Last Seen Alive delivers an amazing fifth book to the Ellery Hathaway series. I tore through the first four books of this series in two weeks. and Joanna Schaffhausen’s fifth book sings.
Ellery Hathaway is the lone survivor of a serial killer. Abducted as a teenager and saved by an FBI agent, Ellery has spent her life hiding her past and herself from the world. As a police officer she’s dedicated to bringing justice to others. Last Seen Alive brings Ellery’s past to the surface.

When there’s a new murder with her torturer’s signature all over it, Ellery has to decide if she goes to Coben for information. There’s a new cast of side characters, a director and newscaster, all hungry for Coben’s story, all eager to put him at the center of the story again.

Last Seen Alive discusses people’s obsession with serial killers, the attention and fame the media gives the killer, and the audience’s hunger for these stories.

The books can be read alone and out of order, but fans of this series will be satisfied by this fifth installment.

I received an ARC of this upcoming book through NetGalley.

This is the fifth is a series of thrillers featuring Ellery Hathaway, but it holds up as a standalone. FBI agent Reed Markham is the other featured character in this novel.

This is about a serial killer who is imprisoned after murdering numerous young women and severing their hands. And other women are missing, possibly having suffered the same fate. And somehow, a new case of copycat murder, using the same modus operandi, has popped up while the serial killer is in prison. How did that happen?

Ellery and Reed are very likeable and appealing characters, the type you want to root for. But this isn't a character-driven novel. It is plot-driven. The serial killer wants to meet with Ellery, who managed to escape being another of his murder victims many years ago. The killer says he will disclose the whereabouts of other missing bodies if she would show up for a meeting with him. A TV reporter and crew get involved in the filming of this.

The plot gets steadily more outlandish and becomes a full-scale thriller after the serial killer escapes from prison. Though impossible to believe, give full marks to the author for coming up with a unique way to orchestrate the escape. Much time builds as the reader is caused to anticipate the remake of the killer's attempt to successfully make Ellery his victim on a second try at it.

A great writer, good characters, a plot a bit too wild to believe.

I really enjoyed this book. Character development was good. The plot was very interesting. Not a lot of typos.

Thank you Netgalley for this ebook arc!

This is book # 5 in a series about Ellery Hathaway and I love that I wasn’t left confused as I read it (I haven’t read 1-4).
Ellery and Reed came together from the horrid crimes of Francis Cobin, is there more to their relationship than Agent vs Victim?
Cobin is wanting to give up the location of the missing victims but at what price? The media is hungry for money through tragedy.. they want more, they believe Cobin has changed from his time in prison, but Ellery isn’t fooled like they seem to be. And because everyone else is fooled, they didn’t take the right steps to keep everyone safe.

I enjoyed this book so much! It had the perfect balance of suspense, mystery, relationships, etc.

Ellery and Reed are back in Joanna Schaffhausen’s latest book in the series, Last Seen Alive. Also along for the ride is the evil Frances Corben. Ellery is continuing to struggle with who she is after being raped, tortured, starved and left nearly dead. The fourteen year old girl she was when she was kidnapped off the street near her apartment where she lived with her mom has become lost to the woman she’s become two decades later. She was saved from her kidnapper by a young rookie Reed. For Ellery her kidnapper, Coban, is the tie that binds. Reed loves Ellery but she finds it difficult because of how they met, Coban is always in the background for her. Now Coban says he will give up the names and locations of dead young girls he’s killed but only if he can meet again with Ellery. The dead girls lay on Ellery's conscience with so much guilt – the public views her as “that girl that survived” and she can’t get out from under that feeling. She agrees to meet with Coban in the jail while a TV crew films a documentary. Coban craves the camera and attention and is fixated on "the girl that lived", and true to form, he gives up nothing but a religious quote that Reed takes as code to where they may find one of the dead girls.

A few twists and turns, some shady characters and a bit of trickery and Coban escapes and all he wants is Ellery. With the help of some of these shady characters he’s able to get Ellery at a location where he can snatch her again. She’s forced to re-live the horror from the past.

I love this series. It’s not required to read them in order as the author does a good job of bringing us up to date but to really feel the Ellery/Reed story I would recommend going back and read the past books. She’s a terrific writer, draws you in to her characters so that you feel what they feel. She’s also one heck of a good story teller.

