This book packs a punch!

Threats, death attempts, hate crimes, racism, KKK ties, violence, mystery, suspense, and a flutter of light romance are all embedded in this new page-turning series by Elliot. It is gritty, has an emotional pull, and has a constant edge-of-your-seat feel from beginning to end. The storyline is engrossing and the characters are well-developed and likable (The aunts are great!). Elliot has a gift for weaving tragedy, malevolence, drama, family ties, and emotional conflict into a great mystery thriller that will leave you reeling and yet ready for the next book in the series.

Emily and her sisters, Tara and Madison, suffered tragedy and loss in their childhood and the repercussions have carried over into their adult lives. One sister ran and has not been heard from since, one sister closed herself off and just tried to move on, and one sister is resentful and holds bitterness towards the others and the awful circumstances that separated them. Lies and secrets cloud their memories of the pivotal moments of their parents’ deaths and hold them all part. And when a new murder in their hometown mirrors their father’s and old evidence resurfaces their worlds come crashing down around them as terrible truths are revealed. Complications arise when the FBI joins the local police to solve the case, asking questions and revisiting the worst time of the sisters’ lives. When the present echoes the past, was the killer really found? Or are they still lurking in the shadows waiting to strike…to finally eliminate all those who possibly know the truth?

*I received an arc through NetGalley, via the publisher, and I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Kendra Elliot does it again! I was sucked into this intricately woven tapestry of history, family and murder. This story kept me flipping pages and thinking of the tale long past the last page. I loved how the locations history was as much a character in the tale as the inhabitants. I truly enjoyed this and can’t wait for the next installment.

I have never read any book by #kendraelliot and now I have to added her to my list of authors to watch!
I loved the fact that there were a lot of plot twists and secrets unravelled throughout the whole book! The ending was also unexpected so that is always a bonus point in my opinion.
I am not a big fan of romance but this book is actually more of a suspense thriller than a romance which was really fine by me.
The characters are well developed and I absolutely loved the relationship between Zander and Ava - how they balance each other out. There was also a palpable and electric tension between two characters (I don’t want to spoil it) and the author did a great job writing it a way that feels so lively.
I also think the descriptions and the set of the scene is really well achieved!
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it!
Would like to take this opportunity to thank #netgalley and #montlakeromance for the opportunity of reading #thelastsister ahead of its publishing date in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book as I thought it would be an entertaining murder mystery, and it is certainly a good story. However, I didn't really engage with it, possibly because it is aimed at an American audience. None of the characters came alive, and most of them seemed rather cliched. I probably wouldn't read any other books by this author.

A fast, action-packed mystery with great coastal Oregon atmosphere, a complex family dynamic between three sisters shaped by tragedy, and just a hint of romantic tension to hook readers into wounded, determined FBI agent Zander Wells. This is the start of a new series for Elliot, and I look forward to more!

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2020/01/07/the-last-sister-by-kendra-elliott/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I discovered this author with the <em><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/178669-mercy-kilpatrick" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercy Kilpatrick series</a> </strong></em> and decided to try this new <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/275978-columbia-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Columbia River</strong> </em></a>series.  I'm totally in a mystery/thriller with a touch of romance mood so <strong>The Last Sister</strong> fit well. The murder case is in the foreground with the romance barely there.

The law enforcement in the story are smart and caring. They use a combination of interviews and some forensic information to track down the truth. The murder happens in a small town and there is a lot of history and quirky small town traditions.

There are suspicions it is a hate crime so the FBI takes part.  Apparently, the agents are in some of her other series I haven't read. There are just tiny bits of racist actions over the years. The members of the white supremacist group commit crimes (murders) but on the sly or implicating others so they know it's not right.

Emily's family has a long history in the town and her father / grandfather with the groups. She and her sisters might have witnessed things but they were children. Emily is now remembering things with adult eyes and Madison, who was 4 when her father was murdered,  is tying to make sense of a jumble of facts and family secrets.

I read a little about this series which is based on law enforcement members in the Columbia River area of Oregon.  The next book is about Ava McLane who was Zander's partner here and a primary character in the series I have not read. It is <strong>The Silence</strong> and planned for later in 2020.  The third book will feature Mercy Kilpatrick and Truman Daly!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Well this starts out dramatic and just keeps.going. This is a mystery with just a hint of romance. Secrets from the past come to the present. I liked Ana and Zander FBI agents from Portland. Good sory, kept me involved. 4 stars

I was excited to learn Ms. Elliott was starting a new series after enjoying the Mercy Kilpatrick books so much, and I'm glad to say, The Last Sister is a real winner. As there was plenty of mystery and suspense. Not to mention some great twists and turns. And with a really engaging and varied group of characters, including FBI Special Agent Zander Wells, a terrific small town setting, big secrets and a very intriguing storyline involving hate crime and the KKK, I was easily absorbed throughout. And I would happily recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC of The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Emily tries to forget the death of her father but it comes rushing back with the murder of her friends twenty years later. Why did Emily's sister Tara leave town when Emily's father was murdered? Was she involved in the murder? Who is responsible for the double murder twenty years later? Is anyone else 's life in danger? There is no shortage of secrets in Kendra Elliot's latest book.

