Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This one was just okay for me. Seemed super slow up until the 1/4 of the book. I also wasn’t super invested in the outcome of the mystery behind the missing hikers. Had a few surprising twists and kept me reading, but I just didn’t love it.

I always get excited when I see Megan MIranda has a new novel. This novel was an excellent example of why Megan Miranda is the queen of the mystery/thriller. There were twists and turns that I never expected but when it happened, it made complete sense. As someone who lives near the Appalachian mountains, the idea of multiple disappearances and a small town that protects its own definitely hit the right notes for me. I think this novel is one of the best that she has ever written and I can't wait to recommend it to others!

An Atmospheric and Moody Read

3.5 stars

The Last to Vanish is about tourists who have disappeared over the last 25 years in the most dangerous town in North Carolina.

Abby Lovett has been working at an inn in Cutters Pass, NC for over 10 years, but she is still considered an outsider by townies. Tourists visit for hiking adventures even though 6 have vanished without a trace. When the brother of a missing guest makes a surprise visit to the inn, Abby’s desire to learn the truth behind the mystery of the vanished tourists is fueled, further ostracizing her from the locals while also putting her life in danger.

The best thing about this book is the atmosphere. Cutter’s Pass is portrayed as dark, isolated, moody, and cold, and the atmosphere comes through in almost every chapter. It plays a central role in the plot and the characters, as it adds a layer of deceitfulness and distrust that permeates the town.

Abby is the sole narrator. I never love MM’s heroines, but I found Abby the most likable of them all. Even though the plot is focused on events from the past, the narrative takes place in the present, which worked well to stoke the tension and suspense as the reader isn’t quite sure what is going on in Cutter’s Pass, as the town exists in a history built of myth, rumors, and reality.

There is one surprising twist that I didn’t see coming, but I probably should have. The reveal of the killer was a bit anti-climactic, but because I identified them early on.

The pacing is slow, and the plot focuses as much on Abby’s character as it does on the vanished tourists. The tone is muted, which I have come to associate with MM’s writing. The pacing and the plot worked for me, but I found the last 10% to be a little bland and boring when it should have been quite the opposite. I also wanted to know more about some of the characters.

I wish the characters were a little more fleshed out, especially the townies, but, overall, I enjoyed the mystery, Abby, and, most of all, the pervasive atmosphere of Cutler's Pass.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is Megan Miranda's best book yet! It bears the hallmarks of her previous thrillers--notably, a young woman who embarks on a new life, yet cannot leave her past entirely behind--and provides even more twists and turns than usual. The book is set in the small town of Cutter's Pass, adjacent to the Appalachian Trail in the mountains of North Carolina, and the protagonist, Abby, manages an inn at the foot of the mountains. The evocative setting, both the town and the inn (as well as the townspeople) are described in detail...but the seemingly idyllic place is marked by the disappearances of a number of hikers, over a period of nearly 25 years. When the brother of the last man to vanish shows up, looking for answers, Abby. becomes invested in the puzzle again. The story unfurls backwards, through the disappearances, as Abby slowly learns more about each event, and about the people she thinks she knows. The climax reveals connections that I did not anticipate, leaving me highly satisfied. The structure of the book is perfect for the unraveling of this thrilling tale, which I just could not put down. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this highly recommend book!

I love Megan Miranda's writing! This book did not disappoint! Kept me guessing til the end and was hard to put down. Highly recommend!

This is a very addicting read. Mountain town secrets? Slightly unreliable main character? A fun read for sure.

Abigail started her job at The Passage Inn a decade ago, and while she still feels like an outsider in the town of Cutter’s pass, its owner is now the closest thing she has to family. Cutters Pass is a cozy mountain town at the foot of the Appalachian Trail, best known for its hiking and a string of mysterious disappearances… Most recently that of journalist Landon West, who was staying at the inn to investigate the town’s history of disappearances. Months later, his brother Trey arrives looking for answers. In their hunt for the truth, Abby realizes she may have never known her neighbors after all.

