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Her Last Steps
Trust no one when your daughter goes missing.
On a frigid winter morning near her cabin, Ava Galbraith’s four-year-old daughter vanishes without a trace in the snow. Local sheriff, Mallory Anderson, focuses his initial investigation on Ava and her estranged husband, Gordon, embroiled in a bitter custody battle. But when Ava receives a ransom demand for half-a-million dollars, the race to find four-year-old Melanie takes on a more ominous tone. With the FBI on board, disturbing secrets begin to emerge connecting both Ava and her husband to a murky past. A remote cabin in the woods may hold some desperately needed answers, but time is ticking down to complete the ransom drop-off and save Melanie from the one person who wants her dead.
Who is the real mastermind behind the abduction?
- Fasten your seatbelt for a tense domestic thriller with a heart-pounding pace! -
Will you enjoy Her Last Steps? If you read any of my favorite psychological and domestic suspense thriller authors including K.L. Slater, Shalini Boland, Adam Croft, Kathryn Croft, Louise Jensen, or Rachel Caine, the answer is a resounding yes!
On a frigid winter morning near her cabin, Ava Galbraith’s four-year-old daughter vanishes without a trace in the snow. Local sheriff, Mallory Anderson, focuses his initial investigation on Ava and her estranged husband, Gordon, embroiled in a bitter custody battle. But when Ava receives a ransom demand for half-a-million dollars, the race to find four-year-old Melanie takes on a more ominous tone. With the FBI on board, disturbing secrets begin to emerge connecting both Ava and her husband to a murky past. A remote cabin in the woods may hold some desperately needed answers, but time is ticking down to complete the ransom drop-off and save Melanie from the one person who wants her dead.
Who is the real mastermind behind the abduction?
- Fasten your seatbelt for a tense domestic thriller with a heart-pounding pace! -
Will you enjoy Her Last Steps? If you read any of my favorite psychological and domestic suspense thriller authors including K.L. Slater, Shalini Boland, Adam Croft, Kathryn Croft, Louise Jensen, or Rachel Caine, the answer is a resounding yes!
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2019
889 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
N.L. Hinkens
23 books345 followersNYT and USA Today bestselling author N. L. Hinkens writes twisty psychological suspense thrillers with unexpected endings. She’s a travel junkie, coffee hound, and idea wrangler, in no particular order. She grew up in Ireland—land of legends and storytelling—and now resides in the US. Her work has won the Grand Prize Next Generation Indie Book Award for fiction, as well as numerous other awards. Join her VIP Reader Club for hot new releases, stellar giveaways, exclusive content, behind the scenes and more. https://normahinkens.com/
Pseudonym for author Norma Hinkens
Pseudonym for author Norma Hinkens
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 84 reviews
November 29, 2019
This is an intriguing story of a couple devastated when their young daughter goes missing when out with her Mom, Ava. Ava is a budding photographer who is taking photos of the snow sparkling near a lake,when she looks up, her daughter Melanie is Not there! Ava follows the little footsteps until they just Stop...Fear engulfs her as she cannot locate the 4 year old girl,and panic soon follows...
The sheriff quickly gets on the case when Ava rushes into the office, with search teams and dogs ready to go. Ava and husband, Gordon, are in a divorce battle, and both seem to be hiding things from each other and All authorities! Could Ava have taken her own daughter in an attempt to destroy her husband..Or does He, or his investment partners,know what is going on?!
With twists, turns and several corrupt characters involved, will Melanie be found, before a blizzard turns the area into a snow-covered ice rink...
You will be on the edge of your seat,and amazed at all the little stories going on between the folks in this town,until a surprising ending has you gasping for air..I received an ARC from the author and can not thank her enough for this wildly entertaining story! I give you my honest feelings and thoughts in this review, and I HIGHLY Recommend This Thrilling Adventure!!!
