Psychological thriller that had me glued to this page turner.
Skyla, Teddy, Jeremy and Linelle all have one thing in common, they are looking for lost loves, to reconnect with their past. They each go about it in very, very different ways. The twists in the story keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you have a grasp, it twists again leaving you grasping and gasping to get a hold on what is happening.

Her Last Affair is everything I look for in a suspenseful, psychological thriller! It has an interesting cast of characters who are all looking for love and belonging in their lives as they look back into their pasts to seek happiness. There are twisty turns that I truly didn't anticipate and that is really quite rare for me! There are some humorous scenes and dialog, which was much appreciated as some of the topics were more dark and difficult (the cranky old nurse scolds "Siri" when she talks to her, just like my elderly mother-in-law tries to converse with "Alexa"!). The author deftly wraps up a satisfying ending too! Thoroughly enjoyed it and already recommending to others!

3.5 rounded up.

I’m really not sure why, but I very rarely seem to read male authors. I’m now adding Mr. Searles to my list of authors that I need to read more of their books.

This was a different type of thriller. Definitely had no clue where the author was going or what was going to happen, especially since I had no clue of the author’s writing style. Slow in parts and a little “common, cut to the chase”, but a twisty thriller none the less. Characters were an eclectic group of sad sacks that I couldn’t figure out how they would all fit together. Story slowly developed, and everything was tied together at the end.

Thanks to Mrs Searles, William Marrow and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

This unique novel tells the interrelated stories of Skyla, a retired nurse living near the drive-in she and her husband ran; Teddy, a British man who fell in love with Linelle in Florida nearly 30 years ago; Linelle, who is stuck in a loveless marriage; and Jeremy, a bitter man with a difficult childhood. They all have secrets, most of all Skyla, who has created a reality far different from what she is living.

A unique and sometimes funny, sometimes troubling, but always memorable novel. There are a few twists that the reader won’t see coming. #HerLastAffair #NetGalley

Woah - not sure what I just read but I have to rate it highly because I couldn't put it down. The first 20% of so I was frustrated because I really did not like the Skyla character, nor did I like reading about her. But once the other characters were folded in to the mix, i couldn't put it down. And I love a book that has a good wrap-up at the end (especially when there are multiple storylines) and this one certainly did. This book was definitely dark and twisted and even though I generally like dark and twisted, I think it was the Skyla character that set this one apart and made it unlike anything else I have read recently. I'll definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes a weird and murder-y.

Her Last Affair is a great psychological thriller that combines a fabulous character study along with a page-turning plot. I love a book that makes me stop and say "what did I just read?" That happened more than once while reading this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Scene of the Crime for the advance copy.

Twisty story with echoes of Misery. Our main character has severe vision loss, is widowed and looking for a tenant to live in the house her husband built as a twin to their own. Everyone has secrets and past lives, who is telling the truth? Are these delusions or fever dreams? I found it at times to be confusing to keep the various character backgrounds clear, but that’s on me.

4.75/5 - I waited a few years for Mr. Searles latest novel and it did not disappoint. We are introduced to a myriad of charterers and I wasn’t quite sure how they were all going to connect but boy did they ever. It was a winding road to get there and worth every mile.

Each one of the characters is at a crossroads in their life and pretty much not making good choices. Closure isn’t always the best thing; sometimes you just need to move on without it.

I did think I knew it where it was going, only to be fooled yet again. I can’t wait to read where he takes us next.

This is my first book by John Serle and it was definitely interesting. I call this one a clever, twisted story of deceptions, affairs, and secrets!!! I couldn't put this one down.

This book is like a fine blanket, stitched together with love and precision. I found the description interesting, but didn't enter into the read with high expectations. Searles managed to grab me by the throat, even though this is a decidedly slow burn of a novel. The characterization is so good, and the writing is breathtaking. An example: "Despite the chill in the air that afternoon, I kept the windows cracked to breathe the loamy smells of November on the wind." Seems simple, but I understand the depth of precision that goes into creating a line that silky. Again, this is a tapestry of voices that the reader will enjoy. Skyla, an elderly widow losing her sight. Teddy, a transplant from the city in desperate need of a new start. Linelle, married, restless, and itching for some "good trouble" with an old flame. And Jeremy, a failed writer looking for his own heart to ignite from an old love. There's humor, film noir, thrills and chills. Surprisingly good.

