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The Last Child

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 11,836 ratings · 2,145 reviews

Winner of the 2010 Edgar Award for Best Novel

John Hart's New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies , announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River , he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he achieves his most significant work to...more Winner of the 2010 Edgar Award for Best Novel

John Hart's New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies , announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River , he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he achieves his most significant work to date, an intricate, powerful story of loss, hope, and courage in the face of evil.

Thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon had the perfect life: a warm home and loving parents; a twin sister, Alyssa, with whom he shared an irreplaceable bond. He knew nothing of loss, until the day Alyssa vanished from the side of a lonely street. Now, a year later, Johnny finds himself isolated and alone, failed by the people he'd been taught since birth to trust. No one else believes that Alyssa is still alive, but Johnny is certain that she is—confident in a way that he can never fully explain.

Determined to find his sister, Johnny risks everything to explore the dark side of his hometown. It is a desperate, terrifying search, but Johnny is not as alone as he might think. Detective Clyde Hunt has never stopped looking for Alyssa either, and he has a soft spot for Johnny. He watches over the boy and tries to keep him safe, but when Johnny uncovers a dangerous lead and vows to follow it, Hunt has no choice but to intervene.

Then a second child goes missing...

Undeterred by Hunt's threats or his mother's pleas, Johnny enlists the help of his last friend, and together they plunge into the wild, to a forgotten place with a history of violence that goes back more than a hundred years. There, they meet a giant of a man, an escaped convict on his own tragic quest. What they learn from him will shatter every notion Johnny had about the fate of his sister; it will lead them to another far place, to a truth that will test both boys to the limit.

Traveling the wilderness between innocence and hard wisdom, between hopelessness and faith, The Last Child leaves all categories behind and establishes John Hart as a writer of unique power.(less)

Hardcover, 373 pages

Published May 12th 2009 by Minotaur Books (first published January 1st 2009)

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May 08, 2010 Billy Young rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a real rollercoaster of a book, filled with twist and turns to keep you reading. At times I found it hard to put down so I could get some sleep. If there was a flaw it was that sometimes the story moved from one scene to another without the usual break you expect but this is minor and one which I quickly adjusted too. My first impression on this tale were swept away as the story of Johnny looking for his missing sister was turned on its head as this 13 year old boy struggled with his own...more

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Mar 26, 2010 Drew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first became aware of John Hart when I read "Down River," and at the moment I finished that book, I became a fan. "The Last Child" continues to cement Hart's stellar reputation in mystery fiction.[return][return]When his 12 year old sibling, his twin sister Alyssa, goes missing, Johnny Merrimon's family begins to fall apart. His father, eaten up by the guilt of forgetting to pick up Alyssa the night she goes missing, disappears. As the stress of losing her daughter is compounded by losing her...more

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Apr 08, 2010 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-giveaway, books-i-recommend, own

John Hart is now my new favorite author. This was such a good book. Thank you Goodreads! Johnny Merrimon,age 13, is on a mission and that is to find his missing twin sister who has been gone for a year. He is determined and even obsessed with finding Alyssa and is certain that she is alive. Clyde Hunt, a detective, is also obsessed and haunted as he promised Johnny's family that he would find the missing girl. This is a thrilling mystery that grabs you in the beginning and then doesn't let you g...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Susan added it

Shelves: crime-drama, garbage, mistakes

Why no option for zero stars? More comments to come, though I have already wasted enough of my life on this poorly-written and foolishly-conceived book.

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Jul 05, 2010 Sally Pearce rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Any mystery reader/lover

Recommended to Sally by: J.T. Ellison

Shelves: read-in-2010

I met John Hart when I read THE KING OF LIES. I found him again, improved, in DOWN RIVER. This time he really shines as a great author in THE LAST CHILD! This book grabbed me and held on for 450+ pages. I lost a lot of sleep because I just had to know what happened.

The book is not light mystery reading. It has meat to it and terribly sad parts. It moved me in ways I haven't been moved in a long time. That's saying a lot considering the books I've read recently.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I di...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Meaghan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-novels, read-in-2010, missing-people

A seat-of-your pants thriller, with all the good elements: serial killers, crazy people, missing children, a cop with a case he can't let go of, greed and corruption, etc etc etc. Normally I don't go for thrillers, but as this was about a missing child I felt I had to read it. I'm glad I did. There are so many twists and turns I felt dizzy, yet everything came together in the end. I love how the author incorporated the Carolina landscape and history into the story.

