I gave this novel 3.5 stars. Though it was not what I was wanting going into the novel, it was not a bad read. It was a slow burn mystery and I also found the "who dun it" easy to figure out.

This was a closed room mystery that had me feeling like I was locked in the room with the characters themselves. It got confusing for me at times with the alternating timelines and the number of characters. It was just hard for me to get to know each one of them because there were so many. I found myself having to keep them organized the right way in my head constantly to stay in tune with the story. The cover leads you to think this is something completely different than it is. Yes, its a thriller with murder, but its also just sad. This author is one I'd read again. I enjoyed this and I recommend to any locked room whodunit story lovers.

This was a very interesting psychological thriller read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in this type of genre

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Last Time We Met.

First, I love this cover; it's sinister, creepy, and devious. Yet, the narrative is nowhere near as dark and deadly.

In fact, it's kinda sad.

The narrative is nothing new; old friends with secrets are brought together to discuss the death of their closest friend a decade ago.

Everyone believed it was suicide, but it was murder.

All the tropes are here; the deceased was the good guy, the popular one, the guy everyone wanted to hang out with and gravitated to. One of the members of the group was in love with him, there was a love triangle brewing, everyone had their own personal relationship with the deceased that might have motivated them to kill him.

Will exposing their secrets lead to the killer?

The narrative lacked urgency and suspense; especially since I expected all the revelations.

Some of the subplots was deeply sad; for example, Ana is suffering from a mental breakdown that stemmed from a horrific assault she experienced as a teenager; a couple is unhappily married, and Sophie's grief and guilt has caused her to cut all social and personal ties.

I didn't like anyone, including Sophie. I couldn't understand why William or Jacob found her so interesting and alluring and wanted to be with her.

She was dull and boring, and I didn't care about William and all the problems everyone was dealing with.

I did guess whodunnit correctly; I usually do.

This book definitely kept me captivated especially when secrets start to come out and the intensity is added as we learn more about what really happened that night.

10 years ago a close group of friends had a meal at their usual Greek restaurant before heading to William’s flat for the after party. Unfortunately the night ended in tragedy, William’s apparent suicide. Sophie, his fiancée has spent the past decade running away from the events, but an out of the blue invitation leads her back to meet with the friends.

The story moves back between the fateful day of William’s death and 10 years later. We slowly find out more about the events and are introduced to the gang of friends. Each has secrets to hide which Ava, who is holding the party, wants to uncover, believing William was murdered.
It’s a claustrophobic thriller, with the dinner party being held in a locked apartment. The secrets are slowly revealed during the dinner and we get flashbacks filling in more of the story. It’s a Swedish set, and translated, novel. It was well plotted and I would definitely recommend it.

Thanks @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this suspenseful, locked room mystery. It was fast-paced, with a smart conclusion. I didn’t see this one coming, but it totally made sense. Interesting characters too. This was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 read for me. Highly recommend checking this book out when it hits shelves in June 2024. ❤️ #avivaandfriendsrecos

This book felt like a nice slow burn that kept me interested the entire time and honestly I really liked that about it. I felt like it was a smooth ride of watching it all unfold. Great story.

This isn’t nearly so deliciously vicious as the cover implies.

The plot has been done. Many years ago, tragedy happens. A decade later, everyone is invited to a get together. Doors are locked. Secrets are unveiled. Bad things happen.

But done to death or not, the storytelling is good here. I liked our characters and, while not terribly surprised by the who of everything, I was surprised by some of the secrets.

Despite the cover, it’s actually a quieter and sadder read and I definitely enjoyed it.

• ARC via Publisher

A mesmerizing, unbearably tense thriller.
Sophie Lind hasn't seen her college friends since ten years so when she receives an invitation from her old friend, Ava to meet at her place she just couldn't say no because after all these years she really wants to know what happened to William. These friends had a rule, they used to meet with each other every Friday but the last time they met with each other, William, one of them died.
As all the friends gather at Ava's place, a box is waiting for them in which their dirtiest secrets are there and soon Ava made it clear that they have to remember what happened to William and no one will leave this time before telling the truth. Someone isn't telling the truth. What happened to William is buried beneath someone's betrayal. But whose? Who killed William and why? Are they all going to leave Ava's house alive? Read to know more about this story.
I was hooked from the first page. First I thought it was an ordinary thriller but then I piqued my interest. I really wanted to know what happened the night William died. They all have something to hide but whose betrayal is the worst and how this crazy nightmare will end.
I loved all the characters especially Ava, Sophie and Tess. Other characters are awesome.
Narration of the story is excellent and flawless. I raced through it.
Overall, this is an up all night thriller which can't be missed.

This is an intriguing locked room mystery about 6 one-time friends who reunite at the dinner invitation sent out by one of them, Ava.

The last time they all met, the night ended with the death of Sophie's fiance, William. Tempted by the prospect that this reunion dinner could give her some measure of closure Sophie decides to attend. But soon after they are all sitting at the dinner table, with mysterious little boxes containing information about long hidden secrets next to each of them, it becomes evidence that there is more at play here then any nostalgic gathering of past friends...

The question is, will they all make it out alive this time? And who knows more about William's death than they have previously revealed?

By the end of the evening, the truth will out. But will it set anyone, least of all Sophie, free?

An interesting and well-written murder mystery, with some unexpected elements to it. Worth reading.

The last time we met was a nice psychological thriller, which concentrated on the grounds of friendships, revenge and betrayal.

I really enjoyed the way the offer use the characters to tell a very captivating interesting story.

If you are someone who is into psychological thrillers based around being in a locked room, then you will enjoy this

Absolutely crazy story and totally believeable!
Six college friends are invited to a dinner from their old friend Ava. They find out fairly quickly that this isn't just a catch up, that there are actually string attached. Ava believes that William, a friend of all of theirs, and fiancee of Sophie was murdered many years ago and aims to get to the bottom of what happened before the end of the night.

Sophie has decided to attend against her gut and best intentions. She hasn't spoken to any of the friends since the death of William and would rather forget them all. But Ava isn't the only one with a grudge and a plan. All of the friends had better be very, very careful.

This is a story with a premise we have heard before but a setting that we have not. Wahlgren provides a completely bonkers yet believable locked room thriller that will captivate you and confuse you until the very end!
#crookedlanebooks #thelasttimewemet #annaewahlgen