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Dr. Pepper Hunt #1
Last Seen
Psychologist and police consultant Dr. Pepper Hunt, struggling to deal with the murder of her husband, leaves the private practice they shared and relocates to Wyoming. There, in the stark landscape of the high desert, there is nothing to remind her of everything she lost and left behind. Then her new patient, Kimi Benally, goes missing in a Wyoming blizzard after her last therapy session—making Pepper the last person to see her. She knows the secrets Kimi shared in therapy hold clues to her mysterious disappearance, and she joins forces with Detective Beau Antelope to try to discover what’s happened to her. But as she follows the trail of Kimi’s obsession with the past, Pepper begins to fear the worst for her missing patient—and her own haunted memories surface.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2017
39 people are currently reading
1154 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Doucette
3 books95 followersThe stark and haunting landscape of Wyoming’s high desert is the inspiration for JL Doucette’s mystery novels, which focus on human experience at the intersection of psychology and law.
She is a member of the Wyoming Writers Organization and the New England Chapter of Sisters in Crime.
Doucette is currently working on Book 2 in the Dr. Pepper Hunt Series, On a Quiet Street.
She is a member of the Wyoming Writers Organization and the New England Chapter of Sisters in Crime.
Doucette is currently working on Book 2 in the Dr. Pepper Hunt Series, On a Quiet Street.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 14, 2017
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review*
This is the first book in a series about Dr. Pepper Hunt, whose client has disappeared. Pepper is still recovering from her own traumatic past, and a relative newcomer to this small, unhappy Wyoming town.
There are some interesting things in this book, like the relationship between the Native Americans and non Natives. Kimi, the woman who has disappeared, is a Native American. There is much made about what she overcame (and what she gave up) to become a reporter at the newspaper.
Unfortunately, for a thriller, there really isn't any sense of urgency. Kimi's husband is more upset that he's alone on Christmas. Kimi's cousin, the detective on the case, is sad, but not frantic. And Pepper herself upholds the confidentiality of her client's life for a surprisingly long time. I think it only dawns on her halfway through the book that yes, Kimi's life is in danger.
For a book about Pepper, she takes up a small space in this book, and doesn't take much of a role in the investigation. I also didn't get to know her very well. I'm all for slow burning detective novels if the character development is good, but here everyone seemed flat.
I also think a bit more editing needs to be done. The ending was especially confusing, with POVs switching back and forth, but no real delineation of when the voices changed.
This is the first book in a series about Dr. Pepper Hunt, whose client has disappeared. Pepper is still recovering from her own traumatic past, and a relative newcomer to this small, unhappy Wyoming town.
There are some interesting things in this book, like the relationship between the Native Americans and non Natives. Kimi, the woman who has disappeared, is a Native American. There is much made about what she overcame (and what she gave up) to become a reporter at the newspaper.
Unfortunately, for a thriller, there really isn't any sense of urgency. Kimi's husband is more upset that he's alone on Christmas. Kimi's cousin, the detective on the case, is sad, but not frantic. And Pepper herself upholds the confidentiality of her client's life for a surprisingly long time. I think it only dawns on her halfway through the book that yes, Kimi's life is in danger.
For a book about Pepper, she takes up a small space in this book, and doesn't take much of a role in the investigation. I also didn't get to know her very well. I'm all for slow burning detective novels if the character development is good, but here everyone seemed flat.
I also think a bit more editing needs to be done. The ending was especially confusing, with POVs switching back and forth, but no real delineation of when the voices changed.
March 31, 2017
Last Seen By J.L. Doucette
This mystery takes place over the period between the frigid month between December and January. Just about a months time. This is a fantastic novel that takes place in Wyoming. It is the first of a series featuring a cast of original characters.
Dr Pepper Hunt---a psychologist that councils Kimi and an assortment of other characters in her brand new practice. She is still haunted by a patient of hers in Cambridge, MA whose jealous rage compels her to murder Dr. Pepper Hunt's cheating husband and his girlfriend.
Kimi---is a girl who goes missing after her last session with Dr. Pepper Hunt who suffers from disassociate behavior, who loses large chunks of time out of her day and can't remember where or what she did. Kimi is a Native American who is working as a newspaper reporter who is digging up the past rapes of various women who are all tied to a serial rapist who lets his victims go.
---Cedric Yee---is Kimi's boss at the newspaper and close friends with Kimi,
---Marla---is the Sheriff's wife who is Dr. Pepper Hunt's secretary.
---Beau is leading the investigation into Kimi's disappearance and reports only to the Sheriff
---Many of the character's are from the tribe called Arapaho and are proud of their heritage.
===Trying to assimilate from their Arapaho beliefs while trying to be citizens of Wyoming.
===There is infidelity, small town politics, Cassie who is a probation/parole officer and is Kimi's best
friend.
