayson out of the picture soon enough."
A multi-faceted tale of trauma, regret, and murder.
What a traumatically terrifying opening scene! Grayson Bennet, husband and the "epitome of evil", dead, found in a pool of blood at home alongside his wife. Tessa Bennet presents with amnesia, a convenient diagnosis. Detectives must let Tessa go as they don't have evidence proving she committed these suspicious crimes. Plural. Because there's a second body.
Told from multiple POV's in dual timelines with various "before" scenes and present day happenings, readers mostly follow Tessa as she tries to help detectives solve her husband's murder. Using Google and AI to help this amateur sleuth in her investigation, clues and memories begin to fall into place as Tessa takes investigating into her own hands.
"Something nefarious is taking place here"
Tessa faces a death-defying escape to save her life as she attempts to determine a motive for the murders- Home invasion? Planned revenge? Heat of the moment? Accident?- as secrets begin unfurling at every turn. And what the heck is happening in Room 114?!?
Troupes: amnesia, unreliable narrator, murder mystery, dual timeline, amateur sleuth, multiple POV, secret identity, shocking twist, big reveal, secret organization, villainous victim
Spice: 1/5 🌶️
Gore: 3/5 🩸
Language: 4/5 👀
Triggers: assault, battery, murder
Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars rounded down!
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC.
The synopsis really doesn't do this one justice! I went in expecting a fairly standard psychological thriller about a woman who wakes up beside her murdered husband with no memory of the previous eight hours as it says, but it ended up becoming something much bigger and completely unexpected.
There are several different threads running through the story and I loved trying to work out how they were connected. Little details gradually started falling into place, there were plenty of characters to be suspicious of, and every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, something else made me question it.
As the story develops, it moves beyond the initial psychological thriller premise into something much more high-concept and almost The Blacklist-esque. It does get a little far-fetched in places, but honestly, it worked! By that point I was completely invested and more than happy to go along for the ride. It's twisty, dark and at times pretty wild, but everything does eventually come together.
A few characters behaved in ways that seemed odd initially, although this all made sense once more was revealed.
Overall, this was much more ambitious than I expected from the synopsis and I had a great time with it. If you enjoy psychological thrillers but also like bigger, slightly bonkers conspiracy plots where you just have to buckle up and see where the story takes you, I'd definitely recommend this one.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC.
The synopsis really doesn't do this one justice! I went in expecting a fairly standard psychological thriller about a woman who wakes up beside her murdered husband with no memory of the previous eight hours as it says, but it ended up becoming something much bigger and completely unexpected.
There are several different threads running through the story and I loved trying to work out how they were connected. Little details gradually started falling into place, there were plenty of characters to be suspicious of, and every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, something else made me question it.
As the story develops, it moves beyond the initial psychological thriller premise into something much more high-concept and almost The Blacklist-esque. It does get a little far-fetched in places, but honestly, it worked! By that point I was completely invested and more than happy to go along for the ride. It's twisty, dark and at times pretty wild, but everything does eventually come together.
A few characters behaved in ways that seemed odd initially, although this all made sense once more was revealed.
Overall, this was much more ambitious than I expected from the synopsis and I had a great time with it. If you enjoy psychological thrillers but also like bigger, slightly bonkers conspiracy plots where you just have to buckle up and see where the story takes you, I'd definitely recommend this one.
September 3, 2026
This is my first time reading a book by this author so I did not know what to expect. I ended up really enjoying this one and will be looking to read other books by the author.
The Last Eight Hours was a wild ride, not what I was expecting at all. Tessa is awakened by the police as they arrive at her home, she doesn't know what has happened but finds that her husband and her husband's business partner have been murdered and yet she doesn't remember anything. The spouse is always the first to suspect so she is taken to the hospital and handcuffed to the bed, she's disoriented, has no memory and drugs are found in her system that are know to cause amnesia, and she is also injured. The police do release her to return home, where some strange things start to happen and she receives messages warning her that someone wants her dead. That in itself got me hooked and wanting to know more. Seems that there is more than one person with secrets in this story. The story is a rollercoaster, told through different points of view, but mainly Tessa and different timelines and it really had a twist that I didn't see coming. It has deception, lies, murder, framing and more. Everything comes together in the end. I thought it had a very clever plot and surprising twists and turns.
