I've loved all of Schaffhausen's books and Last Seen Alive is no exception. The story of Ellery and Reed comes full circle in this book, when the man that held Ellery hostage as a child demands to see her in exchange for providing details about a missing girl he's suspected of killing who's never been found. Not surprisingly, there are plenty of other people with fingers in the pie, and a Hollywood golden child with a traumatic past and a hard-hitting news reporter are convinced Ellery can help put them on the map, and the situation quickly spins out of control. Coben escapes and is intent on finishing what he started with Ellery - and like so many serial killers he has people on the outside helping him as a means of building their own fame. The question is, are they hiding in plain sight for Ellery while she participates in the effort to find Coben's other victims? While I was not surprised with how things played out, I still enjoyed the ride. As the series has gone on, Schaffhausen has built in a support network for Ellery that cares about her for who she is as a person, not just as a fascinating survival story. This creates a great juxtaposition in Last Seen Alive, as Ellery continues to appreciate those relationships, suss out new ones, and be wary of the people that are only interested in her for her past.

First of I LOVE this series!! If you haven't read the last 4 books, please do yourself a favor and read them! The relationship between Ellery and Reed has been exciting and fascinating to follow throughout the series. This is an intense and thrilling story and every book gets better and better. The development of the characters, both old and new, is great The storyline with every book is unique and suspenseful and the one in book#5 is amazingly thrilling. Highly recommend and hope there is more of Ellery Hathaway!!!

This is my 2nd book by this author and book #5 in this series but it was easily read as a stand alone book. This ropes you right in from the very first page about a psychopath named Coben who has killed many people and is in jail. Ellery was a victim many years ago but survived and is now a police detective. This is very paced and kept me glued to the pages!! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Would you be willing the re-live some of the nightmares of your past in order to help find the bodies of the other children that weren’t so lucky to survive? That is exactly what Ellery is asked to do by meeting her abductor in jail. The killer is possibly just playing a game with her emotions and has some grant plan to finally get his hands on the one that got away. Ellery certainly doesn’t trust him but feels she does not have a, choice but play along.
So far I haven’t been disappointed in any of the Ellery Hathaway Series and hope that Joanna Schaffhausen has a couple more up her sleeve.

Highly recommend this book! This was my first book to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters and the story stay with you long after you finish the book. One of the best books I have read in a long time.

Last Seen Alive is ridiculously fabulous!!! Still trying to figure out their on-and-off relationship, Ellery Hathaway, who FBI agent Reed Markham, rescued from the hands of serial killer are thrust back together... at the hands of none of than Francis Coben. He states he'll share the location other missing girls if only Ellery comes to speak with him in prison (and a TV show agrees to broadcast the interview and search for the missing girls. Of course, events go off track pretty quickly... Reed and Ellery are fighting for survival both with the stress of Coben and the camera crew. Hold on - it's a wild wide - but such a fantastic chapter in the lives of these two special characters.

I received this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Wow! What a pager turner! I couldn’t put this book down! The story opens up with Amy being locked in a closet abused and terrified for her life because she knows that she will be killed by this maniac. When the door opens it is FBI agent, Reed Markham coming to her rescue. From then on Amy has become a special person to Reed and he is always looking out for her.

We are now in the present day and serial killer, Frances Coben has requested an interview with the press which he wants aired on tv. For this interview he will give up where he buried some of his victims. Coben is also requesting that Amy, his only surviving victim come to interview and talk to him. Amy who is now known as Ellery Hathaway with the Boston Police Department. Ellery is unaware that any of this is happening but Reed has been told by his bosses that he has to work with the press and help them, so that the FBI can gather the information that Coben has on the burial sites. Reed absolutely refuses to involve Ellery in this interview but decides to fly to Boston to let her know what is happening.

While he is in Boston a murder happens that follows Coben’s MO exactly and this pulls Ellery into not only the past but into talking to Coben. She realizes that she needs to face to face visit with Coben to expelling him out of her system once for all.

Read this book and enjoy a wild ride of suspense and mystery with both Ellery and Reed.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed another book by this author - but not in this series - I didn't hesitate when I got a chance to read a pre-release copy of this one (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley). Now, the only thing that disappoints me is that I missed the first four, although this one stands on its own quite well. It was so good, in fact, that I put off making dinner for an hour and a half so I could get to the exciting finish.

