Engrossing Last One Alive is the seventh in the Maddie Ives series. It is dark, disturbing, claustrophobic, taut and clever and so suspenseful I caught myself practically holding my breath a few times. The back and forthing is a wee bit confusing at first but quickly grows into a followable rhythm.

DI Maddie Ives is now the head of the Domestic Violence unit, finding her footing in the new position. Daisie-Mae goes missing and co-worker Megan suffers the same fate shortly after. These are no straightforward disappearances. Written "DON'T WAKE UP" is unsettling and goosebump inducing for the characters...and this reader. But what happens next is even worse. Not only that but the year 1999 comes back to haunt Maddie and her team. Danger is an understatement.

Thriller fans, especially those who enjoy police procedurals, do add this book to your list. Characters are well written and though not likeable fascinate. Author Charlie Gallagher draws on his experience as a police officer which adds that touch of reality which anchors the story. Do know that domestic violence and torture are mentioned.

My sincere thank you to Joffe Books for providing me with an early digital copy of this transfixing book!

A mystery slash thriller that had me looking over my shoulder. At first, I was kind of confused as to how the storyline was going, but eventually I got into a rhythm of reading the pages. Once I got that figured out it was a really good read. I liked the book had so many strong female characters. This author was able to show how women working together get things done.

Another of my favourite authors and another real page turner, which this author always delivers in spades. Hooked from the first to the last page with so many twists and turns and quite a few surprises. Another real heart thumping crime thriller that gave me chills and I literally have no nails left!!!!! This is another cancel everything and read this book I promise that you will not be disappointed. Brutal, disturbing and another MUST READ from this very talented author. Loved it!!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Ladt One Alive the seventh novel to feature Acting Detective Inspector Maddie Ives of Kent Police.

Daisy-Mae Adams fails to turn up for work at The Ugly Jug coffee shop and as it’s out of character her manager, Megan, reports her as a missing person. The next day Megan has disappeared and Maddie is sure neither disappearance was voluntary, especially when she discovers that the Ugly Jug is on the premises of a former nightclub, The Ugly Sisters, which gave its name to a series of abductions and murders twenty years ago after two employees were taken and killed.

I enjoyed Last One Alive, but it feels like a major change of direction for the author. Not to put too fine a point on it it is slow moving rather than the high octane adrenaline filled rush we are used to and more psychological.

The novel has three points of view and rotates between them, Maddie’s investigation, Daisy-Mae’s experiences at the hands of an unidentified perpetrator and lastly Paul Morgan’s journal as he explains the events of twenty years ago and his involvement. For the first half of the novel I found the journal by far the most interesting and compelling part of the novel as it is the only part making progress. Maddie is still trying to decide what she’s investigating and Daisy-Mae’s story is repetitive. That changes in the second half when Maddie’s investigation starts motoring as she puts the pieces together., so after an unpromising start it becomes absorbing.

This is a clever novel and obviously a lot of thought went into the planning. There is a certain amount of misdirection, so the reader is never quite sure where the stable ground is. There are quite a few surprises and twists, but the resolution requires a lot of swallowing of disbelief. I’m not quite sure what to think of it, to be honest.

Last One Alive is a good read that I can recommend.

I was unaware this book is the 7th installment of the fictional investigative series but discovered it could be read without the previous ones, although I sensed a few callbacks. I could tell the references meant something but did not prevent me from understanding the story. For example, the amount of time tea and putting the kettle on were mentioned. I assumed this is the main character’s signature. The plot must have looked good on a planning page but the execution was lacking. Some things that could have improved the book: cutting the length by 25%, reducing the introduction of characters by at least two people, identifying the message and sticking to it. By the end, I was wondering if I was a) supposed to be terrified, which I was. The crimes are what nightmares are made of. There is one reveal that really shook me. b) buy into the religiosity of Betty Snow and the somewhat mystical portrayal of evil. Or c) focus on the commentary about domestic violence. There is a fine line between resolution and a recap. The author spends the last (or second to last) chapter summarizing the entire plot through dialogue between the main character and someone who is appearing for the second time (useless) and I’m still not completely sure who the perpetrator was. I’ll have to look into Charlie Gallagher’s other novels, but I recommend skipping this one.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I was surprised when I realised this is book 7 in the Maddie Ives series. That said, this did not hamper my enjoyment of the tale as the author recaps just enough from the previous books to ensure there are no glaring gaps.

The characters are well rounded and believable, which really helps as the story is told from multiple viewpoints: we have chapters taken a handwritten confession, which also includes details of the original abductions, accounts from Daisy-Mae - the woman who has been abducted in the present day, and also that of Maddie Ives and her team. I have to point out here that I loved Eileen, and her slippers!

I initially found the chapters based on the confession to be slightly confusing, however, we are reassured from the off that all will be disclosed in order and with great detail, so I let myself go with it, and I am so glad I did, this is a particularly clever piece of writing, which helped the story to evolve to such an extent that I didn’t see the end coming AT ALL!

Given my 5-star review, it won’t come as a shock that this won’t be the last book I read by this author, in fact I am excited to go back to the beginning of Maddie’s journey by reading book one in the very near future.

I really enjoyed this book, the writing was engaging and the storyline had me gripped all the way through with a high level of suspense and mystery. The twists and unpredictability kept me guessing and the pacing kept me on the edge of my seat.

