Hadley is meeting her world-renowned artist sister at her new place for Christmas. She can't wait to see her sister and niece. Maddie is going through a painful divorce from her actor husband.

But they won't be celebrating. Hadley finds Maddies body and Cece, her niece missing. But right after she finds Maddie, Hadley meets Detective Connor Reid and his girlfriend Kate. Connor has experience with solving murders and Kate understands what Hadley is going through, having lost her own sister.

We get multiple POVs, including Cece's, whos only a little girl and desperately wanting her mother.

There's lots of possible suspects. I did not figure it out. Maddie had a few secrets that Hadley didn't know about, and not everyone around them are what they seem.

I was slightly confused about the motive. I didn't totally understand the explanation.

It's been a very, very long time since I've read a Luanne Rice story and this was a great one to jump back into her stories. I loved the locale, familiar with many of the places described within the pages (and hoping to visit those I'm not familiar with). I thought I had it all figured out...I mean there were plenty of suspects in my mind. I was wrong...mostly. I enjoyed how it was all tied together. I need to go back and read Kate and Conor's story someday.

A must read! This story kept you turning the page for more. The twist at the end was unexpected. The main characters were believable and you could emphasize with them. Very enjoyable story.

Maddie is an artist who has made a name for herself. Very rich but in the middle of an acrimonious divorce, battling with a husband who is obsessed and consumed by jealousy over her professional success and even by family ties. Meeting her sister Hadley over the Christmas holidays was supposed to be a joyous reunion but it turned out horribly wrong when Maddie’s body was found with point blank gun shot injuries and more crucial Cee Cee her little daughter missing.

What follows is a story of a teenage boy being set up by his father, to prove his family loyalty by murdering a woman, the deep rooted envy that immense wealth brings and how society gets divided when its greed and jealousy combines. How money sometimes brings so much sadness to some. A complicated story with many suspects which clouded the direction of the investigation till it was sorted out.

Good story.

I’m never disappointed when I read a Luanne Rice book! Last Night is a thriller that kept me guessing the whole way through. There was art, murder and a kidnapping and it was virtually impossible for me to figure out who exactly was to blame. There were so many possible culprits. But thanks to Conor, an out of jurisdiction police officer, along with his girlfriend Kate, an art gallery owner and specialist, together they never gave up until they solved the case and brought peace back into the lives of Hadley and her niece CeCe. This was a really great read, it kept me turning the pages and at times had me feeling on edge. I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the arc. It was a great murder mystery that had me puzzled and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller. I’m giving it a 5 star rating!

Renowned artist Maddie Morrison is staying with her young daughter CeCe at the legendary Ocean House in Rhode Island when a fierce blizzard rips through, burying the town in snow and ice. Maddie leaves the hotel to meet someone during the storm. and hours later she is found buried under a blanket of snow, and CeCe is nowhere to be found. The hotel becomes ground zero for Detective Conor Reid; his brother, Tom, a coast guard commander; and Maddie’s grieving sister, Hadley as they work with local police in a race against time to find Maddie's killer, and hopefully find CeCe while she is still alive.

I normally enjoy this author's books, but this one.... not so much. It wasn't bad - just not my favorite. None of the characters were especially likeable (even CeCe or her aunt Hadley), and all of the characters seemed to be lacking in depth. None of them were relatable either, so there really wasn't a character I was rooting for. There were plenty I was rooting against though! Overall, this gets a solid three out of five.

Last Night by Luanne Rice is an engrossing story. The book is set on the Rhode Island coast during December. Famous artist Maddie Morrison and her daughter, CeCe, live in the Ocean House hotel. One night during a blizzard, Maddie takes CeCe out to the beach to meet someone. She hides CeCe in a break in a hedge for protection from the storm and also from the person Maddie is meeting. The person who shows up isn’t the one Maddie is expecting. CeCe hears a loud noise and finds her mother dead in a snowbank. CeCe is kidnapped by the shooter. The storyline centers finding CeCe and figuring out why Maddie was killed. Does it have to do with her art or possibly her contentious divorce. The area has lobster fishermen who maybe aren’t just fishermen. The end connects all the moving parts. Last Night is a gripping story that made we want to stay up way too late reading.

I was so happy to have found a new thriller-wrute, Luanne Rice, back in 2020 with Last Day and then The Shadow Box kept me hooked. Safe to say I've been waiting 3 years to read more of her work and her newest novel, Last Night, did not disappoint!

I didn't realize when I started this book that it was the second book about detective Conor Reid and his girlfriend Kate. At the beginning of the book he's debating how to propose on the beach during a snowstorm and it's not until later that parts of their history are revealed as a way to help comfort Hadley, the grieving sister in this book. I didn't feel like anything was missing though by jumping right into the second book. The chapters alternate perspectives between characters, even CeCe the missing child, as clues start to add up. It was a good mystery and I loved the setting of a Rhode Island beach hotel during a blizzard which added more difficulty and suspense to the case.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What started as a slow winter mystery became a gripping whodunnit I could not put down. Once I reached around 40% through, I craved any pocket of time to dive into this story.