She was the one who got away: Abigail Ellery Hathaway, now a Boston detective, managed to escape serial torturer and killer of women Frances Coben. He was caught has been languishing in prison for a couple of decades; the man who found and saved her, FBI agent Reed Markham, later became her lover. Still traumatized by the horrific treatment she endured at Coven's hands, Ellery, as she now calls herself, recently called things off with Reed. But now, out of the blue, Coben claims he's remorseful and wants to come clean by revealing the location of some of his victims' bodies (minus the body parts he keeps as trophies) - but only if he can confess to his "Abby."

Reed objects, but a TV crew gets into the act as well and puts some pressure on the powers-that-be. Just because the confrontation might bring closure to families of the victims, Reed and Ellery agree to meet Coben in prison. It's arranged, but Coben does little more than confuse the issue. Confounding things even more, a new body turns up with a too-similar M.O. - but Coben couldn't possibly have done it from jail. Or could he?

Amid all this, the impossible happens (no, I won't say what) - and from that point on, I was on the edge of my seat even though some of the happenings were predictable. Besides that, I really liked Ellery and Reed (him in particular), so I had my fingers and toes crossed that they'd get back together again (no, I won't reveal that, either). All in all, a most engrossing novel very much recommended.

This is an unpopular review.

I didn’t enjoy this book. In fact I started it towards the end of September and I probably should have DNF into October and now I just finished it in November. I’m not sure if it was the pacing of the book, or that there was nothing too BIG happening when it starts.

There was mostly a lot of speculation going around about who could have done a recently killing. Additional characters appeared and just as fast, disappeared. Towards the end it kind of picked up and then it stretched out a little more when I think should have wrapped up sooner.

Maybe I was not in a good headspace when I started reading the book so this may be your next five star read for you.

Thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @joannaschaffhausen for this digital ARC in exchange for my review.

This book was AMAZING!!!! This book made me feel like I was watching some of the true crime shows I love so much. It was so detailed and the author did not leave anything out. Even though this is book number 5, its a great stand alone, and the characters were awesome, give me a BADASS female character and we are SET!

We meet Ellery and Reed, these characters are soo good together!!!! Anyway Ellery is a cop, Reed is a profiler for the FBI. Anyway, Ellery was a victim of this horrible man who picks up girls and kills them, the way he goes about it though??? CREEPY! Anyway, she was the one that got away all of those years ago, she is still battling her demons, and these twists and turns????? OMG! And a bigger OMG for Ellery, this woman went through so much, I oculdnt stop the tears when all is revealed, also its a huge page turner, and there is a lot of things that go on in this book that I never expected. I LOVED IT!

From the book jacket"...Boston detective Ellery Hathaway met FBI agent Reed Markham when he pried open a serial killer’s closet to rescue her. Years on, their relationship remains defined by that moment and by Francis Coben’s horrific crimes. To free herself from Coben’s legacy, Ellery had to walk away from Reed, too. But Coben is not letting go so easily. He has an impossible proposition: Coben will finally give up the location of the remaining bodies, on one condition—Reed must bring him Ellery."
Even though this book is a part of a series, you can read this as a stand alone. I like that Joanna Schaffhausen's female detectives are strong women. I like the author's writing style. I also appreciate the handling of traumatic scenes. The fact that "the one that got away" as per the media, didn't really get away from the nightmares. I am happy Ellery hopefully will have some closure.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. I meant to write a way way earlier but it's been very busy at work :(

Last Seen Alive, book 5 in the Ellery Hathaway series is just brilliant! I have loved everything about this ride and now it feels we have come full circle. I was sad when I finished it but satisfied with all that had happened.

This is a hard book to review without spoilers. This one could be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the entire series in order. There is so much to Ellery and Reed as well as our serial killer Francis Cohen. In this book we learn alot more about Cohen and how is mind works. He reaches out to Reed and offers to give up the locations of the bodies, in exchange for a face to face meeting with Ellery. It has been 17 years and while she knows that the victims families need closure, it is one of the hardest things she has to do.

I loved these characters and all that they had been through. The storylines, their relationships - everything. A fantastic serial killer and police procedural series that you need to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for my advanced copy of this book to read.

