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Last One Seen: A Thriller
There are three people I suspect of killing her, and I’m one of them.
A woman fights her own mind and memory to understand how she got the passenger seat of a car speeding away from a murder scene. In this riveting, dual-timeline psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Riley Sager, nothing is as it seems.
Hannah arrived at Washington University in St. Louis brimming with hope. She was determined to take her mood stabilizer, stay out of trouble, and make a name for herself while completing her creative writing MFA. When she meets Justine, an enigmatic, wealthy, charismatic, and successful student in her program, she’s enchanted. And as Justine takes a special interest in her, Hannah falls completely under her spell.
When Hannah’s life starts spiraling out of control, she isn’t sure who to blame–Justine, for her intense and controlling influence, their jealous classmate Amelia, or herself. As her prescription fails her, she strays further and further from the straight and narrow.
Hannah can’t help but reflect on her time in grad school, especially when she knows Justine is lying dead somewhere back down the road Justine’s ex Eli is driving them away on. She knows Justine is gone. She knows someone killed Justine. And she knows it might’ve been her.
A woman fights her own mind and memory to understand how she got the passenger seat of a car speeding away from a murder scene. In this riveting, dual-timeline psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Riley Sager, nothing is as it seems.
Hannah arrived at Washington University in St. Louis brimming with hope. She was determined to take her mood stabilizer, stay out of trouble, and make a name for herself while completing her creative writing MFA. When she meets Justine, an enigmatic, wealthy, charismatic, and successful student in her program, she’s enchanted. And as Justine takes a special interest in her, Hannah falls completely under her spell.
When Hannah’s life starts spiraling out of control, she isn’t sure who to blame–Justine, for her intense and controlling influence, their jealous classmate Amelia, or herself. As her prescription fails her, she strays further and further from the straight and narrow.
Hannah can’t help but reflect on her time in grad school, especially when she knows Justine is lying dead somewhere back down the road Justine’s ex Eli is driving them away on. She knows Justine is gone. She knows someone killed Justine. And she knows it might’ve been her.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2025
99 people are currently reading
6449 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Kanner
4 books192 followers Hi there—so glad you found your way to my little corner of Goodreads! I’m Rebecca Kanner, and I write dark, twisty fiction that dives into the messiest corners of human nature. My debut psychological thriller, Last One Seen, releases on September 23, 2025 and features a narrator who’s either deeply unreliable—or so gaslit by her classmates that she no longer trusts her own mind. What happens when you start to question everything, including your own mind?
I’m drawn to morally complex characters, tangled relationships, and stories that keep you turning pages way past your bedtime. I love narratives that ask uncomfortable questions, blur the line between victim and villain, and explore what people are capable of when pushed to their limits. When I’m not writing, you can usually find me reading psychological suspense, wandering through the woods listening to an audiobook, or trying to figure out how to write a chilling final chapter without giving myself goosebumps. I believe in giving characters space to be messy, flawed, and real—and I write for readers who aren’t afraid to follow them into the dark.
I’m drawn to morally complex characters, tangled relationships, and stories that keep you turning pages way past your bedtime. I love narratives that ask uncomfortable questions, blur the line between victim and villain, and explore what people are capable of when pushed to their limits. When I’m not writing, you can usually find me reading psychological suspense, wandering through the woods listening to an audiobook, or trying to figure out how to write a chilling final chapter without giving myself goosebumps. I believe in giving characters space to be messy, flawed, and real—and I write for readers who aren’t afraid to follow them into the dark.
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July 29, 2025 Author’s Note / Personal Review of Last One Seen
Last One Seen is my psychological suspense novel that explores emotional strain and the fragile line between perception and reality. I poured a lot of myself into this story, drawing from my own experiences in graduate school and my personal struggles with mental health.
I’m incredibly proud of this novel. Writing it was both cathartic and challenging. It pushed me creatively and emotionally in ways I didn’t expect. The result is something layered and deeply personal.
It's not for everyone. I want to be clear: the novel includes themes of bipolar disorder and psychological manipulation, along with moments of emotional intensity.
But if you connect with stories that dig deep, that challenge perspective and emotion, and that linger after the last page—Last One Seen was written for you.
It’s about struggle—but even more, it’s about resilience and doing whatever it takes to survive.
Last One Seen is my psychological suspense novel that explores emotional strain and the fragile line between perception and reality. I poured a lot of myself into this story, drawing from my own experiences in graduate school and my personal struggles with mental health.
I’m incredibly proud of this novel. Writing it was both cathartic and challenging. It pushed me creatively and emotionally in ways I didn’t expect. The result is something layered and deeply personal.
It's not for everyone. I want to be clear: the novel includes themes of bipolar disorder and psychological manipulation, along with moments of emotional intensity.
But if you connect with stories that dig deep, that challenge perspective and emotion, and that linger after the last page—Last One Seen was written for you.
It’s about struggle—but even more, it’s about resilience and doing whatever it takes to survive.
April 8, 2025
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. The dialog and relationships between characters felt strange and unnatural. Hannah, the main character, is wildly unhinged and unlikeable. She is a writer and graduate student with bipolar disorder, who is also an alcoholic and largely goes unmedicated. The story is told from her POV only, and is a bit all over the place. You are left wondering if any of it really happened. It's a weird read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
March 14, 2025
This book was a very solid 3.5 stars for me and I feel badly rounding down, but it just isn’t quite what I would consider 4 stars and I can’t bring myself to round up.
This was a strange ride through the mind of our mentally ill/sometimes unmedicated/sometimes drunken main character. I spent much of the beginning of the book questioning every other character and event in the story, wondering whether things were really happening as they were being told or if we were being tricked into believing our main character’s version of the story, since we have no other point of view to counter her reality.
Since Hannah is a writer in graduate school, throughout the book, we are reminded, in no uncertain terms, that the lines between fiction and nonfiction are often gray and an author can control what version of reality is written for us. Our real author (Rebecca Kanner) quite literally explains throughout the book what she is doing and what we should expect from reading the story told through our unreliable narrator’s viewpoint. But, still I tore through the pages, waiting and hoping that the end of this book would provide a little clarity, and a clearer understanding of the real reality, and not just Hannah’s version of it. Sound a little confusing? My mind is still spinning a bit, after trying to make sense of it all.
I never reveal spoilers in my reviews, but this may be a semi-exception to my rule, so please stop reading if you want to read this book and go in completely blind…
……
We only ever hear Hannah’s version of reality, which for me, was disappointing. At some point, I began rushing through this crazy ride, waiting for the twists and turns, but they just never came. I kept coming up with theories as to what was really happening, but all we end up with is a finished story where the only reality is the crazy one we’ve been given all along. And I both hate that and respect it. As already mentioned, I respect the fact that Rebecca Kanner takes us on this journey through Hannah’s point of view and never pretends or promises that we’re going to get anything else. We are quite literally reading a psychological thriller from the mindset of the person experiencing it as such. And as the reader, we are left to question what really happened, and why.
