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STILL ALIVE - Sie weiß, wo sie dich findet
'Grippingly claustrophobic and unpredictable on every perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train ' Marie Claire**Preorder the new novel from Claire Douglas now**Libby and James Hall can't believe their luck when the leaflet comes through the door. Swapping their tiny city flat for a beautiful house by the sea? Who would say no? But once they arrive at The Hideaway Libby starts to get jittery and increasingly paranoid. She is sure that someone is watching them. Something here isn't right. And when their dog digs up an unnerving object they swiftly decide to return the Bath.But they can't pick up their old life so easily. Because it seems that this isn't just a casual house swap. This is something more sinister.Praise for Claire Douglas'Compelling and page-turning, wonderfully written and impossible to second guess with a brilliant twist' Debbie Howells, bestselling author of Richard and Judy selection The Bones of You'The creepy goings on in the off-season, secret-filled resort will give you chills' Sunday Mirror'Tension oozes from every page . . . [an] addictive read that will leave you on the edge of your seat' Sun'As soon as I finished the first page, I knew I wouldn't be able to put this down . . . I thoroughly enjoyed it' Good Housekeeping'Unforgettably dark and complex' Woman & Home
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First published July 13, 2017
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About the author
Claire Douglas
29 books5,741 followersClaire Douglas always wanted to write novels and, after many years of trying to get published, her dream came true when she won the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award in 2013 with THE SISTERS.
Her second and third novels, LOCAL GIRL MISSING and LAST SEEN ALIVE (Penguin), are Sunday Times bestsellers.
Her second and third novels, LOCAL GIRL MISSING and LAST SEEN ALIVE (Penguin), are Sunday Times bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,392 reviews
August 20, 2018
DNF @40%
Unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. I thought the story was extremely slow - I kept waiting for something to happen and it did not. I also found the main character of Libby to be insipid. Though this is coined as a mystery/suspense, I think it is more of a domestic drama/domestic noir - that said, had I continued on, perhaps my thoughts on that would change. I am an outlier here - as all other reviewers give this one top marks so please don't go by my review.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Harper Collins and Claire Douglas for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. I thought the story was extremely slow - I kept waiting for something to happen and it did not. I also found the main character of Libby to be insipid. Though this is coined as a mystery/suspense, I think it is more of a domestic drama/domestic noir - that said, had I continued on, perhaps my thoughts on that would change. I am an outlier here - as all other reviewers give this one top marks so please don't go by my review.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Harper Collins and Claire Douglas for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2021
Libby and her husband James exchange their flat in Bath for a beautiful house in Cornwall. It's a chance for them to heal their marriage. But the Cornish house is not the getaway they hoped for. They make odd and disturbing discoveries in the house. Libby never feels entirely alone. Is Libby being watched? Or is she just paranoid? What is her husband hiding? When the secrets and lies unfold, is the past about to catch up with them?
This book is full of paranoia, tension and suspicion. We get a little of Libby's background where she saved school children from a fire that broke out in a school kitchen. She also had a miscarriage so getting asked to house swap seemed to happen at the right time. When something seems to be too good to be true, it normally is. Strange events occur. So many questions are asked but no one can answer. Libby is afraid but someone clearly is trying to cause trouble. This is an edge of your seat, gripping, fast paced, with more twist and turns that will keep you guessing till the end.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Claire Douglas for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is full of paranoia, tension and suspicion. We get a little of Libby's background where she saved school children from a fire that broke out in a school kitchen. She also had a miscarriage so getting asked to house swap seemed to happen at the right time. When something seems to be too good to be true, it normally is. Strange events occur. So many questions are asked but no one can answer. Libby is afraid but someone clearly is trying to cause trouble. This is an edge of your seat, gripping, fast paced, with more twist and turns that will keep you guessing till the end.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Claire Douglas for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2018
This book is everything I want in a psychological thriller. Secrets, lies, twists and turns that will have you flying through the pages.
Libby has recently had a miscarriage and is feeling depressed. Not to mention that since the miscarriage her marriage to Jamie has been strained and stressed. Suddenly they are given an opportunity to participate in a house swap. Libby and Jamie think this may be just what they need to get their marriage back on track. Once they arrive at the Hideaway they can't believe their luck. What they thought would be a seaside cabin is actually a mansion with all the amenities a person could ever want for. Soon after their arrival though strange things begin to occur. Is Libby just being paranoid or is someone watching them, stalking them?
From here the roller-coaster ride begins and I say for you to buckle up and enjoy it to the very last page. Claire Douglas you've made a new fan.
Thank you to Edelweiss & Harper Collins for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Libby has recently had a miscarriage and is feeling depressed. Not to mention that since the miscarriage her marriage to Jamie has been strained and stressed. Suddenly they are given an opportunity to participate in a house swap. Libby and Jamie think this may be just what they need to get their marriage back on track. Once they arrive at the Hideaway they can't believe their luck. What they thought would be a seaside cabin is actually a mansion with all the amenities a person could ever want for. Soon after their arrival though strange things begin to occur. Is Libby just being paranoid or is someone watching them, stalking them?
From here the roller-coaster ride begins and I say for you to buckle up and enjoy it to the very last page. Claire Douglas you've made a new fan.
Thank you to Edelweiss & Harper Collins for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2017
This is quite honestly the worst book I have ever read. I was bored by the first 1/3, the Thailand tale kind of piqued my interest but only because it was so descriptive, it was for this I gave the 2 star rating the last part was so far fetched and unbelievable I lost the will to live.
I had no emotion with the lead character Libby. She was very troubled and although I did read this thinking and hoping it would get better, I thought she needed a good shake. Emotional, jealous and insecure, I really struggled with her. he husband Jamie wasn't much better.
I thought by the blurb this was going to be a riveting read, however I don't think the author did what she set out to do. What could have been a belting read was a slow plodder and for me it failed.
The two days I spent reading were a complete waste of time.
And obviously the author cannot take the opinion of 'one' as she unfollowed me on twitter..how childish. !!!!!
I had no emotion with the lead character Libby. She was very troubled and although I did read this thinking and hoping it would get better, I thought she needed a good shake. Emotional, jealous and insecure, I really struggled with her. he husband Jamie wasn't much better.
I thought by the blurb this was going to be a riveting read, however I don't think the author did what she set out to do. What could have been a belting read was a slow plodder and for me it failed.
The two days I spent reading were a complete waste of time.
And obviously the author cannot take the opinion of 'one' as she unfollowed me on twitter..how childish. !!!!!
July 19, 2017
Libby and her husband Jamie are offered the chance at a house swap; their cozy 2 bedroom flat in Bath, for a gorgeous house in the middle of nowhere overlooking the sea in Cornwall. A holiday couldn't have come at a better time for them. Libby was caught up in a fire at the school where she teaches, and branded a hero after rescuing some kids. Although she hated all of the attention, with it bringing back some unwanted memories of a fire at a backpackers hostel in Thailand that Libby was caught up in ten years ago. Jamie has set up his own I.T consultancy firm and needs a break from the stress. On top of that Libby suffered a miscarriage a few months ago, so the pair need some time away to put some of the stress, tension and anxiety behind them and get their marriage back on track. The house swap couldn't seem to have fallen into their laps at a better time. Or does it all just seem too good to be true...
Although the house is absolutely stunning and looks like it belongs in a high end interior design magazine, odd occurrences keep happening. A man seems to be following them and taking photos. Was an incidence on a cliff top really an innocent accidental shove? Is Libby suffering ptsd and overly paranoid and anxious? Is Jamie being honest with her? Are the owners of the stunning house what they seem to be?
Initially I thought this was going to just be another ok so-so thriller. However, and i can't disclose why without spoiling anything, my opinion totally changed at around the 50% mark and it became more than I thought it would. I can't say much more for fear of spoiling anything! It's one one those thrillers you're best going into blind - the less you know about it the better, and the more you will enjoy it. Last Seen Alive is a speedy read; chockablock full of tension and edge of your seat moments; a gripping thriller which is well worth a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin U.K - Michael Joseph for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Although the house is absolutely stunning and looks like it belongs in a high end interior design magazine, odd occurrences keep happening. A man seems to be following them and taking photos. Was an incidence on a cliff top really an innocent accidental shove? Is Libby suffering ptsd and overly paranoid and anxious? Is Jamie being honest with her? Are the owners of the stunning house what they seem to be?
