Kendra Elliot can always be counted on for a suspenseful wild ride. Emily Mills father was murdered 30 years ago. Her whole family was torn apart. FBI Special Agent Zander Wells is called into this small Oregon town to investigate another murder similar to the one 20 years ago. Everyone in this small town is keeping secrets. This is actually the first book in this new series. We do see some of our favorite characters from previous books. I really would like to see more of Emily and Zander’s love story in future books.Overall another great mystery from one of my favorite authors.

THE LAST SISTER
BY KENDRA ELLIOT

This was a twist and turn roller coaster ride of history seemingly repeating itself from twenty years ago. For those who are in the mood for a good psychological thriller this is the perfect anecdote. I was wondering the whole time whose point of view I could trust. It ended up being a surprise to me who the murderer was. The FBI get involved and that added a whole new dimension to the story. Twenty years ago three sisters lose both their parents. The killer was sent to prison but was the guilty party who languished in jail really responsible in lieu of the eerily double murder that just happened?

This is my first book by Kendra Elliot but it won't be my last. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I had to read this one during the day. I would classify this as interesting characters with somewhat of a cameo appearance that I suspect came from her earlier novels. Although this one could be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I think I am going to go back and read them in order.

Thank you to Net Galley, Kendra Elliot and the Publisher for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

An intriguing murder mystery that is infused with secrets, lies, prejudice, danger and a hint of romance. A horrible murder brings back shades of the past for Emily Mills and her sister Madison. It also brings FBI detectives Zander Wells and Ava McLane to town, as they try to solve a murder that has its complex roots set in a murky past.
I enjoyed this suspenseful story that kept me guessing who the perpetrator was right up until the end. Both Zander and Emily are great characters, the plot is intriguing and the simmering attraction between them was great. The only thing I didn’t like was the way Zander crossed boundaries with Emily during the investigation. It seemed out of character for a seasoned FBI agent. The complex family dynamics, the mystery and the twists in the story definitely kept me entertained and I loved seeing characters from her other books make an appearance. Overall, a good start to the new series. I received an early copy of this book from Montlake Romance via NetGalley with no obligation to review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

A town full of secrets, lies and where no one is exactly as they seem. A multilayer fact paced mystery with a fantastic romantic storyline seamlessly woven in.

This book was a complete standalone that was had character crossover from one of Kendra’s other series which I have not read yet but I definitely will be now.

This year I discovered Kendra Elliot and it might be one of my best 2019 discoveries. I have enjoyed every one so far but this one is my favourite.

4 stars

This was my 1st book from this author and it was so good. I liked the writing and would never guessed who the culprit was. I know this was series until midway thru so you obviously don’t have to read any of the others before this one but I may just go back and read them now.

Twenty years ago Emily’s Father was murdered, hung from a tree. His killer is behind bars. Her Mother committed suicide days after her Fathers death, her older sister ran away and has never been heard from since. Now Emily comes on a gruesome scene. Her employee at the diner has been brutally murdered and her husband has been hung. Do the two events have any connection? The FBI has been brought in to investigate.

Emily was a child when her parents died and she begins to question her memories of the night her Father died. There are a lot of secrets in this town and the more we find out the more questions we have. There are all sorts of twists in this book, some I didn’t see coming. I couldn’t put this book down. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Fast-paced and plot twisting, The Last Sister is a great read. I did find it difficult to determine whether there are factual inconsistencies in the story or whether those inconsistencies are questions which were then left unexplained (no spoilers, so I cannot give too many details). Those factual questions aside, the story is great. The grammar needs work and there are areas of significant overuse and incorrect use of contractions. Repetitive turns of phrase and run on and incomplete sentence abound. This was the uncorrected proof, though, so I am hopeful most of the errors will be caught prior to publication.

Kendra Elliot has introduced FBI Special Agent Zander Wells who is working to investigate a gruesome double murder similar to one decades prior. Zander is working with FBI Special Agent Ava McLane (Of the Callahan and McLane series by the author),
Emily Mills discovered the murders while going to check on Lindsay Fitch, a waitress at the Barton Diner when she had not shown up for work. Once there she found Lindsay dead inside the house. Following a blood trail she found Sean, Lindsay’s husband and local teacher hanging from a backyard tree.
Sean’s murder has many similarities to the murder of her father many years prior. The story mostly focuses on Emily, Zander, and Emily’s sister Madison. A third sister left the area shortly after her father’s death and her current whereabouts are unknown.
This murder/suspense is well written and quite engaging as is the case in all of the author’s previous works. The locale is set in small town Bartonville, Oregon where everyone has known everyone else for years. All of these components including Emily’s three aunts who all live with Emily and her sister in the old Barton mansion, a once proud building of the town’s leading family until the lumber industry dried up. The three Barton sisters add lively color to the story.
This story can be read as a standalone without any need to refer to previous Callahan and McLane novels (although it is generally preferable to read a series in order).
I thank NetGalley and the author for providing an eArc for pre-publication independent review

Another well written suspense novel from Kendra Elliot. I like that the author brings in characters from her other novels. I love the connections from other books. I have read her previous books but it is not necessary for your enjoyment of this book. The suspense keeps you turning the pages and the characters keep you wanting the story to continue.

This book definitely kept me guessing until the end! Just when I thought I had if figured out, everything changed.
Good read!

The Last Sister begins with a murder scene and immediately catches the readers interest. This scene was stumbled upon by Emily, whose father was murdered in a similar manner over two decades ago. As the story unfolds more questions arise than answers.
Kendra Elliot has a way of building suspense. As I neared the end of this story I had to only read it during daytime hours because it put me on edge! The twists an unexpected turns led to a satisfying, and surprising, conclusion.

