Her Last Breath

by Tracy Buchanan

A fifteen-year-old girl has gone missing. They say Poppy O’Farrell has run away from her celebrity parents, and the media is in a frenzy. But none of this has anything to do with successful lifestyle blogger Estelle Forster . . . So why would someone send her a picture of the missing girl – and a note, claiming to know Estelle’s secrets?

One small photograph will push Estelle’s pristine life to the brink of disaster. To find out who is threatening her, Estelle must return to her coastal hometown and the shameful past she thought was long behind her.

Estelle knows there’s more to Poppy’s disappearance than teenage rebellion. A dangerous game is being played, and the answers lie in the impenetrable community she once called her own.

But how will anyone believe her, if she can’t tell them the truth?

Her Last Breath is an addictive, twisting and emotionally powerful book that will have you hooked until the very last page.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller

355 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2017

About the author

Hello! Fab to see you here. I live in Buckinghamshire, UK with my husband, my little girl and our (very naughty) puppy, Bronte.

I travelled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor, and have always been drawn to the sea after spending my childhood holidays on the south coast visiting family – a fascination that inspires my writing.

I now dedicate my time to writing and procrastinating on Facebook.

I'd love to hear from you so please come say hi on one of the following platforms... plus if you join The Reading Snug I've set up with fellow authors, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher, you might even bag yourself some freebies including an early copy of my latest novel, The Lost Sister!

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Reviews

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this book. It started off with a good plot and a lot of promise but really quickly became a very slow burner. I found scenes in the middle were tedious and just were not holding my interest anymore.

I know others have loved this book and I really tried to find what they were seeing in it. I think because I read a lot of similar style books that so many this year have just stood out over this one. Just being really honest.

It didn't really pick up enough for me to change my view and overall I just found this quite lacklustre. I was looking for some real wow moments.

3 stars from me and I can't say I enjoyed the journey. You make your mind up however.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley. All review opinions are entirely my own and unbiased.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading a book that contains a twist that I genuinely don't see coming.Let's be honest us readers can be a smug bunch at times.We settle into our comfy chairs with our drink of choice and maybe a few munchies and dare the author to surprise us.It doesn't happen very often these days but sometimes we are lucky enough to read a book where the author takes our theories and suppositions and knocks them out of the ball park wiping the smug know it all look and smiles off our faces.This gripping page turner had me constantly swapping and changing my mind right throughout the whole book.It is so twisty and well written,it really does keep the reader guessing right from the beginning to the truly unexpected,mind blowing twist towards the end.

When food writer Estelle Forster hears about the disappearance of teenager Poppy O`Farrell she assumes that the girl has just run away.But then Estelle`s perfect world crumbles when she is sent a photo of Poppy,along with a terrifying note.

Estelle has no idea who is threatening her or how she is connected to the missing girl but she thinks all the answers lie in the coastal town she once called home,and in the past that she hoped was long behind her.

Estelle knows she will do everything to find Poppy.But how far will she go to hide the truth - that her perfect life was the perfect lie.

Our Heroine? Estelle is a complex character who had some serious psychological issues which is not surprising considering the hell that she went through as a youngster before she was lucky enough?to be placed with Max and August Garland who lived in the perfect picturesque coastal town of lillysands.The problem with beauty and perfection is that very often there is something dark and sinister hidden below the surface.Everyone in this twisted story is hiding something,doing everything in their power to keep their secrets hidden,all in the name is self preservation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping tale of secrets,lies and betrayals.The story was fast paced,the characters completely untrustworthy and I was totally blown away by One completely unexpected twist.Very,very good book,highly recommended by little old me to anyone who enjoys a thriller that really and truly keeps you guessing.

Many thanks to Avon books UK for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prologue begins with a sad tale of a small child being neglected by her parents and subsequently being placed into foster care.

Estelle Forster has made a name for herself as a food writer and blogger. Her first cookery book is about to be launched and she is riding high with hard won success and is seemingly happy with Olympic rower boyfriend Seb. However appearances are deceptive and it appears that someone knows a secret and is sending polaroid photos to Estelle with sinister captions. At the same time, teenager Poppy O’Farrell has gone missing from home and Estelle finds herself drawn into the investigation into her disappearance. This means going back to her past – something she really doesn’t want to do.

