Huge appreciation to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an early glimpse into this gripping and unpredictable thriller. Authored by the talented Canadian writer Amber Cowie, the narrative masterfully crafts a vivid sense of place, transporting readers to a remote peninsula off the coast of BC. The setting, with its torrential rainfall, mud, and dangerous cliffs, is both atmospheric and immersive, accessible only by boat.

Penelope Berkowitz, grappling with the loss of her best friend Marianne and the pressure to produce a second novel, discovers a list of contacts Marianne intended to invite on a mysterious weekend escape. The destination, an isolated lodge with a haunting history, becomes the catalyst for Penelope's next novel.

The story unfolds as Penelope and her new boyfriend join a diverse group for a weekend retreat filled with hikes, good food, and relaxation. However, Penelope's leadership and the group's dynamics quickly spiral out of control. The flawed protagonist adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, though some may find her overwhelming emotions a bit excessive.

As eerie events unfold, the lodge becomes a sinister backdrop for a series of disappearances and deaths. The mystery deepens, with questions of accidental deaths, coincidence, or murder hanging in the air. The atmosphere becomes increasingly hostile, and the survivors must navigate a storm, missing phones, and darkness in a fight for their lives.

While the story delivers unexpected twists, there are a few plot holes and dead ends that might leave readers wanting more clarification. The intensity of the survivors' predicament adds a chilling layer, making it a compelling read for fans of adventure thrillers. The narrative explores themes of revenge, folklore, and possible redemption, earning it a solid 4.0 stars. Recommended for those who enjoy suspenseful tales where a group faces disaster and suspicion runs high.

Last One Alive by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush is the third in the series however as a new cold case it is easily a stand alone novel. I found this to be a murder drama more so than a thriller or suspense novel. If you want to read a series that could easily be turned into a prime time tv series this is the way to go.

I really enjoyed this story and the narrator was wonderful! I did not realize it was the third book in a series when I started but that did not affect me being able to enjoy this book. The book integrated in enough detail to nod back to previous books and make me want to listen to those as well. Overall great book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for a copy of this audio to review.

This is the third in the Coroner's Daughter series. While I was a bit confused when starting, I was able to catch up with who was who and I was able to invest myself in the story. We follow Dr. Emily Hartford who just bought into a medical practice with her ex, which leads to them reigniting their old flame.

Enter Solange - a tripe homicide survivor who has just stumbled on a large sum of money from her parents, who were murdered in a triple homicide, along with her twin brother. Her father was accused, but she knows that he could not do such a thing. She approaches Dr. Hartford to help her clear her father's name, find out the truth of who murdered her family, and figure out whether she is safe or not.

I was very invested in this story up until about the 60% mark, though I can't put my finger on why. I was not able to figure out who the killer was, which is a good sign, but I felt the story ended abruptly and I wasn't at all prepared for it to end.

The narrator did a fantastic job. She is going between two POV's (Dr. Hartford and Solange) and I was never questioning who's POV we were in because the narrator had distinct voices for each of the main characters. Really well done!

Thank you, Blackstone publishing and NetGalley for the preview of this audiobook. First off, I should point out that this is my first book by this author, and I was unaware that it was part of a series when I requested it. That said, I didn't feel like I needed to go back and read the previous two books to understand it. I liked the story; it was exciting and kept me interested the whole time. The narrator did a good job creating the characters voices so you could always tell which character was narrating. I loved the discovery of who the villain is but wish we could have learned more about the backstory of that character and the victims. I wasn't a huge fan of how the book continued after the main plot resolved and ended with a cliffhanger. I understand it is part of a series and the author wants you excited for the next book, but I didn't think it was necessary.

This one didn't grip me the way I thought it would. The narrator was great, but the book itself didn't hit. I'm sorry. I do think a lot of people will enjoy it, though!

3 stars, bumped to 4 stars for Sophie Amoss, because I love her narration and she's why I requested this book in the first place.

I didn't realize this was the third book in a series until I got approved for the book. Oops. I was still able to follow it, as the mystery could be read as a stand alone, but I'm sure people can get more out of it (the Nick/Brandon stuff), if they read this in order.

This was a decent enough murder mystery and I liked Emily and Solange quite a bit. They were both flawed, but compelling characters. I gotta say though that some of the writing reminded me of things that would be said in like 80s action movies, so I was rolling my eyes at parts.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing!

"Last One Alive" by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush is a gripping thriller that seamlessly weaves together suspense, emotion, and a cleverly crafted mystery. Dornbush's storytelling prowess is on full display as she guides readers through a tale of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.

The characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own complexities and secrets that add layers to the narrative. The pacing is relentless, ensuring that the tension builds steadily throughout the novel. Dornbush's ability to evoke a sense of atmosphere and emotion adds depth to the overall experience.

"Last One Alive" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, delivering a satisfying blend of intricate plotting, compelling characters, and a narrative that resonates long after the final page. Dornbush has crafted a masterpiece that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Having read the previous two books in this series I was excited to continue. This is book 3 but can absolutely be read as a standalone (it's been a while since I read the first two so I don't remember much). I loved the story, the twist, the strong female protagonist. Can't wait for book 4!

