What do you think?
Rate this book
The Searchers #2
Last Night
NYPD detective Lex Cole tracks a missing Brooklyn teen whose bright future is endangered by the ghosts of his unknown father's past, in this highly anticipated sequel to A Map of the Dark. One of the few black kids on his Brighton Beach block, Titus "Crisp" Crespo was raised by his white mother and his Russian grandparents. He has two legacies from his absent father, his weird name and his brown skin. Crisp has always been the odd kid out, but a fundamentally good kid, with a bright future. But one impulsive decision triggers a horrible domino effect--an arrest, no reason not to accompany his richer, whiter friend Glynnie on a visit to her weed dealer, and a trip onto his father's old home turf where he'll face certain choices he's always strived to avoid. As Detective Lex Cole tries to unravel the clues from Crisp's night out, they both find that what you don't know about your past can still come back to haunt you.
Preloaded Digital Audio Player
First published February 26, 2019
28 people are currently reading
1543 people want to read
About the author
Karen Ellis
2 books104 followersKaren Ellis is a pseudonym of author Katia Lief. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and The Authors Guild. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, NY.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
February 28, 2019
The Last Night by Karen Ellis is the second book in a series called The Searchers. Right now there are just two books and I plan to read the next one when/if it comes out. Before talking about The Last Night, I want to say that the first book in the series, A Map of the Dark, had me eager to read this second book. The main character in the first book was FBI agent Elsa Myers, a very flawed, emotionally damaged character, that I really liked and wanted to know more about. I was hoping this second book would continue with her story but although she does make minor appearances in The Last Night, the main law enforcement character in this book is Lex Cole, her temporary partner in the first book.
This second book didn't capture my interest as much as the first book. Crisp, a half black/half white 19 year old who is valedictorian of his high school graduating class and is on his way to Princeton in the fall, makes one bad decision after another, the day before he is to address his graduating class. He is unfairly ticketed for riding his bike on a sidewalk but rather than handling the issue tactfully, he explodes in anger, gets thrown in jail, misses his graduation and rather than stopping his bad decision making, goes on to make more bad decisions over the next 24 hours. How a smart young man made valedictorian and Princeton could all the sudden lose his common scene, is a mystery to me. For this reason, the events of Crisp's life over the next 24 hours seem forced but the book suggest that the things that Crisp and his friend Glynnie do is because they are teenagers and think differently than adults.
Lex is the officer in charge of finding out what has happened to Crisp and he's distracted by not sleeping for 2 nights and days and because he thinks his boyfriend is cheating and/or has left him. Lex is a former drug addict and lack of sleep and stress over his boyfriend has him aching for a hit. This too seems like a forced issue and didn't ring true to me.
I do look forward to the next book in the series, hoping it reads more like the first book. The books have some interesting characters but I think all the self induced teenage drama in this book was just too far fetched for me. Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for his ARC.
This second book didn't capture my interest as much as the first book. Crisp, a half black/half white 19 year old who is valedictorian of his high school graduating class and is on his way to Princeton in the fall, makes one bad decision after another, the day before he is to address his graduating class. He is unfairly ticketed for riding his bike on a sidewalk but rather than handling the issue tactfully, he explodes in anger, gets thrown in jail, misses his graduation and rather than stopping his bad decision making, goes on to make more bad decisions over the next 24 hours. How a smart young man made valedictorian and Princeton could all the sudden lose his common scene, is a mystery to me. For this reason, the events of Crisp's life over the next 24 hours seem forced but the book suggest that the things that Crisp and his friend Glynnie do is because they are teenagers and think differently than adults.
Lex is the officer in charge of finding out what has happened to Crisp and he's distracted by not sleeping for 2 nights and days and because he thinks his boyfriend is cheating and/or has left him. Lex is a former drug addict and lack of sleep and stress over his boyfriend has him aching for a hit. This too seems like a forced issue and didn't ring true to me.
I do look forward to the next book in the series, hoping it reads more like the first book. The books have some interesting characters but I think all the self induced teenage drama in this book was just too far fetched for me. Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for his ARC.
May 20, 2019
Last Night is the second book to The Searchers series by Karen Ellis. I read the first one A Map of the Dark a while back and I loved our main character FBI Special Agent Elsa Myers. I was really looking forward to catching up with her and the dynamics between her and the other characters from her story. Well, I didn’t read the summary to Last Night and I assumed this one was going to focus on Elsa and I was really disappointed it wasn’t. Going in blind is something I don’t normally do and now I am reminded why I don’t. lol
One Night, last night and a bad decision that changes everything for two missing teens.
Last Night follows Detective Lex Cole and Detective Saki Finley as they team up to find two teens that were last seen together. They retrace their steps through the streets, housing projects, and warehouse where the dangers of drugs and guns lurk. The teens are from two very different backgrounds and we see how that affects their decisions and at times takes on a bit of stereotyping.
There is a small couple of appearances from FBI Special Agent Elsa Myers but I wanted more of her. I am a sucker for a well developed, emotionally damaged character with demons yet strong and a hero. Even though I loved Lex in the first and the dynamics between him and Elsa I didn’t feel that way with Lex or the dynamics between him and Saki. I think that really affected my enjoyment for this one. I wanted to feel the same emotions I felt in the first one.
I do think if you have read A Map of the Dark going into this one without the expectation of seeing more from Elsa it will make this a much better read for you. I am hoping for more of her in the next one to the series. I do recommend giving A Map of the Dark a try. I feel this one would work as a standalone as well.
Thank you to Hachette Canada, Mulholland Books for my copy to read and review.
One Night, last night and a bad decision that changes everything for two missing teens.
Last Night follows Detective Lex Cole and Detective Saki Finley as they team up to find two teens that were last seen together. They retrace their steps through the streets, housing projects, and warehouse where the dangers of drugs and guns lurk. The teens are from two very different backgrounds and we see how that affects their decisions and at times takes on a bit of stereotyping.
There is a small couple of appearances from FBI Special Agent Elsa Myers but I wanted more of her. I am a sucker for a well developed, emotionally damaged character with demons yet strong and a hero. Even though I loved Lex in the first and the dynamics between him and Elsa I didn’t feel that way with Lex or the dynamics between him and Saki. I think that really affected my enjoyment for this one. I wanted to feel the same emotions I felt in the first one.