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May 14, 2010 Sheila rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was my first book I've read by John Hart but most definitely won't be the last. The Last Child won the Edgar award for best novel in 2010 and I can see why. This is one of the most gripping mysteries I have ever read. From the first page to the last this book grabs at you. While I was reading this one, I wanted the world to go away and leave me alone so I could READ THIS BOOK! I give this book ★★★★★★★

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Aug 18, 2012 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Picked this one up right after finishing The Litigators. I can't get enough of John Hart, what a remarkable writer. He takes you so into the heart and sensitive nature of the characters he bring to life...all within the tapestry of an amazing, gut wrenching and poignant crime thriller! Wow, what a combo!!! About 3/4 of the way through already!!
Finished The Last Child this morning... Wow, left me with tears at the end, good tears. What a remarkable story that touched the heart in real ways. Yes,...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Audio/Thriller/unabridged: Through the whole book I kept on saying, "Call the FBI". Katherine Merrimon never calls them, Hunt never calls them, the chief never calls them. Two girls are kidnapped within one year and no one calls the FBI. The chain of evidence is ruined, crime scenes are trampled over, & evidence and clues are handled with no care. After seeing the way Alyssa's case was never solved, the parents of the second girl do not call the FBI either. ANYBODY CAN CALL THE FBI. Their nu...more Audio/Thriller/unabridged: Through the whole book I kept on saying, "Call the FBI". Katherine Merrimon never calls them, Hunt never calls them, the chief never calls them. Two girls are kidnapped within one year and no one calls the FBI. The chain of evidence is ruined, crime scenes are trampled over, & evidence and clues are handled with no care. After seeing the way Alyssa's case was never solved, the parents of the second girl do not call the FBI either. ANYBODY CAN CALL THE FBI. Their number is in a regular phone book. Finally, near the end of the book the state police are called, but only investigate whether a one local cop may be involved in the kidnapping. That's it. I was so angry at the police procedure, it was not funny.

The Boy: There is something fundamentally wrong with this town when the county's social services doesn't take him away. There are several instances where he should have been taken away. His mom is a pill-head with a physically abusive boyfriend. The 12-year old is caught driving his mom's car to get groceries. Red Flag. The kid is habitually truant and the mother is never brought to court? Really? Then my favorite: the kid is hospitalized and the nurse sends his mother home? What hospital would tell a parent they can't sleep in a chair overnight when a minor child has a head wound and major stitching? Really.

Narrator Scott Sowers: never again. He over-enunciates everything. EVERYTHING. When he starts out a chapter, it's even worse. The only voice I enjoyed was the medical examiner and his lisp.

The Mother: I wanted to slap her. I understand she's an abused woman, but no, take care of your kid! Get a job. Her pill problem goes away with no methadone or therapy, especially since all through the book, she couldn't quit. Her being a doormat to an abusive boyfriend was ridiculous since she had been a strong woman before Alyssa's disappearance.

None of the kids in the town played video games and I was beginning to think that might be a good solution for the town. None, and I mean none of the parents care what their kids do and where they do it.

This book was a real downer. I've read books taken place in WWII Nazi occupied Germany that were more cheerful. I didn't listen to any of the audio during Thanksgiving week because I didn't want to have a gloomy holiday. There is so much despair in this town. I began to wait for the next punch too.

The Ending: Did any of the first 90% of the book have anything to do with the ending. I kind of understand the Freemantle part. Kind of. The book is not a mystery because there are no clues to reveal the conclusion.

I don't recommend the audio and if your kid gets kidnapped, call the FBI. (less)

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Jan 02, 2011 Matthew rated it 4 of 5 stars

John Hart's The Last Child was a pretty interesting read. When I first started it I was initially put off by the characters and writing. The subject matter didn't bother me at all, but the almost sophomoric writing style did. The dialogue didn't pop and the characters seemed to be snipped out of cardboard. You learn nothing about the main character Johnny only that he's a little weird, has a missing sister, stays home from school a lot, and tries to be the independent one since his non-existent...more

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Apr 08, 2010 Craig Sisterson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, usa-southern-states, award-winners

North Carolina attorney-turned-author John Hart has had a meteoric rise; after two bestselling novels he already had a prestigious Edgar Award on his mantelpiece. Then his third and latest thriller, The Last Child, scooped the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger late last year.

