NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

We will be buddy reading Last One Out by Jane Harper. Everyone is welcome to join. We will discuss a start date in this thread.



From the New York Times bestselling author of Exiles and The Dry comes a captivating new novel set in a modern ghost town.

Carralon Ridge, a once vibrant village in rural New South Wales, has become a shell of itself, its houses and buildings bought up and left to rot by the mining company operating at its borders. A decade into its slow death, surrounded by industrial noise and swathed in thick layers of dust, the skeletal town is all but abandoned, with just a handful of residents clinging onto what remains.

After years of scorning those who left the Ridge behind as it fell into ruin, Ro never imagined she'd become one of them. But everything changed when she lost her son. Five years ago, Sam vanished while visiting during a break from college, leaving behind a rental car with his belongings inside. Sam had loved Carralon Ridge, and had been working on an oral history of the town to preserve its legacy before it vanished altogether. It wasn't long after his disappearance that the rest of the family began to crumble away too.

But when Ro returns to Carralon Ridge to be with her husband and daughter on the anniversary of Sam's disappearance, she begins to suspect that something important was overlooked in his case. Because while nothing can stop Carralon Ridge from dying, someone seems to want to make sure that its secrets die with it.

I have this one too! this is one of my favorite authors!! I have loved all her stories!

I think the original publish date - 10/2025 - is for US publication! I think that was either Australia or "everywhere but the US" publication date lol

lol, I bet you're right. I'm excited to read it. I also love all her books.

Any thoughts on a start date? I'm thinking maybe after Mad Mabel, around the 23rd of March?

Thoughts on a start date?

I started this one today. I'll probably be reading slowly because I'm on vacation and reading other books as well.

I made it to 10% today. So far, I'm enjoying it. We're just getting to know the characters and I'm interested in finding out what happened.

I will start this one as soon as I finish my current audiobook - tonight or tomorrow.

Oh good!

I made it to 15% today. It's been mostly setup so far, so it's a little slow. I'm hoping it will start to pick up now that we've been given all the background info.

I made it to 55% today. I'm enjoying the story, but once again I feel like it is being marketing wrong. It is definitely a slow build where you get to know all the characters in the town and not much happens in the first half of the book.

The blurb says that Ro "begins to suspect that something important was overlooked in his case," and that doesn't really happen until around the halfway point.

Plus, the last sentence of the blurb, "Because while nothing can stop Carralon Ridge from dying, someone seems to want to make sure that its secrets die with it," makes it sound like a thriller and so far that has definitely not been the case. I think this is one you need to go into not expecting a thriller, but something with a much slower build.

55% (view spoiler)[ I'm curious to find out what Sam's friends know. It seems like they at least have some information they never shared. (hide spoiler)]

I powered through this one over my lunch break today. I didn't love it. It's very slow and didn't hold my attention. By the time it picks up a bit in the second half, I had sort of lost interest in the story and the mystery.

my review

This the second NG in a row where I expected a thriller and it wasn't. At least the last one when I went back the blurb didn't really scream thriller, it was just the author. But with this one, they do make it sound like it's going to be a thriller and so far it's mostly been getting to know the town and the family dealing with their loss. I wish they'd market them better. People would enjoy the stories more if they got what they were expecting.

I'm hoping to start tomorrow, just have to get through my current audio (which is somehow taking me forever!)

Kristie wrote: "This the second NG in a row where I expected a thriller and it wasn't. At least the last one when I went back the blurb didn't really scream thriller, it was just the author. But with this one, the..."

Yes! It's been so frustrating. There are some things that I think can bring down a book that is a great read and this is a big one. I would also love if we'd stop calling every female MC thriller "the next Gone Girl" honestly.

Ha! I hated that when it was super popular. I didn't care for Gone Girl and every new book claimed to be the new Gone Girl, which was a negative for me! I'm glad it's at least less common now.

I agree though - marketing a book as the wrong genre is a sure fire way to get lower ratings. People have the wrong expectations for the book, so they are let down.

Have you been able to start yet, Trisha?

I made it to 74% today. (view spoiler)[ They are just finally starting to put some things together. I think Sam's friends know something. I think they saw / heard things they weren't supposed to with their drone. Curious to see how this all turns out. (hide spoiler)]

I finished!

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

finally started! I had a bunch of audiobooks that were expiring from the library (after my vacation) so I had to catch up on those before I lost them!

Phew, finally done and starting this one!

through 9 chapters / 27%

and I'm loving this.
I'm definitely not finding it to be a slow start - I'm completely sucked in!

(view spoiler)[
I can't even imagine searching for my child, especially so many years later with no answers. I feel like the sense of unease and foreboding is well done so far - I think the "ghost" feel of the town is creepy and well done too

I don't have any guesses about what happened to the son, yet. ugh, I can't even imagine. the depression, the people around him, the dying town, the friends, the school - there are just so many options here. but photos and drone footage is interesting!

I'm sad they are having to let the house go that so much happened in, since he lost the contract (even though I'm not someone who ties emotions to physical things! I move all the time! but I can't imagine leaving the house my lost child had last known. I don't know, it just feels so final - like they are giving up. Heartbreaking!)

I really love the narrator too! so well done.
(hide spoiler)]

So glad you're loving it, Trisha! I was engaged right away too. I think as long as you're not expecting an exciting edge-of-your-seat thriller you'll enjoy it. I loved the atmosphere.

Also, I agree the narrator was really good. She made it feel very authentic.

20 chapters / 55%

(view spoiler)[
I love how we're seeing the interviews again. interesting how she keeps circling her (ex?) husband's brother Damien and what he knows, since he was the last to see him

I hate that it definitely feels like the friends are holding something back. hopefully they are willing to talk now that it's been 5 years

the couple going through their son's things - heartbreaking. Ugh, that would be so hard. I don't know how you do it
(hide spoiler)]

done. I loved it. broke my heart when we learned all we needed to know. . .

So glad you loved it too!