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The Last to Disappear
The chilling new thriller from the bestselling author of The Confession and Dirty Little Secrets
A small town. A frozen lake. Three missing women. One body.
When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there's more to Vicky's case than meets the eye.
As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It's not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.
On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.
A small town. A frozen lake. Three missing women. One body.
When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there's more to Vicky's case than meets the eye.
As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It's not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.
On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2022
265 people are currently reading
2642 people want to read
About the author
Jo Spain
24 books1,177 followersJo Spain is the author of the bestselling Inspector Tom Reynolds series and several international No. 1 bestselling standalone novels. Her first book, With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
June 3, 2022
EXCERPT: The surface. She needs to get to the surface. The thought crowds everything else out.
Survival instinct kicks in, over the fear, the denial, the incomprehension.
Her legs kick, her arms flail, seeking the hole through which she fell, the break in the ice.
Up, up, and her head is clear and she's gasping for air.
The sudden intake of oxygen brings an explosion of adrenaline and now she knows what she has to do.
One. Fight the debilitating throbbing that could force her back under.
Two. Get out of the water and back onto the ice.
Three. Find safe ground.
She's lucky; this registers somewhere in the back of her brain. Some people go in and never find their way out. The last thing they see is a sheet of impenetrable ice, the promise of light on the other side. She has been trained for this. She, at least, has a chance.
Her hand throws itself onto the frozen surface, the section that hasn't cracked, and splays there like a safety anchor.
She sees a figure; remembers who it is. She calls for help. At least, she thinks she does. Her mouth opens, but she's not sure any sound is coming out. There's so much to say.
You're wrong. It doesn't matter. I won't tell anybody.
The figure just watches. There's no offer of help. And now, the person is walking away.
The woman in the lake sees crimson splashed on the white snow that covers most of the ice, thick snow that lured her to the thinnest, most dangerous part of the lake. It's so distractingly beautiful, red on white, that she almost forgets it's her blood that's been spilled. That the ragged line that trails towards the broken ice must have dripped from her exposed wound as she tried to run to safety.
Her hand reaches and slips and reaches and slips but finds nothing.
She tries to scream. It's beyond her. The pounding inside her head and the stabbing sensation of the freezing water has stolen her voice.
Who'd hear anyway?
She's alone, trapped in a frozen lake, nothing but birch trees and forest animals for miles; a whole lot of white nothingness.
She's not perfect. She's done a lot of stupid things. Things she regrets.
But she doesn't deserve this.
She didn't see this coming.
ABOUT 'THE LAST TO DISAPPEAR': A small town. A frozen lake. Three missing women. One body.
When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there's more to Vicky's case than meets the eye.
As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It's not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.
On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.
MY THOUGHTS: Jo Spain writes - I read.
The Last to Disappear is chilling in more ways than one. Set in Lapland, the icy home of Santa Claus, this is not a story of Christmas cheer and good will. Elves are mentioned but not evident. There is plenty of ice and snow, and more ice and snow - did I mention that I read The Last to Disappear wrapped in a warm and snuggly blanket in front of the fire? - and the cold-blooded abandonment of a woman either drowning or dying of hypothermia.
Jo Spain has written a tense, intense and atmospheric thriller that is both ingenious and compelling. I don't know that I fancy reindeer pizza or blood pancakes though.
The investigation of Vicky Evans death is complicated by three unsolved missing women cases which may or may not be related. After all, it was blind luck that ice-fisherman Elon found her body beneath the ice at his fishing hole. Who knows how many other bodies are down there?
Her characters are complex but relatable. Alex, Vicky's brother, feels guilty that he has cut himself off from his sister and angry that so few resources are available to investigate Vicky's death. Agatha, Police Chief, is in a complicated family situation. The supporting cast is excellent - Patric, the ex-police chief; Miika, husband of one of the missing women; Niamh, friend and workmate of the murdered woman, and many others.
The story is told over two timelines, 1998 from the point of view of Kaya, one of the missing women, and November 2019 from the points of view of Alex and Agatha.
I couldn't believe that this book was almost 400 pages. It certainly didn't feel like it. I raced through it, inhaled it, and loved every word.
A note to Jo Spain: can you please set your next book somewhere warm, tropical even. I swear I have chilblains after reading this. The South Pacific is very nice, particularly Rarotonga, Aitutaki . . . and if you would like help researching the location, I volunteer.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheLasttoDisappear #NetGalley
I: @jospainauthor @quercusbooks
T: @SpainJoanne @QuercusBooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #mystery #psychologicalthriller #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Jo Spain is the author of the bestselling Inspector Tom Reynolds series and several international No. 1 bestselling standalone novels. Her first book, With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open. (I can see why!)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last to Disappear by Jo Spain for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Survival instinct kicks in, over the fear, the denial, the incomprehension.
Her legs kick, her arms flail, seeking the hole through which she fell, the break in the ice.
Up, up, and her head is clear and she's gasping for air.
The sudden intake of oxygen brings an explosion of adrenaline and now she knows what she has to do.
One. Fight the debilitating throbbing that could force her back under.
Two. Get out of the water and back onto the ice.
Three. Find safe ground.
She's lucky; this registers somewhere in the back of her brain. Some people go in and never find their way out. The last thing they see is a sheet of impenetrable ice, the promise of light on the other side. She has been trained for this. She, at least, has a chance.
Her hand throws itself onto the frozen surface, the section that hasn't cracked, and splays there like a safety anchor.
She sees a figure; remembers who it is. She calls for help. At least, she thinks she does. Her mouth opens, but she's not sure any sound is coming out. There's so much to say.
You're wrong. It doesn't matter. I won't tell anybody.
The figure just watches. There's no offer of help. And now, the person is walking away.
The woman in the lake sees crimson splashed on the white snow that covers most of the ice, thick snow that lured her to the thinnest, most dangerous part of the lake. It's so distractingly beautiful, red on white, that she almost forgets it's her blood that's been spilled. That the ragged line that trails towards the broken ice must have dripped from her exposed wound as she tried to run to safety.
Her hand reaches and slips and reaches and slips but finds nothing.
She tries to scream. It's beyond her. The pounding inside her head and the stabbing sensation of the freezing water has stolen her voice.
Who'd hear anyway?
She's alone, trapped in a frozen lake, nothing but birch trees and forest animals for miles; a whole lot of white nothingness.
She's not perfect. She's done a lot of stupid things. Things she regrets.
But she doesn't deserve this.
She didn't see this coming.
ABOUT 'THE LAST TO DISAPPEAR': A small town. A frozen lake. Three missing women. One body.
When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there's more to Vicky's case than meets the eye.
As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It's not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.
On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.
MY THOUGHTS: Jo Spain writes - I read.
The Last to Disappear is chilling in more ways than one. Set in Lapland, the icy home of Santa Claus, this is not a story of Christmas cheer and good will. Elves are mentioned but not evident. There is plenty of ice and snow, and more ice and snow - did I mention that I read The Last to Disappear wrapped in a warm and snuggly blanket in front of the fire? - and the cold-blooded abandonment of a woman either drowning or dying of hypothermia.
Jo Spain has written a tense, intense and atmospheric thriller that is both ingenious and compelling. I don't know that I fancy reindeer pizza or blood pancakes though.
The investigation of Vicky Evans death is complicated by three unsolved missing women cases which may or may not be related. After all, it was blind luck that ice-fisherman Elon found her body beneath the ice at his fishing hole. Who knows how many other bodies are down there?
Her characters are complex but relatable. Alex, Vicky's brother, feels guilty that he has cut himself off from his sister and angry that so few resources are available to investigate Vicky's death. Agatha, Police Chief, is in a complicated family situation. The supporting cast is excellent - Patric, the ex-police chief; Miika, husband of one of the missing women; Niamh, friend and workmate of the murdered woman, and many others.
The story is told over two timelines, 1998 from the point of view of Kaya, one of the missing women, and November 2019 from the points of view of Alex and Agatha.
I couldn't believe that this book was almost 400 pages. It certainly didn't feel like it. I raced through it, inhaled it, and loved every word.
A note to Jo Spain: can you please set your next book somewhere warm, tropical even. I swear I have chilblains after reading this. The South Pacific is very nice, particularly Rarotonga, Aitutaki . . . and if you would like help researching the location, I volunteer.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheLasttoDisappear #NetGalley
I: @jospainauthor @quercusbooks
T: @SpainJoanne @QuercusBooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #mystery #psychologicalthriller #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Jo Spain is the author of the bestselling Inspector Tom Reynolds series and several international No. 1 bestselling standalone novels. Her first book, With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she's currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels. In 2021, she co-wrote Harry Wild, starring Jane Seymour, with the Emmy award-winning David Logan (airing 2022).