I do think if you have read A Map of the Dark going into this one without the expectation of seeing more from Elsa it will make this a much better read for you. I am hoping for more of her in the next one to the series. I do recommend giving A Map of the Dark a try. I feel this one would work as a standalone as well.
Thank you to Hachette Canada, Mulholland Books for my copy to read and review.
February 27, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Last Night which is the second installment in the Searcher series by Karen Ellis from NetGalley for my honest review. This book can be read as a stand-alone.
This book is a story of two teenagers, Crisp and Glynnie. Crisp is a good kid, he does well in school and is heading to Princeton in the fall. One day, while on his way home, he is racially targeted by a police officer and he ends up in jail for the night.
Then all the trouble begins with a lot of bad decisions. The next day Crisp and Glynnie go missing. Glynnies parents and Crisp's mom report their children missing and Detective Lex Cole and Detective Saki Finley work together to locate the kids before it's too late.
This was a good book that had the potential of being great but the suspense just wasn't there. The author did discuss many important social and cultural topics such as addiction, racism, abuse, and inequality.
This book is a story of two teenagers, Crisp and Glynnie. Crisp is a good kid, he does well in school and is heading to Princeton in the fall. One day, while on his way home, he is racially targeted by a police officer and he ends up in jail for the night.
Then all the trouble begins with a lot of bad decisions. The next day Crisp and Glynnie go missing. Glynnies parents and Crisp's mom report their children missing and Detective Lex Cole and Detective Saki Finley work together to locate the kids before it's too late.
This was a good book that had the potential of being great but the suspense just wasn't there. The author did discuss many important social and cultural topics such as addiction, racism, abuse, and inequality.
July 6, 2019
Such a great story!! Unlike the first book, this one focuses on Lex, a detective with a good heart, but his share of problems. The story alternates between Elsa and Lex looking for a couple teenagers and the teenagers trying to stay hidden. They stumbled into a shady situation that turned south in a hurry.
Last Night kept me guessing until the very end with this great host of characters. Although Elsa is more of a cameo than main character, her appearance ties the story together.
I highly recommend this book to all mystery/thriller readers! *Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Last Night kept me guessing until the very end with this great host of characters. Although Elsa is more of a cameo than main character, her appearance ties the story together.
I highly recommend this book to all mystery/thriller readers! *Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 23, 2019
Valedictorian of his high school class, Titus "Crisp" Crespo has a bright future. He's heading to Princeton in the fall and looks forward to college life. A series of bad decisions on one fateful day lead Crisp down a path he never expected to follow, where he will face a father he's never known and decisions he wanted to avoid ever facing. When Crisp's mother reports him missing, Detective Lex Cole has to unravel the events of Crisp's day to locate the youth, and his companion, Glynnie, after their disappearance.
This is a story that hits many of the big social concerns: racism. inequality, targeting of minorities by police, injustice, addiction, abuse, murder, etc. One bad decision leads into more like the domino effect for Crisp. One bad day might completely derail his life.
Last Night is the second book in The Searchers series. In the first book, Detective Lex Cole was mostly in a support position for FBI Agent Elsa Myers. This time, Lex is in the forefront with his partner, Saki Finley. Lex has a lot going on in his personal life, as he worries over his boyfriend possibly seeing someone else. He pushes those feelings to the side and hits this case hard, searching for two teenagers who are making some very poor, and possibly life-threatening, decisions. Elsa shows up a couple times in passing during the story, but she really doesn't figure into the plot in this second book. In fact, this second book really could be read as a standalone story. It isn't necessary to have read A Map of the Dark first to enjoy this story. While I was happy to see Lex become a more developed character and to see what a great detective he is, this story didn't grab my attention quite as quickly as the first book in the series. This story develops a little more slowly, and focuses more on social justice than detective work. It caught me a bit by surprise. I was expecting more of the same vibe from the first book. The difference in pace and style surprised me a bit....but once I got into the plot and realized this was going to be totally different than A Map of the Dark, I got sucked into the story.
I'm very interested to see where this series goes from here. I will definitely read more! Very curious to see who the main character will be in the next book. Will the series jump around, switching up each time? Or will it settle into focusing on Lex....Elsa....someone else? Each story so far has been well-written with complex and flawed characters. It makes for an interesting read....a different experience than other crime novels with more formula main characters.
Karen Ellis is a pen name for Author Katia Lief. The Searchers is my first experience with her writing. I've added her Karin Schaffer series to my TBR list.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Mulholland Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This is a story that hits many of the big social concerns: racism. inequality, targeting of minorities by police, injustice, addiction, abuse, murder, etc. One bad decision leads into more like the domino effect for Crisp. One bad day might completely derail his life.
Last Night is the second book in The Searchers series. In the first book, Detective Lex Cole was mostly in a support position for FBI Agent Elsa Myers. This time, Lex is in the forefront with his partner, Saki Finley. Lex has a lot going on in his personal life, as he worries over his boyfriend possibly seeing someone else. He pushes those feelings to the side and hits this case hard, searching for two teenagers who are making some very poor, and possibly life-threatening, decisions. Elsa shows up a couple times in passing during the story, but she really doesn't figure into the plot in this second book. In fact, this second book really could be read as a standalone story. It isn't necessary to have read A Map of the Dark first to enjoy this story. While I was happy to see Lex become a more developed character and to see what a great detective he is, this story didn't grab my attention quite as quickly as the first book in the series. This story develops a little more slowly, and focuses more on social justice than detective work. It caught me a bit by surprise. I was expecting more of the same vibe from the first book. The difference in pace and style surprised me a bit....but once I got into the plot and realized this was going to be totally different than A Map of the Dark, I got sucked into the story.
I'm very interested to see where this series goes from here. I will definitely read more! Very curious to see who the main character will be in the next book. Will the series jump around, switching up each time? Or will it settle into focusing on Lex....Elsa....someone else? Each story so far has been well-written with complex and flawed characters. It makes for an interesting read....a different experience than other crime novels with more formula main characters.
Karen Ellis is a pen name for Author Katia Lief. The Searchers is my first experience with her writing. I've added her Karin Schaffer series to my TBR list.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Mulholland Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
March 7, 2021
I really like reading stories by this author. She does a wonderful job of really pulled me in. There are two storylines here - 2 detectives, and 2 teenagers (there are more, but these are our main). And each of them have a unique POV in the story.
The two teenagers meet by chance and then head off into the night. When they don't show up the next morning, the detectives then get called in. Slowly, as the detectives are trying to piece together the night, the chapter will switch and backtrack to the night with the teenagers and slowly show you what happened.
