User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot succeeds on several levels. First off if gives us an updated look at Ava and Mason even though they still aren’t married. Will summer never come? Then there is the delight in knowing this is the beginning of a new Elliot series, so don’t worry if you haven’t read previous books of the FBI agents. Finally, this is a first rate mystery involving brutal murders, hate crimes, some zany characters and a missing sister.
I am saving--at least for prior readers of the Ava Callahan and Mason McLane series--the best for last. This is Zander Well’s story; and what a story it is. Since this is the beginning of a new series, it does not matter is you have read the Callahan and McLane series.
It starts with the hanging of a black man and the stabbing murder of his white wife. The woman who discovers the bodies, Emily Mills, also discovered the body of her father hanging from a tree twenty years earlier. Even though there seems to be no connection, Zander finds himself intrigued with both the earlier crime and the resulting tragedies.
Emily lives in genteel poverty in a shabby mansion with her sister, Madison, and three zany aunts who are town forces to be reckoned with. Emily and Madison live with giant holes with their parents both dead and their older sister, Tara, missing since their parents' deaths.
Emily can not understand why and how these new tragedies connect with her own even though she is keeping secrets, both old and new that might provide insight if exposed to the light of day. However, Emily works with Zander and Ava to discover why history seems to be repeating itself.
The Last Sister contains no red herrings, jaw-dropping events or twists just for the heck of it. This is a straight ahead police procedural and mystery with some surprises, none of which come from left field. They totally make sense and are part of a natural flow. Can you tell I’m not a fan of the big -reveal- just- for –the- heck- of -it books?
As usual, Elliot does a terrific job in describing the setting; this time near where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific. I always have the same reaction to her varied Oregon series: I-want-to-go-there.
Elliot’s characters always seem so natural to me. People I could be living next door to. People who could be populating any small fading town; except of course for the vicious murders.
This is a terrific start to a new series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Kendra Elliot’s The Last Sister is another unfortunate example of an intriguing, promising but poorly executed idea.
Huge sections of the writing seem awkward and unpolished, as if the manuscript could have done with at least two more rounds of editing .
The differences between the polished and unpolished aspects of the book gave me the impression that it may have been a collaborative effort.
The rough sections are really rough. The author improperly employs the possessive so that characters appear to be related. Emily (Mills) and Ava McClain are neither sisters nor spouses. Nate (Copelin) and Sean Fitch are neither blood related nor married. Their names are related by way of victimhood. Omitting surnames and employing the possessive in this way is one of those basic errors you wouldn’t expect in a published work.
Dialogue exchanges, stiff and unnatural to begin with, meander off into weird tangents.
Also, the book has a humorous quality I neither expected nor appreciated; the blurb gave me the impression that I was getting a serious crime thriller.
At several points I thought I was reading/listening to a spoof.
Zander Wells has some ditzy moments that sent me rolling on the floor. In an attempt to puzzle out an inconsistency, he says, “You told me Tara was there, but Tara told the police that she wasn’t.” Even *I*, with my zero years of law enforcement experience, would have made the logical leap to “Hey, maybe Tara was lying to the cops!”
To continue, He’s almost certain that a suspect is armed because he is a suspect in a shooting? Seriously? I have no solid proof that you’ve shot someone to death. I can’t be certain that you even own a firearm. So, the logical conclusion here is that you *must* be armed? Seriously? LOL!
And I’m sure there must be *some* FBI agents who care how their interrogation subjects “feel” about their tone and approach, but I’ve never read of any, not in serious crime thrillers.
I had to suspend my disbelief at times. For an FBI agent investigating a brutal murder in which anyone could be a suspect, Zander is awfully chummy with the townsfolk.
He can waltz into the kitchen of the diner and make requests of the chef. He is on a first name basis with the Barton sisters almost immediately and having tea with them the day of the murder.
Worse still, he allows a civilian to accompany him in the field because attraction, one he met two days ago.
Wasn’t he just interrogating said civilian about a 20-minute time gap he uncovered when reviewing her statement?
For all he knew, she could have been in on the murder and leading him into a trap.
Other eyebrow raisers include Madison’s decision that her aunt is mistaken about seeing her older sister. Why? She doesn’t have the long blonde hair she had 20 years ago. Was it really so inconceivable that her sister may have changed her hair in the last two decades?
Finally, I’m not especially fond of the “lying by omission to protect you from things that involve you” plot device, and its overuse in this novel is especially problematic.
