This was not what I was expecting, as it is not exactly a thriller as categorized, and there are a lot of things going on in the beginning to keep track of, both from a character perspective and a timeline perspective. It came together in the second half and I liked this one overall, and the audio was great as well, but it was a slow start to get there. If you're going into this with the expectations of a thriller you're going to find yourself disappointed.

This book was, unfortunately, not a win for me. I was expecting a thriller and a thriller this was not (or at least it did not feel like one to me. It was painfully slow, and I just kept reading thinking that something would eventually actually happen and it would get exciting, but it just never really did.

Started a little slow but definitely picked up! Great writing by this author. Looking forward to reading more from them!

Thanks, Grand Central Publishing, for the review copy via NetGalley. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect to the story or characters enough to maintain my attention.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Nina Laurin's "The Last Thing She Saw" is a gripping psychological thriller that isn't your typical cat-and-mouse game; it's a chilling descent into the darkest corners of the human psyche, where obsession and paranoia blur the lines between reality and illusion.

Laurin masterfully crafts a claustrophobic atmosphere, drawing the reader into a world of fear and uncertainty. The narrative unfolds with a slow, deliberate pace, building suspense with each carefully placed detail. The protagonist, a woman haunted by a traumatic past, is a complex and deeply flawed character, making her both sympathetic and terrifying.

The story delves into the potential for the ordinary to become extraordinary, exploring themes of trauma, memory, and the fragility of truth. Laurin's prose is sharp and incisive, cutting to the heart of the characters' motivations and fears.

"The Last Thing She Saw" is a haunting and unforgettable read.

A must-read for fans of suspenseful thrillers like "The Girl on the Train" and "Gone Girl."

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

A flood in a small Quebec town reveals the body of a child. The remains are very old and unable to be identified but everyone has no question who they belong to. A 9-year-old Michelle had disappeared nearly 40 years ago and everyone is eager to find out what happened to her. Stephanie grew up in this town and is now runs a podcast about the goings on in their small town. Stephanie decides to come back to get to the bottom of Michelle's disappearance once and for all. The secrets she uncovers are shocking.

Nina Laurin delivers a masterclass in psychological suspense with The Last Thing She Saw, a dark and intricately layered thriller that keeps readers teetering on the edge of their seats. From the outset, Laurin draws you into a world of secrets and deception, making you believe you have a grasp on the unfolding events—only to shatter those assumptions with unexpected twists.

The story is infused with an escalating sense of dread, each chapter revealing new complexities that deepen the mystery. Laurin’s prose is taut and evocative, creating an atmosphere of unease that intensifies as the narrative progresses. Her ability to maintain this tension while gradually peeling back layers of the plot is a testament to her skill as a storyteller.

One of the novel’s strongest elements is its pacing. The story builds steadily, with a palpable darkness that grows more oppressive as the truth inches closer to the surface. When the climax arrives, it feels like a tightly wound coil finally snapping—an explosive culmination that is both shocking and satisfying.

Laurin’s characters are well-crafted, each with their own secrets and motivations that add depth to the story. The protagonist’s journey is particularly compelling, as she navigates a labyrinth of danger and uncertainty, forcing readers to question who can truly be trusted.

Overall, The Last Thing She Saw is a gripping and twisted tale that lingers long after the final page. Nina Laurin expertly weaves a narrative filled with suspense, surprise, and psychological depth, making this a must-read for fans of dark and complex thrillers.

Having grown up in a similar Northern town where residents are born there, die there, know everyone's business, gossip, and drink too much, I can relate and understand the feeling of wanting to leave, but also wanting to stay. Steph escaped the small town life to go to college and later make a living as a podcaster. She returns home after losing her job, and starts to investigate the disappearance of a young girl 40 years ago. Steph and her alcoholic mother have a rocky relationship, but all they have is each other. Her ex boyfriend is now married to her former best friend. All Steph wants to do is get back on her feet and get out of there! As she gets one step closer to finding the truth about the missing child, there are stories of witches and devil worship afoot. She continues to find the truth, and ultimately has to decide what to do with it.

This is my second book by this author! Both were so good. This one to me started off slow but I could not put it down!

I love a small town thriller and this fits the bill! Stephanie is trying to find a killer but has to figure out all the small town secrets along the way. The main character isn’t necessarily likeable or reliable and that was fun! There were some unanswered questions and felt rushed at the end but it’s got a good theme and good twist!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the arc of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book started out pretty slow for me. Stephanie returns to Marly as a last resort once she is fired from her publishing job in the big city. She moves into her mother's run down trailer and things are immediately pretty tense between her mother Laura and herself, to say the least. Stephanie runs into her ex Luc, who she hasn't she hasn't seen in years and has since married her ex best friend Cath. Luc is a part of the "it" family in Marly, with his cousin Tony and father Frank the cop still residing there.

