Synopsis: From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice comes a riveting story of a seaside community shaken by a violent crime and a tragic loss.
Years ago, Beth Lathrop and her sister Kate suffered what they thought would be the worst tragedy of their lives the night both the famous painting Moonlight and their mother were taken. The detective assigned to the case, Conor Reid, swore to protect the sisters from then on.
Beth moved on, throwing herself fully into the art world, running the family gallery, and raising a beautiful daughter with her husband Pete. Kate, instead, retreated into herself and took to the skies as a pilot, always on the run. When Beth is found strangled in her home, and Moonlight goes missing again, Detective Reid can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
Reid immediately suspects Beth’s husband, whose affair is a poorly kept secret. He has an airtight alibi—but he also has a motive, and the evidence seems to point to him. Kate and Reid, along with the sisters’ closest childhood friends, struggle to make sense of Beth’s death, but they only find more questions: Who else would have wanted Beth dead? What’s the significance of Moonlight?
Twenty years ago, Reid vowed to protect Beth and Kate—and he’s failed. Now solving the case is turning into an obsession . .
One (or more) Sentence Summary: Last Day was a great book that had me on the edge of my seat. History is repeating itself Kate Lathrop and she must help put the pieces together to find out who killed her sister, Beth. I was convinced I knew who did it and was so surprised to find out I was wrong. Never guessed the ending, not even close.
I loved the all the characters (okay maybe not Pete) and I especially liked Reid's dedication to the Lathrop family. I really enjoyed how the story was tied to the earlier tragedy that Beth and Kate suffered as kids around the same painting. I liked how Beth had a voice in the book, even though she was murdered.
Even though we think Beth, her sister and their two friends knew each other inside and out, we find out Beth kept secrets from a lot of people. As those secrets are revealed, we start to realize Beth had a lot going on and now we have to figure out who killed her and her unborn baby.
Crazy good
Had to keep reading/hard to put down
Great characters
Amazing story
Want a sequel
Must Read
On a separate note, I can't post this review without telling you about the first time I met Luanne. My mom was a huge fan and had started a book club - they called themselves The Princesses. Luanne was on book tour and it included a stop at Barnes & Noble in Lansing, Michigan. The Princesses all went and met and talked with Luanne. They loved her! She also had a stop in Connecticut and my mom's friend Judy stopped by and chatted with Luanne. Luanne often came by Books & Company in Dayton, when I lived in the area, so I went…who doesn't do what their mom tells them to do.
I remember I had my twins strapped down in a double umbrella stroller, the must have been about 18 months. Luanne, of course was amazing. I told her I was Princess Not Getting Any's (long story) daughter. She even took a picture with me and my twins - how I wish I could find it. This was back in 2004. I swear it was posted on her website (or something), since blogs were not really a thing yet and there wasn't any facebook. Anyway, Luanne agreed to call in to one of the Princesses book club. My mom was so excited.
The night of the call my mom was extremely sick and couldn't call in. She was so upset. We found out a few days later that my mom had leukemia and only had a 10% change of surviving a year. After six long months in the hospital (no one ever thinks they will be in the hospital that long), she was able to come home. After another long 3 months of learning how to walk again and do every day task, she was living her life again. I will never forget the day she was visiting for my twins 3rd birthday and fell. At the hospital, I found out the leukemia had returned. She knew, but didn't want to tell her kids. She passed away at home at November 2006, surviving exactly 1 year after she was diagnosed.
Luanne came through Dayton again, and I went to her book signing. I couldn't say anything but handed her a note telling her about my mom. She gave the best hug and I couldn't hold back the tears. I will never forget how kind she was and how much my mom loved her books.
My mom raised 4 young kids on her own after my parents divorced. She was our world. She sacrificed everything for her kids, family and friends. She was loved by so many and was always there for everyone. She was the strongest person I know and will always be my #1 hero. I miss her terribly everyday.
TLC Book Tours: Check out what others are saying about The Last Day.
Instagram tour:
Saturday, February 1st: @eviebookish
Sunday, February 2nd: @readwithjamie
Monday, February 3rd: @lifeinlit
Tuesday, February 4th: @classiccourt12
Wednesday, February 5th: @thephdivabooks
Thursday, February 6th: @bluntscissorsbookreviews
Friday, February 7th: @novelgossip
Sunday, February 9th: @bookishconnoisseur
Review tour:
Monday, February 3rd: Reading Reality
Wednesday, February 5th: PhDiva Blog
Friday, February 7th: @reads.a.latte.thrillers
Friday, February 7th: Kahakai Kitchen
Monday, February 10th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Tuesday, February 11th: @lilacsandliterature
Wednesday, February 12th: Blunt Scissors Book Reviews
Thursday, February 13th: Jessicamap Reviews and @jessicamap
Monday, February 17th: Books & Bindings
Wednesday, February 19th: From the TBR Pile
Friday, February 21st: Audio Killed the Bookmark and @beritaudiokilledthebookmark
Monday, February 24th: Thoughts on This ‘n That
Tuesday, February 25th: Seaside Book Nook
Wednesday, February 26th: Nurse Bookie and @nurse_bookie
Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Yes, ever since my mother introduced me to Luanne's books, I love reading her books.
Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of 34 novels, which have been translated into 24 languages. The author of Last Day, Dream Country, Beach Girls, Pretend She's Here and others, Rice often writes about love, family, nature, and the sea. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television, including Crazy in Love for TNT, Blue Moon for CBS, Follow the Stars Home and Silver Bells for the Hallmark Hall of Fame, and Beach Girls for Lifetime. Rice's four cats are her muses, and she speaks their language. She lives in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
First off, I'm so glad you loved the book. Secondly, I love that you have a personal connection to the author, that is such an amazing experience, even if it came because of the loss of your mom. <3 Sara @ TLC Book Tours
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