Initially I thought this was going to just be another ok so-so thriller. However, and i can't disclose why without spoiling anything, my opinion totally changed at around the 50% mark and it became more than I thought it would. I can't say much more for fear of spoiling anything! It's one one those thrillers you're best going into blind - the less you know about it the better, and the more you will enjoy it. Last Seen Alive is a speedy read; chockablock full of tension and edge of your seat moments; a gripping thriller which is well worth a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin U.K - Michael Joseph for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
January 11, 2019
4.5 Stars!! This book captivated me so much I finished it and a whole two days which is unheard of for me! It reminded me a little bit of several different Thrillers I read last year however it was unique and it's very own way. I own Douglass's previous two novels and cannot wait to start them next!
January 11, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Claire Douglas first came to my attention when I read and thoroughly endorsed her book, Sisters. Since then, I have also read Local Girl Missing, which I recall as being one of my favourite psychological thrillers of last year. Douglas is back with another jam packed twisty thriller, Last Seen Alive. This time around, Douglas presents the reader with a house swap situation gone terribly wrong.
Libby Hall is a teacher, who recently hit headlines after she saved a student from a fire that engulfed the school where she works. Libby is happily married to husband Jamie, but with the fire, a recent miscarriage and pressures from Jamie’s loved ones, the need to escape everyday life seems like the perfect idea. When a timely request for a house swap comes through Libby and Jamie’s mailbox, they are quick to take up this offer. Exchanging their claustrophobic little flat in Bath, for a sprawling Cornish country retreat, the couple seem happy and ready to heal. However, the idyllic house has many shocking secrets to reveal, which shakes this already fragile couple to their core. When Jamie is hospitalised for food poisoning, Libby is left alone in the house. The experience unnerves her and she constantly feels like she is being watched by someone. Then thoughts of the past begin to return, of a tragic event that Libby has been unable to shake. When paranoia begins to plague Libby she doesn’t know who to trust, even her husband.
Last Seen Alive really begins with a bang. The prologue offers the reader a shocking interlude into what is ultimately to come. It certainly worked to hook me into this novel from the very beginning. Douglas has the perfect formula at her disposal when it comes to delivering quality psychological thrillers and Last Seen Alive is a book that engaged me from start to finish.
Douglas takes on the idea of a house swap, or an air b&b gone wrong in her latest novel. Air b&b’s aren’t really the rage here in Australia, but it was a different concept to explore. Although I did feel like Libby and Jamie grabbed a hold of this opportunity passing through their mail a little too blindly. I’m not quite sure I would be quite as naive as this couple. Mind you, the recent stresses on their marriage may help to explain their desperation and willingness to take up this offer so readily. As soon as the action moved from Bath to Cornwall, I felt a quick breath of fresh air and I hoped that this experience would invigorate to troubled young couple. However, the direction soon took a sinister turn, as the picturesque Cornish property offers up some shocks and secrets. Douglas uses this early section of the novel to highlight a strong sense of place. Although I have visited Cornwall in the past, I wasn’t familiar with the Roseland Peninsula. Through the descriptions of this area Douglas offers the reader, I had a solid picture in my mind of this stunning British coastal locale, it seemed a shame when things turned nasty at the lovely Cornish abode! Likewise, when the book moves to Bath, an area I feel fortunate to have visited in the past, I felt like Douglas knew this area inside out.
Claire Douglas really serves up some complex and fascinating characters in this novel. Each character has their own secrets, along with questionable pasts and we are never quite sure who to trust. Last Seen Alive takes the unreliable narrator scenario to the next level, as I actually wasn’t sure if I could trust any of the characters that appeared in this novel. I initially liked Libby, being in the same profession as her, I could sympathise with her quite easily. However, the novel took an almighty shift around the half way point, which worked to change my opinion of Libby. Jamie, Libby’s husband, is a well drawn protagonist. I alternated my feelings and trust towards this man as the novel went on. I was very suspicious of Jamie in his relationship with family friend Hannah and when the kindly old neighbour Evelyn hinted that Jamie might have been keeping secrets from Libby, I did begin to doubt him. The entry of two figures from Libby’s past ramps the narrative up significantly. It leaves the reader reeling, trying to untangle the web of lies and deceit that has become entrenched over a ten year period.
Last Seen Alive is structured into three main components. The first tells of Libby and Jamie in the current day, as they take their house swap vacation, which turns sour in Cornwall. The narrative then travels in the past to Thailand, ten years ago. This follows Libby’s backpacking adventures with Beth, another young woman who Libby befriends, but we learn sadly perished in a backpacker hostel fire. The experience haunts Libby for years to come. The third and final segment of the novel takes the action back to Bath, as Libby and Jamie deal with the after effects of their brief but unnerving stay in Cornwall. When we finally reach the epilogue, a final and unexpected blow is delivered, leaving the reader shaking their head in utter disbelief!
I guarantee Last Seen Alive will make you woozy with the amount and calibre of twists it delivers, all within one shocking tale. Expect to be thrilled, chilled and to experience that deep in the pit of your stomach style of dread that comes with reading a solid thriller. Last Seen Alive is a plot driven novel that comes with some clouded characters and plenty of paranoia. I enjoyed this novel immensely and I now have to contend with a significant wait for the next Claire Douglas novel to be released!
Claire Douglas first came to my attention when I read and thoroughly endorsed her book, Sisters. Since then, I have also read Local Girl Missing, which I recall as being one of my favourite psychological thrillers of last year. Douglas is back with another jam packed twisty thriller, Last Seen Alive. This time around, Douglas presents the reader with a house swap situation gone terribly wrong.
Libby Hall is a teacher, who recently hit headlines after she saved a student from a fire that engulfed the school where she works. Libby is happily married to husband Jamie, but with the fire, a recent miscarriage and pressures from Jamie’s loved ones, the need to escape everyday life seems like the perfect idea. When a timely request for a house swap comes through Libby and Jamie’s mailbox, they are quick to take up this offer. Exchanging their claustrophobic little flat in Bath, for a sprawling Cornish country retreat, the couple seem happy and ready to heal. However, the idyllic house has many shocking secrets to reveal, which shakes this already fragile couple to their core. When Jamie is hospitalised for food poisoning, Libby is left alone in the house. The experience unnerves her and she constantly feels like she is being watched by someone. Then thoughts of the past begin to return, of a tragic event that Libby has been unable to shake. When paranoia begins to plague Libby she doesn’t know who to trust, even her husband.
Last Seen Alive really begins with a bang. The prologue offers the reader a shocking interlude into what is ultimately to come. It certainly worked to hook me into this novel from the very beginning. Douglas has the perfect formula at her disposal when it comes to delivering quality psychological thrillers and Last Seen Alive is a book that engaged me from start to finish.
Douglas takes on the idea of a house swap, or an air b&b gone wrong in her latest novel. Air b&b’s aren’t really the rage here in Australia, but it was a different concept to explore. Although I did feel like Libby and Jamie grabbed a hold of this opportunity passing through their mail a little too blindly. I’m not quite sure I would be quite as naive as this couple. Mind you, the recent stresses on their marriage may help to explain their desperation and willingness to take up this offer so readily. As soon as the action moved from Bath to Cornwall, I felt a quick breath of fresh air and I hoped that this experience would invigorate to troubled young couple. However, the direction soon took a sinister turn, as the picturesque Cornish property offers up some shocks and secrets. Douglas uses this early section of the novel to highlight a strong sense of place. Although I have visited Cornwall in the past, I wasn’t familiar with the Roseland Peninsula. Through the descriptions of this area Douglas offers the reader, I had a solid picture in my mind of this stunning British coastal locale, it seemed a shame when things turned nasty at the lovely Cornish abode! Likewise, when the book moves to Bath, an area I feel fortunate to have visited in the past, I felt like Douglas knew this area inside out.