Warning: Potential Spoilers


What the what? I wanted to love this. This book, the cover, the author, the synopsis...I was expecting to be on the edge of my seat the entire book. Halfway through I was irritated I was on the kiddie coaster. Look, the premise is amazing, the potential is there but this book fell flat all the way around. Why were these girls taken, what happens to the last one who survives, what was the point of "Dont Wake Up"? The fact that the title and synopsis focused on these details and then the book never fully explains either is just frustrating. Be warned, this book really has nothing to do with the victim period other than to explain that she was kidnapped, and some details while captive. If you think this is a survivor story of someone who saves herself, you are misled.

The book is based on two separate events (Past and Copycat for the purposes of this review), in different timelines but involving many of the same characters. I often found myself having to pause to think about who the people were. I found it to be slow and too dense with surrounding characters. It took me several days to read which is unusual for a mystery/thriller type book.

While I really appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC, this is not one I would recommend.

I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but that didn't hinder my absolute enjoyment of this twisty, dark, psychological thriller at all. The last few chapters had me up way past my bedtime because I couldn't wait until the next day to find out what would happen!

Gallagher's characters are vividly developed, which is important when the perspective/narrator changes from chapter to chapter. But this also helped the story unfold in a way that preserved the twists and turns for the reader. I did NOT see the ending coming, and that seems a rare occurrence these days.

Maddie is investigating the disappearance of two young women, and she suspects there's a connection to a horrifying case from 20 years earlier. As details emerge, and the full extent of the crimes come to light, Maddie's sense of urgency to solve the case grows. Just when you think she has it all figured out, another twist pops up and changes things. Maddie is an imminently likable character, and this book left me wanting to go back and read the others in the series.

This is a great pick for anyone who likes suspenseful, psychological, police procedural, crime thrillers!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #JoffeBooks for the copy of #LastOneAlive by #CharlieGallagher
When Daisy-Mae wakes up the first thing she sees are the words Don’t Wake Me then the cold, the pain and the terror send her into panic.
Detective Maddie Ives is already searching for her, will she find her in time or will history repeat itself 22 years ago 2 girls went missing and they weren’t found until it was too late. Then a second girl goes missing. A nail biting thriller that has you rooting for Maddie and her team.

I did really enjoy rhis but omg was it confusing! It's probably easier for those who have already started the series and have an idea of who's who but reading it as a standalone was hard going. It's also pretty slow and very character driven so, whilst I did like the overall plot and turn if events...... it wasn't the something that just flowed and was a delight to read lol. More like a book you have to read for high school and have to write follow up essays on who each and everynperos was and how they contributed.... that kind of effort

Sorry but this book wasn’t as good as the others I have read I found it difficult to follow and very slow there was too many people in it it’s a shame as normally love this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC

I don't know how Charlie Gallagher thinks up the happenings in the DI Maddie Ives books. This one is gruesome beyond the norm. Is evil catching? How can a killer leave 22 years between his abductions/torture/killings? Why start agin? These are the questions Maddie needs answering - and that's alongside her Domestic Violence work.

Loved it - although it gave me the creeps.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

Thanks for Netgalley.com and Goodreads. I felt there were too many characters and that made it difficult to follow. The story also goes from present day and back 22 years where a similar crime happened.

DI Maddie Ives is back, i love this author and overall a great read.
I did struggle at the start but once the story got going Wow!
Anyone expecting a cosy murder mystery will have a shock, this author writes a gritty thriller.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
Keep them coming Charlie Gallagher.

This book took me a while to get into - for the first 20-30%, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to finish it - mainly because there are so many characters and different perspectives that I found it quite hard to follow.

That being said, once I got into it, I really enjoyed this story and everything came together nicely with a few twists and turns!

4/5 stars ⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This was my first read in this series and perhaps if I was familiar with the team I would have enjoyed it more.
I did like Maddie, she was interesting to read. The plot was twisty and full of surprises.
However, it was a bit too slow for my liking and the constant back & forth and addition of new people, meant I found it difficult to follow the plot at times.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a thriller with so much going on and so many viable suspects! Once you start the book, you just can't stop reading. It keeps you on the edge of your seat as it describes what was done 20-some years go and the parallel to present-day abductions. The diary component added so much to the story but it also threw me and had me making wrong assumptions. You have multiple points of view to fill in missing pieces, but the whole picture remains just out of focus until the very end! And what an incredible ending! If you like thrillers that have you scrambling to keep up, you MUST read this book!

In Last One Alive by Charlie Gallagher, DI Maddie Ives now works in the Domestic Violence Investigation Unit with new and old team members. The writing is smart, with a fast-paced plot and enough twists and turns to have the reader on the edge of their seat.

Last One Alive is a good police procedural; however, some chapters seemed to drag, and sometimes the characters were unlikable in their actions.

Overall, a good read and a good crime thriller.

#LASTONEALIVE #NetGalley @JoffeBooks

"Don't Wake Up"

Those words greet Daisy-Mae, who was snatched from her workplace and disappeared without a trace. Her friend reported her missing, but when she also disappears, DI Maddie Ives' suspicion that the disappearances may be linked begins an investigation that will surprise. However, when a link to a cold case from twenty-two years before is found, it appears that history could be repeating itself.

This is a really good book - the characters are well-realised and the story moves at pace. It is told from three main points of view - Maddie, Daisy-Mae and a third character - with the chapters only relating to one of those characters for most of the book. An easy 5*.