This story has a lot of themes it tackles and, I think, tackles well: race, socioeconomic disparities and that funny time after turning 18 - when you're technically an adult but maybe not ready for it. The story is so well done, well laid out and the mystery was great. I found each part interesting and enjoyed the whole thing. I'll keep watching for more from this author.
The two teenagers meet by chance and then head off into the night. When they don't show up the next morning, the detectives then get called in. Slowly, as the detectives are trying to piece together the night, the chapter will switch and backtrack to the night with the teenagers and slowly show you what happened.
This story has a lot of themes it tackles and, I think, tackles well: race, socioeconomic disparities and that funny time after turning 18 - when you're technically an adult but maybe not ready for it. The story is so well done, well laid out and the mystery was great. I found each part interesting and enjoyed the whole thing. I'll keep watching for more from this author.
February 12, 2019
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of LAST NIGHT by Karen Ellis (alias for Katia Lief) in exchange for my honest review.***
DNF @ 47%
This writer and/or series is not for me.
DNF @ 47%
This writer and/or series is not for me.
April 26, 2019
"Glynnie knows she isn't stupid or hopeless (despite the lengthy narrative commentary of nearly every single end semester report), but she also knows that she hasn't stumbled on the locus of her intelligence, not yet. But she will. She feels it. And look: Crisp Crespo, academic wonder, is hanging out with her on what was supposed to be his graduation night."...…..
We are back in Book 2 of “The Searchers” series. The first was a good book that I really enjoyed. This one was just as well written. Detective Lex Cole takes the forefront as he investigates what happened, “Last Night,” to a young black man named Titus Crespo, or Crisp to his friends.
A valedictorian as he graduates high school, but one thing happens and changes the course of everything. A chance meeting with a rich, young white girl, named Glynnie, will alter Crisp’s future. Glynnie is more interested in spending her parents money, and doing the wrong things, rather than the right ones.
“Last Night” Crisp and Glynnie set off in the big city without telling anyone where they’re going. The story alternates between what happened to them last night, and the detectives search for them the next day. Will these kids survive a dangerous night in the housing projects? Will Detective Cole be able to help either of them?
Elsa, from the first book, does make an appearance in this one. I really like her character as well, and was glad to see her again. They are stand alone stories, and the characters are fully defined in each.
“Last Night” will lead to life altering changes for all. Elsa and Lex’s personal lives will finally go where I was hoping they would.
Thank you Karen Ellis, Netgalley, and Mulholland Books
We are back in Book 2 of “The Searchers” series. The first was a good book that I really enjoyed. This one was just as well written. Detective Lex Cole takes the forefront as he investigates what happened, “Last Night,” to a young black man named Titus Crespo, or Crisp to his friends.
A valedictorian as he graduates high school, but one thing happens and changes the course of everything. A chance meeting with a rich, young white girl, named Glynnie, will alter Crisp’s future. Glynnie is more interested in spending her parents money, and doing the wrong things, rather than the right ones.
“Last Night” Crisp and Glynnie set off in the big city without telling anyone where they’re going. The story alternates between what happened to them last night, and the detectives search for them the next day. Will these kids survive a dangerous night in the housing projects? Will Detective Cole be able to help either of them?
Elsa, from the first book, does make an appearance in this one. I really like her character as well, and was glad to see her again. They are stand alone stories, and the characters are fully defined in each.
“Last Night” will lead to life altering changes for all. Elsa and Lex’s personal lives will finally go where I was hoping they would.
Thank you Karen Ellis, Netgalley, and Mulholland Books
March 31, 2019
Karen Ellis puts so much feeling into her writing and gives her characters so much depth that the reader gets attached to them, she gives them flaws that make the characters very human and relatable, even if they are doing crazy things and making all the wrong decisions -
Since this was book 2, I was disappointed that Elsa, the protagonist from the first book (A Map of the Dark, was not a main character, but by the end of this book, I cared about Crisp and Lex almost as much.
This is another story about a missing teen and being misunderstood - it almost reads like a YA novel, but is well written and insightful. Also, a real pager turner, I read it within 24 hours!
Looking forward to reading more from this author - I found she also writes under the names
Kate Pepper and Katia Lief.
Since this was book 2, I was disappointed that Elsa, the protagonist from the first book (A Map of the Dark, was not a main character, but by the end of this book, I cared about Crisp and Lex almost as much.
This is another story about a missing teen and being misunderstood - it almost reads like a YA novel, but is well written and insightful. Also, a real pager turner, I read it within 24 hours!
Looking forward to reading more from this author - I found she also writes under the names
Kate Pepper and Katia Lief.
February 21, 2019
4.5 stars.
Last Night by Karen Ellis is a fast-paced and engrossing mystery. Although this newest addition is the second installment in The Searchers series, it can be read as a standalone.
Titus "Crisp" Crespo is the valedictorian of his graduating class and he has been accepted into Princeton. However, his bright future is suddenly in jeopardy after a racist cop targets the mixed race young man. After a night in jail, Crisp makes an ill-advised decision to go with casual acquaintance Glynnie Dryfus to buy some more pot from her dealer, JJ. Glynnie then drags both Crisp and JJ along with her on an ill-fated mission in Red Hook. Glynnie's parents and Crisp's mom report their children as missing and Detective Lex Cole and Detective Saki Finley work together to locate the errant teens.
Lex is fighting his demons following a horrible fight with his boyfriend, Adam. Despite these distractions, he works diligently to find Crisp. Utilizing all of the technological resources available to them, they manage to retrace many of the Glynnie's, JJ's and Crisp's stops from the night before. Unfortunately, they are a few steps behind Crisp and Lex and Saki are also stymied as they try to find out more details about JJ.
Crisp is highly intelligent but when it appears his plans for the future are ruined, he acts without thinking about the consequences of his choices. He does have a few qualms about joining Glynnie, but he ignores his doubts. The situation goes horribly awry very quickly but Crisp manages to keep his wits about him as he tries to figure out how to escape from his increasingly dire situation.
Last Night is an riveting mystery that features a topical storyline that is quite insightful. The characters are well-rounded with realistic strengths and shortcomings. Lex's situation with Adam revives painful memories and fears and he is tempted to return to unhealthy methods to help him cope. Crisp and Glynnie make some very poor choices that force them to grow up and accept responsibility for their actions. JJ's story arc is utterly heartbreaking and highlights how easy it is for at risk youths to fall through the cracks. Karen Ellis brings this suspenseful and thought-provoking novel to an uplifting conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend The Searchers series to fans of the genre.
