I can't hand on heart, say this was my favourite book of Rachel's. It was repetitive in places and I felt we were going over and over the same story. The ending was strange and unnecessary but strangly I did enjoy what Stephanie did at the end. Thought it was fitting for the man Ellis was. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

This is the first Rachel Abbott book I’ve read and whilst Sergeant Stephanie King is clearly an established character this this read as easily as a standalone but I’m sure fans of the series would equally enjoy it. This was a great murder read set in a small hotel and it becomes increasingly clear that several of the characters had reason to want the victim dead, I liked the multiple perspectives on this so you could see how the investigation was proceeding but also get into the heads of the suspects and events leading up to the murder. The ending was quite a shock with several unexpected turns and I’ll be very interested in reading the next book.

The Last Time I Saw Him by Rachel Abbott is book 4 of 4 in the Detective Sergeant Stephanie King series. I thought the pace a little slow at the beginning until halfway into the book when the pace quickened. It was an enjoyable read but not my favourite book in the series.

We find out more about Stephanie's personal life in this novel. The story has interesting character development with characters to love and hate. The storyline begins at Morvoren Manor, a boutique hotel on the Cornish coast. Three different women betrayed by one man, Ellis Cobain, a misogynistic, manipulative and cruel man. Celia, the wife, stepmother to his three children, Nadia, the singer and ex mistress and Juliette, the ex lover. The woman, all very different, have no option but to form a pact to blackmail Ellis Cobain and rid him from their lives. It seems things are going to plan until a body is found. My favourite characters are Celia and Juliette but I felt sorry for all three woman. What would you do in their situation?

Rachel is a master storyteller who leads you in and out of the plot like a carrot being dangled in front of a donkey!

I give a 4 star rating and would recommend this book.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

Tension compelling reading at its best.

Who do you trust when the chips are down? The wife, the past mistress, the present mistress, the present mistresses husband or the police.

All had reasons to kill a most obnoxious and controlling man, but had the nerve at the end to kill him.

Page turning thriller.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Celia, Juliette, and Nadia have all been wronged by Ellis Cobain, an abusive and narcissistic control freak, When he is found dead on his yacht detectives are brought in to solve his murder. It happens that one of those detectives, Stephanie, had been staying at the same hotel as them the weekend before and had observed much on the interaction.
I enjoyed the element in this book of the whodunnit. It kept me guessing until near the end. I did, however, find a couple of elements a bit far fetched, particularly a sad element at the end that I didn't feel needed to happen. I don't want to explain that as I don't want to give any of the plot away. However, I warmed to the characters and did enjoy the story throughout.

This was such an enjoyable read, one of those books where nothing is quite what it seems and it is hard to feel sure which version of events, if any, is the truth of a situation.

There were some very likeable characters, and some very unlikeable characters but they were all well-defined and distinct making it possible to keep up with the complex storyline as it unfolded. 

Much like the author's other books, The Last Time I Saw Him is a clever psychological thriller with some brilliant and mostly unexpected twists and turns throughout. Lots of tension and suspense and oh so many secrets that people are very keen to keep hidden!

I did not finish this one as I found it to be slow and tedious. I gave up after 50% as I just couldn't be bothered anymore. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I always look forward to Rachel Abbott books and was really pleased to receive this advanced copy. Rachel is an excellent storyteller but I was a little disappointed with this book. I did enjoy it overall but I did find some of the scenarios a little far fetched.
Nevertheless, it is a definite 4 stars.

Thanks Netgalley for my copy.

Hmm, this was a bit of a drag.

Sorry to do this as I feel bad about disliking a book I am here to provide feedback for but I have to be honest.

In the end, I didn't care who did what and who got away with anything. I hated the ending because that person just needs to lose their job for their decisions, not be proud of them.

No wonder this country is in ruins.

Stephanie’s never off duty! A body is found by a yacht but the motives unclear!

Perfect for those who enjoy
- Murder investigation fiction
- Hunting for the killer

With thanks to headline and NetGalley for an ARC of this book

Well, Ellis Cobain is not a nice man and some could say he had it coming!

Enjoyable and well written, this is a summer must read!

A 'whodunnit' with lots of twists and turns. Three women, all connected to one man, and all suspects in his murder. While I did enjoy parts of this book, I found it a bit repetitive in places and the ending just came out of nowhere and as a result just didn't have any impact. The reactions of the characters to that ending didn't seem remotely plausible.
It took a while to get going and therefore the pacing wasn't great with a rush at the end to finish it.
Saying that, I did enjoy parts of the book and will try again with one of the author's other books - perhaps this one just wasn't for me.

