The Last One to See Him by Kathryn Croft is an enjoyable and twisty read, that seems predictable until it isn't. I've read a number of Croft's books now and always enjoy them as they tend to involve secrets, complicated relationships and a good level of intrigue. On top of the aforementioned twists of course.

There's a lot happening here, many players with hidden (and not-so-hidden) agendas, but Croft still manages to blindside readers, making us realise we've made a number of now-wrong assumptions.

The book opens as Kate's heading out with a friend for a post-separation drink, which ends with the charismatic Jamie. Finding his body the next day throws her into a spin and Croft alludes to a past incident that Kate's kept hidden. We soon learn what that was and discover Kate was kidnapped as a teenager but managed to escape before anything happened, inadvertently killing her kidnapper at the same time. The police believed it was self-defence and she was blameless but she's lived with the guilt ever since, particularly because it seems the man (assumed to be a predator) had no similar history.

We learn about Kate's background through sessions with her therapist, Rowan - on whom she relies heavily. We also dip a little into the past (to 2003), the time of her abduction.

Croft also places us in Harper's head and we soon learn she has evidence of the night Kate spent with Jamie and believes they were having an affair. We learn Harper was keen to leave her relationship with Jamie but at the same time (quite irrationally) wants revenge on Kate for the affair and (she believes) killing her son's father.

There's obviously a lot of game-playing here as Kate and Harper circle each other - blaming the other for Jamie's murder. I was worried that was going to get tedious (given we readers are privy to their thoughts and assumed we know 'everything' there is to know), but thankfully Croft mixes things up by having the women confront each other... rather than laboriously drawing out their enmity. And that's where things get interesting.

Kate's hidden past arrives in the present, and we learn people aren't who we've assumed them to be - including Jamie. I raced through the latter part of this novel, keen to uncover the truth and I certainly did not see it coming, making this an excellent thriller.

A woman meets a married man at a bar and later discovers he has been murdered. She is hesitant to tell the police due to her past. She meets the man's wife and realizes she may have been set up to get close to him. The wife's intentions and how much she knows about the woman are questioned, leading to fear of potential destruction.

Wow, what a complex web of events and emotions this book weaves! It is a captivating read that demands your full attention to avoid getting lost in the intricate plot twists.

The main character, Kate, is slowly developed throughout the story, but her likability is questionable due to the conflicting descriptions provided by others. Both Kate and Harper serve as strong maternal figures who will stop at nothing to protect their sons.

This book unfolds through multiple timelines - the distant past, the recent past, and the present. The perspectives of Kate, Harper, Jamie, and Rowan offer a diverse view of the events. As the story progresses, the threads of the narrative begin to unravel, requiring careful attention to grasp the interconnectedness of it all.

The unexpected twists and turns in the plot took me by surprise, leaving me suspicious of every character. If you enjoy mystery novels that keep you guessing until the very end, with intricate reveals and complex characters, then this book is must-read.

Thank you, Bookouture, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I abolutely love Kathryn Croft's books and I was so excited to be able to read this one ahead of time. This book did not disappoint! It was another 5 star Kathryn Croft book for me. The twists just blew me away and I struggled to put the book down.

The Last One to See Him was full of twists and turns exactly the way a psychological thriller should be. I’ve never read a novel by this author before and this book definitely won’t be my last. Kate has had lots of trauma in her life and is trying to put her past behind her as she navigates adulthood with an ex-husband and a son. But soon things start happening that make her relive her teenage years and wonder why the past is haunting her now. This is a great read and I recommend it to anyone who loves twisty plots with unreliable characters.

A great book from the beginning until the very last page with twists and turns galore. Just when you think you know what's going on something else pops up just to throw you off your suspicions.

I have read quite a few books from this author and never been disappointed

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I can thoroughly recommend.

Kathryn Croft is one of my favourite authors you know you will be reading well into the night
What an exciting brilliant intense drama
Brilliantly written
I felt like i was peeling an onion removing each layer

Thank you
Netgalley, Bookouture and Kathryn Croft

Kate thought a one-night stand with Jamie would be nothing more than a brief escape from her life. But when she returns to Jamie’s apartment the next day, she finds him murdered. Panic takes over—calling the police feels like a risk she can’t afford. As she tries to move on, strange things start happening. A woman at her son’s school seems to know too much. Shadows from her past creep closer. Someone is watching her. But who? And how far will they go?

The Last One to See Him by Kathryn Croft had me hooked from the very first page. The tension is relentless with all the twists and turns .The suspense builds steadily, making this an addictive, edge-of-your-seat read.

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

Though the premise of this story is not totally unique, I found it to be really engaging and couldn't put it down. There were a few expected twists, but overall, it was gripping and well plotted thriller and a great weekend read!

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Well what can I say !! 1st book by this author, what a rollercoaster! It had me gripped from the start. Great twists to the plot, just as i thought i had figured it out, something else happens. I was on the edge of my seat! FANTASTIC! I highley recommend

Gosh this book keeps you on your toes so many twists. Just when you think you have it worked out another twist is thrown in. What happened in the past can come back to haunt you as Kate soon finds out.
Brilliant from start to finish.

