Abby goes to a remote island to seek closure after her fiancé’s death, but ends up with a lot more questions. This was twisty and delightful, although it was stressful to read! It did a good job of showing the emotional side, while still providing a solid mystery!

This book was an absolute page-turner that kept me up all night, unable to put it down. Abby’s character is incredibly relatable as she navigates the heart-wrenching mystery of her fiancé's death. The diverse and endearing group of expats she encounters adds depth and intrigue, making their journey together unforgettable. The story masterfully kept me guessing until the last page, unraveling twists and turns I never saw coming. A captivating read from start to finish!

This was a fast paced, suspenseful, entertaining read that I didn’t want to put down. It follows grief stricken Abby as she tries to follow her fiancé’s last days in a remote island. It’s a great read that keeps you entertained. Highly recommend!

This is my second Andrea bartz book and now I have to go sing her praises in my thriller Facebook groups cause she knocks it out of the park every time. I highly recommend this or any of her books.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book, as well as the premise. Abby travels to a remote Caribbean island to investigate the death of her fiancee, Eszter, who supposedly died from natural causes. The island appears idyllic, but all is not as it seems, and we are left to wonder whether the residents are helping or sabotaging Abby's investigation. The pace was a little slow, and I found some parts repetitive, but overall an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Ferry Out is one of the books I struggle with leaving a review for. I could not feel connected to any of the characters and the storyline was very slow for me. The ending is worth the struggle though. A lot of what were loose strings get tied up.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine / Ballantine Books for an ARC.

This was an interesting read. It was a thriller of sorts, but more character driven and less action oriented. The story slips from different character points of view to advance the story. It is also tinged with sadness..for what could have been for the main character. If you are looking for an action packed, fast paced book this is not the one for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for the advanced reader copy.

I really enjoyed Andrea Bartz's other novels, so I was excited to see she had a new one out. Abby heads to a tiny island near Cancun, Mexico, to learn more about the death of her fiancee, Eszter, who supposedly died from an allergic reaction. When she gets to the island and befriends some of the ex-pats that Eszter got to know, Abby finds that her fiancee was hiding several secrets, one of which may have gotten her killed--and perhaps by one of the expats Abby has gotten to know.

THE LAST FERRY OUT had the same queasy atmospheric quality that Bartz's other novels have, but the story didn't hang together as well as the previous novels. The secrets Eszter hides, and Abby's investigation into them got too convoluted for me to maintain interest in. I'll still look forward to the next novel from this author, though.

The Last Ferry Out is out on May 20, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'The Last Ferry Out'  by Andrea Bartz - expected release date 05/20/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a few of Bartz's previous books. Her writing is solid and very descriptive (sometimes overly so). I loved the way she described Isla Colel though, I could picture the creepy, desolate island, and felt like I was a witness to Abby's foreboding first impression. I felt dumb not knowing what 'expat' meant, I had to look it up, Bartz used that word A LOT. Overall, the plot was eh, the characters were eh, I didn't really connect with the book. It seemed like a lot was happening but it was a lot of fluff that led up to multiple weird twists regarding how Eszter died and how it was handled. I didn't expect anything that came out about her death by I wasn't overly impressed by any of it either. Bartz waited too long to present what really happened (Epilogue). Rating a 3 because her writing really is good, even if the plotlines aren't the most exciting.

The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz just wasn't my cup of tea. I can't say there was anything bad about it. The plot was perfectly fine; the characters were fine. I just didn't get pulled into the story and didn't find the characters or the plot compelling enough to care what happened next. Reading it was a bit of a slog for me.

I truly enjoyed reading this mystery! Set in Isla Colel (where everyone there is hiding something). I really liked following Abby on her journey as she connects with Eszter’s friends trying to figure out her last days. It kept me guessing the whole time! 📚✨ #TheLastFerryOut #BookReview #AndreaBartz

Again, Andrea Bartz shows she's a master of this form. One of my favorite things about her writing is how the setting becomes, in a way, a character, creating unique twists and eccentricities that end up being vital and require absolute attention - not that it's hard to pay attention when you have a book like this, where every character jumps off the page and feels full, and a compelling, twisty, interpersonal mystery that feels so, so real.

Does she even have the capacity to write a less than stellar book? I doubt it.

Abby receives devastating news.⁣⁣
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Abby travels to where the tragedy occurs in search of answers.⁣⁣
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Abby encounters a mysterious yet engaging group of individuals and discovers that the answers she finds only lead to more troubling questions.⁣⁣
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Will Abby find the truth she so desperately needs or will it remain forever hidden behind the clouds of secrecy surrounding Isla Colel?⁣⁣
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If you're looking for a captivating read that expertly weaves mystery and human emotion, "The Last Ferry Out" is a must-add to your bookshelf. From the very first page, you’ll be drawn into Abby’s journey as she seeks answers in a place shrouded in secrets.⁣⁣
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What sets this book apart is its relatable characters. You’ll find yourself empathizing with Abby and her newfound companions, rooting for them as they navigate their own personal struggles. The author’s skillful crafting of each character invites you into their lives, allowing them to linger in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page.⁣⁣
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Overall, this book was a quick, enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from Andrea Bartz in the future. ⁣⁣
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Thank you to @andreabartz, @ballantinebooks, and @netgalley for providing me with this advanced readers copy to read and review.

I found this book really disappointing. It had an interesting premise, but the pace was all over the place. I also found the main characters to be quite irritating the more she was featured. I found her to be selfish and annoying, as well as unrelatable

Flew through this book so quickly! Love the setting of the island and all of the characters individually. Was so excited all the way through the book, and was sad for it to end. Definitely a 5 star read for me!

A quick, solid, and entertaining read, with a unique cast of characters and a mystery that continues to unfold until the final pages.

Overall I liked the book but at times it seemed to drag on. I liked the last half of the book the best.

Thank you Netgalley, Andrea Bartz, and Penguin Random House.

This story is about a woman, Abby, who travels to Isla Colel, an island in Mexico, to try and find answers about her fiancée Eszter's death.

As Abby befriends a group of expats, who Eszter also knew, she becomes more and more suspicious about Eszter's death, especially after one of her new friends claims to know more about Eszter's tragic passing, but then disappears. Abby knows people are lying to her, but she's not sure who's lying and who she can trust.

There were a few slow paced parts, but overall I enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing and wanting to know the outcome of what really happened to Eszter.

Started slow but really picked up once the reveals started happening! Really enjoyed the second half!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an e-arc.

I'm a big fan of Andrea Bartz's writing, so I was very excited to get an advanced copy of The Last Ferry Out. This one has the suspense and layered plots of her previous books, set on a beautiful island and with a broad cast of interesting characters — each of whom could be guilty. Multiple POVs are normally a really, really hard sell for me — and a book with this many perspectives is usually a DNF — but Bartz makes it work. Each perspective is purposeful and although there are a lot, it was easy to follow them. Unsurprisingly, I tore through this book and am already excited for her next one (hint, hint, Random House).