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the complimentary copy of the story.
The Last Eight Hours was a wild ride, not what I was expecting at all. Tessa is awakened by the police as they arrive at her home, she doesn't know what has happened but finds that her husband and her husband's business partner have been murdered and yet she doesn't remember anything. The spouse is always the first to suspect so she is taken to the hospital and handcuffed to the bed, she's disoriented, has no memory and drugs are found in her system that are know to cause amnesia, and she is also injured. The police do release her to return home, where some strange things start to happen and she receives messages warning her that someone wants her dead. That in itself got me hooked and wanting to know more. Seems that there is more than one person with secrets in this story. The story is a rollercoaster, told through different points of view, but mainly Tessa and different timelines and it really had a twist that I didn't see coming. It has deception, lies, murder, framing and more. Everything comes together in the end. I thought it had a very clever plot and surprising twists and turns.
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the complimentary copy of the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eight missing hours, two dead bodies, and a woman who may not be quite as innocent as she seems. This premise had me utterly absorbed. The Last Eight Hours was fast and gripping. Tessa wakes up beside two dead bodies, including her husband, with absolutely no memory of the last eight hours. I mean, how could I not want to know what happened?!
I loved the multiple POVs and the back and forth between before and now. There were a lot of moving pieces here, which can sometimes be too much for me, but I thought there was a really good balance. Everything kept slowly connecting and I never felt completely lost in it. The missing memory element was probably my favorite part because it made it really hard to predict where the story was going or how everything would end. And once you know what actually happened during those eight hours, it kind of changes how you look at everything that came before it.
In the end, this book isn’t only about what happened during the last eight hours. It’s also about how much knowing what happened changes the way you judge the person who did it.
Thank you so much Joffe Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review! The Last Eight Hours was a gripping and memorable read…pun absolutely intended.
I loved the multiple POVs and the back and forth between before and now. There were a lot of moving pieces here, which can sometimes be too much for me, but I thought there was a really good balance. Everything kept slowly connecting and I never felt completely lost in it. The missing memory element was probably my favorite part because it made it really hard to predict where the story was going or how everything would end. And once you know what actually happened during those eight hours, it kind of changes how you look at everything that came before it.
In the end, this book isn’t only about what happened during the last eight hours. It’s also about how much knowing what happened changes the way you judge the person who did it.
Thank you so much Joffe Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review! The Last Eight Hours was a gripping and memorable read…pun absolutely intended.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅. 𝑰'𝒎 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅."
Special thanks to the amazing @s.c.shannon.author for the #gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️
𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have LOVED every one of S.C. Shannon's books I've read. They are suspenseful, twisty and absolute bangers. I, of course, went in blind to this because in my eyes, she can write no wrongs.
This one begins with a heck of a tragedy and then turns into quite the story. Layers unraveling as the timelines dip from before and present. Then you get sinister messages and ghost sightings and I'm all in.
Miras story has my brain working away trying to figure out how this fits into the path paved by Tessa's povs. I'm straight up memorized by this story. I couldn't wait to find out what happened.
This book gets so twisty and down right sinister. I am in awe of how this turned out. This one was fantastic. The dual timelines, the different povs. I loved every second of this book and couldn't get enough of it.
𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
Sep 17, 2026
ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Does blood freak you out?
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.
.
🏷
S.C. Shannon . Joffee Books . Thriller . Psychological Thriller . Domestic Suspense .
#arcreader #scshannon #thelasteighthours #joffeebooks
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Special thanks to the amazing @s.c.shannon.author for the #gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️
𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have LOVED every one of S.C. Shannon's books I've read. They are suspenseful, twisty and absolute bangers. I, of course, went in blind to this because in my eyes, she can write no wrongs.
This one begins with a heck of a tragedy and then turns into quite the story. Layers unraveling as the timelines dip from before and present. Then you get sinister messages and ghost sightings and I'm all in.