Having enjoyed a previous book by Tracy Buchanan, ‘The Atlas of Us’, I was looking forward to this. Her books combine drama with an element of suspense and this is always a hook for me. When Estelle returned to the place of her childhood, a small town called ‘Lillysands’ on the coast, you just knew that there would be trouble ahead. This picturesque town projects perfection, with its expensive looking houses and pretty coastline. However lurking this façade, there is a sense of unease and suspicion. Not only are parts of the town literally collapsing due to coastal erosion but the locals are a tight knit bunch and suspicious of outsiders.

I was quite split on my feelings towards Estelle. On the one hand I felt sorry for her; she clearly had some deep rooted issues and I admired her for having done so well against all the odds only to find herself the target of sinister notes and photos referring to a past that she would rather have kept hidden. But, I also found her to be a very frustrating character and I began to lose patience with her constant paranoia and rather immature manner at times. Having said that, I couldn’t make my mind up at all as to who could be behind the photos and to add to the suspense the chapters are interrupted by a sinister unknown voice, who seems to be watching every move. I think I must have suspected every character in turn and although I had guessed one part of the conclusion, I was well and truly beaten by the reveal when it came.

This was a very enjoyable read with its underlying theme of secrets and betrayals. I was never quite sure who was telling the truth and what to believe. Some parts of the story did seem to move at a slower pace than others but Her Last Breath certainly kept me engrossed with its twisty and intriguing plot all the way to the end.Review to follow for blog tour

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food writer, Estelle Forster, is famous for her 'pure' organic, made-from-scratch recipes and food plating on all social sites mainly Instagram and Twitter. She has her first cookbook coming out in a few days. She seems to have it all ; beauty, supportive boyfriend, fame, popularity, rags to riches, self made story and a new book. And then a Polaroid photo of a missing girl, Poppy, appears along with a note and she is stumped by the strangeness of it all. Estelle has no idea how the missing teen is connected to her. A call to the police and checking the various online posts hits her with a bang... Her past... Its back and along with it, her secrets, her shame, her childhood memories, and all she had thought, was over and done with..
To save Poppy's life, she has to go back, back to where it all started.. Lilysands, a coastal town, where everyone appears good, warm and friendly, but are they??
Back to foster parents, Max and Autumn, who appear to be overjoyed to see her but do they really love her??
Back to Aiden her first love whom she has forgotten but has she really??
Back to Alice, her foster sister who apparently committed suicide but had she??
Too many questions and too little time to discover all the truths along with saving Poppy.
Tracy Buchanan writes well, the story starts at a good pace, there is a right amount of suspense in the right areas. The story starts with a bang but there is something missing to make it a complete thriller. Estelle, as the main character is strong but appears to be a bit of a wimp, in certain portions, unsure and insecure. She herself is going through an eating disorder but that is not dealt properly, with sensitivity. The background is sketchy and how Estelle got help for it, is explained vaguely in two lines.
There are bits and pieces in this book which feel incomplete, lots of things are not explained properly, just like the title. The connection between the main character and love interest is lukewarm. There is a line in the book, where the mystery person who sends the photos and messages, thinks that he/she would like to strangle the main character, such is the level of hate... But that doesn't come forth in subsequent pages and explanations. Like any thriller, the last pages are supposed to be stormy but this feels like a drizzle. The reason for all this mystery is good but it isn't put forth like a thriller, it comes out like a family saga, and that, my friends, is my main gripe. If a book is tagged - some truths set you free and others destroy, it better deliver with mind blowing writing. I should be reading this book with bated breath, it should have been my last breath before knowing the ending. But sadly, it isn't. A tighter narrative would have helped this book..
But in saying all this, i still liked Tracy's plot line, the story, the mystery, the pace at which it read, a flawed main character, hunky rock climbing love interest, a seaside town with its own politics, each character with his/her own secrets..
Would I read Tracy's books? - yes
Would I believe what the tag line said? - maybe
Would I expect it to be a dark adrenaline filled thriller - definitely not
Its a fun read, enjoyable but forgettable..
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Avon Books UK and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Tracy Buchanan novel, drawn in by the story of food writer, Estelle Forster, who returns to the picture postcard pretty coastal town of Lillysands, a place she used to think of as home. When a child goes missing and Estelle receives threatening notes linking her to the missing girl, life by the coast becomes anything but idyllic. Dark secrets lie behind the perfect seaside-town facade and soon Estelle is frightened for those she loves dearest - making the reader question everyone involved. Plenty of interesting twists make this a great beach page-turner, with a jaw-dropping final revelation. I devoured Her Last Breath in two days and now look forward to enjoying more of Buchanan's back catalogue.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Well this was certainly a book that kept me guessing throughout. There are two perspectives in this book, Estelle a food blogger who is launching a book, and then another person who pops up now and then that is written very cleverly.