The sheriff quickly gets on the case when Ava rushes into the office, with search teams and dogs ready to go. Ava and husband, Gordon, are in a divorce battle, and both seem to be hiding things from each other and All authorities! Could Ava have taken her own daughter in an attempt to destroy her husband..Or does He, or his investment partners,know what is going on?!
With twists, turns and several corrupt characters involved, will Melanie be found, before a blizzard turns the area into a snow-covered ice rink...
You will be on the edge of your seat,and amazed at all the little stories going on between the folks in this town,until a surprising ending has you gasping for air..I received an ARC from the author and can not thank her enough for this wildly entertaining story! I give you my honest feelings and thoughts in this review, and I HIGHLY Recommend This Thrilling Adventure!!!
April 27, 2023
This is a crazy kidnapping story! It just gets wilder and wilder. There are so many twists your head will be spinning. There are many shady characters in this story and the poor detective who tries to navigate through it all! I enjoyed it, and since I have no complaints, I figured it deserved 5 stars!
September 6, 2022
"She wished with all her heart there was some way to transmit the heat of her body to her daughter, she would willingly give up the last degree of warmth in her own blood to preserve her sweet child's life."
This one started well. I was hooked and was definitely intrigued. But after a while the story started spiralling in a strange direction, making it a little hard to understand what was going on.
I tried really hard to like this one but for me, it just fell flat. I'm not going to lie, I was bored through most of it.
This one started well. I was hooked and was definitely intrigued. But after a while the story started spiralling in a strange direction, making it a little hard to understand what was going on.
I tried really hard to like this one but for me, it just fell flat. I'm not going to lie, I was bored through most of it.
December 8, 2019
Action-filled with numerous twists and turns. Suspenseful. As the criminals bungle their way through, you are left you wondering who is double crossing whom. Just how far will people go for revenge? A quick, intense read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the shocking ending.
February 5, 2020
Suspenseful, thrilling, must read!
From the very beginning of the book, you are in for a wonderful, surprising, suspenseful ride! What happened to four-year-old Melanie? You will have to decipher multiple trails of betrayal, backstabbing, and tremendous love. Who’s lying, and why? At the center of it all, lies the fate of a four-year-old little girl! This is a book you will not be able to put down, so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time, once you pick it up.
From the very beginning of the book, you are in for a wonderful, surprising, suspenseful ride! What happened to four-year-old Melanie? You will have to decipher multiple trails of betrayal, backstabbing, and tremendous love. Who’s lying, and why? At the center of it all, lies the fate of a four-year-old little girl! This is a book you will not be able to put down, so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time, once you pick it up.
August 23, 2020
⭐️1/2 This book was really dumb and the characters were all very one dimensional. It’s kind of about a kidnapping, but it’s more about a bunch of irresponsible adults using a kid as a pawn for who knows what. I don’t recommend this one. *Kindle Unlimited book.
November 3, 2020
A MUST for your TBR list! Fast-paced! Riveting! Exciting! Addictive! Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
March 7, 2021
Clean but one-dimensional...a bit boring.
January 10, 2020
Trust no one when your daughter goes missing.
On a frigid winter morning near her cabin, Ava Galbraith’s four-year-old daughter vanishes without a trace in the snow. Local sheriff, Mallory Anderson, focuses his initial investigation on Ava and her estranged husband, Gordon, embroiled in a bitter custody battle. But when Ava receives a ransom demand for half-a-million dollars, the race to find four-year-old Melanie takes on a more ominous tone. With the FBI on board, disturbing secrets begin to emerge connecting both Ava and her husband to a murky past. A remote cabin in the woods may hold some desperately needed answers, but time is ticking down to complete the ransom drop-off and save Melanie from the one person who wants her dead.
Who is the real mastermind behind the abduction?
