Title: LAST GIRL GONE
Author: J.G. Hetherton
ISBN: 978 1683 3161 76
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Pages: 313
Source: Audible
Investigative journalist Laura Chambers is back in her tiny hometown of Hillsborough, North Carolina, the one place she swore never to return. Fired from the Boston Globe, her career in shambles, she reluctantly takes a job with the local paper. The work is simple, unimportant, and worst of all, boring-at least until a missing girl turns up dead, the body impeccably clean, dressed to be the picture of innocence. Years earlier, ten-year-old Patty Finch left home and never made it back. But for the people of Hillsborough, Patty was just the beginning. Child after child disappeared, a reign of terror the town desperately wants to forget. Now that terror has returned to seize another girl. And another. And another. This is the story Laura’s been waiting for her one last chance to get back onto the front page. She dives deeper into a case that runs colder by the second, only to discover the truth may be far closer to home than she could have ever imagined. Powerful, intricate, and tense, Last Girl Gone will have you looking over your shoulder long after the last page.
Official Summary
23 April 2024
This is a gripping thriller that plunges you into a world of small-town secrets and chilling mysteries. Laura Chambers, a disgraced journalist, finds herself back in her hometown of Hillsborough, North Carolina, reluctantly taking on a job at the local paper. Little does she know, her return will coincide with the reappearance of a haunting past—children gone missing, a town haunted by mysteries.
Hetherton’s writing style is riveting, drawing you into Laura’s world of investigative journalism and personal redemption. The narrative is intricately crafted, with suspenseful twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.
The story unfolds with a sense of urgency as Laura delves into the case of a missing girl whose tragic fate uncovers layers of buried truths. Hetherton builds tension, weaving together past and present, creating a tapestry of suspense that keeps readers on edge.
Reading “Last Girl Gone” made me feel immersed in the atmospheric setting of Hillsborough, where every character and every corner holds secrets waiting to be unravelled. The author’s ability to evoke a palpable sense of dread and curiosity is commendable, making this novel a page-turner from start to finish. One of my favourite aspects of the book is Laura Chambers herself—flawed, determined, and compelling. Her journey of self-discovery and redemption is as captivating as the central mystery she’s unravelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Last Girl Gone” and would recommend it to anyone who loves a well-crafted thriller with a strong sense of place and complex characters. Hetherton’s ability to blend suspense with poignant storytelling makes this book a standout in the genre.
“Last Girl Gone” is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense. With its powerful narrative and spine-tingling plot twists, this novel will linger in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s a definite yes from me, and I urge fellow readers to pick up this book and experience the thrill of uncovering secrets in the shadows of a small town.
Also by J.G. Hetherton
What Lies Beneath
Tell me two truths and a lie.
A year after her tangle with a local killer that left her disfigured, Laura is done licking her wounds. And she’s done with the small town of Hillsborough, North Carolina. But the sheriff just found the mangled body of a woman who was reported missing several weeks ago. Her last phone call was to Laura.
With an unidentifiable face, Laura can’t shed light on why she was this woman’s final call. To break free of the hostile sheriff’s suspicion, Laura digs into the history of the deceased. What she finds completely upturns all she thought she knew or remembered. It’s an old picture of Laura from when she was just a young girl, standing with her father, her father’s best friend and another little girl whom Laura could have sworn was just a figment of her imagination. What else has she been mistaking for fiction? For truth? And more importantly–what did this woman have to do with her missing father? What was she calling to tell Laura?
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
J.G. Hetherton is the Audible bestselling author of Last Girl Gone, a Sun-Sentinel Top Debut Mystery of 2018, and What Lies Beneath, nominated for the 2023 Beltie Prize for Best Mystery. He was raised in rural Wisconsin, graduated from Northwestern University, and now lives in Durham, North Carolina with his family. He is hard at work on his next book.
While I am new to this author, I raced through this book and found myself completely caught up in this story from start to end. I look forward to reading the next book, What Lies Beneath. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did and look forward to hearing what you think of this author’s work. Please leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