Miras story has my brain working away trying to figure out how this fits into the path paved by Tessa's povs. I'm straight up memorized by this story. I couldn't wait to find out what happened.
This book gets so twisty and down right sinister. I am in awe of how this turned out. This one was fantastic. The dual timelines, the different povs. I loved every second of this book and couldn't get enough of it.
𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
Sep 17, 2026
ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Does blood freak you out?
.
.
.
🏷
S.C. Shannon . Joffee Books . Thriller . Psychological Thriller . Domestic Suspense .
#arcreader #scshannon #thelasteighthours #joffeebooks
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September 5, 2026
WELL!
My stop for the book tour and what a wild ride this book was! 👀 My head is still scrambled 🤯
This was a fast-paced, crazy ride from start to finish. I had questions and was intrigued to read on. I surprised myself by guessing a little, but was still keen to find out how everything tied together. It all came full circle towards the end, which I loved - there’s nothing better than a book that clearly ties up those questions and gives you the clarity you’ve been waiting for!
The book delves into the life of Tessa. She wakes up to find herself next to two dead bodies - her husband and his business partner. It should be a simple open-and-shut case…except for one slight glitch: Tessa has been drugged and wounded and has no memory of the last eight hours...
Overall, a fast-paced and twisty read that kept me turning the pages! 👀📖 If you enjoy psychological thrillers with secrets, questions and plenty to keep you guessing, this could be one to add to your TBR.
Thank you @s.c.shannon.author and @zooloosbooktours for the advanced copy and for having me on the tour!
My stop for the book tour and what a wild ride this book was! 👀 My head is still scrambled 🤯
This was a fast-paced, crazy ride from start to finish. I had questions and was intrigued to read on. I surprised myself by guessing a little, but was still keen to find out how everything tied together. It all came full circle towards the end, which I loved - there’s nothing better than a book that clearly ties up those questions and gives you the clarity you’ve been waiting for!
The book delves into the life of Tessa. She wakes up to find herself next to two dead bodies - her husband and his business partner. It should be a simple open-and-shut case…except for one slight glitch: Tessa has been drugged and wounded and has no memory of the last eight hours...
Overall, a fast-paced and twisty read that kept me turning the pages! 👀📖 If you enjoy psychological thrillers with secrets, questions and plenty to keep you guessing, this could be one to add to your TBR.
Thank you @s.c.shannon.author and @zooloosbooktours for the advanced copy and for having me on the tour!
September 8, 2026
What a brilliantly tense and twisty thriller this was!
The story opens with Tessa waking up beside two dead bodies with no memory of the previous eight hours. Having suffered amnesia during the attack, she has no idea what happened, who she can trust, or whether the missing pieces of her memory hold the key to everything.
As the mystery unfolds, I found myself completely hooked. The pace is quick, the tension steadily builds, and every answer seems to raise even more questions. I guessed a couple of the twists along the way, but there were still plenty of surprises waiting for me.
The dual timeline worked exceptionally well, gradually revealing crucial details while increasing the suspense. Every chapter left me eager to keep reading, desperate to discover what really happened during those missing hours.
And that ending! The final showdown and reveal were absolutely worth the wait. Dramatic, satisfying, and packed with tension, it delivered exactly the payoff I was hoping for.
A gripping psychological thriller full of secrets, suspense, and twists. Highly recommended.
The story opens with Tessa waking up beside two dead bodies with no memory of the previous eight hours. Having suffered amnesia during the attack, she has no idea what happened, who she can trust, or whether the missing pieces of her memory hold the key to everything.
As the mystery unfolds, I found myself completely hooked. The pace is quick, the tension steadily builds, and every answer seems to raise even more questions. I guessed a couple of the twists along the way, but there were still plenty of surprises waiting for me.
The dual timeline worked exceptionally well, gradually revealing crucial details while increasing the suspense. Every chapter left me eager to keep reading, desperate to discover what really happened during those missing hours.
And that ending! The final showdown and reveal were absolutely worth the wait. Dramatic, satisfying, and packed with tension, it delivered exactly the payoff I was hoping for.
A gripping psychological thriller full of secrets, suspense, and twists. Highly recommended.
