A fascinating psychological novel with noir influences, Her Last Affair focuses on the connections between four complex characters: Skyla, an elderly widow who lives alone on the periphery of the defunct drive-in she ran with her husband; Teddy, her tenant; his first love, Linelle; and Jeremy, a travel writer in NYC who decides to reconnect with his own first love. The connections between the characters are unexpected, surprising, and, in some cases, deliciously twisted. This book really worked for me.

I wouldn't necessary classify this as a psychological thriller. It's certainly suspenseful, but the suspense is of the more cerebral variety, seen more in the characters' motivations and unreliability rather than in the plot itself. Her Last Affair is definitely character-driven, delving deeply into the psyches of these characters and exploring the ways their pasts have affected them, and the secrets they are keeping from others and themselves. They are fascinating and flawed and vaguely sinister. I love characters like this, who just feel somehow off in a way you can't quite describe.

John Searles weaves the threads of his plot in a way that is nothing short of genius, timing the book's big reveals for maximum narrative impact. He has definite noir influences which come into play both with his characters and plotting and I was here for it. He's not afraid to make the reader uncomfortable or confused, and he even works in some sly humor. Each chapter begins with a quote from a movie shown at the drive-in, and I loved how those quotes applied to the chapters.

I found Her Last Affair to be an incredibly satisfying and unique reading experience. Recommended for fans of Peter Swanson and Megan Abbott.

This was my first time reading a book by John Searles and I’m really glad to have found a new author to enjoy. Her Last Affair is very different from any other storyline I’ve ever read. It was both nerve wracking and creepy at times. It’s a suspenseful story that centers around 3 main characters and yet it mentions others from the past. At certain times I did get a little confused by the switching from the present to the past but I simply reread a few pages and let it all sink in and I was able to understand everything completely. I liked that the story takes place in Upstate New York because that is where I live. I also liked that it was located at an old drive-in movie theatre. The authors use of epigraphs or passages of old movies at the beginning of each new chapter was also a plus. I thought it was very interesting how the author wrapped up the story and showed how all of his characters lives intertwined with each other. I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to others. I’d like to thank the Scene of the Crime Early Reads program and NetGalley for the arc to read, review and enjoy. I’m going to rate this at 4 stars and I look forward to reading more by John Searles in the future.

This book is one that I would call slow paced at first. It picks up quite a bit by the end but it’s so close to the end that I still think I’d call if slow paced.
Skyla lives alone with her memories of the now defunct drive-in theater that she, together with her husband, ran for almost 50 years. Now that Hollis has met an untimely death in a freak accident a year before she spends her night lost in regret, deception, and even a bit of longing. That all comes to an end when she rents the little cottage on her property to a very charming British man named Teddy Cornwell.
Over a thousand miles away a woman named Linelle is about to turn 50 years old. She’s bored by her spouse and has been fired from her job then a questionable photo from her youth surfaces online and an affair begins with her first love, a man she’s not seen in almost 30 years, Teddy Cornwell.
While in NYC, Jeremy, a bitter and failed writer, takes an assignment to review a new restaurant in Province. Years ago, Providence was where he met his first great love and also suffered his first great heartbreak. He considers looking her up while in town.
These are the main characters in the story and from there different tales spin and weave until you get to the end you’ll never see coming.
This was pretty good. Again, I thought it was a slow going story so just make sure you’re in the mood for that before you start so you can enjoy it more. If you are looking for something to really keep those page turning at rapid speed this might not be the one for right now but it should probably still be a consideration for another day.

This book was a little off for me with the pacing. It started out really slow and steady and then picked up, and then went slow again. I loved the set up of the different characters with their perspectives in the past and present. Seeing how everything came together was probably the best part. The characters aren't likable, so that made it hard at times to want to continue reading. Overall, it was entertaining.

This book was so good! I want to see more from this author in the future!! I couldn't put this book down. What a page turner!!!

