An engaging story and extremely well written on a subject that I wasn't really familiar with. The characters had great depth. I look forward to reading the next one.

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake, and the author Kendra Elliot. 
A solid suspense novel, with some gripping moments. 
An entertaining story, would be good for a holiday read.

The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot is a fast paced exciting detective thriller. The characters are likeable, believable and complemented the plot very well. The storyline is strong and the action well described. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written thriller. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Oceanfront Press Company for allowing me to read the book.

My friend messaged me last week to say that she’d just finished this book and that she couldn’t put it down. That’s a pretty good badge of quality from Kelly as we have very similar tastes in books. (Movies? Not so much – Speed 2 anyone??!) The next day I got sent The Silence to review which just happens to be book 2 in this Columbia River series so The Last Sister leapt right to the top of the virtual pile.

FBI agents Zander Wells and Ava McLane are sent to the coastal town of Bartonville Oregon to investigate a grisly double murder. A high school teacher and his young wife have been slaughtered in their home and Sean’s body was hung from a tree in the garden.

Emily Mills found the bodies, reporting it directly to the FBI as a hate crime because of the symbol carved into Sean’s head. A distressing find for anyone but even more so for Emily whose own father had been found hanged when she was a child.

The Mills family have a long history in Bartonville. Emily and her sister live with their three maiden aunts in the family mansion at the edge of town. A building that cripples them financially but the locals still think that they are rolling in family money. In truth it is only their meagre earnings from running the local diner that keeps things afloat. (Hence the short stack rating – I really want breakfast at the diner here!)

As Zander and Ava begin their investigation it soon becomes clear that there is an underbelly of hate in Bartonville and they will stop at nothing to silence those who threaten their peace and security.

So Kelly was right – it is a great story and I couldn’t put it down either. Kendra has a way of fleshing out her characters so well it feels like you’re watching a drama unfold rather than reading a book. I’ll be heading straight into book two next! Always a joy to discover that there are a couple of books in a new series that you love.

Supplied by Montlake Romance and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Uk publication date: Jan 20 2020. 328 pages.

A family tragedy changes young sisters lives forever. Twists and turns leave you believing things about people that prove untre. The difference in generations living together gives book a sense of family pulling together even with secrets. Overall an enjoyable read with happy but emotional at times.

The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot is the first book in the new romantic suspense Columbia River series..  The story begins with Emily finding the bodies of her friend Lindsay who was brutally murdered and Lindsay's husband who was murdered and then hung from a tree in the yard.  20 years prior, Emily's father was also murdered by hanging in her childhood home.  The story brings the perpetrators of both together as well as develop the stories of Emily and her sisters and aunts.  Throw in some romantic tension between Emily and an FBI agent, Zander and it's a very enjoyable read.  This is my first read by Kendra Elliot but I'll be looking for the next in the series and others.

Excellent edge of your seat thriller. I couldn’t put this book down. As soon as I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. 
Great character choices and plots. My first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. 
Thanks Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

A very gripping story with a compulsive storyline, great characters and lots of suspense. very absorbing read.

This brand new book in a new series seems to be more of a spinoff from a previous series, but that did not keep me from enjoying and understanding all of the action and events.  The recurring characters are FBI agents Zander Wells and Ava McLean, two agents who are focused and who make the story what it is.  This is a police procedural with a lot of mystery about the past before the current murder even occurs.  Emily Mills’ father Lincoln was hanged in their backyard, her mom committed suicide shortly thereafter, her older sister Tara disappeared and her younger sister Madison says she didn’t see anything since she slept through the whole thing.  Currently, Sean Fitch, a young black man, is hanged in his backyard while his white wife Lindsay is brutally stabbed to death inside their home.  This crime brings the FBI into town since it certainly appears to be a hate crime.  Tacking the themes of racism, hatred and family secrets, Kendra Elliot did a masterful job of drawing me quickly into the web of her story and keeping me there with the gripping events as secrets were revealed.  I liked the doggedness of the town’s sheriff who is faced with a town that is facing what looks like a murder spree.  The action is quick-paced and totally engaging, with crimes that could make today’s headlines.  My favorite characters were the eccentric aunts and Emily, a young woman who has her own secrets and a lot to deal with given the current murder is so similar to her father’s.  The mystery was suspenseful, but I didn’t see a lot of romance.  But that didn’t disappoint me because I was so absorbed by the mysteries.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

An interesting enjoyable read. I did find the plot-line well written, but a little predictable in places. The characters were likeable and the family had so many secrets to reveal. Recommended.

A couple discovered murdered, the husband hung from a tree. Found by the daughter of a man murdered and hung two decades ago. This sets the scene for this book.

I found it well written with twists and turns a plenty which expose the rotten secrets of some folk in a small Oregon town.