Claire Douglas really serves up some complex and fascinating characters in this novel. Each character has their own secrets, along with questionable pasts and we are never quite sure who to trust. Last Seen Alive takes the unreliable narrator scenario to the next level, as I actually wasn’t sure if I could trust any of the characters that appeared in this novel. I initially liked Libby, being in the same profession as her, I could sympathise with her quite easily. However, the novel took an almighty shift around the half way point, which worked to change my opinion of Libby. Jamie, Libby’s husband, is a well drawn protagonist. I alternated my feelings and trust towards this man as the novel went on. I was very suspicious of Jamie in his relationship with family friend Hannah and when the kindly old neighbour Evelyn hinted that Jamie might have been keeping secrets from Libby, I did begin to doubt him. The entry of two figures from Libby’s past ramps the narrative up significantly. It leaves the reader reeling, trying to untangle the web of lies and deceit that has become entrenched over a ten year period.
Last Seen Alive is structured into three main components. The first tells of Libby and Jamie in the current day, as they take their house swap vacation, which turns sour in Cornwall. The narrative then travels in the past to Thailand, ten years ago. This follows Libby’s backpacking adventures with Beth, another young woman who Libby befriends, but we learn sadly perished in a backpacker hostel fire. The experience haunts Libby for years to come. The third and final segment of the novel takes the action back to Bath, as Libby and Jamie deal with the after effects of their brief but unnerving stay in Cornwall. When we finally reach the epilogue, a final and unexpected blow is delivered, leaving the reader shaking their head in utter disbelief!
I guarantee Last Seen Alive will make you woozy with the amount and calibre of twists it delivers, all within one shocking tale. Expect to be thrilled, chilled and to experience that deep in the pit of your stomach style of dread that comes with reading a solid thriller. Last Seen Alive is a plot driven novel that comes with some clouded characters and plenty of paranoia. I enjoyed this novel immensely and I now have to contend with a significant wait for the next Claire Douglas novel to be released!
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August 21, 2018I have only recently discovered Claire Douglas when I read a short story that was free on Kobo that I really enjoyed. Thought I would check out Last Seen Alive to see if I enjoyed this book as much as the short story that I had previously read.
This audiobook was totally amazing and it turned out to be one of my favourite books this year.
Such a brilliant storyline that I will listen to again in the future. If you are looking for a good thriller/mystery you really ought to check this out. I thought it was outstanding. Recommended.
This audiobook was totally amazing and it turned out to be one of my favourite books this year.
Such a brilliant storyline that I will listen to again in the future. If you are looking for a good thriller/mystery you really ought to check this out. I thought it was outstanding. Recommended.
September 16, 2023
Twists, turns, jaw dropping excellent stuff!
Got my thriller juices running for sure.
Got my thriller juices running for sure.
January 24, 2020
Jamie & Libby swap their 2 bedroom flat in Bath for a luxury house by the sea in Cornwell ,they are trying to get their marriage on track again & they think it will do them both good. After a while they discover disturbing things in the house animal skins, skulls in trees that they wonder what is going on.
Their dog Ziggy is their baby & when he is poisoned the stakes are higher than ever before Libby is stressed enough her paranoia starts to eat at her, she becomes jealous & is enraged when she thinks Jamie is seeing his ex girlfriend Hannah sending her letters, this enrages Libby to the point of no return.
Will Libby ever find out who is trying to destroy their marriage or will Libby's past catch up with her!!
MY THOUGHTS
I loved this book it was a very well written twisty read that took me in different directions all the way through, the characters were flawed but likeable BEWARE A WOMAN SCORNED!!Libby I felt for she was strong & would do anything to save her marriage no matter what!! Jamie on the other hand was vulnerable & strong when he needed to be, it was a page turner I could not put it down, there are so many twists & turns it made my head spin & turn upside down it was like a rollercoaster ride that you can't get off & that twist OMG it threw me for a loop loved every minute from beginning to end, if you like twists & turns in a novel & a fast paced read then this is for you Claire Douglas takes you into something & someone's marriage Then throws a curveball in the other direction.
Their dog Ziggy is their baby & when he is poisoned the stakes are higher than ever before Libby is stressed enough her paranoia starts to eat at her, she becomes jealous & is enraged when she thinks Jamie is seeing his ex girlfriend Hannah sending her letters, this enrages Libby to the point of no return.
Will Libby ever find out who is trying to destroy their marriage or will Libby's past catch up with her!!
MY THOUGHTS
I loved this book it was a very well written twisty read that took me in different directions all the way through, the characters were flawed but likeable BEWARE A WOMAN SCORNED!!Libby I felt for she was strong & would do anything to save her marriage no matter what!! Jamie on the other hand was vulnerable & strong when he needed to be, it was a page turner I could not put it down, there are so many twists & turns it made my head spin & turn upside down it was like a rollercoaster ride that you can't get off & that twist OMG it threw me for a loop loved every minute from beginning to end, if you like twists & turns in a novel & a fast paced read then this is for you Claire Douglas takes you into something & someone's marriage Then throws a curveball in the other direction.
May 16, 2021
An absolute whirlwind of a psychological thriller which effectively draws on suspicion and paranoia.
We learn pretty early on why Libby and Husband Jamie opt for a house swap in a luxurious house in Cornwall, the new surroundings will help heal their fragile marriage.
Whilst the deal seems to good to be true (spoilers - it was) the reasons suited both parties as a flyer dropped through their small Bath flat was from desperate couple needing to near the hospital that's currently treating their sick child.
The unease of staying in another person's house is effectively drawn out not least with the owners tendency for taxidermy!
The novel not only plays with the idea of being isolated and alone in a strange environment, but who have you let into your own house as Libby and Jamie are soon to find out.
So many plot twists are thrown into this thriller which works surprisingly well, there's also the hidden secret of our main protagonist that is explored during the middle section of the novel.
Not quite the strongest by this author but still a gripping page turner that kept me hooked.
We learn pretty early on why Libby and Husband Jamie opt for a house swap in a luxurious house in Cornwall, the new surroundings will help heal their fragile marriage.
Whilst the deal seems to good to be true (spoilers - it was) the reasons suited both parties as a flyer dropped through their small Bath flat was from desperate couple needing to near the hospital that's currently treating their sick child.
The unease of staying in another person's house is effectively drawn out not least with the owners tendency for taxidermy!
The novel not only plays with the idea of being isolated and alone in a strange environment, but who have you let into your own house as Libby and Jamie are soon to find out.
So many plot twists are thrown into this thriller which works surprisingly well, there's also the hidden secret of our main protagonist that is explored during the middle section of the novel.
Not quite the strongest by this author but still a gripping page turner that kept me hooked.
July 29, 2017
When I read Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas my lasting impression was pretty unremarkable and I found it another psychological thriller with a contrived plot. A solid premise was marred by some artificial characters who behaved woodenly, awkwardly stilted dialogue and some increasingly unlikely occurrences which stretched credibility. This novel impressed me more and felt more ambitious, largely because it takes a more profound concept as its starting point, with a focus on identity and how important an individuals past is in a marriage. Last Seen Alive focuses on recently married couple, Libby, and husband, Jamie, as they escape from the stress of recent events which have left their relationship under strain. Strapped for cash, the seemingly ideal opportunity to recharge batteries and heal their marriage is presented when a flyer comes through their front door proposing the idea of a house swap and with a mobile number to contact a Philip Heywood for details. On the basis of a telephone conversation with the gentleman who says his daughter is undergoing life-saving treatment at nearby Bath hospital, Libby and Jamie Hall journey from their two-bedroom flat to a luxurious and remote Cornwall cottage with breathtaking views, a beach backing onto the garden and state of the art facilities. And yes, this does sound a little too good to be true and there are no prizes for guessing that the couple get more than they bargained for…. Swapping homes on the basis of a personal advert might not appear the most sensible decision to make and it is the sheer unlikelihood of this scenario which prevented me wholeheartedly engaging with the storyline. No one of sane mind would blindly enter into a verbal agreement to exchange homes with an absolute stranger and with no managing agent vetting the people and homes involved, but in the world of psychological thrillers, anything seems to go!