---Dr. Pepper Hunt who is starting her life anew is the psychologist who is the main character who
narrates this story along with Beau, who is rounding up suspects, to find the missing Kimi.
===Kimi's husband is the chief suspect who obstructs Beau's investigation by lying about where he
was and who he is secretly romancing at the exact day his wife goes missing.
---Dr Pepper Hunt wakes up in the middle of the night and goes to her office to work and she discovers her office has been broken in and files were missing. She immediately calls Beau Antelope, because he is the only one she trusts. It took him less than five minutes to arrive. He was all business, immediately called for crime scene techs to come. We both knew that this was no random break-in.
After the forensic crew completed their work "I made a quick search of the files and discovered that Kimi Benally's file was missing. It would take hours to sort through every file and determine if anything else was taken. But one thing was certain: the thief believed there was something in Kimi Benally's records that he--or she--wanted to keep hidden."
There are no leads and the more that time goes on the less chance becomes of finding Kimi alive.
This was a highly suspenseful taut mystery that reaches up to the highest echelons of power. The characterizations of Dr. Hunt and Beau Antelope are extremely professional and very likable. They are the two main characters in a plethora of many minor characters that give this work realism and it takes place in a mid-western county that is truly Wyoming. The landscape is vividly described and it is freezing cold temperatures. It is a true blend of society and could happen anywhere. The Author is coming out with another book in this series and she has a PhD in psychology that she earned in Boston. It was a pleasure to read this novel and it is one of those books you can't put down. There is a twisty turn at the end that I partially saw coming, but was still surprised.
Highly Recommended. Five Stars
A Huge Thank you to Net Galley, the talented J.L. Doucette and She Writes Press for my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review! '
This mystery takes place over the period between the frigid month between December and January. Just about a months time. This is a fantastic novel that takes place in Wyoming. It is the first of a series featuring a cast of original characters.
Dr Pepper Hunt---a psychologist that councils Kimi and an assortment of other characters in her brand new practice. She is still haunted by a patient of hers in Cambridge, MA whose jealous rage compels her to murder Dr. Pepper Hunt's cheating husband and his girlfriend.
Kimi---is a girl who goes missing after her last session with Dr. Pepper Hunt who suffers from disassociate behavior, who loses large chunks of time out of her day and can't remember where or what she did. Kimi is a Native American who is working as a newspaper reporter who is digging up the past rapes of various women who are all tied to a serial rapist who lets his victims go.
---Cedric Yee---is Kimi's boss at the newspaper and close friends with Kimi,
---Marla---is the Sheriff's wife who is Dr. Pepper Hunt's secretary.
---Beau is leading the investigation into Kimi's disappearance and reports only to the Sheriff
---Many of the character's are from the tribe called Arapaho and are proud of their heritage.
===Trying to assimilate from their Arapaho beliefs while trying to be citizens of Wyoming.
===There is infidelity, small town politics, Cassie who is a probation/parole officer and is Kimi's best
friend.
---Dr. Pepper Hunt who is starting her life anew is the psychologist who is the main character who
narrates this story along with Beau, who is rounding up suspects, to find the missing Kimi.
===Kimi's husband is the chief suspect who obstructs Beau's investigation by lying about where he
was and who he is secretly romancing at the exact day his wife goes missing.
---Dr Pepper Hunt wakes up in the middle of the night and goes to her office to work and she discovers her office has been broken in and files were missing. She immediately calls Beau Antelope, because he is the only one she trusts. It took him less than five minutes to arrive. He was all business, immediately called for crime scene techs to come. We both knew that this was no random break-in.
After the forensic crew completed their work "I made a quick search of the files and discovered that Kimi Benally's file was missing. It would take hours to sort through every file and determine if anything else was taken. But one thing was certain: the thief believed there was something in Kimi Benally's records that he--or she--wanted to keep hidden."
There are no leads and the more that time goes on the less chance becomes of finding Kimi alive.
This was a highly suspenseful taut mystery that reaches up to the highest echelons of power. The characterizations of Dr. Hunt and Beau Antelope are extremely professional and very likable. They are the two main characters in a plethora of many minor characters that give this work realism and it takes place in a mid-western county that is truly Wyoming. The landscape is vividly described and it is freezing cold temperatures. It is a true blend of society and could happen anywhere. The Author is coming out with another book in this series and she has a PhD in psychology that she earned in Boston. It was a pleasure to read this novel and it is one of those books you can't put down. There is a twisty turn at the end that I partially saw coming, but was still surprised.
Highly Recommended. Five Stars
A Huge Thank you to Net Galley, the talented J.L. Doucette and She Writes Press for my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review! '
May 23, 2017
Kimi Benally was Last Seen after her therapy session with Dr. Pepper Hunt. What happened to the Native American newspaper reporter? Is her disappearance linked to a story about a serial rapist she was working on? Or is it something closer to home? Did Pepper gain any significant information from her therapy sessions with Kimi that could help find the woman?
