Wow. An amazing thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. I read this book in one sitting and stayed up until 4 am to do so. I loved how easy this book was to read, jumping straight into the action it had me invested from chapter 1. I loved the different character povs and the jumps in timeline from past to present, this along with the short chapters made this book addictive. The plot twists were simultaneously jaw dropping and heart breaking. I will definitely be reading more of this authors work.

Last One Out by Steph Nelson was amazing. All the things you love in a thriller, this had!

This story is starts in the late 1990s with Chloe, who goes out with friends and ends up missing with the friends being murdered. Fast forward to present day, Chloe’s cousin, Frankie, who has never given up hope that Chloe is out there, is overjoyed when Chloe reappears after 25 years. It’s not the reunion she was hoping for though. Lots of shocking twists and turns in this one, some leaving my jaw dropped. Check trigger warnings, also.

I’ve never read this author prior, though I know she does have other popular titles, but I would definitely pick up her other works! This was such a great read with lots of unexpected reveals.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book immediately grabbed my attention (I love long-unsolved mysteries), but the content wasn't a fit for me. While I appreciate the author's trigger warnings at the start of the book, I wish they were also included before an ARC request.

Rounded up from 4.5 stars -

I really liked the way this book was written. By reading the blurb, you kind of already know what’s going to happen (at the beginning at least) but the way it happens strikes up so much suspense. And that’s just the beginning. The plot is perfectly written to keep you engaged through the entirety of the book, even between the crazy start and the plot twists at the end. And the author does a fantastic job at making sure you have reasons not to trust a single person.

While I will admit some of my guesses were so far off, some of them were spot on as well. You quickly get the hint that whoever is behind the Clinton mask is someone that knows Chloe. And while you’re set up not to trust anyone in the book, there are only a few prominent characters to choose from, so some of the plot twists, while still super entertaining & satisfying, weren’t as jaw-dropping as others. But there are plenty of crazy twists in this book that will knock your socks off. And the way everything comes together is so perfect in the most grotesque, gut wrenching way!

Thanks a bunch to Netgalley & Ticking Clock Press for the early copy!

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

This was such a fun read. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A disturbing story of a missing girl who turns up 20yrs later at her own annual memorial. Chloe ventures out with her friends Amy and Kristi but they don’t return home. Chloe’s cousin Frankie never gives up hope that she is still alive. But when she turns up, a mysterious email comes through from an anonymous source saying Chloe isn’t who she lets on to be. A gripping read that tells the story from 2x POV’s. Cleverly written between the Then & Now perspective. Recommend. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for a honest review

Thank you Ticking Clock Press & Steph Nelson for this read!

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. This book and its twists were wild. The way I could not stop reading from the half way point even after midnight was REAL!

This book has some VERY unsettling and heart breaking themes and scenes. The author handled everything really well - but check trigger warnings.

This book had my heart pounding more than one. The twists are shocking & the suspense leading to the end is crazy!

It's fast paced and totally addictive.

Another winner from Steph Nelson who has proven herself to be a dark, twisty, addictive shocking writing in my eyes! Can't wait to read more!

This thriller was much more predictable than I had expected, which made it way less suspenseful for me.

There aren’t enough characters in the story built up to where I’m really not sure who has committed which crime. I love when there are breadcrumbs and foreshadowing that you can go back to and feel like “how did I miss that” but they were way too obvious in this case.

The premise was intriguing but then the motive was just over the top in my opinion.

I also didn’t feel connected to any of the POV characters except for Chloe in her “past” chapters. Frankie felt somewhat juvenile in her chapters.

Overall though this was a decent read and may be well received by other readers who have different expectations for their thrillers.

Steph Nelson has done it again! Every book I read by this author tops the last one! The suspense the twists ~ everything! Absolutely love the way these books read and this one is exceptionally written! I will be recommending to everyone I can. Fantastic book!

I really like Steph Nelson and this one didn’t disappoint. A good popcorn thriller that kept me interested!

It did have some dark themes and triggers so make sure you check them out before reading. I did find Frankie’s POV to be a little over the top and unrealistic but grief makes people do weird things; so I was able to relate a bit.

The twist was anti-climatic because I felt like there was foreshadowing scattered throughout. Regardless of that, this is a decent popcorn thriller that I would recommend to thriller readers.

A quick read, engaging plot and plenty of twisty moments throughout. I’d read Steph Nelson again!