Her Last Affair by John Searles is an psychological suspense story that follows three main characters trying to connect with their pasts. I kept turning the pages because I was really curious how these characters connected but I don’t know that I was a huge fan of the author’s writing style. There were twists and turns and I was entertained by the story.

Skyla, a retired nurse, lives on the grounds of an abandoned drive-in movie theater near Albany, New York. Her husband, Hollis, lived with her for almost fifty years until he died in a freak accident a year ago. Her loneliness finally abates when she rents a cottage on her property to Teddy Cornwall, a magnetic man from England with a facility for languages, who wants to spend some time off the beaten path.

Skyla encourages Teddy to contact Linelle, his first love, whom he met while they were working at a Florida theme park as teenagers. Linelle, recently fired after a compromising photo from her youth was posted on Facebook, feels unsatisfied, with her only solace an online relationship with Teddy who she hasn’t seen in almost thirty years.

Teddy was Jeremy’s French tutor, and though Jeremy was a successful child actor, he received no parts after he reached the awkward years idle puberty. Living in New York, he’s written an ambitious novel but that too has received only rejections, so he takes a last minute assignment to review a new Providence, Rhode Island restaurant for a travel magazine. As a twenty-something, he fell in love with Maryanne in Providence—but she broke his heart. Still, he’s tempted to make contact during his visit.

These discontented and solitary characters look to their pasts for comfort, resolution, and reconciliation to varying effects, since revisiting history can unearth secrets some people would kill to protect.

HER LAST AFFAIR by John Searles is the kind of book I wish I could read again for the first time: it hit the perfect note with me! The book is populated with quirky, original, and fully-realized characters whose journeys form the foundation of the book. Wondering what they do, how they intersect, and what happens to them creates a simmering tension that thoroughly pays off in the final act. Plus, there is something eerie about an abandoned movie theater which Searles takes full advantage of, sometimes playfully, and highlights with movie quotes opening each chapter.

HER LAST AFFAIR isn’t a traditional thriller but I liked it even more for transcending the typical conventions of the genre.

I was lucky to receive and advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. So Good! It's got everything you want in a psychological thriller: Good storyline, suspense, twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end and just fun to read! I loved his writing style and can't wait to read more by this author. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this!

Skyla has recently lost her sight. She lives next door to a rundown drive-in movie theater which she and her husband ran for years. She decides to rent the cottage next door to a Teddy Cornwell. Skyla just loves his accent! Teddy is currently trying to lure an old girlfriend, Linelle away from her boring marriage. So, this seems the perfect place. Then there is Jeremy. Jeremy is a restaurant critic. His next job is Providence, RI. This town holds some unique memories and quite a few he wants to relive.

Now that I have introduced all the characters…let’s get to the meat of the story! This novel starts a bit slow, but that is just the introduction to the characters…so stay with it. Because it sure builds and builds…until the intensity does not stop and you just have to see where it is going to end.

I think my favorite character is Skyla. She is not at all what you think! And I love the way the author throws in some humor. What a great way to keep the story moving and the reader engrossed.

Need a good psychological thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Skyla Hull is a widow after fifty years of marriage. She is a former nurse whose eyesight has degenerated to the point where everything is just a blur. She lives in a small cottage adjacent to an identical cottage that she intends to rent out and which faces an abandoned drive-in theater that had been owned by her husband’s family. After interviewing several prospective tenants she rents the cottage to Teddy Cornwell, who she takes an immediate liking to. In conversations with Skyla, he reveals the story of his lost love Linelle. They met as teenagers and now Skyla encourages him to contact her.

John Searles’ story is one o lost love and re-connections. It is also a story of infidelity and murder. Linelle Dufort is unhappy in her marriage. When Teddy does contact her they begin an on-line affair. Jeremy is a failed writer in NYC. When he receives an assignment to review a restaurant in Providence he views it as an opportunity to re-connect with Maryanne. As a young man working in Providence he had fallen in love with her but she considered him just a friend. A dinner date begins well but fond memories often hide darker memories that must eventually be faced.

Searles’ early chapters introduce his characters and their backgrounds. The story moves slowly and there does not seem to be any connection between them. The story begins to move more quickly as he hints at connections and leads to a conclusion that I did not see coming. There is a quote from classic movies at the beginning of each chapter that keeps you connected to the drive-in, which plays a part in the final scenes. Despite the slow beginning, Searles’ ending makes Her Last Affair well worth staying to the last page. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow/Custom House for providing this book or my review.

I give Her Last Affair 3.5 stars for story, but the extra .5 because of the beautiful writing.