Leaving her own personal tragedy behind, Dr Pepper Hunt is still a relative newcomer to the small Wyoming town she relocated to in order to start afresh. Pepper is hired as a consultant in the investigation into Kimi's disappearance working alongside Detective Beau Antelope. Pepper and Beau are both interesting characters.
This is J.L. Doucette's debut novel and the first in the Dr. Pepper Hunt Mysteries series. I was expecting Pepper to play a larger part because of that. But there was actually more focus on Detective Antelope, which was fine because he's pretty appealing, but it was a bit baffling nonetheless.
But the series has potential. Although there were some repetitive parts that could have been better edited, and switching from Pepper's first-person perspective to third-person for the other characters wasn't my preferred style, it is generally nicely written. The descriptive passages about the harsh mid-Western winters and the atmospheric locale are particularly well done. The dialogue felt authentic. In future installments, it would be good to see more character development with regards to Pepper and perhaps more focus on her work as a psychologist. This was quite a slow burning mystery, the suspense was limited, but the characters and the plot were intriguing enough to keep my attention throughout. It wasn't until quite late in the game that I worked out who was behind Kimi's disappearance.
Overall, a good mystery and a decent debut. I look forward to reading more about Pepper and Beau. Better than 3 stars but not quite 4 stars.
I received an ARC via NetGalley.
Leaving her own personal tragedy behind, Dr Pepper Hunt is still a relative newcomer to the small Wyoming town she relocated to in order to start afresh. Pepper is hired as a consultant in the investigation into Kimi's disappearance working alongside Detective Beau Antelope. Pepper and Beau are both interesting characters.
This is J.L. Doucette's debut novel and the first in the Dr. Pepper Hunt Mysteries series. I was expecting Pepper to play a larger part because of that. But there was actually more focus on Detective Antelope, which was fine because he's pretty appealing, but it was a bit baffling nonetheless.
But the series has potential. Although there were some repetitive parts that could have been better edited, and switching from Pepper's first-person perspective to third-person for the other characters wasn't my preferred style, it is generally nicely written. The descriptive passages about the harsh mid-Western winters and the atmospheric locale are particularly well done. The dialogue felt authentic. In future installments, it would be good to see more character development with regards to Pepper and perhaps more focus on her work as a psychologist. This was quite a slow burning mystery, the suspense was limited, but the characters and the plot were intriguing enough to keep my attention throughout. It wasn't until quite late in the game that I worked out who was behind Kimi's disappearance.
Overall, a good mystery and a decent debut. I look forward to reading more about Pepper and Beau. Better than 3 stars but not quite 4 stars.
I received an ARC via NetGalley.
May 24, 2017
GNAB I received an electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, J. L. Doucette, and She Writes Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.
A who-done-it set in Wyoming winter, this was an interesting read. I was thrilled to read it in the glowing warmth of a New Mexico spring. Ms Doucette takes us there in mid-to-late December, and shares with us the people who live, play and work in the tiny town of Rock Springs, Wyoming. No, there are no springs, this town is set in the high plains desert of Wyoming. There is definitely weather, however. Very cold, always snowing, very icy, very dangerous.
The people involved in this mystery are all quite well defined. The bad guys have a sprinkling of humanity and the white hats are far from perfect. I enjoyed meeting them all, and the excellent way they are presented adds to the the difficulty in picking out the bad guys.
A good police procedural. I will want to follow this author and enjoy the sequels.
Pub date May 23, 2017
A who-done-it set in Wyoming winter, this was an interesting read. I was thrilled to read it in the glowing warmth of a New Mexico spring. Ms Doucette takes us there in mid-to-late December, and shares with us the people who live, play and work in the tiny town of Rock Springs, Wyoming. No, there are no springs, this town is set in the high plains desert of Wyoming. There is definitely weather, however. Very cold, always snowing, very icy, very dangerous.
The people involved in this mystery are all quite well defined. The bad guys have a sprinkling of humanity and the white hats are far from perfect. I enjoyed meeting them all, and the excellent way they are presented adds to the the difficulty in picking out the bad guys.
A good police procedural. I will want to follow this author and enjoy the sequels.
Pub date May 23, 2017
April 1, 2017
“Last Seen” is a vivid example of writing about what you know. J.L. Doucette, the author, has a doctorate in counseling psychology and is in private practice in Rhode Island. In her novel, set in the merciless winter environs of Wyoming where she lived for many years, she explores the world of disturbed minds, including that of her protagonist, Dr. Pepper Hunt. It’s her first book so I’ll make allowances for her overabundant reliance on the tenets of her profession.