Wow and oh, my! Fans of dark mystery/suspense thrillers will not want to miss the fifth book in the Ellery Hathaway series. It can most certainly be read as a standalone, but real fans of the series will want to read all of the books. Ellery was a kidnapping victim of a psychopathic serial killer, Francis Coben, when she was a young teen. She is also the only one who survived, thanks to her rescuer, FBI agent Reed Markham. Her past is inextricably wound around her survival and Reed, but she wants to escape her past completely and just be the Boston police detective that she currently is. That is easier said than done since in this book Coben insists on an audience with Ellery in order to release the locations of other bodies. His strange proclivities with his victims make the violence that is described graphic and very disturbing, so this book is not for the faint-hearted. It is fast-paced and written with characters that are convincingly realistic (in Coben’s case, horrifyingly so). Ellery is a strong female protagonist and Coben is the most evil serial killer since Hannibal. The plot is complicated but well-written in a way that made it totally engaging. The action was intense and scary at times, especially the more absorbed I got in the story of Ellery coming to grips with her past and seeking closure in her life. The tension mounted throughout the story, with flashbacks to Ellery’s time in captivity and all of the horror that evoked for her. Fans of hard core mystery and suspense thrillers want to devour this book as it takes a close look at the past and the future that Ellery wants to have.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martins Press (Minotaur) via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

The serial killer who held Ellery hostage as a teenager has requested a meeting with her in exchange for information on other victims. Now she and her former boyfriend, who happens to be the FBI agent who rescued her, have to find the escaped killer and a copy cat before the body count increases. Last Seen Alive is an absolute page turner with one twist after another. I loved the fast paced writing style. The characters were very complex. I highly recommend Last Seen Alive to mystery/thriller readers. It was a fantastic book.

Last Seen Alive(Ellery Hathaway #5)
by Joanna Schaffhausen

Boston detective Ellery Hathaway and FBI agent Reed Markham have a very long history. They met when Reed rescued fourteen year old Ellery from a serial killer who had tortured, mutilated, and slain over a dozen young women. Ellery's rescue put an end to Francis Cohen's reign of terror although he never left her mind and he never left her alone. In the last few years, Ellery and Reed have had a rocky relationship, as friends and lovers, never able to get out from under the weight of how they first met.

Now Cohen will give up the location of bodies if he can have a face to face meeting with Ellery. It's Reed who Cohen contacts and it's Reed who has to ask Ellery to do the last thing she'd ever want to do...be in the presence of the monster who overshadows everything in her life. Ellery says yes because she wants to bring closure to the families of the girls whose bodies have never been found.

The entire series is a dark one, the crimes as horrible as one can imagine. This book brings the story of Ellery Hathaway full circle. Despite seventeen years having passed since she was kidnapped and terrorized by Cohen, she's finally going to face her fears and all she has unsuccessfully tried to put behind her. Reed will be there for the journey, just as he's always been part of her story. He actually wrote her story, their story, becoming a best selling author in the process. Now there are people who want to make a documentary out of Ellery's meeting with Cohen and Ellery will be there only for the victims.

But, then, there is a murder of a young women and it's definitely a copycat killing. Obviously Cohen has fans and friends who are helping him get his way from inside prison. Ellery's nightmare isn't over since the one thing that Cohen really wants is Ellery and to be able to finish what he started seventeen years ago. This is a fine addition to the Ellery Hathaway series as she faces all her memories and fears, and attempts to break free of the hold Cohen has had on her life.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

3.75 Serial Killer Stars

This is the 5th installment in this series featuring Ellery Hathaway, now a Boston police officer, but better known as the girl who survived serial killer Francis Coben. This book actually provides more details about the abduction and her rescue by FBI profiler Reed Markham.

Years later, Reed and Ellery have successfully teamed up on several cases and have even developed a romantic relationship.

This time Coben says he will tell them where to find one of the bodies if Ellery pays him a visit. Families of the missing girls and the media pressure Ellery. There’s even a film producer who wants to film the whole thing. Can Ellery do this without falling back into a victim mentality? Can they truly trust Coben to follow through on his side?

I found this one to be darker than the earlier books and there was more urgency to finally stop Coben. This one wrapped up in a satisfying way to me and I wonder if this might be the end of the Ellery Hathaway series.

This series has made for a good buddy read with Jayme and Marilyn. While it was nice to read them in a short period, I’m looking forward to reading other things by this author.

Do you believe a serial killer can be reformed?
I personally don't think so. Maybe if they had only committed one crime, but this is someone that commits heinous acts over and over.
And when you read about the crimes Francis Coben committed, it is hard to believe one would think any different about this sociopath. Ellery Hathaway has the scars to prove it.

In book 5 in this series, Ellery reunited with the man who still haunts her dreams, as she is the only woman to survive this serial killer. (Note: I did not read the previous books in this series and had no issues following along, so this can be treated as a standalone). Now a detective, she is brought in by a TV show host, Kate Hunter, to get Coben to reveal the locations of his other victims, and finally give the families some peace. As you may expect, things go sideways fast.