There is a big difference between harboring a life and family shattering secret (I don’t really like this either but I understand, to an extent, why this is done) and deciding what people get to know about potential threats to their safety. People have been slashing tires and leaving dead animals on the porch. Everyone knows it but elects to keep quiet so as not to worry the others. I’m not here for infantilizing adults because ageism/perceived fragility, and the “don’t worry the aunts/girls about urgent matters” thing was irritating.
TL/DR: this one had enormous potential and some great moments but it’s not one I’d recommend.
Rating: really liked it
This was such a compelling crime thriller. This is the first book in Kendra Elliot’s new Columbia River series. Mystery, history, romance, sisters, small town, racism, Family secrets, zany aunts. Emily is shook to the core when she finds her friend’s dead body stabbed multiple times and her husband dead as well hung from a tree. The first thought is that this is a murder suicide, but Emily is not convinced. This is too similar to a prior murder in this small town years ago when Emily‘s father had been killed by hanging. Her father‘s murder also led to her mother’s suicide and her older sister’s disappearance. This brutal murder brings in the FBI and agent Zander Wells. What follows is a fast paced cleverly plotted investigation into the murders both in the present and the past. The investigation also brings together Zander and Emily.
This book was much more Mystery than romance in fact I’d be hesitant to call it romantic suspense. There is an obvious attraction between Zander and Emily although it is not acted on, much. I had no problem with this because I was completely invested in this mystery. I love the big old house that Emily and her sister Madison lived in with there great aunts. I was intrigued by the past. Why was their father killed? And where was their sister? I also was extremely fascinated by the history of Oregon, I truly had no idea Oregon had such a dark history. I loved playing detective and trying to puzzle this together with Zander and Emily. And even though there was very little romance in the story I am really hoping that there will be a little more in the next book and it will continue the story of Zander and Emily, I really like these two together.
This book in emojis. πͺ π©Έ π² π
*** Big thank you to Amazon Pub for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
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Rating: really liked it
The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot is the first book in the new romantic suspense Columbia River series. However, while this is the first book of this series this seems to be a sort of spin off from another of Kendra Elliot’s series with a few characters having been seen before but one does not need to have read the previous series to enjoy this one.
FBI special agent Zander Wells has been called to a remote Oregon logging town when a somewhat unique murder occurs with the body found hanging. However, this style of murder is not a first in this little town and it just happens the person finding the body was all too familiar with this type of death.
Twenty years before Emily Mills found her father after her was murdered and his body was left hanging in the backyard. Back then the killer was finally caught and Emily and her two sisters, Madison and Tara have tried to forget. Being caught up right in the middle of this new investigation has Emily and Zander stirring up secrets that have been buried.
I’ve read several of Kendra Elliot’s romantic suspense books but have sadly not gotten caught up on all of them just yet but I did know from what I have read that she is definitely a solid romantic suspense writer so I went in fully expecting to like this book, which I did. I do wish I had gotten to the Callahan and McLane series this one seems to spin off of though as one thing holding me back here was there were a lot of characters floating around to get to know and perhaps the ones making a previous appearance would have been easier to follow instead of being totally new too. Still a great start to this new series though that new readers and fans will enjoy.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
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Rating: really liked it
The Last Sister is the first installment in an exciting new crime thriller series from Kendra Elliot!
Emily Mills’s father was murdered more than twenty years ago. She found his body. Emily’s mother never recovered from her despair and committed suicide. One of her sisters left town. Gratefully, the murder was captured and imprisoned, but that was never the end of it for this family.
Then, a similar murder happens, and an FBI agent comes to town to investigate. He seems just as interested in their father’s murder as he is in the one he’s there to solve.
I found the storyline intriguing from the start. The tension of what happened to Emily’s father just never let go, even when it was solved. The setting on the Oregon coast in a logging town is super atmospheric. The plots and chapters move quickly, and it was a race to the finish to see what the resolution would be.
Overall, I found The Last Sister to be a compelling and suspenseful mystery, and I’m definitely along for the ride to book two!
I received a complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Rating: really liked it
The residents of a small town in Oregon are concerned when an interracial couple is found violently murdered. Sean Fitch was found hanging from a tree and his wife Lindsay was stabbed multiple times. Sean’s forehead had a Klan symbol engraved leaving folks to wonder if this was a hate crime. Both bodies were found by their friend Emily Mills.
Emily’s father was murdered in the same way twenty years ago forcing her to relive her past. Memories of his death begin to resurface but the facts are hazy since she and her sisters were young when he died. Her sisters do not discuss the topic and are emotionally closed off from one another. Emily is convinced that her father’s death is related to this murder while assisting the current investigation to uncover suspects and motives.