This was definitely a different kind of book than most, one that leaves you wondering still after the last page, and although I’m disappointed that I didn’t get the explanation I was looking for, the anticipation I felt of getting to it made it an enjoyable read.
With thanks to Rebecca Kanner and Crooked Lane Books on NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
This was a strange ride through the mind of our mentally ill/sometimes unmedicated/sometimes drunken main character. I spent much of the beginning of the book questioning every other character and event in the story, wondering whether things were really happening as they were being told or if we were being tricked into believing our main character’s version of the story, since we have no other point of view to counter her reality.
Since Hannah is a writer in graduate school, throughout the book, we are reminded, in no uncertain terms, that the lines between fiction and nonfiction are often gray and an author can control what version of reality is written for us. Our real author (Rebecca Kanner) quite literally explains throughout the book what she is doing and what we should expect from reading the story told through our unreliable narrator’s viewpoint. But, still I tore through the pages, waiting and hoping that the end of this book would provide a little clarity, and a clearer understanding of the real reality, and not just Hannah’s version of it. Sound a little confusing? My mind is still spinning a bit, after trying to make sense of it all.
I never reveal spoilers in my reviews, but this may be a semi-exception to my rule, so please stop reading if you want to read this book and go in completely blind…
……
We only ever hear Hannah’s version of reality, which for me, was disappointing. At some point, I began rushing through this crazy ride, waiting for the twists and turns, but they just never came. I kept coming up with theories as to what was really happening, but all we end up with is a finished story where the only reality is the crazy one we’ve been given all along. And I both hate that and respect it. As already mentioned, I respect the fact that Rebecca Kanner takes us on this journey through Hannah’s point of view and never pretends or promises that we’re going to get anything else. We are quite literally reading a psychological thriller from the mindset of the person experiencing it as such. And as the reader, we are left to question what really happened, and why.
This was definitely a different kind of book than most, one that leaves you wondering still after the last page, and although I’m disappointed that I didn’t get the explanation I was looking for, the anticipation I felt of getting to it made it an enjoyable read.
With thanks to Rebecca Kanner and Crooked Lane Books on NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
July 19, 2025
I really liked the start when it was a smart, character-driven academic suspense story – but then it veered into over-the-top popcorn thriller territory and the execution (especially the second half) was too jarring, clunky, and over-the-top.
Energy: Silly. Dark. Scattered
🐺 Growls: Became a constant stream of chaotic, unbelievable events. Disjointed, jarring plot progression — not that horrible things like that don’t happen, more that it was so random with no build-up so it felt very much For the Plot and just thrown at us.
🐕 Howls: The abrupt tonal shifts. Clunky, unnatural dialogue. Past/present tense mix-ups. Inconsistent pacing. Whole scenes fly by without connection, like characters first meeting to suddenly kissing with no transition. Wish we had other POVs for a better sense of what’s happening and to introduce a ‘who to trust’ dynamic.
🐩 Tail Wags: Intriguing characters. The flawed main character portrayal (at first). The grad school group dynamics.
Scene: 🇺🇸 St Louis, Missouri, and Minnesota, USA
Perspective: A 26 yo prospective MFA student, living with mental illness and raised by a neglectful parent, who put themselves through school. They’re eager to get in the program but dependent on a stipend that might go to an award-winning yet wealthy candidate.
Timeline: Time-jumping. 2020s. Four months leading up to the start of the grad program, during the semester, and a few months later when something has happened involving our MC.
Fuel: Is Hannah being sabotaged? Why? How will she handle rejection from her peers? Is she experiencing full reality? What happened that has her on the run in the future?
Cred: Suspended disbelief over-the-top to hard to believe
Mood Reading Match-Up:
• Invisible in the room, listening to the character, being told a story (first person)
• Casual, simplistic writing style
• Spiraling, clingy, mean, flawed, and unhinged characters
• Grad school politics, academic scheming, love triangles, and “pick me” friendships
• Rejection, rivalries, vengeance, and internal chaos
• On-the-run and trauma reveals
• Mental health + missing memory shockers
• Plot-driven but character focused
• Popcorn thriller antics and villainy
Content Heads-Up: Ableism (mental illness stigmas; purposeful triggering). Abusive, controlling relationship. Alcohol (self-medicating, intoxication/black-out; parties). Alcoholism (treatment, sobriety, relapse). Antisemitism. Bullying (peers; rejection, sabotage, set-ups). Confinement. Drugging. Eating disorder (bulimia). Gun violence. Intoxicated driving (fatal; mention). Loss of parent (as child). Mania. Medication (psychiatric; misuse). Mental illness (bipolar; medication, manic episodes). Parental neglect, addiction. Personality disordered parent (borderline). Pregnancy. Sexual content (behind closed doors; intoxicated). Sexual harassment.
Rep: American. Jewish heritage. Bluish pale, pale skin tones. Bipolar disorder.
📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Energy: Silly. Dark. Scattered
🐺 Growls: Became a constant stream of chaotic, unbelievable events. Disjointed, jarring plot progression — not that horrible things like that don’t happen, more that it was so random with no build-up so it felt very much For the Plot and just thrown at us.
🐕 Howls: The abrupt tonal shifts. Clunky, unnatural dialogue. Past/present tense mix-ups. Inconsistent pacing. Whole scenes fly by without connection, like characters first meeting to suddenly kissing with no transition. Wish we had other POVs for a better sense of what’s happening and to introduce a ‘who to trust’ dynamic.
🐩 Tail Wags: Intriguing characters. The flawed main character portrayal (at first). The grad school group dynamics.
Scene: 🇺🇸 St Louis, Missouri, and Minnesota, USA
Perspective: A 26 yo prospective MFA student, living with mental illness and raised by a neglectful parent, who put themselves through school. They’re eager to get in the program but dependent on a stipend that might go to an award-winning yet wealthy candidate.
Timeline: Time-jumping. 2020s. Four months leading up to the start of the grad program, during the semester, and a few months later when something has happened involving our MC.
Fuel: Is Hannah being sabotaged? Why? How will she handle rejection from her peers? Is she experiencing full reality? What happened that has her on the run in the future?
Cred: Suspended disbelief over-the-top to hard to believe
Mood Reading Match-Up:
• Invisible in the room, listening to the character, being told a story (first person)
• Casual, simplistic writing style
• Spiraling, clingy, mean, flawed, and unhinged characters
• Grad school politics, academic scheming, love triangles, and “pick me” friendships
• Rejection, rivalries, vengeance, and internal chaos
• On-the-run and trauma reveals
• Mental health + missing memory shockers
• Plot-driven but character focused
• Popcorn thriller antics and villainy
Content Heads-Up: Ableism (mental illness stigmas; purposeful triggering). Abusive, controlling relationship. Alcohol (self-medicating, intoxication/black-out; parties). Alcoholism (treatment, sobriety, relapse). Antisemitism. Bullying (peers; rejection, sabotage, set-ups). Confinement. Drugging. Eating disorder (bulimia). Gun violence. Intoxicated driving (fatal; mention). Loss of parent (as child). Mania. Medication (psychiatric; misuse). Mental illness (bipolar; medication, manic episodes). Parental neglect, addiction. Personality disordered parent (borderline). Pregnancy. Sexual content (behind closed doors; intoxicated). Sexual harassment.
