Last Seen Alone is another absorbing romantic suspense by Laura Griffin. This is a police procedural with two awesome main characters.

Leigh and Brandon are both independent, headstrong people who are very realistic because they are three-dimensional. Leigh is an attorney who specializes in sexual extortion, harassment, and online abuse. Brandon is a homicide detective. Both of them are determined and courageous enough to solve their cases in any way they can, no matter how dangerous it may be.

Both Leigh and Brandon are strongly attracted to each other immediately. Their chemistry is so strong that they cannot stay away from each other. I love that their passion is mixed with strong respect and kindness toward each other.

Ms. Griffin skillfully writes a complex plot with many twist and turns. The villain is cruel and uncaring with no conscience. In spite of Brandon’s disapproval, Leigh cannot stay out of the situation. Therefore, the two of them, both together and separately, search in great earnest for the solution to the problem.

This story will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat. It is so exciting that I never wanted it to end. However, because it was so absorbing, I couldn’t put the book down, it ended way too soon!

The rain pelted the sidewalk has it came down in torrents. The darkness of the night sky added an eeriness that had her on edge. Something sinister was in the air tonight and it made her arms prickle with goosebumps as she locked up her office. The case she was working had her jumpy and anxious, more than she had been on any of her other cases. There was someone out there, a dangerous someone, and her client wasn’t his only target.

Last Seen Alone gripped me at first. A missing girl, blood in the woods… all great leads for a fast-paced thriller. I was intrigued! But then the middle took an odd romantic turn and I just didn’t like it. It was awkward and honestly took away from the case that was being investigated. You almost forget that there is a missing girl and multiple suspects. The ending brought it back around for me as the focus turned back to the case and a lot of action kept my heart racing.

I liked getting the dual perspective between Lee, a lawyer, and Brandon, a detective, but I honestly didn’t care deeply about either of those characters. Brandon was arrogant, and Lee was beyond nosy and annoying to me.

Anyway, the thriller parts (first third and last third of the book) are what really made this book for me. The audio was pretty good as well.

If you like thrillers with a romantic plot then this book may be right up your alley!

Last Seen Alone is a romantic suspense novel by Laura Griffin. This is my 3rd book that I’ve read by Griffin.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
While I really enjoy all her books (solving crimes & falling in love 🙌🏼), I found myself annoyed with the heroines Last Seen Alone. Don’t get me wrong, the storyline was very good but the heroine kept putting herself in dangerous situations that could have been avoided if she would have just trusted the detective that she was supposedly falling for 🤔
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Do I still think you should read it? Yes. There’s still a lot this story has to offer and the case they are solving is quite interesting.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked this book! The story was gripping and definitely a page turner. I loved Leigh and Brandon so much. I will definitely be reading more from Laura Griffin.

This is my third book to read by Laura Griffin and it won't be my last. Griffin is quickly becoming an author of mine that I will read whatever she rights. All three of the books that I have read are police mystery. This is a stand alone novel.

Leigh is an attorney for those we are victims of online harassment, vindictive and or violent exes, and assault. I won't give a bunch of details or a big summary because others have done that and I don't want to give anything away.

Griffin's writing is solid. In all three of her books, there has been an interesting unusual aspect to the mystery that adds to the story. These in no way are super heavy thrillers. They won't leave you awake at night or at least didn't me. This is a bit darker than I would consider a beach read but still a quick read with some romance.

Griffin is a master of the genre and the Queen of Romantic Suspense does it again, this time with a chilling thriller that features every woman’s nightmare, a sexual predator. The mystery is clever, the case is a conundrum and the way Griffin gets to the bottom of it needs reader’s full attention or they may just miss the clue that leads them to the payday. The characters are fabulous and her audience will have a hard time picking a favorite between Leigh and Brandon who are both brilliant but there are also some great secondary players who are imperative to the story. Fans of this exceptional author, of women’s fiction, romantic suspense or the works by Lisa Gardner and Sandra Brown will stay up all night to finish this unputdownable novel.

Detective Brandon Reynolds latest case is very puzzling, an abandoned car and a puddle of blood seems to indicate a homicide but with no body in sight he’s forced to call Vanessa Adams a missing person. There is one clue, the business card of an attorney found in the missing woman’s car and Brandon hopes this Leigh Larson can shed some light on his case.

