It's great to have Maddie back in a new story. Her long-standing boss DI Harry Blaker has retired and she has moved from Major Crimes to the Domestic Violence unit after her gruelling last case. At least her relationship with PC Vince Arnold is flourishing as they search for a home together. Paul Morgan, a tormented man, narrates half the chapters, starting in 1999 when he was part owner of The Ugly Sisters nightclub and two girls, Christine who he thought of as a daughter and Denise, who both worked for him disappeared after leaving the club on New Year’s Eve. Their bodies were discovered battered and tortured five days later. His next-door neighbour and friend Inspector Charles Snow, who was in charge of the case, confided in him that there had been other victims and he knew who was responsible. No one was ever brought to justice for the deaths but Paul learns more about the horrors inflicted by the killer when visits and talks one of the two survivors. The Ugly Jug coffee shop sits on the old nightclub site and history seems to be repeating itself as first young Daisy-Mae, someone already known to Maddie in her new role, and then her manager Megan both vanish. The reader also hears how the women find themselves snatched by force and kept prisoner, beaten if they make a sound. As Paul continues his journal, he discloses that other people had terrible secrets to hide about that time twenty-two years ago. Following the missing persons reports, Maddie learns about the Ugly Sisters Murders and wonders if the killer is back. Now an Inspector, together with DC Rhiannon Davis and the very likeable slipper-clad Intelligence Analyst Eileen Holmans and with Harry’s help, will she find the missing women in time?
As always in this series, the plot is clever, twisted and exciting with a thrilling conclusion. It’s certainly another excellent and gripping read from a very knowledgeable author and I do hope there will be more to come for Maddie. Highly recommended. 5*

Kidnapping
Murder
Mystery
How can a 22 year old unsolved kidnapping and murder of two young women be related to the disappearance of two women now?
The story had a few slow moments for me. But, it did pick up and the suspenseful, twisty moments did keep me engaged.
Crime fiction lovers will like reading Last One Alive.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I truly enjoyed this book!! It was chilling and I was at the end of my seat throughout the whole read. The suspense was extreme and the author truly built up the scenes in a great way! I thought the characters were a bit confusing since there was quite many, but when I figured them out it went better. Even though this book seemed quite slow at times, I found it was needed in order to calm down between stressing scenes. This is the first book I read in the series which means I have missed some of the backstory. It wasn't too much of a problem but I think it would have been even better if I had known the characters before, but that is completely on me.

Last one alive by Charlie Gallagher.

Detective Maddie Ives Book 7.

While vacationing in New England, PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, bite off more than they can chew when two small town deaths reveal two big time killers, and the locals don’t take too kindly to strangers.

Really enjoyable read. Love this series and don't want it to end. 5*.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (3/5)

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
🕵🏻‍♀️ Police procedural thrillers
👀 Multiple perspectives
🔑 Locked room plots
⏳ Dual timelines

𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
I absolutely loved 𝘓𝘌𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘓 𝘎𝘈𝘔𝘌 by Gallagher so I was super excited to be granted this title on Netgalley. I didn’t realise this was #7 of the Maddie Ives series, but it was still easy to follow and readable as a standalone.

Multiple perspectives and dual timelines twenty two years apart follow two copycat crimes, both centred around The Ugly Jug. The characters were engaging and distinctive, and the plot had potential for a great locked-room thriller, but unfortunately I found this to have a very slow start, not really picking up until around 80%. I don’t know if it’s because I was unwell and due to this took a long time to read it but it just dragged a fair bit for me and I didn’t have any moments where I was astounded by the twists. The last 20% did definitely pick up and I’d still read more by Gallagher but this was one just wasn’t for me!

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 + 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝘼𝙍𝘾, 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 @𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 (𝙄𝙂) 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚.

I wanted to like this so much.
But there was too much going on, too many narratives and the past/present jumps got tired. I would have liked a different font for the journal POV.

Is history repeating itself when the coffee shop that 20 years ago was a nightclub again appears to have a killer in its customer base

20 Years ago 2 young women set off for home from the nightclub where they worked but they never reached their destinations. 5 days later the bodies are found, cut to the present day and Daisy Mae is missing reported as such by her colleague Megan, then surprisingly Megan then disappears

Maddie Ives is not sure if history is repeating or someone is copying but she knows she and her team need to work quickly

Last One Alive is the seventh book in the Madrid Ives series by Charlie Gallagher and whilst it was an enjoyable read I felt it didn’t quite match most of its predecessors mainly due to the way it was written which, for me, seemed to take away some of the suspense as I worked out “whodunnit” quite early on.

Overall while not great it’s still a good read.

I really enjoyed this clever plotted read, featuring DI Maddie Ives. It can be read as a stand alone, although it's book 7 in the series. Is there a connection between missing girls from the past and two missing girls in the present? There is a dual timeline, flitting back and forwards over 22 years and a host of excellent characters, especially Eileen. This is a different style from the author's previous books and is not so fast paced but I definitely recommend the read. If you are new to Charlie Gallagher, read his previous ones first, you won't regret it! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is the seventh book in the series and
I have not read any of the previous ones. This wasn’t very fast paced but I was told that the others are. I wish I started at the beginning because of character development. Still good overall .

As is usual with Charlie, this is a 'no holds barred' story about the kidnap and murder of people with connections from 20 years before. His descriptive writing may not be for everybody however as the reader you feel every cut and blow and pain that the victims are experiencing. Written from different perspectives, we are led up many a blind alley as to who the perpetrator is. Also as book 7 in the series, it may be read as a standalone but is better with the knowledge from the earlier books.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

Last One Alive by Charlie Gallagher is the seventh book in the Brilliant Detective Maddie Ives series from start to finish especially as this series is so good. When Daisy-Mae wakes up cold, all alone and in pain, her wrists are bound tight. She has no idea or memory on how she got there. She is now to weak to sit up and when she tries to look around where she is, she sees a message.......Written boldly just three words! in large black letters on the wall.