The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot is a suspenseful story that includes a dysfunctional family and a hint of romance. This was the first book that I read by Kendra Elliot, and I am excited for the sequel.
Rating: really liked it
Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake Romance for an egalley in exchange for an honest review. FBI Agents Zander Wells and his partner, Ava McClane, find themselves in a small Orgeon town that has just witnessed a horrific murder. A couple slain in their home and the husband hung by his neck in the backyard. Is it a murder-suicide? A racially motivated crime? Or is it connected to a long ago murder? Although the local police resent their presence, the agents cannot but help feel that someone is watching their every move and isn't quite finished.
A solid suspense thriller that reeled me in the instant I began page one. Great characters, fast moving plot, but the romance between Wells and a witness was so-so. At least it didn't distract from the storyline. Not that my shelf needs it, but it looks like I probably have another series to add to the list.
Goodreads review published 18/01/20
Publication Date 14/01/20
Rating: really liked it
THE LAST SISTER by Kendra Elliot brings mystery and suspense to a police procedural and romantic suspense novel set in Bartonville, Oregon. This is the first book in the Columbia River series but brings in characters from other series as well. It’s the first book that I have read by this author.
Emily Mills’ father was murdered twenty years ago and she found his body hanging from a tree in the backyard. Since then, she has tried to forget everything about that night. However, when a similar murder occurs in contemporary times, and Emily finds another body, her life is about to change. Questions abound. Are the deaths related? If so, how and why?
Our protagonists, FBI Special Agent Zander Wells and Emily Mills, bring an interesting dynamic to this novel. Despite Emily being a witness, there is an attraction between them. How will it affect the case? Emily is resilient, but she wants to protect her family, and she has secrets to keep too. Zander is a dedicated FBI agent and has a heartbreaking backstory. Great characters tend to develop from the ups and downs of life, and Zander and Emily emerge as believable characters with some shortcomings, just like real people. The secondary characters had a range of depths, but all enhanced the story without overwhelming it.
The plot was suspenseful and very complex. There were a multitude of conflicts that kept me engaged in the story line. The author did a great job of letting this reader see Emily’s inner conflicts, motivations and personality. There were plenty of plot twists and turns, and a few surprises along the way. A consistent pace from scene to scene - until the action-packed ending, where the subplots tied together - had me quickly turning the pages. The romantic part of this novel took a backseat and did not detract from the story line. This is not an instant-love type of romantic suspense, but a slow building of respect and attraction. The author did a great job of world-building. The descriptions were vivid and gave a clear sense of place. It felt like I was on the Oregon coast experiencing the vagaries of the weather and small town attitudes.
Overall, this was a compelling crime thriller that tackled some very serious themes ranging from murder, secrets and family relationships to racism, drugs and much more. This is the first book I have read by Kendra Elliott, but I am happy to say that I own five others and can’t wait to read them. If you enjoy crime novels and police procedurals set in a small town with a small amount of romance, then I recommend that you check out this series.
I purchased a digital copy of this novel. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was January 14, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Rating: really liked it
Emily Mills' father was murdered 20 years ago. She found him hanging from the tree in their backyard. This seems to have set off a chain of events ... her mother eventually committed suicide .... her older sister disappeared and hasn't been seen or heard from since.
This night, her friends and neighbors were brutally murdered. The wife was stabbed multiple times, her husband was found hanging from a tree.
It's like deja vu all over again. Emily and her sister have tried to forget their childhood plunged in murder, and this brings it all back.
FBI Special Agent Zander Wells arrives in this small logging town along with his partner. As avid as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past.
What he finds is that the sisters have secrets from everyone ...even each other. Some secrets are never meant to see the light of day. And not everyone is exactly the person they purport to be.
This is a nicely paced, highly suspenseful murder mystery that kept me riveted from the very firsst page. Throw in a little romance and all the boxes got checked for me. The main characters are credible and some of the small town residents are quirky, friendly, fun. The accent is on the suspense, light on the romance.
Many thanks to the author / Montlake Romance / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Rating: really liked it
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE LAST SISTER (Columbia River Book #1) by Kendra Elliot is the first book in a new romantic suspense/FBI mystery series. This book is easily read as a standalone, but a few of the characters are carry overs from Ms. Elliot’s Callahan & McLane series.
Twenty years ago, a family was shattered when the father was found hanging from a tree and their home burned to the ground. The mother committed suicide a week later, the eldest daughter disappeared and that left two small girls with secrets that they would hide for years.