Johnny Merrimon is a thirteen-year-old boy who looks ten but has seen and endured more than most sixty-year-olds. His twin sister disappeared a year ago, his father cracked under the pressure and left, and his mother has given u...more

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Jul 25, 2009 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-audio-books, 2009-mysteries

The Last Child, by John Hart. A. Narrated by Scott Sowers, produced by Macmillan Audio, downloaded from audible.com.

This is John Hart’s third novel and by far his best. Definitely on my ten best this year. Clyde Hunt is chief of detectives in this North Carolina town. A year ago, he was assigned the case of a missing child, Alyssa Merimon. He took the situation very seriously-looking for an entire year, letting other cases go, losing his wife because he paid no attention to his family, and well...more

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May 10, 2010 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What can I say? I'm so glad that I won this book through Library Thing Early Reviewers or else I wouldn't have discovered such a fabulous author, John Hart. The Last Child was both a sad and uplifting story about Johnny Merrimon, a 13 year old, whose twin sister, Alyssa, was abducted. Following this tragedy, Johnny's family was torn apart from his father leaving, his mother turning to drugs and getting involved in an abusive relationship. Johnny believes that his sister is still alive which lead...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Nancy rated it 1 of 5 stars

It's me, and not the author that made me not like this book. I felt the writing was vivid and put me well into the scene. My problem was that I didn't want to be there. I decided to try this as a change from some of the other fiction I normally read. Bad idea. I can't read "thrillers" nor do I enjoy "mysteries" that much. So, I quit when I found myself not wanting to get back to the story. One other issue I had with the book--I felt the author was purposely stalling the character reactions to pr...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Stefan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries-and-thrillers, favorites

The Last Child didn’t have as great a conclusion compared to the previous work I read by John Hart, Down River. However, it had a well written story line and expressive dialogue. The greatest strength of this book was not its suspense or surprises, but the characters (Johnny and Hunt especially) and themes. The narrative featured vivid mental imagery, plenty of emotion, and memorable drama. The Last Child is an amazing novel, that is more intelligent, philosophical, and introspective then most t...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book! It had intrigue, it was intense and kept me on the edge of my seat! I haven't read a mystery in a while, and this one didn't disappoint! It had twists and turns. It was evil with pedophiles, kidnapping, abuse, murder, corruption, etc. It wasn't as maniacal as Greg Isles...not sure anyone is except Stephen King. This was a well written book, which makes me want to read more of this author. I liked his writing style. Would I recommend? Absolutely, with the warning of chil...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Amanda Ford added it

It was a privilege to receive this review copy from Library Thing's Early Reviewers. There is a lot that happens in this novel, and each of the four-hundred pages are well worth reading. In the midst of mystery and intrigue, John Hart never loses sight of what is most important: the characters.

Johnny is a very real boy with concerns far beyond his age. His sister disappeared a year before the book begins and he has spent considerable time searching for her as the rest of his family fell apart....more

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Feb 26, 2013 Dorothy Hamm rated it 4 of 5 stars

I lost sleep over this book. It was very hard to put it down. This is only the 3rd book by this author but he is going on my "Authors I Like" list...Dorothy

"John Hart's New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies , announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River , he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he achieves his most significant work to date, an in...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Miss Clara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was prepared to read some mythical stuff or a mystery unexplained. And it wasn't that.

It was beautiful. It was dark. It was lies and pure lies. It was bravery and determination of a boy who sought to find his twin.

I don't know what to say (not true!). I was in a thrilling ride. Not a roller coaster, because it's not something I'd like to say as fun. It was something else. Evil was lurking everywhere in this book. But hope was a radiant light, seeping in through thick curtains. It was unbeliev...more I was prepared to read some mythical stuff or a mystery unexplained. And it wasn't that.

It was beautiful. It was dark. It was lies and pure lies. It was bravery and determination of a boy who sought to find his twin.

I don't know what to say (not true!). I was in a thrilling ride. Not a roller coaster, because it's not something I'd like to say as fun. It was something else. Evil was lurking everywhere in this book. But hope was a radiant light, seeping in through thick curtains. It was unbelievable. The chase of it all, checking who's who, getting beaten by a kid (police-wise) was heart-racing. My eyes were skipping to every conversation, running left and right, up and down. Fast-paced and emotionally open, I was somehow dragged to a world of dirt and thrown to disgust. It was broken promises and edgy lies. It was a figure of living life day by day; every single worse day.