I would like to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

When FBI agent Reed Markham pulled Abby from hell, he had no clue how it would change his life.
Abby had survived, she was alive when all the others were gone, but the monster was still breathing and Abby knew the story wasn't over, somehow, some way, the monster would be back to ger her, to finish it and 17 years later, he found her again.
From start to finish it kept my pulse racing as I flipped the pages. Fast-paced with characters that you will love and a story that is tight dark and a monster that is so very twisted, this book is a thriller PLUS!
I read a lot of suspense, police procedurals, and thrillers and to me, this is truly a five-star read!
I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ellery is a detective who was the one victim of a serial killer named Coben who got away alive, albeit with mental and physical scars. She teams up with the FBI agent Reed, who rescued her years ago, and with whom she has had an on and off relationship, to investigate a murder where the killer seems to have the same MO as Coben. They are also confronted with a sensationalist TV personality that is adamant about interviewing Ellery for a documentary about Coben.

This was the fifth book in the series but the first that I read. It can be read as a stand-alone but early on I felt like I wasn’t up to speed on the characters and the relationships. I liked the book, and I like detective novels, but I don’t love serial killer books, just a personal preference. I liked the characters and could see myself reading more of this series if they aren’t all serial killer based.

Detective Ellery Hathaway is contacted to participate in a documentary that if she meets with serial killer Francis Coben, who kidnapped and tortured Ellery when she was 14, he will give the location of other victims. She agrees, but at a cost!

Good book, well written., well crafted. I foresaw the direction the story was going and it got predictable, but did enjoy. Recommend.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to review.

This author is a favorite of mine, i like the way she write and her characters really bring you in. This is book 5 of the series and i suspect it is the last one, it is possible to read it as a stand alone thriller/mystery, but carries more weight if you read the books in order and watch the development particularly of Ellery's character and her relationship with Reed, the fbi agent who saved her when she was abducted by a serial killer and was the one who survived.

LAST SEEN ALIVE (ELLERY HATHAWAY, #5)
BY JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN

I discovered my favorite thriller writer named Joanna Schaffhausen because of reading and reviewing earlier this year a new series that I loved. I actually read the first installment in the series without finding out it was a new series until I went to type up my review. It was an excellent dynamic duo whom I was highly impressed at how well the two worked together--just like this one. It was called, "Gone For Good," and I will include a link to my review at the conclusion of this one. I was very impressed with this very talented Author Joanna Schaffhausen's writing style. I remember one of the things that I loved about it was that it wasn't overly graphic with gratuitous sadistic gore. I even remember saying to myself while reading it how it would make an excellent series and lo and behold it is. So when I saw this very same Author featured with a new book coming out I hit that request button. I am so grateful that I did because this Ellery Hathaway series was fantastic for me to get a new introduction by reading this number five in this new to me series but I enjoyed it so much it was equally fantastic. This can be read very easily as a standalone. "Last Seen Alive," proved to me that Joanna Schaffhausen is every bit of the great writer that I thought she was.

This was a very well written thriller that was pulse pounding suspenseful. Full disclosure though I have to admit that this one was a bit more graphic and more of a chiller than her new series. I did love the two main character's in this one which entailed Abigail Ellery Hathaway whom is a police officer for the Boston Police Department who works with FBI agent Reed Markham. They are both lovable character's that are kind, brave and have a ton of integrity. This one involves a serial killer named Francis Michael Coben that is ruthless.

On the positive side of things since I am beginning on book number five in this series I have four more that I can look forward to reading in this series. Which I plan on reading next--that is how good this series is. I hope that they all or if not all at least one of them includes Ellery Hathaway and FBI agent Reed Markham because I liked their interactions and I liked FBI Agent Reed Markham. I suspect there is at least one book with them because they seemed to have a backstory. I don't necessarily like that it could feature the same twisted serial killer Francis Coben.

This is not a spoiler to reveal that the beginning of this book a television crew want to in their words bring justice to some of the families of Francis Coben's victims. The caveat is that this film crew is laying a guilt trip on FBI Agent Reed Markham by trying to get him to involve Detective Ellery Hathaway to be included whom it appears she was a victim who escaped when Reed rescued Ellery. She is scarred but still a courageous and strong female protagonist. She is physically scarred but in a small way must carry some emotional baggage. I don't want to say anything more but to say if you are a thriller fan you must read this book. I read it easily in one sitting because once I started it I couldn't put it down. Very Highly Recommended. As promised here is the link to the fabulous first of the new series by this same terrific Author I mention called, "Gone For Good: If you are interested in reading my review you can click onto this link here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Publication Date: January 25, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Joanna Schaffhausen and St. Martin's Press-Minotaur Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#LastSeenAlive #JoannaSchaffhausen #StMartin'sPress-MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

This is the fifth book in the Ellery Hathaway series. As a teenager she was abducted by a serial killer and it has effected her whole life. I have have loved every book in this series and highly recommend this series

The first Joanna Schaffhausen book I read was Gone for Good, and I loved it, so I knew I eventually wanted to read her Ellery Hathaway series. Thank you x 1000 to the marketing coordinator at St. Martin's Press for the invitation to read Last Seen Alive because it sent me on an extremely enjoyable Ellery Hathaway bender, and THANK GOODNESS I waited until now to read the first four books because I'm obsessed, and if I had to wait until January for book five, I would have lost my mind.