Last Night by Karen Ellis is a fast-paced and engrossing mystery. Although this newest addition is the second installment in The Searchers series, it can be read as a standalone.
Titus "Crisp" Crespo is the valedictorian of his graduating class and he has been accepted into Princeton. However, his bright future is suddenly in jeopardy after a racist cop targets the mixed race young man. After a night in jail, Crisp makes an ill-advised decision to go with casual acquaintance Glynnie Dryfus to buy some more pot from her dealer, JJ. Glynnie then drags both Crisp and JJ along with her on an ill-fated mission in Red Hook. Glynnie's parents and Crisp's mom report their children as missing and Detective Lex Cole and Detective Saki Finley work together to locate the errant teens.
Lex is fighting his demons following a horrible fight with his boyfriend, Adam. Despite these distractions, he works diligently to find Crisp. Utilizing all of the technological resources available to them, they manage to retrace many of the Glynnie's, JJ's and Crisp's stops from the night before. Unfortunately, they are a few steps behind Crisp and Lex and Saki are also stymied as they try to find out more details about JJ.
Crisp is highly intelligent but when it appears his plans for the future are ruined, he acts without thinking about the consequences of his choices. He does have a few qualms about joining Glynnie, but he ignores his doubts. The situation goes horribly awry very quickly but Crisp manages to keep his wits about him as he tries to figure out how to escape from his increasingly dire situation.
Last Night is an riveting mystery that features a topical storyline that is quite insightful. The characters are well-rounded with realistic strengths and shortcomings. Lex's situation with Adam revives painful memories and fears and he is tempted to return to unhealthy methods to help him cope. Crisp and Glynnie make some very poor choices that force them to grow up and accept responsibility for their actions. JJ's story arc is utterly heartbreaking and highlights how easy it is for at risk youths to fall through the cracks. Karen Ellis brings this suspenseful and thought-provoking novel to an uplifting conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend The Searchers series to fans of the genre.
July 9, 2019
OH NO! The beginning has me super angry. This is the type of book I have been avoiding. Smacks too much of realism and I don’t need anymore than I happen to catch flipping channels on the TV or clicking on the internet.
Ugly business and I see it ruining Crisp’s life. Will it make him become a monster? We’ll see.
A portrait of a white privileged teen girl, a promising, intelligent mixed race boy and a black homeless boy and what results from their coming together.
Kind of a coming of age story …I thought it would be about race when I first began, but it turned into teens…learning about life.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Last Night by Karen Ellis.
See more at fundinmental
Ugly business and I see it ruining Crisp’s life. Will it make him become a monster? We’ll see.
A portrait of a white privileged teen girl, a promising, intelligent mixed race boy and a black homeless boy and what results from their coming together.
Kind of a coming of age story …I thought it would be about race when I first began, but it turned into teens…learning about life.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Last Night by Karen Ellis.
See more at fundinmental
February 24, 2019
Last Night (The Searchers #2) by Karen Ellis
3 stars
M/F Thriller
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is the second book in this series. It follows Lex, the detective from book one. I was disappointed that this book didn't continue with the characters from the first book.
Crispo and Glynnie are a couple of teenagers who start out with one bad choice that leads to more bad choices and an eventuality that could risk their lives.
It's more of a mystery of the who are you related to and who do you know. While it was entertaining, I wanted more about Lex, as he was the recurring character from book 1. I found that his story seemed almost like an afterthought. There was a lot going on in this story and it came at the reader from a lot of different perspectives. They were well developed, thoughtful and planned, which helped propel the story along. However, it was not really a book 2, in the sense that it only mentioned Lex, who appeared in book 1.
While this was a good mystery, it lacked chemistry in the relationship department between all of the characters. However, I am hoping that the next book will tie everyone back together, as I really enjoyed the first book.
3 stars
M/F Thriller
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is the second book in this series. It follows Lex, the detective from book one. I was disappointed that this book didn't continue with the characters from the first book.
Crispo and Glynnie are a couple of teenagers who start out with one bad choice that leads to more bad choices and an eventuality that could risk their lives.
It's more of a mystery of the who are you related to and who do you know. While it was entertaining, I wanted more about Lex, as he was the recurring character from book 1. I found that his story seemed almost like an afterthought. There was a lot going on in this story and it came at the reader from a lot of different perspectives. They were well developed, thoughtful and planned, which helped propel the story along. However, it was not really a book 2, in the sense that it only mentioned Lex, who appeared in book 1.
While this was a good mystery, it lacked chemistry in the relationship department between all of the characters. However, I am hoping that the next book will tie everyone back together, as I really enjoyed the first book.
February 22, 2019
This is the story of two young people in New York, widely divided by race and privilege. Crisp is a smart boy, biracial but black to the world, valedictorian of his class. Glynnie is a smart aleck rich girl, who just managed to graduate and delights in giving her parents grief. She sees Crisp playing basketball in the cage on top of the jail when he was arrested basically for being black. Not wanting her to think badly of him, Crisp stops by her house when he gets out to explain why he was arrested and gets taken in by her differences . There follows the worst night of their young lives. The book takes us from Crisp’s modest neighborhood to Glynnie’s well-to-do neighborhood to the Projects. It is also a story of addiction and weaknesses and misunderstandings and assumptions.but it is also a story of working things out, learning from your mistakes, taking the consequences, and hope. I can’t say it is the best book I ever read but it is a thought provoking look into a world at first foreign to me in white middle class suburbia. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read it.
February 25, 2019
A teen aged girl is sunbathing topless and smoking dope on the deck on the roof of her parents’ Brooklyn home. She notices a boy she knows playing with a basketball on the roof of the Brooklyn House of Detention and begins a conversation with him. The next day, after his release on bond for a negligible offense (basically being half black in a wealthy neighborhood) they get together and “hang out”. This, of course, involves more dope and a stop to visit her 12 year old dealer. Ultimately this leads to her deciding she wanted to buy a gun and JJ, the 12 year old, takes her to his distributor who also happens to be a gun dealer. I won’t go further into the plot because of spoilers, but this is a complexly plotted narrative in which most of the characters (the protagonists and Police who are searching for them) have side stories and complications that will keep the reader intrigued and reading! Thanks to Net Galley and Mulholland Books for an ARC for an honest review.