Than you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

I LOVED this book!! I listened to it so fast!! I love a good medical mystery and this one had house drama too?? All of my favorite things together!

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC Audiobook. This was great. I enjoyed every minute of this. I’m going to have to listen to the next one now as this left on a bit of a cliffhanger. Most thrillers I find to predictable but this was nicely done and came together well. It didn’t feel rushed as they so often do. The narrator did a great job as well telling the story. I look forward to then next in the series.

This is a review of the audiobook of this novel

I have read #1 in this series but missed #2, I had no problems understanding who everyone was but I do recommend at least reading the first one.

I had some problems with the characters. Emily has just finished up her residency in Chicago and has bought a medical practice. She is just starting to figure out some problems with the practice when she gets a call from her childhood friend. She is ready to drop everything and rush to help her friend. I don’t think many medical residents would have this flexibility. But this is fiction and I went with it.

Solange McClelland has a sad history. Her family were all massacred at their lake house when she was 17 – she was away from home. Now she has turned 30, discovered that she has a large inheritance and wants to try to find the person who killed her family. She has never believed that it was a murder/suicide committed by her father.

This is where reality must be put aside. Emily, despite being at a pivotal point in her medical practice, leaves Chicago to help Solange in discovering the killer. She goes to the lake house in Michigan and from there the story takes off.

The novel is told from the POV of both Emily and Solange. Perhaps because this was an audiobook, I had some problems with the past and present storylines. The story didn’t flow well and there was also a lot of repetition between Emily and Solange’s POV.

Believability was again a problem, especially when everyone ends up driving through blizzard like conditions and yet solving a decade’s old case.

All in all this is still an entertaining novel and I can recommend it for casual listening.

I received an audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to listen to and review this title.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

This book was great! It did start off a bit slow for me but after a few chapters and I was hooked!! The plot was great the characters were also great. Such a good book!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I really enjoy this series and am looking forward to reading more id actually consider rereading it because i enjoy reading it so much! 5 star

I didn’t realize this was a book 3 until I’d already started it…

That said, I feel like I was able to understand where the story was coming from, and right away, liked the character of Nick, even though he wasn’t even in this book.

I like the intersecting plot lines, and how the main character, Emily, was able to come back to version of her old life. I wasn’t sold on either characters actions at certain points in the story and found myself a little frustrated by their decisions. Nothing seemed to flow logically to me.

Especially at the end, I questioned the main characters decisions on a personal front. I would hope that certain things are resolved in a next book and show a happier outcome.

Personally, this wasn’t my favorite read, but it could’ve been due to the fact that I wasn’t as invested since this was my first book in the series.

Fans of previous Books may really enjoy this addition.

My rating: 3.5*

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Kind of slow paced at times, and other times it's very confusing with too many things happening at once. Not bad for a quick read thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for an audio copy of Last One Alive.

I had never read a book by the author Jennifer Graeser Dornbush, but the book sounded intriguing. I discovered after reading this that it is the third part of a series, called the “Coroner's Daughter. I didn’t feel the previous books were needed to read this book.

Solange McClelland is the lone survivor to family massacre that happened over a decade earlier. Solange finds out her 30th birthday that she’s inherited over three million dollars along with the vacation home her parents and twin brother were murdered

Solange contacts Emily the original corner’s daughter. Emily’s father had passed and Solange is insistent she is the only person that can help find who really murdered her family. Although Emily is busy as she accepted a promising medical venture with her ex fiancé Brandon she agrees to look into the autopsy.

Solange and Emily really take you on a journey of who’s done it.

I enjoy this book many times I was on the edge of my seat. Things cool down toward the end but wow it leaves you with an out of left field cliffhanger at the end

Overall, "Last One Alive" is a solid 4-star thriller that will appeal to fans of suspenseful fiction. It's a gripping and atmospheric read that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page.

Pros:

Gripping and suspenseful plot
Atmospheric setting
Well-developed characters
Shocking and satisfying ending
Cons:

Slow pace at times
Predictable plot points
Rushed ending

Narration was excellent!

This was my first book by Dornbush, but I'll be reading more for sure! I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the setting, especially as I consider Michigan my first home (I lived there for 30 years). The scientific side of things was intriguing, and I really appreciate the strong female characters and male characters who stand by them.

Dr. Emily Hartford is feverishly finishing up her residency in Chicago when she is contacted by Solange McClelland about reopening a murder investigation in which her whole family was killed and she was the only survivor. Solange is contacting Emily because years ago Emily's father had been the attending coroner investigating the murders and Solange feels that he made a mistake in his report. Emily believes her father never made mistakes and when she begins to investigate she discovers not all is as it seems. She and Solange agree to work together and as they discover more intricacies of the murder the stakes begin to rise for each of them. There is stalking and attacks on both of them and some of their loved ones. The story had a good pace but I could not find myself investing in these characters very much. Good for a beach read.