Suffice it to say, I love everything about these books but don't want to get too specific and ruin anything, so the basic gist is this:
As a teenager, Ellery was the only survivor of a serial killer. She was rescued from a closet by FBI profiler Reed Markham, but has been permanently scarred (mentally and physically) by her trauma. Ellery grows up to become a cop, but the legacy of Francis Coben's crimes follows her into her new life in various ways across the series.

The conclusion of this book was satisfying and *could* be the end, but I really hope it isn't because I want MORE.

SO... if you haven't read this series, get started. NOW.

(some version of this review will be posted on IG @leavemetomybooks closer to pub date)

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Ellery who was a cop was saved from a serial killer by Reed who is an fbi agent. This book was well written and was intriguing from the beginning.

Last Seen Alive by Joanna Schaffhausen is an enthralling and engrossing read with a great plot and characters! Well worth the read

With each book released in the Ellery Hathaway series I become more and more vested in the characters and am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Last Seen Alive did not disappoint! Ellery and Reed are back for their scariest adventure yet. This will keep you guessing until the end and rooting for Ellery and Reed to put the past behind them and focus on their future together. I like that with each installment in the series we are seeing a more tender and less guarded Ellery. I can't wait to see what comes next!

I received and ARC of Last Seen Alive from net galley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

OUTSTANDING plot, characters, & writing, interspersed with lots of intrigue & suspense make this a superior read from this great author. Love the unusual start & continuing relationship between Ellery & Reed. Enjoyed immensely & RECOMMEND this series totally. Thanks to NetGalley & Minotaur for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Whether or not you are already invested in the Ellery Hathaway series, you will appreciate a master of suspense at the top of her game--and the book can be read as a standalone. The tension the author creates is almost unbearable. I found myself holding my breath and putting off my bedtime through much of the latter half of the story.

Ellery is the one survivor of a serial killer's crime spree, captured at age 14 and held for three days of unspeakable suffering until she was found and saved by young FBI agent Reed Markham. For 17 years, violent predator Frances Coben has been on death row, showing little remorse, but now he says he'll reveal the location of one of his victims in exchange for a televised meeting with the one who got away. Reed and Ellery have been reunited to determine what makes sense in the middle of a senseless situation.

These characters have gradually wormed their way into my personal pantheon of literary favorites--a scarred and brittle young woman who has turned her ordeal into a career as a detective, and her savior, who wants more from Ellery than she can give.

I can't recommend highly enough this compelling police procedural/thriller with masterful writing and unforgettable characters.

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Some time has passed since Ellery Hathaway ended her relationship with Reed Markham, and she is moving on with life as a Detective in the Boston PD. She has a love interest, though the relationship is currently platonic. Her history as the only surviving of mass murder Coben arises again, when the convict sends a letter to Reed hinting that he is ready to give-up the location of the body of one of his victims that has not been found. The catch is that Reed needs to bring Ellery to see Coben. A news team is planning an interview with Coben, and Ellery agrees to face her captor in prison. Could it be that easy? Probably not when this psychopath involved. The problem is Ellery is no longer the little girl he kidnapped and abused; she is an armed female detective. The story is tense and keeps you reading. I appreciate that this time Ellery does not have to wait for a man to rescue her. I hope this is not the last we'll hear of her.

If you’re looking for a heart pounding book about a psychopathic serial killer, this is for you. Ellery Hathaway, a Boston cop, and Reed Markham, an FBI agent have worked together on various crime cases since Ellery was rescued by Reed after being kidnapped by said psychopath, Francis Coben. Although Ellery is the victim that survived, there are many missing girls whose disappearance is attributed to Coben who refuses to provide any information as to where their remains are. While there is chemistry between Ellery and Reed, the trauma suffered at the hands of Coben make it impossible for Ellery to remain in a relationship with her rescuer and they part ways, until a possible TV interview with Coben brings them together again, and disaster ensues.

The devious mind of a Coben is thoroughly explored, very well described and terrifyingly real. The fear and pain experienced by Ellery when she was held captive is palpable throughout the book. I was not aware this was a series but, after being introduced to these new characters, will look for the other Ellery Hathaway mysteries. Thanks NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

There's always those series that come along and no matter what when the next book comes out you grab it! Why? because it's that good! Ellery and Reed are back this time Ellery gets the opportunity to go face to face with her past.. Coben. This book is spine tingling good! You will love Ellery and Reed and there's so much suspense. Loved!!! I would definitely recommend this series.