Thank you to Ticking Clock Press, NetGalley and Steph Nelson for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The book has an interesting plot and great cover BTW, but the content is just not for me. It deals with abuse and such, but I rated it 2 stars not because of the abuse, it's because of its failure to make me trust and believe the character. There's this disconnect between Frankie and Chloe's pov and that Frankie holds a candle and make memorial for Chloe for 25 years is unbelievable. The book only stated that they were close and all, but I, as a reader, didn't buy it. Short chapters are a plus, but the pacing is off because it gets longer during the climax but it hurries up on the build up, except for Chloe's pov. Again, there's this disconnect that I wrote earlier. Chloe's pov during the first half is everything, and would be more interesting if Chloe could stay for the first half and then Frankie only for the last half. You'll know why.

Last One Out
Steph Nelson
Oh this book was a delicious treat! The pages fly by on Chloe’s story and you cannot put it down! The atmosphere is dark and disturbing and all kinds of triggering, but you are in good hands here with Steph who gives you the information without destroying you by too much graphic detailing. My heart broke for Chloe and Natalie, and I was enraged on their behalf as well as admiring of Frankie’s dedication. I adored the story format with short chapters that made it feel as if the pages just turn themselves and make the book go by seamlessly. I’m not usually a fan of dual timelines but this one just works, never loses its thread and keeps the focus so as not to confuse. Everything wrapped neatly and it was a thrill of a ride, I will def be picking up more of Steph’s work after this! Many thanks to @stephnelsonauthor @netgalley and Ticking Clock Press for the ARC🖤
#arcreader #netgalley #thrillerbooks #LastOneOut #netgalleyreviewer #bookstagram

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really thought I would love this book, but it was unfortunately a disappointment.

The twist and the villain were extremely obvious. I think this can be okay in a YA mystery that's aimed at a younger audience, but this book was way too graphic and dealt with way too serious subjects to be considered YA.

I would recommend people to look up trigger warnings before starting this book because it touches on a lot of sensitive subjects and some of them in great detail.

The premise of one of the twists is also very silly.

The book is not badly written and is very quick to get through, so if you just want a quick mindless thriller, it's good enough for that.

Loved all the mystery and twists this book packed! It took a different path from other stories of missing persons, as this one shows up 25 years later with no recollection of life before or during her kidnapping - only after. The way the layers unfold through this story, I couldn’t stop reading it! It was a heartbreaking yet hopeful read and I really enjoyed the ride!

Last One Out by Steph Nelson is a pulse pounding, twisted thriller full of secrets and suspense. There are some heavy topics that are discussed including: violence, course language, off page child trafficking, and non- explicit pedophilia.

When Chloe disappeared twenty five years ago after two of her friends were murdered, there were no witnesses and no clues as to what happened. Chloe's cousin Frankie has always held out hope that Chloe was alive. So when Chloe unexpectedly shows up at her own memorial service, Frankie is understandably overjoyed. But when Frankie tries to figure out where Chloe has been she is shocked to find Chloe has amnesia and can't remember what happened. But soon Frankie starts to suspect that Chloe might know more than she is letting everyone believe. Will the truth about that night come to light? And where has Chloe been this whole time?

I have never read anything else by this author so I had no idea what to expect. From the very first page I was hooked!! The suspense and tension is a given with this type of thriller but what I didn't expect was the emotional depth that was packed in to this book. Some topics are very dark , but the way Nelson delicately writes this narrative is superb. This is told in a dual POV (Frankie and Chloe) and a dual timeline so you are able to piece together the whole truth about what happened. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Steph Nelson, and Ticking Clock Press for this ARC!! Publication date is May 1st 2025.

Absolutely loved this thriller! This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed the writing style! I was able to pick the book up and could not put it down! I haven’t read a trope where the missing person ends up coming back so this was the first but really enjoyed how everything came together!

Oh my god! This could be among my top unputdownable thrillers for the year thus far. From the first page, I was captivated and really didn't want this book to finish; I consumed it in what seemed like one breath. I was completely engaged in the mystery and the people; the pacing was quick, the tension rising all the time.Some of the key characters were so profoundly rich that I yearned for even more of them. I do wish we had gotten a little more backstory on Clinton Mask; with that extra emotional weight, the conclusion might have hit even harder. That said, even if I predicted some of the turns, it did not diminish at all my enjoyment of the journey. This is a thriller about people haunted by the past, hiding behind both literal and emotional masks... and yes, a Jensen on the side (which I adored 😅).

Many thanks to Ticking Clock Press and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my sincere assessment. This one was a crazy trip!

Such a well paced and suspenseful book! The twists were believable and not predictable.
It had excellent writing and a fascinating plot.
Last One Out: A Thriller by Steph Nelson is a book which kept me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end.

This story had my blood pumping THE ENTIRE TIME! I loved how you got to go back and forth in time between what is happening and what had happened. The author gave it her all and it shows in this book. Well written, the storyline flowed and most of all the twists were amazing. I had to pick my jaw off of the floor multiple times. Bravo!