The cracks in the nine-month marriage quickly become visible before Libby and Jamie even descend on the Cornish escape, idyllically named The Hideaway. Computing specialist Jamie has recently set up business on his own after being made redundant and the financial obligations have left him drained of enthusiasm for life. Meanwhile, a recent fire at the primary school where Libby teaches has reluctantly cast her into the spotlight as an heroine, a role which feels awkward to a woman who likes the anonymity of city life. With a broken arm still in plaster, it has resurrected memories of a traumatic fire which she was involved in ten-years earlier in Thailand and in which her friend, Karen Fisher, lost her life. The drama of the school fire also saw Libby miscarry. Evident from the get-go is that neither of the couple are entirely transparent and Libby is blighted by trust issues and insecurities. That Jamie is fairly laid-back and largely frustrated by Libby’s seemingly neurotic concerns weighs in heavily, with his relatively blasé attitude sometimes appearing to Libby as flippancy or neglect of her feelings. Although Libby casts herself as a strong, capable and independent woman who has pulled herself up by the bootstraps from a humble Yorkshire background and an alcoholic father, there is little of this side of her personality on display after the fire and miscarriage. Concerns about whether she can trust Jamie, a man who enjoys flirting and who still has a far too close relationship with childhood sweetheart also unsettle Libby. The unnatural interaction between Libby and Jamie who have been together for over four-and-a half years all feels a little bit too robotic. There is none of the easygoing banter and in-jokes that most couples share and I had so many doubts that this couple would have ever been well suited couple before the drama.
Comprised in three parts and addressing the events that occur in Cornwall, Thailand and Bath, for readers who demand frenetic twists and turns then this novel well and truly qualifies. Whilst I will not spoil any of the surprises in store, expect unsettling events aplenty in Cornwall - from footprints on the lawn, a fellow tourist who seems peculiarly interested in Jamie, a continuous feeling of being watched, before one final nightmare sends these two hot footing it back to Bath. However, it doesn’t take too long to become aware that Cornwall wasn’t just a freak experience, when similarly sinister episodes continue, only to drive an even greater wedge between Jamie and Libby. Jamie’s devoted ex might seem the most likely candidate to be behind the dramas, but as things unravel, Libby and Jamie discover just how little you can ever really know about your spouse and the transformations that every individual goes through along the way to becoming the person they are. Admittedly, many of the ensuing discoveries are more a matter of omission and skirting round the finer points but as old wounds reopen things between the couple get very tense.
My overriding concern is that getting entangled in such a situation - a house swap with a stranger - would surely set alarms ringing for most sane people, however Last Seen Alive does shine a light on how much bearing an individuals past has on the person they eventually become. Whilst I found this very readable and much more entertaining than Local Girl Missing, I did not find it compulsively addictive by any means. An easy page turning but the chances of this happening are negligible and the awkward characterisations make for a mediocre psychological thriller.
The cracks in the nine-month marriage quickly become visible before Libby and Jamie even descend on the Cornish escape, idyllically named The Hideaway. Computing specialist Jamie has recently set up business on his own after being made redundant and the financial obligations have left him drained of enthusiasm for life. Meanwhile, a recent fire at the primary school where Libby teaches has reluctantly cast her into the spotlight as an heroine, a role which feels awkward to a woman who likes the anonymity of city life. With a broken arm still in plaster, it has resurrected memories of a traumatic fire which she was involved in ten-years earlier in Thailand and in which her friend, Karen Fisher, lost her life. The drama of the school fire also saw Libby miscarry. Evident from the get-go is that neither of the couple are entirely transparent and Libby is blighted by trust issues and insecurities. That Jamie is fairly laid-back and largely frustrated by Libby’s seemingly neurotic concerns weighs in heavily, with his relatively blasé attitude sometimes appearing to Libby as flippancy or neglect of her feelings. Although Libby casts herself as a strong, capable and independent woman who has pulled herself up by the bootstraps from a humble Yorkshire background and an alcoholic father, there is little of this side of her personality on display after the fire and miscarriage. Concerns about whether she can trust Jamie, a man who enjoys flirting and who still has a far too close relationship with childhood sweetheart also unsettle Libby. The unnatural interaction between Libby and Jamie who have been together for over four-and-a half years all feels a little bit too robotic. There is none of the easygoing banter and in-jokes that most couples share and I had so many doubts that this couple would have ever been well suited couple before the drama.
Comprised in three parts and addressing the events that occur in Cornwall, Thailand and Bath, for readers who demand frenetic twists and turns then this novel well and truly qualifies. Whilst I will not spoil any of the surprises in store, expect unsettling events aplenty in Cornwall - from footprints on the lawn, a fellow tourist who seems peculiarly interested in Jamie, a continuous feeling of being watched, before one final nightmare sends these two hot footing it back to Bath. However, it doesn’t take too long to become aware that Cornwall wasn’t just a freak experience, when similarly sinister episodes continue, only to drive an even greater wedge between Jamie and Libby. Jamie’s devoted ex might seem the most likely candidate to be behind the dramas, but as things unravel, Libby and Jamie discover just how little you can ever really know about your spouse and the transformations that every individual goes through along the way to becoming the person they are. Admittedly, many of the ensuing discoveries are more a matter of omission and skirting round the finer points but as old wounds reopen things between the couple get very tense.
My overriding concern is that getting entangled in such a situation - a house swap with a stranger - would surely set alarms ringing for most sane people, however Last Seen Alive does shine a light on how much bearing an individuals past has on the person they eventually become. Whilst I found this very readable and much more entertaining than Local Girl Missing, I did not find it compulsively addictive by any means. An easy page turning but the chances of this happening are negligible and the awkward characterisations make for a mediocre psychological thriller.
July 12, 2017
After receiving a leaflet through their door and needing some time to themselves after a traumatic event Libby and Jamie Hall jump at the chance to swap their tiny city flat for a beautiful house by the sea.But as soon as they arrive at the Hideaway Libby starts to get jittery and becomes convinced that someone is watching them.After their dog Ziggy digs up an unnerving object they decide to return home to Bath.
But they are sadly mistaken in thinking that they could pick up their lives so easily.Because it seems this isn't just a casual house swap.This is something far more sinister.
This gripping,intense thriller is split into three parts.The first part covers events that happen at the beautiful Hideaway on the cliffs of Cornwall.The second part covers when Libby met Karen Fisher while they were both backpacking across Thailand.The third part covers what happened after Libby and Jamie returned home after the house swap
Most of the story is voiced from Libby`s point of view but later in the book the chapters start to alternate between Libby and another woman called Beth.All of the characters in this twisted tale are complex and well developed but I didn't find any of them very likeable apart from Ziggy the dog and Libby and Jamie's neighbour Evelyn.
It's a fast paced,roller coaster that has all the elements that you want a thriller to contain,danger,plenty of twists,lies,secrets and manipulation.Although the chapters are quite long there is just enough description to set the scene and no parts of the story come across as padding.It's a gripping page turner that had me hooked from the shocking prologue right to the unexpected epilogue.I enjoyed this book just as much as I did The Sisters and Local Girl Missing.Claire Douglas writes well written,engrossing thrillers and unfortunately now I have to endure the long wait for her next book.
Many thanks to penguin uk / Michael Joseph for an arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
But they are sadly mistaken in thinking that they could pick up their lives so easily.Because it seems this isn't just a casual house swap.This is something far more sinister.
This gripping,intense thriller is split into three parts.The first part covers events that happen at the beautiful Hideaway on the cliffs of Cornwall.The second part covers when Libby met Karen Fisher while they were both backpacking across Thailand.The third part covers what happened after Libby and Jamie returned home after the house swap
Most of the story is voiced from Libby`s point of view but later in the book the chapters start to alternate between Libby and another woman called Beth.All of the characters in this twisted tale are complex and well developed but I didn't find any of them very likeable apart from Ziggy the dog and Libby and Jamie's neighbour Evelyn.
It's a fast paced,roller coaster that has all the elements that you want a thriller to contain,danger,plenty of twists,lies,secrets and manipulation.Although the chapters are quite long there is just enough description to set the scene and no parts of the story come across as padding.It's a gripping page turner that had me hooked from the shocking prologue right to the unexpected epilogue.I enjoyed this book just as much as I did The Sisters and Local Girl Missing.Claire Douglas writes well written,engrossing thrillers and unfortunately now I have to endure the long wait for her next book.
Many thanks to penguin uk / Michael Joseph for an arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
July 13, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Twisty-turny plot, handled masterfully to create a compelling book that gets readers guessing.
Again, this was one of those books that I had no prior knowledge of, and the only clue was the menacing title, combined with a slightly eerie front cover. It's always fun to dive into these sorts of novels, and even greater fun when they turn out to be highly readable!
The story is about Libby, who we soon learn is a teacher who's broken her arm, saving some kids from a fire at school. She and her dishy husband do a house-swap, spending the week on the remote Cornwall coastline, only to find that the house is a whole lot more sinister than they'd anticipated. However, the creepy-factor doesn't end there. In fact, it's only just got started...