I enjoyed the authors story telling, but the premise wasn’t for me. A twisty psychological thriller with a bit too many characters and twists that seemed to go in many directions. I wasn’t a fan of any of the characters, which made it hard for me to root for someone. I immediately disliked the protagonist (Kate). Kate meets Jaime, Jamie ends up dead. Jamie also ends up being married. Kate and her son befriend Jamie’s wife and child, and that’s when the mysterious things truly begin. Were Kate and Jamie destined to meet or was it a set up, and is Kate’s past com in back to haunt her?

Kathyrn Croft is fast becoming the queen of psychological thrillers. I have read every book she has written and each time she presents us with a new book you know you are in for another wild ride. Soon events will happen that will change Kate’s life immensely. A fabulous plot and characters that had me turning the pages and losing sleep seeing I am up so early for work.

On a night out Kate meets Jamie in a bar. Kate is usually not the type to hook up with one-night stands, but she has separated from her husband Ellis and after a few drinks goes home with Jamie. This sets up the beginning of a very entertaining and exciting read that will have you guessing all the way though. Each time you think you know what is going to happen, you are then thrown another curve ball, absolutely loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

When I first started thus book I stopped a couple times with a "ugh just another book" well I finally picked it back up and once I got into it?! I loved this book! What an enjoyable read! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, and so many crazy twists! And a bit of a who done it! I highly recommend reading this book!

Kate , divorced, meets a stranger in a bar and one thing leads to another and she ends up
spending the night with him. When he winds up dead and she finds him, she hurries from the scene
to avoid being discovered there.
And then the story begins.
Suspenseful and definitely full of twists and turns that you will not see coming.
No one seems to be exactly whom they appear to be, with secrets in every cornor.
Even Kate has a secret inner past.
Good read but not great for me.
Too predictable at times with too much over the top.

Once again Kathryn Croft has crafted a masterful, dark and twisty thriller with The Last One To See Him. As a longtime reader of Kathryn, I can truly appreciate that this is her best book to date. Grabbed from the start, this story kept me reading long into the night.

The story follows Kate and her family, and Harper and her family. Both women have deep scars from traumatic events from their past so it's no surprise they form a deep hate and mistrust of each other. A current tragedy has both pointing fingers at the other. As they try to out manipulate each other, the danger level escalates putting more than just themselves at risk. Can this mystery be solved before any more carnage occurs, and can they put aside their differences to protect their families?


This intense drama was brilliantly written with characters so well depicted it was hard to know who was telling the truth and who was lying. The ups and downs, twists and turns will leave you gasping at the end of the ride. Grab yourself a coffee and a cozy blanket. It's going to take a while to dig through all the layers of lies and deception in this one. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

Kathryn Croft is my all time favorite authors. Her stories grip you from page one and this story was truly captivating.

Kate is going through a divorce. One night her and a friend head out to a bar where Kate meets Jamie. He's going through a divorce as well and they really hit it off and head back to his flat. Kate leaves and Jamie invites her back later that day. When she returns she finds his door open and Jamie is dead.

Kate panics and leaves. Jamie's death is dragging up stuff from her past (like being accused of murder when she was 15) so she runs. Things start to take a turn as she gets a flower delivery of dead flowers and someone following her.

The twists in this book were more than I could count!! I thought I had solved the book but nope!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC!!

4.5⭐️. I really enjoyed this book. More twists than a corkscrew. It kept me guessing right to the end and I find there are not many book that can do that. This is my first Kathryn Croft book and will not be my last. Highly recommend.

Name :- The Last One To See Him
Author:- Kathryn Croft
Plot:- Kathryn Croft delivers another spine-chilling psychological thriller with The Last One to See Him, a novel packed with secrets, deception, and heart-pounding suspense. With a tangled web of lies and a protagonist caught in the middle of a deadly game, this book keeps readers guessing until the very end.
After a recent divorce, the protagonist, a single mother, decides to have a little fun and meets Jamie at a bar. But when she goes to see him the next day, she finds him murdered. Terrified of how it will look given her past, she keeps quiet—until a playdate at her son’s new friend’s house takes a terrifying turn. Jamie was married. And his wife? She seems to know far more than she should, leaving behind eerie clues that suggest their meeting was no accident. Was Jamie’s wife setting her up all along? And if so, why? As the protagonist digs deeper, she realizes the truth is even more dangerous than she imagined.
Likes and Dislikes:-
Likes:-
1 Unpredictable Twists – Every time you think you have the story figured out, Croft pulls the rug out from under you.
2 Fast-Paced Narrative – Short chapters and sharp writing make this a quick, addictive read.
3 Unsettling Atmosphere – The tension builds steadily, keeping readers on edge.
4 Strong Psychological Elements – The novel plays with paranoia, manipulation, and blurred realities, making it even more gripping.
Overall:- The Last One to See Him is a dark, twisty thriller that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. Kathryn Croft masterfully crafts a suspenseful tale where nothing is as it seems. Fans of domestic thrillers and psychological mind games will love this book.
My Rating:- 5/5

Overall I thought the book was great! The tension building with each chapter really drew me in and kept me not wanting to put it down. Learning more of Kate’s story through flashback scenes was great as it kept me wondering whether we were dealing with an unreliable narrator and constantly guessing who was actually telling the truth. Sometimes the back and forth did get a little confusing but I think that’s just because I’m not used to this style. Very interested to read more from this author!