"DON'T WAKE UP"

Daisy-Mae has been reported missing by her friend Megan to Detective Maddie Ives when she didn't turn up for work at the coffee shop. Then, Megan disappeared the next day.

Where are they?

Who has taken then?

Back in 1999, on New Year's Eve, which was Twenty-two years ago, two young women set off for home from the nightclub where they worked. They never came home! However, their battered bodies were found five days later.

The killer was never caught.

Now, the nightclub has become a popular coffee shop this is where Megan and Daisy-Mae now work.

Is history repeating itself?

Is the Killer a local?

This book was another 5 star read and I highly recommend all these books in the brilliant Detective Maddie Ives series.

Big Thank you to Netgalley, Joffe Books and the author Charlie Gallagher for my ARC of Last One Alive in exchange for an honest review.

Maddie Ives, newly promoted, has a missing person to find; there's a copycat out there apparently although twenty years on. Each chapter, mostly, is narrated by a different person; there are many from someone who is imprisoned somewhere. A rather convoluted read that needs concentration rather than quick dips in and out. Not the best in this series but a reasonable read anyway.. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Detective Maddie Ives is back with a case like one twenty years earlier has the killer returned. Good characters and pacing, love seeing the characters progressing.
I received this book from Joffe books and Netgalley for a review.

This is the first book this year I did not finish. I just couldn't get through it and I stopped after 30%.

The story must have looked interesting in the early draft stages, but the execution is utterly horrible. Too many characters and with almost each chapter the viewpoint of a different character without explaining who it is first. This is so confusing that it takes away the flow and fun of reading. And then the story, so excruciatingly slow and, quite frankly, boring. Such a terrible waste of time.

Definitely won't recommend it to anyone.

Maddie Ives #7

Daisy-Mae wakes up cold, alone and in pain, her wrists are bound tight. she has no idea where she is or how she got there. Too weak to sit up, she turns her head to the wall. Then she sees it. Three words, scrawled in large, black letters: DON'T WAKE UP. Detective Maddie Ives is on the case. Daisy-Mae was reported missing by her friend Megan when she didn't turn up for work at the coffee shop. Megan disappeared the next day.

New Year's Eve, 1999, Twenty-two years ago, two young women set off for home from the nightclub where they worked. Their battered bodies were found five days later. The killer was never caught. The nightclub has become a coffee shop where Megan and Daisy-Mae now work. Is history repeating itself?

There are quite a lot of characters to keep track off. We also have a dual timeline - twenty-two years ago and the present day. The two crimes were similar, and they both had a connection to the coffee shop building. This is a well written series and I think this is my favourite book, so far. The story is told from multiple points of view. I was holding my breath and on the edge of my seat on several occasions. Filled with suspense, it had me guessing throughout. This book could be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeeBooks and the author #CharlieGallagher for my ARC of #LastOneAlive in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Last One Alive’, the seventh in the Detective Maddie Ives series written by Charlie Gallagher, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Daisy-Mae Adams has gone missing after finishing work at The Ugly Jug café and as newly promoted DI Maddie Ives isn’t convinced uniformed officers have taken her disappearance seriously she calls on the manager of the café, Megan Laurence. The following day Megan disappears. Is it a coincidence that The Ugly Jug’s premises used to be a nightclub where twenty-two years ago two women, Denise Tutthill and Christine Matheson, also disappeared?

I was delighted to be offered ‘Last One Alive’ and fully expected to enjoy it but despite reading the series from the beginning I’ve found myself getting flummoxed with the number of characters that I couldn’t place and the timespan. Is it just me or have other readers found it confusing? The plot itself is well thought-out and it’s good to meet up with Maddie again as her relationship with Vince Arnold progresses but I’m so disappointed that I couldn’t get more involved with the story although some parts were interesting. I like the author’s style of writing and despite not enjoying this book I’ll be looking out for the next one.

I have read and enjoyed every book in this series so was looking forward to this. I thought it had a slower start then the others but then it picked up the pace and it was just as good as the rest. A great psychological thriller with a few twists to keep me reading. Although it is book 7 in the series it can be read as a standalone but better to read in order to get the background.

A brilliant book, I have read all of this authors other books and they are so good , must reads all of them. So well written and such a fantastic story with so many twists and turns I could not leave this book down . The story unfolds with you thinking one way and the story takes a completely different turn that leaves you guessing right to the very end were still more intrigue. Would really highly recommend this book, if really love a great thriller/ mystery that keeps you guessing to the end you must read this .

Engrossing Last One Alive is the seventh in the Maddie Ives series. It is dark, disturbing, claustrophobic, taut and clever and so suspenseful I caught myself practically holding my breath a few times. The back and forthing is a wee bit confusing at first but quickly grows into a followable rhythm.

DI Maddie Ives is now the head of the Domestic Violence unit, finding her footing in the new position. Daisie-Mae goes missing and co-worker Megan suffers the same fate shortly after. These are no straightforward disappearances. Written "DON'T WAKE UP" is unsettling and goosebump inducing for the characters...and this reader. But what happens next is even worse. Not only that but the year 1999 comes back to haunt Maddie and her team. Danger is an understatement.

Thriller fans, especially those who enjoy police procedurals, do add this book to your list. Characters are well written and though not likeable fascinate. Author Charlie Gallagher draws on his experience as a police officer which adds that touch of reality which anchors the story. Do know that domestic violence and torture are mentioned.

My sincere thank you to Joffe Books for providing me with an early digital copy of this transfixing book!