Present day. FBI Special Agents Zander Wells and Ava Callahan are sent to investigate a double murder in a small Oregon coastal town that is eerily similar to a twenty-year-old crime that was supposedly solved. The tip came from Emily Mills who found the slain couple and was one of the sisters who survived the old crime. Zander is determined to solve this double homicide, but he is also intrigued by the old case and Emily.
As Zander and Ava investigate, the killer threatens Emily and her relatives and then strikes again to hide his crimes past and present. Secrets long buried need to be revealed for the past and present cases to be solved before someone else is killed.
I was completely engrossed in all the plot threads in this suspense. Past and present, multigenerational secrets. I like that Ms. Elliot shows the insidious, not in-your-face racism that can infect and destroy multi-generations and towns. Zander and Emily each deserve to find happiness and I feel they were perfect for each other. There is no sex in this story and Zander and Emily are very attracted to each other, but Zander waits until the case is solved.
I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait for more book in this series. There is intriguing investigation, secrets revealed, and the start of a romance that had me turning the pages continually from beginning to “The End”.
Rating: really liked it
The Last Sister was an extraordinarily compelling novel, my first from this author but almost certainly not my last.
I love a good family drama especially within the crime genre where old secrets spill over into present day and send shockwaves through a community -just like here, where a brutal double murder sets off a chain of events for Emily and her family that will finally answer a decades old mystery.
The characters are really well rounded, the author pulls you into their world and hold you there for the entirety of the read. If you like plenty of emotionally resonant twists along the way, an intriguing puzzle and an unexpected edge to proceedings The Last Sister will definitely be for you.
I'm a fan. A complex thriller that keeps you interested and ultimately makes you want a return visit.
Thought provoking themes and engaging, intelligent characters means this comes highly recommended from me.
Rating: really liked it
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!
Small town secrets can be deadly, especially if they are left to fester for twenty years and history repeats itself. A closed case may not be closed after all and a new double homicide may be linked to the dirty little secrets that hide in plain sight as racial hatred rears its ugly head, once again.
The murder of Emily’s father destroyed her family and a man was punished, but two new racially motivated murders will bring FBI agent Zander Wells to Oregon. Together, Emily and Zander will bat at a hornet’s nest and unleash a swarm of intrigue, lies and ugly secrets, but at what cost?
THE LAST SISTER by Kendra Elliot is dark, edgy and even quirky at times as we visit a small Oregon town where everybody thinks they know everybody else’s business, but do they or could they all know just enough to keep from being stung?
One family, torn apart, three sisters torn apart until one great truth is revealed that could shred the fabric of lies this town has been built on. Excellent reading, wonderfully unique characters and a twist at the end that ties everything together, even a budding romance!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Montlake Romance! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Columbia River - Book 1
Publisher: Montlake (January 14, 2020)
Publication Date: January 14, 2020
Genre: Thriller | Mystery | Romance
Print Length: 336 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Rating: really liked it
FBI agents Zander Wells and his partner Ava McLane are called to Oregon for a murder investigation. Sean Fitch and his wife Lindsay are both murdered and Sean’s body is discovered hanging from the tree in the garden.
Emily mills who works with Lindsay at the diner, discovers their bodies but this is not the first hanging the town has seen. Emily’s dad Lincoln Mills was also discovered hanging from a tree twenty years ago, his distraught wife killing herself a week later, leaving her daughters Maddison and Emily to be bought up by their Aunts. Tara their other sister runs away and they have never seen her since.
Are the two hangings connected? was Sean’s death a hate crime?
This is a very addictive thriller. It will keep you guessing until the end. I couldn’t read this book fast enough!!
Excited to see this is the first book in the Columbia River series and I am looking forward to the next one.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Rating: really liked it
This is my first Kendra Elliot book and it definitely wont be my last!!
Although this is the first book in the new Columbia River series, I figured that some of the characters might be spin offs from other series, but that didn't affect my reading in any way.
Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever.
The killer was caught and the case was closed but it destroyed the family of Mills sisters forever.
But now twenty years later, when Emily finds her friend Lindsay and her husband Sean murdered in a similar fashion, it brings back memories that she never wants to remember.
FBI Agents Zander Wells and his partner, Ava McClane are called to investigate this double homicide. But then the question arises-Is it a murder-suicide as determined by the local sheriff? A racially motivated crime? Or is it connected to a Emily Mills father's murder?
It was a great suspense thriller that had me hooked on right till the end. I liked how this book was about past meets present type, wherein deeply buried family secrets are finally revealed and solved.
All the characters were amazing and it made an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to read the next book in the series!