February 28, 2019
Last Night begins about as slow as a molasses drip. I really enjoyed Elsa's character in the first book of this series and Lex as more of a supporting role. In this book Lex takes on the lead and I found the flaws in his character not as easy to empathize with as Elsa's was. His jealousy almost had me closing the book before I was a quarter way through. The suspense builds real slow in the beginning, it was almost halfway in before I finally was snagged on the hook enough to care about what was happening to Glynnie, J.J., and Crisp. The ending is better than the beginning but this book fell short of the first one in the series for me. The next book in the series will be iffy for me whether I try it or not. This book is just okay. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
February 27, 2019
I didn’t really care for this book. Found the storyline overly dramatic and unrealistic in a great many ways. It dragged in a lot of parts too, using pages and pages for what should have been a paragraph or two at most. I also found the characters were almost ALL unlikeable. Just not a good read for me.
March 16, 2023
I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. I've had this book on my TBR for much longer than I would care to admit, and did opt to listen to the audiobook.
While this is marked as the second book in the Searchers Series, it can be read as a complete standalone. It features Elsa, the main character from A Map of the Dark, but there is no overlap in the storylines. Elsa does have a cameo in this book, but she is not the main character and her role is small.
This follows a group of teenagers, who find themselves in a world of trouble after making a slew of bad decisions. Their parents report them missing when they don't come home and they are assigned Lex, a detective with the NYPD. The author tries to weave social commentary into the storyline, however I don't believe it is an own voices perspective. There is nothing really done about the social issues and no solutions brought forth to try to solve them or change the situation, only that they exist and they are bad for those who have to experience them. Each of the characters fits a stereotype, and they aren't developed much beyond that. The main characters make alot of dumb teenager decision that they should have been able to avoid given the level of intelligence they were supposed to have. They read alot younger 18/19. There are a few side plots that don't really add to the main plotline, and I don't feel that they added to the story, but they do help you get to know Lex.
This is more of a police procedural type of thriller/mystery. It doesn't contain the suspense and violence that you might expect from some other books in the mystery/thriller genre. There isn't much violence or suspense. I thought the police work was done well, and if you are into procedural type crime fiction, this might appeal to you. It is not my favorite type of mystery.
While this is marked as the second book in the Searchers Series, it can be read as a complete standalone. It features Elsa, the main character from A Map of the Dark, but there is no overlap in the storylines. Elsa does have a cameo in this book, but she is not the main character and her role is small.
This follows a group of teenagers, who find themselves in a world of trouble after making a slew of bad decisions. Their parents report them missing when they don't come home and they are assigned Lex, a detective with the NYPD. The author tries to weave social commentary into the storyline, however I don't believe it is an own voices perspective. There is nothing really done about the social issues and no solutions brought forth to try to solve them or change the situation, only that they exist and they are bad for those who have to experience them. Each of the characters fits a stereotype, and they aren't developed much beyond that. The main characters make alot of dumb teenager decision that they should have been able to avoid given the level of intelligence they were supposed to have. They read alot younger 18/19. There are a few side plots that don't really add to the main plotline, and I don't feel that they added to the story, but they do help you get to know Lex.
This is more of a police procedural type of thriller/mystery. It doesn't contain the suspense and violence that you might expect from some other books in the mystery/thriller genre. There isn't much violence or suspense. I thought the police work was done well, and if you are into procedural type crime fiction, this might appeal to you. It is not my favorite type of mystery.
November 4, 2019
Thank you to the author Karen Ellis, the publisher Mulholland Books, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.
I read the first book in this series, The Searchers, and looked forward to the next book. I found that I liked the protaganist much better in the first book rather than this one. Lex is a less complicated, less interesting character for me.
The story is dramatically different in that the missing teenagers are not taken, but are missing of their own doing. You really do want to smack both of the teens---recent high school graduates ----for getting into the troubles that they do.
The book has some interesting narratives----a story of a biracial young man whose first and second generation mother's family raise him. He is a bright, highly accomplished student who is given a scholarship to Princeton. But he struggles with having a black father who disappeared when he was an infant, and with finding his place in the world---being not fully black nor fully white. He deals with much prejudice because of his complexion. He meets up with an acquaintance, a girl who is white and priveleged and who does not have any idea what she wants to do after high school. Her rich parents are mandating that she go to Outward Bound for the summer and then she goes to a local college in order to bring her grades up. She does not take the edicts well and proceeds to act out and looks for dangerous activities.
It does talk about the different worlds in which people exist ----even while living in the same city. The city includes the wealthy, the working middle class, life in the projects, and life on the street. It also talks about relationships and disappointments in them....and how previous abandonments color our world and all relationships going forward.
It is a compelling book----I read it quickly, but it was only an okay story. It is a quick read, but not a terribly memorable book.
I rate it 3 stars.
I read the first book in this series, The Searchers, and looked forward to the next book. I found that I liked the protaganist much better in the first book rather than this one. Lex is a less complicated, less interesting character for me.
The story is dramatically different in that the missing teenagers are not taken, but are missing of their own doing. You really do want to smack both of the teens---recent high school graduates ----for getting into the troubles that they do.
The book has some interesting narratives----a story of a biracial young man whose first and second generation mother's family raise him. He is a bright, highly accomplished student who is given a scholarship to Princeton. But he struggles with having a black father who disappeared when he was an infant, and with finding his place in the world---being not fully black nor fully white. He deals with much prejudice because of his complexion. He meets up with an acquaintance, a girl who is white and priveleged and who does not have any idea what she wants to do after high school. Her rich parents are mandating that she go to Outward Bound for the summer and then she goes to a local college in order to bring her grades up. She does not take the edicts well and proceeds to act out and looks for dangerous activities.
It does talk about the different worlds in which people exist ----even while living in the same city. The city includes the wealthy, the working middle class, life in the projects, and life on the street. It also talks about relationships and disappointments in them....and how previous abandonments color our world and all relationships going forward.
It is a compelling book----I read it quickly, but it was only an okay story. It is a quick read, but not a terribly memorable book.
I rate it 3 stars.
February 26, 2019
2/25/19 Full review tomorrow.