They return to their flat in Bath, only to find that the weirdness just keeps on coming. Random items ordered from catalogues, bank accounts mysteriously drained - then worst of all, a body in the garden. It's all related to Libby's past, which becomes apparent as the book goes on.
Without giving away too much, it's a cracking plot-line, and there were several moments where (very gratifyingly) I felt myself being genuinely surprised. Whilst a couple of the revelations were a bit 'way out there', the writing is of such a high quality that you don't really mind suspending your disbelief.
A very clever concept, and nicely rounded up at the end. Spot on, Claire Douglas!
Twisty-turny plot, handled masterfully to create a compelling book that gets readers guessing.
Again, this was one of those books that I had no prior knowledge of, and the only clue was the menacing title, combined with a slightly eerie front cover. It's always fun to dive into these sorts of novels, and even greater fun when they turn out to be highly readable!
The story is about Libby, who we soon learn is a teacher who's broken her arm, saving some kids from a fire at school. She and her dishy husband do a house-swap, spending the week on the remote Cornwall coastline, only to find that the house is a whole lot more sinister than they'd anticipated. However, the creepy-factor doesn't end there. In fact, it's only just got started...
They return to their flat in Bath, only to find that the weirdness just keeps on coming. Random items ordered from catalogues, bank accounts mysteriously drained - then worst of all, a body in the garden. It's all related to Libby's past, which becomes apparent as the book goes on.
Without giving away too much, it's a cracking plot-line, and there were several moments where (very gratifyingly) I felt myself being genuinely surprised. Whilst a couple of the revelations were a bit 'way out there', the writing is of such a high quality that you don't really mind suspending your disbelief.
A very clever concept, and nicely rounded up at the end. Spot on, Claire Douglas!
July 11, 2017
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
And honest it will be, I'm afraid. Also, it'll contain some mild **spoilers**.
No, this one did not work for me. Really amateur plot, juvenile writing, poor dialogues.
The idea has been done before, many times, and much better. Besides, I have an immediate distaste for any book that relies on the idea that one's significant other deserves to know every single part of the other's past. They don't. Everyone has the right to keep some things secret and any plot that demands the "no more lies? no more lies." dialogue makes me cringe. Because we all know upon reading this that sure enough, there will be something else and then a fight over this another "lie."
And what to say about how many new villains there were in this story? Just for the sake of shocking and for adding some plot twists. It felt desperate and super soap-opera-ish. Unconvincing and melodramatic, to sum it up.
Anyway, I did not enjoy this novel at all and I specially did not like the author's writing style (For example, I asked my kindle to count how many times the word *surely* appears on this book. It tells me there are 30 pages of results, 30 pages of paragraphs with this one word, repeated ad nauseam by the protagonist.)
And honest it will be, I'm afraid. Also, it'll contain some mild **spoilers**.
No, this one did not work for me. Really amateur plot, juvenile writing, poor dialogues.
The idea has been done before, many times, and much better. Besides, I have an immediate distaste for any book that relies on the idea that one's significant other deserves to know every single part of the other's past. They don't. Everyone has the right to keep some things secret and any plot that demands the "no more lies? no more lies." dialogue makes me cringe. Because we all know upon reading this that sure enough, there will be something else and then a fight over this another "lie."
And what to say about how many new villains there were in this story? Just for the sake of shocking and for adding some plot twists. It felt desperate and super soap-opera-ish. Unconvincing and melodramatic, to sum it up.
Anyway, I did not enjoy this novel at all and I specially did not like the author's writing style (For example, I asked my kindle to count how many times the word *surely* appears on this book. It tells me there are 30 pages of results, 30 pages of paragraphs with this one word, repeated ad nauseam by the protagonist.)
September 4, 2017
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com
🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2 Stars
Oh wow!!! What a read, Loved Loved Loved Last Seen Alive By Claire Douglas,
now I've got to describe this while giving nothing away as trust me that would really spoil this for you.
Mmmm, where to start,
So here goes, we have Libby Hall School-teacher, just wants to live a quiet life that is until she makes the news after saving the children in her care from a fire.
The blaze itself brings back flashbacks of losing her bestie in a fire nine years previous and then also hating the attention that comes along with the hero status, Libby and her husband Jamie are really just starting to feel the pressure pile on.
So when an intriguing leaflet lands on the Hall's doormat offering a house swap for a week it seems like a godsend, swapping their flat in Bath for a week in the beautifully secluded Cornish countryside, it seems too good to be true.
The Hideaway is their new home for the week but it's far from being the relaxing break that Libby imagined.
It's isolated and though stunningly decorated and a luxurious home its strangely spooky and Libby feels increasingly paranoid while staying here.
Is it paranoia or is there something going on beneath the surface and who can Libby trust.
This was such a page turner and was full of the most unexpected twists and turns that I really didn't see coming.
Just when you thought you knew where you were going everything would change.
Last Seen Alive definitely kept you on your toes throughout.
I loved how the characters seemed so human with faults and all, there was no perfection here, only real people making mistakes and trying to redeem themselves to the people they cared about.
Loved Libby, I really took to her, could even get the paranoia to an extent, especially after reading the back-story it explained a lot and certain actions she took then made sense to me, Libby was far from perfect, though she tried to portray perfection as much as possible and I think this was her main fault, the wall she has built to exclude others from getting too close.
Jamie, well he was a typical bloke, but he really did come across as one of the good guys, I think he does need to open his eyes a bit in regards to Hannah the ex-taking the mick, but aside from that, he seemed like, what you see is what you get, at least that's the impression I got.
This book was so well written and was very easy to get lost in.
I would definitely recommend this as it was a really enthralling read that easily kept my attention.
The only reason I knocked off half a star was that I hated the epilogue like detested it big style it really annoyed me so in true diva mode I removed half because I was so pissed and because I can!!
But aside from that which is a personal reason, this was one hell of a ride that once you embarked on you were compelled to stay for the whole journey.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc of Last Seen Alive By Claire Douglas.
This is my own honest and unbiased opinion.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
https://www.beckiebookworm.com
🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2 Stars
Oh wow!!! What a read, Loved Loved Loved Last Seen Alive By Claire Douglas,
now I've got to describe this while giving nothing away as trust me that would really spoil this for you.
Mmmm, where to start,
So here goes, we have Libby Hall School-teacher, just wants to live a quiet life that is until she makes the news after saving the children in her care from a fire.
The blaze itself brings back flashbacks of losing her bestie in a fire nine years previous and then also hating the attention that comes along with the hero status, Libby and her husband Jamie are really just starting to feel the pressure pile on.
So when an intriguing leaflet lands on the Hall's doormat offering a house swap for a week it seems like a godsend, swapping their flat in Bath for a week in the beautifully secluded Cornish countryside, it seems too good to be true.
The Hideaway is their new home for the week but it's far from being the relaxing break that Libby imagined.
It's isolated and though stunningly decorated and a luxurious home its strangely spooky and Libby feels increasingly paranoid while staying here.
Is it paranoia or is there something going on beneath the surface and who can Libby trust.
This was such a page turner and was full of the most unexpected twists and turns that I really didn't see coming.
Just when you thought you knew where you were going everything would change.
Last Seen Alive definitely kept you on your toes throughout.
I loved how the characters seemed so human with faults and all, there was no perfection here, only real people making mistakes and trying to redeem themselves to the people they cared about.
Loved Libby, I really took to her, could even get the paranoia to an extent, especially after reading the back-story it explained a lot and certain actions she took then made sense to me, Libby was far from perfect, though she tried to portray perfection as much as possible and I think this was her main fault, the wall she has built to exclude others from getting too close.
Jamie, well he was a typical bloke, but he really did come across as one of the good guys, I think he does need to open his eyes a bit in regards to Hannah the ex-taking the mick, but aside from that, he seemed like, what you see is what you get, at least that's the impression I got.
This book was so well written and was very easy to get lost in.
I would definitely recommend this as it was a really enthralling read that easily kept my attention.
The only reason I knocked off half a star was that I hated the epilogue like detested it big style it really annoyed me so in true diva mode I removed half because I was so pissed and because I can!!