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children. In her spare time (she has four children, there is no spare time really) she likes to read. Her favourite authors include Pierre Lemaitre, Jo Nesbo, Liane Moriarty, Fred Vargas and Jodi Picoult. She also watches TV obsessively.
Jo thinks up her plots on long runs in the woods. Her husband sleeps with one eye open. (I can see why!)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last to Disappear by Jo Spain for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 20, 2023
4.5🌟
A winter paradise…with plenty of secrets!❄️☃️
Ironic how I picked the hottest week of the year with temps at 118* to read a book with the frozen backdrop of Finland.
Vicky had always been a free spirit. But her latest stop in Finland was the end of the road for her adventurous ways. Now, as she slowly sinks into the frigid European waters, she knows no one is going to help her. The last thing she sees is her killer walking away. Chilling! (had to say it!)😜
Her brother Alex arrives in Finland to escort her body home. They’ve never been close, but it’s family…it’s his sister. So before he leaves, he wants answers! Who killed his sister? And what about Agatha, the young, green-horn chief of police? Is she really capable of running an investigation?
Ready to lose yourself in a crafty thriller? Connect with the characters on a deeper level to really learn what makes them tick? And along the way maybe even find some relief from the unrelenting heat this summer? This book will ✅ all the boxes.
Keep in mind this isn’t a quick read. Jo Spain has a gift for storytelling and she’ll take you on a journey into the land of reindeer and Aurora borealis. By the end, you’ll feel like your passport was just stamped!
This was oh so much more than just a murder mystery!
Jo Spain is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait to read more of her books!
A winter paradise…with plenty of secrets!❄️☃️
Ironic how I picked the hottest week of the year with temps at 118* to read a book with the frozen backdrop of Finland.
Vicky had always been a free spirit. But her latest stop in Finland was the end of the road for her adventurous ways. Now, as she slowly sinks into the frigid European waters, she knows no one is going to help her. The last thing she sees is her killer walking away. Chilling! (had to say it!)😜
Her brother Alex arrives in Finland to escort her body home. They’ve never been close, but it’s family…it’s his sister. So before he leaves, he wants answers! Who killed his sister? And what about Agatha, the young, green-horn chief of police? Is she really capable of running an investigation?
Ready to lose yourself in a crafty thriller? Connect with the characters on a deeper level to really learn what makes them tick? And along the way maybe even find some relief from the unrelenting heat this summer? This book will ✅ all the boxes.
Keep in mind this isn’t a quick read. Jo Spain has a gift for storytelling and she’ll take you on a journey into the land of reindeer and Aurora borealis. By the end, you’ll feel like your passport was just stamped!
This was oh so much more than just a murder mystery!
Jo Spain is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait to read more of her books!
May 2, 2022
4-5 stars
A body in the ice of Lake Inari near Koppe in Finnish Lapland, a Christmas party in London and a phone call. What's the link? The body is Vicky Evans brother of party goer Alex, the call is from their father who later insists that Alex travel to Finland to bring Vicky home. As Vicky is an adrenaline junkie and full of joi de vivre Alex assumes she's had an accident but not so, it's murder. The case is investigated by Agatha Koskinen, the Chief of Police in Koppe.
I always begin a Jo Spain with an eager sense of anticipation and with this one, even more so as a lover of a Scandi! What a great combination and what's not to relish! This is a mulilayered mystery in the most amazing setting which takes the storytelling to another level. You feel as if you are there on the snowmobile with Agatha and Alex, watching the Northern Lights, anticipating the huskie sled ride, feeding lichen to the reindeer but I may pass on the reindeer Pizza! You get a real flavour of the area and the people too although beneath the christmasy atmosphere lurks an abundance of secrets some as dark as a winter Finnish day.
The characterisation is excellent, Alex is a bubbling cauldron of anger and guilt, he lacks trust and initially doesn't seem likeable but he grows on you. I think Lapland works its magic and softens his edges. Agatha has trauma in her past but she's fantastic and I'd love to read another novel featuring her.
There's a lot going on in this small tourist spot, the plot is really good with the different strands deepening the mystery but also weave together cleverly and the pace is spot on giving plenty of tension and suspense. The author also gives the reader good plot twists and takes us down some blind alleys but it comes together in a very dramatic, breath taking ending.
This is a well thought out and compelling page turner with the added bonus of the flavour of a Scandi thriller in the vein of someone like Jo Nesbo.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
A body in the ice of Lake Inari near Koppe in Finnish Lapland, a Christmas party in London and a phone call. What's the link? The body is Vicky Evans brother of party goer Alex, the call is from their father who later insists that Alex travel to Finland to bring Vicky home. As Vicky is an adrenaline junkie and full of joi de vivre Alex assumes she's had an accident but not so, it's murder. The case is investigated by Agatha Koskinen, the Chief of Police in Koppe.
I always begin a Jo Spain with an eager sense of anticipation and with this one, even more so as a lover of a Scandi! What a great combination and what's not to relish! This is a mulilayered mystery in the most amazing setting which takes the storytelling to another level. You feel as if you are there on the snowmobile with Agatha and Alex, watching the Northern Lights, anticipating the huskie sled ride, feeding lichen to the reindeer but I may pass on the reindeer Pizza! You get a real flavour of the area and the people too although beneath the christmasy atmosphere lurks an abundance of secrets some as dark as a winter Finnish day.
The characterisation is excellent, Alex is a bubbling cauldron of anger and guilt, he lacks trust and initially doesn't seem likeable but he grows on you. I think Lapland works its magic and softens his edges. Agatha has trauma in her past but she's fantastic and I'd love to read another novel featuring her.
There's a lot going on in this small tourist spot, the plot is really good with the different strands deepening the mystery but also weave together cleverly and the pace is spot on giving plenty of tension and suspense. The author also gives the reader good plot twists and takes us down some blind alleys but it comes together in a very dramatic, breath taking ending.
This is a well thought out and compelling page turner with the added bonus of the flavour of a Scandi thriller in the vein of someone like Jo Nesbo.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
April 9, 2022
Lapland… now there is a setting for a crime novel that you don’t get very often. I was really intrigued by The Last To Disappear and Jo Spain hasn’t let me down yet with her page turning stories. I read a lot of crime novels and I really could not work this one out which is always a good thing in my eyes.
As you would expect, the setting has a big part to play in this book. There are reindeers, snowshoes, snow mobiles, the freezing cold and so much darkness. It was creepy and made the events that much more intense.
Alex Evans is sent to Lapland to bring home the body of his sister, Vicky, who has been pulled from the icy lake. Once he arrives, he learns that she didn’t slip or fall, somebody killed her. He teams up with Agatha, the detective working the case, to find out who would do this. Vicky was well liked in town and worked in the luxury resort as a tour guide. He discovers that women have gone missing from this same town and starts to wonder if there is a connection.
It was a wonderful crime story, full of red herring, lost of unlikeable characters and suspense. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my advanced copy to read. Published May 12th
As you would expect, the setting has a big part to play in this book. There are reindeers, snowshoes, snow mobiles, the freezing cold and so much darkness. It was creepy and made the events that much more intense.
Alex Evans is sent to Lapland to bring home the body of his sister, Vicky, who has been pulled from the icy lake. Once he arrives, he learns that she didn’t slip or fall, somebody killed her. He teams up with Agatha, the detective working the case, to find out who would do this. Vicky was well liked in town and worked in the luxury resort as a tour guide. He discovers that women have gone missing from this same town and starts to wonder if there is a connection.
It was a wonderful crime story, full of red herring, lost of unlikeable characters and suspense. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my advanced copy to read. Published May 12th
May 18, 2023
De laatste verdwijning van Jo Spain is weer zo een boek dat heel erg hoog op mijn stapeltje kwam te liggen. Ten eerste heb ik van Jo Spain eerder al wat gelezen en was daarbij Iets te verbergen één van mijn beste boeken aller tijden. Bij nieuw werk van Spain sta ik dan ook steeds vooraan in de rij. Ten tweede sprak dit verhaal me wel aan. De cover belooft ons een luxueus resort met drie vermiste vrouwen en één lichaam.
Tijdens het lezen kwam ik er wel achter dat die cover mij wat misleid heeft. De drie vermissingen spelen zich allemaal af op andere tijdstippen en het gevonden lichaam is dus dat van Vicky in het heden. Ik dacht dat alle verdwijningen zich in het heden afspeelden op basis van de tekst op de omslag. Ik moest dus even mijn verwachtingen wat bijstellen tijdens het lezen.
Het verhaal focust zich op twee hoofdpersonen. Enerzijds de broer van de overleden Vicky, Alex, en anderzijds de rechercheur Agatha. Het onderzoek loopt er ook niet meteen heel snel. In het Finse Lapland is er niks modern en gaat alles op zijn eigen trage manier en strooit Jo Spain de verdenking op meerdere personages. Zo blijft het als lezer gissen wie verantwoordelijk is voor wat.