Dr. Hunt, suffering from the death of her cheating husband, resettles in Wyoming and resumes her practice. Suddenly one of her new patients disappears in a blizzard and the secrets she shared with the doctor could hold clues to what might have happened. Dr. Hunt, in her professional dedication to client privacy, refuses to reveal any information, is inexplicably hired by the Sheriff’s Office as a consultant, and joins forces with Detective Beau Antelope in the search, all the time keeping mum about her own knowledge. It gets confusing and is somewhat unrealistic.
The author liberally sprinkles psychotherapy theory throughout the read and repeats herself many times in her descriptions of the thought processes of the many characters. There seems to be a tendency in modern writing to have the main characters immersed in troubling pasts. Doucette has followed that fashion.
The author’s writing, however, is very solid. Her dialogue exchanges are well executed, the action is tight and terse, and, best of all, her description of the chillingly brutal weather of the Wyoming high desert is wonderful. I’ve been there, and no method of turning the cold aside seems to work; not heating systems, clothing, nor roaring fire can keep icy tendrils from creeping around the body. Doucette portrays this discomfort very adeptly.
I can recommend this book as an entertaining read with much to like about its story and backdrop. As the author gets more comfortable with her writing skills she won’t need to rely so heavily on scientific background that, to me, slowed down her pace.
September 14, 2017
This book was "okay" but not great. I was a little confused by all the changing of points of view from chapter to chapter. Sometimes I'd be a couple of pages into a chapter before I'd finally figure out who was narrating now. Character development was weak as well. There was a large cast of characters, but I didn't really feel anything for any of them, which also made it more difficult to keep straight who was who.
June 3, 2017
Set in the harsh Wyoming winter, Dr. Pepper Hunt is a therapist who is trying to start over after her life was turned upside down by a horrific personal tragedy. She is reluctantly drawn into a missing person's case that hits too close to home for comfort. The writing is taut and engrossing and I found the book to be a very satisfying read. I am looking forward to reading more about Dr. Pepper Hunt.
I received a copy from She Writes Press via Netgalley for free in exchanged for my honest review.
I received a copy from She Writes Press via Netgalley for free in exchanged for my honest review.
May 12, 2018
2.5, really. I wasn't very impressed with this book at all. Pepper's tone evoked a grown-up Nancy Drew, and it was too matter-of-fact in a strawberry summer way for my liking. The few major points of tension were ruined by that tone as it permeated other characters' points of view. If you've seen Zootopia, you've read Last Seen, and I wouldn't say it's worth the refresher. This novel felt like a lean chicken stretched between a family of six. There just wasn't enough there to keep me interested. It's been the best free book I've read, though, despite Samyann's Yesterday.
November 28, 2017
This was, in many ways, clearly a debut novel, with a bit of a creaky narrative, but it was mostly entertaining nonetheless. The least believable aspect of it is that so few characters are intertwined in so many diverse ways, despite the small-town setting. But the author does a good job of masking the culprit until nearly the very end. Not a bad read.
May 17, 2018
I had the ending figured out within the first 50 pages but kept hoping there’d be some great twist - there wasn’t. The story seemed completely unrealistic and left a lot of loose ends. I didn’t like the internal dialogue when characters thought about women - it was all breasts, lips, and hair. And how is this a Dr. Pepper Hunt mystery? It was much more about Antelope than her. I could go on but I’ve spent too much time on this book already. This book just needed a lot more editing.
May 22, 2017
I had a very hard time getting into this story. There were a lot of characters and mystery from the very beginning, but I didn't care about anyone. I received this book through Net Galley and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it.
July 20, 2018
After reading a lot of English fiction recently, it was good to read a crime thriller set in the USA for a change, particularly since this is set wholly in Wyoming, a state I have neither visited nor know much about. This is the first book featuring Dr Pepper Hunt, a psychologist with a tragic past, who moved to the bleak town of Rock Springs to start over. I was surprised to find that Pepper is not really the central protagonist, although her chapters are told in the first person: we meet her at the start, then it is another six chapters before she appears again. Multiple other characters are introduced, and it is unclear at first where the story is going, but bear with it, as it does all start to make sense soon enough. The hero is actually Detective Beau Antelope, who turned his back on his Native roots when he joined the police force, to the disgust of his family, but is determined to do his job properly.
Beau’s cousin Kimi, a crime reporter for the local newspaper, has gone missing. Her husband, arrogant philanderer Kevin, is upset that he’s been pulled away from his job as a ski guide. Her brother Diego, on parole for a sexual offence, is desperate to find her. The sheriff, whose career stalled when he failed to solve a similar case, cannot afford to let this one remain unsolved. Her colleague Cedric Yee is worried that her disappearance is linked to the serial rapist case she’s been looking in to, and Pepper, her therapist, wants to help, but refuses to break patient confidentiality even if it will help the police investigation. As Christmas nears, tensions rise as it becomes apparent that everyone has secrets, and some will kill to keep theirs...