And we have here a little boy; A boy who doesn't know how to give up. He doesn't know surrender. Battered and bruised, he remained sharp and looked clear on getting his goal. I liked him. He was a strong boy. Very. And because problems piling up in front of him, I don't know if he could make it until the end. But he grew older for his age. It was a realization that kids could be adults in a single snap; when nature calls for it, a child stops becoming a child, and focuses on the beastly instinct of survival mode. The best part is, Johnny wasn't just surviving. He was doing a whole lot more.

I just....you know, speechless. Every page was leading to another destructive and freaky direction and all the while, the answer to the disappearance of Alyssa was right under their noses. But it was exactly alright, because here we thought, God doesn't hear us. We thought God leaves us when we're down. But I guess, the point here, for Mr. Hart, is God gave Johnny the strength. God made him courageous, he gave him perseverance. Johnny uncovered a chain-like crime. It was of different purpose. He just wanted to find his sister. But, like what Hunt said, there's a reason for everything. Johnny was God's gift to the departed. Johnny doesn't know it yet. He only has one thing in mind. And having one thing in mind, he becomes the unlikely hero. He opened up a light, especially for his friend Jack.

Jack, poor boy. It was really easy to pull him out of the grid. He was the surprise, most of all. I came out of a shock. It was a shock. I don't know what to say, the twist and turns were very much twisted. It was amazing. Mr. Hart created the perfect embodiment of acting and guilt. And now we see how guilt can eat us alive, how it breaks us down into wimps. We can't keep secrets. Those deep and dark ones, those which could change us to someone else entirely.

And in the end it was all working out. To think that death has brought new beginning. John Hart portrayed the mysterious ways of God. It was the unraveling truth that not all prayers are acted out the way we wanted them to be. He answers prayers in a manner not known to us. And because we don't know it, we think He doesn't care. But he doesn't merely answer a prayer. God has planned something even better. He is grandiose. He provides us a solution to our problem, a thousand fold.

Johnny didn't see it yet because all he saw was suffering and beating. Maybe it was supposed to be that way, to make him the way he needed to be. Johnny must be strong enough to face a deadly encounter. Johnny had to have the right state of mind to find his sister. And when God saw him prepared to do 'battle', God provided him the way.

While I may not be fond of Johnny's mother Katherine, who just wasted away, everything seems non-fictional. And fiction becoming non-fiction is a way to my heart..and to the number of stars I rate. XD

It was the ending I didn't hope for, but all the same was better. John Hart made sure of it. I love it.
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Dec 02, 2012 Kevin rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Last Child by John Hart was one of the best mystery books that I ever read. The main character Johnny Merrimon is a fourteen year old boy whose dad left him after his twin sister Alyssa went missing one year earlier. It’s just him and his mom, Katherine, and her jerk of a boyfriend Ken. They are in a small city set in present day.

Johnny still believes that his sister is alive and is obsessed with finding her whether it’s cutting class or going somewhere that he shouldn’t. Then there’s Clyde...more The Last Child by John Hart was one of the best mystery books that I ever read. The main character Johnny Merrimon is a fourteen year old boy whose dad left him after his twin sister Alyssa went missing one year earlier. It’s just him and his mom, Katherine, and her jerk of a boyfriend Ken. They are in a small city set in present day.

Johnny still believes that his sister is alive and is obsessed with finding her whether it’s cutting class or going somewhere that he shouldn’t. Then there’s Clyde Hunt who was on Alyssa’s case since the day of the abduction and her murder haunts him every night. Together he and Johnny try to find her and they won’t give up no matter the cost.
Johnny puts his life in danger multiple times throughout the book and Hunt tries to hold him back but he can’t, Johnny is to stubborn and has his own agenda. When a new girl goes missing Johnny thinks that it is the same guy who took his sister so he tries to save her with the help of his best, only real friend, Jack.

Hunt does all that he can to help Katherine escape the clutches of Ken. But she can’t leave because he’s the one that’s been providing her with the pills that she had use for the past year to cope with the pain. These pills allow Ken to do whatever he wants to her because she’s defenseless.

It has slightly crazy characters like Johnny and Detective Hunt whose actions always surprise you. Its twists and turns keep you guessing who did it until the very end. You can think that it’s one person on one page and have your idea completely change one page later.