Pack up your beach bag, because the queen of the summer thriller has returned. Megan Miranda doesn’t disappoint with The Last to Vanish - It’s definitely my favorite release of hers since All the Missing Girls.

While I predicted the reveal pretty early on, the red herrings along the way sprinkled doubt in my mind. I live for a small town with some big secrets, and Megan Miranda is an expert at creating a web of nuanced characters you simply can’t trust.

I wouldn’t quite call this a slow burn, but there’s definitely a bit of a lull in the middle - Which I think is to be expected, when you’re dealing with a small geographical setting and a limited cast of characters.

If you’re a fan of Miranda’s previous work, this is a no-brainer: Grab a copy and tell a friend. And if you’re looking for an intro to the author, this is an excellent place to start! There’s no doubt we’ll be seeing this one poolside and on the beach all summer long.

The Appalachian Trails "A.T." painted with "blazes" along the way is one of my favorite hikes with over 71 miles in the Great Smokey Mountains. Hiking is a hobby I like to do alone with concerned family and friends giving out warnings not to do it. After reading this amazing mysterious thriller and unsolved disappearances, I'm hesitate..... I was concerned after reading a few negative reviews that Megan Miranda would not come through on this book, but WOW!!!!!!...She went above and beyond with this incredible thriller.

This setting drives the story with excursions along the never ending winding trails designed closely to the beautiful waterfalls. I could envision all the images described with the crisp mountain air, walking sticks, mountain souvenir shops filled with local crafts, and the little cabins built into nature.

With all the beauty surrounding Shallow Falls Trailhead, mysteries linger over the town after the disappearance of hikers over 25 years. A visitor Trey West checks into The Passage Inn during Abby's Shift. She quickly realizes he is the brother of the last hiker missing on April 2, 2022...Landon West. The evidence is resurfacing for Missing hikers:
01-16-19 Farrah Joiner
09-02-12 Alice Kelley
06-06-97 Fraternity Four....4 guys from the same fraternity even had a bar named after their disappearance with a snapshot of them hanging above the bar The Last Stop.

Abby's POV leads us in and out of danger with her sleuthing sometimes stepping on locals' toes. So many suspicious characters with questionable motives enter the scene.
"There were a lot of rumors about us here, as a collective about the things we knew, the secrets we kept. But they ignored the obvious." Don't miss this one!! I'm still reeling in it. Great job, Megan Miranda! You are still one of favorites!
Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for this title in exchange for my review! Thanks also to Scribner for my physical Advanced Copy!

3.2 stars
This is author, Megan Miranda novel number eight for me. I have totally enjoyed the others I read.

When Abigail ‘Abby’ Lovett’s mother dies ten years ago, Abby settles in the little village of Cutter’s Pass, North Carolina. She worked in “The Passage Inn” a cozy yet upscale c resort, first as a receptionist and moved up the ranks and is now the manager. She loves the village. However, recently there has been a series on unsolved disappearances.
Journalist Landon West was staying at the inn while investigating and he disappears.
When his brother Trey goes to Cutter’s Pass seeking answers, Abby finds that in ten years she really knows little about her coworkers and the community.

I have been fortunate to have been reading several super read. Sorry to say that this was not the read I was expecting. It was sooo slow ~ I was curious and hung in there!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Scribner/Marysue Rucci Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 26, 2022.

A mysterious story about a town that has tourists continuously missing over 25 years.
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Abby is the sole narrator of the story and is likable.
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There are multiple twists to the story including one that completely caught me by surprise.
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The reveal of “who done it” seemed anticlimactic to me and I wished there was more to it.
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The focus on Abby’s life kind of took away from the thrilling plot for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book. I enjoyed the storyline and it definitely kept me guessing. I did get a little confused when the story would look into the past and then back to the present within the same chapter without much distinction, but overall liked the story.

Thank to NetGalley and Scribner Books for the eARC.

