Right so stand by for a really subjective review of this book its mostly personal perhaps due to over saturation.

SO first of all the rating I give this book in actuality is 2.5* and that is all because the writer has skill. Talented prose building, for anyone new to psychological thrillers (or for those who just love them for whatever reason) a definitely intriguing and page turning story and Nina Laurin has a great eye for characters.

But I'm bored of the same old excuses and reasons to move the plot along. Or rather to hold off on allowing anything to be solved until the finale. Our main protagonist is once again a pill pushing loner with poor judgement skills due to a childhood trauma. And her mobile phone keeps dying. Every time her "thoughts slipped away from her" or she couldn't think straight or something happened and she immediately drank or did something stupid I wanted to stab this book with a fork. Whenever (and it happened more than once but she didn't learn) she had no battery in her phone I wanted to stab the book with the knife as well as the fork. I was stabby I tell you. And it took me away from the (honestly really fascinating) original premise. That of 2 girls years apart who may or may not be connected to one monster.

I know that "victims" often grow up to have problems but it seems to be such a well worn plot device that you begin to feel that nobody who suffered a trauma ever went on to be a well adjusted member of society who actually could cope in any practical or realistic fashion when life threw them another curve ball. And we all know that's not true. Plenty do. There is no right and wrong. I understand that maybe that's not so interesting to write about I'm sure it could at least be attempted - but every book like this I've read since the girl phenomenon started, it feels like the main character is either too doped up to have any common sense or has turned themselves into a kick ass ninja killer type. There are no levels anymore. No nuances. Now of course NONE of this is the fault of this particular author who writes extremely well and is just after all telling the story she wants to tell. So I feel I should be sorry that this one annoyed me but I'm afraid it did. And I have to be honest therefore when reviewing it.

The good news? It has a small level of unpredictability and a certain amount of redemption for Lainey and a really good thrilling ending to it. The writing flow is lovely and if I hadn't spent a lot of the read randomly growling at the bits of cliche I reckon it would have been a much higher rating from me. If you love psychological thrillers go for your life - Girl Last Seen has all the elements you need for a good one, the writing is taut and atmospheric, if this was the first of this type of novel I'd read I doubt I'd be complaining at all.

I'll certainly read the next novel from this author.

This one? Probably wrong read wrong time. But sometimes that's how it goes.

The description for this book is chilling. This is a dark psychological thriller with plenty of suspense, and I believe this will be one of the most talked about books this year. Nina Laurin has an excellent writing style and descriptive imagery that grabs you from the prologue and never lets go. She taps into the main characters thoughts and shares them as an internal narration throughout the book. The character development is extensive and very well done. I believe this is Laurin's debut thriller, and I look forward to more reading more novels from her.

The first big plot twist that I didn't see coming comes about 10% into the book. Definitely an "oh boy" moment. As the book progresses, Lainey (Laine) gets pulled deep into the investigation of the current abduction. The detective on the current case was involved in Laine's abduction a decade before. She is naturally apprehensive about getting involved in the new case, and the detective also voices his concerns against it.

Laurin does an excellent job portraying Laine's internal struggles with her past, and her many coping mechanisms to deal with her past and the present situation. A series of plot twists ensue that will keep you guessing, because nothing is as it seems. Laine scrambles to keep up and desperately tries to stay in front of the dangers around every corner. She soon comes to the startling realization that she's all alone again, and her desperation and determination intensifies. Before long her past and present worlds collide and crash down around her, and she must scramble to figure out a way to resolve things before it's too late. The conclusion is shocking and explosive.

I hope this book will be adapted into a movie, but of course there is no way the movie could match the caliber of the novel. I would recommend this book to fans of suspense and psychological thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from Grand Central Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What if reliving the most traumatic event in your life might save the life of someone else? Would you be able to face the demons that you have been hiding from for over a decade? Olivia Shaw has disappeared from her elementary school, and a woman reading the story of her disappearance stares at the girl’s photo and sees herself, thirteen years earlier. They could be sisters. But the nightmares of the basement she was kept in and what happened to her there are things to terrible to speak of aloud. Still, this is what she’s been waiting for, another girl, just like herself, taken by the same person for the same twisted reasons. She must confront her demons and attempt to save Olivia, if she doesn’t she may as well have died in that cellar thirteen years ago. A harrowing tale of terror, courage and revenge