LAST SEEN ALIVE by Joanna Schaffhausen
Publication: 1/25/22 by St.Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books


Jump on the roller coaster world of Ellery Hathaway. A riveting police procedural that transitions to a taut psychological thriller. This is the Fifth book in Schaffhausen’s signature series …. I‘ve been on the ride for all …. each novel can be read as a stand alone since the author seamlessly provides the necessary back story. Ellery was only fourteen years old when kidnapped, tortured, and raped by the fiendish serial killer, Francis Michael Coben. She was the only women to survive, when she was rescued from the killer’s closet by FBI profiler Reed Markham. Night after night Coben has haunted her dreams for over seventeen years. She originally bonded with Markham, however severed these ties in an attempt to move on with her life. She has forged a distinguished career, originally as an unconventional policemen , and now an accomplished Boston detective. Ellery has first hand knowledge of serial killers, being the only victim to survive the heinous rampage of the notorious Francis Coben, who has been rotting on death row. Markham arrives at her door step with an unthinkable proposition. Coben has agreed to reveal, only to her, where the remains of the previously unfound victims reside, if she agrees to meet with him. Echoing in her mind …. Coben swore when he was captured that he would have Ellery again since he had unfinished business with her. Noted media star Kate Hunter has engineered the televised media event with Coben and Ellery interacting. Another victim has been murdered with Coben’s signature style … including the amputation of her hands. Ellery can’t pass up this opportunity. How is the copycat killer in contact with Coben on death row. And, the families of the missing victims are crying out for closure. Ellery agrees to the confrontation …. which in a “cat and mouse” game is reminiscent of the encounter of Clarice Starling with Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of The Lamb”. What is Coben’s motivation for this televised media event. Can it be just continued notoriety?
Schaffhausen proves to be a master storyteller and she crafts a compelling thriller, following the twisted trail with hidden bread crumbs of clues that lead to escalating tension and intrigue and culminates in an explosive conclusion. Her concise and gritty prose is utilized to develop multi-dimensional layered characters that are relatable and are not mere cardboard cutouts. I envy the new reader, who can now binge read the other Ellery Hathaway novels.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think there is anything that I don't like about this series.
In this 5th installment of the series, we find Ellery and Reed having to solve crimes that lead back to Francis Coben, the man that kidnapped Ellery so many years ago. Ellery is still dealing with the breakup with Reed when he is pulled back into her life. Francis Coben is that reason and together Ellery and Reed must work together to figure out what his end game is.
This is probably one of my favorite books in the series and I hope that there is many more to come.

Last Seen Alive by Joanna Schaffhausen

Very interesting thriller mystery. A serial killer and his many victims! Can he be caught?

Well-written. Couldn’t put the book down. Many interesting and suspicious characters.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

There was much suspense and tension in this story. All throughout there were new leads and evidence to keep the reader engaged. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the 5th book in ongoing saga of the girl who lived and the agent who rescued her. The story begins sadly enough with Reed and Ellery having broken things off. However, with Francis Coben still alive, serving time on death row, Reed and Ellery never seem to be far from each other, and with the ongoing games of Francis Coben, Reed and Ellery are brought back together to make a deal with the devil. Francis Coben will disclose the location of one his lost victims, Tracy Trajan, in exchange for a meeting with Ellery. With the reunion set, a fresh missing person’s case grabs the interest of Reed and Ellery. When the missing girls hands are found on display in her freezer, everyone is asking the same question, who’s copy catting the crimes of Francis Coben and why now? As fresh interest in Francis Coben intensifies, Coben and an unknown ally stage a daring prison escape. With Coben now loose in the world, the body count starts to mount again. With Ellery undoubtedly in the crosshairs, it’s only a matter of time before Coben arranges his own reunion. He has forgotten one thing, Ellery is no longer a weak 14 year old girl. This story is structured in the same manner as the previous stories and like the previous stories, there is enough here that you can read this as a stand-alone novel. Lots of good suspense, and some fresh twists that keep things interesting. This story does seem to have a happy ending finally for Ellery. Begs the question if this is the last novel in the series? Review posted to Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Litsy, LibraryThing,

This is the fifth book in Joanna Schaffhausen's heartpounding Ellery Hathaway mystery series.

Detective Ellery Hathaway has been dealing with her past since she was fourteen years old in Chicago. She was abducted by a serial killer and lived to tell the tale. She's now a member of the Boston Police Department. Said serial killer, Francis Coben, is behind bars in a Terre Haute prison for seventeen years. Ellery owes her freedom to FBI Agent Reed Markham who rescued her from Coben's reign of terror.

The family of one of Coben's first victims want the body of their daughter returned. Ellery and Reed visit Coben in Terre Haute trying to crack a deal with him. But that doesn't prove as easy as they think. Coben is a master of mind games and Ellery and Reed aren't sure if he's really helping or taking them on a fool's errand by digging up the Coben farm.
And then a female body is found near a motel with all the markings of a Coben killing. But how is that possible since Coben is locked away. Is it a copycat situation? Or is Coben somehow orchestrating things from the prison?

The author continues the series in her trademark manner. The plotting and pacing of the book is great and one can't turn the pages fast enough to know how the story unfolds. This is a dark and gritty tale.

Thanks to the publishers and NEtgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the fifth book inthe Ellery Hathaway series. This book could easily be read as a stand alone book, but this seires is so good, you should read them all, at least read the first one,it gives a lot of insight intto the main characters of the book.

Ellery Hathaway is a survivor. At the age of 14, she survived for days at the hands of a serial killer, Francis Coben, sometimes praying for help, sometimes praying for death. Reed Markham was a young fresh faced FBI agent, on that fatefull day, he follows his instincts and they lead to the rescue of Ellery. They are inexpliciably linked together forever, the girl who survived and the hero who saved her. Coben is now in prison convicted of the rape, torture and murder of at least seventeen girls. Many years later, Ellery is a detective and Reed an experienced and famed FBI agent, their reconnection made them friends and sometimes lovers. Ellery felt she had to break things off and try to lead a normal life as she doesn't want to be That Girl anymore and she feels she always will be wth Reed, no matter what he tells her.

But fate and a little publicity stunt has brught them back together again, Kate, a crime TV personality along with Ben, a movie director have been granted permission to interview Coben, who syas he will reveal the burial spot of more victims. Coben will only agree if Reed attends and brings him Ellery. Maybe Ellery should just walk away, but a new murder with many similarities is brought to light., As Reed and Ellery try to discover how Coben has been connecting with someone outside of prison, their worst fears are realized as more bodies pile up and things go from bad to worse when Ellery's life is in danger again. Can Reed save her again or is this when Ellery's luck runs out.

This author always keeps me on the edge of my seat. Such a thrilling read, love these characters and love following along as they try to solve the case and mange their relationship. So many twists and turns, I never know who to trust or where the story will lead, but I'm glad to be along for the ride.

This story will keep you reading long after you should be asleep. Ellery is trying to make a life for herself without always having Coben in her thoughts. He’s taken up enough residence there and she’s ready to forge ahead. Unfortunately, Coben has another string to pull - give up the location of the missing bodies.

One hurtle after another brings Ellery to the brink of mental destruction as Coben has become her main focus once again.

Is it time to face off with the monster in her nightmares once and for all?

Last Seen Alive by Johanna Schaffhausen is the fifth book in the Detective Ellery Hathaway/FBI Agent Reed Markham series. If you haven’t read the previous books please read them in order before you read this one. There are so many details and nuances to the story that you will miss if you don’t!
Reed is approached by a TV personality wanting to interview him about the case that made him famous and introduced him to Ellery——Francis Coben. Coben is currently on death row in Indiana. He promised he would do an interview for the TV program if they bring Ellery to him. Reed goes to Boston to give Ellery this news thinking she will definitely turn it down. She almost says no but then a murder case she gets involved with has similarities to Coben. Is there a copycat or is this person in contact with Coben? She decides to go ahead with the interview and face the monster for the first time since her abduction and near murder at age 14.
I don’t want to give too much more away about the plot. This book is everything an Ellery/Reed fan dreams of! It really brings the story full circle. I was nervous and anxious reading it. The characters have matured and grown on me over the series and I feel like we are old friends. I’m really hoping that there will be more in the series. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Serial killer, victim, cop
“Last Seen Alive” is the story of people searching for answers for others so they can have answers for themselves. The book opens in the aftermath of a terrible and gruesome event -- the hospital, FBI agent, the arrest. It is not her fault she survived, not her fault they died. For Abigail Ellery Hathaway, age fourteen, the story is not finished; he does not get to win. She was supposed to be the last, but after twenty years, she is not.

“Last Seen Alive” is told in alternating stories filled with complex personal relationships, raw emotions, trauma, and memories. TV viewers love a serial killer, and Kate Hunter wants to give them every gory detail. Infamous serial killer Francis Michael Coben loves an audience and is ready to tell all, provided, of course he gets his way. What does he want? The one thing kept from him, Abigail; the one that got away.
Things change dramatically when there is another death, just the same, every detail, and then there is another. Coben is in jail. How can this be? Ellery long ago dropped “Abby” to avoid the association with the books, the movies, and, well, everything. However, her scars gave her a superpower, the ability to see right through trickery, and she is now a detective. This is HER case now. Out of all the people on the planet, she is the one Coben could never fool; he will not win.
Schaffhausen tells the story in vivid, thought inducing language:
The tall trees rise up like a castle wall, shielding the hotel from the road beyond. They enter the belly of the beast, deep inside the concrete walls. Fear crashes over her, an ocean wave from behind, nearly taking her off her feet.
“Last Seen Alive” starts slowly then systematically escalates until the chase becomes a frantic race against time and a killer. I received a review copy of “Last Seen Alive” from Joanna Schaffhausen, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books. I was surprised to discover that this is book five in the series. I had no trouble following the events, and now I want to go back and read the previous four books.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read all of the Ellery Hathaway series, and I have enjoyed watching her development and the growth in her personal life and her relationship (or not) with Reed, her rescuer when she was a teenager who was kidnapped. While I'm sure the book could be read as a standalone, to me the book is much richer, because of that growth. As the books have moved alone, we've seen Ellery grow as a person, estabishing relationships and friendships, and achieving professional growth.