Abby Lovett has lived in Cutter's Edge for 10 years now, but she still finds herself being viewed as an outsider. She loves the sleepy little town in North Caroline, best known for its hiking passages and its mysterious disappearances, but is starting to question the people, the history, and the disappearances. When one of the missing men's brothers show up, Abby is faced to take a closer look into the town and place she has called home for the last 10 years.

I enjoyed this story, but I did think it had a bit of a slow start. I also struggled with some of the disappearances - especially since some were spread out by decades - it was hard to believe whether it was foul play or just bad luck. I've read books lately where there are murders in the remote mountains, but I did enjoy this backstory - it was more original and believable than several others recently published.

I love Megan Miranda's suburban thrillers. They are right up my ally! Highly recommend for a book club.

The Last to Vanish was a good read. It kept me guessing. Everytime I thought I knew who the killer was I was proven wrong. And I would never have guessed who the lead character, Abby, was. She was very believable, as were the other characters. She went to the inn as a last resort. Her mother was dead and she'd never known her father. But she had an ulterior motives as to why she ended up there. I'm not sure who reads these reviews, but if it's potential readers I don't want to spoil it. Let's just say that she was on a mission. And she was curious about the seven people who seemed to vanish in thin air. So she started digging. It just didn't make sense to her, nor to anyone else for that matter.

Cory wasn't my favorite character. He was way too shifty. And he would never give Abby a straight answer. He was one big contradiction.

And then there was Trey. His brother, Landon, had disappeared. He showed up at the inn in search for answers. He was rather quiet. All he wanted was answers. Abby didn't trust him, but I thought she was being a bit paranoid. He didn't pose a threat at all. But I guess when you have secrets you tend to be suspicious. And Abby did have her big secret. As it turned out, everyone had secrets.

Celeste, the owner of the inn had a huge secret, one that I would never have dreamed to be true of her. She had a special place in her heart for Abby. She took her under her wing and was protective of her. Celeste also had special feelings for the sheriff and he for her, although they didn't seem to be in a relationship.

Georgia, who worked with Abby, had her secrets too. Abby discovered a locker that was assigned to her. She hasn't secured it though. Georgia had. Inside was incriminating evidence. When Georgia learned that Abby had found out about it, she ran away. She came back 8n the end to deliver a letter that she wrote to Abby. I was an apology, among other things. I'm sure she explained evidence, although Abby had already figured it out.

Harris, who was a handyman, took Abby into his confidence. He shared his secrets with her. I'm sure it was a load off his mind. She didn't take it well. She ended up attacking him. Trey came to her rescue. Harris had pulled a gun on her and Trey was able to tackle him and take the gun away.

In the end, I was shocked to learn who the killer was. It just never occured to me. It turns out that the killer was the most non assuming person In the whole book. So it was a twist ending, And I love a good twist. I would definitely recommend this book for book club. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will more than likely read it again.

Loved the small town and the twists I didn’t see coming. I couldn’t put the book down. Little slower start but loved putting on my detective hat.

I'm a huge fan of this author! The setting of a small North Carolina town was what drew me in. The characters were described so well that I became immersed...like a silent viewer of everything happening around me. Loved all the twists and surprises. I couldn't put this down! I highly recommend this book. 5 stars from me.

Residents of a small town on the edge of mountain hiking trails hide secrets of how hikers have gone missing. Abby is determined to find the truth, and in doing so she puts herself and the town's reputation and livelihood at risk.

I could not connect well with the characters or plot. For me, it was a "let's finish this so I can move onto the next book" kind of read. The premise and setting did pique my interest.

I received a free copy of The Last to Vanish by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a great for lover of a good mystery. I felt compelled to keep reading because I HAD to know the result of all the missing people in this book. I was surprised and satisfied with the ending! Highly recommend.

I absolutely loved the setting of this book. The Appalachian Trail has so much mystery! I could clearly picture the setting and the Inn. The way the story unfolded was a slow burn and one mystery solved after the next. I will definitely recommend this book!!

Loved this one! I really enjoyed the small town, big secrets feel. Could not put it down! Megan Miranda writes a great thriller. There were times I literally felt my heart rate rise! I loved it.