Samen komen onze speurneuzen echter wel tot conclusies. Ik vond alle aangereikte oplossingen op de zaken niet altijd even goed gevonden en soms was het misschien iets te simplistisch. Toch was het einde zeker spannend en was ik wel blij hoe de andere zaken afgehandeld werden.
Jo Spain houdt het steeds wel boeiend en dat zal er steeds weer voor zorgen dat ik, zodra er een boek van deze schrijver wordt aangekondigd, mijn verlanglijst zal aanvullen met de nieuwe titel. Voor 'De laatste verdwijning' geef ik vier sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023...
Tijdens het lezen kwam ik er wel achter dat die cover mij wat misleid heeft. De drie vermissingen spelen zich allemaal af op andere tijdstippen en het gevonden lichaam is dus dat van Vicky in het heden. Ik dacht dat alle verdwijningen zich in het heden afspeelden op basis van de tekst op de omslag. Ik moest dus even mijn verwachtingen wat bijstellen tijdens het lezen.
Het verhaal focust zich op twee hoofdpersonen. Enerzijds de broer van de overleden Vicky, Alex, en anderzijds de rechercheur Agatha. Het onderzoek loopt er ook niet meteen heel snel. In het Finse Lapland is er niks modern en gaat alles op zijn eigen trage manier en strooit Jo Spain de verdenking op meerdere personages. Zo blijft het als lezer gissen wie verantwoordelijk is voor wat.
Samen komen onze speurneuzen echter wel tot conclusies. Ik vond alle aangereikte oplossingen op de zaken niet altijd even goed gevonden en soms was het misschien iets te simplistisch. Toch was het einde zeker spannend en was ik wel blij hoe de andere zaken afgehandeld werden.
Jo Spain houdt het steeds wel boeiend en dat zal er steeds weer voor zorgen dat ik, zodra er een boek van deze schrijver wordt aangekondigd, mijn verlanglijst zal aanvullen met de nieuwe titel. Voor 'De laatste verdwijning' geef ik vier sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023...
December 21, 2021
A stand alone thriller by the author of the Inspector Tom Reynolds series Jo Spain. I enjoyed this novel, well written, interesting characters and a fast paced plot.
Alex Evans is informed that his sister’s body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he automatically assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. But when he arrives at the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets the detective leading the case, Agatha Koskinen he suddenly realises that there is more to it. Together Agatha and Alex investigate Vicky’s death and begin to suspect that people in the small town are not telling the whole truth.
It becomes apparent that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that Vicky may have left tried to reach out to her brother Alex with a message.
I must read more of this author.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Quercus for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Alex Evans is informed that his sister’s body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he automatically assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. But when he arrives at the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets the detective leading the case, Agatha Koskinen he suddenly realises that there is more to it. Together Agatha and Alex investigate Vicky’s death and begin to suspect that people in the small town are not telling the whole truth.
It becomes apparent that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that Vicky may have left tried to reach out to her brother Alex with a message.
I must read more of this author.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Quercus for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2022
See this is what you want in your psychological thrillers- perfect pacing, cleverly intriguing characters, a properly plotted mystery that doesn't rely on suspension of disbelief to deliver a finale and genuinely good writing. Its why I am and continue to be a huge fan of Jo Spain.
The Last To Disappear has that underlying addictive quality and the chilly setting just adds to the general sense of it beautifully. The character relationships and the evolving clues keep you turning those pages until the ultimate resolution which is entirely satisfying.
I loved this. Definitely recommend.
The Last To Disappear has that underlying addictive quality and the chilly setting just adds to the general sense of it beautifully. The character relationships and the evolving clues keep you turning those pages until the ultimate resolution which is entirely satisfying.
I loved this. Definitely recommend.
October 13, 2023
A cold-climate thriller that centers around the discovery of a dead body and an unsolved case involving three missing women. It's an escapist thriller with an atmospheric ambiance. The story also delivers intrigue, danger, tension, and drama. The narrative alternates between the present day and events from 1998. While I did encounter a few moments that somewhat slowed down my reading pace, I still enjoyed the flow of the story and reading about the characters as the mystery gradually unfolded. There are many suspects in the storyline - it made me change my guess a couple of times with its misdirection. It also didn't take long for the author to set the scene, and I quickly gained a sense of the story. I love the storytelling here. It managed to keep me engaged and interested until the end.
April 24, 2022
When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister had accidently drowned. He travels to the wealthy resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha thinks there's more to Vicky's case than meets the eye.
This is a dark, descriptively written, cleverly crafted and captivating read. I was pulled in from the first page. Alex goes to Lapland to find out what had happened to his sister and to bring her body home. The timeline alternates between 1998 and 2019. Alex meets up with Agatha Koskinen, the detective investigating his sister's death and he's soon helping Agatha with her investigation. I always like Jo's style in writing her novels. There's some twists, but the last twist I didn't see coming. The characters are well developed and believable. I hope we meet up with Agatha Koskinen again soon.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #QuercusBooks and the author #JoSpain for my ARC of #TheLastToDisappear in exchange for an honest review.
This is a dark, descriptively written, cleverly crafted and captivating read. I was pulled in from the first page. Alex goes to Lapland to find out what had happened to his sister and to bring her body home. The timeline alternates between 1998 and 2019. Alex meets up with Agatha Koskinen, the detective investigating his sister's death and he's soon helping Agatha with her investigation. I always like Jo's style in writing her novels. There's some twists, but the last twist I didn't see coming. The characters are well developed and believable. I hope we meet up with Agatha Koskinen again soon.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #QuercusBooks and the author #JoSpain for my ARC of #TheLastToDisappear in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2022
Jo Spain is such a powerhouse in the psychological thriller genre that whenever she publishes a new book I don’t even have to think twice about picking it up. However, I have to admit that the first half of The Last to Disappear proved somewhat of a struggle for me.
Alex’s sister, Vicki, is found dead in a frozen lake in Lapland. Alex travels to the small town where his sister lived and worked, and teams up with detective Agatha Koskinen to find out what happened to his sister. Vicki wasn’t the first person to go missing in this town but at least her body was discovered, whereas what happened to the other three women remains a mystery. As is always the case, many of the residents in this small and isolated town hide a multitude of secrets. But is there a serial killer among them? Or is the killer a tourist, who is now long gone?
Some of the chapters take us back to 1998, where we meet Kaya. She’s a young woman who has found herself in a loveless marriage and is trapped in a life she never even wanted. But what does her story have to do with the rest of the story and what happened to her? I thoroughly enjoyed finding out and Kaya is for sure a character you root for from the moment you meet her.
So, Jo Spain goes scandi-noir. I feel she definitely succeeded in pulling off that particular sense of atmospheric isolation that the books in that genre seem to do so well. I could almost feel the cold deep down in my bones and imagine the struggle of making my way through all that snow and quite possible getting utterly lost. But on the other hand, I fail to see the need for an author like her to jump on this whole “isolated, claustrophobic, covered in snow and ice location” bandwagon. It’s popular, I get it. It’s also, in my most humble opinion, always achieved best by the Scandinavian authors themselves. And in Jo Spain’s case, I feel she comes across as way more authentic when her stories are set in Ireland.
It took me quite a long time to get into The Last to Disappear. The scene has to be set so you get a sense of time and place, I get it. The characters have to be introduced, some slightly more likeable than others. However, for the longest time it felt as if very little of consequence was happening and the story wasn’t really moving forward. I never considered giving up because this is Jo Spain after all and ultimately it isn’t her fault.
Perseverance paid off in the end, though. When the various threads of the story came together and the fate of these women became apparent, I was most definitely glad I stuck with it. There are some things I feel I should have worked out on my own, but I didn’t. I liked Agatha’s backstory and how it came together with the general storyline, especially because I failed to see the relevance. Actually, I thought Agatha as a whole was a fantastic character and a refreshing take on a detective/chief of police. No cliches here.
So, I had a little bit of a wobble with The Last to Disappear but I blame my reading mood. Slow-burners and I are currently apparently not getting on. However, I do love Jo Spain’s writing and the plot, while moving slowly, is remarkably well done. Like I said, I enjoyed the atmosphere and there are a ton of secrets to discover. The Last to Disappear has a little bit of everything : psychological thriller, police procedural, mystery … Best of all, it all makes sense in the end. None of those twists that come out of the blue and barely ever make sense, none of that “yeah, right” rolling of the eyes, none of that suspending belief crap … and that in itself is a huge bonus. And as always, it is definitely making me look forward to reading more from Jo Spain.