Leigh traded her very lucrative position with a prominent Austin law firm to partner in a small firm that focuses on getting the scum bags who hurt woman off the streets. When one of those women, a recent client turns up missing and presumed dead she and the very determined and very handsome detective assigned to the case lock horns on her wanting to take an active role in the case.

Brandon thinks Leigh is a mystery and Leigh thinks Brandon is an open book and as the case progresses and they’re pushing each other’s buttons they’re also slowly accepting the fact that they are strongly attracted to one another even with serious trust issues on both sides.

Last Seen Alone is an intriguing and fast paced story that I found impossible to put down. This gritty story held me spellbound as I was trying to figure out what direction the story would take and it kept me guessing until the very end.

Brandon, a detective, is investigating a case of a missing woman when he meets Leigh, an attorney. At first, Brandon and Leigh try to fight the sizzling chemistry flowing between them. They are working on an important case and don’t have time for relationships. Plus, they don’t trust each other and are hesitant to share information about the case with each other. However, as time goes on and they are constantly thrown together, they find it impossible to resist each other.

I was biting my nails while reading this riveting story trying to figure out who was guilty, right along with Brandon and Leigh. Time is of the essence, but everything is getting in the way of understanding what is really going on.

This compelling story has just the right mixture of suspense and romance. It is an interesting and realistic story with characters that are layered and easy to connect with. It took me on an unexpected journey and I loved every minute of it. I love trying to figure out where the story is going, but this plot was so intricately woven I never knew what to expect. Unexpected, wonderful and well worth reading.

Griffin can always be counted on for solid suspense and this is no different. Her female characters are always highly intelligent and can hold their own in any situation. This novel is less intense than some of her previous, but still highly entertaining.

I've enjoyed some of Laura Griffin's other romantic suspense books, I had high hopes I would enjoy Last Seen Alone too. I can't put my finger on it, but I didn't feel invested in the story. I started this last month and tried to read it a few different times with no luck. I may try again at a later point, but for now it's a DNF

Last Seen Alone is a journey. A lawyer and a detective meet in a bar...It's the not beginning of a joke. I really enjoyed the plot of this book for sure and other romantic suspense fans will as well.

Leigh and Brandon have an interesting play by play. They both want to find Vanessa, but they are wary of working together. There is the attraction for sure and it kind of slowly simmers as the story builds. The plot is what really drives the story. Brandon and Leigh are determined to find what happened to Vanessa and unravel why she was so scared. Leigh's law practice deals heavily revenge porn, stalking, and other like crimes so many of her clients have good reason to be scared. My biggest issue with the story was Leigh's butting into the crime. She is a brilliant woman who had some "too stupid to live" behavior at times. It wasn't bravery she displayed and that was a bit irritating.

Last Seen Alone is a slow burn romance with a mystery woven throughout that will have you wondering what happened to Vanessa and why.

Thank you to @berkleyromance for a copy of the book. I was intrigued by Vanessa’s disappearance and the story kept me guessing. I enjoyed Leigh’s back story and how she came about what she does for a living and how she got wrapped up with Vanessa. I love how Brandon and Leigh tried so hard to fight their attraction to each other but just could not resist.

A very enjoyable, suspense filled who-done-it with a little romance thrown in. I don't know if I could've asked for anything more from this book.

I totally fell for the characters in this book. I am hoping this ends up being a series. I wouldn't mind more from these characters. And I wouldn't mind seeing where their relationship goes. Although I do feel like there is a set-up in the book for Leigh's sister and Brandon's partner. That was pretty obvious.

I couldn't put this one down. It's been a while since I read a book so fast. Between my exhaustion from work and partial disinterest in reading lately, books have been taking me forever to read. However, I was so into this book, I found myself wanting the book to never end.

Great characters. Engaging plot. Page-turning suspense. I highly recommend this book.

2.5 Stars

“With every hour that ticked by, the benign explanations-Vanessa had had car trouble and hitched a ride to a friend’s, she’d called an Uber, she’d gone away with a boyfriend- were becoming more and more implausible. What was becoming clear to her sister, and had been clear to Brandon the moment he saw that the passenger door hanging open, was that something unexpected, and unexpectedly bad, had happened to Vanessa on that highway.”