Things start to get interesting when the body of a small child is found the the wall of a house after the house was flooded. Two years prior to the start of this book, Stephanie had returned to Marly to work on her podcast that focused on the disappearance of Michelle Fortier, a nine year old from Marly. Immediately, Stephanie believes the body found must be Marly and makes it her personal mission to uncover the truth. Laura is very apprehensive about Stephanie's podcast and her mediocre detective work, which sets off alarm bells for the me. Is she truly an awful person or did she kill Michelle? Also, why is she so damn hateful towards her own daughter?

The remainder of this book is a journey to find out who killed Michelle, as it flashes back to Laura as a teen who babysat Michelle the night she went missing. With the help of Luc and ultimately Laura, Stephanie gets her answers. But with the answer comes near death experiences and facing some hard truths of their own. Some people close to the case aren't as clean as they appear, and Michelle herself had very unsettling behavior prior to disappearing.

Once the book gets going, this was a quick read. The book is well written, and I enjoyed the flashbacks that explained Laura's past. In regards to individual characters, both Laura and Stephanie had a decent character arc, making their characters more likable at the end. Tony was misunderstood his entire life, and it is pretty sad the things he endured considering his probable diagnosis. Frank and Luc ultimately got what they deserved, an arrest and a divorce. Michelle got a proper burial after almost 40 years.

3.5 ⭐ Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was a quick read for me. I enjoyed the dual timelines and how the mother and daughters stories tied together. It kept my interest and even though it wasn't the thriller I expected it to be, I still enjoyed the read.

Book Review 📚🔎
The Last Thing She Saw by Nina Laurin

An untriumphant return to a childhood small town ✅
An unsolved murder ✅
A podcast to go along with it ✅

The Last Thing She Saw has all the elements needed for a satisfying thriller. Buckle up for a ride that will give you more questions before you get answers. While our heroine can sometimes be immature or juvenile with her outlook, it lends to a genuine and relatable struggle one may experience when faced with family and the past. It added an element to this story!

This psychological thriller unfolds through two alternating timelines from the perspectives of a mother and daughter, set in a small, unremarkable town in Quebec. I enjoyed the suspenseful atmosphere and the run-down setting, complete with toxic, gossipy locals, and the has-beens. The story captured the charm of returning to a first love and the complex dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship. It had the vibes of true crime paired with a cold case, which I found engaging. There are a few red herons and a couple twists. While the big reveal felt a bit messy and left me with a few questions, it was still entertaining and enjoyable, even if not a true page-turner.

Thank you to the author publisher and NetGalley for this arc to review.

This is a great read, I really enjoyed it! The strange, close nit small town adds to the mystery. I was drawn into the story right away with great writing. I love how the ladies finally lined up outside to tell their tales. A gritty and gripping read, with a great ending.

Stephanie O’Malley, a journalist and rookie podcaster, has returned to her small hometown in Quebec, Canada. She plans to live with her mother while she regroups after losing her job in Montreal. The town has experienced some dramatic flooding, damaging many main street buildings and revealing the remains of a child. Still hopeful that she can produce a true crime podcast, Stephanie delves into the mystery and what really happened forty years ago.

I enjoyed many aspects of The Last Thing She Saw. It has an interesting premise, I enjoyed the setting, and the story is revealed through several time lines. I usually enjoy this type of format, but I found it somewhat difficult to follow as it bounced back and forth. The chapters often ended with a cliffhanger and then picked up again several chapters later. This definitely kept me on my toes.

Meanwhile, many of the characters could be quite unappealing. Stephanie was often annoying. She has trouble moving forward and she often justified some of her actions and decisions as a means to help her community or find justice, instead of admitting she was just being self-serving.

The satanic aspects that were introduced seemed to be unnecessary and distracting. Ditto for the insertion of the high school sweetheart who had married Stephanie’s best friend. But, I can also see that the addition of the former boyfriend provided someone who could offer Stephanie needed support.

Finally, the ending seemed to be plucked out of (mostly) thin air. It could be called an unexpected twist, but for me it was more like a sharp, ninety-degree turn. The Last Thing She Saw is 3.5 stars for me. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the digital copy to review.

This was not what I was expecting, as it is not exactly a thriller as categorized, and there are a lot of things going on in the beginning to keep track of, both from a character perspective and a timeline perspective. It came together in the second half and I liked this one overall, and the audio was great as well, but it was a slow start to get there.

A long ago unsolved disappearance of a child, small town lore, a girl who escaped to the city coming home to investigate, and more secrets being revealed. This book builds the story slowly, but then it reveals the twists and secrets in the end. I figured out a couple of things before they were revealed, but I don’t think it took away from the story, and I enjoyed the ride.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very thrilling and it definitely kept me guessing.

I really liked the flashback chapters because it gave the reader an idea of what was going on and how it added to the story.

I definitely plan to read more from this author!