Emily lives in a mansion with her three great-aunts and her sister Madison. Tara the other sister disappeared on the night their father was hanged and their home burned to the ground.
Living is a small town has it's perks, everyone knows each other and it gives a feeling of family. Lately, though that feeling has gone awry. She has discovered the bodies of her friend and her friends husband. Her friend has been stabbed repeatedly and her husband has been hung from a tree.
The town has secrets. Secrets that possibly involve the klkk. Nobody wants to admit it but there is dark evil in this town. Hopefully the murderer or murderers will be found before someone is milled.
Great book, interesting storyline, strong likable characters!

Kendra Elliot is a master of the romantic suspense/thriller genre. Her books are compulsively readable and I always fly through the stories, unable to put it down once I start one of her novels.

Ava McLane & Zander Wells have been assigned to a case in a small coastal Oregon logging town after their supervisor received a call from Emily Mills, who discovered one of her employees and husband murdered and felt the investigation was being mishandled by local law enforcement. Upon arriving to town, Wells and McLane find that this tiny town may not be as sleepy as it appears. The crime they are investigating has some eerie similarities to the death of Emily Mills's father 20 years prior, but his convicted killer has been in prison for two decades. As the investigation unfolds, it appears that there are many secrets hidden in this little town.

The Last Sister is listed as Callahan & McLane book 5, but it is primarily focused on Ava McLane's partner, Zander Wells. It can easily be read as a standalone story, but fans of Kendra Elliot who have read her previous Callahn & McLane books and/or Bone Secrets series will appreciate cameos by previously featured characters.

Great suspense! Kendra definitely kept me on my toes. I read a lot and most times I know who did what by the middle of the book. Not this time! Keep them coming!!

Secrets, lies and more secrets abound in this story.. While not your usual story by Kendra Elliot, this is indeed a great read. I especially like the way the main characters were portrayed, I felt like I knew them .There were many twists and turns throughout the book that kept me interested and reading.

This book starts with a double homicide and proceeds to include a previous one thus spanning two decades. The plot is handled well and told through three perspectives. The pace is good though there was a slight dip in the middle. Overall a good one, tying up things neatly.

This book is listed as being book 5 in the ‘Callahan and McLane’ series but it felt to me more of a stand alone book, or as the first book in a new series. Yes, Ava McLane and Mason Callahan make make appearances here (along with a new other characters from Kendra Elliot books) but they are very small appearances. There isn’t really a need to read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one.
‘The Last Sister’ is all about Zander Wells, the FBI agent who is Ava McLane’s partner.
The agents are called in to investigate a horrific double homicide of a local teacher and his wife. Emily Mills’ discovers the bodies of her friends and is shocked with the murder scene, which is similar to how her father died 20 years earlier.
The loss of her father so violently all those years ago didn’t just affect Emily, it affected her whole family. Driving a wedge between her and her younger sister Madison and even making her older sister Tara flee their town and cut off all contact.
With the discovery of the new murders and the FBI investigation, secrets held closely by all 3 sisters start to come to the surface and attract the attention of the killer from 20 years ago.
‘The Last Sister’ is told from 3 different points of view: Zander, Emily and her sister Madison. This was a bit different, normally you get chapters from the perspective of the hero and heroine, maybe the killer. I wasn’t too sure why Madison was getting so much time dedicated to her in the story, unless it’s a set up for her to get her own book next.
I would classify this book under suspense/mystery. Maybe even psychological thriller. Not romantic suspense at all, even though that’s what Kendra Elliot is famous for.
It is romance light, I think there was one kiss in the entire book between Zander and Emily.
I love a good mystery/thriller and ‘The Last Sister’ didn’t disappoint. It had me guessing right up until the end. I would definitely read more books starring Zander any day. 4 stars from me.

This story kept me guessing and my assumptions were wrong. Love it when I have to keep guessing how it ends as long as possible.. Couple surprises to make it very interesting. I like the spunk of Emily and the electricity between her and FBI agent Zander. I like Zander's partner Ava and how she grounds him. In a small town of the Pacific coast of Oregon amidst the cold and damp weather a double murder scene is botched by a rookie deputy. The FBI steps in to assist the Sheriff in what could be a hate crime. Bodies old and new are piling up. Suicides that may not be suicides make them double down on their efforts to find the one responsible.. And it seems Emily, who discovered the bodies of the double murder of her friends, could be in the crosshairs next. Well worth the read. I have noted the previous books as I find this is book five! They are stand alone however, you can tell there is history to both Zander and Ava that I want to learn about I think this is one of her best series yet! I thank Kendra Elliot, NetGalley and Montlake Romance for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest opinion. I do recommend this book you will enjoy the diverse personalities of the characters.

Veteran Callahan & McClane fans rejoice! Zander Wells gets his story. While The Last Sister is listed as the fifth in the C & M series, it reads well as a stand-alone. The plot is well-developed with introduction to new cast and an intriguing criminal underpinning. As always, Elliot manages to weave just the right amount of romantic angst into the storyline to engage emotional attachment and keep things interesting. 4 stars.


Thank you to #NetGalley and #MontlakeRomance for this ARC. #TheLastSister was read and reviewed voluntarily by Tarrah Marie (@wayward_readers)

Unfortunately, I could not read the pdf on my e-reader because the font was too small.
Unfortunately, I could not read the pdf on my e-reader because the font was too small.