But aside from that which is a personal reason, this was one hell of a ride that once you embarked on you were compelled to stay for the whole journey.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc of Last Seen Alive By Claire Douglas.
This is my own honest and unbiased opinion.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
July 7, 2017
I liked The Sisters, I loved Local Girl Missing but Last Seen Alive is absolutely my favourite Claire Douglas book so far! She is now one of the few authors that I trust enough to preorder her books without even reading the blurb.
When Libby and Jamie have a note through their door from a family looking for a potential house swap, it couldn’t have been a better timed opportunity for them. Poor Libby is still in plaster after an incident at the school she teaches at but she is also hiding a deeper tragedy so getting away from it all seems ideal, especially when they arrive at the beautiful home they have swapped with! Now, since the recent rise of AirBnb has made staying in other people’s houses much more acceptable as a cheap place to stay, I was incredibly suspicious right from the start as to why a flyer would be put through a door like it was. And of course I was right as some very strange things started happening once they were in Cornwall. In their dark, atmospheric but luxurious surroundings Libby starts to get paranoid, slowly developing a feeling that something isn’t quite right and that they are being watched but Jamie doesn’t agree, making her feeling of paranoia more pronounced. It soon becomes obvious one of them is holding onto secrets from the past but which one and why?
What really sucked me into this book was the relationship between Libby and Jamie! I was getting so frustrated with them both, especially Libby who seemed to have severe trust issues that weren’t help by Jamie’s dismissive behaviour which just seemed to wind up Libby even more! Although to be fair, I was feeling a fair few trust issues myself the more I delved into the plot! I felt sad that there seemed to be so many niggles between them that shouldn’t have been there especially for a couple who had gone through their recent difficulties! I kept thinking “Is it because Jamie is a man and they see and handle things slightly differently?” but my God, he was pushing MY buttons all the way through this book! He made some very questionable decisions and I didn’t trust him one iota!! And because of that I thought I would have had more empathy with Libby so was surprised that I didn’t, even when things came to a head further into the storyline.
The first few pages of Last Seen Alive throw you into a shocking scenario and the tension continues to mount throughout the first part of the narrative as you try to work out what the hell is going on and how it connects up. There are plenty of twists to shock you here and I found myself not trusting anyone even up until those final few pages. And while we are on that subject, what about that ending!! What are you trying to do to me Claire Douglas?! Although I have to admit I thought it finished off the book perfectly.
I found myself holding my breath at times through this intensely gripping and thrilling book. And it raised some very scary current issues that made me look at certain things very differently! I know that sounds a bit cryptic but I don’t want to spoil the brilliant surprises that lie in wait for you here! Definitely her best book so far so highly recommended by me.
When Libby and Jamie have a note through their door from a family looking for a potential house swap, it couldn’t have been a better timed opportunity for them. Poor Libby is still in plaster after an incident at the school she teaches at but she is also hiding a deeper tragedy so getting away from it all seems ideal, especially when they arrive at the beautiful home they have swapped with! Now, since the recent rise of AirBnb has made staying in other people’s houses much more acceptable as a cheap place to stay, I was incredibly suspicious right from the start as to why a flyer would be put through a door like it was. And of course I was right as some very strange things started happening once they were in Cornwall. In their dark, atmospheric but luxurious surroundings Libby starts to get paranoid, slowly developing a feeling that something isn’t quite right and that they are being watched but Jamie doesn’t agree, making her feeling of paranoia more pronounced. It soon becomes obvious one of them is holding onto secrets from the past but which one and why?
What really sucked me into this book was the relationship between Libby and Jamie! I was getting so frustrated with them both, especially Libby who seemed to have severe trust issues that weren’t help by Jamie’s dismissive behaviour which just seemed to wind up Libby even more! Although to be fair, I was feeling a fair few trust issues myself the more I delved into the plot! I felt sad that there seemed to be so many niggles between them that shouldn’t have been there especially for a couple who had gone through their recent difficulties! I kept thinking “Is it because Jamie is a man and they see and handle things slightly differently?” but my God, he was pushing MY buttons all the way through this book! He made some very questionable decisions and I didn’t trust him one iota!! And because of that I thought I would have had more empathy with Libby so was surprised that I didn’t, even when things came to a head further into the storyline.
The first few pages of Last Seen Alive throw you into a shocking scenario and the tension continues to mount throughout the first part of the narrative as you try to work out what the hell is going on and how it connects up. There are plenty of twists to shock you here and I found myself not trusting anyone even up until those final few pages. And while we are on that subject, what about that ending!! What are you trying to do to me Claire Douglas?! Although I have to admit I thought it finished off the book perfectly.
I found myself holding my breath at times through this intensely gripping and thrilling book. And it raised some very scary current issues that made me look at certain things very differently! I know that sounds a bit cryptic but I don’t want to spoil the brilliant surprises that lie in wait for you here! Definitely her best book so far so highly recommended by me.
March 28, 2022
This was an intense psychological thriller. I loved the first part, where something new happened regularly. I had a problem with some things though; Why was Libby acting as if what happened to her and her husband couldn’t be about her? Why did it seem like she was paranoid and suffering from PTSD in the beginning, but not in the second part? But the ending was surprising and memorable. So overall I really liked this novel.
July 22, 2018
*Warning: Review contains mild spoilers*
I'm not a big fan of the current trend in suspense novels to focus on a big, shocking twist at the end, especially as it often seems like other important elements, such as plausible plotting or complexity of character development, are neglected. When it works, it's a lot of fun, but if the twist doesn't work for me, then the whole book is disappointing.
For the twist to work, in my opinion, two things have to happen:
1. It has to be a surprise; and
2. It has to feel inevitable, given the personalities of the characters and the consequence of their choices up to that point.
This book achieved neither. I guessed the main part of the twist pretty early . On top of that, I just didn't think the story was constructed that well.
Here's the mild spoiler: the "twist" occurs because the narrator, Libby, is not telling us the full story about her past. For this device to work for me, the author has to establish the reasons why the character is an unreliable narrator--either due to the narrator's not understanding or remembering events correctly (thus the twist is a surprise to the character as well), or because the author has set up the reader as the character's imaginary interlocutor, and the character is lying. Gillian Flynn is great at the latter approach, and Agatha Christie pulled it off to great aplomb as well.
Last Seen Alive employs neither of these devices. Libby isn't confused, and she's not lying to the reader. The book is written in first person present tense, so supposedly we are experiencing everything in Libby's head, in real time, as it occurs. Libby occasionally thinks about how she wonders if "what happened in Thailand" is behind the current strange events, or worries about what would happen if people knew, but she never spells it out. I find this approach to be disingenous--the way it's written, if the character knows, we should know, because we are in her head and she's not lying to herself, but the author just skirts over those events so she can yell "Surprise!" when they are unveiled at the ending. (Another book I've read this year, The Wife by Alafair Burke, used this same approach. I didn't like it either.)
Even leaving that issue beside, the story is just so cumbersome and implausible that it was hard to make myself believe people would actually make such stupid decisions, beginning with agreeing to a "house swap" with a complete stranger who leaves a note in your mailbox, and then leaving all your private financial papers unsecured while said strangers occupy your flat.
Oh, and my final gripe with the book: the dog dies. I don't care how many human characters an author wants to slaughter before the end of the story, but leave the animals alone!
I'm not a big fan of the current trend in suspense novels to focus on a big, shocking twist at the end, especially as it often seems like other important elements, such as plausible plotting or complexity of character development, are neglected. When it works, it's a lot of fun, but if the twist doesn't work for me, then the whole book is disappointing.
For the twist to work, in my opinion, two things have to happen:
1. It has to be a surprise; and
2. It has to feel inevitable, given the personalities of the characters and the consequence of their choices up to that point.
This book achieved neither. I guessed the main part of the twist pretty early . On top of that, I just didn't think the story was constructed that well.
Here's the mild spoiler: the "twist" occurs because the narrator, Libby, is not telling us the full story about her past. For this device to work for me, the author has to establish the reasons why the character is an unreliable narrator--either due to the narrator's not understanding or remembering events correctly (thus the twist is a surprise to the character as well), or because the author has set up the reader as the character's imaginary interlocutor, and the character is lying. Gillian Flynn is great at the latter approach, and Agatha Christie pulled it off to great aplomb as well.