While this did take a little while to get going, this was a clever suspense thriller, and I didn’t work the mystery out until shortly before the reveal. The writing was excellent, eloquently conveying the beauty of the frozen land - we complain about the cold here in temperate NZ, I would never survive a Mid-Western winter. I was keen to know more about the Native American culture, myths and psychology, but apart from the conflict experienced by the characters who have moved away from the reservation into the Anglo world, this remained unexplored.
I think it might’ve been more interesting to call it a Detective Antelope thriller, and keep Pepper as a secondary character and possible suspect. However, the author is a psychologist herself, and therefore it’s understandable that she chose to make Pepper the heroine, even though she’s rather a cold fish, not particularly bright or empathetic, and apparently not very good at her job, since she hasn’t a clue what’s been going on with anyone. I would still be keen to read the next one, and hope Antelope will be back, since he’s by far the more appealing character, and that Pepper warms up and deals with her own issues.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. This was published in 2017 but deserves to be more widely read.
Beau’s cousin Kimi, a crime reporter for the local newspaper, has gone missing. Her husband, arrogant philanderer Kevin, is upset that he’s been pulled away from his job as a ski guide. Her brother Diego, on parole for a sexual offence, is desperate to find her. The sheriff, whose career stalled when he failed to solve a similar case, cannot afford to let this one remain unsolved. Her colleague Cedric Yee is worried that her disappearance is linked to the serial rapist case she’s been looking in to, and Pepper, her therapist, wants to help, but refuses to break patient confidentiality even if it will help the police investigation. As Christmas nears, tensions rise as it becomes apparent that everyone has secrets, and some will kill to keep theirs...
While this did take a little while to get going, this was a clever suspense thriller, and I didn’t work the mystery out until shortly before the reveal. The writing was excellent, eloquently conveying the beauty of the frozen land - we complain about the cold here in temperate NZ, I would never survive a Mid-Western winter. I was keen to know more about the Native American culture, myths and psychology, but apart from the conflict experienced by the characters who have moved away from the reservation into the Anglo world, this remained unexplored.
I think it might’ve been more interesting to call it a Detective Antelope thriller, and keep Pepper as a secondary character and possible suspect. However, the author is a psychologist herself, and therefore it’s understandable that she chose to make Pepper the heroine, even though she’s rather a cold fish, not particularly bright or empathetic, and apparently not very good at her job, since she hasn’t a clue what’s been going on with anyone. I would still be keen to read the next one, and hope Antelope will be back, since he’s by far the more appealing character, and that Pepper warms up and deals with her own issues.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. This was published in 2017 but deserves to be more widely read.
December 10, 2017
This is what I wrote about the book on Audible:
Uncertainty of your loved one's fate is hell...
First let me explain it's 4.5 for both the story and the performance from me rather than 4, but as there are no half-stars I have to stay with 4.
It's my first book by J. L. Doucette and it's been a good experience. The plot is engaging though not really as fast-paced as in many other crime stories. The beginning is quite typical - a woman vanishes, nobody has seen or heard from her for a few days so an investigation proceeds. And this is when the interesting part starts: we see the events from different perspectives, narrated by various characters - mainly the police officer leading the case, who also happens to be related to the vanished woman, and the psychiatrist who was her therapist. There are also other characters related to the victim in various ways - by blood or friendship - who have their say in the story. All this allows for a deep insight into what happens to people left behind when a person vanishes; it's like a whirlwind that leaves nobody untouched - they all suffer, blaming themselves for not being there when they were needed or neglecting the person they should have taken care of more...
The ending is surprising enough, although a careful reader will probably find clues as to the solution of the missing woman's case quite soon in the story, but the book is written well enough for it to not really matter. So why is it 4.5 not full 5 stars? There were a few moments that seemed a little slow, when the tension slacked somehow and my focus wavered. Luckily, these were really rare and overall it's a good crime book.
Now, for the performance:
The book is interpreted by Morgan Laure and Dave Trosko who respectively read the female/male narrators' chapters. I liked that a lot as it went well with the multi-narrated character of the book. Generally, it's a very good intepretation, especially on Ms Laure's part. The only thing that bothered me a little - and only a little - was the way Mr Trosko read his chapters. His pace was maybe a bit too slow compared to Ms Laure's tempo, and - I can't explain it otherwise - he sounded really sad all the time... In my mind I had a picture of someone reading to a seriously ill person, slowly and quietly and in a monotone... But even though I got used to it after a few minutes and even though it turned out to be a really good narration I feel I have to deduct half a star just to be honest in my review...
So overall, it's a good crime book in a very good interpretation - so grab it and read or listen to it.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Uncertainty of your loved one's fate is hell...
