Last Girls Alive – Book Review

Hey all! I am back with a book review! Last Girls Alive, a Detective Katie Scott series (the fourth book), so here’s my honest opinion about the book!

Half-buried in the muddy earth and surrounded by puddles of water lies the naked body of a beautiful young girl. Her pale skin looks like porcelain in the early morning light. Her fragile arms bent and crooked like a broken doll.

When Detective Katie Scott is called to the discovery of a young girl buried on the grounds of a former children’s home in Pine Valley, California, she’s hopeful it’s the end to a devastating cold case she’s been working on. No one has seen Candace Harlan since she ran away from Elm Hill Manor five years ago. Her death will be a tragedy, but it will also bring peace to those who miss her most. But the girl in the ground is not Candace.

The victim is almost identical to Candace in every way, but fear grips Katie as she takes in the black ink that decorates the girl’s back—a terrifying message tattooed on her skin after she drew her last breath.

Forcing down traumatic memories of losing her own parents, Katie is certain someone mistook this poor soul for Candace, and that this crumbling home for lost girls is at the heart of this terrible crime. She sets to work digging into the tragic history of the owners who lost so many children of their own and tracking down the last six residents and the staff who cared for them—but no one wants to talk, let alone remember.

The next day, as second girl’s body is found down by the creek at high water, the same words etched into her skin. Katie’s worst fear is confirmed: someone is picking off the last of the Elm Hill girls one by one. But what does the tattoo mean? And what monster would target these innocent girls who have already been through so much?

Katie must dig deep to confront her own fears and protect the vulnerable—but as the body count rises further, will there be anyone left to save?

An absolutely gripping, dark, and totally unputdownable serial killer thriller that will keep you racing through the pages all night long. Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh will read in one sitting!

No. of pages:- 364 pages

Date published:- 7th October 2020

Genre:- Thriller

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

Jennifer Chase was born and raised in California and still lives there with her husband, dogs and cats. In addition to writing and consulting, Jennifer enjoys spending time outdoors, both at the beach and hiking, and engaging in some amateur photography.

Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture for granting me an ARC of this book! This review is based secretly on my honest opinion,

While dismantling a house, known as Elms Hills Manor where the house use to host five foster girls, the contractors discovers a body of a girl in a pit. Detective Kate Scott along with her partner McGraven was called at the site. The girl’s name was Carol Harlan who happened to be the sister of Candance Harlan, the girl who was reported missing five years ago, from Elms Hills Manor. Then a body of another girl, Mary Rodriguez was discovered as well and she also used to live in Elms Hills Manor. Kate Scott must find the killer before she is too late and need to find the meaning of the mysterious Italian meaning that was embodied on the backs of the victims’ bodies…

This is the first time I have read the book from this author and the first book I have read from Detective Kate Scott series, but luckily, this book is not a continuation. The writing was good and the author did a good job making the reader engrossed into the story. I was so hooked into the story that I really wanted to know who the killer is. This is actually a fast paced thriller and quiet a page turner as well. Not much twists and turns but nonetheless, it was not boring at all and made the reader hooked into the story. The ending was good.

Overall I enjoyed this book and this book worth four stars!

If you are interested in this book, you can pre-order your copy now on Amazon as this will be released on 7th October 2020!