Ken is the main antagonist in this book. John Hart portrays this condescending child abuser in a perfect fashion. He is rich and no one wants to go against him. He makes Johnny’s life a living hell by beating him and his mother. While taking away the mother Johnny once knew and leaving her an empty shell. At one point Johnny prayed that Ken die a slow painful death.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It is a nail biting thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Well-developed characters like Johnny, Hunt, and Ken really make this book making you feel as if you are there. But if you want to know who took Alyssa you’re going to have to read the book.
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Nov 15, 2012 Courtney Corbett rated it 5 of 5 stars

this is probly the best book ive ever read its my favorite of all time im 14 and my mom had read it and said it was pretty good so i had to do a school project and used this book and i would recommed this to anyone who dont have a stick up there butt i mean some stuff might not be as true as but they have other books that are sooo ridiclously fake its not even funny and i told my friend about it and we were reading together and couldnt stop talking about it like what would happen next and it was...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An exciting and feasable thriller; Some of the character are wonderful creations i.e. Levi Freemantle, The last son of Isaac. I thought the Afro/Indian theme compelling, Hush Arbor,freed slaves,Raven County,No crows...the intermingling of 'woodoo' magic and Christian belief, The history of the land and the indeginous people interwoven into plot as a backdrop to the modern day where this story unfolds. The two worlds collide and collude as the child-hero of the novel, Johnny Merrimon...who has gi...more An exciting and feasable thriller; Some of the character are wonderful creations i.e. Levi Freemantle, The last son of Isaac. I thought the Afro/Indian theme compelling, Hush Arbor,freed slaves,Raven County,No crows...the intermingling of 'woodoo' magic and Christian belief, The history of the land and the indeginous people interwoven into plot as a backdrop to the modern day where this story unfolds. The two worlds collide and collude as the child-hero of the novel, Johnny Merrimon...who has given up on those of his crumbling world to find his missing sister, starts to investigate her disappearance himself.
One HUGE critism which, I believe is that of the Publishing House rather than the author.
This edition of 'The Last Child' is published by John Murray, An Hachette (UK) Co.
Surely they must have reviewed the text and seen that it is unreadable in its present form? Locations and situations change but there is no punctuation ( either in Chapter form or at least a double spacing between these paragraphs to indicate that the scene has changed.) The text runs into itself as though it were a continuous narrative. The result: It leaves the reader confused and disorientated.I understand that the action has reached a fast pace with a high level of suspence and urgency but this is counter-productive and does NOT heighten the suspense for the reader. It does the opposite. The reader has to stop reading to work out what is happening/where are we now?
Towards the end of the book, I got a pen and stated to draw a line across the page when the scene changes from one sentence to the next with no indication of anything but continuity!...Here is the benefit of some of my proof-reading...
Pg.395 "He felt better where he stood"........"The house winked dirty paint..."
Pg.396 "'No answer at her house'."......." Johnny stepped out of the woods..."
Pg.397 "Johnny took the steps two at a time"......" Jack had his small hand..."
Pg.397 "He wouldn't stop saying it"....."Johnny's hand found..."
Pg.398 "His mother screamed again"...." Levi stood at the river's edge"
Pg.399 "The roof was black with crows"..........."His mother's voice...."
Pg.411 "Not sober"....."Johnny rode...."
Pg.426 "I get thos goosebumps when yoy say that"....."Everything in the hotel room...."
Pg.430 "'wipe your feet'"...."There was no truck in front...."
Pg.437 "Hunt turned into Cross's [sic] neighbourhood"....."Johnny opened...."
Pg.438 "'Quiet but together'"...."Hunt got the domestic...."
Pg.442 "The boy was eaten up"...."The sun made a dim...."
Pg.448""..why God sent him"...."Hunt had a late meeting..."
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Aug 17, 2012 Donna Mcnab rated it 4 of 5 stars

Johnny Merriman is a very determined and brave 13 year old. A year after his twin sister, Alyssa, disappeared, Johnny is still searching for her and refuses to believe that she is dead. In that year, his father has left Johnny and Katherine, his mother, alone, they have lost their house and are living in a rental owned by a man who used to be a friend and always had a thing for Katherine, and Katherine has given in to despair, drugs and alcohol. Johnny's life is a nightmare, but still he goes ou...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Rudy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller

I did mostly enjoy reading this book. It was well written and the characters initially drew me in. As the story progressed however the book developed what was for me a near fatal flaw. One of the main characters is Detective Clyde Hunt who is tasked with investigating the recent disappearance of a young girl. He was also in charge 2 years earlier of the search for Alyssa Merrimon another teenage girl. He is in fact haunted by his failure to successfully close that previous case. His guilt clouds...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Jake rated it 3 of 5 stars