Her Last Affair by John Searles is a fascinating novel involving multiple characters from different backgrounds and secrets to be unearthed. I found this novel captivating from page one. The first character you meet is an elderly woman. Her life is rich and nuanced and beautifully written. What I loved most about this book is the writing. I have read so many books that sometimes descriptions feel tiring and cumbersome. Not so here. This author has a way with words and he will make you keep reading long after you intended to stop. Great book overall. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I listened to this and found it to be extremely engaging! What a great stories with several layers and twists. I will continue to seek out John Searles' books.

One of my favorite kind of books are the ones with multiple unreliable POVs - Always keeps me on my toes! This book involves three people - Skyla, Teddy, and Jeremy. At first, I wasn't sure how everyone was intertwined, but it all fell together perfectly. The beginning is a little slow but I think it's important to set up the rest of the story. That being said, I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first. (So keep going!) I don't want to give away too much but if you enjoy a good thriller with well-developed characters and some realistic plot twists, add this to your summer reading list!

It's official. My reading slump is over, as I sit here and think about what I just read. The tag line, 'every marriage has its secrets,' is both a teaser and a hint of what's to come. The story starts off slow, and it steadily builds up. The storytelling is different from most books I've read. With its twists and turns, it's hard to describe without giving out spoilers. This story won't be for everyone. While this is my first book by Mr. Searles, I can guarantee it won't be my last.

#HerLastAffair #NetGalley

This is definitely a slow burn that has a satisfying ending. I found it to be interesting and engaging. A true hidden gem of a book.

Her Last Affair by John Searles is about the lives of
3 people — Skyla, Jeremy, and Linelle. Skyla is a retired nurse who lives next to a defunct drive-in movie theater that she used to run with her husband‘s family. Her husband passed away and now she lives alone. Linelle is 50 and lives in Florida with her husband. They are recent empty-nesters and their marriage is lacking. Jeremy lives in New York and does some travel riding. He’s not had the best luck with women and have some bad past relationships to show for it. What do these three people have in common? How do their stories intersect?
This book was such a beautiful read. The author’s descriptions of the characters and places were so well done that I feel like I have been there before. It was fascinating to read about their pasts and what brought their stories together. I really enjoy books like this that start out and you can’t figure out where the book is going and the journey to get there is thrilling and exciting. I highly recommend this book! Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Her Last Affair by John Searles was a meandering book through the past and present of Skyla, the now blind woman who lives in an old drive in theater. She has two identical houses, one of which she has decided to rent out. A ,am calls looking to rent the house and He and Skyla become close, maybe too close? As their relationship builds they encourage each other to address the relationships of their past and to try to bring closure to their lives. There are a lot of twists and surprises in this dark and haunting novel about past choices and how they affect the present.

Loved this book. Skyla is an elderly widow who lost her sight. She decides to rent out her 2nd cottage across the way to Teddy. Teddy is looking for a new start with a lost love Linelle. Linelle is in a not exciting marriage and is intrigued when Teddy reaches out. Meanwhile Jeremey is introduced who was and is still in love but not touch with Maryanne. I really liked this book because you never really knew where it was going which made it a page turner! Loved where this book lead me and the ending was well worth it!

I really enjoyed this, The writing is solid, the characters are interesting. The plot is original and well-paced. The reader knows all the strands will knot up nicely but not how or why. An above average mystery/thriller.

Searles has done something unusual here, centered a book around an elderly woman and made her a whole person, complete with infatuations and regrets. Although his main character is a few decades older than me, I couldn't help but identify with her and every action she took. The tenderness he took in fully fleshing out this woman is apparent on every page. With a lesser writer, she could have been a caricature, but Searles gives grace and humanity to all his creations.