For it is this mystery person that is clearly behind all the weird things occurring in Estelle’s life but for most of the book I was left wondering who they are, and just what they are trying to achieve.
Oddly I enjoyed reading about Estelle’s childhood, its gritty and very real, from a 7 year old until placed into foster care and then the main story features around one of her foster families while she was 15.

For during that year there were two main events that left their mark on young Estelle and shaped her into the woman she is now. And it is these events that seem to have come to the surface and are the focus of the book.

I am sorry to say that I didn’t find this book anywhere near as gripping as I had hoped, although I did enjoy reading the story. The characters on the whole I just found incredibly hard to like and for me that makes it harder to read.

I was intrigued to find out what was happening, and there is a storyline that takes in landslides that definitely kept me reading. There is plenty of deception and mystery to this book to keep you guessing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Food writer Estelle Forster has the perfect life - she’s a YouTube chef (creating vegetarian dishes and extolling a ‘pure’ lifestyle) and her first book is about to be published. During an interview, the journalist pushes a bit too deeply into her past, Estelle can’t cope, she receives a Polaroid of a missing girl that she believes is the child she gave up for adoption fifteen years ago and so she runs away to the coastal town of Lillysands where she grew up. But once there, things get more complicated and a lot of people seem to find her reappearance troubling.

This has a strong opening, the prologue being a series of reports from a social worker that effectively remove young Estelle from her addict/alcoholic birth parents (but don’t worry if you don’t grasp it, Estelle reminds us of this fact every time she mentions them later in the book - and she mentions them a lot), but then seems to take a step away from reality. Estelle lives with an injured Olympic athlete but we get no sense of their life together, other than he’s remote and she’s remote, she’s a popular vlogger and chef but we never see her even thinking of making a video (her sole contribution to social media is a couple of bland Instagram posts) and we only see her cooking once. Lillysands is a peculiar village that seems to grow or shrink according to the demands of the story and while some of the supporting characters are vibrant (her foster family), others are random names that crop up every now and again. Unfortunately, Estelle is also a problem - she quickly wears out her welcome, acting like a young girl one moment and an assured adult the next, repeating a LOT of things, dithering between boys like a sixteen-year-old and going off half-cocked on assumptions that often don’t make sense to the reader.

The book touches on several intriguing elements - adoption and how it feels for the parents and the adoptee, teenage suicide, bulimia - but once it’s used them for a plot point, they’re cast aside. Pacing is also a problem with the middle section becoming very repetitive and the whole thing could have benefited from a much harsher edit. As for the twist, I won’t give it away but the reader is given absolutely no clue (due to a specific characters repeated comments) that it’s even likely, which I felt was a cheat and the actual ending itself fizzles rather than bangs.

An intriguing idea, this should have been more gripping than it was, which is a relatively implausible disappointment.

[Stephen Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was a real page-turner that contained no shortage of surprises. An intriguing premise paves the way for a gripping and cleverly woven plot that boasts a memorable setting and a group of interesting, enigmatic characters. These things combined to guarantee that this book held my absolute attention right through to the end.

The opening to the story provides little indication as to the events that follow. Estelle is a minor celebrity; a successful food writer and vlogger who is celebrating the upcoming release of her first book. At the same time, she hears that Poppy O'Farrell, the daughter of a well-known television presenter has gone missing.

Estelle soon receives a threatening message through the post, along with a polaroid photograph of Poppy. The revelations that follow force Estelle to confront her dubious past and return to the seaside town where she spent several years of her childhood, in search of the answers.

This enables the book to explore some very interesting themes that reoccur throughout. The main one concerns Estelle's past and her upbringing, which she has concealed in order to aid her reputation. It gets increasingly complex as the story progresses, but I thought the author handled the issue of snobbery relatively well. Even more powerful was the theme of suicide, which as well as being very impressively written, was quite moving.

