Secrets. It’s not always easy to get people to open up when you need answers.

The main character, Abby, was visiting a small group of English-speaking locals on a beautiful small island off the eastern side of Mexico. She went there to experience the last place where her 27-year-old fiancée, Eszter, visited. Abby was told that her true love died from a severe allergy attack at the Airbnb.

The setting of this island was described as a place with great beauty with the high peaks overlooking the ocean. It would be on anyone’s vacation list. However, some of the issues weren’t as lovely. There were a number of hot topics: drugs, emotional abuse, corrupt politicians and the effects of hurricanes.

When Abby met Eszter’s friends, she naturally asked questions about her last days. However, there was a feeling that they were hiding information. She felt like there were lies everywhere. You could feel her high anxiety levels. It also bothered her immensely that Eszter’s parents didn’t accept their relationship.

The book was so smoothly written that I started to drift in a few places. The chapters were short with unexpected twists. I thought I figured out how it was going to wrap up, but I was far from it. I will put the author’s other books on my list.

My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 20, 2025.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sharing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was a bit slow for me at first but the more I got into it the more hooked I became. Good choice if you are looking for a thrilling summer read. Nice twist, I would recommend.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group/Ballentine Books and NetGalley for sharing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Abby's fiance Eszter dies suddenly on the small Mexican island of Isla Colel Abby sets out in search of answers. Before she passed away Eszter sent Abby a grim text that no one wants to get...'we need to talk'. On her search for closure and answers Abby runs into a group of expats living on the island that she hopes can help her, however, she ends up unsure of who she can trust and what to believe.

Overall I thought this was a good read despite being a bit slow. Luckily the characters were well written and there was enough intrigue to keep me engaged. While there were no blow your mind moments this was still a solid read and is worth checking out.

this is one of the saddest and yet uplifting mystery stories I have read. The characters are believable. There are lot of twists and plenty of suspense.
The ending was a big surprise . I could not put is down

I think the reason why this one wasn't a hit for me was because I had such high hopes. Some of Andrea's previous works are among my favorite reads, but this one felt like a miss for me. It was slow and felt impossible to get into. And once I finally did, the characters felt one-dimensional and I was just confused from the beginning. I didn't end up finishing this one, giving up about 60 percent of the way through. I'm hopeful that this book will find its audience, it's just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book comes out on May 20th, so this is a little early! This was definitely a slow burn, much of it focusing on the relationship between Abby and Eszther. I liked the random POVs thrown in to tie the story together and help the reader piece together what happened. The twist at the end was good as well. Definitely had the “locked room” feel with Abby not being able to get off the island and a lot of suspicious characters thrown in the mix. I personally wish there wasn’t so much focus on Abby and Eszther’s relationship and more on the mystery. It took me a bit out of the story and I found myself losing interest. Again, this could’ve been where I was when I read it and maybe wouldn’t have minded that so much if it were read at a different time!

This is such a tragic tale. There are twists and turns. There are scenes that caused me to hold my breath. It was a very interesting book loaded with characters who harbored secrets. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz is a tense, atmospheric thriller that keeps you on edge from the very first page. Set against the backdrop of an impending disaster, the novel masterfully weaves suspense, moral dilemmas, and the desperate choices people make to survive. Bartz’s sharp prose and layered characters make every twist feel both shocking and inevitable. If you love thrillers that blend psychological depth with pulse-pounding action, this one is a must-read.

Andrea Bartz never disappoints and The Last Ferry Out kept me hooked from page 1 !

Abby comes to Isla Colel for closure. She wants to see the last place her fiancee died. She aches for Eszter and hopes this will provide her the closure she needs. Instead, she ends up with more than she could ever bargain for.

A beautiful island, filled with beautiful plants and interesting people, Abby seems to fit right in. While a hurricane took down the bustling tourist business of the past, the island maintains its slow, but beautiful life. Abby finds and befriends the group Eszter once befriended and after getting to know the members, her eyes are opened to all the secrets that they, and the island, hold. The dark secrets revealed take Abby on a jouney one hopes she will survive.

Gripping, suspenseful, and intriguing, The Last Ferry Out is not one to miss!

Perfect read if you are looking for a thrilling summer read. This book had me hooked from the beginning. The twist shocking. I would highly recommend.

The Last Ferry Out" by Andrea Bartz is a suspenseful thriller that takes readers to the secluded Isla Colel, where Abby seeks answers about her fiancée Eszter's mysterious death. The novel masterfully blends elements of mystery and romance, unraveling secrets within a close-knit expat community. Bartz's vivid descriptions of the island's eerie beauty enhance the atmospheric tension, keeping readers engaged as Abby delves deeper into the enigma surrounding Eszter's demise.​

The narrative's strength lies in its exploration of grief and the complexities of uncovering uncomfortable truths. While some plot twists may feel anticipated, the emotional depth and character development compensate, offering a satisfying reading experience. Fans of Bartz's previous works will appreciate her signature style of intertwining psychological suspense with profound emotional undertones.​

Overall, "The Last Ferry Out" is a compelling read that balances intrigue with an intimate portrayal of love and loss, making it a worthwhile addition to the thriller genre.