There are a lot of twists in this story, as it is clear Coben may have some outside support/fans that have other things in mind than justice. The pacing of the story is great, adding these twists throughout to keep me engaged and eager for resolution.

One thing is clear, Ellery is a badass and I'm eager to learn more about her character, so I think I need to circle back and read the previous books in this series. Whether you want to start with book one or jump right into this book (see my note above), this is a great read if you enjoy police procedurals.

3.5 ⭐️

This is book #5 in the popular Ellery Hathaway series but you can easily read this one as a stand-alone. In fact, not only does it fill you in on Ellery Hathaway’s history-it actually adds details as this story comes full circle from the first.

The quick “spoiler free” recap is that Ellery Hathaway was just 14 years old when she became victim #17 of the notorious serial killer, Francis Michael Coben- a murderer with a “hand fetish” -but she was the only girl who survived.

She was rescued by FBI profiler, Reed Markham, and she grew up to join the police force of Woodbury, MA. When she needed the resources of the FBI for a case, she called upon Reed Markham, who “owed her one” after he profited from writing a book about the case with his then wife, Sarit.

They team up to solve cases in books one through four and their relationship develops over time.

In book five, Coben has agreed to confess to the location of the remaining bodies-under one condition-an interview with Ellery. When a fresh body is discovered which seems linked to Coben, despite the fact that he is serving a life sentence, she reluctantly agrees.

Can she find closure of her own? And, what price will she have to pay to find it?

This book was the darkest in the five book series, and we finally get inside the head of Coben, during the “Hannibal Lecter” style interview between Coben and Ellery.

But, Ellery is no “Clarice”.

She is a a woman who continues to have good instincts but makes bad choices. And, Reed is still trying to save her.

I can understand why so many people enjoy “series”. When you pick up the next book, it’s like you are reuniting with old friends. And, this series has many fans, Unfortunately it has been a bit of a struggle for me as I don’t like romance mixed in with my police procedurals-especially not ones with “open door” scenes, and that is made worse by the fact, that the pairing of these two, is distasteful to me. Still other readers don’t seem bothered by either fact, and most seem to be rooting for the two of them, so mine is just one opinion.

I am not sure if there will be be a book six-but I am closing my door on these two, whether there is or isn’t.

I would like to thank Minotaur books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Available January 25, 2022.

Abby Ellery Hathaway is the only survivor of the sadistic serial killer, Francis Coben. Rescued from a closet by FBI agent Reed Markham. Seventeen years have passed, but Abby, now known as Ellery, relieves the nightmare every day.
This is the fifth book in this series, and unfortunately for Ellery, Francis is not done with her yet. Living on Death Row, he vows to talk about his victims whose remains were never found. He does have one small condition though; Abby must visit him, or he will die before sharing any information. Even the thought of being in the same room with her abductor makes Ellery feel ill, but she wants to do the right thing for the families whose girls never came home.
Francis has had a long time to make plans and assistance from someone outside his prison walls. He does not want much really, just to finish what he started with the one who got away. Ellery will have to be strong if she wants to live and no longer be his victim.
If you have not read the prior books, there is enough background information so you would not be lost. However, your understanding of Ellery and her relationship with Reed will be more developed if you read the series in order. Not a spoiler, but I felt that this might be the last book, just based on how it ended.
There were plenty of twists and turns, along with some questionable decisions that had me yelling at Ellery, or, my Kindle more than once. A great series that really highlights what it means to be a victim and how hard it is to regain control over your life.

3.5 stars, rounded up.
I’ve read another book by Joanna Schaffhausen, but none of the books in this series. I didn’t find that a handicap and feel this can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Ellery Hathaway is a Boston police detective. As a child, she was abducted by a serial killer but rescued by FBI Agent Reed Markham. They re-unite here when the serial killer offers up the locations of several missing dead girls if he can speak to her. And to add to that, there’s a tv production going to do a documentary on the killer and film it all. What could go wrong?
I liked the points she makes about fame, coverage and the prevalence of “screen time” and how the media inserts itself into criminal investigations.
I enjoyed Ellery and how we get to see how she has moved beyond her victim status. Reed is also a well done main character and I just wanted those two to work out their issues.
My problem was with the plot. It quickly became filled with coincidences and plot devices you could see coming a mile away. That said, the story is fast paced entertainment.
This is far from a cozy mystery. There are lots of graphic descriptions of violence.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.