First let me explain it's 4.5 for both the story and the performance from me rather than 4, but as there are no half-stars I have to stay with 4.
It's my first book by J. L. Doucette and it's been a good experience. The plot is engaging though not really as fast-paced as in many other crime stories. The beginning is quite typical - a woman vanishes, nobody has seen or heard from her for a few days so an investigation proceeds. And this is when the interesting part starts: we see the events from different perspectives, narrated by various characters - mainly the police officer leading the case, who also happens to be related to the vanished woman, and the psychiatrist who was her therapist. There are also other characters related to the victim in various ways - by blood or friendship - who have their say in the story. All this allows for a deep insight into what happens to people left behind when a person vanishes; it's like a whirlwind that leaves nobody untouched - they all suffer, blaming themselves for not being there when they were needed or neglecting the person they should have taken care of more...
The ending is surprising enough, although a careful reader will probably find clues as to the solution of the missing woman's case quite soon in the story, but the book is written well enough for it to not really matter. So why is it 4.5 not full 5 stars? There were a few moments that seemed a little slow, when the tension slacked somehow and my focus wavered. Luckily, these were really rare and overall it's a good crime book.
Now, for the performance:
The book is interpreted by Morgan Laure and Dave Trosko who respectively read the female/male narrators' chapters. I liked that a lot as it went well with the multi-narrated character of the book. Generally, it's a very good intepretation, especially on Ms Laure's part. The only thing that bothered me a little - and only a little - was the way Mr Trosko read his chapters. His pace was maybe a bit too slow compared to Ms Laure's tempo, and - I can't explain it otherwise - he sounded really sad all the time... In my mind I had a picture of someone reading to a seriously ill person, slowly and quietly and in a monotone... But even though I got used to it after a few minutes and even though it turned out to be a really good narration I feel I have to deduct half a star just to be honest in my review...
So overall, it's a good crime book in a very good interpretation - so grab it and read or listen to it.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 11, 2018
Set in rural Sweetwater County, Wyoming, we are introduced to Dr. Pepper Hunt, a psychiatrist whose patient (Kimi) has recently gone missing. Dr. Hunt is a transplant to the area and feels that she truly belongs. She’s also battling her own personal trauma, which she’s managed to leave behind with the rural setting.
The Sheriff visits Dr. Hunt’s office, asking questions and letting Dr. Hunt know that Kimi is missing. Kimi has been disassociating, letting Dr. Hunt know that she’s awoken in places that she didn’t even know she was at. The initial thought is this could be one of her episodes, but the longer she gone, the more people believe she’s missing. Another theory is that it could be the serial rapist as she was covering that story.
The Sheriff assigns the case to Detective Antelope, who just happens to be Kimi’s cousin. The Sheriff is focusing on Kimi’s husband Kevin while the Detective is focusing on Kimi’s brother Diego. Given the number of sex offenders in town, a high percentage for a population of this size, it is decided that the need to try to eliminate suspects. Another thought is that Cedric Yee, her peer at the newspaper could be a suspect.
Who did it? I was kept guessing until almost the end.
As far as the mystery part of the book, I felt that it held my interest as I didn’t figure it out immediately. For the thriller part, there wasn’t a sense of urgency. Kimi’s husband is more upset that he’s alone on Christmas than the fact that she’s missing. Dr. Hunt doesn’t seem to realize that Kimi might actually be in danger until halfway through the book
The book is positioned as the first in a series of Dr. Pepper Hunt mysteries. If that wasn’t on the cover, I would have assumed the series would be position as Detective Antelope. One last item, the book needed a bit more editing. At points is was confusing as there wasn’t a clear delineation of POV, specifically at the end of the book.
The Sheriff visits Dr. Hunt’s office, asking questions and letting Dr. Hunt know that Kimi is missing. Kimi has been disassociating, letting Dr. Hunt know that she’s awoken in places that she didn’t even know she was at. The initial thought is this could be one of her episodes, but the longer she gone, the more people believe she’s missing. Another theory is that it could be the serial rapist as she was covering that story.
The Sheriff assigns the case to Detective Antelope, who just happens to be Kimi’s cousin. The Sheriff is focusing on Kimi’s husband Kevin while the Detective is focusing on Kimi’s brother Diego. Given the number of sex offenders in town, a high percentage for a population of this size, it is decided that the need to try to eliminate suspects. Another thought is that Cedric Yee, her peer at the newspaper could be a suspect.
Who did it? I was kept guessing until almost the end.