This book is a change in genre from what I've been reading lately but I really enjoyed it!! Right from the first chapter I was hooked and could not put it down.
It is full of suspense and twists & turns that had me also trying to solve the murder along with Emily and Zander. Kendra Elliot is a new author to me and I look forward to reading more of her books and especially more in this series!

This was a pretty good book. I enjoyed the setting, It felt real enough that I could easily imagine being soaked to the skin by the damp fog. I connected easily enough with Zander, really felt bad for the guy in a couple of places. His heart is good, even if damaged. It was nice to see that something good eventually came his way. Poor Ava, though!
The Aunties were a hoot. Each of them was distinct, no matter that they all coordinated. I loved the fact that nearly everyone in the cast had secrets, it really added layers to the main plot. Those sisters! They should get a group rate on psych services. It really added layers to the main plot. I like a multi-dimensional story like that. I also felt bad for the Sheriff. Poor guy lives in a state of denial.

I liked this book enough to buy more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kendra Elliot and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC.

Book Info
Paperback, 336 pages
Expected publication: January 14th 2020 by Montlake Romance
ISBN 1542006708 (ISBN13: 9781542006705)
Series Callahan & McLane #5
Other Editions (4)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Buy book from
Amazon B&N

BOOK BLURB

Three sisters’ secrets collide in a shocking novel of suspense by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Mercy Kilpatrick series.


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. The case closed.

Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night—until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past.

When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her.

My Thoughts

In turn want to address these statements, one at a time very briefly, from the blurb to the book.

Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard.

First the fact that the murder of Lincoln Mills, Emily's father, 20 years before has links to the murders Zander and Ava are investigating.

As the story evolves and these links are uncovered secrets long buried, literally and figuratively, are exposed.

Secondly, as stated below, the younger sister of the three, claimed says she was asleep. This is a very big part of the reason behind her attitude in life for the 20 years in between her 10-year-old self and her 30-year-old self now.

Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room.

Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends.

Third statement above is the real stickler of the bunch for many reasons that take the entire book to unravel but are oh so worth the wait!

The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever.

The statement above when explained late in the story will also be eye opening when everything is revealed.

This point below is a major clue in overturning the truth for everyone involved, especially Special Agent Zander Wells. I was totally unprepared for what it brought to light, as were quite a few of the people in the small town of Bartonville itself.

The killer was caught. The case closed.

A remote coastal town that sits on the banks of the massive Columbia River and is not far from where it empties into the Pacific Ocean.

Bartonville is a small town of fewer than a thousand people and it is separated from Oregon’s heavily populated Willamette Valley by hills of the Coast Range and thousands of acres of timber.

(view spoiler)

This is another series and characters to follow!
[EArc from Netgalley]

Three sisters, loss of both parents, and twenty years of unanswered questions. This story will take you on an unexpected ride.

Tara the oldest sister ran away after their father was murdered, leaving Emily and Madison trying to forget what had happened all those years ago. But when Emily finds herself caught in the middle of a murder similar to her fathers, she calls the FBI for help in her small town. Zander and his partner Ava are eager to figure out who killed the history teacher and his wife. As the investigation continues it begins to uncover secrets from the past.

Who is keeping secrets? Who knows what really happened all those years ago? Where did Tara go?

I enjoyed the story and the way the facts came together. Zander and Emily’s relationship working the case was special.
Thanks to Netgalley for this complimentary copy. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot is an entertaining mystery story. Its also a story about family relationships .The two main characters, Zander Wells, an FBI agent and Emily Mills, meet and are attracted to each other and eventually fall in love. Kendra Elliot does an excellent job keeping the readers interest and combining several stroy lines.

20 years ago....a man in a small Oregon coastal town was hanged and his family nearly destroyed. Present day...a young African American teacher is stabbed to death and his body left hanging from a tree, his young wife brutally murdered. FBI agents Zander Wells and his partner are sent to investigate the deaths as possible hate crimes. This is a fast paced tension filled story with several surprises along the way. I loved it!! I've spent quite a bit of time along this section of the Oregon Coast and Kendra Elliott does a great job bringing it to life for us. The setting is very important to this story...almost another character. Zander and Emily are great together and I'm hoping to see more of them in future books in this series. The secondary players are well drawn and relatable. I especially enjoyed the 3 great-aunties.
Kendra Elliot's Mercy Kilpatrick series is one of my all-time favorites and this first book of her new one didn't disappoint. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3* Not as good as the Mercy Kilpatrick series, and would've been better without the 'romance'.

The Mercy Kilpatrick series is one of the best in the genre, and I think that the author ended it at the right time so that it didn't get too repetitive. This, I had high hopes for, but it felt rather cold and emotionless despite the blurb and the Barton family history, and I couldn't engage with any of the characters - there were a lot of words on paper, but everyone seemed to have erected an emotional barrier, and I didn't get a real sense of anyone.