Rep: American. Jewish heritage. Bluish pale, pale skin tones. Bipolar disorder.
📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
August 8, 2025
Three and a half stars rounded down. Rebecca Kanner’s “Last One Seen” is a hard book to review. This book had a nice hook with the line “There are three people I suspect of killing her, and I’m one of them,” but the plot was all over the place at times.
Hannah is accepted to the creative writing MFA program at Washington University in St. Louis. She’s looking for a fresh start from Minneapolis. Hannah also happens to be bipolar.
Hannah meets Justine, a prospective fellow student, shortly after she’s accepted into the program. The evening they meet each other, in a group of other current students, Hannah quickly claims she and Justine have a “bond.” Even after Hannah and Justine have a few confrontations, Hannah claims Justine is her best friend. She also believes they have a “real connection.”
This book flips back-and-forth between present day and the past few months. Hannah is the narrator and, at times, her actions and thoughts made little-to-no sense. The ending was satisfactory, but the second half of the book was difficult to read and understand what was happening.
Overall, I hesitantly recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
Hannah is accepted to the creative writing MFA program at Washington University in St. Louis. She’s looking for a fresh start from Minneapolis. Hannah also happens to be bipolar.
Hannah meets Justine, a prospective fellow student, shortly after she’s accepted into the program. The evening they meet each other, in a group of other current students, Hannah quickly claims she and Justine have a “bond.” Even after Hannah and Justine have a few confrontations, Hannah claims Justine is her best friend. She also believes they have a “real connection.”
This book flips back-and-forth between present day and the past few months. Hannah is the narrator and, at times, her actions and thoughts made little-to-no sense. The ending was satisfactory, but the second half of the book was difficult to read and understand what was happening.
Overall, I hesitantly recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
February 1, 2026
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Netgalley and Rebecca Kanner for the ARC!
“There are three people I suspect of killing her, and I’m one of them…”
My friend at the Pulse and I were intrigued by the premise of this story. It definitely was the most unique thriller I have read in a long time! Hannah, a graduate student, struggles with bipolar disorder made worse by her alcoholism, and then Justine, the perfect girl next door, enters the graduate program making things even more difficult. In fact, when Hannah’s life spirals out of control, she can’t tell if it’s because of Justine, her addiction or forgetting to take her medication. Hannah was an unreliable narrator done to PERFECTION! I both believed everything and nothing she said - lol! Though the story does require a little bit of suspending belief, it was a very engaging, immersive psychological thriller. Add this one to your TBR if you love psychological thrillers and want something a little different!
“Last One Seen” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
“There are three people I suspect of killing her, and I’m one of them…”
My friend at the Pulse and I were intrigued by the premise of this story. It definitely was the most unique thriller I have read in a long time! Hannah, a graduate student, struggles with bipolar disorder made worse by her alcoholism, and then Justine, the perfect girl next door, enters the graduate program making things even more difficult. In fact, when Hannah’s life spirals out of control, she can’t tell if it’s because of Justine, her addiction or forgetting to take her medication. Hannah was an unreliable narrator done to PERFECTION! I both believed everything and nothing she said - lol! Though the story does require a little bit of suspending belief, it was a very engaging, immersive psychological thriller. Add this one to your TBR if you love psychological thrillers and want something a little different!
“Last One Seen” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
November 23, 2025
As the first book I ever blurbed in my author career, Last One Seen will always hold a special spot in my heart; as an avid reader of all things mystery, thriller, and suspense, Last One Seen will also occupy a place of honor on my shelf for years to come.
What. A. Book.
A breakneck pace where the pages practically turn themselves? Check. Twist after twist after head-spinning twist? Check. A memorable protagonist who breathes new life into the well-loved unreliable narrator trope? Check. A book I enjoyed so thoroughly that I raced to recommend it to my thriller-loving mom? Check, check, check!
I'm champing at the bit to read what Rebecca Kanner writes next - and after you tear through Last One Seen, I think you will be too.
What. A. Book.
A breakneck pace where the pages practically turn themselves? Check. Twist after twist after head-spinning twist? Check. A memorable protagonist who breathes new life into the well-loved unreliable narrator trope? Check. A book I enjoyed so thoroughly that I raced to recommend it to my thriller-loving mom? Check, check, check!
I'm champing at the bit to read what Rebecca Kanner writes next - and after you tear through Last One Seen, I think you will be too.
March 1, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc
At first, you think you are reading a thriller about an unmedicated bipolar mess who may or may not have killed the beautiful and mysterious student that she’s jealous of, but that’s not really what this book is. Hannah is unreliable, alright; you never know if she’s telling the truth or making up some version of it because she blacked out and can’t remember what happened. Our protagonists are writers and discuss a lot the merits of fiction versus non-fiction: is fiction always a lie? Is non-fiction only the truth? I really liked the meta about writing that was popping up all along the story. I also always love an effed-up and complicated narrator, and it was impossible to know whether or not Hannah was in the right or not because we only get her point of view. By the end of the book, we still don’t know what really happened; just like her, we get to make up our own version of the truth.
At first, you think you are reading a thriller about an unmedicated bipolar mess who may or may not have killed the beautiful and mysterious student that she’s jealous of, but that’s not really what this book is. Hannah is unreliable, alright; you never know if she’s telling the truth or making up some version of it because she blacked out and can’t remember what happened. Our protagonists are writers and discuss a lot the merits of fiction versus non-fiction: is fiction always a lie? Is non-fiction only the truth? I really liked the meta about writing that was popping up all along the story. I also always love an effed-up and complicated narrator, and it was impossible to know whether or not Hannah was in the right or not because we only get her point of view. By the end of the book, we still don’t know what really happened; just like her, we get to make up our own version of the truth.
June 10, 2025
*ARC Kindle Review*
Last One Seen pulled me in right away and didn’t let go. It’s one of those books where you keep saying “just one more chapter,” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. The mystery at the center is intense and emotional, and the way the story unfolds kept me guessing the whole time.
The characters are so well written—complex, relatable, and full of depth. I especially appreciated how the story balanced suspense with emotional weight. It wasn’t just about solving a crime; it was about family, trauma, and resilience.
Rebecca Kanner did an amazing job of building tension while also making you feel for everyone involved. The pacing was spot-on, the writing was strong, and the ending totally delivered.
If you’re into emotional thrillers with real heart, Last One Seen is a must-read.