2/26/19 This starts out as a stunningly impressive display of teenage emotion, bringing together three kids -- Crisp, the biracial overachiever; Glynnie, the privileged white wild child, and JJ, the street kid doing whatever it takes to survive -- on a night of reckless camaraderie that turns into a really bad time when adult criminals get involved. The cops looking, at first separately, into the disappearances of Crisp and Glynnie, have their own compelling stories, but for some reason the book gets bogged down about two thirds of the way through, in what was up till then a taut thriller of intertwining narratives. I'm not sure if it has more to do with the muddle of Crisp's dad knowing Dante, or with the absolute ludicrousness of the up-till-then sympathetic Detective Lex Cole freaking out about his boyfriend's whereabouts, but it feels like the story spins out of control, at least tone-wise. It's a little bit like the disorienting feeling of having to go back to one's responsible daily life after a night-long bender, where you kind of hate everyone and just want the day to be over with so you can go to sleep. Somewhat fitting given the events of the book, but not the most pleasant reading experience.
I was actually pretty surprised to dislike Lex after his awesome role in the first book, A Map Of The Dark. Some jealousy is understandable, but his reaction at the end was just petty. I'm hoping the next book features Det Saki Findlay and dives into how her unusual mind works. And I'm really, really glad that the book ends the way it does, because it would have absolutely broken my heart if . Karen Ellis is really good at getting you to care about the kids who are the main focus of this series, and I can't wait to read more.
2/26/19 This starts out as a stunningly impressive display of teenage emotion, bringing together three kids -- Crisp, the biracial overachiever; Glynnie, the privileged white wild child, and JJ, the street kid doing whatever it takes to survive -- on a night of reckless camaraderie that turns into a really bad time when adult criminals get involved. The cops looking, at first separately, into the disappearances of Crisp and Glynnie, have their own compelling stories, but for some reason the book gets bogged down about two thirds of the way through, in what was up till then a taut thriller of intertwining narratives. I'm not sure if it has more to do with the muddle of Crisp's dad knowing Dante, or with the absolute ludicrousness of the up-till-then sympathetic Detective Lex Cole freaking out about his boyfriend's whereabouts, but it feels like the story spins out of control, at least tone-wise. It's a little bit like the disorienting feeling of having to go back to one's responsible daily life after a night-long bender, where you kind of hate everyone and just want the day to be over with so you can go to sleep. Somewhat fitting given the events of the book, but not the most pleasant reading experience.
I was actually pretty surprised to dislike Lex after his awesome role in the first book, A Map Of The Dark. Some jealousy is understandable, but his reaction at the end was just petty. I'm hoping the next book features Det Saki Findlay and dives into how her unusual mind works. And I'm really, really glad that the book ends the way it does, because it would have absolutely broken my heart if . Karen Ellis is really good at getting you to care about the kids who are the main focus of this series, and I can't wait to read more.
February 28, 2019
This was such a satisfying read. The writing was so strong, the characters so fully-fleshed, the insights so penetrating that I would have read on for pleasure without the hook of suspense -- or rather, of dread -- over the fates of three young people in danger in New York City.
This is the first book I've read of Karen Ellis's; I missed A Map of the Dark, the first in this series. I plan to remedy that soon, since I've already reserved the e-book from my library. The point is, my pleasure in this book wasn't dimmed by coming into a series at mid-point.
Another element I liked was the compressed time frame. The story occurs over a span of -- what? 36 hours? In that brief period, enough happens that we get a clear look into the inner and outer lives of perhaps a dozen characters, from materialistic Baby Boomers to a sinister arms dealer and a young homeless boy living rough on his own. And these were just the peripheral characters.
Last Night should resonate with anyone who has shown up at a demanding job and tried to function in the face of personal heartbreak, extreme lack of sleep, or the lure of addiction. Lex, the detective in search of the brilliant, mixed-race, newly graduated Crisp, is battling all three, yet his good mind and good heart serve him well.
Crisp, too, has a good mind and good heart, but he is confused about his racial identity, he's just suffered an outrageous indignity at the hands of the police, his prefrontal cortex is several years shy of maturity -- and, well, there's a girl involved. Crisp makes one bad decision that seems to snowball. Whether his wits can save him is an iffy thing.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader's copy of this book.
This is the first book I've read of Karen Ellis's; I missed A Map of the Dark, the first in this series. I plan to remedy that soon, since I've already reserved the e-book from my library. The point is, my pleasure in this book wasn't dimmed by coming into a series at mid-point.
Another element I liked was the compressed time frame. The story occurs over a span of -- what? 36 hours? In that brief period, enough happens that we get a clear look into the inner and outer lives of perhaps a dozen characters, from materialistic Baby Boomers to a sinister arms dealer and a young homeless boy living rough on his own. And these were just the peripheral characters.
Last Night should resonate with anyone who has shown up at a demanding job and tried to function in the face of personal heartbreak, extreme lack of sleep, or the lure of addiction. Lex, the detective in search of the brilliant, mixed-race, newly graduated Crisp, is battling all three, yet his good mind and good heart serve him well.
Crisp, too, has a good mind and good heart, but he is confused about his racial identity, he's just suffered an outrageous indignity at the hands of the police, his prefrontal cortex is several years shy of maturity -- and, well, there's a girl involved. Crisp makes one bad decision that seems to snowball. Whether his wits can save him is an iffy thing.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader's copy of this book.
October 17, 2021
I really liked how the story started with focus on Glynnie and Crisp. Their relationship buds in an unusual way and it was interesting reading about them side by side in the same chapters. I appreciated how the chapters showcased both points of view without clunky headers or devoting an entirely new chapter just to change point of view. It was interesting seeing their side of the story first, as opposed to following the detective first.
I wanted to get to know Lex a bit more. He seemed to have an interesting life but the story rarely followed him home, which is what I appreciate in my detective stories. He did have some family drama with his brother and mainly with his boyfriend Adam, but other than that I didn’t feel like his story dug deep enough for me to really get to know him.
The case itself wasn’t as mysterious or thrilling as I expected, mainly because both points of view are shared from beginning to end. Crisp and Glynnie would further their story and the next chapter would show Lex and his team working to catch up. I liked the cat and mouse feel but because I knew what the missing kids were up to it didn’t have as much tension as more traditional thrillers or mysteries do.
Overall this was a good read. I liked the pace and it was interesting to follow both sides of the case at once. While the alternating points of view sort of gave away the tension, there were unexpected twists and interesting characters. I wish it dug into the detective’s point of view more as this is what I most remember enjoying about book one, but after reading this I am interested in the next installment.