The thing that really connected me with this book was the plot. The missing child trope is exceedingly common in recent thrillers, but this was a fairly original take on it. The polaroids added a sinister extra layer of tension, while almost every character carried a certain degree of suspicion.

Most of the characters were very well developed and given a large amount of backstory, and they all seemed to have something to hide. In truth, not many of them were likeable, but I actually did not mind as in this case, it helped make the story more interesting.

Estelle was a multi-layered protagonist, and she became more fascinating by each twist and every plot development. This only deepened my connection to the book. Some of her actions were slightly irrational, but the same could be said about several of the other characters, particularly Aidan.

The settings added a lot of depth to the book, and I liked how the author contrasted Estelle's home in London to the seaside town of Lillysands, where most of the events take place. Lillysands, with its long-held secrets of the past, has a menacing atmosphere.

The book contains a lot of twists, but none bigger than the one towards the end. It is a startling moment that made me stop and consider everything that had happened previously in a different light. The way the author guides the reader into thinking something else is brilliantly done. I was not completely sold on the ending itself and how Poppy's storyline was tied up, but the twist helped to make up for that.

Overall, this was an immersive and very well plotted book. I really liked the depth and originality that went into the story, and how the various strands converged near the end in a twist that has quite the impact. This is my second book by Tracy Buchanan, and I have really enjoyed them both.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Last Breath by Tracy Buchanan is a contemporary psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.
It really is a marvellous read and very cleverly constructed. The novel's chapters alternate between two different voices - present day action and a menacing voice that is watching and waiting. Throughout I tried to guess who's was the menacing voice? I accused most of the characters before the big reveal.
The novel has the themes of secrets and lies, appearances and reality. Everyone seems to have a secret they protect with lies. The faces presented to the world are not reality. The reader must discover the truth beneath the lies and appearances.
There are also difficult themes of abuse, neglect, bulimia and control. Unsuitable parents mean youngsters are not treated as they should be. Our upbringing may translate into baggage we carry into adulthood. Sometimes the only thing we can control in our lives, is our eating with disastrous effects. The media is partly to blame with its portrayal of stick thin but perfect women - perfectly airbrushed but not everyone realises this.
The themes of drug and alcohol abuse show there are no class boundaries.
The motif for our lives can be seen in the coastal village presented. As it erodes into the sea, lives begin to unravel.
The sins of the fathers may be repeated in the subsequent generations unless the chains are broken.
Baggage accumulated in the past will affect our lives. The heavier it becomes, the more burdensome we feel. The truth must come to light if we are to have a future.
Her Last Breath played games with the reader's mind as one tries to predict the ending. Clues send the reader this way and that, before the jaw dropping conclusion.
An absolutely fantastic psychological thriller that entertains from the start.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her last breath by Tracy Buchanan.
Food writer Estelle Forster has the perfect life. And with her first book on the way, it’s about to get even better.

When Estelle hears about Poppy O’Farrell’s disappearance, she assumes the girl has simply run away. But Estelle’s world crumbles when she’s sent a photo of Poppy, along with a terrifying note: I’m watching you. I know everything about you.

Estelle has no idea who’s threatening her, or how she’s connected to the missing teen, but she thinks the answers lie in the coastal town she once called home, and the past she hoped was long behind her.

Estelle knows she must do everything to find Poppy. But how far will she go to hide the truth – that her perfect life was the perfect lie?
Fantastic read with brilliant characters. I liked estelle. I really hoped poppy was OK. Gripping read. 5*. Netgalley and avoid books UK.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, I was gripped from the very first page and I literally whizzed through the story as could not turn the pages fast enough.

Brilliantly well written and the characters are all so very well portrayed and believable, it was a shock when it came to light that some of those characters had been lying and keeping secrets. 

The story was highly captivating, dramatic and emotional in places and as for that ending, I was pretty wowed by that, so did not see that twist coming, so very cleverly done.

Lastly whilst reading this story, I felt hungry a lot, because of all the yummy mention of foods such as Carrott quinoa muffins, Zucchini fritters, Sweet potato burgers, salmon oakcakes, courgette roll-ups.

[Janni_B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estelle is a successful food writer and is about to publish her first book. She leads a healthy lifestyle and advocates fresh food and clean living where possible. She lives with boyfriend Seb, an ex-Olympic rower. Life seems perfect. However she has kept hidden from everyone the fact that she grew up in the care system and her early years had been chaotic but over time she had worked hard and had created a different persona.

During a dinner party to celebrate her success a small bouquet of red flowers is delivered late in the evening. The card was addressed to Stel, a name she hadn't used in years.

The next day she while she's being interviewed by journalist who is known for digging deep to get a story, she's rattled when she receives, tucked into a delivery from her butcher, an envelope containing and polaroid photo and a message saying "...I'm watching you. I know everything about you.” Later, she realises it is a photograph of a tv presenter's runaway teenage daughter, Poppy O'Farrell, but is baffled as she can't see any connection. She contacts the Police who tell her someone will call but she feels they haven't really taken her seriously.

All the time you feel her anxiety building as Estelle has no idea who is threatening her or how she might be connected to the missing girl but then she learns something that might connect them. Meanwhile her relationship with her boyfriend isn't going too well and he doesn't seem to very supportive towards her.

Without giving anything away, she decides she has to go to the seaside town of Lillysands where she used to live with the last of her foster parents, Max and Autumn and their son Aiden despite having had no contact with them for years, to try and find some answers.

However she does go and see her foster parents and is persuaded to stay until the next day but then gets asked to stay a bit longer to help celebrate Autumn's 60th birthday.

Suffice to say, not everything is rosy and perfect. On the surface, yes it seems nothing much has changed; but you feel there are darker things happening underneath.

Estelle is a complex character. She grew up in horrendous circumstances (the first pages of the book consist of a social work report on her when she was very young) and had many problems growing up. Max and Autumn were the foster parents of last resort and she had more or less settled there but left suddenly after the suicide of her foster sister Alice.

It's like the longer Estelle is in Lillysands the more she unravels. A reminder that her perfect life wasn't always so perfect and is really based on lies. Throughout the book there are passages that are very chilling – more threatening notes or someone's thoughts as they watch?

A storm is brewing and emotions are running high. The tension escalates. There are a lot of secrets in the town, and lies. In the meantime Estelle is still searching for Poppy. Will the truth be revealed?

I ended up enjoying this book. This is one of these books that didn't initially wow me but I stuck with it and it didn't take long for me to become quite engrossed and I even stayed up far too late to finish it. There are a couple of unexpected twists (well I didn't expect them!) which I thought were pretty good.

[Margaret Pritchard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jesus Christ.

First of all, nobody talks like the people in this book talk. The dialogue is clunky and wooden and expository, and every character seems as obsessed with the clean and dirty imagery as Estelle is, for no obvious reason.

Secondly, every action that is portrayed as loving and safe and kind and healing - including Aiden's weird actions at the end - is actually a massive boundaries and / or safeguarding issue. You don't force physical affection on a brand new foster child with attachment issues. That's not loving. You don't contact the child you have just found out is yours on Facebook and tell her who her birth parents are. That's not an act of healing honesty. That's massively inappropriate. You don't give a glass of champagne to a 12 year old foster child who comes from a home with substance abuse issues - that's not a lovingly indulgent and abundant celebration, it's enabling and toxic. You don't hide your teenage foster daughter's pregnancy from the authorities and tell her she'll be taken away from you if anyone finds out - that's not lovingly protecting her, it's massively damaging and traumatising.

Also, there are plot holes you can drive a lorry through. Too many to enumerate on, but one of the biggest is how doggedly Estelle pursued finding out who sent the notes to Alice. Why did she act so surprised when she found someone had been sending Alice notes, and try to get people to investigate the source of those notes, when she knew it was her all along? I know we get a 1 line explanation about how she had hoped Alice was pushed instead of jumped because that would absolve her, but that doesn't explain why she tried to unmask the author of the notes when she knew it was her all along.

And the author's view of adoption is breathtakingly awful. I can't imagine reading this as an adoptee or an adoptive parent without wanting to throw the book at the wall. Adoption is portrayed as something horrible that you do to the child you give birth to, which inevitably traumatises them, and which is only healed by them forging a close relationship with their birth parents later on. Even if that relationship is begun via underhanded means that invade the adoptee's privacy and undermine the adoptive parents, and include massive boundary violations.