Last One Seen pulled me in right away and didn’t let go. It’s one of those books where you keep saying “just one more chapter,” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. The mystery at the center is intense and emotional, and the way the story unfolds kept me guessing the whole time.
The characters are so well written—complex, relatable, and full of depth. I especially appreciated how the story balanced suspense with emotional weight. It wasn’t just about solving a crime; it was about family, trauma, and resilience.
Rebecca Kanner did an amazing job of building tension while also making you feel for everyone involved. The pacing was spot-on, the writing was strong, and the ending totally delivered.
If you’re into emotional thrillers with real heart, Last One Seen is a must-read.
September 14, 2025
The first chapter of this book grabbed me and pulled me in the story. Hannah wants to be a writer and join a MFA program. Justine is the one person who stands in her way because Hannah needs a scholarship and it’s going to Hannah or Justine. This starts a complex relationship that keeps the reader guessing. Hannah is an unreliable narrator so we don’t know what is true.
I liked how each chapter was titled with the timeline and sometimes the date. This helped me track the past and the present storylines. Hannah has a mental illness that requires her to consistently take meds but she plays with them to suit her needs. This story is a great view into mental illness.
I liked how each chapter was titled with the timeline and sometimes the date. This helped me track the past and the present storylines. Hannah has a mental illness that requires her to consistently take meds but she plays with them to suit her needs. This story is a great view into mental illness.
October 16, 2025
Rebecca Kanner’s latest is a compelling thriller with a murder and a mystery, but as with her earlier work it’s also about a lot of other things: men, women, the instruction of creative writing, status anxiety, mental illness, addiction, and on and on. There are some oblique literary references here—Stephen King’s Misery (or the film made from the book), leaps to mind—but at the same time the book feels soldered together from the facets of an autobiography. As with all great books, what lingers strongest after the final page is turned is not the characters or the story, though all satisfy, but rather the impression of the author’s mind that has come seeping through the pages. In short, this book invites you into the mind of another, for both a compelling story and a kind of communion.
September 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Last One Seen. This thriller had an intriguing setup that immediately grabbed my attention. The premise promised a dark and twisty ride, and there were definitely moments that pulled me in and made me curious about how the story would all come together. Kanner’s writing has a strong sense of urgency, and the pacing pushed me forward quickly.
That said, I found the execution to be a little uneven. The plot leaned into so many different directions that it started to feel chaotic, and I often found myself confused about where the story was going. The abundance of details and shifting focus made it difficult to stay anchored in the narrative, and instead of heightening the suspense, it left me feeling a bit disconnected.
There were glimpses of solid suspense, and I do think readers who enjoy fast, unpredictable thrillers with a lot happening at once might appreciate this one more. For me, though, it felt a little too much, and the constant back and forth ultimately pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me deeper in. While not a favorite, I can see the appeal for fans of thrillers that thrive on chaos and high stakes drama.
That said, I found the execution to be a little uneven. The plot leaned into so many different directions that it started to feel chaotic, and I often found myself confused about where the story was going. The abundance of details and shifting focus made it difficult to stay anchored in the narrative, and instead of heightening the suspense, it left me feeling a bit disconnected.
There were glimpses of solid suspense, and I do think readers who enjoy fast, unpredictable thrillers with a lot happening at once might appreciate this one more. For me, though, it felt a little too much, and the constant back and forth ultimately pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me deeper in. While not a favorite, I can see the appeal for fans of thrillers that thrive on chaos and high stakes drama.
September 10, 2025
Last One Seen was an interesting experience- in both a good way, and a bad way. Our main character having bipolar disorder leads to her being unreliable, and while I do adore an unreliable narrator, watching her spiral in a never ending manic episode wasn’t quite enjoyable.
At the start of this story, here’s what Hannah Silver knows: Justine Updike is dead, and there are three possible suspects. One of them being herself. I hated Justine’s character. From the second she first appears she spends her spare time making Hannah’s life a nightmare, and for what? Because Hannah wanted to befriend her? Because Hannah noticed signs of struggling and wanted to show Justine she emphasizes? Instead of appreciating that someone knows where she’s coming from, Justine plies her with alcohol, kicking off episode after episode. She keeps her manic, turns everyone away from her, and accuses her of stealing.
The flashbacks are full of big, empty periods from the times Hannah is in the midst of an episode, and when she’s not spiraling from not taking her meds, she’s blackout drunk. By the time we get back around to Justine being dead, we’ve spent so long in Hannah’s scrambled brain that I had honestly forgotten about that plot point. Content warnings include the following: blackmail, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, lovebombing, domestic violence, pills, manic episodes, bulimia mentions, etc.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the e-arc! Last One Seen releases on Sep 23!
At the start of this story, here’s what Hannah Silver knows: Justine Updike is dead, and there are three possible suspects. One of them being herself. I hated Justine’s character. From the second she first appears she spends her spare time making Hannah’s life a nightmare, and for what? Because Hannah wanted to befriend her? Because Hannah noticed signs of struggling and wanted to show Justine she emphasizes? Instead of appreciating that someone knows where she’s coming from, Justine plies her with alcohol, kicking off episode after episode. She keeps her manic, turns everyone away from her, and accuses her of stealing.
The flashbacks are full of big, empty periods from the times Hannah is in the midst of an episode, and when she’s not spiraling from not taking her meds, she’s blackout drunk. By the time we get back around to Justine being dead, we’ve spent so long in Hannah’s scrambled brain that I had honestly forgotten about that plot point. Content warnings include the following: blackmail, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, lovebombing, domestic violence, pills, manic episodes, bulimia mentions, etc.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the e-arc! Last One Seen releases on Sep 23!
September 4, 2025
The book started off well but as it progreasses I began to struggle and I think it would have held more depth and intensty if it had not only been told from only Hannah's persepctive. There is a lot of 'grey' in this book and at tiems I was not sure what was real and what was not, maybe this was the point the author was trying to present but overall I just found it confusing.
I have no problms with books that leave me questioning things after I have finished, but even after doing so I found little to draw on that assited me is my understanding of the book. I do not want to say too much more as I thing it is up to each individual reader to draw their own conclusions. I would try another book from this author to see what else she does have to offer but unfortuantely this one did not work for me. 2.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
I have no problms with books that leave me questioning things after I have finished, but even after doing so I found little to draw on that assited me is my understanding of the book. I do not want to say too much more as I thing it is up to each individual reader to draw their own conclusions. I would try another book from this author to see what else she does have to offer but unfortuantely this one did not work for me. 2.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
July 28, 2025
2.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this digital ARC :)
Okay I do feel my rating is a tad low because the book itself was a quick paced read
Pros: super fun and fast to read, short chapters, alternate timelines leaving you breadcrumbs to piece together a mind trickery of a plot.
Cons: the MFC Hannah was really hard to like at times. She wanted a healthier stable life and had the chance, but her obsessive tendencies led her to befriend another VERY unlikeable character. In fact most of the characters were quite toxic (exceptions for Luke, Claire and Lynette). Hannah is untrustworthy and this makes the plot misleading.