An ARC copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to get to know Lex a bit more. He seemed to have an interesting life but the story rarely followed him home, which is what I appreciate in my detective stories. He did have some family drama with his brother and mainly with his boyfriend Adam, but other than that I didn’t feel like his story dug deep enough for me to really get to know him.
The case itself wasn’t as mysterious or thrilling as I expected, mainly because both points of view are shared from beginning to end. Crisp and Glynnie would further their story and the next chapter would show Lex and his team working to catch up. I liked the cat and mouse feel but because I knew what the missing kids were up to it didn’t have as much tension as more traditional thrillers or mysteries do.
Overall this was a good read. I liked the pace and it was interesting to follow both sides of the case at once. While the alternating points of view sort of gave away the tension, there were unexpected twists and interesting characters. I wish it dug into the detective’s point of view more as this is what I most remember enjoying about book one, but after reading this I am interested in the next installment.
An ARC copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 4, 2019Last Night is the second installment in the Searcher series. Book one, A Map of the Dark, kept me engrossed and I enjoyed the author's writing style. This one could be read as a stand-alone, as the main character in the first book, FBI agent Elsa Myers has a much smaller role, and detective Lex Cole is in charge of this case.
The story revolves around two teenagers, Crisp and Glynnie. Glynnie is white, wealthy, and has all the opportunity in the world, which she chooses to ignore. Crisp is poor, biracial, and the valedictorian of his class. He's had to struggle for everything he has and his whole world is about to implode.
The difference between Glynnie and Crisp are numerous. Their backgrounds, their opportunities( or lack thereof), and the whole way each of them sees the world, through privileged rose-colored glasses or the reality of being a disadvantaged youth. Circumstances bring these two together, and it's a story about how one decision, can change your life.
While I didn't like this as much as A Map in the Dark, that is most likely due to my wanting more of Elsa's story. Maybe the author, like Tana French and her murder squad books, has plans to rotate among law enforcement characters with those with a lesser role more prominently featured (I'm only guessing here). Only time will tell, but I would like to see where Karen Ellis goes next.
I received a DRC from Mulholland Books through NetGalley .3.5 stars.
The story revolves around two teenagers, Crisp and Glynnie. Glynnie is white, wealthy, and has all the opportunity in the world, which she chooses to ignore. Crisp is poor, biracial, and the valedictorian of his class. He's had to struggle for everything he has and his whole world is about to implode.
The difference between Glynnie and Crisp are numerous. Their backgrounds, their opportunities( or lack thereof), and the whole way each of them sees the world, through privileged rose-colored glasses or the reality of being a disadvantaged youth. Circumstances bring these two together, and it's a story about how one decision, can change your life.
While I didn't like this as much as A Map in the Dark, that is most likely due to my wanting more of Elsa's story. Maybe the author, like Tana French and her murder squad books, has plans to rotate among law enforcement characters with those with a lesser role more prominently featured (I'm only guessing here). Only time will tell, but I would like to see where Karen Ellis goes next.
I received a DRC from Mulholland Books through NetGalley .3.5 stars.
June 16, 2019
This book really blew me away and I know I will revisit its themes again and again in my mind.
Like book one in The Searchers series (please let there be more!), A Map of the Dark, Last Night is an entertaining detective story whose characters have complex inner lives. Told over the course of 5 days, Last Night moves to the next level, deeply exploring inner lives, especially those of the teenage protagonists, Crisp and Glynnie. This is one of my favorite kinds of stories, where disparate lives crash together to create compelling stories. By the end, it's clear that Crisp's and Glynnie's storylines have been inverted: where her life is controlled, comfortable, and miserable, his is much freer, challenging, and richer. Crisp is free to be himself and pursue his dreams until a chance encounter with a racist cop almost derails him completely. Glynnie has every societal advantage, yet is misunderstood, maybe unloved, by her family and ultimately pays a very high price for her emotional freedom.
This is ultimately a story of teenage kids searching for their place in the world, starting with their own families. I will be thinking about Crisp and Glynnie for a long time.
(Another reason I will now read anything Karen Ellis writes is her analysis of what Robert Moses did to the city and her shout-out to one of his nemeses, Jane Jacobs.)
Special thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing an advance e-galley copy in exchange for an honest review.
Like book one in The Searchers series (please let there be more!), A Map of the Dark, Last Night is an entertaining detective story whose characters have complex inner lives. Told over the course of 5 days, Last Night moves to the next level, deeply exploring inner lives, especially those of the teenage protagonists, Crisp and Glynnie. This is one of my favorite kinds of stories, where disparate lives crash together to create compelling stories. By the end, it's clear that Crisp's and Glynnie's storylines have been inverted: where her life is controlled, comfortable, and miserable, his is much freer, challenging, and richer. Crisp is free to be himself and pursue his dreams until a chance encounter with a racist cop almost derails him completely. Glynnie has every societal advantage, yet is misunderstood, maybe unloved, by her family and ultimately pays a very high price for her emotional freedom.
This is ultimately a story of teenage kids searching for their place in the world, starting with their own families. I will be thinking about Crisp and Glynnie for a long time.
(Another reason I will now read anything Karen Ellis writes is her analysis of what Robert Moses did to the city and her shout-out to one of his nemeses, Jane Jacobs.)
Special thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing an advance e-galley copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2019
It’s that time of year when high school seniors are graduating and thinking about their futures. Glynnie Dreyfus, aged eighteen and a poor student, graduated the week before and is relieved to have it over with. Titus Crespo aka Crisp is the valedictorian at his school with a spot at Princeton waiting for him. An unfortunate run in with a despicable cop sets in motion a series of reckless decisions that will have serious consequences for the two of them.
As the second novel in a series, this book stands on its own very well. The story alternates between the detectives trying to find the missing youths and the teens who are getting into trouble. It’s a coming-of-age/police procedural story that keeps you in suspense as you wonder if the detectives will find the missing teens in time. I like Ms. Ellis’s writing style. It has a simple elegance to it She has infused her characters with depth, we’re privy to their innermost thoughts and feelings. If you like engaging, realistic crime stories then you won’t want to miss this one.
As the second novel in a series, this book stands on its own very well. The story alternates between the detectives trying to find the missing youths and the teens who are getting into trouble. It’s a coming-of-age/police procedural story that keeps you in suspense as you wonder if the detectives will find the missing teens in time. I like Ms. Ellis’s writing style. It has a simple elegance to it She has infused her characters with depth, we’re privy to their innermost thoughts and feelings. If you like engaging, realistic crime stories then you won’t want to miss this one.