In this book, she's forced into dealing once again with her kidnapper/torturer, in an effort to get him to provide information about other victims, trying to bring closure to the families of some of the victims who have not yet been found. As if this weren't bad enough, a copycat killer surfaces, adding a whole new horror to the story.

I've found her story compelling, and, while some of the books in their series have focused on other crimes that she and Reed have dealt with, I liked it that this brought the circle around. Well worth reading!

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the fifth, and quite possibly final, book in Joanna Schaffhausen’s Ellery Hathaway series and I cannot tell you how much I have loved this series. I came to this series late, when book 3 was just coming out, so I was able to binge-read the first three books, and even though each book does stand on its own, I highly recommend reading the series in its entirety as so much hinges on the overall character development, especially this latest one.

Ellery Hathaway is definitely going down as one of my favorite characters and this latest installment really proves that. She is the definition of strong and willful. I love that no matter what is thrown at her, she finds a way to power through it to find answers.

I also loved that we once again find Reed and Ellery working together. In the last book, we saw them walking away from each other, but I was so happy to see that things are definitely not over for them. There is such a strong bond between them and I love how they work together both on and off the field.

This book is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns that will keep you flipping the pages. The tension is high and I could not read it fast enough. While I’m bummed to see the end of this series, I think, I am excited that Joanna Schaffhausen already has another one out that I’m absolutely loving. If you haven’t read this series…what are you waiting for? Now that all five books are out, it’s the perfect time to binge-read them and let me just say, they are all totally binge-worthy and not to be missed!

I cannot say enough about this author!!! This is another amazing book. It was creepy and suspenseful. The characters are so well written. I loved this series so much. I will definitely read everything by this author for sure.

I thoroughly enjoy the Ellery and Reed series!! Schaffhausen’s books are always packed with suspense and action with no dull moments!! This one finally had the ending I was hoping for!

This 5th in the crime thriller series featuring Boston Detective Ellery Hathaway is fast-paced and a bit grisly — just the way we like it!

I had held off reading this because I was trying to find the 4th installment on my Kindle, but decided to go ahead without having read that one figuring that I wouldn’t be too left out. I was right, and this had enough backstory to remind me of all the pertinent details.

I like the main character, Ellery (formerly Abby) — she is a survivor and lives daily with all the scars to prove how far she’s come in the past 17 years since she was kidnapped by a monster now in prison. The man who found her in the closet, FBI Agent Reed Markham, is both rescuer and lover but they are taking a break at Ellery’s instigation. They reunite when her would-be killer, Francis Michael Coben, arranges that she visit prison so that he will reveal the location of some of his victims who’ve never been recovered. The pair is accompanied by some Hollywood types intent on making yet another docudrama about Ellery’s ordeal and rescue. How Coben loves being the center of attention! Little do all know that he has a plan and he’s had a very long time, and some help, to pull it together.

Lots of thrills and suspense in the narrative with plenty of red herrings so there were surprises along the way. I got the impression from the conclusion that this might be the last in the series, but one never knows. I like this author’s writing style, so will definitely want to read whatever she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

When she was 14, Ellery Hathaway was abducted by serial killer Francis Coben and held for 3 days before her rescue by FBI agent Reed Markham. Now a standing police officer far from her homeown she is struggling to put the past behind her and lose her notoriety as "the girl who lived". Coben now states that he will reveal the location of more bodies and give families closure in exchange for an interview with Ellery. Shortly after he escapes and more deaths ensue. I confess serial killer thrillers are a guilty pleasure of mine. This 5th entry in the series follows the classic formula but the well drawn characters and unfolding new leads on the path to a satisfying conclusion held my attention. Ellery and Reed are strong yet conflicted protagonists doing a touch job. The storyline is dark and disturbing but not overly graphic. I have already added the first two books in the series to my TBR stack. and recommend it others.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joanna Schaffhausen and St Martin's Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I have always enjoyed the Ellery novels, but I have to say that this one might be my favourite one yet. I really enjoyed going back to the original crime that brought Reed and Ellery together. There was so much more action that I had anticipated and I enjoyed every second of it. This novel seemed very fast paced compared to the others in the series and I didn't want t put it down.

Last seen Alive literally made my heart pound. Hard to put down and fast paced. I haven’t read the other four books but I’m definitely going to. Joanna Schaffhausen does not ever disappoint

Joanna Schaffhausen write THE best thrillers and #lastseenalive is no exception. Do yourself a favor and read this RIGHT NOW! Ellery and Reed are a wonderful pair that I hope have more adventures in the future that we get to share as I can’t wait to see what happens next. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for this book to read and review

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read Last seen alive by Joanna Schaffhausen. This is the fifth book in the Ellery Hathaway series. While it can be read as a stand alone, I personally like to read a series in order, and will go back and read the previous books. This was a great psychological thriller but will admit I had to put it down as at times it was quite dark and disturbing, but I loved it! My only regret was not knowing about this series earlier!!!