I did not see the plot twist at the end and must admit I was very happy with the turn of events 😂
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this digital ARC :)
Okay I do feel my rating is a tad low because the book itself was a quick paced read
Pros: super fun and fast to read, short chapters, alternate timelines leaving you breadcrumbs to piece together a mind trickery of a plot.
Cons: the MFC Hannah was really hard to like at times. She wanted a healthier stable life and had the chance, but her obsessive tendencies led her to befriend another VERY unlikeable character. In fact most of the characters were quite toxic (exceptions for Luke, Claire and Lynette). Hannah is untrustworthy and this makes the plot misleading.
I did not see the plot twist at the end and must admit I was very happy with the turn of events 😂
January 2, 2026
Last One Seen is a tense, fast-paced thriller that pulls you in right from the start. Rebecca Kanner does an excellent job creating an atmosphere of unease and urgency, making it hard to put this book down once the mystery begins to unfold.
The pacing is strong, with twists that kept me guessing and questioning everyone along the way. I especially appreciated how the story balances suspense with emotional depth—the stakes feel personal, not just shocking for the sake of being shocking. The characters are layered and flawed in a way that makes their choices believable, even when those choices complicate the situation.
The overall execution kept me engaged and invested until the end. Fans of psychological thrillers and missing-person mysteries will definitely want to add this one to their TBR.
A solid, suspenseful read that delivers tension, intrigue, and plenty of “just one more chapter” moments.
The pacing is strong, with twists that kept me guessing and questioning everyone along the way. I especially appreciated how the story balances suspense with emotional depth—the stakes feel personal, not just shocking for the sake of being shocking. The characters are layered and flawed in a way that makes their choices believable, even when those choices complicate the situation.
The overall execution kept me engaged and invested until the end. Fans of psychological thrillers and missing-person mysteries will definitely want to add this one to their TBR.
A solid, suspenseful read that delivers tension, intrigue, and plenty of “just one more chapter” moments.
December 31, 2025
This novel is about messy mercurial characters and situations.
I wanted Hannah to succeed but she kept sabotaging her own prospects. Justine reaped what she sowed and I found remnants of some people I knew in graduate school that echoed her character.
I liked the mentions of Steak and Shake, a midwestern eatery and also the scene that takes place at the Arch.
The most likable characters are Claire and Lucas because they seem genuine.
I really don’t think Hannah learned the real lesson from the ending….
Thanks Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the advance read.
I wanted Hannah to succeed but she kept sabotaging her own prospects. Justine reaped what she sowed and I found remnants of some people I knew in graduate school that echoed her character.
I liked the mentions of Steak and Shake, a midwestern eatery and also the scene that takes place at the Arch.
The most likable characters are Claire and Lucas because they seem genuine.
I really don’t think Hannah learned the real lesson from the ending….
Thanks Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the advance read.
December 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zero 🌶
This book gives us a narrator who is vivid, complicated, unreliable, and often times unlikable, and I genuinely really liked her for it. Today most novels insist on likable MCs , but real people aren’t tidy. We’re kind, awful, brave and reckless, thoughtful and impulsive. Rebecca Kanner captures that beautifully, creating a character who feels raw, real, and endlessly compelling. She’s not always likable, but she is ALWAYS interesting.
The story pulls us straight into the mind of a writer, a place that’s anything but safe. Hannah is a struggling MFA creative writing student. We experience a whirlwind of emotions as she tells stories to us and to herself, all while fending off competitive classmates and facing down someone whose genuinely dangerous.
It was fast paced and definitely kept my attention. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is because at times it became hard to know what was actually happening. But, I guess that's kind of the whole point.
Zero 🌶
This book gives us a narrator who is vivid, complicated, unreliable, and often times unlikable, and I genuinely really liked her for it. Today most novels insist on likable MCs , but real people aren’t tidy. We’re kind, awful, brave and reckless, thoughtful and impulsive. Rebecca Kanner captures that beautifully, creating a character who feels raw, real, and endlessly compelling. She’s not always likable, but she is ALWAYS interesting.
The story pulls us straight into the mind of a writer, a place that’s anything but safe. Hannah is a struggling MFA creative writing student. We experience a whirlwind of emotions as she tells stories to us and to herself, all while fending off competitive classmates and facing down someone whose genuinely dangerous.
It was fast paced and definitely kept my attention. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is because at times it became hard to know what was actually happening. But, I guess that's kind of the whole point.
December 17, 2025
Rebecca Kanner’s new novel “Last One Seen” is a thrill a minute, whodunnit that leaves the reader guessing until the last few pages. Her writing style is such that the reader finds themselves immersed in the scenes, creating a feeling like you’ve been with these characters previously, or been in these settings before, all of which adds a familiar, and cutting tension to the story. This thriller would make a great stocking stuffer for any reader who relishes a good mystery.
October 24, 2025
This book pulled me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the very end. The tension never let up — every chapter had me wanting to read just one more. The plot twists were clever and completely unpredictable, and the characters felt real and complex. The writing was sharp and immersive, making it easy to lose track of time while reading.
If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with great suspense and unexpected turns, I highly recommend this one. It’s one of those rare reads that stays with you long after you finish the last page
October 25, 2025
An engrossing and entertaining read. I've never encountered a main character like this in a thriller or mystery. Hannah is so troubled, yet she possesses the ability to outwit everyone anyway. I really liked her drive and her self-awareness. Her mentality reminds me of someone in a Scott McClanahan book, but within a thriller framework. In that sense it's totally unique, at least in my experience. Justine is a great villain, too. "Killer!"
October 1, 2025
Rebecca Kanner’s Last One Scene is a smart, unpredictable thriller that hooked me right away. What makes it stand out is the perspective of the main character she’s living with bipolar disorder, so her memories aren’t always reliable. That unreliable narration kept me second-guessing everything and made the twists hit even harder.
The pacing is sharp, the tension builds in all the right places, and the setting added another layer of enjoyment since I recognized some of the places. It made the story feel closer and more real.
If you like thrillers that mess with your head in the best way, this is one to grab.
The pacing is sharp, the tension builds in all the right places, and the setting added another layer of enjoyment since I recognized some of the places. It made the story feel closer and more real.
If you like thrillers that mess with your head in the best way, this is one to grab.
September 17, 2025
4.5 rounded to 5 stars.
Fast-paced & well plotted psychological thriller told in the past & present tense, all in the main character’s unreliable voice. It is filled with psychological turmoil with subjects that include: bipolar, depression, alcoholism, abuse, mental illness as well as complex & toxic friendships.
I found this to be emotionally intense, suspenseful & layered as well as disturbing & addictive. An impactful novel that I did not want to put down.
I am excited to read what comes next from this author.
Favorite Lines:
“No matter how old some guys get they will always essentially be little boys in a tree house with a no girls allowed sign.”