Vanessa Adam’s car is found abandoned on the side of the highway, but she is nowhere in sight. What happened that made her flee her car fearing for her safety? Was she running from someone? If she was, who was it? These are all questions that Austin homicide detective Brandon Reynolds has to find out the answers to, but Vanessa’s attorney, Leigh Larson, keeps interfering in his case and his life. Can they find out what happened to Vanessa together before it’s too late?

I’m frustrated with this book. I spent eight days reading it. Yes, you read that right. Eight days. That is unheard of when I am reading. What was the problem you ask? Nothing was happening. Sure, there were words on the page, but no action and no chemistry. Just nothing. I kept waiting for something to happen, but as a reader you were left in limbo until the last 75 percent. Is she alive? Is she dead? What is going on? At that point I was not invested anymore in figuring out the mystery of what really happened to Vanessa.

Another thing that I had trouble with was that Brandon and Leigh as a couple do not make sense on page together. I think the author tried too hard to pair up a hero who is guarded and extremely stoic with a heroine who is uncommonly aggressive and confident, but it didn’t work. Brandon cuts off any conversation with Leigh after about five sentences. So, I never actually bought the emotional connection between them. It almost felt like they were attracted to each other because of the danger, and not because they really knew or liked the other person.

I think that this book is well written, and if you are already a fan of romantic suspense authors like Nora Roberts and Pamela Clare then this story might hit all the beats for you.

~ Michelle

Laura Griffin is quickly becoming my go-to author for romantic suspense and mystery. I enjoyed the sneak peek of Last Seen Alone at the end of Flight and couldn’t wait to get my hand on this story.

Brandon is an Austin police detective who catches an unusual missing persons case and immediately believes it to be a murder. The only problem is there is no body.

Leigh is an attorney who specializes in cyberstalking and revenge cases. Her client turns out to be the missing person involved in Brandon’s case, which puts her on his radar.

Although Brandon and Leigh are wary of working together, they are both concerned about their mutually missing person and as the search heats up, so does their relationship.

What I like about Laura Griffin’s writing is that she keeps the story moving at a quick pace, she develops the characters with plenty of backstory, and she keeps you guessing until the end of the book.

Brandon and Leigh have chemistry from their first meeting, but their case definitely takes priority. I enjoyed watching them verbally spar with one another, although Brandon’s patience with Leigh’s unnecessary risk-taking was far better than what mine would have been.

This story was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. It is fast-paced, engaging, and kept me guessing at when the big reveal would happen.

I highly recommend this and Laura Griffin’s other books (I have read Hidden and Flight) for fans of romantic suspense with mystery and action.

Usually, books featuring the police force leaves a sour taste in my mouth, but I enjoyed this book!

What could have been better?
I could have done with a little more romance and development of the two main characters relationship or if they just stuck to more action scenes. Sometimes, I feel like there were moments where it was just filler instead of substance.

What I enjoyed?
I think the author did an excellent job of pointing out how the law can fail people in many areas, namely women who suffer stalking, threats, and other forms of harassment. I loved the premise of a lawyer who takes on cases like these and fights for women when no one else can. I thought, the story was well developed and the story was an easy and fast read. It reminded me of an episode of Law and Order: SVU and I would definitely recommend this book who like crime thrillers with a touch of romance.

3.25/5

Vanessa Adams’ car is found in a wooded area, but there’s no sign of Vanessa. The only thing the police find are blood spots. Homicide detective, Brandon Reynolds, investigates. If this is an accident, where’s Vanessa? The blood spots indicate this could be a homicide. Brandon discovers Vanessa hired an attorney. He’s hoping to get some answers.

Leigh Larson’s law practice is mainly for victims of sexual extortion and harassment. She doesn’t recall much about Vanessa. In fact, she only met her once. Leigh is intrigued by the case and is determined to get some answers.

Leigh and Brandon work together to find Vanessa. They are met with more questions than answers. This case takes several twists they didn’t see coming. They, also, never saw their attraction to each other coming.

This is a fast-paced, action-filled drama with a steamy romance mixed in. It’s a police procedural filled with excitement from start to finish. I haven’t read many books by this author, but she has a new fan in me.



FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Suspense, romance and missing persons/homicide case delivered the perfect fall read. Grab a hot tea or pumpkin spice mocha and check out Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin for a satisfying read.