Well, I concede that The Last Ferry Out starts a bit slow, but as it headed to the end I was thrilled. This is one fun book and I credit author Andrea Bartz with clever writing resulting in interesting subplots and twists and turns that kept me guessing. As a whole the story takes us to a life on an isolated island and gives us (me) the feeling of being there. No, I don't want to return, but I enjoyed the trip.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

After the death of her fiancé on an island off the coast of Mexico, Abby travels there to get to the bottom of the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death. What she finds is unsettling and not what she expected…

This was enjoyable and kept my interest, but I wouldn’t say it was highly suspenseful or propulsive. I was curious to see how the whole story would play out, but I wasn’t necessarily glued to the pages.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this ebook!

I absolutely couldn’t put this book down—it was so twisty and full of suspense! I felt Eszter’s grief and determination on every page, and I was completely drawn into her need for answers. The descriptions of the island were so vivid that I felt like I was right there with her, walking through the aftermath of the hurricane and experiencing the eerie, desolate atmosphere. I was captivated by the group of expats Abby met—they were mysterious, and I kept trying to figure out who could be trusted. When one of them hinted at knowing the truth about Eszter’s final days and then disappeared, I felt Abby’s frustration and unease so deeply. I was on edge, wondering what would happen next and why the others seemed so indifferent to his absence.

This book kept me guessing right up until the end, and I loved how unpredictable it was. I felt like I was unraveling the mystery right alongside Abby, and every twist and revelation left me wanting more. It was a thrilling and emotional ride, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a story full of suspense, complex characters, and shocking twists.

Andrea Bartz has a very distinct writing style and I can't decide if I love it or if it just isn't for me? I am caught somewhere in between but overall found myself to really enjoy this one? It was incredibly twisty if at times a bit slow.

The Last Ferry Out was the exact thriller I wanted to devour on vacation. The story focuses on a woman who's girlfriend dies a mysterious death on an island, and she decides to retrace her steps to try to find closure. The twists were good, not completely shocking, but still fulfilling and it was a great read.

I absolutely loved this book, as I have with all of Andrea Bartz's previous novels. I was completely hooked from the start and loved the setting, and the slow unfolding of Abby figuring out what really happened on the island. I couldn't put it down!

I found this one to be a bit slow and it never really hooked me. I didn’t connect with the characters in the way I hoped. Overall, just not the read for me.

The Last Ferry Out
Thank you Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Andrea Bartz for the Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review this book!

Andrea Bartz writes some of the most dynamic expressions of oceans and storms and how they can represent inner turmoil in this book. The opening scenes arriving to the island and the main character hiking up to look out over the raging water captured my imagination. This storm carried throughout the novel into the vibrant locations where this story takes place. I really enjoyed the exploration of Isla Colel and the story that unfolds in The Last Ferry Out. The characters’ decisions they make will leave a lasting impression on readers. We’re all choosing our regrets, aren’t we?

The second part of the book moves briskly through the mystery thriller elements masterfully spun into a romance story. In my experience right around where Gloria assist Abby speaking to Marta the chapter endings are extremely strong. The chapter endings begin to feel like a dramatic commercial break on a cold case TV drama. I saw Andrea describe the mystery as ‘puzzle box’ and I think that is a good descriptor. It benefits the reader who pays attention and lets the reader figure it out at a consistent pace. The epilogue leaves some pieces that complete the puzzle but I did not feel it came from nothing. How the allergic cookies got to Eszter remained a mystery so it was satisfying to see how that wrapped up in the ending while expanding the fated/found family theme of the novel.

Some of my favorite quotes/moments:
“It’s a funny word, when you think about it: disappoint. Deprive of a position of power. Snatch back the car keys to life.”
Loc 3482 – Chapter 35
Such a perfect encapsulation of the main character assuming control and pushing forward in an uncomfortable situation where they have already lost so much.

“You couldn’t produce, as if that were its own tragedy, bigger than losing me.” – Eszter
Loc 3895 – Chapter 42
This was such a powerful scene as at a low point we see Abby see Eszter again, or at least in her mind as we come to learn. We get to experience how Abby expects Eszter would receive her after a few months or mourning and it is so well written.

“We’re all choosing our regrets, aren’t we?” – Abby
Loc 4484 – Chapter 47
I love this look into Abby’s inner process through this monologue. It paints the decisions she is making and how she will carry forward.


“Which kind of family is more important, one bound by friendship or by fate?” -Abby
Loc 4657 – Chapter 48
This sums up so many of themes of the novel. Eszter and Abby’s struggle with fated and found family and how all the characters address those challenges, up to and including the biting epilogue.

Possible Corrections/Errors
*I noticed one potential editing point/error. Loc 2761 – Chapter 28 in a chapter narrated by Eszter ‘Then’, Hilde calls out to Eszter but in my copy it says “Abby”… “Abby!” Hilde waves from across the town square. I noticed this at the time and highlighted it, but also this goes against the ending chapters where we see Abby learn about Hilde the woman in the photo. Also with learning more about Hilde’s experience prior to Abby’s arrival in the epilogue.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an arc copy provided by net galley.

I enjoyed the book, it’s a mix of thriller with some romance. I’ve given it a 3.5 * because it starts off a little slow and the thrills mostly come near the end. Still a good read!!