It keeps you guessing as to the identity and motive of the killer right up to the end. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Ok, I love Kendra Elliot. I flew through the Mercy Kilpatrick series in about a week and I was yearning for more like it. And then I found The Last Sister. I'm so happy to have found another series to let myself get wrapped up in. Kendra Elliot has a way with her writing that makes you love her characters. Even the villains sometimes. I can't wait for more.

This is a complex multiple murder mystery/police procedural which was just what I needed to lose myself in right now.  Set in a logging town in Oregon, the story revolves around a family, composed of three variously eccentric aunts and their two nieces, Emily and Madison.  FBI agents Ava and Zander are thrown into the mix after one of the sisters, Emily, stumbles on a murder scene.  Little by little her family's past, particularly the death of her parents and disappearance of her elder sister, Tara, become inextricabily intertwined with the modern murder plot, although the connections do not seem obvious from the start.

This is a complex, multi stranded plot, with tentacles reaching decades into the past and exposing deeply rooted racism and evil lurking under the apparently benign faces of some of the townsfolk.  The characters of both the family, townsfolk and agents are all developed equally well which led to me becoming very invested in both the plot, and their stories, almost immediately.  The pace did not relent once it had me in its grip, and in fact the more little revelations were exposed, the more invested I became.  I found myself unable to guess what was going to happen next, which left me both rushing to turn the page, and wonderfully surprised at each new twist and turn.  It was also really satisfying to see all the loose ends being woven together so skilfully.

A beautifully written, complex but easy to follow, compelling thriller that left me wanting more from Kendra Elliott and her characters.  Highly recommended.

Review for 'The Last Sister' by Kendra Elliot 

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for MontLake Romance publishers

This is the second book I have read by this author and it was another success. It is the first book in the Colombia River series and I'm looking forward to reading more. An explosive start for a new series. 

The plot is compelling and filled with mystery, lies, crime, suspense, tension, love and murder. It asks the question how far would you go for love and family? 

The book is very well written and the descriptions are brilliant. I felt I was in the plot with the characters. The characters were strong, interesting and believable. I loved the family and the agents and am looking forward to reading more about them. Very fast moving with a gripping plot. 

I highly recommend this to fans of crime, murder, mystery, suspense, psychological thrillers and anyone interested in a good read. 

Rated 5/5 on Goodreads and Amazon and reviewed on over 30 Facebook groups. 

Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews 

Free on kindle unlimited and 99p to purchase. I think this is a very good price for this book. 

328 pages long. 

#MontLakeRomance #KendraElliot #BookReview #TheLastSister


https://www.amazon.com/review/R265LT24X1FWOQ/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Another great book in a great series by a great author!!! I can't say this loud enough...I LOVE Kendra Elliot books!!!

This is the first book in the Columbia River series, but we get to see old friends (characters) and meet some new ones, which I hope to see in future books of this series. 

If you love edge of your seat, page turning, action packed with murder, unpredictable twists & turns, believable story lines, amazing characters, along with a little racism, blackmail, and who did what moments than this is the book for you. 

#Emily #Zander #ZanyAunts #MissingSister #KKK #Hanging #LovedIt

Ok so this might be a new favorite of mine but Kendra Elliot. I really enjoyed this book. It is different then her other which really set this one apart. The characters were good and it was a super fast read.

My first book by this author and it certainly won't be the last. I'm already looking for more as I write. 
I honestly loved everything about this. The characters were all interesting in their own way, with their own little back stories which made them more so. The plot; secrets, racism, murder and twists in all the right places. What more could you want? 
Thank you #NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this.

Ugh, I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't even finish it. I got about halfway through it before I finally called it quits. Overall, I liked the plot synopsis (which is why I picked it in the first place) but I just could not finish. I feel like this book has way too many flashbacks and not enough action. Anyways, thank you for allowing me to review it, but I won't be recommending it to my readers. =/

Guess 2020 is my year for stumbling across talented authors. Kendra Elliot blew me away with this solid action-packed thriller. The story begins with FBI agents Zander Wells and his partner Ava McClane who venture to a small town in Oregon—on the trail of a hot case. A horrific murder had taken place and they’re not sure if it’s a double murder, or a murder suicide. Emily Mills, a friend of the deceased couple is forced to rehash her father’s murder, which ironically is parallel to the couple.  The FBI agents are stumped as to who’s the killer but can’t help feeling watched at every turn. 

This book has it all…
*Suspense
*Mystery
*Great characters
*A bit of romance.

I’d like send a big thank you to NetGalley for providing me this amazing ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written and well constructed story.  The characters were very engaging and the story line was so easy to follow.   My first book from this author and I will certainly look out for more from Kendra.