Austin homicide detective Brandon Reynolds is called to a scene involving an abandoned car on the side of the road. Inside are the belongings of Vanessa Adams and a blood. A search of the woods turns up a pool of blood. In the car’s ashtray, Reynolds finds a card for Leigh Larson, an attorney who fights for the victims of sexual extortion, harassment, and online abuse. Both begin investigating separately and the tale that unfolds delivered from suspense to undeniable chemistry.

I love wicked banter and the dance Detective Reynolds and Leigh begin as she shares her skills and he balks are her interfering with his case. However, both are invested in finding the truth, and I loved how Leigh uncovered clues faster than Brandon…it made for some interesting conversations. As Brandon predicted, Leigh soon finds herself in danger.

Griffin knows how to spin a tale and pull her readers in. Clues, twists and the side dish of romance are perfectly balanced with an air of believability. She touches on relevant issues concerns stalking, men in power, and sexual harassment. Leigh’s personal story was well done, as was Vanessa’s. Griffin laid the blame where it belonged and highlighted the lack of laws to protect against such acts.

I liked both Brandon and Leigh. Both are dedicated to their professions and the people they protect. Their chemistry and interactions felt genuine and the sexual tension built into a frenzy of passion.

If you are looking for a read that will pull you in and hold you until the end, you won’t want to miss Last Seen Alone. Perfect for fans of well done romantic suspense.

In this stand alone romantic suspense, Laura Griffin gives us one her trademark twisty mystery set in the heart of Austin (which almost serves as another character). When one of attorney Leigh Larson's almost clients, Vanessa Adams, turns up missing leaving behind one of Leigh's business cards, she's convinced it must have something to do with the issue the woman consulted her about. Soon Leigh and Austin PD detective are trying to figure out whether Vanessa is even still alive and if not, who had reason to harm her. Once again Griffin mixes a page turning mystery with steamy romance to deliver my personal catnip of choice that had me reading this one in almost one sitting.

There are some things that deserve trigger warnings, including sexual assault, revenge porn and violence against women in general. There is, however, a promise of justice for an issue that in real life all too often ends up in frustration. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back to this genre. Real life often disappoints but in fiction, the bad guys get their just deserts.

Attorney Leigh Larson isn't afraid to go after all the sleazy targets extorting her clients. Austin homicide detective Brandon Reynolds is facing an unusual crime scene where a pool of blood suggests murder, but the body is missing. The car nearby is registered to the presumed victim, with only a smear of blood and a business card for Leigh Larson. The two now must work together to chase down a ruthless criminal who is out for vengeance.

Leigh definitely goes above and beyond for her clients and gets so drawn into Vanessa's disappearance that she puts herself at risk. At the same time, she was right when she told Brandon that some people are more willing to talk with a lawyer than with a police officer. The two of them try to share information without compromising their professional codes of ethics, which I appreciated seeing. When they do begin a relationship, there is a push and pull of attraction and the need to protect their careers as well as each others' safety. They're both good people, which puts them into difficult situations when the disappearance and possible homicide veers off into entirely new territory. It was not a direction I expected from the start of the story but made perfect sense.

I was completely enthralled with the thriller aspect of this romantic thriller, but Leigh and Brandon do have great chemistry. The relationship they build runs counterpoint to the one they uncover that Vanessa had in the past, and they are able to talk through the conflicts they have and what their needs are. Both acknowledge messy romantic pasts and that they're driven professionals. They respect that about each other and want to put in the work to make their relationship a real one. I appreciated that and how well they worked together to bring the novel to a satisfying conclusion.

Last Seen Alone is listed as one of Laura Griffin’s rare stand-alone romantic suspense novels. The story of a missing woman, her devoted attorney and the cop determined to see justice done, it’s a lovely book that will be sure to please fans of the genre.

Brandon Reynolds has been a homicide detective in Austin, TX long enough to be resigned to working in the wee hours of the morning. But he’s rarely called to deserted cars in remote areas and wouldn’t have been called to this one if it weren’t for the blood smear found on the door handle and the pool of blood discovered near the vehicle. It’s clear a violent altercation took place, possibly even a homicide. A look at the license and registration left behind shows the automobile belongs to twenty-six-year-old Vanessa Adams but there is no sign of her in the vicinity. The only clue the car yields that might indicate what happened is a business card for Leigh Larson, attorney-at-law.