Alex’s sister, Vicki, is found dead in a frozen lake in Lapland. Alex travels to the small town where his sister lived and worked, and teams up with detective Agatha Koskinen to find out what happened to his sister. Vicki wasn’t the first person to go missing in this town but at least her body was discovered, whereas what happened to the other three women remains a mystery. As is always the case, many of the residents in this small and isolated town hide a multitude of secrets. But is there a serial killer among them? Or is the killer a tourist, who is now long gone?
Some of the chapters take us back to 1998, where we meet Kaya. She’s a young woman who has found herself in a loveless marriage and is trapped in a life she never even wanted. But what does her story have to do with the rest of the story and what happened to her? I thoroughly enjoyed finding out and Kaya is for sure a character you root for from the moment you meet her.
So, Jo Spain goes scandi-noir. I feel she definitely succeeded in pulling off that particular sense of atmospheric isolation that the books in that genre seem to do so well. I could almost feel the cold deep down in my bones and imagine the struggle of making my way through all that snow and quite possible getting utterly lost. But on the other hand, I fail to see the need for an author like her to jump on this whole “isolated, claustrophobic, covered in snow and ice location” bandwagon. It’s popular, I get it. It’s also, in my most humble opinion, always achieved best by the Scandinavian authors themselves. And in Jo Spain’s case, I feel she comes across as way more authentic when her stories are set in Ireland.
It took me quite a long time to get into The Last to Disappear. The scene has to be set so you get a sense of time and place, I get it. The characters have to be introduced, some slightly more likeable than others. However, for the longest time it felt as if very little of consequence was happening and the story wasn’t really moving forward. I never considered giving up because this is Jo Spain after all and ultimately it isn’t her fault.
Perseverance paid off in the end, though. When the various threads of the story came together and the fate of these women became apparent, I was most definitely glad I stuck with it. There are some things I feel I should have worked out on my own, but I didn’t. I liked Agatha’s backstory and how it came together with the general storyline, especially because I failed to see the relevance. Actually, I thought Agatha as a whole was a fantastic character and a refreshing take on a detective/chief of police. No cliches here.
So, I had a little bit of a wobble with The Last to Disappear but I blame my reading mood. Slow-burners and I are currently apparently not getting on. However, I do love Jo Spain’s writing and the plot, while moving slowly, is remarkably well done. Like I said, I enjoyed the atmosphere and there are a ton of secrets to discover. The Last to Disappear has a little bit of everything : psychological thriller, police procedural, mystery … Best of all, it all makes sense in the end. None of those twists that come out of the blue and barely ever make sense, none of that “yeah, right” rolling of the eyes, none of that suspending belief crap … and that in itself is a huge bonus. And as always, it is definitely making me look forward to reading more from Jo Spain.
May 14, 2022
Last To Disappear is the fifth novel by Irish author, Jo Spain. When Alex Evans travels from London to Finland in November 2019, he’s expecting to collect the body of his sister, Vicky, apparently missing six weeks and drowned in a lake. But he quickly learns that his often-reckless younger sister had not died accidentally: Vicky had been murdered.
Koppe is a popular winter village for Santa tourism, skiing, ice climbing and luxury car racing on the frozen lake, and Vicky was working for the local lodge as a guide. She was last seen with an American tourist on a night out, but her disappearance rang no real alarm bells as her fellow guides assumed she had simply moved on. Until an ice fisherman discovered her body.
Alex is less than impressed that the young local police chief, Agatha Koskinen is in charge of the case, with just two junior officers to assist. A single mother of three in her thirties: surely this requires someone with more experience? Needless, to say, they rather get off on the wrong foot, neither sharing all they know, but needing to come to an understanding if Alex’s actions are not to interfere with Agatha’s investigation.
Vicky’s friend and fellow guide, Niamh Doyle suggests to Alex that the police might be less thorough than necessary to avoid any negative publicity that might have an adverse effect on tourism income. She also implies that some in the community seem to enjoy immunity due to their status, and that a certain reindeer farmer should be the prime suspect due to his history.
When Alex demands to know more about this Miika Virtanen, Agatha shares information on three women who have gone missing over the last twenty-one years, the first of those being Miika’s wife, Kaya. Could this huge man, with a history of violence, be responsible for his sister’s death? Vicky’s unsent cryptic message to Alex suggests another direction. The other guides, too, suggest different suspects and motives.
As Alex also deals with his guilt at being unavailable when his sister needed him, and his concern for his mother’s recovery from the heart attack precipitated by the shocking news about his sister, Agatha tries not to be distracted by reported sightings in town of the person who represents a threat to her young family. Her team of two officers, for all their apparent inexperience, show a diligence that brings positive results.
Using several narrators in a dual timeline format, Spain gives the reader a tightly-plotted thriller, with a generous helping of red herrings, distractions and twists leading up to a nail-biting climax. The story is so cleverly told that even the most astute reader is unlikely to deduce the perpetrator. She populates the story with a set of characters credible for their very human flaws, and she easily conveys the feel of an Arctic village in winter. A gripping Nordic murder mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Quercus.
Koppe is a popular winter village for Santa tourism, skiing, ice climbing and luxury car racing on the frozen lake, and Vicky was working for the local lodge as a guide. She was last seen with an American tourist on a night out, but her disappearance rang no real alarm bells as her fellow guides assumed she had simply moved on. Until an ice fisherman discovered her body.
Alex is less than impressed that the young local police chief, Agatha Koskinen is in charge of the case, with just two junior officers to assist. A single mother of three in her thirties: surely this requires someone with more experience? Needless, to say, they rather get off on the wrong foot, neither sharing all they know, but needing to come to an understanding if Alex’s actions are not to interfere with Agatha’s investigation.
Vicky’s friend and fellow guide, Niamh Doyle suggests to Alex that the police might be less thorough than necessary to avoid any negative publicity that might have an adverse effect on tourism income. She also implies that some in the community seem to enjoy immunity due to their status, and that a certain reindeer farmer should be the prime suspect due to his history.
When Alex demands to know more about this Miika Virtanen, Agatha shares information on three women who have gone missing over the last twenty-one years, the first of those being Miika’s wife, Kaya. Could this huge man, with a history of violence, be responsible for his sister’s death? Vicky’s unsent cryptic message to Alex suggests another direction. The other guides, too, suggest different suspects and motives.
As Alex also deals with his guilt at being unavailable when his sister needed him, and his concern for his mother’s recovery from the heart attack precipitated by the shocking news about his sister, Agatha tries not to be distracted by reported sightings in town of the person who represents a threat to her young family. Her team of two officers, for all their apparent inexperience, show a diligence that brings positive results.
Using several narrators in a dual timeline format, Spain gives the reader a tightly-plotted thriller, with a generous helping of red herrings, distractions and twists leading up to a nail-biting climax. The story is so cleverly told that even the most astute reader is unlikely to deduce the perpetrator. She populates the story with a set of characters credible for their very human flaws, and she easily conveys the feel of an Arctic village in winter. A gripping Nordic murder mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Quercus.
April 27, 2022
Oh yes! A Scandinavian thriller but for once its by an Irish author.
Its the story of Alex Evans, a lobbyist living in London who is informed that his (somewhat wild) sister who has been living in Finland has died under suspicious circumstances, her body pulled from beneath the ice of a lake.
He travels to Finland to meet with the local police chief in charge of the case Agatha Koskinen and they form an unlikely alliance as they try to figure out who may have killed his sister in such a small town and if some legacy cases may be connected to the murder.
This one was an absolute blast. I love Scandi thrillers and this one doesnt disappoint. An intriguing story with many arcs, a very well written and large cast, this one is a real page turner. The story lines are many but never get confusing. They are told in the past and the present and the format works really well here.
It felt shorter than its 400 odd pages, always a good sign in a book.
Highly recommended, an easy 5 stars for me.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Its the story of Alex Evans, a lobbyist living in London who is informed that his (somewhat wild) sister who has been living in Finland has died under suspicious circumstances, her body pulled from beneath the ice of a lake.
He travels to Finland to meet with the local police chief in charge of the case Agatha Koskinen and they form an unlikely alliance as they try to figure out who may have killed his sister in such a small town and if some legacy cases may be connected to the murder.
This one was an absolute blast. I love Scandi thrillers and this one doesnt disappoint. An intriguing story with many arcs, a very well written and large cast, this one is a real page turner. The story lines are many but never get confusing. They are told in the past and the present and the format works really well here.
It felt shorter than its 400 odd pages, always a good sign in a book.
Highly recommended, an easy 5 stars for me.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
September 13, 2022
The Last to Disappear by Jo Spain
Synopsis /
A small town. A frozen lake. Three missing women. One body.
When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there's more to Vicky's case than meets the eye.
As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It's not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.
On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.
My Thoughts /
When the opening of your book begins with —
At first, white-hot agony. She can’t think. Can’t react. The ice-cold water paralyses every muscle. Her entire body becomes one desperate plea: let it end. Nobody can bear this and live.
