Editorial Content for Last Seen Alive
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Reviewer (text)
LAST SEEN ALIVE is the latest entry in Joanna Schaffhausen’s Ellery Hathaway mystery series, a refreshing modern look at the serial killer novel.
FBI agent Reed Markham met Boston detective Ellery Hathaway when he was saving her from the closet of infamous serial killer Francis Coben. Coben has been incarcerated for many years and now sits on death row. In order to move on with her career and save her sanity at the same time, Ellery stopped working with Reed and left her thoughts of Coben behind her.
"The last third of the novel is quite a rollercoaster ride.... [T]he gloves have completely come off and no punches are being pulled. Hang on!"
Everything might have been able to stay this way had Reed not stopped into his favorite coffee spot one morning and been approached by a familiar-looking woman who introduces herself as Kate Hunter. It takes him a moment before he recognizes her as the one who is always on television screaming about crime. They are about to attend a meeting with some other TV people and a few law enforcement types. The subject will be Francis Coben, and the object will be to get a televised interview with him. However, Coben has a big demand --- he only wants to speak with Ellery. Reed knows there are many other girls out there they never found. Coben has promised to give up those locations in exchange for a meeting with Ellery.
Reed’s next stop is to see Ellery in Boston. Not only does he have to tell her about Coben’s proposal, he has a name from him to give her: Maxine Frazier, which she knows from one of her colleague’s cases. It appears that the tip is a copycat of one of Coben’s kills, especially when they find the hands of the victim in a freezer. They need to know who is communicating with Coben --- who is in solitary for 23 hours a day --- and how they committed the crime in his exact style.
Ellery agrees to the prison meetup. Reed feels like Coben toyed with him. But now with Ellery, a former near-victim, in front of him, the situation is markedly different. This scene may be the novel’s best and is quite reminiscent of Clarice Starling and Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Thomas Harris’ THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. In fact, instead of “quid pro quo,” Coben states “tit for tat” to Ellery. It’s enough to send chills down your spine. All Ellery wants to know is the location of a missing girl they have been trying to find. Coben literally gets the upper hand on everyone and escapes, leaving Reed, Ellery and the rest of the nation’s law enforcement on the lookout for both him and his copycat.
The last third of the novel is quite a rollercoaster ride. I have read Joanna Schaffhausen’s books before, and she has always been a solid author. But with LAST SEEN ALIVE, the gloves have completely come off and no punches are being pulled. Hang on!
Teaser
Boston detective Ellery Hathaway met FBI agent Reed Markham when he pried open a serial killer’s closet to rescue her. Years on, their relationship remains defined by that moment and by Francis Coben’s horrific crimes. To free herself from Coben’s legacy, Ellery had to walk away from Reed, too. But Coben is not letting go so easily. He has an impossible proposition: Coben will finally give up the location of the remaining bodies, on one condition --- Reed must bring him Ellery. But Ellery is the one living person who has seen the monster behind the mask, and she doesn’t believe he can be redeemed. Not after everything he’s done. Not after what she’s been through. And certainly not after a fresh body turns up with Coben’s signature all over it.
Promo
Boston detective Ellery Hathaway met FBI agent Reed Markham when he pried open a serial killer’s closet to rescue her. Years on, their relationship remains defined by that moment and by Francis Coben’s horrific crimes. To free herself from Coben’s legacy, Ellery had to walk away from Reed, too. But Coben is not letting go so easily. He has an impossible proposition: Coben will finally give up the location of the remaining bodies, on one condition --- Reed must bring him Ellery. But Ellery is the one living person who has seen the monster behind the mask, and she doesn’t believe he can be redeemed. Not after everything he’s done. Not after what she’s been through. And certainly not after a fresh body turns up with Coben’s signature all over it.
About the Book
LAST SEEN ALIVE is the fifth book in Joanna Schaffhausen's heartpounding Ellery Hathaway mystery series.
Boston detective Ellery Hathaway met FBI agent Reed Markham when he pried open a serial killer’s closet to rescue her. Years on, their relationship remains defined by that moment and by Francis Coben’s horrific crimes. To free herself from Coben’s legacy, Ellery had to walk away from Reed, too. But Coben is not letting go so easily. He has an impossible proposition: Coben will finally give up the location of the remaining bodies, on one condition --- Reed must bring him Ellery.
Now the families of the missing victims are crying out for justice that only Ellery can deliver. The media hungers for a sequel and Coben is their camera-ready star. He claims he is sorry and wants to make amends. But Ellery is the one living person who has seen the monster behind the mask and she doesn’t believe he can be redeemed. Not after everything he’s done. Not after what she’s been through. And certainly not after a fresh body turns up with Coben’s signature all over it.
Audiobook available, read by Seth Podowitz and Danielle Gensler