Emily, the female lead, whilst not a weak character, kept secrets from the night of her father's death and was closed off from life, it felt like. At the same time, her younger sister, Madison, seemed to have closed herself off, become a bit of a sneak and seemed to be stuck in the 80s with her dress sense, and again kept secret. The last sister of the tale, Tara, also kept secrets but perhaps hers were the most believable, but the ending, when all got outed, saw her reconnecting with her closed-off family and reuniting them with her new family, without the need for any kind of counselling or talking. The male lead had suffered a terrible double loss, and yet that was told in only about one paragraph, though his was the hardest, most emotional loss for me to take. Tbh, it felt like all these characters needed plain talking and a good few sessions with counsellors.

The romance didn't work, because there was no romance. There were supposedly this heat that others could detect between the leads, but there was nothing but them coming together in a few short scenes for the purpose of Emily being questioned about her actions, and they had no kiss, no personal time together and yet at the end there was an understanding that she'd move to Portland for them to have a chance at whatever this between them was. This made no sense, as we'd been told that their family was struggling financially, and Emily seemed to be running the family business, and to leave meant that she'd need to hire more staff for pay - the issue of money woes got contradicted a couple of times in the tale.

The storyline itself, was convoluted, but it worked with the various reveals. It was a little far fetched and I couldn't really see this type of racism in 2020, and tbh, it portrayed an (hopefully isolated and entirely fictional) image of parts of the US I'd never want to visit, being a non-Caucasian. Maybe that's a Brit's perspective, as we're so live and let live in the UK, but this had some shocking reveals, and it seemed like most of the town was in denial of the existence of their brand of racism, and those who weren't, pushed it under the carpet. But, the portrayal was believable, regrettably.

Overall, it's not a bad book but it's very much lacking in comparison to the MK series, and because the leads were frankly entirely lacklustre. Tbh, I can't see the other sisters as leads, unless the author turns the series into more 'let's repair these females and give them proper fairy tale romances' books.

A complex thriller. It touches on racism, history, and family drama. Not an easy task to do while keeping the suspense going.

The Last Sister follows FBI agent Zander Wells, who is partnered with Ava McLane (the heroine of the Callahan & McLane series). They are investigating a brutal double murder which looks like it might actually be a hate crime. Our heroin Emily Mills, whose father was hanged twenty years before, finds the bodies and becomes embroiled in the investigation. It turns out that the past's secrets won't stay buried and just might kill Emily if she and Zander don't figure them out.

I really liked the family dynamics and loved reading more about Zander. I can't wait to see what happens next for him.

This is the first book in the new Columbia River series. This book was listed as the fifth book in the Callahan & McLane series on Netgalley; which I hadn't got to yet so I jumped on the previous four books first. But I soon realized you don't need to read the Callahan & McLane books to enjoy this book. If you enjoy the book be sure to go back and read the Callahan & McLane and Mercy Kilpatrick series as the other two books in this new series will feature the couple's from those series!

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy Elliot’s crime thrillers and The Last Sister weaved in history, racism, and hate groups into a suspenseful tale that not only the included the current murders, but those from the past.

The story was light on procedural jargon, but we’re provided just enough through autopsies, and details to feel a part of the investigation.

The Mills family, Emily, her sisters and eccentric Aunts added to the tale. Emily has been keeping a secret, their oldest sister left town never-to-be-heard from but the past is about to reawaken.

Elliot delivered a side-romance and I look forward to seeing how it develops over the course of the series. The author’s stories focus on the case but give us a feel for the main characters and their lives. This allows us to care for them and I appreciated that connection.

The Last Sister is available in Kindle Unlimited, Audio, Hardcover, eBook and CD. I highly recommend it to fans of suspense thrillers. Full review will appear on Caffeinated Reviewer January 14th,

Three sisters lost everything that they had when their parents died. Emily & Madison have tried to live their lives but there have always been so many unanswered questions about their father's murder and then their mother killed herself and their older sister Tara just disappeared. Now Emily has been dragged into another death and this time she might not be able to lie to the police. She can't believe that the Fitch's are dead and that Sean was found hanging just like her father all those years ago. She knows that this is a hate crime as they were an interracial couple but who would want to kill them? Everyone liked them but Emily knows that the racism underbelly in her town is very much alive but what are the FBI going to find? So when she is targetted she knows that it has to have something to do with her father's murder but why? FBI agent Zander Wells and Ava McLane are on the case and only because Emily called their office. They both don't agree with the sheriff this looks like a hate crime and when the autopsies are completed they both have their answer but why this couple? Zander knows that he shouldn't become involved with Emily especially as she is a witness and a target. What he knows that he has to keep her safe before he loses her. But who wants her dead? Another murder has just happened as someone is making sure there are no witnesses and old secrets will be revealed that will make sense to Emily & Madison and they will learn that their father wasn't always a nice man but can they move on from their tragic past? Will they be able to make peace with Tara after all of these years and try to mend their broken family? A great read. Most families have secrets but theirs was so sad and it destroyed so many innocent lives hopefully they can all move on now. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.