— you know you are in for a wild ride.
Jo Spain’s latest release, The Last to Disappear is set against the backdrop of the snowy slopes of the fictional town of Koppe in Lapland, which is the northernmost region of Finland.
It’s 1 November 2019, and, as the tourists flock to the winter wonderland that is Koppe, Lapland; Vicky Evans is experiencing something vastly different. The surface. She needs to get to the surface. That thought crowds everything else out. Survival instinct kicks in, over the fear, the denial, the incomprehension. She knows what she has to do. Get out of the water. Find safe ground. But she’s alone – trapped in a frozen lake. Her thoughts are not helping her anxiety. She’s not perfect. She’s done a lot of stupid things, things she regrets. But she doesn’t deserve this.
Alex Evans is travelling from London to Finland. This is not a pleasurable journey, he’s travelling to Finland to collect the body of his sister, Vicky. Vicky had been working as a tour guide at the local lodge and was last seen with an American tourist on a night out. When she didn’t turn up for work the next day, her disappearance didn’t alarm the other guides as they had all assumed she had just moved on. That was six weeks ago. Now, an ice fisherman working on the lake has discovered her body; and Alex quickly discovers that his younger sister had not died accidentally, she had been murdered.
Koppe is a tight-knit community and one which wants to protect its reputation, as the villagers are all highly dependent on the tourist industry for their financial survival. Agatha Koskinen is a woman in her thirties and, single mother to three beautiful children; she also happens to be the local police chief. Needless to say, upon meeting her, Alex Evans is less than impressed that Agatha is handling his sister’s murder case. Surely, this case is high profile enough to warrant an officer with more hands-on-experience? The two quickly form an unlikely alliance, when Alex begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It’s not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from or near Koppe in the past, and that his sister might have left him a cryptic message from her grave.
The story follows two distinct timelines which run almost parallel to each other – the present day, which follows Vicky, and the late 1990s, which follows the disappearance of three other local girls, all of which still remain unsolved.
This story is an intense read right from the first page. The writing is wonderfully descriptive, packed full of drama and twists. And that setting! A winter wonderland? It turned to be anything but!!
Synopsis /
A small town. A frozen lake. Three missing women. One body.
When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there's more to Vicky's case than meets the eye.
As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It's not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.
On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.
My Thoughts /
When the opening of your book begins with —
At first, white-hot agony. She can’t think. Can’t react. The ice-cold water paralyses every muscle. Her entire body becomes one desperate plea: let it end. Nobody can bear this and live.
— you know you are in for a wild ride.
Jo Spain’s latest release, The Last to Disappear is set against the backdrop of the snowy slopes of the fictional town of Koppe in Lapland, which is the northernmost region of Finland.
It’s 1 November 2019, and, as the tourists flock to the winter wonderland that is Koppe, Lapland; Vicky Evans is experiencing something vastly different. The surface. She needs to get to the surface. That thought crowds everything else out. Survival instinct kicks in, over the fear, the denial, the incomprehension. She knows what she has to do. Get out of the water. Find safe ground. But she’s alone – trapped in a frozen lake. Her thoughts are not helping her anxiety. She’s not perfect. She’s done a lot of stupid things, things she regrets. But she doesn’t deserve this.
Alex Evans is travelling from London to Finland. This is not a pleasurable journey, he’s travelling to Finland to collect the body of his sister, Vicky. Vicky had been working as a tour guide at the local lodge and was last seen with an American tourist on a night out. When she didn’t turn up for work the next day, her disappearance didn’t alarm the other guides as they had all assumed she had just moved on. That was six weeks ago. Now, an ice fisherman working on the lake has discovered her body; and Alex quickly discovers that his younger sister had not died accidentally, she had been murdered.
Koppe is a tight-knit community and one which wants to protect its reputation, as the villagers are all highly dependent on the tourist industry for their financial survival. Agatha Koskinen is a woman in her thirties and, single mother to three beautiful children; she also happens to be the local police chief. Needless to say, upon meeting her, Alex Evans is less than impressed that Agatha is handling his sister’s murder case. Surely, this case is high profile enough to warrant an officer with more hands-on-experience? The two quickly form an unlikely alliance, when Alex begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It’s not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from or near Koppe in the past, and that his sister might have left him a cryptic message from her grave.
The story follows two distinct timelines which run almost parallel to each other – the present day, which follows Vicky, and the late 1990s, which follows the disappearance of three other local girls, all of which still remain unsolved.
This story is an intense read right from the first page. The writing is wonderfully descriptive, packed full of drama and twists. And that setting! A winter wonderland? It turned to be anything but!!
December 27, 2021
When Alex Evans learns that his sister's body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he travels there to find out what happened to her. He soon teams up with Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge of the case. Alex discovers that there's a lot more going on in the small town of Koppe as he learns of the disappearance of three other women through the years.
This latest book by the wonderful Jo Spain is a standalone and Christmas week was an ideal time of year to read this book. I loved the setting in the small town of Koppe, a place thats dark and cold, a place where families visit Santa and skiers holiday. Throw in lots of snowy landscapes, bitterly cold temperatures, icy lakes, snowmobiles and reindeer and it's the perfect winter wonderland. However, it's an idyllic setting which is harbouring many dark secrets. The characters in the small town and holiday resort are well fleshed out and I loved Agathas character. The plot is excellently paced with many unexpected twists along the way.
This is sure to be a hugely popular read in 2022 for many Jo Spain fans. I loved it. My thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for an advanced copy.
This latest book by the wonderful Jo Spain is a standalone and Christmas week was an ideal time of year to read this book. I loved the setting in the small town of Koppe, a place thats dark and cold, a place where families visit Santa and skiers holiday. Throw in lots of snowy landscapes, bitterly cold temperatures, icy lakes, snowmobiles and reindeer and it's the perfect winter wonderland. However, it's an idyllic setting which is harbouring many dark secrets. The characters in the small town and holiday resort are well fleshed out and I loved Agathas character. The plot is excellently paced with many unexpected twists along the way.
This is sure to be a hugely popular read in 2022 for many Jo Spain fans. I loved it. My thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for an advanced copy.
July 11, 2022
The perfect start to holiday reading, I inhaled this in a day. Spain strikes the balance between pace and mystery with mastery. It’s got atmospheric setting, multiple timelines, murder, intrigue, and a bit of domestic drama for good measure. A great bit of escapism.
June 6, 2022
This is what I can call a real edge of the seat, nailbiting and twisty thriller!
A definite 5 stars for this book from me, and I wish to read more books like these this year! Next book from this author - I will be on it immediately!
I loved the layered, deep characters with a lot of going on, layers being peeled back one by one. They were relatable and likeable - which is something I always enjoy!
The plot was interesting, the location amazing and I am struggling to mention something I did not enjoy!
The solution was clever, possible and believable and not as simple as I might have expected initially. Love that.
One gripe though, I think the book cover was not very much related to the book itself and could have been much better themed around about anything actually mentioned in the book, like the geographical location, which, once again, was awesome!
Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC!
A definite 5 stars for this book from me, and I wish to read more books like these this year! Next book from this author - I will be on it immediately!
I loved the layered, deep characters with a lot of going on, layers being peeled back one by one. They were relatable and likeable - which is something I always enjoy!
The plot was interesting, the location amazing and I am struggling to mention something I did not enjoy!
The solution was clever, possible and believable and not as simple as I might have expected initially. Love that.
One gripe though, I think the book cover was not very much related to the book itself and could have been much better themed around about anything actually mentioned in the book, like the geographical location, which, once again, was awesome!
Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC!
February 3, 2022
Wow! This one ticked ALL the boxes for me! Fascinating, unique setting; strong female characters; emotional depth; unpredictable and fast-paced...
The story begins in London as young professional, Alex, learns the shocking news: his sister has died, apparently drowning in a frozen lake in Finland. The rest of the story is set in a tiny Finnish village in mid-winter. There are ice baths, snowmobiles, skis, huskies, reindeer and fox kits.
I always adore novels set in places I've never been and I was fascinated to learn about Finland: the culture, food, Northern lights, freezing climes and way of life. The author describes everything so vividly - from the feel of a reindeer's fur to the taste of reindeer pizza. I loved all the details, for example, the Finnish are obsessed with saunas and there are two million of them in the country, for a population of just over five million.
Alex meets young female chief of police, Agatha, who has problems of her own. Between them, they investigate his sister's death - in the process unearthing links to other missing women in the region. I loved the romance subplots that weave through the story. Alex and Agatha both have interesting backstories and their family dramas play out as the main plot races along.
I love Jo Spain's writing style, which reminds me in places of Lee Child's. There are touches of humour and every word is carefully chosen, with no unnecessary detail or boring bits.