As far as the mystery part of the book, I felt that it held my interest as I didn’t figure it out immediately. For the thriller part, there wasn’t a sense of urgency. Kimi’s husband is more upset that he’s alone on Christmas than the fact that she’s missing. Dr. Hunt doesn’t seem to realize that Kimi might actually be in danger until halfway through the book
The book is positioned as the first in a series of Dr. Pepper Hunt mysteries. If that wasn’t on the cover, I would have assumed the series would be position as Detective Antelope. One last item, the book needed a bit more editing. At points is was confusing as there wasn’t a clear delineation of POV, specifically at the end of the book.
August 28, 2017
Dr. Pepper Hunt is an insightful, brave, no-nonsense psychologist whom you will respect and gladly follow into this twisty, multi-layered mystery set in Wyoming near the Wind River Reservation. One of Dr. Hunt's clients, a Native American news reporter, goes missing and the circuitous investigations of the Sheriff and a handsome Native detective, named Antelope, commence. The novel's clean, spare prose matches the wintry landscapes and struggles of its inhabitants, their troubled demographic dynamics and the rigors of the climate, both cultural and natural. The plot is very carefully executed and laid out like a chess game, with each chapter depicting events from a different character's viewpoint. The plot deepens as the complex web of interrelations reveals history, and future possibilities rise to the surface. I especially appreciated the book's lack of sentimentality, and the fact that I could not have determined whether its author was male or female, if I had not known already. Male and female characters are both very realistically depicted. I also loved the maturity, strength and realism of the protagonist, a professional woman with her own baggage who is wise, incisive, and ethical. The ending will startle you! Excellent book. So glad to know it's the first in a series!
May 1, 2018
This debut novel takes place in a small Wyoming town where a psychiatrist (Dr. Pepper Hunt) is working with law enforcement to investigate the disappearance of one of her patients. This small community in the rural northwest and its' Native American influence give the novel a cultural richness not often found in this genre. Many of the characters are interconnected so as the plot unfolds there is a complexity to the relationships that ultimately define the outcome of the story. The only real criticism I have is that the author could make it a bit easier on us by identifying which character is speaking when the narration changes - I often had no idea who was talking and this was distracting. I also figured out who the murderer was before they were exposed but that's not unusual for me and so I'm a lot more selective these days when reading thrillers/mysteries - I figure stuff out ahead of time. That said, I enjoyed the novel and if and when there is a second book in the Pepper Hunt series I will definitely read it. All in all an very good story.
July 8, 2017
Last Seen is an immensely satisfying book. The skillfully crafted plot could stand on its own, but this captivating mystery offers so much more. DL Doucette draws on her own background in psychology as she deftly challenges us to feel empathy for her cast of flawed and vulnerable characters, while at the same time providing a well-guided tour into the minds of dangerous people. Just as striking as the human drama she conjures up for us is the sense of place. Doucette weaves the harshness of a Wyoming winter through every turn of the story, evoking a sense of vulnerability and isolation for the reader that parallels her characters’ experiences. Well-paced and suspenseful right to the end, Last Seen is a gem of a mystery.
November 11, 2017
Last Seen: A Dr. Pepper Hunt Mystery
: J. L. Doucette
Dr. Pepper Hunt, newly moved to Wyoming after her husband's death. Along comes a missing person case, one of her patients. Law enforcement contracts her to help profile the case. There are too many suspects in what is a serial rape case. Just when the listener thinks they have figured it out a twist then a turn and you're scratching your head waiting for the next clue. The suspense lasted to the end. I will look for more from this author.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Dave Trosko, Morgan Laure brought the story to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
: J. L. Doucette
Dr. Pepper Hunt, newly moved to Wyoming after her husband's death. Along comes a missing person case, one of her patients. Law enforcement contracts her to help profile the case. There are too many suspects in what is a serial rape case. Just when the listener thinks they have figured it out a twist then a turn and you're scratching your head waiting for the next clue. The suspense lasted to the end. I will look for more from this author.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Dave Trosko, Morgan Laure brought the story to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 21, 2017
This is a good start to a new mystery series featuring psychologist Pepper Hunt. Pepper is a new transfer to Wyoming. She's had a harrowing past, and went there for a fresh start. She does therapy, but also works with prisoners and sex offenders. One of her patients goes missing after their appointment and Pepper looks deeper into her life.
The tension is good and so is the actual mystery. The characters were well-written. I have to say that the person who turned out to be the one responsible came as no surprise to me. I guessed who it was quite early on. But I liked the different viewpoints and the method of the investigation.
Received from NetGalley.com for review.
The tension is good and so is the actual mystery. The characters were well-written. I have to say that the person who turned out to be the one responsible came as no surprise to me. I guessed who it was quite early on. But I liked the different viewpoints and the method of the investigation.
Received from NetGalley.com for review.