“I tell myself that life is pain & life without pain wouldn’t be pleasurable at all because there would be no release.”
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane & the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Fast-paced & well plotted psychological thriller told in the past & present tense, all in the main character’s unreliable voice. It is filled with psychological turmoil with subjects that include: bipolar, depression, alcoholism, abuse, mental illness as well as complex & toxic friendships.
I found this to be emotionally intense, suspenseful & layered as well as disturbing & addictive. An impactful novel that I did not want to put down.
I am excited to read what comes next from this author.
Favorite Lines:
“No matter how old some guys get they will always essentially be little boys in a tree house with a no girls allowed sign.”
“I tell myself that life is pain & life without pain wouldn’t be pleasurable at all because there would be no release.”
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane & the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 9, 2025
thanks to NetGalley for this one.
this book was exhausting. I only finished it in order to write an honest review but I wouldn't have finished otherwise.
every character in the book is unlikeable, the situations are wild, there's so much going on that it's hard to keep straight. if you can tolerate an unreliable narrator and like to feel hungover just from reading something this is the book for you.
this book was exhausting. I only finished it in order to write an honest review but I wouldn't have finished otherwise.
every character in the book is unlikeable, the situations are wild, there's so much going on that it's hard to keep straight. if you can tolerate an unreliable narrator and like to feel hungover just from reading something this is the book for you.
January 20, 2026
Awww....writers and mental illnesses. What could go wrong? To really appreciate the layers of this story, you have to be familiar with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. I do, (since I work in the field), but even I wanted to shake Hannah to knock some sense into her. Hannah is a want-to-be writer who's biggest desire is to attend a graduate program to complete a creative writing MFA at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. She gets accepted, but she doesn't get a stipend so she can't afford to go. She finds out that another applicant, Justine Updike (supposedly distantly related to John Updike) was offered a spot - and a stipend - but hasn't chosen what graduate program she will attend. (She was accepted into 10 different programs.) If Justine decides to go somewhere else, Hannah will get the stipend. BUT, Hannah is fascinated (obsessed) with Justine and wants them both to attend the program together. So Hannah figures out a way to earn the money after Justine chooses to attend Washington University. (I am extremely doubtful she could earn as much money as she did selling a trumped up health food product in that short of time, but that's how she does it.)
Hannah has been living with bipolar disorder - and was raised by a mother with borderline personality disorder. Both her mother and Justine treat Hannah horribly, but just as she craved whatever attention her mother could give her intermittently during her childhood, she craves Justine's attention. Justine is an awful person, but she is idolized by others in the program, including Hannah. Hannah's one true friend in the program is Claire, who tries very, very hard to help Hannah (reminding her to take her meds, not drink or do drugs, focus on something other than Justine), but Hannah manages to alienate her as well because of her behavior and poor choices. Then enter Eli, the handsome, mysterious, man who Hannah falls for after she sees him with Justine. Hannah cycles through manic episodes, blackmails the director of the creative writing program, gets accused of theft, driving under the influence, etc. Her life is a mess. Then someone is shot and killed with Hannah's gun. Hannah is not sure who did it since she experiences blackouts (due to drugs/alcohol she willingly or unknowingly ingests.)
This book is a rollercoaster ride. Since Hannah doesn't know what's real and not real, the reader doesn't really know either. Honestly, the only character in the book that I really liked was Claire! (And Luke, the bartender at Hannah's previous job before she moved to grad school.) Claire talks about "observer bias" in one of the groups' writer's workshops. She states, "We're all unreliable narrators...Everything that's written is just someone's perspective...We are distorted by observation...We filter everything through our own biases." I love that!
It's hard to read about a person's downward spiral due to bad decisions and manipulations by others. The end is satisfying however.
Hannah has been living with bipolar disorder - and was raised by a mother with borderline personality disorder. Both her mother and Justine treat Hannah horribly, but just as she craved whatever attention her mother could give her intermittently during her childhood, she craves Justine's attention. Justine is an awful person, but she is idolized by others in the program, including Hannah. Hannah's one true friend in the program is Claire, who tries very, very hard to help Hannah (reminding her to take her meds, not drink or do drugs, focus on something other than Justine), but Hannah manages to alienate her as well because of her behavior and poor choices. Then enter Eli, the handsome, mysterious, man who Hannah falls for after she sees him with Justine. Hannah cycles through manic episodes, blackmails the director of the creative writing program, gets accused of theft, driving under the influence, etc. Her life is a mess. Then someone is shot and killed with Hannah's gun. Hannah is not sure who did it since she experiences blackouts (due to drugs/alcohol she willingly or unknowingly ingests.)
This book is a rollercoaster ride. Since Hannah doesn't know what's real and not real, the reader doesn't really know either. Honestly, the only character in the book that I really liked was Claire! (And Luke, the bartender at Hannah's previous job before she moved to grad school.) Claire talks about "observer bias" in one of the groups' writer's workshops. She states, "We're all unreliable narrators...Everything that's written is just someone's perspective...We are distorted by observation...We filter everything through our own biases." I love that!
It's hard to read about a person's downward spiral due to bad decisions and manipulations by others. The end is satisfying however.
February 4, 2026
This book messed with my head in the best and worst ways possible. Last One Seen opens with Hannah waking up in the passenger seat of a car speeding away from what might be a murder scene, and she has no idea how she got there. That hook—"There are three people I suspect of killing her, and I'm one of them"—grabbed me immediately.
Hannah's a grad student at Washington University in St. Louis working on her creative writing MFA. She arrived full of hope, determined to take her mood stabilizer, stay out of trouble, and make something of herself. But things spiral fast. Kanner throws us into Hannah's fractured mind—she's dealing with mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, blackouts, and memories she can't trust. The book alternates between past and present, slowly revealing how Hannah ended up in that car and what the hell actually happened.
What Kanner does really well is making you question everything. Is Hannah an unreliable narrator because of her mental state and substance abuse, or is she being gaslit by the people around her? You genuinely can't tell, and that uncertainty kept me glued to the page. The writing is raw and gritty—you feel Hannah's confusion and desperation as she tries to piece together a murder she may or may not have witnessed or committed.
The dual timeline works here. It doles out information carefully, keeping you curious about both Hannah's past and her present situation. The characters around her are well-drawn, and the campus setting adds to the claustrophobic feeling of not knowing who to trust.
Here's where I get conflicted though. I kept waiting for those big twists and reveals that would blow everything open. I was coming up with theories, expecting the rug to get pulled out from under me. But the ending... it's straightforward in a way I wasn't expecting. What you see is basically what you get. Some people will respect that Kanner doesn't try to trick you with some wild third-act revelation—she commits to Hannah's perspective and stays there. Other readers (like me) might feel a bit let down that after all that buildup, the resolution feels more formulaic than shocking.
I'm torn because I both appreciate and am frustrated by this choice. The book never promises you'll get answers beyond Hannah's fractured reality, and in that sense it's honest. But I wanted more. I wanted the ending to hit harder, to deliver that gut-punch moment that makes you rethink everything you just read.