A superb crime thriller with a unique and unforgettable setting!
The story begins in London as young professional, Alex, learns the shocking news: his sister has died, apparently drowning in a frozen lake in Finland. The rest of the story is set in a tiny Finnish village in mid-winter. There are ice baths, snowmobiles, skis, huskies, reindeer and fox kits.
I always adore novels set in places I've never been and I was fascinated to learn about Finland: the culture, food, Northern lights, freezing climes and way of life. The author describes everything so vividly - from the feel of a reindeer's fur to the taste of reindeer pizza. I loved all the details, for example, the Finnish are obsessed with saunas and there are two million of them in the country, for a population of just over five million.
Alex meets young female chief of police, Agatha, who has problems of her own. Between them, they investigate his sister's death - in the process unearthing links to other missing women in the region. I loved the romance subplots that weave through the story. Alex and Agatha both have interesting backstories and their family dramas play out as the main plot races along.
I love Jo Spain's writing style, which reminds me in places of Lee Child's. There are touches of humour and every word is carefully chosen, with no unnecessary detail or boring bits.
A superb crime thriller with a unique and unforgettable setting!
January 29, 2023
Wow, what a fabulous and suspenseful read!
This is my first by this author, and I loved it! I can’t wait to read more from her.
Set in the frozen north of Lapland this wonderful nordic noir takes us on a journey to discover who has murdered Alex Evans sister Vicky. Gripping and compelling from the first page, with such atmospheric writing, I could feel the ice cold temperature!
Alex teams up with Agatha to help solve this crime, discovering that there have been other women mysteriously murdered and attempting to find if there is a connection. It's creepy, unpredictable, and full of red herrings with strong female characters. The added bonus for me was the wonderful descriptions of Finnish life. Highly recommended.
With many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus books for my arc :)
Out now!
This is my first by this author, and I loved it! I can’t wait to read more from her.
Set in the frozen north of Lapland this wonderful nordic noir takes us on a journey to discover who has murdered Alex Evans sister Vicky. Gripping and compelling from the first page, with such atmospheric writing, I could feel the ice cold temperature!
Alex teams up with Agatha to help solve this crime, discovering that there have been other women mysteriously murdered and attempting to find if there is a connection. It's creepy, unpredictable, and full of red herrings with strong female characters. The added bonus for me was the wonderful descriptions of Finnish life. Highly recommended.
With many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus books for my arc :)
Out now!
June 19, 2022
4.5 stars
An excellent and compelling mystery - love the characters, the main mystery and the supporting stories.
Jo Spain is a favourite author of mine and this one did not disappoint!
When I read this again it will be in Winter so I can truly appreciate the cold setting 🥶
An excellent and compelling mystery - love the characters, the main mystery and the supporting stories.
Jo Spain is a favourite author of mine and this one did not disappoint!
When I read this again it will be in Winter so I can truly appreciate the cold setting 🥶
April 28, 2022
Another thoroughly enjoyable book from Jo Spain, one of my favourite authors.
Alex receives a distressing call from his father and then he is on his way to Lapland to bring home the body of his sister Vicky who has drowned. Alex and his family are devastated and they want to find out how this could possibly have happened. Vicky was a very lively girl, full of personality and spontaneity. He meets Agatha, the detective in charge of the case, and due to the small size of their workforce investigating the death Alex has huge doubts as to the competency of this team.
Not long after his arrival it is discovered that three other women have also gone missing. Alex is feeling terrible as his sister had tried to contact him and he had not returned the calls, he is now sure she was in trouble and reaching out for help.
I loved the characters in the book, each had depth and as the story moved forward I wanted to know more about each of them. A well paced plot that had me engaged until the very end and I did not guess the final twist. I would definitely recommend this book to others, a five star read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Alex receives a distressing call from his father and then he is on his way to Lapland to bring home the body of his sister Vicky who has drowned. Alex and his family are devastated and they want to find out how this could possibly have happened. Vicky was a very lively girl, full of personality and spontaneity. He meets Agatha, the detective in charge of the case, and due to the small size of their workforce investigating the death Alex has huge doubts as to the competency of this team.
Not long after his arrival it is discovered that three other women have also gone missing. Alex is feeling terrible as his sister had tried to contact him and he had not returned the calls, he is now sure she was in trouble and reaching out for help.
I loved the characters in the book, each had depth and as the story moved forward I wanted to know more about each of them. A well paced plot that had me engaged until the very end and I did not guess the final twist. I would definitely recommend this book to others, a five star read.
Thank you to Netgalley, the the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 28, 2022
4.5 / 5
I have to say, this book did not disappoint. Usually I’m apprehensive about books with good reviews, so starting this book I was quite wary of how many people recommended this.
This book has a steady consistent pace of atmospheric suspense which cumulatively adds up all to the end, where it increases up a notch up to the end. You’re following a journey solving the murder at current time, whilst being propelled of another story in the past which is all somewhat linked. Surprisingly, i didn’t get lost! (Unlike another book ‘The Guest House’ where it felt like I was in a Doctor Who episode with the Tardis flying back to and from a time difference of 1 month). The blurb sold me and I was intrigued on what Jo Spain had to offer- so starting off I had high hopes. ‘Once the fish bites, it’s hooked in’.
I enjoyed this book and the plot, where I found it hard to pinpoint who I though was the culprit. Usually if you keep the plot simple, and easy to follow it’s easier to build up and add in the elements of mystery/ suspense. Of which the book was ticking all the right boxes for me. It has everything in it which left you craving for more.
At points, I was convinced it could be anyone in the village which Jo did a great job in masking until the end. The build up and mystery about what happens to Vicky and Agatha’s past all catches up, and you’re buckled into the journey of the unraveling. An easy page turner and a difficult book to put down. This is worth the 25p reservation fee from my local library. Definitely worth the read, this is the first Jo Spain book I have read, definitely excited to see what other instalments she has!
Happy reading, stay bless and have a great new year!
I have to say, this book did not disappoint. Usually I’m apprehensive about books with good reviews, so starting this book I was quite wary of how many people recommended this.
This book has a steady consistent pace of atmospheric suspense which cumulatively adds up all to the end, where it increases up a notch up to the end. You’re following a journey solving the murder at current time, whilst being propelled of another story in the past which is all somewhat linked. Surprisingly, i didn’t get lost! (Unlike another book ‘The Guest House’ where it felt like I was in a Doctor Who episode with the Tardis flying back to and from a time difference of 1 month). The blurb sold me and I was intrigued on what Jo Spain had to offer- so starting off I had high hopes. ‘Once the fish bites, it’s hooked in’.
I enjoyed this book and the plot, where I found it hard to pinpoint who I though was the culprit. Usually if you keep the plot simple, and easy to follow it’s easier to build up and add in the elements of mystery/ suspense. Of which the book was ticking all the right boxes for me. It has everything in it which left you craving for more.
At points, I was convinced it could be anyone in the village which Jo did a great job in masking until the end. The build up and mystery about what happens to Vicky and Agatha’s past all catches up, and you’re buckled into the journey of the unraveling. An easy page turner and a difficult book to put down. This is worth the 25p reservation fee from my local library. Definitely worth the read, this is the first Jo Spain book I have read, definitely excited to see what other instalments she has!
Happy reading, stay bless and have a great new year!
March 1, 2022
Alex gets a phone call from his father to say that his sister has accidentally drowned in Lapland.
His father has asked him to go and bring his sisters body home.
Things are not as they seem and Alex has decided to stay on and find out the truth about what happened to his sister.
A thriller with some twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
His father has asked him to go and bring his sisters body home.
Things are not as they seem and Alex has decided to stay on and find out the truth about what happened to his sister.
A thriller with some twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2022
Ooh, this was another fabulous read by the author!
Lapland usually has you envisioning Santa, reindeer and Christmas. This story made me realise just how cold this part of the world gets which adds an added chill to the story throughout as there is nothing comforting about this story. If anything the weather is just as threatening.
The story flicks between present day with Agatha and Alex in their hunt to find out who murdered Vicky, Alex’s sister. In the past we are introduced to a character called Kaya who is a registered missing person with the police. I do love a small town setting as it gets to the point that you never really know who to trust and mud very much sticks.
This feels like a crime thriller with Agatha being a detective who plays a big part in the story. I would love to see more of Agatha and could certainly see scope for a new detective series. It would also make a chilling series for television. Both Agatha and Alex have things going on in their personal lives which has them fighting their own demons. I enjoyed how through the story we learn more not just about the going ons in the town and getting closer to revealing the killer but getting to know these two characters better also.