July 17, 2017
This book was a really quick read! The mystery was super intriguing and for the most part I couldn't put it down. My only criticism is due to the lack of clarification of which character is speaking/being referenced at the beginning of the book. There were lots of people introduced all at once and it became confusing at times. Also, there seemed to be a few characters in the story (Diego, Cass) that were mostly unnecessary to the story. They were prevalent in the first half of the book but then proceeded to fade out which I did not really understand. Overall, a great first novel by author J.L. Doucette
June 30, 2017
I received an advanced reader copy from the author. I love a good mystery and compared this book to the many Mary Higgins Clark books I have read. I think this was a good first novel book. It kept my interest until the end. The only thing I didn't like was that in the beginning I didn't know who the author was referring to and had to read at least 2 pages of the chapter to find out. Many reviews said they figured out who Kimmi's killer was early on, but I didn't not--it was a surprise up until the end. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
December 6, 2017
Last Seen is a classic mystery story told from the vantage points of several of the people most closely involved. When a young reporter goes missing just before Christmas, a variety of possibilities are investigated by the police. Was it murder, kidnapping, a disturbed woman's illness?
As the story unfolds, a variety of scenarios and possible perpetrators are considered but it's only in the closing chapters that the whole story is revealed.
A well told story with a variety of interesting and compelling characters. Great reading that's riveting till the very end.
As the story unfolds, a variety of scenarios and possible perpetrators are considered but it's only in the closing chapters that the whole story is revealed.
A well told story with a variety of interesting and compelling characters. Great reading that's riveting till the very end.
June 12, 2018
I was immediately attracted by the cover and I thank netgalley and she writes presses for this partnership.
On the cover we see I think Kim, who has disappeared in history, walking on the road.
It all starts when the psychiatrist and police advisor Pepper Hunt who is fighting for the murder of her husband leaves this private life for Wyoming. His new patient Kim disappears. She will team up with Beau to investigate this disappearance.
A well-crafted storyline with engaging characters and a captivating story. Eager to read what follows.
On the cover we see I think Kim, who has disappeared in history, walking on the road.
It all starts when the psychiatrist and police advisor Pepper Hunt who is fighting for the murder of her husband leaves this private life for Wyoming. His new patient Kim disappears. She will team up with Beau to investigate this disappearance.
A well-crafted storyline with engaging characters and a captivating story. Eager to read what follows.
June 22, 2025
Good, not great. I was invested in the story and kept turning the pages, but the writing style was just a bit too confusing for my liking. A lot of things that could’ve been said in a much simpler way or drawn out and not always the easiest to follow. I love a mystery with lots of twists and turns and characters, but this was truly hard to follow at some point. Multiple narrators and sometimes it wasn’t easy knowing who was saying what. I kept reading though I thought there was a nice twist at the end and I enjoyed it. I would recommend it.
May 11, 2018
This book was great! I loved the Native references. I also loved that I didn't know who was the guilty one until the very end! I would like to see more of Antelope and Pepper Hunt, especially their next case with finding out about Kevin.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was the chapters and how it would jump back and forth between who was telling the story, and sometimes it wasn't clear who was the story teller for the first few sentences.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was the chapters and how it would jump back and forth between who was telling the story, and sometimes it wasn't clear who was the story teller for the first few sentences.
June 27, 2018
When I first started this book I was thinking I would give it 3 stars. It seemed pretty standard to me with typical characters and conventional storyline. But I was wrong and so glad I was and stuck to it. There are twists and turns galore in this missing person story and enough going on to hold your interest and see where it all leads. I am looking forward to the second one in this series.
Put on your to-read list.
Put on your to-read list.
May 29, 2017
This was one of the best first novels I have read in a long time. The author definitely drew me into the plot and kept me reading until the end.
I found out about this mystery at a reading by the author who happens to be my neighbor. I know that she is working on the second installment of Dr. Pepper Hunt's adventures and I am looking forward to reading more from this talented writer.
I found out about this mystery at a reading by the author who happens to be my neighbor. I know that she is working on the second installment of Dr. Pepper Hunt's adventures and I am looking forward to reading more from this talented writer.
June 4, 2018
This is a very good debut novel from the author. Set in Wyoming with the central character being Dr Pepper Hunt, a psychologist, recently moved there after her husband was murdered. It got a little bit muddled with the characters and it was slow paced but it was well written and promises to be a good series. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
July 31, 2018
This was a quick read and I wanted to keep reading, as I got quite engrossed in the book..
A good mystery and a decent debut and I would definitely recommend this book, and would certainly read more from this author and the next book in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and J.L. Doucette for my copy of this book to review.
A good mystery and a decent debut and I would definitely recommend this book, and would certainly read more from this author and the next book in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and J.L. Doucette for my copy of this book to review.
May 4, 2017
Well written and set in Wyoming. Dr Pepper Hunt is a psychologist drawn into the search find a missing reporter. Her past memories come back to haunt her as the body count rises. A good plot and plenty twists and turns. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
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