- Fasten your seatbelt for a tense domestic thriller with a heart-pounding pace! -
On a frigid winter morning near her cabin, Ava Galbraith’s four-year-old daughter vanishes without a trace in the snow. Local sheriff, Mallory Anderson, focuses his initial investigation on Ava and her estranged husband, Gordon, embroiled in a bitter custody battle. But when Ava receives a ransom demand for half-a-million dollars, the race to find four-year-old Melanie takes on a more ominous tone. With the FBI on board, disturbing secrets begin to emerge connecting both Ava and her husband to a murky past. A remote cabin in the woods may hold some desperately needed answers, but time is ticking down to complete the ransom drop-off and save Melanie from the one person who wants her dead.
Who is the real mastermind behind the abduction?
- Fasten your seatbelt for a tense domestic thriller with a heart-pounding pace! -
November 25, 2019
Her Last Steps by N. L. Hinkens was an ARC I received and this is my fair and honest opinion. My first book by this author and I found it to be a very interesting read. It had lots of twists and turns, and shows the lengths people will go too to get the better of someone else. Ava was determined to get away from her husband, just what lengths will she go to, too make that actually happen. I enjoy suspense thrillers and I would recommend this book to others.
January 29, 2020
Has some unexpected twists. :)
April 12, 2020
Mmmmm not sure which rating to give this/how I felt about it. I finished it but not because i was hooked/loving the story, i finished it mostly becaise i hate DNF-ing a book!
March 17, 2024
N.L. HInkens at her best!
I thought after reading/listening to eleven of N. L. Hinkens psychological thrillers I knew enough about her writing to predict the villain in Her Last Step. Sure, my predictions took the same trajectory as a losing gambler until I stopped and just let the story take me to the answer. Her last Steps contains so many loose threads you could swear it was falling apart, until you realize the loose ends are only around the edges and they all come together into a well-crafted thriller that will leave you not just entertained, but feeling like you still aren’t prepared to predict where this author is going to take you in her stories. I listened to the audiobook version of Her Last Steps narrated by Julie Niblett. This is the first time I’ve listened to Julie narrate a story and I can state emphatically it is not going to be the last time. She took an excellent story and elevated it by bringing each character to life through their unique voices and attitudes.
I thought after reading/listening to eleven of N. L. Hinkens psychological thrillers I knew enough about her writing to predict the villain in Her Last Step. Sure, my predictions took the same trajectory as a losing gambler until I stopped and just let the story take me to the answer. Her last Steps contains so many loose threads you could swear it was falling apart, until you realize the loose ends are only around the edges and they all come together into a well-crafted thriller that will leave you not just entertained, but feeling like you still aren’t prepared to predict where this author is going to take you in her stories. I listened to the audiobook version of Her Last Steps narrated by Julie Niblett. This is the first time I’ve listened to Julie narrate a story and I can state emphatically it is not going to be the last time. She took an excellent story and elevated it by bringing each character to life through their unique voices and attitudes.
July 22, 2020
This is only the second time I am leaving a review in the past 15 years and I read ALOT. Although I've read many excellent books on Kindle, I believe this author is the best in this genre. I usually avoid the psychological thrillers as I usually cut out by the middle of the book out because I don't care about the characters nor where they are headed. This author stays on track and really did keep me guessing. No mind wandering and no boredom from N.L. Hinkens. She is a prolific author, I will read another of her books in the near future. I am hopeful that I will not be let down. Thanks N.L.
April 1, 2020
NL Hinkens is a new to me author and I can’t believe I haven’t stumbled on her earlier. Her Last Steps is a fantastic, suspenseful thriller that had me guessing the entire book. A parent’s biggest fear comes to life when Ava turns her back and Melanie, her 4 year old daughter disappears. Now the manhunt begins, fingers are pointed and plot so well thought out will blow your mind. Ava’s nasty ex-husband, Gordon is far from innocent of so many things, but is he involved? His mother is out for revenge against Ava for trying to divorce her son, did she do it? Was someone walking the property when they were outside and taken? How about Tammy, the woman scorned? Is Melanie alive? Will she be found? Mallory, the town sheriff is on the job and he scours every clue to find answers. It’s smart, thrilling, gripping and kept me on the edge of my seat with a surprising ending! I loved this book and can’t wait til my next listen of this talented author!