February 13, 2019
I really loved A Map of the Dark, so I was very excited to see that Karen Ellis had another book in this series. I didn't remember a few things about Detective Lex Cole that I wish I had - probably would have been a good idea to revisit the previous book, but I didn't do that.
This title takes a slightly different angle on missing teenagers. A black boy, Titus "Crisp" Crespo, and a white girl, Glynnie, go missing under bizarre circumstances, and the ensuing investigation into their whereabouts takes some odd turns. The racial aspects of policing are reflected in this book, though these fictional teenagers are lucky to run across the path of Lex Cole, gay detective and ex-junkie extraordinaire, who is probably more radical and sympathetic than other members of the force would be. It's a really timely book, but I did find some of the writing in this book a little clunky. Overall, though, a good read, and I will definitely pick up future additions to this series.
This title takes a slightly different angle on missing teenagers. A black boy, Titus "Crisp" Crespo, and a white girl, Glynnie, go missing under bizarre circumstances, and the ensuing investigation into their whereabouts takes some odd turns. The racial aspects of policing are reflected in this book, though these fictional teenagers are lucky to run across the path of Lex Cole, gay detective and ex-junkie extraordinaire, who is probably more radical and sympathetic than other members of the force would be. It's a really timely book, but I did find some of the writing in this book a little clunky. Overall, though, a good read, and I will definitely pick up future additions to this series.
March 4, 2019
3 stars
I was somewhat disapointed in this book. I felt it was not as good as s. Ellis' previous novel.
It is about a young man, getting ready to graduate, in fact he is the valedctorian of his class. He is half black and half white being raised by his white mom and his two Russian grandparents. He lives in the Brighton Beach neighborhood, unlike other kids of his background.
Goes with a friend to make a weed buy one night. Harmless enough, right? Not when you're black.
This story contrasts the racial profiling with the way in which a white kid would have been treated in the same situation. It is an interesting study, but was too spare on the action for my tastes.
The book is well written and plotted, but t moved too slowly for me. I will read others of Ms. Ellis' books of course. I was just disappointed in this one.
I want to thank NetGalley and Mulholland Books for forwarding to me a copy of this for me to read and review.
I was somewhat disapointed in this book. I felt it was not as good as s. Ellis' previous novel.
It is about a young man, getting ready to graduate, in fact he is the valedctorian of his class. He is half black and half white being raised by his white mom and his two Russian grandparents. He lives in the Brighton Beach neighborhood, unlike other kids of his background.
Goes with a friend to make a weed buy one night. Harmless enough, right? Not when you're black.
This story contrasts the racial profiling with the way in which a white kid would have been treated in the same situation. It is an interesting study, but was too spare on the action for my tastes.
The book is well written and plotted, but t moved too slowly for me. I will read others of Ms. Ellis' books of course. I was just disappointed in this one.
I want to thank NetGalley and Mulholland Books for forwarding to me a copy of this for me to read and review.
March 9, 2019
Titus Crespo, who is nicknamed Crisp, is a mixed-race high school senior, valedictorian of his class and headed to Princeton. He is unfairly ticketed by a jerk of a policeman and Crisp reacts immaturely, compounding his problems. Upset about possibly having derailed his future, he makes a few more bad decisions and just keeps getting in deeper and deeper trouble. The story started off kind of slow for me but then picked up as the tension and danger built. I liked how the author really developed multiple characters: Crisp, his acquaintance Glynnie, JJ the homeless 12-year-old drug dealer, and Lex Cole, the detective assigned to find Crisp when his mother reports him missing. Getting to know the characters and their backgrounds, families, troubles, etc. makes a book more enjoyable for me.
Though this is the second in a series, I had not read the first one but found it worked just fine as a stand-alone.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.
Though this is the second in a series, I had not read the first one but found it worked just fine as a stand-alone.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.
February 25, 2019
Crisp has always been a good kid. He does well in school and is Princeton bound in the fall. One day on his way home, he is racially targeted by a cop and ends up spending the night in jail. A series of bad decisions the next day leaves Crisp and 2 other kids missing, a local gun dealer in the projects dead, and 2 other men from the projects on the hunt for the kids. This book brings back Detective Lex Cole from "A Map in the Dark" as he races to find the kids before it's too late.
I enjoyed this book. It gave more backstory on Lex and his personal relationships while also giving good insight into the race and class differences between the children and how it affected each of their lives. This book wasn't as exciting as the first in the series, but it was enjoyable none the less.
I enjoyed this book. It gave more backstory on Lex and his personal relationships while also giving good insight into the race and class differences between the children and how it affected each of their lives. This book wasn't as exciting as the first in the series, but it was enjoyable none the less.
February 20, 2019
Not sure what to make of this book.
The writing was good but nothing happened.
No suspense. No mystery. No whodunit. No police procedural. No story.
Crisp's arrest was nonsense. The author didn't spend enough time explaining it.
Glynnie's teenage angst was nonsense. She wanted a gun to protect herself from bears? What?
Lex, your boyfriend hasn't texted you. I get it. Enough.
2 1/2 stars, rounded up because it was an easy read.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
The writing was good but nothing happened.
No suspense. No mystery. No whodunit. No police procedural. No story.
Crisp's arrest was nonsense. The author didn't spend enough time explaining it.
Glynnie's teenage angst was nonsense. She wanted a gun to protect herself from bears? What?
Lex, your boyfriend hasn't texted you. I get it. Enough.
2 1/2 stars, rounded up because it was an easy read.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
February 26, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This was my first novel from Karen Ellis and I liked it! It was written in a way that kept my attention, I really liked the characters, and I wanted to see where they ended up, so I didn't want to stop reading.
You know, it's a thriller, of sorts, but not one of the latest trendy ones where there are 16 plot twists and you're basically just finishing it to be finished. This was a methodical police drama, and I liked it. I look forward to reading more from the same author.
Solid 3 1/2 stars.
This was my first novel from Karen Ellis and I liked it! It was written in a way that kept my attention, I really liked the characters, and I wanted to see where they ended up, so I didn't want to stop reading.
You know, it's a thriller, of sorts, but not one of the latest trendy ones where there are 16 plot twists and you're basically just finishing it to be finished. This was a methodical police drama, and I liked it. I look forward to reading more from the same author.
Solid 3 1/2 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews