3.5*

I’ve been a big fan of Laura Griffin throughout her career and have enjoyed most of her work. But, overall, I have enjoyed her Tracers series work consistently more than all her attempts to branch out from that series, which have felt fine but overall a bit underwhelming. LAST SEEN ALONE is no different: it has an interesting premise (young woman missing without a trace following a seemingly violent altercation) and the writing is tight and keeps the story moving at a nice clip, but overall it felt like a fine rather than awesome read. Alpha cop heroes can often cross the line to overbearingly protective and annoying (what woman in their right mind would want that forever??) but Brandon was refreshingly not an overbearing a-hole whilst still being protective, concerned for his love interest’s wellbeing, and understandably keen to punch the perpetrator when she gets hurt. Leigh I had more mixed feelings about: while I appreciate the passion and commitment she brings to her cases, there were definitely several TSTL moments that had me rolling my eyes. I know this is purely a matter of personal preference, but TSTL heroines--especially when they’re supposed to be highly intelligent and accomplished-- are a pet peeve of mine.

Overall, it was an interesting, entertaining way to pass an afternoon, but I wouldn’t put this at the top of a list of Ms. Griffin’s best books.

Vanessa Adams’ car is abandoned by the side of the road; her purse, car keys, and wallet left inside. She’s nowhere to be seen, but there’s blood…

Homicide Detective Brandon Reynolds is called in to investigate, and he’s got a bad feeling. One of the clues left in the car is attorney Leigh Larson’s card and so he tracks her down eager to find some answers.

Leigh, an attorney specializing in cases of sexual harassment, revenge porn, stalkers, and more, had one meeting with Vanessa, but she left an impression. Leigh suspected there was more to her story than Vanessa told her and starts looking into it more closely after Brandon questions her about the case. Brandon is less than thrilled with Leigh’s involvement, but as they’re working toward the same goal: finding Vanessa, they form a reluctant partnership.

Last Seen Alone was an addictive read! From page one I was sucked into the mystery of Vanessa’s disappearance, following the trail of clues, and interviewing the suspects. Brandon doesn’t completely trust Leigh’s motives at first and doesn’t want her in danger. But as they investigate, they get to know each other, crossing paths as they get down to the bottom of the story, albeit at different angles.

There’s a definite immediate attraction that neither Brandon nor Leigh welcomes, but it’s irresistible anyhow. Even though they were a bit adversarial at first, they had chemistry! I loved getting to know these two and what made them tick. There was more of a back story for Leigh, the reason she was so passionate fighting for her clients, and I really admired her. The dirtbags she went after deserved some reckoning! I’m sad to say that some of the situations are very true-to-life.

With Last Seen Alone, Laura Griffin combined mystery, police procedural and romance in just the right amounts making for a captivating read!

I alternately read an e-copy and listened to the audio version of Last Seen Alone. Cynthia Farrell is a new-to-me narrator, and it took a bit to get used to her matter-of-fact reading style, but the more I listened, the more I settled in and enjoyed. I listened at my 1.5x normal speed.

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  n general.

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This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/09/22/last-seen-alone-by-laura-griffin/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

3.5 hearts

I've just started reading this author as I enjoy this genre.  Romantic suspense has a plot with mystery or action or suspense beyond the romance.   <strong>Last Seen Alone</strong> seems to be a standalone.

I really liked the attorney, Leigh and mostly liked Brandon, the detective.  They were a bit on opposite sides at times, but they were each doing the best they could with the legal issues being tricky.   Leigh was a bit sassy and independent but the bad guys weren't fooling around.   Their worry for the victim kept them in close contact. They were definitely worried about her, as was her family, mostly her sister Kate.

The good thing about Leigh and Brandon is that their roles are in the same world, so they understand each others' work and the time constraints and other issues.  So they are in a good position to support and understand each other.  They each have something in their past which plays into their current relationship avoidances.

The victim, Vanessa, I didn't like.  She was in a bad situation but she didn't handle anything well.  She only made things worse and used and hurt others to try to protect herself.  On the other hand, her sister, Kate, is amazing. I kind of hope there will be a future book with her and Brandon's partner because they seemed to get along.

The romance is a little in the background which is fine with me.  The basis for the issues which Leigh and Vanessa are fighting is an all too common problem for women in the current world.  It's a little sad because the progress is in baby steps, but at least they make some progress, but only because the guys are obviously rotten.

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4 Hearts
SJ, Romance Junkies

NYT bestseller Laura Griffin returns with a thrilling suspense about a missing woman, an empty, bloody vehicle in the middle of nowhere, and a detective running out of time.

Leigh Larson is a tough attorney who fights sexual harassment and online abuse, having once survived her own trauma. Brandon Reynolds is an Austin homicide detective investigating an abandoned car (and a pool of blood) that belong to a woman Leigh once helped. But Leigh has little recollection of the missing woman, who hired her briefly just before she disappeared. 

The race is on to find out where Leigh's client went, if she's even still alive, and if not, who might have wanted her dead. Then Leigh is attacked, and Brandon's getting more involved with the pretty lawyer than he should be.

The tension between Brandon and Leigh is spot-on, but the romance isn't as intense or present as it was in Griffin's previous novels. The case comes together a lot easier than expected, but the book still entertains. I didn't put it down until I finished!

The author has a talent for making her police procedurals feel so real, giving just enough detail to feel believable, yet not over-inundating with facts and extraneous detail. The characters are fully fleshed out, though the chemistry between the lead pair could have been a little hotter. But the mystery of the missing woman is intriguing all on its own.

If you want an exciting suspense by a master of the genre, check out Laura Griffin's LAST SEEN ALONE.

🔊Song Pairing: Where’d You Go - Illenium

💭What I thought would happen:

Local woman missing kind of story. Figured a spouse or relative attempted to find them.

📖What actually happens:

Vanessa has gone missing. Last seen purchasing a gun in the middle of fiddle playing forestry….

Brandon is the lead detective on the case to find Vanessa’s body dead or alive. However, Brandon feels quite certain this is a homicide due to the traces of blood found.

Leigh is an attorney battling for victimized women, specifically taking down assholes who post revenge porn of their ex girlfriends (you go girl!).

Leigh had a meeting with Vanessa weeks prior to her missing and puts her into Brandon’s case. Instant chemistry between two lone wolves.

🗯Thoughts:

It’s not that I didn’t dislike this book. It’s more so that nothing original happened whatsoever. It was painfully predictable and the characters only had about 60% likability/charisma.

I just wanted to get through it so that I could find out what happened to Vanessa and to move onto my next book.

The narrator, Cynthia Farrell was excellent. She has an excellent sultry voice for this mystery.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Berkeley Publishing for the ALC & eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars, rounded down for stupid armchair detective attorney

The premise of this romantic suspense novel is pretty good. "Missing without a trace" books are my catnip, I can't resist any of them. I'm honestly not a fan of romantic suspense, so maybe that's where this book lost me. I love romance and I love suspense, but the two together often feels like one or the other is not given the development it needs. In this case, I thought both were kind of lacking.

The good:
Like I said, I liked the premise. At the beginning of the book we meet Vanessa who is being chased through the woods (after buying a gun) and disappears. The police find her abandoned vehicle and belongings and a large amount of blood in the woods, but Vanessa has vanished.

The overall suspense story and its conclusion, although a bit predictable, was decent. It flowed well and made sense, most of the dots were connected in the end.


The not-so good:
I didn't feel any chemistry between attorney Leigh and detective Brandon. The first part is all about him investigating and getting distracted by her legs, her perfume, her chest, etc. Then all of a sudden without any development they kiss and then the next meeting they have sex. I didn't get a sense of attraction growing between them other than the lust. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it just felt forced.

Leigh is a stupid armchair detective. She is repeatedly in danger, repeatedly told to step back into her lane as an attorney and leave the detective work to the police. Yet she ignores it over and over again. (Yet still Brandon is attracted to her, go figure). All for a client that she barely remembers and that she received a paltry retainer for. She obviously had a death wish or was just incredibly dumb to keep confronting suspects and investigating on her own.

If not for those things, I would have graded this book a bit higher. I just hate armchair detectives overall, especially when they are intelligent people who should know better. If readers do feel chemistry between the main characters they may be able to overlook the shortcomings of the investigation.

A side quirky thing I noticed, and it happened at least three times, if not more. There are scenes when Character One is either preparing food or has purchased take out. They offer food to Character Two (whose stomach is usually growling) and Character 2 declines. The food offer is presented at least once or twice more before the Character 2 finally gives in and eats (or they leave or get interrupted). It started to become a kind of joke for me because it happened over and over.

I divided my reading of this book between the print copy and the audiobook. I liked the narrator, Cynthia Farrell, and thought she did an excellent job giving voice to both the male and female characters. She kept me engaged and interested in the story.

Overall: I'm just not the right reader for this book. I overanalyze things that maybe some readers would let go. If you like romantic suspense and have enjoyed other books by this author, then you will probably enjoy this one.

I'm a longtime fan of Laura Griffin, and see elements of her journalism training in everything she writes. Her stories are precise, the sentences packed with information, and the characters well-drawn. Last Seen Alone wasn't as suspenseful as past books, but it was certainly timely with the (sadly, perennial) sexual harassment storyline.

4 1/2

A few Laura Griffin books ago, I made an off-handed comment about not getting too attached to the individual you read about in the opening scene because Laura will make them worm-fodder. Whether she saw that comment or not, she has since turned that observation on its ear and I no longer know what’s going to happen to that person we read about in the opening chapter. Case in point, Last Seen Alone.

Vanessa Adams is the woman the reader meets at the beginning. The last we see of her she is running through woods. Her car’s found, her body’s not; however, there is a lot of blood in the woods. The police can’t consider this a homicide without a body, but all signs point that way.

Enter Detective Brandon Reynolds and Lawyer Leigh Larson. Brandon contacts Leigh because he found her card among Vanessa’s things. Leigh cooperates with Brandon only so far. There’s something about Vanessa’s case that attracts Leigh, perhaps something Leigh understands that she’s not sharing with Brandon.

Laura Griffin’s writing is, as always, flowing and meticulous, with enough hints and red herrings to keep her readers guessing. She serves up a satisfying ending of the mystery and the budding romance between Brandon and Leigh, who are both thankfully mature and interesting to read about. Everything a reader of romantic suspense could want.

Another excellent novel from Laura Griffin.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Last Seen Alone is a suspenseful mystery that had me intrigued from page one. Detectives are on the hunt for a missing person/possible homicide victim, and a lawyer is caught up in case, unable to let it go due to her own past.

I really enjoyed this story and thought the mystery was done really well. Ms. Griffin knows how to leave little clues on each page that makes you race to turn to the next one and hopefully find out the whodunnit. There were some twists and shocking scenes that made it even better and had me gripping my Kindle. And of course we also got some cute scenes with our lead detective, Brandon Reynolds, and lawyer turned part-time sleuth, Leigh Larson.

Lovers of suspenseful mysteries with a little romance mixed in will likely enjoy this engaging novel about a missing women in Austin.

Not quite as exciting as past books I've read by the author, the story line of a woman lawyer helping women fight sexual harassment and exploitation "working with' a local detective to find a missing woman keeps the interest going. The characters were interesting but at the same time frustrating with one minute cooperation the next at odds. Often I was asking in my mind that the author move the story and get the characters talking and being smart. The lawyer cannot keep her nose out of the homicide that seems to have developed when Vanessa's empty car is found on an empty road with blood spatter. Where is the missing girl who all of a sudden Leigh finds she has been retained to help? Detectives Brandon and Antonio want to find the missing person or the body. Danger ensues for Leigh but Leigh doesn't always make wise decisions but Vanessa has been exploited and darn it she will find her and help her despite any dangers to herself or her career. Brandon works overtime to try to answer questions and when they work together make quite a team.

Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin is another one of her fantastic murder suspense mysteries. I am a big fan of Griffin, as she always gives us exciting stories that are suspenseful, with police procedurals and a bit of romance. The story starts with a bang, when we meet Vanessa, who is running from someone; but shortly thereafter, the police find her vehicle with blood, and she is missing, with her phone, purse still in the car.

Brandon Reynolds, our hero, is a homicide detective in Austin, Texas, and on the scene of the missing girl, with his rookie partner Antonio Pena. He finds a business card for Leigh Larson, an attorney; and decides to pay her a visit. Leigh Larson, our heroine, represents women stalked and harassed by exes. At first, she does not remember who Vanessa Adams is, but the same day that Brandon visits her, she receives in the mail a retainer for her services. Brandon and Leigh get off on the wrong foot, as he thinks she is keeping secrets, and she feels he doesn’t give her information; but in a short time, they start working together and a romance will begin. Brandon isn’t happy that Leigh continues to investigate on her own, but she feels she can get more information since she knows how to question people, as it is her line of work regarding threats from stalkers.

When Leigh is attacked at her job, but manages to escape, Brandon is determined to protect her, and find the culprit, since he suspects this has something to do with the missing girl. The chemistry between them escalated, with Brandon more concerned that Leigh was putting herself in danger. I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax. Griffin gave us a great couple, wonderful secondary characters and an excellent suspenseful story. The last half of the book was extremely tense, with some twists; especially as the danger for our heroes escalates. I could not put the book down.

Last Seen Alone was another edge of your seat adventure, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book. If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Last Seen Alone by Lara Griffin that I read and reviewed.
I am a huge fan of Lara Griffin but this book just moved a lot slower then her books usually do and I found myself not getting as engaged with these characters as much as I wish I would have. There were the usual twist and turns that I expect from Griffin but by the time they came I was already to the point where the characters just did not matter that much to me so I had to get back into the story to really get the full effect of the twist and by that time I was already pretty much gone.
This book was good but not great for me and that is why I am giving it three out of five stars.

A young attorney's new client goes missing from her car on a roadside well away from her home. Is it a homicide? A missing persons case? Leigh doesn't know Vanessa well, but since Leigh's specialty is saving significant others from their former partners, she has to assume that Vanessa was under duress of some kind when she visited. Leigh hasn't seen her since, but this does not stop the police from demanding answers from her. Leigh doesn't have those answers, but she now feels obligated to discover them, despite multiple warnings to butt out.

Getting those answers puts Leigh in danger herself, and the lead detective is not impressed, though we must suffer through the lawyer/cop relationship trope. Unfortunately, all of the arguing about what both of them withhold from one another (a similar theme to last year's Hidden) really kills any chemistry that may or may not have existed between the main characters. There is a charming little secondary romance between another cop and the victim's sister, however.

Over all, Last Seen Alone is readable and well-paced but not surprising, and as far as the romance aspect of this romantic suspense is concerned--forget about it.

When Vanessa Adams's car is found abandoned along the side of a deserted highway, no one has high hopes for a safe return. She is gone without a trace, A lawyer's business card with the name Leigh Larson may be detective Brandon Reynold's only clue to finding out what happened. When he tracks down Leigh down, things start to heat up as more information is uncovered and secrets are revealed. I have read Laura Griffin's work in the past and have really liked most of her books. This one is definitely a favorite one of hers. The suspense in this book kept me up until 2 a.m. because I had to know what happened. I really enjoyed the interaction of the main characters because while there was occasional conflict, they handled it like adults which I love. I really appreciated that throughout the book there were several surprise twists that kept you guessing. There was really only one part of this story that I was kind of annoyed with the heroine. I see why she did what she did but I also feel like she should have handled a situation a little differently. I am sure for the continuity of the story, she also kind of had to do what she did but even with that, I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. My honest rating of this book would be a 4.5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this digital ARC.

Who doesn't love a good creepy suspense story this time of year? Last Seen Alone was so what I needed in a good story that kept me on edge and on my toes and let me escape for a few hours into a world I never wish to enter. I couldn't put it down and truly loved every twist and turn.

Well written and will easily capture and hold your attention, Last Seen Alone is one all lovers of mystery is going to enjoy!

As usual, Griffin is a master of pacing who writes strong, capable couples that I enjoy reading about. The plot was timely and handled in a deft manner.

Last Seen Alone was a gripping thrill ride! I could not put this book down. I had to know what was going to happen and ended up finishing it in a few hours! It follows Leigh Larson an attorney who's brand new client disappears and homicide detective Brandon Reynolds as they work together to find Vanessa. The circumstances around Vanessas disappearance are strange and they fear it will soon become a murder investigations. Time is ticking and emotions are high! I loved reading about Brandon and Leigh working together. They made a good but reluctant team. The story was gripping and full of twists! I really enjoyed Last Seen Alone!

Another great read by Laura Griffin! I can always expect a fast paced romantic thriller with great characters
from anything she writes and Last Seen Alone did not disappoint! Looking forward to her next title - thank
you NetGalley.