October 5, 2026
I hate to do it, but The Last Eight Hours has officially been sentenced to the DNF Dungeon at Chapter 4.
First-person present tense already makes a book a harder sell for me, but that wasn’t my only issue here. The prose felt less polished than I prefer, and some of the phrasing struck me as self-conscious or overwritten—as though the language was working very hard to sound dramatic.
Instead of disappearing into the story, I kept noticing the writing itself. I also found myself wishing the prose had received another tightening editorial pass so that the narration felt more natural.
Because I stopped so early, this isn’t a review of the complete story—only an honest explanation of why I chose not to continue. The premise sounded genuinely intriguing, so I’m disappointed that the writing style and I weren’t a match.
Have you ever DNF’d a book because of the writing itself, even though the premise sounded perfect?
#DNFBooks #DNFDungeon #ThrillerReaders #PsychologicalThriller #Bookstagram
First-person present tense already makes a book a harder sell for me, but that wasn’t my only issue here. The prose felt less polished than I prefer, and some of the phrasing struck me as self-conscious or overwritten—as though the language was working very hard to sound dramatic.
Instead of disappearing into the story, I kept noticing the writing itself. I also found myself wishing the prose had received another tightening editorial pass so that the narration felt more natural.
Because I stopped so early, this isn’t a review of the complete story—only an honest explanation of why I chose not to continue. The premise sounded genuinely intriguing, so I’m disappointed that the writing style and I weren’t a match.
Have you ever DNF’d a book because of the writing itself, even though the premise sounded perfect?
#DNFBooks #DNFDungeon #ThrillerReaders #PsychologicalThriller #Bookstagram
September 4, 2026
A real twisty ride. Just wait until the end!
Tessa slowly emerges from an unconscious state and is gradually becoming aware that she’s covered in blood! Worse still her husband, Grayson, and another man is lying next to her also covered in blood. She has a wound in her side and realises she’s been stabbed.
Flashback – Tessa returns to the small town from Los Angeles. She’s working in a bar but she wants to keep her past secret, not the best of places to hideout you might think. She has a mystery past that is gradually revealed and it’s this bar job that brings her and Grayson together. He is mega rich but his business dealings are definitely shady.
Then there is Mira, she’s checked into some weird cultist re-hab centre. Her story is also strange and convoluted.
The twists and turns and lies and deceit as the story unravels will make you dizzy. This is a very cleverly contrived dark story . Fast moving and tense.
Tessa slowly emerges from an unconscious state and is gradually becoming aware that she’s covered in blood! Worse still her husband, Grayson, and another man is lying next to her also covered in blood. She has a wound in her side and realises she’s been stabbed.
Flashback – Tessa returns to the small town from Los Angeles. She’s working in a bar but she wants to keep her past secret, not the best of places to hideout you might think. She has a mystery past that is gradually revealed and it’s this bar job that brings her and Grayson together. He is mega rich but his business dealings are definitely shady.
Then there is Mira, she’s checked into some weird cultist re-hab centre. Her story is also strange and convoluted.
The twists and turns and lies and deceit as the story unravels will make you dizzy. This is a very cleverly contrived dark story . Fast moving and tense.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Fast-Paced, Paranoia-Fueled Thriller (4 Stars)
A thriller that opens with the protagonist waking up covered in blood next to her dead husband and his dead business partner—with zero memory of how they got there—is pretty much guaranteed to grab my attention straight out of the gate.
What I loved most about this one was the absolute frantic energy of the memory loss element. Having the police convinced she’s the killer while she genuinely doesn't know if she is or isn't made for such a tense, paranoid ride. You’re forced into the detective seat right along with her, trying to piece together eight completely missing hours while everybody around her already seems to have made up their mind about her guilt.
The pacing is relentless, the premise is tight, and the psychological mind games kept me turning pages way past my bedtime. My only small complaint was that a couple of the mid-book twists felt a bit predictable if you read as many mystery/thrillers as I do, but the execution and sheer momentum more than made up for it.
If you love a high-stakes, "did she or didn't she" psychological puzzle with a protagonist desperately fighting to uncover the truth, this is well worth picking up. A solid 4 stars!
A thriller that opens with the protagonist waking up covered in blood next to her dead husband and his dead business partner—with zero memory of how they got there—is pretty much guaranteed to grab my attention straight out of the gate.
What I loved most about this one was the absolute frantic energy of the memory loss element. Having the police convinced she’s the killer while she genuinely doesn't know if she is or isn't made for such a tense, paranoid ride. You’re forced into the detective seat right along with her, trying to piece together eight completely missing hours while everybody around her already seems to have made up their mind about her guilt.
The pacing is relentless, the premise is tight, and the psychological mind games kept me turning pages way past my bedtime. My only small complaint was that a couple of the mid-book twists felt a bit predictable if you read as many mystery/thrillers as I do, but the execution and sheer momentum more than made up for it.
If you love a high-stakes, "did she or didn't she" psychological puzzle with a protagonist desperately fighting to uncover the truth, this is well worth picking up. A solid 4 stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The Last Eight Hours has a really interesting concept, but it was a much slower burn than I expected. I seriously considered DNFing around the 60% mark and only decided to keep going after reading other reviews that promised the ending was worth it.
I'm glad I finished because the final twist was satisfying, but for me, it didn't justify the long, slow journey to get there. I found myself wishing for more momentum throughout the first half of the book... my Kindle battery outlasted my patience honestly.
If you're someone who enjoys slow-burn thrillers and doesn't mind waiting for the payoff, this may work better for you. For me, the concept was stronger than the execution, but I'm still glad I saw it through.
The Last Eight Hours has a really interesting concept, but it was a much slower burn than I expected. I seriously considered DNFing around the 60% mark and only decided to keep going after reading other reviews that promised the ending was worth it.
I'm glad I finished because the final twist was satisfying, but for me, it didn't justify the long, slow journey to get there. I found myself wishing for more momentum throughout the first half of the book... my Kindle battery outlasted my patience honestly.
If you're someone who enjoys slow-burn thrillers and doesn't mind waiting for the payoff, this may work better for you. For me, the concept was stronger than the execution, but I'm still glad I saw it through.
September 3, 2026
This was a solid, fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages. I really liked the premise and the way the tension continued to build as the clock was ticking down. There were enough twists and secrets to keep me guessing, and I was definitely invested in finding out how everything was going to come together.
That said, a few things kept it from being a five-star read for me. Some of the character decisions had me questioning their judgment, and there were a couple of moments where the story felt a little too convenient. I also thought some of the reveals could have packed a bigger punch.
Overall, though, this was an entertaining thriller with plenty of suspense and enough twists to keep me interested. A very solid 4 stars from me!
That said, a few things kept it from being a five-star read for me. Some of the character decisions had me questioning their judgment, and there were a couple of moments where the story felt a little too convenient. I also thought some of the reveals could have packed a bigger punch.
Overall, though, this was an entertaining thriller with plenty of suspense and enough twists to keep me interested. A very solid 4 stars from me!
September 8, 2026
Tessa is caught up in a situation and it's rapidly spiralling out of control. Her husband and business partner are dead and it looks like someone is after her too.
Tessa can't remember how she got to where she is although memory is a funny thing and we soon find that things are anything but straightforward.
The whole cat and mouse thing we have with the detectives adds tension and keeps you in suspense whilst you wonder what is true and whether Tessa will make it out alive.
The twists and turns in this are good and the surprises towards the end make it a satisfying read.
I liked the back and forth between past and present as it helped set the scene and show a clear tale of revenge and the lengths that a person is willing to go to in order to exact that revenge.
Tessa can't remember how she got to where she is although memory is a funny thing and we soon find that things are anything but straightforward.
The whole cat and mouse thing we have with the detectives adds tension and keeps you in suspense whilst you wonder what is true and whether Tessa will make it out alive.
The twists and turns in this are good and the surprises towards the end make it a satisfying read.
I liked the back and forth between past and present as it helped set the scene and show a clear tale of revenge and the lengths that a person is willing to go to in order to exact that revenge.
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