I have been a fan previous books by John Searles, but this one just did not work for me - I could not connect with the characters. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Her Last Affair by John Searles

Searles creates three heart-achingly believable characters who have very little in common except that they all seem to have failed at the game of love, and are all at low points in their lives. Skyla Hull is a former nurse whose husband died in what appeared to be a freak accident. Not only does Skyla learn that her husband of nearly 50 years was involved with another woman with whom he had a child, but she is also diagnosed with macular degeneration and is nearly blind. Skyla tells the reader that she is looking for another set of eyes when she decides to rent the twin cottage next to her own on the land in the back of the drive-in movie theater that she and her husband ran together. Enter Teddy Cornwell, a charming British man, to whom Skyla is instantly attracted despite a sizeable difference in their ages. As their bizarre friendship develops Skyla encourages Teddy to seek out his first love, Linelle Durfort. Linelle is living in Tallahassee, Florida, and is suffering from empty nest syndrome now that her daughter is about to start college, and she and her husband have settled into what is essentially a loveless marriage. The final and most memorable character is Jeremy Lichanel, a failed writer living in New York. Jeremy seems to be the odd man out until as the back story of each character unfolds, the reader learns that Teddy and Jeremy met each other when Teddy was working at a theme park. Jeremy decides to reconnect with his first love, Maryanne Popadowski with disastrous consequences. Despite the grimness of the lives of these damaged people, Searles manages to work in some humorous moments. Each chapter begins with a snippet of appropriate dialogue from one of the films shown at the old drive-in movie. The narrative very gradually builds to an ending that will surprise and confound. Searles creates a dark, character-driven psychological suspense story that will disturb the reader long after he finishes the last page. Thought-provoking.

Overall I liked this one! The beginning grabbed me and while the jumping between the characters was a bit confusing, it had a few elements of surprise for me.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the overall concept, but wasn’t fond of the execution. The book deals with loneliness, with disfigurement and how people react to it, with parental disapproval and belittling. It could have been an amazing character study within a mystery, instead it moves closer to horror than mystery.

This book follows four lonely people. As the story progresses, those people transform from nice into monsters. I could accept that if I’d been given more substance for why they changed. I just didn’t feel as if there was enough explanation for why they were the way they were. There’s some, no question, but I wanted more.

The book touches on betrayal, lying, and cheating husbands. It includes crude language and adult sexual situations. The primary thing it had was an amazing amount of childish behavior and instances of insanity.

Overall, the writing is good, but at times it felt as if the writing became almost clinical in it’s detail and descriptive style. It was almost as if the author got confused as to whether she was writing a case study or a fictional rendering. It was easy enough to read though, and it did keep me interested. It’s not the best book I’ve ever read, but it’s good enough to spend some time with.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

This character driven thriller is a pure delight to read. Searles has really hit his stride in Her Last Affair as it captivates from the beginning until the very last page. ¾ of the novel is wicked funny while the last ¼ is heart-wrenching as we follow the joys, sorrows, and mishaps of several imperfect, misguided, intriguing, and unforgettable characters. Searles really shines in his character descriptions, whether it be Skyla, a semi-psychotic ex-nurse who fingers various treasures in her pocket, including a deadly hypodermic needle, or Maryanne, a woman who smokes menthol cigarettes while driving a car she named “the tiramisu” as the song “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” blasts from her tape deck. Then there’s Jeremy, a bitter and disgruntled wanna-be writer who ultimately just wants to be loved. Jeremy’s snarky comments and disgusted outlook towards life are funny as all heck and left me with tears in my eyes. I won’t even go into the incident with the poodle, you have to read it for yourself!

Searles has a gift for eliciting empathy for characters who commit reprehensible acts. Even though a few of the characters are morally challenged, the author has imbued them with traits which make them likable and human in many ways. In the last ¼ of the book, even though some of the characters have chosen the wrong path and have done terrible things, your heart still goes out to them. Searles had me thinking about the past and how the choices one makes determines one’s life, for better or for worse. I especially loved the rewinding of the film reel as a metaphor for looking back at one’s past.

There are so many lovely gems scattered throughout this book. The drive-in theater and its atmosphere of nostalgia, the warehouse full of mannequins sets the scene for uproarious laughter, and the erils of working at Disney World were all lovely parts of the story. I also loved that the film quotes that started each chapter were clues to the mystery of the story. Though the characters are very unique, they are all united by one thing, the search for true love. How Searles interconnects these individuals in this thoughtful and tense work will leave you looking forward to reading more of the author’s novels. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book.