Last Seen Alive employs neither of these devices. Libby isn't confused, and she's not lying to the reader. The book is written in first person present tense, so supposedly we are experiencing everything in Libby's head, in real time, as it occurs. Libby occasionally thinks about how she wonders if "what happened in Thailand" is behind the current strange events, or worries about what would happen if people knew, but she never spells it out. I find this approach to be disingenous--the way it's written, if the character knows, we should know, because we are in her head and she's not lying to herself, but the author just skirts over those events so she can yell "Surprise!" when they are unveiled at the ending. (Another book I've read this year, The Wife by Alafair Burke, used this same approach. I didn't like it either.)
Even leaving that issue beside, the story is just so cumbersome and implausible that it was hard to make myself believe people would actually make such stupid decisions, beginning with agreeing to a "house swap" with a complete stranger who leaves a note in your mailbox, and then leaving all your private financial papers unsecured while said strangers occupy your flat.
Oh, and my final gripe with the book: the dog dies. I don't care how many human characters an author wants to slaughter before the end of the story, but leave the animals alone!
August 1, 2023
Ciekawa książka, której obrotu spraw zupełnie się nie spodziewałam - dobry thriller!:)
April 3, 2018
The story opens with a prologue of a woman who has just killed her husband and, before then taking us to Cornwall where we meet Libby and Jamie. They have just arrived at the place in the Cornish coast. This has come about as a house swap with the other couple Phillip and Tara Heywood using their flat in Bath. It doesn’t seem a fair exchange but Phillip had said they needed to be in Bath to be near the hospital for their daughter. Libby, who had recently become famous after saving children from fire at the school, suffered a miscarriage in the process. Those facts and others, especially Jamie’s ongoing friendship with his ex-girlfriend Hannah, have affected their marriage. And Jamie’s family don’t help matters by always including Hannah in their lives, as though she is part of the family. But disturbing discoveries and events ensure the holiday in Cornwall turns out to be anything but the time of peace and respite they are craving.
Although this started off intriguing enough I founds after a while I was getting a bit bored with it, especially once the story moved back in time to Thailand and events that happened none year earlier. The longer the story went on the less enthusiastic I became about it. This could be largely be because none of the characters, with the exception of Libby’s neighbour Evelyn, are likeable and events started to appear more contrived. The whole house swap and the way it came about never sounded convincing to me. As for the ending it fell flat.
I’m beginning to think me and what are usually termed psychological thrillers are not a good fit. I often end up feeling negative and responding differently to many other readers this was no exception. Yet I am equally sure there are going to be plenty of people out there who will love this book and find it gripping but I struggled to suspend disbelief much of the time. The characters and certain aspects of the plot did not convince me.
Although this started off intriguing enough I founds after a while I was getting a bit bored with it, especially once the story moved back in time to Thailand and events that happened none year earlier. The longer the story went on the less enthusiastic I became about it. This could be largely be because none of the characters, with the exception of Libby’s neighbour Evelyn, are likeable and events started to appear more contrived. The whole house swap and the way it came about never sounded convincing to me. As for the ending it fell flat.
I’m beginning to think me and what are usually termed psychological thrillers are not a good fit. I often end up feeling negative and responding differently to many other readers this was no exception. Yet I am equally sure there are going to be plenty of people out there who will love this book and find it gripping but I struggled to suspend disbelief much of the time. The characters and certain aspects of the plot did not convince me.
September 8, 2017
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from netgalley
I was also recommended this book by a friend. And it didn't disappoint!
I absolutely didn't see the twists coming in this book. And found myself re-reading sections to understand what was going on as the twists were so huge!!
Well worth a read!
I was also recommended this book by a friend. And it didn't disappoint!
I absolutely didn't see the twists coming in this book. And found myself re-reading sections to understand what was going on as the twists were so huge!!
Well worth a read!
December 21, 2023
Such an intriguing book. Literally confused me between Libby and Beth like 18 times. But once you get it sorted in your head it's pretty shocking. I loved the twists and turns. The ending shocked me! Such a good read.
January 19, 2022
My rating really comes down to my enjoyment of the book, and I just didn't enjoy it.
I do like a slow burn, but this book took forever to get going and the plot wasn't nearly as interesting as I expected it to be. A big driving factor in my disinterest was the characters. They were all so vanilla. I just finished reading this and character details are already hazy.
I also found the ending to be a bit OTT. It felt like Douglas threw in twists for the sake of having twists without having them make sense. That's just a personal pet peeve of mine. I would rather have a straightforward (even predictable) story with cohesion rather than have an explosive twist that doesn't fit and makes the whole book feel off kilter.
These are my opinions. If you're a fan of the writer's other work, by all means give this one a try.
I have read one other book by Douglas and enjoyed it. I'll definitely be reading more from her in the future.
I do like a slow burn, but this book took forever to get going and the plot wasn't nearly as interesting as I expected it to be. A big driving factor in my disinterest was the characters. They were all so vanilla. I just finished reading this and character details are already hazy.
I also found the ending to be a bit OTT. It felt like Douglas threw in twists for the sake of having twists without having them make sense. That's just a personal pet peeve of mine. I would rather have a straightforward (even predictable) story with cohesion rather than have an explosive twist that doesn't fit and makes the whole book feel off kilter.
These are my opinions. If you're a fan of the writer's other work, by all means give this one a try.
I have read one other book by Douglas and enjoyed it. I'll definitely be reading more from her in the future.
July 26, 2017
4.5* --> 5*
Libby and her husband Jamie have had a rough couple of months. So when a leaflet drops into their letter box offering a house swap, they jump at the chance to swap their flat in Bath for a house by the sea in Cornwall. But things don’t quite turn out as expected and even upon their return home, it’s obvious there’s something sinister going on.
First, let me say I’m incredibly wary of the whole house swapping thing that’s been going on the past few years and I would never even consider the thought of having a bunch of strangers loose in my home. And most definitely not based on a flyer in my letter box! You’d think Libby and Jamie would consider that just a liiiiitle bit suspicious. But no, they’re all for it.
Libby has some issues and I really enjoyed trying to figure out if she was a reliable narrator or not. Is she imagining things and terribly paranoid? Or not? Her husband Jamie got on my nerves like whoa and I became increasingly suspicious about his behaviour. With lies and secrets seemingly around every corner, this will keep you guessing all the way. As often happens in this genre, things aren’t what they seem and this brilliantly crafted and gripping plot has some fantastic twists. If you think those will leave you spinning, just wait until you get to the end which is positively fabulous!
This is the third novel I’ve read by Claire Douglas and I think this is her best one yet! I may even go as far as to say I’m adding her to my list of go-to authors.
Libby and her husband Jamie have had a rough couple of months. So when a leaflet drops into their letter box offering a house swap, they jump at the chance to swap their flat in Bath for a house by the sea in Cornwall. But things don’t quite turn out as expected and even upon their return home, it’s obvious there’s something sinister going on.
First, let me say I’m incredibly wary of the whole house swapping thing that’s been going on the past few years and I would never even consider the thought of having a bunch of strangers loose in my home. And most definitely not based on a flyer in my letter box! You’d think Libby and Jamie would consider that just a liiiiitle bit suspicious. But no, they’re all for it.
Libby has some issues and I really enjoyed trying to figure out if she was a reliable narrator or not. Is she imagining things and terribly paranoid? Or not? Her husband Jamie got on my nerves like whoa and I became increasingly suspicious about his behaviour. With lies and secrets seemingly around every corner, this will keep you guessing all the way. As often happens in this genre, things aren’t what they seem and this brilliantly crafted and gripping plot has some fantastic twists. If you think those will leave you spinning, just wait until you get to the end which is positively fabulous!
This is the third novel I’ve read by Claire Douglas and I think this is her best one yet! I may even go as far as to say I’m adding her to my list of go-to authors.
August 10, 2017
I really loved this tense, eerie story of a house-swap gone wrong. The characters are great to read about, with Libby herself seeming a reliable narrator but there are points in the story where I wondered if everything she was saying was true, and the same with her husband Jamie. Everyone seems to be hiding something, but does it have anything to do with the strange occurrences at the house in Cornwall?
The novel had me feeling a bit ‘creeped out’ at times – something I don’t often feel whilst reading books - and I could imagine being in their situation and how it might make me feel, especially if my partner thought I was being a little highly strung about it. The tension builds as the story continues, and I don’t want to give too much away but there are some serious ‘Oh my god’ moments that I did NOT see coming – at all! It left me reeling and I finished the book feeling really impressed with the writing, the depth and intricacies of the storyline, and the surprises along the way! Highly recommended.
Book reviews and more on www.snazzybooks.com
Many thanks to Penguin (Michael Joseph) and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write and honest and unbiased review.
The novel had me feeling a bit ‘creeped out’ at times – something I don’t often feel whilst reading books - and I could imagine being in their situation and how it might make me feel, especially if my partner thought I was being a little highly strung about it. The tension builds as the story continues, and I don’t want to give too much away but there are some serious ‘Oh my god’ moments that I did NOT see coming – at all! It left me reeling and I finished the book feeling really impressed with the writing, the depth and intricacies of the storyline, and the surprises along the way! Highly recommended.
Book reviews and more on www.snazzybooks.com
Many thanks to Penguin (Michael Joseph) and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write and honest and unbiased review.
November 11, 2017
More like 3.5 stars really.
Romped through this really quickly - it was immediately captivating. Told in 3 parts - part 1 taking over half the book, in the first person in chronological order, I was sucked right into Libby's fear/paranoia, and never knowing whether she was a reliable narrator was wonderfully haunting.
A little suspension of disbelief helped towards the end, which is fine, and I was rooting for Libby throughout. Recommended as a creepy, gripping twisty saga.
This is my third Claire Douglas book and each has improved on the previous. Now looking forward to her next.
My rating strategy:
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some good points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
Romped through this really quickly - it was immediately captivating. Told in 3 parts - part 1 taking over half the book, in the first person in chronological order, I was sucked right into Libby's fear/paranoia, and never knowing whether she was a reliable narrator was wonderfully haunting.
A little suspension of disbelief helped towards the end, which is fine, and I was rooting for Libby throughout. Recommended as a creepy, gripping twisty saga.
This is my third Claire Douglas book and each has improved on the previous. Now looking forward to her next.
My rating strategy:
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some good points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
November 24, 2020
Młode małżeństwo po przejściach, kobieta, która musi pogodzić się ze stratą dziecka, wypad, który ma wprowadzić choć trochę równowagi, trochę harmonii... A wtedy wszystko obraca się do góry nogami i niczego już nie można być pewnym, bo zagrożenie czyha z każdej możliwej strony. "Odwet" zaczyna się niczym niepozorna rodzinna historia, by przekształcić się w walkę na śmierć i życie.
Z początku można odnieść wrażenie, że dokładnie wiemy w jakim kierunku zaprowadzi nas fabuła, jakie zakręty fabularne czekają po drodze i jaki finał zaserwuje autorka. Jednak Claire Douglas całkowicie potrząsnęła światem swojej bohaterki w taki sposób, że trudno było przewidzieć taki obrót sprawy.
W "Odwecie" poraża rzeczywista, bardzo życiowa atmosfera osaczenia – grunt obsuwa się bohaterom spod nóg, los podkłada kolejne kłody, a wtedy powraca przeszłość, by wbić ostateczną szpilę prosto w najczulszy punkt i rozbić wszystko w drobny mak. W "Odwecie" warto również zwrócić uwagę na bardzo konkretnie zarysowane lokacje, które ograniczone są tutaj do minimum. Przed czytelnikiem niemal sceniczne opisy kolejnych miejsc, jak tajemniczy, rozległy dom nad morzem, mieszkanko w Bath czy tajskie plaże. Każda z kolejnych scen rysuje się niemal żywcem przed oczami i pozwala wczuć się w klimat tej wspaniałej, filmowo-serialowej historii. A fabularny, niespodziewany twist jest już tylko wisienką na torcie.
Miłośnicy literatury gatunkowej będą zadowoleni!
Z początku można odnieść wrażenie, że dokładnie wiemy w jakim kierunku zaprowadzi nas fabuła, jakie zakręty fabularne czekają po drodze i jaki finał zaserwuje autorka. Jednak Claire Douglas całkowicie potrząsnęła światem swojej bohaterki w taki sposób, że trudno było przewidzieć taki obrót sprawy.
W "Odwecie" poraża rzeczywista, bardzo życiowa atmosfera osaczenia – grunt obsuwa się bohaterom spod nóg, los podkłada kolejne kłody, a wtedy powraca przeszłość, by wbić ostateczną szpilę prosto w najczulszy punkt i rozbić wszystko w drobny mak. W "Odwecie" warto również zwrócić uwagę na bardzo konkretnie zarysowane lokacje, które ograniczone są tutaj do minimum. Przed czytelnikiem niemal sceniczne opisy kolejnych miejsc, jak tajemniczy, rozległy dom nad morzem, mieszkanko w Bath czy tajskie plaże. Każda z kolejnych scen rysuje się niemal żywcem przed oczami i pozwala wczuć się w klimat tej wspaniałej, filmowo-serialowej historii. A fabularny, niespodziewany twist jest już tylko wisienką na torcie.
Miłośnicy literatury gatunkowej będą zadowoleni!
January 13, 2018
This book boasts one of the least likeable main characters I’ve come across in a long time - and I’ve read a book in which the lead character was Hitler, so there’s some stiff competition.
Plot-wise, there are some decent ideas here about how AirBnB type arrangements could go hideously wrong but these are strangled at birth by the book’s plodding pace and focus on lead character Libby’s dismal thought processes.
Character wise there’s nothing new to be seen - a familiar cast of the Overbearing Mother-in-Law, the Supportive Husband (who exists only to be Supportive to his terrible wife), and The Lonely Old Lady (because what other kind of old lady is there?) assemble to trudge inevitably through their predictable arcs.
Libby relates to each with varying degrees paranoia and judgment, sucking the life out of every page she appears on. And she appears on nearly every page. Every. Fucking. Page.
We are supposed to relate to her due to a recent Traumatic Event; however, the woman is so draining that even when she is entirely right about pending danger, you still just wish her husband would tell her to shut up. He, being a bit of a doormat (or just really underwritten), supports her supportively like a supportive husband should. I’d have locked her in the basement personally, but then, we all have different ways of dealing with difficult people. At one point she suspects her husband of having an affair and you’re more on his side than hers.
Midway through the book goes off the Cliff of Credibility, sails over Far-Fetched Canyon, and lands in You’re Insulting The Reader’s Intelligence Now Valley. My credulity ran out at roughly the same time as my patience.
Ah well, at least it was cheap.
Plot-wise, there are some decent ideas here about how AirBnB type arrangements could go hideously wrong but these are strangled at birth by the book’s plodding pace and focus on lead character Libby’s dismal thought processes.
Character wise there’s nothing new to be seen - a familiar cast of the Overbearing Mother-in-Law, the Supportive Husband (who exists only to be Supportive to his terrible wife), and The Lonely Old Lady (because what other kind of old lady is there?) assemble to trudge inevitably through their predictable arcs.
Libby relates to each with varying degrees paranoia and judgment, sucking the life out of every page she appears on. And she appears on nearly every page. Every. Fucking. Page.
We are supposed to relate to her due to a recent Traumatic Event; however, the woman is so draining that even when she is entirely right about pending danger, you still just wish her husband would tell her to shut up. He, being a bit of a doormat (or just really underwritten), supports her supportively like a supportive husband should. I’d have locked her in the basement personally, but then, we all have different ways of dealing with difficult people. At one point she suspects her husband of having an affair and you’re more on his side than hers.
Midway through the book goes off the Cliff of Credibility, sails over Far-Fetched Canyon, and lands in You’re Insulting The Reader’s Intelligence Now Valley. My credulity ran out at roughly the same time as my patience.
Ah well, at least it was cheap.
September 13, 2017
I'm so confused by the 4 star average? I should have gone with my initial thoughts and abandoned ship at the start. It was only for the fact a friend had recommended it that I carried on. Firstly, a house swap? With people you've never met? Via a flyer through the letter box!? Really!? Come on, that would never happen. I just found the story snail paced and not gripping at all. I couldn't connect with the characters, well I tell a lie, the best character was the dog and he gets killed off! The Thailand part got a tad better but then it went downhill again. The whole identity thing was bullshit. So the real 'Beth' moved and lived in Spain for years with what? No identity? I've given it 2 stars because I finished it but it's more a 1.5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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