The Last to Disappear has a very sombre and atmospheric feel to it. Readers of authors such as Will Dean and Ragnar Jonasson I think will especially love this book. Jo Spain has a way of hooking you straight into a story and not letting go. Each of her standalone’s I have read so far have been so very different in tone and style and I love that I never know quite what to expect when starting one of her novels. The author has vast become one of my favourites and she sure knows how to pen a compelling and thrilling read that had me turning the pages well into the night! Chillingly addictive!
My Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Lapland usually has you envisioning Santa, reindeer and Christmas. This story made me realise just how cold this part of the world gets which adds an added chill to the story throughout as there is nothing comforting about this story. If anything the weather is just as threatening.
The story flicks between present day with Agatha and Alex in their hunt to find out who murdered Vicky, Alex’s sister. In the past we are introduced to a character called Kaya who is a registered missing person with the police. I do love a small town setting as it gets to the point that you never really know who to trust and mud very much sticks.
This feels like a crime thriller with Agatha being a detective who plays a big part in the story. I would love to see more of Agatha and could certainly see scope for a new detective series. It would also make a chilling series for television. Both Agatha and Alex have things going on in their personal lives which has them fighting their own demons. I enjoyed how through the story we learn more not just about the going ons in the town and getting closer to revealing the killer but getting to know these two characters better also.
The Last to Disappear has a very sombre and atmospheric feel to it. Readers of authors such as Will Dean and Ragnar Jonasson I think will especially love this book. Jo Spain has a way of hooking you straight into a story and not letting go. Each of her standalone’s I have read so far have been so very different in tone and style and I love that I never know quite what to expect when starting one of her novels. The author has vast become one of my favourites and she sure knows how to pen a compelling and thrilling read that had me turning the pages well into the night! Chillingly addictive!
My Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
July 7, 2022
2.5 stars
It seems lately my views are very different from the majority. This one makes no exception.
So we have an English girl turning up dead, killed and thrown in a lake in Finland.
Her brother comes from England to try to find out what happened. But he starts interfering so much that he creates more trouble than anything. And the local police, instead of making him aware that interfering with an ongoing investigation is something that can lend him in jail, they invite him to take part at the investigation and be present when suspects are interrogated. Please.... Things might be done differently in other places, but no "wanna be" James Bond is al of the sudden granted access to everything.
80% of the story is back stories and running around and overly repeating the same things.... and then in the end, things are rushed, uncovered and all of the sudden in a very Shakespearean way, it's all wrapped out with a bow.
It seems lately my views are very different from the majority. This one makes no exception.
So we have an English girl turning up dead, killed and thrown in a lake in Finland.
Her brother comes from England to try to find out what happened. But he starts interfering so much that he creates more trouble than anything. And the local police, instead of making him aware that interfering with an ongoing investigation is something that can lend him in jail, they invite him to take part at the investigation and be present when suspects are interrogated. Please.... Things might be done differently in other places, but no "wanna be" James Bond is al of the sudden granted access to everything.
80% of the story is back stories and running around and overly repeating the same things.... and then in the end, things are rushed, uncovered and all of the sudden in a very Shakespearean way, it's all wrapped out with a bow.
June 1, 2022
3,5 ⭐️
Last year, Jo Spain’s previous book, The Perfect Lie, completely blew my mind away with its clever twists and its “one sitting read” quality, being a clear 5 ⭐️ for me. I was hoping hew new release, The Last To Disappear, would hook me up the same way but, although entertaining overall, it didn’t quite reach the same level as her previous one.
A body is found in Lake Inari, Lapland. It is Vicky Evans, a British girl who was working in a resort over there. Her brother Alex will travel to Finland to bring her sister’s body home and, at the same time, try to find some answers about her death with the help of the Chief of Police, Agatha Koskinen. Soon, the surface of this idyllic winter wonderland will start to crack bringing to light the town’s long time buried secrets.
On paper, this one had everything for me to absolutely love it. The premise sounded amazing and the setting couldn’t be better (you already know about my love of cold remote settings), so you’ll be wondering…where was the problem then?
Well, in my opinion, the story was a bit all over the place with two many side plots that distracted from the main one. There’re present and past timelines, Vicky’s death investigation, the other missing girls’ one, Agatha’s personal issues…Too much for me to actually become truly engaged with the main mystery.
I also had a bit of a hard time warming up to Alex. His lack of trust and underlying anger were a bit hard to understand at first for me. Agatha, on the contrary, I liked right from the start. Her resilience in such a difficult environment and with a pretty hard personal situation was to be applauded. Some of the twists in this part of the story were the most shocking ones for me.
The ending didn’t leave any loose ends, culminating in a really tense scene, but I would have liked a little more connection between all the different plots.
Entertaining story in a beautiful setting that got a little bit lost in between everything it wanted to tell.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Last year, Jo Spain’s previous book, The Perfect Lie, completely blew my mind away with its clever twists and its “one sitting read” quality, being a clear 5 ⭐️ for me. I was hoping hew new release, The Last To Disappear, would hook me up the same way but, although entertaining overall, it didn’t quite reach the same level as her previous one.
A body is found in Lake Inari, Lapland. It is Vicky Evans, a British girl who was working in a resort over there. Her brother Alex will travel to Finland to bring her sister’s body home and, at the same time, try to find some answers about her death with the help of the Chief of Police, Agatha Koskinen. Soon, the surface of this idyllic winter wonderland will start to crack bringing to light the town’s long time buried secrets.
On paper, this one had everything for me to absolutely love it. The premise sounded amazing and the setting couldn’t be better (you already know about my love of cold remote settings), so you’ll be wondering…where was the problem then?
Well, in my opinion, the story was a bit all over the place with two many side plots that distracted from the main one. There’re present and past timelines, Vicky’s death investigation, the other missing girls’ one, Agatha’s personal issues…Too much for me to actually become truly engaged with the main mystery.
I also had a bit of a hard time warming up to Alex. His lack of trust and underlying anger were a bit hard to understand at first for me. Agatha, on the contrary, I liked right from the start. Her resilience in such a difficult environment and with a pretty hard personal situation was to be applauded. Some of the twists in this part of the story were the most shocking ones for me.
The ending didn’t leave any loose ends, culminating in a really tense scene, but I would have liked a little more connection between all the different plots.
Entertaining story in a beautiful setting that got a little bit lost in between everything it wanted to tell.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2024
I enjoyed this thriller from Jo Spain. It was the first book I read by this author, and I’ll certainly look out for others written by her.
Her characters were well written, from early on I was rooting for them, despite them having secrets I didn’t uncover until later.
The pace was good (and consistent) and I felt like I was constantly wondering who the murderer was.
The twists and turns were very well done, totally believable.
This was a book club read, and I enjoyed it immensely. Highly recommended.
Her characters were well written, from early on I was rooting for them, despite them having secrets I didn’t uncover until later.
The pace was good (and consistent) and I felt like I was constantly wondering who the murderer was.
The twists and turns were very well done, totally believable.
This was a book club read, and I enjoyed it immensely. Highly recommended.
May 8, 2022
Visit the locations in The Last to Disappear
When you think of Lapland, you think of snow, Santa and Reindeers right? Well, the Jo Spain version has freezing lakes with dead bodies, annoying tourists visiting Santa getting in the way of a police investigation and as for reindeers….well we have reindeer pizza!
The cold setting seems to fit perfectly with the crime that takes place. Koppe and Rovaniemi in the novel are cold and univiting. They are small towns, remote and only visited by those who want to see the Northern Lights. Tourism fuels this area but there is a killer in the crowd. Alex heads here to hunt to find out who murdered his sister Vicky. Agatha is the policewoman in charge and the two join forces to try and find the truth as this is a small town and nothing is as it seems.
As well as this storyline, we meet Kaya in the past who runs into trouble and who finds out that there
The characterisation was spot on. I particularly loved Agatha and would love her to be part of a series. Her past, family and humour are unique and fresh. Alex and Agatha make a good team and it was fascinating to find out what secrets and stories they both had in their pasts. It read like a film in many ways – the camera clearly panning to a new character and scene so everyone got their speaking part and it was very clear to follow.
There was a good balance of story, cultural snippets and characterisation. Stories from the present and past which combine in a very clever way. The tone of the novel was very sombre i found which added to the overall remoteness and claustrophobia of the whole set up.
Highly recommended and please get this on a screen soon. To be honest, this read like a film as it was cinematic, gripping, dramatic and if it’s half as good as the version that played out in my head, you are in for a treat!
May 14, 2022
One of the places I absolutely must visit once in my life is Lapland, possibly at Christmas. Me and my family have been talking for years about spending a Christmas holiday there and visit the Christmas village, see the Northern Lights, and go on a sled ride. Hopefully, one day we will do it. In the meantime, Jo Spain’s new novel took me right there in Lapland, in the fictional village of Koppe, where the economy is driven by the tourists that every year fill the hotels. However, London lobbyist Alex Evans is not there on holiday, but he has arrived to take home the body of his younger sister Vicky who was working as a travel guide in one of the hotels of the village and who was found in the frozen lake. Alex assumed that Vicky’s death was an accident, but Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge of the investigation, reveals that Vicky was killed, so Alex decides to remain and team up with Agatha in solving the case.