That said, this is an intense, mind-bending ride. If you're into psychological thrillers with truly unreliable narrators and don't mind ambiguity, you'll probably eat this up. Kanner's writing is strong, the pacing is solid, and Hannah is a compelling, deeply flawed protagonist. It's different from a lot of thrillers out there, and I respect the hell out of that even if I wished for a different payoff.
Hannah's a grad student at Washington University in St. Louis working on her creative writing MFA. She arrived full of hope, determined to take her mood stabilizer, stay out of trouble, and make something of herself. But things spiral fast. Kanner throws us into Hannah's fractured mind—she's dealing with mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, blackouts, and memories she can't trust. The book alternates between past and present, slowly revealing how Hannah ended up in that car and what the hell actually happened.
What Kanner does really well is making you question everything. Is Hannah an unreliable narrator because of her mental state and substance abuse, or is she being gaslit by the people around her? You genuinely can't tell, and that uncertainty kept me glued to the page. The writing is raw and gritty—you feel Hannah's confusion and desperation as she tries to piece together a murder she may or may not have witnessed or committed.
The dual timeline works here. It doles out information carefully, keeping you curious about both Hannah's past and her present situation. The characters around her are well-drawn, and the campus setting adds to the claustrophobic feeling of not knowing who to trust.
Here's where I get conflicted though. I kept waiting for those big twists and reveals that would blow everything open. I was coming up with theories, expecting the rug to get pulled out from under me. But the ending... it's straightforward in a way I wasn't expecting. What you see is basically what you get. Some people will respect that Kanner doesn't try to trick you with some wild third-act revelation—she commits to Hannah's perspective and stays there. Other readers (like me) might feel a bit let down that after all that buildup, the resolution feels more formulaic than shocking.
I'm torn because I both appreciate and am frustrated by this choice. The book never promises you'll get answers beyond Hannah's fractured reality, and in that sense it's honest. But I wanted more. I wanted the ending to hit harder, to deliver that gut-punch moment that makes you rethink everything you just read.
That said, this is an intense, mind-bending ride. If you're into psychological thrillers with truly unreliable narrators and don't mind ambiguity, you'll probably eat this up. Kanner's writing is strong, the pacing is solid, and Hannah is a compelling, deeply flawed protagonist. It's different from a lot of thrillers out there, and I respect the hell out of that even if I wished for a different payoff.
October 4, 2025
This is a taut, psychologically immersive exploration of grief, disappearance, and the shadowy edges of memory. The novel opens with a missing person case, and from there, Kanner draws the reader into a dense web of suspicion, perception, and narrative unreliability. What begins as a seemingly conventional thriller quickly evolves into a meditation on the fragility of human attention and the ways trauma distorts not just memory but identity.
The strength of Kanner’s storytelling lies in her handling of perspective. The narrative frequently shifts between multiple viewpoints, each with its own blind spots and biases, creating a kaleidoscopic effect in which truth is perpetually deferred.
As the investigation unfolds, the tension arises not merely from the central mystery but from the reader’s awareness that none of the narrators can be fully trusted. Kanner’s prose is precise and economical, yet every line carries a psychological weight, reflecting the inner lives of characters who are haunted by what they cannot articulate.
Themes of disappearance and the unreliability of memory resonate throughout the novel. The “last one seen” is never just a physical absence; it is a space filled with speculation, fear, and projection. Kanner examines the human compulsion to fill gaps in knowledge, to reconstruct stories, and, often, to impose moral judgments on those who vanish.
This exploration positions the novel alongside works such as Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl or Tana French’s In the Woods, where the psychological terrain is as treacherous as any external threat. Yet Kanner’s voice is distinct: she emphasizes empathy as much as suspense, showing how trauma reverberates outward, affecting families, friends, and even casual observers.
In addition to its psychological depth, the novel interrogates the role of social media and public attention in modern disappearances. Kanner’s depiction of the digital amplification of grief and rumor underscores a contemporary anxiety: the way private trauma is transformed into public spectacle. This layer elevates the novel from thriller to commentary, making it a reflection on society’s fascination with the absent and the uncanny power of narrative in shaping perception.
By the conclusion, the resolution of the mystery feels both satisfying and provisional, reflecting Kanner’s understanding that real-life absence is rarely neat. The novel’s lingering questions, subtle moral ambiguities, and the tension between fact and perception leave readers reflecting long after the last page. Last One Seen is a sophisticated, emotionally resonant thriller that combines narrative rigor with insight into the human psyche.
The strength of Kanner’s storytelling lies in her handling of perspective. The narrative frequently shifts between multiple viewpoints, each with its own blind spots and biases, creating a kaleidoscopic effect in which truth is perpetually deferred.
As the investigation unfolds, the tension arises not merely from the central mystery but from the reader’s awareness that none of the narrators can be fully trusted. Kanner’s prose is precise and economical, yet every line carries a psychological weight, reflecting the inner lives of characters who are haunted by what they cannot articulate.
Themes of disappearance and the unreliability of memory resonate throughout the novel. The “last one seen” is never just a physical absence; it is a space filled with speculation, fear, and projection. Kanner examines the human compulsion to fill gaps in knowledge, to reconstruct stories, and, often, to impose moral judgments on those who vanish.
This exploration positions the novel alongside works such as Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl or Tana French’s In the Woods, where the psychological terrain is as treacherous as any external threat. Yet Kanner’s voice is distinct: she emphasizes empathy as much as suspense, showing how trauma reverberates outward, affecting families, friends, and even casual observers.
In addition to its psychological depth, the novel interrogates the role of social media and public attention in modern disappearances. Kanner’s depiction of the digital amplification of grief and rumor underscores a contemporary anxiety: the way private trauma is transformed into public spectacle. This layer elevates the novel from thriller to commentary, making it a reflection on society’s fascination with the absent and the uncanny power of narrative in shaping perception.
By the conclusion, the resolution of the mystery feels both satisfying and provisional, reflecting Kanner’s understanding that real-life absence is rarely neat. The novel’s lingering questions, subtle moral ambiguities, and the tension between fact and perception leave readers reflecting long after the last page. Last One Seen is a sophisticated, emotionally resonant thriller that combines narrative rigor with insight into the human psyche.
October 12, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books (for so many great reads) and for supplying me with a copy of this eARC.
📚 Rebecca Kanner’s Last One Seen is a taut, dual-timeline psychological thriller that plunges readers into the fragmented psyche of Hannah, a creative writing MFA student at Washington University. From the opening line—“There are three people I suspect of killing her, and I’m one of them”—Kanner signals a narrative steeped in ambiguity, emotional volatility, and the unreliability of memory.
