Title: The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 313 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
In a world of wealth and privilege, a killer is hiding . . .
The internationally bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish follows that success with an addictive novel filled with shocking twists about the aftermath of a brutal high-society murder.
Dr. Kate English has it all. Not only is she the heiress to a large fortune; she has a gorgeous husband and daughter, a high-flying career, and a beautiful home anyone would envy.
But all that changes the night Kate’s mother, Lily, is found dead, brutally murdered in her own home. Heartbroken and distraught, Kate reaches out to her estranged best friend, Blaire Barrington, who rushes to her side for the funeral, where the years of distance between them are forgotten in a moment.
That evening, Kate’s grief turns to horror when she receives an anonymous text: You think you’re sad now, just wait. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll wish you had been buried today. More than ever, Kate needs her old friend’s help.
Once Blaire decides to take the investigation into her own hands, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems in Baltimore high society. As infidelity, lies, and betrayals come to light, and tensions rise to a boiling point, she begins to alienate Kate’s friends and relatives with her relentless, accusatory questions, as she tries to find Lily’s killer. The murderer could be anyone—friend, neighbor, loved one. But whoever it is, it’s clear that Kate is next on their list. . .
In The Last Time I Saw You, Liv Constantine takes the lightning pace of The Last Mrs. Parrish and raises the stakes, creating an exquisitely tension-filled and absorbing tale of psychological suspense in which innocent lives—and one woman’s sanity—hang in the balance.
Review:
The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine is a suspenseful, character driven mystery.
Dr. Kate English is absolutely shocked by the murder of her mother, Lily. The only silver lining in this devastating loss is her reunion with long estranged childhood friend Blaire Barrington. Kate is further comforted by her friend’s presence when she begins receiving threatening texts that indicate she might become the killer’s next victim. In order to protect his wife and daughter, Annabelle, Kate’s husband Simon moves back into the family home and hires around the clock security for the family. With a long history of anxiety, Kate is barely functioning as she, along with Blaire, try to figure out who murdered Lily.
Kate is a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon who is calm, cool and collected in the operating room. Until recently, her anxiety has been well controlled but her recent separation from Simon has shaken her. She is convinced he is cheating on her but following Lily’s death, she is willing to allow him to return home until her mother’s murderer is arrested. When the chilling texts and frightening occurrences within the home continue despite the security measures, Kate cannot help but wonder if she is losing her grip on reality. Because the only other option is someone is attempting to gaslight her, but who could be behind such a nefarious scheme?
Blaire never imagined voicing her concerns about Simon on Kate’s wedding would lead to the loss of her friendship. Although she never quite got over the loss of Kate and her parents, Blaire is now happily married to Daniel, a successful author with whom she co-writes a best-selling mystery series. Blaire is thrilled with the opportunity to resume her friendship with Kate and she is determined to figure out who murdered Lily. Despite the passage of time, the women resume their friendship and Kate soon heavily relies on Blaire as her anxiety spirals out of control.
Alternating between Kate’s and Blaire’s perspectives, The Last Time I Saw You is a clever mystery that is quite engrossing. Kate is an increasingly unreliable narrator who is deeply suspicious of the people around her. Blaire is determined to unmask Lily’s killer and protect Kate, but how far will she go to ensure an arrest? With plenty of unexpected twists and diabolical turns, Liv Constantine ratchets the tension to a fever pitch as the novel comes to an thoroughly stunning conclusion. I highly recommend this riveting mystery to fans of the genre.
