An aging actress, Madison James goes missing and a tik tok sleuth finds her purse in the woods. Enter our two detectives, Sarah Delaney and Rob Moreno of the LAPD Missing Persons Unit. This case is taking over the media coverage and as we know – nothing in Tinseltown is as it seems. 20 years ago Madison’s career seemed to be effortlessly taking off and then she just disappeared from the spotlight and no one really knew why.
Twisted and super fast-paced, Lisa Gray digs into the seedy and dirty parts of Hollywood that remind you it is not all glitz and glamour. Going between 2004 and 2024 you get to see Madison’s life in two very different time periods. A fantastic novel about the cut throat movie industry and what goes on behind the scenes. (pun intended) With plot twists you will never see coming, this is sure be talked about in reader circles.

This was my first book by Lisa Gray, but it won’t be my last. Though I did figure out the twist, I still really enjoyed this. The pace was good, and kept me interested.

I binged this book in one night! It was so good. I did not want to put it down. I kind of wish I had gotten the audiobook too because I am sure it would have made the story even better! This is a face paced thriller that had me flipping to the next page saying "Just one more chapter" until there were no more chapters! I love how this book focuses on the Hollywood industry. It threw in a lot of real life references so that it definitely makes the book more relevant. When reading, I felt like I was back in the early/mid 2000s when I was a teen and now as an adult. Y'all know me, I am a sucker for dual timelines and multiple perspectives and this book had both! The book switches back and forth between the two. We follow Madison in the past during her Hollywood days as well as the present and then we follow Detective Sarah Delaney as she investigates the case in the present. This book had me gripped until the very end. Twists and turns I didn't see coming. I felt like this would be great tv show or movie!

Madison James was on the brink of major success as an actor when her career suddenly tanked and she vanished from the spotlight. Fast-forward twenty years, and Madison has vanished for real. Her purse is found near a hiking trail; her car has been abandoned behind her job; her friends and neighbors haven’t seen her in days…

This is my first book by Lisa Gray, and I’ve been missing out! I love books that dig into the gross, seamy parts of Hollywood glamour, and while this is a very different story, there were some Hurricane Blonde-ish vibes that I really enjoyed. This was twisty and super fast-paced — I read it in basically one sitting! And I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s maybe the start of a series…?!? I’d really like to read more books about the Missing Persons Unit detectives (please and thank you)

I’m a fan of Ms. Gray’s novels and this one is another winner. The plot covers events from the early 2000’s and current day of an aspiring actress, Madison. It’s not a long book but there’s no shortage of intrigue and suspense. The theme of the story for me highlights the extreme highs and lows of young women who dream of becoming a star. The sacrifices, the expectations of those with the power to make you or break you, the substance abuse, partying and waitress jobs to pay the rent. Nearing forty Madison hasn’t given up on her dreams, still expecting her big break. She had a foot in the door when she was younger but things went wrong. Now she’s been reported missing.
Detective Sarah Delaney has just transferred from Homicide to the Missing Persons Unit. She is investigating Madison’s disappearance. I enjoyed getting to know her character, personal details were scattered throughout. She was a determined officer seeking to uncover where Madison disappeared to along with who else might be involved. Is Madison even still alive? Who would want to silence her? Hollywood is full of cutthroat agents, directors and those who were once your best friend. The list of suspects contains some deceitful lowlifes. The plot held surprises and plenty of drama.
An advance reader copy of “The Final Act” by Lisa Gray, Published by Thomas & Mercer, publication expected 07/01/2024, was provided by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

So basically by this point, you should understand that ANYTHING I read from @thrillerbookloversthepulse is going to be a massive hit. Hollywood setting? Check. Dual timelines? Check. Murder? Duh. Check. The Final Act is coming July 1st from @lisagraywriter and @amazonpublishing, and you’re definitely going to want to read it.

When aging actress Madison goes missing, a TikTok sleuth finds something that belongs to her. Could Madison have been kidnapped, left Hollywood or is something more sinister happening? This story takes over the media and everyone wants to know what happened to Madison.

WE know in Hollywood that actresses come and go, but this new piece of evidence leads to an investigation. Detectives Sarah Delaney and Rob Moreno lead the investigation as part of the LAPD Missing Persons Unit. Lots of people want their 15 minutes of fame as clues come to the surface.

I was invested in this page turner to see if Madison was alive and would happened to her

It’s so frustrating when life gets in the way of a good book. I could have read The Final Act by Lisa Gray in one sitting, but unfortunately I had to be a responsible adult 😋
I really enjoyed the plot and the way the chapters alternated between past and present. The POV also went back and forth between our main characters: Madison, a beautiful young woman with hopes and dreams of becoming a star. Then there’s Sarah, a former homicide detective working her first case in the Missing Persons Unit. Both strong female characters.

This was my first Lisa Gray book, but I’ll definitely be checking out more!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for an e-copy of this ARC.

What a page turner!!! I loved the multiple POVs that flip back and forth between characters. This was so full of twist and turns! Definitely recommending this one to y’all!!!

Thank you for the advanced copy!!

