Last Seen Alive

May 7, 2018
The first nine months of marriage haven’t been easy for teacher Libby Hall, the unreliable narrator of this disappointing psychological suspense novel from British author Douglas (Local Girl Missing). She and her husband, Jamie, have money issues. After a fire at Libby’s school, she miscarries, putting further strain on their relationship. When a leaflet offering a house swap in Cornwall comes through the front door of their London apartment, they seize the chance to take a vacation. At the isolated seaside estate, Libby and Jamie reconnect, and Libby finally relaxes—until she finds a stranger in the garden and hidden surveillance equipment in the house, leaving her wondering whether the couple who own the house are too good to be true. When Jamie gets mysteriously ill, and their dog uncovers a bloody corset in the yard, they flee back to their apartment. There, Libby learns the truth: someone from her secret past is back for revenge. With its forced twists and loosely drawn conclusions, this tale falls short of its potential. Agent: Juliet Mushens, Agency Group (U.K.).

May 1, 2018
In part one of this nail-biter, Douglas (Local Girl Missing, 2017) introduces Libby and Jamie, a couple going through difficulties?they have just endured a miscarriage and a frightening fire at Libby's teaching job. Libby is understandably on edge, but she's tired of being told to get into therapy, and, when the chance comes to leave their poky apartment for a house swap in the English countryside, the couple jumps at it. From the start of the vacation, however, things are creepy, and Libby becomes increasingly paranoid that someone will cause them harm. In the second half of the book, which is less intense, the reasons for the sinister events come to light, with lies and deceit laid bare ahead of an unpredictable and satisfying conclusion. Readers will be rapidly and deeply drawn into the maelstrom of fear in which Libby feels trapped; Douglas also excels at turning everyday travails and family squabbles into compelling drama. The malevolent house swap makes this uniquely scary, so read-alikes don't quickly suggest themselves, but try this with Gillian Flynn fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

June 1, 2018

With husband Jamie, Libby has just effected a cool house swap, leaving their modest Brooklyn apartment for a seaside estate. But she's shocked by the ubiquitous surveillance cameras and senses that a nasty secret she's been guarding is about to be spilled. From the author of the award-winning The Sisters; with a 100,000-copy paperback and 25,000-copy hardcover first printing.

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