Before I get into anything else, I have to admit that I read this frakker as quickly as my prematurely aged brain would allow. I stayed up extra late one or two nights to pack more in, which is simply unheard of in my world these days. I did this even though certain things bugged me right off the bat, like how the two thirteen-year-old kids at the story's heart talked like 30-year-old Tarantino characters and CONSTANTLY outsmarted the police. Like how one of the major plot points was built aroun...more

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May 27, 2012 Rita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thirteen year old Johnny obsessively searches for answers to his sister's disappearance; his mother Katherine has retreated into a world of prescription drugs and alcohol in order to cope with the tragedy and a policeman is plagued by guilt at not being able to solve the case.

This is a story with many interconnecting threads - partly a traditional detective novel and partly a study of the emotional after effects of a devastating occurrence on a family and those associated with them. It is a tale...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Ian Mapp rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ooh - how exciting. A new thriller writer with a back catalogue to get to grips with. This is solid, mystery crime fiction that reminded me a touch of RJ Ellory. Not that he is american, but you get my drift.

The story throws you right into 13 year old Johnny's family, 1 year on from when his twin sister has gone missing. Straight away, the characterisation is great. Johnny's mom has descended into drug fuelled misery - taking up with someone unsuitable and sinister, his father (riddled with grie...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Michael Tuggle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thrillers

The one starts a little slower than "The King of Lies" but quickly accelerates into a read you can't put down. Really smart and well written.

(From B&N)
Winner of the 2010 Edgar Award for Best Novel

John Hart’s New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies, announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River, he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he achieves...more The one starts a little slower than "The King of Lies" but quickly accelerates into a read you can't put down. Really smart and well written.

(From B&N)
Winner of the 2010 Edgar Award for Best Novel

John Hart’s New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies, announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River, he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he achieves his most significant work to date, an intricate, powerful story of loss, hope, and courage in the face of evil.

Thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon had the perfect life: a warm home and loving parents; a twin sister, Alyssa, with whom he shared an irreplaceable bond. He knew nothing of loss, until the day Alyssa vanished from the side of a lonely street. Now, a year later, Johnny finds himself isolated and alone, failed by the people he’d been taught since birth to trust. No one else believes that Alyssa is still alive, but Johnny is certain that she is—-confident in a way that he can never fully explain.

Determined to find his sister, Johnny risks everything to explore the dark side of his hometown. It is a desperate, terrifying search, but Johnny is not as alone as he might think. Detective Clyde Hunt has never stopped looking for Alyssa either, and he has a soft spot for Johnny. He watches over the boy and tries to keep him safe, but when Johnny uncovers a dangerous lead and vows to follow it, Hunt has no choice but to intervene.

Then a second child goes missing . . .

Undeterred by Hunt’s threats or his mother’s pleas, Johnny enlists the help of his last friend, and together they plunge into the wild, to a forgotten place with a history of violence that goes back more than a hundred years. There, they meet a giant of a man, an escaped convict on his own tragic quest. What they learn from him will shatter every notion Johnny had about the fate of his sister; it will lead them to another far place, to a truth that will test both boys to the limit.

Traveling the wilderness between innocence and hard wisdom, between hopelessness and faith, The Last Child leaves all categories behind and establishes John Hart as a writer of unique power.(less)

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Mar 04, 2012 Pamela rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one

(This review is for the audio version.)

That's it with John Hart. I've had enough. His first book The King of Lies wasn't bad. In fact, it was pretty darn good for a first novel. His second Down River wasn't as good, but Hey! Sophomore books are always a bit of a disappointment. I next listened to--or rather tried to listen to--his fourth Iron House. I gave up on that one as the characters rapidly went from uninteresting to stereotypical to downright annoying.

I managed to finish this, his third b...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Kat rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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About John Hart

I was born in Durham, North Carolina in 1965, the son of a young surgeon and French teacher who quit teaching to raise her children. Eventually, I moved to Rowan County, where THE KING OF LIES and DOWN RIVER are both set, and on which the fictional Raven County is loosely based. My favorite memory of childhood is a five hundred acre farm that has since fallen to the sweeping tide of development th...more

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“She turned the water scalding hot and scrubbed her face until it hurt, but the eyes still looked wrong. She tore off her clothes and stepped into the shower; but it was not enough.
The dirt was on the inside.” — 10 people liked it

“Lightening falls, all you can do is- pray God that it doesn't fall on you.” — 5 people liked it

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