I loved everything about this novel: the plot, the characters, the setting. The story is very well-written and full of twists and surprises. Before Vicky, three women had disappeared and they were never found and the entire village suspects of the lonely grumpy man whose wife was the first to disappear. Are the disappearances of the three women connected to Vicky’s death? Or was Vicky involved in something else? The list of suspects is long and, of course, I didn’t figure out the right one.
I loved the two protagonists of the story, Alex and Agatha. When we first meet Alex is leaving a party with a woman. Next thing he knows, his father calls him to inform him that his sister is dead and he is on his way to Finland. Gripped by guilt and grief and not trusting that Agatha can do her job, Alex starts investigating Vicky’s death. As the story progresses, we learn more about his complex relationship with Vicky and he becomes less arrogant and more agreeable. Agatha is an excellent detective. She is smart and determined and she doesn’t let Alex undermine her. However, she has her own complicated personal life to deal with and a past that haunts her.
The setting is incredible. I was engrossed in the atmospheric and beautiful descriptions of the village of Koppe that plays a big part in the story. The descriptions are so well-written that I could imagine them as I was reading and the freezing cold, the frozen lake, the darkness helped to increase the suspense of the story.
If you are looking for a chilling and addictive read, then pick up The Last to Disappear… you won’t regret it!
I loved everything about this novel: the plot, the characters, the setting. The story is very well-written and full of twists and surprises. Before Vicky, three women had disappeared and they were never found and the entire village suspects of the lonely grumpy man whose wife was the first to disappear. Are the disappearances of the three women connected to Vicky’s death? Or was Vicky involved in something else? The list of suspects is long and, of course, I didn’t figure out the right one.
I loved the two protagonists of the story, Alex and Agatha. When we first meet Alex is leaving a party with a woman. Next thing he knows, his father calls him to inform him that his sister is dead and he is on his way to Finland. Gripped by guilt and grief and not trusting that Agatha can do her job, Alex starts investigating Vicky’s death. As the story progresses, we learn more about his complex relationship with Vicky and he becomes less arrogant and more agreeable. Agatha is an excellent detective. She is smart and determined and she doesn’t let Alex undermine her. However, she has her own complicated personal life to deal with and a past that haunts her.
The setting is incredible. I was engrossed in the atmospheric and beautiful descriptions of the village of Koppe that plays a big part in the story. The descriptions are so well-written that I could imagine them as I was reading and the freezing cold, the frozen lake, the darkness helped to increase the suspense of the story.
If you are looking for a chilling and addictive read, then pick up The Last to Disappear… you won’t regret it!
September 21, 2022
Felt like a bit of a change of pace from Jo Spain with this latest book, and wow she pulls it off spectacularly.
I found it completely unpredictable and really wasn't sure who or what to believe at any point. What I did know was that I was keen to find out not only what happened to Vicky, but also Kaya whose story we get in snippets too.
I loved the wildness of the Lapland setting, in the run up to Christmas for this book, it added such a sense of atmosphere to the proceedings, plus I love all things Lapland. It really is a sparse, harsh landscape for which in amongst the touristy side, you can really believe that there could be unexplained deaths, with very little evidence.
I enjoyed the reluctant teaming up of Agatha the detective in charge, and Alex and grieving brother, to try to get to the bottom of just what happened to Vicky. I never had any real theories, and definitely could be believe the outcomes.
And with what Agatha has going on in her personal life too, that plot was gripping and added another layer of tenseness to the story too, it's fabulous.
I'm in awe of Jo Spain's writing talents as she once again draws me in, and has me on the edge of my seat trying to work out what may be about to happen. It's wonderful, and for me made a great addition to my early festive reading season - although not specifically a Christmas book, given the setting and time of year it's set, it's hard not to want to read it possibly on a dark winter's night to make it even more atmospheric.
Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I found it completely unpredictable and really wasn't sure who or what to believe at any point. What I did know was that I was keen to find out not only what happened to Vicky, but also Kaya whose story we get in snippets too.
I loved the wildness of the Lapland setting, in the run up to Christmas for this book, it added such a sense of atmosphere to the proceedings, plus I love all things Lapland. It really is a sparse, harsh landscape for which in amongst the touristy side, you can really believe that there could be unexplained deaths, with very little evidence.
I enjoyed the reluctant teaming up of Agatha the detective in charge, and Alex and grieving brother, to try to get to the bottom of just what happened to Vicky. I never had any real theories, and definitely could be believe the outcomes.
And with what Agatha has going on in her personal life too, that plot was gripping and added another layer of tenseness to the story too, it's fabulous.
I'm in awe of Jo Spain's writing talents as she once again draws me in, and has me on the edge of my seat trying to work out what may be about to happen. It's wonderful, and for me made a great addition to my early festive reading season - although not specifically a Christmas book, given the setting and time of year it's set, it's hard not to want to read it possibly on a dark winter's night to make it even more atmospheric.
Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 27, 2023
Wanneer zijn zus dood uit een meer in Fins Lapland wordt gehaald, reist Alex af naar Rovaniemi. Daar blijkt dat het stadje meer geheimen herbergt dan hij kon vermoeden… Wanneer Alex Evans te horen krijgt dat het dode lichaam van zijn zus uit een meer in Fins Lapland is gehaald, gaat hij ervan uit dat het een ongeluk is geweest. Hij reist naar het luxe resort waar Vicky als reisleider werkte en ontmoet Agatha Koskinen, de rechercheur die het onderzoek leidt.
Deze no-nonsense-politievrouw vermoedt dat er meer aan de hand is dan het in eerste instantie lijkt. Zodra Alex hoort dat er in het verleden drie andere vrouwen zijn verdwenen, beseft hij dat het stadje meer geheimen herbergt dan hij kon vermoeden. Op deze afgelegen, bevroren plek lijkt de dood maar een hartslag verwijderd…
'De laatste verdwijning' begint meteen met een pakkende inleiding die een heleboel vragen oproept. Vervolgens lees je over Alex die het verschrikkelijke nieuws over zijn zus te horen krijgt. Niet veel later reist hij naar de plek des onheils en hij probeert uit te zoeken wat er met zijn zus is gebeurd. Ook lees je over Agatha, de rechercheur, die haar eigen privé problemen heeft.
Tijdens het lezen verdenk je meerdere personages die met de dood van Vicky te maken hebben, want het is duidelijk dat ze geen natuurlijke dood gestorven is. Telkens word je als lezer op een verkeerd spoor gezet. Ik vond ook de privékwestie van Agatha erg interessant. De opbouw van het verhaal is dan ook goed en de dood van Vicky blijft tot het einde goed mysterieus. Ook vond ik de sfeer van Lapland erg goed op papier gezet.
Ik heb alle boeken van Jo Spain nu gelezen en ook dit verhaal was zeker weer genieten. Tot het einde vond ik het spannend en goed en je moet dit boek zeker op je lijstje zetten als je van een mysterieus verhaal houdt.
Ik wil @uitgeverijdefontein heel erg bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
Deze no-nonsense-politievrouw vermoedt dat er meer aan de hand is dan het in eerste instantie lijkt. Zodra Alex hoort dat er in het verleden drie andere vrouwen zijn verdwenen, beseft hij dat het stadje meer geheimen herbergt dan hij kon vermoeden. Op deze afgelegen, bevroren plek lijkt de dood maar een hartslag verwijderd…
'De laatste verdwijning' begint meteen met een pakkende inleiding die een heleboel vragen oproept. Vervolgens lees je over Alex die het verschrikkelijke nieuws over zijn zus te horen krijgt. Niet veel later reist hij naar de plek des onheils en hij probeert uit te zoeken wat er met zijn zus is gebeurd. Ook lees je over Agatha, de rechercheur, die haar eigen privé problemen heeft.
Tijdens het lezen verdenk je meerdere personages die met de dood van Vicky te maken hebben, want het is duidelijk dat ze geen natuurlijke dood gestorven is. Telkens word je als lezer op een verkeerd spoor gezet. Ik vond ook de privékwestie van Agatha erg interessant. De opbouw van het verhaal is dan ook goed en de dood van Vicky blijft tot het einde goed mysterieus. Ook vond ik de sfeer van Lapland erg goed op papier gezet.
Ik heb alle boeken van Jo Spain nu gelezen en ook dit verhaal was zeker weer genieten. Tot het einde vond ik het spannend en goed en je moet dit boek zeker op je lijstje zetten als je van een mysterieus verhaal houdt.
Ik wil @uitgeverijdefontein heel erg bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
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