Hannah is a compelling protagonist: medicated, vulnerable, and desperate for stability. Her entanglement with Justine—a charismatic, manipulative classmate and daughter of a famous author—becomes the novel’s emotional crucible. Kanner excels at portraying the seductive pull of toxic mentorship, where admiration curdles into obsession. Justine’s influence is chilling not because she’s overtly villainous, but because she weaponizes intimacy and ambition. The supporting cast, especially Eli and Amelia, serve as mirrors and foils, though they occasionally feel underdeveloped compared to the central duo.
Kanner’s narrative probes the porous boundary between victim and perpetrator. Hannah’s descent—marked by alcohol misuse, psychiatric instability, and memory lapses—raises uncomfortable questions about culpability and self-trust. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers, instead inviting readers to sit with the discomfort of ambiguity. It’s a story about how trauma distorts perception, and how power dynamics in elite academic spaces can mask emotional abuse.
🌀 The dual timeline structure—alternating between Hannah’s arrival at university and the aftermath of Justine’s death—creates a disorienting rhythm that mirrors Hannah’s mental state. However it is this juxtaposition that has room for improvement.
Kanner’s prose is sharp, often lyrical, but it occasionally veers into melodrama. The pacing is relentless, though some mid-novel scenes feel repetitive, as if circling the same emotional terrain without fresh insight. Still, the final chapters deliver a gut-punch of revelation that reframes earlier events with devastating clarity.
Last One Seen is a haunting exploration of psychological manipulation, memory, and identity. While not flawless in execution, its emotional intensity and thematic ambition make it a worthwhile read, but I wish the author would have more realistically portrayed what was taking place in the current climate regarding historical (2020's) flashbacks.
📚 Rebecca Kanner’s Last One Seen is a taut, dual-timeline psychological thriller that plunges readers into the fragmented psyche of Hannah, a creative writing MFA student at Washington University. From the opening line—“There are three people I suspect of killing her, and I’m one of them”—Kanner signals a narrative steeped in ambiguity, emotional volatility, and the unreliability of memory.
Hannah is a compelling protagonist: medicated, vulnerable, and desperate for stability. Her entanglement with Justine—a charismatic, manipulative classmate and daughter of a famous author—becomes the novel’s emotional crucible. Kanner excels at portraying the seductive pull of toxic mentorship, where admiration curdles into obsession. Justine’s influence is chilling not because she’s overtly villainous, but because she weaponizes intimacy and ambition. The supporting cast, especially Eli and Amelia, serve as mirrors and foils, though they occasionally feel underdeveloped compared to the central duo.
Kanner’s narrative probes the porous boundary between victim and perpetrator. Hannah’s descent—marked by alcohol misuse, psychiatric instability, and memory lapses—raises uncomfortable questions about culpability and self-trust. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers, instead inviting readers to sit with the discomfort of ambiguity. It’s a story about how trauma distorts perception, and how power dynamics in elite academic spaces can mask emotional abuse.
🌀 The dual timeline structure—alternating between Hannah’s arrival at university and the aftermath of Justine’s death—creates a disorienting rhythm that mirrors Hannah’s mental state. However it is this juxtaposition that has room for improvement.
Kanner’s prose is sharp, often lyrical, but it occasionally veers into melodrama. The pacing is relentless, though some mid-novel scenes feel repetitive, as if circling the same emotional terrain without fresh insight. Still, the final chapters deliver a gut-punch of revelation that reframes earlier events with devastating clarity.
Last One Seen is a haunting exploration of psychological manipulation, memory, and identity. While not flawless in execution, its emotional intensity and thematic ambition make it a worthwhile read, but I wish the author would have more realistically portrayed what was taking place in the current climate regarding historical (2020's) flashbacks.
October 7, 2025
LAST ONE SEEN by Rebecca Kanner. Published by Crooked Lane Books on September 23, 2025
G. A. Rivers, July 24, 2025
LAST ONE SEEN is an interesting and compelling psychological thriller that begins with a great opening hook. Hannah, the protagonist, is speeding away in a car with her boyfriend, Eli, and their friend Justine is dead. Eli tells Hannah that she shot Justine and promises to keep her safe. Hannah doesn’t know if she killed Justine or not but she knows there are only three possible suspects and she is one of them. The other two are Eli and the director of her graduate writing program at Washington University in St Louis, the program she’s been attending until now.
Hannah’s story unfolds in a dual timeline overlaid with private angst and the competitive challenges she is sure are everywhere within the writing program as she fights for success and financial support. Dealing with her social paranoia and an all-encompassing desire to succeed as a writer is complicated by Hannah’s ongoing battle with mental illness. She has a self-destructive edge and a willingness to ‘go off her meds’ so she can blend in better or drink more or otherwise do things she she might not do—an approach that costs Hannah dearly.
LAST ONE SEEN moves along briskly and keeps you guessing. Hannah’s illness is presented with empathy; she and other characters will slide through the love-hate part of your brain repeatedly, the hallmark of a writer at the top of her game. You can’t help but root for Hannah and her messy and unintended journey toward self-awareness, painful as it may be. And as the ending approaches, the many reveals are noteworthy and satisfying—no spoiler alert needed here. That said, the final two sentences of LAST ONE SEEN brings the reader to a terrific ‘full circle’ moment that I greatly appreciated.
LAST ONE SEEN is an enjoyable psychological thriller featuring a female protagonist and a cast of characters that you won’t soon forget – I recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and CLB for the early read.
G. A. Rivers, July 24, 2025
LAST ONE SEEN is an interesting and compelling psychological thriller that begins with a great opening hook. Hannah, the protagonist, is speeding away in a car with her boyfriend, Eli, and their friend Justine is dead. Eli tells Hannah that she shot Justine and promises to keep her safe. Hannah doesn’t know if she killed Justine or not but she knows there are only three possible suspects and she is one of them. The other two are Eli and the director of her graduate writing program at Washington University in St Louis, the program she’s been attending until now.
Hannah’s story unfolds in a dual timeline overlaid with private angst and the competitive challenges she is sure are everywhere within the writing program as she fights for success and financial support. Dealing with her social paranoia and an all-encompassing desire to succeed as a writer is complicated by Hannah’s ongoing battle with mental illness. She has a self-destructive edge and a willingness to ‘go off her meds’ so she can blend in better or drink more or otherwise do things she she might not do—an approach that costs Hannah dearly.
LAST ONE SEEN moves along briskly and keeps you guessing. Hannah’s illness is presented with empathy; she and other characters will slide through the love-hate part of your brain repeatedly, the hallmark of a writer at the top of her game. You can’t help but root for Hannah and her messy and unintended journey toward self-awareness, painful as it may be. And as the ending approaches, the many reveals are noteworthy and satisfying—no spoiler alert needed here. That said, the final two sentences of LAST ONE SEEN brings the reader to a terrific ‘full circle’ moment that I greatly appreciated.
LAST ONE SEEN is an enjoyable psychological thriller featuring a female protagonist and a cast of characters that you won’t soon forget – I recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and CLB for the early read.
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