Julie Niblett is incredible as the narrator of this book! She is new to me, and I became lost in her narration. I could feel the fear, the frustration, and anger through her voices. She has a good pace, and easily distinguishable voices, making the book total entertainment.
Julie Niblett is incredible as the narrator of this book! She is new to me, and I became lost in her narration. I could feel the fear, the frustration, and anger through her voices. She has a good pace, and easily distinguishable voices, making the book total entertainment.
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May 23, 2020Her Last Steps: A Psychological Suspense Thriller, my fifth amazing read from author N.L. Hinkens, my third this week. After reading/listening to The Other Woman & The Lies She Told, I followed with this book. I enjoyed the outstanding suspense story-line with its intricately woven twists and turns. Norma (N.L.) Hinkens is on my radar of great authors! I was given an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Narrator Julie Niblett's wonderful narration adds to the book's enjoyment. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018). (less)
September 21, 2024
A 4-year-old daughter has gone missing. The only thing the mother had to go by were her disappearing footsteps in the snow. Although I tried to get into it, this story just didn’t grab me as easily as previous N.L. Hinkens books. I struggled with it big time. One of the things that confused me were the names. There were just too many of them. Just too boring!
May 21, 2020
Although this one was a little bit more predictable than what I am used to reading from this author, it still did not disappoint. Great plot, a few good twists and turns, and characters you can’t help but love to hate. Really great book and I enjoyed reading it. Onto the next!
May 22, 2020
I received this as an ARC and this is my free and candid opinion. My first book by this author and it was a pretty good book. It showed just how far people will go to get the better of someone else. The characters were interesting. I would recommend this book to others.
September 17, 2021
Wow
What a great read ..the twists and turns were unbelievable..I never knew as I read through this story what secret would come up next. It was a page turner for sure. Thank you for a great book.
What a great read ..the twists and turns were unbelievable..I never knew as I read through this story what secret would come up next. It was a page turner for sure. Thank you for a great book.
January 19, 2025
Worth a read
Mostly unlikeable characters except for the little girl and the cops. I did like the ending, although not too sure how realistic it was. Overall, good but not great novel. Still worth reading though.
Mostly unlikeable characters except for the little girl and the cops. I did like the ending, although not too sure how realistic it was. Overall, good but not great novel. Still worth reading though.
April 11, 2020
Brilliant
Extremely well written. An excellent thriller, and a real page turner, this would make a good movie or T.V drama.
Extremely well written. An excellent thriller, and a real page turner, this would make a good movie or T.V drama.
May 17, 2020
Not bad
Story had some good twists to it, and a couple of things that didn't add up..maybe it shouldn't have been snowy and it would have made more sense. Pretty good read though.
Story had some good twists to it, and a couple of things that didn't add up..maybe it shouldn't have been snowy and it would have made more sense. Pretty good read though.
July 3, 2020
How does an four year old get lost? How could her mother let her get away? What are the results of revenge and jealousy?
July 18, 2020
What an Ahmazing story. I absolutely enjoyed listening to this audiobook from start to finish. It had me hooked and kept me guessing until everything was revealed.
July 22, 2020
Great read! I have loved every book so far by N.L. Hinkens!
August 20, 2020
4.5 stars
actually came to like this gripping story very very much. could not figure out until the very end what really had happenend and this is what makes up a perfect read for me!!!
actually came to like this gripping story very very much. could not figure out until the very end what really had happenend and this is what makes up a perfect read for me!!!
November 4, 2020
Very good and suspenseful.
November 9, 2020
This is a great book.
I never knew what was going to happen next . The ending was a complete surprise. Lots of twists and turns.
I never knew what was going to happen next . The ending was a complete surprise. Lots of twists and turns.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 84 reviews