There's a very Girl On The Train vibe to Skyla: she's messy and loud and aggressive and abrasive, but she's funny and self-deprecating. I'm glad the book opens with this character and I'm really glad it's in the first person for her.

Teddy is charming, but I never believed that a handsome, charming man with a posh accent would voluntarily endure an evening with Skyla.

Jeremy was a great character. I loved his obsession with his appearance. It was relatable and raw.

Linelle and Maryann were also deeply flawed characters who served important purposes for the story.

I started out completely lost in this story, loving every page, but got confused and just plain lost halfway through (too many characters, too many flash backs). As I read on, I continued to enjoy the book, but a little less than the first half.

Everyone keeps reviewing about the end. Yes, it was a good ending and it was clever and dark and heart-rending, but it took me so many turns to get there that I lost focus and had to force myself to finish the book before publication.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Scene of the Crime Early Reads for this ebook. I appreciate receiving the book, but it wasn’t for me. The beginning intrigued me with an older widow, Skyla, taking in a tenant who is focused on a woman from his past. Linelle’s life has become boring, but a man from her past offers a way to add some excitement.

I rated the book three stars because it’s clever the way the author brings the stories of each of the main characters together into one main plot. The story is told from the points of view of the three main characters, but I didn’t really care for any of them. I liked LInelle the most in spite of some of the poor decisions she makes. It is clear all of the characters have secrets and I was able to guess some, but not all of them since there are several interesting surprises as the story continues. Overall, the book is just too dark for me. There are also abrupt changes between different timelines, and it’s not always easy to tell if characters are describing events in the present or from the past. After a whole lot of things happened that I didn’t care for, I enjoyed the way things turned out in the end.

An advance copy of this ebook was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

4.5 stars

Her Last Affair by John Searles is a terrific page-turner! It is character-driven psychological suspense, with a film noir vibe, and so much more!
Set in a small town in upstate New York, central character Skyla is a retired nurse living in one of twin cottages built by her husband, on the edge of a long-ago closed drive-in movie theater. She is widowed, lonely, and seriously visually impaired, which is a nuance that adds to her persona and actions. Along comes Teddy Cornwell, an Englishman, who agrees to rent the other cottage and handles Skyla with charm and tenderness. Jeremy, the third protagonist, is a failed writer and a generally bitter person, living in New York City. With a few other minor characters, mostly ex-girlfriends, in place, the stage is set for the dramatic suspense to commence! No spoilers here—the back stories of the characters and the well-paced build of the plot are so beautifully done that this becomes an absolutely addicting novel!
The story is told from multiple POVs by largely unreliable narrators. I found the voice of Skyla to be the most interesting—sassy, witty, sarcastic, and poignant. The writing is nuanced, and the lead-in to each chapter is a quote from a classic movie, a nice homage to films and the drive-in movie location.
The common theme of love—lost, damaged, found unexpectedly—enriches the story and makes it much more than just a clever suspense tale.
I highly recommend this book to readers who look for depth and character development as well as a clever plot in psychological thrillers.

Thank you to Custom House/HarperCollinsPublishers and Scene of the Crime for the ARC. This my unbiased review.

Her Last Affair is a slow burn book. It has an unreliable narrator in an elderly woman named Skyla. From the beginning you can tell something is not quite right with her but you don’t know what it is. It is a mystery how each character fits into the story but it all comes together in the end. I liked the ending and thought it was appropriate for the book.

Her Last Affair is a slow burn, character-driven story that follows seemingly unrelated characters. An exploration of choices made, regrets experienced and how past hurts carry into the future. Marketed as a thriller, I found it to be more reflective and pensive, almost contemporary fiction, with a bit of mystery thrown in. Maybe due to the slower pacing of the book, I didn't get the edge of the seat feels like a thriller normally has me feeling.

Skyla is a widow living alone in a cottage, on the property of a non-operating, family owned drive-in movie theater. She rents the second cottage out to Teddy, who looks to reconnect to a long ago young love relationship with, Linelle.
Jeremy who seemingly is unrelated to the rest of the characters, is tangled up with past crushes, new breakups and low self esteem..

The plot unfolds steadily intertwining the past with the future in a combustible ending. About half way the pace picked up a bit and I found I enjoyed the second half a bit more than the first. Good for those that like a character driven story, where the author takes his time creating exceptional characters and weaving an intriguing mystery.

A solid three star read.

Thank you to @netgalley and publisher William Morrow for an advanced digital copy in exchange of an honest review.