I mostly finished it just to confirm it was as messed up as I thought it was from the start.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It gripped me enough to whip through it but the sightings and the stalkings are over-egged, meaning that despite the jaw drop of the twisty ending this particular reader was relieved when it was over.

I didn't feel the characters were fleshed out that well. The whole book felt as insubstantial as the Stepfordesque enclave of Lillysands, where main character Estelle grew up. As I've mentioned ad boringum these reviews are retroactive and when I jogged my memory on this one the main feeling was meh. So meh we go.

[Chanel Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

After enjoying the rest of this author's books, I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this one also.
I finished it rather quickly, an addictive page-turner that I couldn't put down!
Won't say too much as don't want to spoil it, but with it's fast-paced story with plenty of twists and turns, this is definitely a read I recommend.

[Suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was great to start with and I was really gripped and interested, the middle was a bit messy, with lots of to-ing and fro-ing and the end just left me a bit confused as I didn’t feel it matched the rest of the story.

I enjoyed the book, but am still somewhat confused!

[QHuong(BookSpy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment!
First, I don't like Estelle. I was under the impression that she is so phony and arrogant. She acts like she is above anyone else. I actually did sympathize with her at the beginning, when she found out the truth about Poppy. But as the story went on, I had more difficulty in liking her. She is very bland and one-dimensional. I was unable to feel harmonized with this character. Entire story she doesn't do anything to reach her goal. Yes, she does uncover dirty secrets in Lillysands, but they are all irrelevant to her goal. In fact, she doesn't do anything worth mentioning at all, even though she is the main protagonist.
Second, the plot structure is so weak. The ending is a surprise, but it happens just too easily. It seems like a safe escape for a story that has no twists, no climax. Everything is not connected. There is no connection between the ending and the whole story before that. The secrets that Estelle uncover in Lillysands are irrelevant to both the ending and the point of Estelle's trip. Nothing makes sense in this sloppy novel. And the missing girl, the ending lets me down intensely. The biggest mystery, the missing Poppy, turns out not a mystery at all. The ending is like a separate story from the entire plot I have read previously. The part where Estelle finds out about who Poppy is for her happens too fast and effortless. Estelle's reaction to the news is not convincing. She accepts it too easily that I hardly thinks she really considers at all. Every detail in this novel is disorganized and careless.
Third, I don't like Aiden, either. He is too weak to me, doesn't appear to me as a strong, reliable man. The discovery of him at the ending is not too shocking. I just cannot see the point of him conspiring that scheme the whole time. It is petty and a bit snobbish.

[Grass monster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blurb :
Food writer Estelle Forster has the perfect life. And with her first book on the way, it’s about to get even better.
When Estelle hears about Poppy O’Farrell’s disappearance, she assumes the girl has simply run away. But Estelle’s world crumbles when she’s sent a photo of Poppy, along with a terrifying note: I’m watching you. I know everything about you.
Estelle has no idea who’s threatening her, or how she’s connected to the missing teen, but she thinks the answers lie in the coastal town she once called home, and the past she hoped was long behind her.
Estelle knows she must do everything to find Poppy. But how far will she go to hide the truth – that her perfect life was the perfect lie?


My Thoughts:
I like to step out of my comfort zone of Chick Lit once in a whille and indulge in a Thriller. This did not disappoint. Her Last Breath had me hooked from the beginning. As we go on a journey with Estelle, who had been adopted as a child, and on her way to publishing her new cookery book she has written, we end up back in her home town of Lillysands, after Estelle recieves a photo of local girl Poppy who has gone missing along with a note telling Estelle that she is being watched and they know everything about her. We go on to find out who is threatening Estelle and why?. Who Poppy is and why there is a connection. This will keep you on your toes right until the end. Its filled with surprises and lots of twists. I had two separate people in mind who could of been behind the threats and I was wrong on both accounts. Tracy Buchanan, has done amazingly well to not of given the game away or any hints throughout the book. And for that alone this book deserves 5 Stars. Everything slotted into place and was very well written. I am looking forward to her next book.

[marlin1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an avid reader of Tracy Buchanan's books, so I was very eager to read this next one.

Estelle's life is looking good, she is a successful food blogger and now is in the throes of having her first cook book 'Pure' published but everything is turned up side down when a polaroid picture of a young teenage girl and a note is delivered to her home address. She doesn't know this girl...or does she?
Estelle has a history that she has kept hidden but with the picture and note dredging up the past, she decides to tell her live in boyfriend of her previous life although he's not accepting of this news. Suddenly it seems that her history is not so 'Pure' and before all comes out into the public eye she decides that she must face some truths in the town she left. It seems that all points lead back to Lillysands and it's time to confront the answers.

I did like Estelle and maybe the choices she made weren't the best but I could imagine the fear she felt as a young girl in the situations she found herself in. The town of Lillysands held a lot of secrets that weaved in and out and there were certainly things that I didn't pick up on. The notes in another person's voice that were interspersed in the chapters sounded menacing but I wouldn't really call this book a thriller. It was enjoyable book, that was a very easy read and I liked seeing the personal growth of Estelle but I must admit that I didn't see the end of this book coming. What I like about the author's books are that the endings aren't always clear cut but they always leave me satisfied and having hope.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Buchanan read and I wasn't overly impressed. I'm going against the general consensus as seen with the current star rating here and giving it a 2 star rating.

Estelle is a new and up-coming food blogger with a first book about to be released. She is ecstatic and can't believe how well her life is turning out. A new book ready to be released, a huge cash advance for said book, a pure and healthy diet, a hot boyfriend, and a great apartment in London. Things are looking wonderful until she receives a photo of a missing young girl with an odd message and Estelle's past comes crashing down on her.

The story deals with abuse, neglect, deceit, eating disorders, drinking and drug problems, and suicide. It had a promising premise but wasn't well executed in my opinion. I found the story read as a young-adult book but the main characters are adults. The language was pretty simple but it was a super quick read. (The overuse of the word "tummy" irritated me in the story and especially when a male adult character used it; just seems unrealistic). I will admit it has a twist ending that I didn't really see coming but it still didn't save the book for me as I still found the ending to be odd and unrealistic overall.

[Anne Mackle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estelle seems to have it all, a successful husband,her own apartment and a cookery book just about to be launched. After surviving a horribly deprived childhood she has finally made good. She lives a "pure life" which is what her pure cookbook is all about but is she kidding herself or her public?

When a teenage girl,Poppy O'Farrell disappears and Estelle is sent a Polaroid photo of her along with threatening notes she has no idea what this has to do with her. To find out she will have to re visit her past,a past she thought she had left behind forever, she will have to go back to Lillysands.

This is a real who done it story. Who is sending threats to Estelle and why? Everyone I read about seemed guilty and I changed my mind many times throughout the story. There was a twist that I didn't see coming which added to the suspense.
There are so many spoilers on Amazon that I urge you to just read the book without reading them.
Tracy Buchanan never fails to produce a good read and I eagerly await her next one.

[Ami Pellegrini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the opening started off really good. There’s a lot of things covered about childhood issues and traumas that I am not too familiar. Everyone has things from their past that stay with them and coming from a pretty normal family, it’s heart breaking to see the insecurities and fear that stays with Stel. My favorite part of the book was when the author wrote “She was quiet for a few moments, aware stood another pivotal moment in her life, another ending. There has been so many, one chapter to the next, another door closing. But she kept moving, kept running, because that’s all she knew.” I liked the small town gossip. The characters were built really well. The only reason I gave it a 3 was because the unraveling got a little too repetitive. Her spinning in her thoughts about who was involved over and over and over again seemed a little much. I also really wanted to like Stel a lot. There were times I did and other times annoyed with her childish behavior. So it was a little hard for me to connect with her. I was satisfied with how the book ended.

[Sally Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estelle seems to have it all - a great career as a "pure" food writer with a book about to be launched - a great boyfriend and a lovely home.....not bad from a girl brought up in care........but when in the middle of a dinner party a bunch of poppies are delivered to her house and the next day a polaroid picture of girl called Poppy who has gone missing with a menacing message she realises her not so "pure" past is about to catch up with her!

She realises that in order to help find the girl she needs to go to the beginning to Lillysands where she spent the happiest time of her childhood, back to Max and Autumn the foster parents who turned her life around and back to their son Aiden her first (and only?) love but are her memories true ones or is there something more sinister and underlying about this town?

A great story that kept me guessing right to the end - and I didn't guess the twist! Good light reading not really a thriller but a good read that I really enjoyed

[Julie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about opening a can of worms – that is exactly what Estelle does when she returns to her foster parents in the coastal town of Lillysands, a place she thought she would never set foot in again. After receiving a rather worryingly postcard and discovering that the child she put up for adoption many years ago is now missing, Estelle decides she owes it to the father to let him know about Poppy’s existence before the police do. Soon after leaving her home in London we discover the awful childhood she endured and what her life was like with her foster parents Max and Autumn, son Aidan and Alice.

All is not as it seems with most of the characters which had me guessing throughout the book. A great gripping read that gives you plenty to think about along the way. Well done Tray on another fabulous thrilling read.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC , these are my thoughts on Her Last Breath.

[Sam Scriven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another superb suspense novel from Tracy Buchanan. Briefly, it tells the story of Estelle who is a food writer with a pure living public persona. Her past was anything but, however.
Trying to find the missing daughter she gave up when she was fifteen leads her back to her teenage home and foster parents. The community of Lillysands is not all that it seems, and secret after secret unravels until it's hard to know who to trust.

This novel kept me gripped and way up past my bedtime. However, I did have a bit of a problem with the final twist. It seemed a bit hard to swallow. Other readers loved it though, and this wouldn't put me off buying everything else that Tracy has written or is writing.

A wonderful, evocative book in which the town and the sea are as much characters as the people.

[Jennyh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estelle Forster has a successful life. Her blog has thousands of followers, her new book ‘Pure’ tells of her clean lifestyle without processed food or artificial ingredients and her boyfriend is an ex Olympic rower. So when she receives a picture of the runaway/missing daughter of a TV presenter and a note, she cannot think of one reason why it was sent to her.
The beginning had me hooked, the ending had me speculating with all the concluding twists, but the middle dragged. I felt for Estelle as her perfect world began to crumble but for me the imagery of crumbling was overdone although it cleverly showed Estelle’s fragile state of mind.
With twists aplenty this is an ingenious read which needs sticking with.

[Linda Tilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fifteen-year-old girl has gone missing. They say Poppy O’Farrell has run away from her celebrity parents, and the media is in a frenzy. But none of this has anything to do with successful lifestyle blogger Estelle Forster . . . So why would someone send her a picture of the missing girl – and a note, claiming to know Estelle’s secrets?

A great book to get your teeth into if you love a mystery psychological thriller, and this one has a great array of characters, red herrings, secrets and lies and a lovely setting to tell the story in. I really enjoyed getting to know and understand Estelle and the back story to LilleySands and its residents.

The ending was a tiny bit disappointing for me, so only 4 stars, but nevertheless a great read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading the next Tracy Buchanan novel and I wasn't disappointed! Estelle is an up and coming food blogger and writer, but when she starts receiving photos of a missing girl and notes, she starts to think someone is watching her. Is her past about to catch up with her? As she returns to her teenage home where everything changed, reuniting herself with family she's distanced herself from, Estelle is about to have a tough time discovering the truth.
I was second guessing the twist in this book throughout, but I did't get it. It was a great read, perhaps some slightly predictable writing just before the ending, but the ending blew me away.

[Pat Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gripping book with so many twists and turns. It is the story of Estelle, who has become a new health food blogger from being an abused child, but her world begins to crumble around her as she receives anonymous photos and notes regarding a missing girl. Estelle has a secret and she has to return to her home town to connect her past to the girl. All the characters have secrets which take a lot of discovering. A fantastic read that keeps the reader enthralled from beginning to end, with a final twist that leaves you gasping!
Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Yvonne Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very mixed feelings about this one. Enjoyed the beginning but found myself growing impatient with it during the middle.
I am very confused by the ending ****Spoiler coming****because at one point in the novel when I was pretty sure it was Aiden sending the polaroids and taunting Estelle, I read a bit when they were on the cliff and it said “Four steps and I’ll be right behind you. All it would take is one shove and boom! Over the edge you’d go.
Aiden would be devastated though. He doesn’t see through your charade like I do."
So, if it ended up being Aiden then this makes no sense at all.
Did anyone else wonder at this???