Thanks to Headline books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
There is nothing that you can say when Rachel Abbott writes a book but wow!
This book just did not disappoint on any level which I thought it might given so many female characters. They all had very different personalities and you wanted to find out what the horrible Ellis had done to them. He deserved everything he got. He seemed to think that he was some sort of "god" that women always wanted. So glad that he got his come uppance. Sad twist though.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Last Time I Saw Him - Rachel Abbott

Multiple timelines, a complicated web of deceit and betrayal and a shocking ending!

Fabulous ingredients for a rollercoaster of a ride which keeps you guessing till almost the very end.

It’s been great to see these police characters develop over the last little while in Rachel’s books - but I wasn’t prepared for how this one ends at all!!!!

Here’s to the next rip-roaring read!

Ellis Cobain is by all accounts not a very nice man so when he is found murdered the police discover that there are a few people with motive but the big question is how did they get onto his yacht.
First time reading this author and discovering Stephanie King. I liked the characters and the book has a nice pace to it. Would definitely recommend and will be going back and reading the series from the start as although this could act as a stand alone book would like to know more about the characters

Enjoyable and fast-paced story. Ellis is a very unlikeable character so it is no surprise when he is found dead on his yacht but all the suspects appear to have an alibi. Strongly depicted characters and tightly woven story.

Another excellent thriller from Rachel Abbott. The plot centres around thoroughly dislikable slime ball, self proclaimed philanthropist Ellis Cobain. Nadia, a talented singer, performs regularly at a local hotel. Juliette and her husband, who is aiming to sign up Nadia, are staying at the hotel. It soon becomes obvious that both women have a history with Ellis and his poor dominated and neglected wife Celia, seems powerless against her husband. Once Ellis’s body is found, Stephanie King and Gus work to discover which of the women is responsible for his death.

When Steph had a weekend away with her Mum she never expected to be back a few days later on duty, She is a detective and in a relationship with Gus whose also her boss.

Ellis Cobain is not a great guy despite the image he wants the world to see but one great thing about thrillers or crime novels. mysteries is unlike real life where the good guys often get killed the bad ones can be destroyed. Incase there is any doubt I don’t like Ellis I feel you may not either but he doesn't last long. It's a shame sometimes good guys or ladies die as well

Celia, Juliette and Nadia 3 strangers if you've read the blurb you know they didn't know each other till recently but they have one thing in common Ellis he's been well he's been Ellis to them mean cruel and generally vile. So when he's found dead these 3 obviously will be suspects and their stores or story is great this is one crime novel that you will love well I did I think it was brilliant. I loved the story the characters (well apart from Ellis obviously) Julliette and Steph are my 2 personal favourites their story is told really well not that the others aren’t but we hear a lot more from these 2 but you will get the full account of the others far not

So I can only give this 5 stars I loved every page and well read it you will hopefully see what I mean and love.

I’ve read a few of Rachel’s books and have enjoyed them. This is probably my least favourite though. I found it a bit cliched and the writing somehow felt rushed.

2.5 Stars

The Last Time I Saw Him is my first ARC review and my first book by Rachel Abbott, and I can see how she's amassed many loyal fans in the thriller genre. For the issues I had with this book, it was well written, with unique characters that all felt very different from each other with corresponding motives, fears, and secrets.

From the Summary: 'Celia, Juliette and Nadia are complete strangers with one thing in they have all been wronged by Ellis Cobain. When they meet at a boutique hotel on the Cornish coast, brought together by the blind arrogance of their tormentor, they realise what connects them and form a to blackmail him and free themselves from his grasp. But when he is discovered the next morning, murdered in cold blood, they are left scrambling. None of them knows who did it, and now they must desperately cover their tracks.'

The Last Time I Saw Him is the next instalment of the Stephanie King series, but I read this as a standalone and had no issue with missing out on character backstories, everything was well laid out for readers new and old of the series. My main issue with The Last Time I Saw Him was the pacing. The novel took a long time to get started, and it wasn't until the 50% mark that I found myself engaged by the book. For a while, the narrative felt like it was going around in circles without any real motivation to get to the conclusion. Unfortunately, the eventual 'who dunnit' didn't shock me too much, and the ending seemed a little strange and unfitting for one of the characters.

If you enjoy the Stephanie King series, then there is a good chance you'll like this one too. Rachel Abbott is a skilled writer, and this seemed more to be the case of this one just not being one for me.