Leigh is dangerously close to being in contempt of court and has only moments to make it through the security screening process, up the stairs and into the room where the judge presiding over her case is waiting, so the last thing she needs is to be chatted up by a pesky detective looking for information. She brushes Brandon off, assuring him Vanessa is not a client and makes it to the hearing with only seconds to spare. She wasn’t, however, completely honest with Detective Reynolds. Vanessa Adams isn’t a client – she never hired Leigh. But they had met to discuss the possibility.

Leigh is used to being hyper-protective of the women who visit her office. It’s not just an issue of attorney-client privilege; the nature of her work makes her leery of any man looking for those who seek her help. Her clients are victims of sexual harassment — women who have told men “no” and found themselves stalked, slandered, and bullied. Leigh doesn’t have anything against the police, but she knows there is little they can do for those in her care and that some of them are actually complicit in making the situation worse.

Leigh is deeply sorry that Vanessa has gone missing but since she was never hired, she has nothing to offer those searching for the lost woman. But when she gets back to her office and looks through the mail, a check and signed contract from Vanessa are sitting on her desk. What isn’t included is any information at all as to why the woman wanted to hire her. As Leigh pieces together the few hints she can derive from the short conversation she had with Vanessa and uses them to locate witnesses, an all too familiar picture begins to form. A portrait of a lovely young lady who’d fallen for the wrong man and just might have paid the ultimate price for that mistake. A man who might even now be hunting his next victim. A man Leigh is determined to see brought to justice.

Something I really enjoyed about this novel is how clearly the author shows the seriousness of sexual harassment/stalker situations. Ms. Griffin covers more than just the danger of being followed around by an angry man — she shows how lives can be ruined by intimate pictures/videos being uploaded to porn sites, the tricks stalkers use to flush their victims out of hiding, the threats made to their family and friends and the aftermath of dealing with such circumstances. While she never goes into gory details, she explains the intricacies involved well enough that the reader gets a clear, concise understanding of what is involved.

It helps to have that information juxtaposed with two people determined to see justice done for these women. Leigh is a fierce advocate for those she represents and handles their cases with a tremendous amount of compassion. She’s got a good heart, but she balances that by also having a good head. Leigh is careful to use legal channels to get her clients the help they need and to think through what she is doing/advising they do. She has strong protective instincts so it’s natural that she is attracted to Brandon, who takes the ideal of protect and serve very seriously and goes the extra mile to guard those around him. He has a bit of a gruff, stiff exterior but as he grows closer to and more open with Leigh, we see someone who is sensitive, playful and loving too.

The suspense portion of the plot does contain some violence; nothing is needlessly graphic but there are moments of nail-biting tension. The narrative has plenty of twists, turns and surprises to keep the reader guessing throughout and is sure to please those who enjoy their mysteries more intellectual than gory. Those used to the psychological thrillers so popular today might find the ending a bit mundane (the criminals are dangerous, deadly jerks but not the perverted, torturous villains of some of the darker books on the market) but it’s perfectly in keeping with the kind of story the author is telling.

The romance here is in the start-up phase. Brandon and Leigh meet at the beginning of the book and are attracted to each other right away. They interact a lot as they try to figure out what happened to Vanessa and that attraction grows. Brandon can be overly protective, wanting to guard Leigh from any possible harm, but Leigh makes it clear from the start she knows what she’s doing and while she will be careful, she won’t be sidelined. I liked the way this issue was resolved between them. While their relationship grows more intimate as the story progresses and it becomes clear they are deeply attached to each other, the story firmly ends at an HFN. They are together, have the commitment level of a seriously dating couple and that’s where we leave them.

I rarely say this but with Brandon and Leigh at HFN status and the mild flirtation/interest between Kate Morris, Vanessa’s sister, and Antonio Peňa, Brandon’s partner, unresolved, I hope we have a sequel. I would especially love to see what happens between Kate and Antonio. In fact, my only complaint regarding the story is that it offered us just enough of Kate and Antonio to get us interested in them but didn’t provide any closure.

Last Seen Alone is a well-executed romantic suspense story that is sure to please fans of the author. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Ms. Griffin’s work and those who enjoy RS in general.