Full disclosure: I am the author of this book and I am providing feedback in order to maintain my NetGalley percentage ratio. But, of course, I highly recommend The Final Act and hope NetGalley reviewers enjoy the book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Took a day to devour! The writing style hooked me right away, very easy to read and comprehend. And the story line kept me reading. I certainly didn’t see that ending coming!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer along with #Netgalley for allowing me early access to #TheFinalAct

"All she wanted was to see her name in lights. Now, her disappearance has made her front-page news."
I really liked this read. Lisa Gray has a way of making the story move along without feeling rushed, giving just enough to keep you turning the page. Her twists in the plot were unpredictable and believable. If you like reading about messy characters who get what they deserve, then The Final Act by Lisa Grey is definitely going to be for you.
This book would be perfect for a beach day read. ❤️

Madison James will do anything to be famous… but will her disappearance make her infamous?

Madison James was going to be the next big thing in Hollywood but her career tanked and she disappeared into obscurity. Even missing the world doesn’t take notice, until her purse is found discarded in a place Madison would never go by a wannabe TikTok influencer. Can the media that’s been an influential player in Madison’s downfall save her in time? Or will ex-homicide detective Sarah Delaney be too late in solving her first missing persons case?

The final act focuses on the cut throat Hollywood industry and is a riveting, fast paced thriller with twists and turns that will keep you guessing everyone’s motives. Seeped with real life references from pop culture, movies, actors and the Me Too movement, the writing focuses attention in a way that aligns the reader into the storyline itself. The clever use of media clippings further situates the audience within the story, divulging salacious gossip about Madison at every plot twist.

Alternating between Madison’s POV and that of detective Sarah Delaney, the reader follows the police work that is involved in uncovering a missing person, while simultaneously learning pieces of Madison’s past that influence those around her and showing that anyone could be the person responsible for Madison’s disappearance.

Lisa Gray anticipates the readers thought processes and coordinates plot twists that you will never see coming. The final act will not disappoint.

The structure of this book was really interesting. Usually, I would expect to get to know the detective best as the main character but, in fact, the people involved in the case she was working seemed to gain the most prominence. Yes, the detective was key and there was plenty of substance to her, but it was clever how her focus on the “victim” of the crime led to the reader getting know that person just as well as she did. The book addresses such a relevant theme, with the concepts of abuse of power, misogyny and sexual exploitation featuring strongly. And it is also just a gripping thriller. Well written, as always by this talented author, and well paced.

You know you’re in for a good time if you get a Lisa Gray novel!

Her latest book THE FINAL ACT is brilliant! The chapters flip between Madison (leading up to her disappearance) and Sarah’s perspective (as she investigates her disappearance). Which in itself is not unique but the way in which these two narratives interact provides a real mystery that is thrilling and exciting to read.

I love Lisa Gray’s work. Every book, no matter the synopsis, I can guarantee I’ll be hooked by the first chapter and whizzing through the book in no time at all.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Twenty years ago, it looked as if Madison James was all set to become one of the brightest stars in the Hollywood film industry. However, after three movie roles she dropped off the scene and didn’t appear in any more film productions. Now she works as a waitress at The Jones restaurant and tries to get by. One day she heads out to an audition and disappears, her purse found by a hiker on a trail in the Laurel Canyon. Detectives Delaney and Moreno are assigned to the case from Missing Persons, sifting through tips from wannabe detectives and examining Madison’s past to find clues to her whereabouts. What has happened to Madison James and is she still alive?

The Final Act tells Madison’s story from two periods – her early days in Hollywood in 2004 and her current reality in 2024. The reader experiences all the excitement and promise of Madison’s introduction into the movie industry and her dreams of landing a good role in the next audition. This is contrasted with the darker side of the industry that takes Madison’s innocence away – the drug use, cutthroat competition, and sexual exploitation of young women. There is also a macabre fascination around young women that are assaulted and murdered in Hollywood, in which their deaths are fetishized and glorified as entertainment.

This novel had me in its grip! I turned pages feverishly all day and could not stop until I knew what happened. I love the way that Lisa Gray was able to peel away the layers and show the dark side of Tinseltown and the showbiz dream, without dimming its perpetual sparkle. A fantastic thriller and destined to be one of my top reads in 2024. Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the digital ARC. I am thrilled to be a part of @ThrillerBookLoversThePulse and tell you that this should be on your list when it is published on 1 July 2024!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Sarah first case in her new position is a missing woman named. Madison. Madison has dreamed of making big as an actress and is excited about her next audition. This book kept me guessing until the very end.

Time to read less than a day

Stars 3

Review

Have never read any by Lisa Gray before

This was ok. It kept my attention but not sure I liked the characters.

I am not sure I will actively seek out th authors books to read

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to review.

The team @thrillerbookloversthepulse is reading Lisa Gray’s upcoming thriller, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒄𝒕 and it’s getting all the buzz!

Great for fans of:
📚dual timelines
📚dual POVs
📚Hollywood mysteries
📚Detective series

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing the #gifted digital review copy!

I have really enjoyed other books by Lisa Gray so I was excited for this one and it did not disappoint. The plot felt very modern with online element which added to the suspense and tension as we delve into the search for Madison and uncover the truth about her disappearance.