CeCe, a six-year-old girl, and her mother, Maddie, head to Rhode Island for Christmas and for a fresh start. What began as a sweet start to a new life suddenly morphed into a tragedy full of questions.

I liked how the narration allowed for insight into CeCe's experience, and I think her character was well-written for the most part. I also liked the relationship between CeCe and her aunt.

I did not like that the story was lackluster for the first 40%. This did not deter me from continuing, thankfully, because it was around 45% that I was hooked. Read this if you like:
- found family
- mystery and suspense with minimal gore
- children in books
- hotel atmosphere

Overall, I am glad I read this book and was satisfied with the ending. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC! Check out Last Night available Feb. 1st!

This is an edge of your seat thriller of a book!
It kept my attention from page one to the very end.
It’s a good mystery that will certainly keep you guessing. Lots of surprises along the way.

Last Night is the newest book by Luanne Rice. This book does not appear to be part of a series. However, many of the characters in this one were also in The Shadow Box. I was able to have read that one which made me jump at the chance to read this one.

A blizzard is hitting the Ocean House in Rhode Island. Maddie Morrison and her daughter CeCe head outside to meet someone. She asks her daughter to hide nearby while she talks to them. CeCe hears voices but she isn't sure who they are. Later, Maddie's body is found buried under snow and her daughter, CeCe, is missing.

Detective Conor Reid is at Ocean House for a special evening with his girlfriend Kate. But they quickly get involved in the murder of Maddie and her missing daughter.

This was a fantastic story. It is riveting and mesmerizing. This one much like The Shadow Box are puzzles where the pieces are there for you, and you have to put them together. You can't glance over the pages because you will miss important details. It is an easy and enjoyable story to read.

A woman gets murdered and her daughter gets kidnapped. The race is on to find Cece and to figure out who killed Maddy and why.

Action started right at the beginning of the book. This book had lots of interwoven character relationships, where everyone has a secret and only tells half truths. This book kept me guessing until the end.

Some characters disappointed me as I read and others surprised me. I haven't read a Luanne Rice novel in years, but now I remember why I loved her writing so much. This book is a definite recommend to those who love a gripping mystery / suspense story with a murder and a kidnapping, a dash of romance and family dynamics, and without gore and spice.

Thank you to Netgalley, Luanne Rice, and the publishers for this free ebook. This review is 100% my own and honest opinion.

I really needed a book that I could lose myself in, and Last Night by Luanne Rice was the perfect choice. Once I started reading, I could barely put the book down as all the twists and turns kept me guessing right up to the end. Now I plan to read the full story of Conor and Kate in Last Day. Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

I really enjoyed this page turner.. This story is about the murder of Maddie the mother of CeCe. She took CeCe with her to the beach on a very snowy night, as she was meeting some. she hid CeCe in the brush that had an opening but she couldn't see. , but she could hear. The person on the beach was not the person she expected to meet and she was shot in the head. Ce Ce saw that.Apparently the killer didn't expect CeCe to be there so he kidnapped her thus the story begins.. There are so many characters but Conor. Tom and Kate have their own investigation going and the local officers have theirs To say anything else would be spoiling the story.THIS IS A GREAD THRILLER TO READ.

Another page turned from Luann Rice! I was sucked in from the beginning. The author definitely keeps you guessing as to “whodunnit.” The ending did not disappoint. Definitely a great book that I didn’t want to put down!

Enjoyable but not extremely deep story.

I've read many other Luanne Rice books and recognized some of her favorite place names (Black Hall) and subjects (artists). I don't recall reading anything else of hers that I would categorize as mystery, so that was new to me. The purpose of the killing seemed shallow and I didn't finish the book with a clear understanding of the motive. Too many people were conveniently related to or employed by other characters which wound up being confusing for me.

The kidnapped six year old seemed wise beyond her years and spoke like an adult, not a 1st grader. She also thought like very few elementary-aged kids think, especially when under such duress. After getting her face smashed into the floor, she was able to discern that writing her name in her own blood on the wall would clue in the "good guys" - hard for me to believe.

The villains seemed contrived and trying to loop in human trafficking seemed like a stretch.

2.5 stars, feels generous so I'l go 2 star rating.

This tale of domestic thriller starts with a shocking crime and just keeps on building the suspense. Set in Rhode Island, USA; during a blizzard a game of avarice turns deadly. A murder is committed and a young child's life hangs in the balance as a storm rages hindering law enforcement and family's efforts. Thoroughly enjoyable read for the winter.

A reintroduction to the writing of Luanne Rice for me. Have read many of her past women's fiction books, but this is a first, a murder mystery. Loved the character development and the book had enough going on to keep me turning the pages with interest. All in all, a good read

Book is out Feb 1st but is part of the kindle first this month
Pre-order today

It has been a very long time that I have starting reading a book and thought about it all day I just couldn't wait to get back to it. Fast pace and very intriguing. The mystery, the characters and even the setting was perfect. I especially liked the extra side characters.
I actually didnt see any of the twist or turns coming. I was shocked at the factor of who dunit!!


My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.