Last Seen Alive

My rating: * * * *

Goodreads Description

The Hero Libby Hall never really wanted to be noticed. But after she saves the children in her care from a fire, she finds herself headline news. And horrified by the attention. It all reminds her of what happened nine years ago. The last time she saw her best friend alive. The Swap Which is why the house swap is such a godsend. Libby and her husband Jamie exchange their flat in Bath for a beautiful, secluded house in Cornwall. It's a chance to heal their marriage - to stop its secrets tearing them apart. The Hideaway But this stylish Cornish home isn't the getaway they'd hoped for. They make odd, even disturbing, discoveries in the house. It's so isolated-yet Libby doesn't feel entirely alone. As if she's being watched. Is Libby being paranoid? What is her husband hiding? And. As the secrets and lies come tumbling out, is the past about to catch up with them?

My Review

Claire Douglas generally writes the type of books that I like to read. And in my opinion, this is her best one yet.

Libby and her husband Jamie have had a rough time of things lately. So when a leaflet drops into their letter box offering a house swap, they both think it's a great idea and a chance to have a break from everyday life. A stranger offers them a week at their house in Bath, in exchange for a week in their small flat, claiming that its location is perfect as their daughter will be in a nearby hospital undergoing treatment. But things don’t turn out as expected, and their stay in Bath is marred by strange people and even stranger events. And things don't improve on their return home.

Personally, I find the idea of a house swap a little bit far fetched, but apparently this has been quite the thing over the past few years. I couldn't imagine strangers in my house, having access to and using my personal things. But anyway, you'll need to get your head around this concept if you're going to read and enjoy this book.

Many of the characters in this novel have issues. Libby has trust issues, and a history that's a tad strange. Her husband, Jamie, is a little bit too dismissive of her concerns for my liking, and his friendship with an old girlfriend is also on the strange side. The ex girlfriend was odd to say the least, living with Jamie's parents and generally hanging around. All of this makes for a fairly gripping read, one where you keep trying to work out who you like and who you don't, and never being quite sure of how you feel.

With lies and secrets around every corner, and with a plot that kept me guessing, this was a book that I really enjoyed. Yes, some of the events are a little bit far fetched, but I suppose that that's the case with a number of psychological thrillers and so that didn't bother me much. I thought this was a really good read and I'd definitely recommend it.

My Rating: * * * *

Publication Date: September 2017 (South Africa)

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Format: Paperback

Source: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Claire Douglas and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.