Last Girl Gone (Laura Chambers Mystery, #1) By J.G. Hetherton
Investigative journalist Laura Chambers is back in her tiny hometown of Hillsborough, North Carolina, the one place she swore never to return. Fired from the Boston Globe, her career in shambles, she reluctantly takes a job with the local paper. The work is simple, unimportant, and worst of all, boring-at least until a missing girl turns up dead, the body impeccably clean, dressed to be the picture of innocence.Years earlier, ten-year-old Patty Finch left home and never made it back. But for the people of Hillsborough, Patty was just the beginning. Child after child disappeared, a reign of terror the town desperately wants to forget. Now that terror has returned to seize another girl. And another. And another.This is the story Laura's been waiting for-her one last chance to get back onto the front page. She dives deeper into a case that runs colder by the second, only to discover the truth may be far closer to home than she could have ever imagined. Powerful, intricate, and tense, Last Girl Gone will have you looking over your shoulder long after the last page. Last Girl Gone (Laura Chambers Mystery, #1)
J.G. Hetherton Ì 9 Review
Last Girl Gone by J.G. Hetherton is the first book of the new Laura Chambers Mystery series. Laura Chambers is a journalist that had to return to her hometown of Hillsborough, North Carolina to take a job at the small town paper after being first from her job in Boston. With nothing but fluff pieces available Laura is just waiting for something worthwhile to write.
Suddenly the small town experiences a tragedy when the body of a young girl is found in a field having been washed and posed and another girl has gone missing yet to be found. Laura begs to be able to be the one to write the front page story and is given a deadline to go out and find out more about the girls.
Last Girl Gone was one of those books that on the surface will check all the boxes for thriller fans. The writing is solid and easy to read, the characters good, the setting and a crime to draw in readers.But then we come to the pacing which to me was a rather slow burn and that will make some happy but I’m not a huge fan myself. Sure there was action and twists but also areas that drag after a very slow start so in the end this one just turned out to be an OK read for me that lacked the promised “pulse pounding”.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/ English First a HUGE round of applause to the author J.G. Hetherton for making me stay up half the night flipping pages like a mad woman while nervously twisting my hair and trying to remember to be quiet when I yelled omg no way and what the what?! every few pages! Congrats and Thank you!
This was one of those books that I found myself totally immersed in without realizing how invested I had actually become and next thing I know I'm 100 pages in or so and I cannot put it down. Can't stop. Won't stop. There were twists, darkness, terrible people doing terrible things, missing children, and a journalist who was willing to go the darkest places both physically and emotionally.
This was so well written and the characters were super easy to get attached to (or hate!). I loved the development of the friendship between Laura and Rodgers. And I would like to award Laura Chambers with the #BadAssWomen Club star because she is a true B.A.W who will stop at nothing or at no one to get to the truth. She was put down, passed over, laughed at, verbally abused and yet, nothing stopped her from getting to the bottom of the truth that no one else believed. My table of the #BadAssWomen I would love to sit and have wine with is getting bigger and Laura Chambers is an awesome addition!
I also have to say the title symmetry with the story...on point! So many meanings in this title!
Thank you to #NetGalley and J.G. Hetherton and the publisher #CrookedLaneBooks for the opportunity to read this way early with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review. I wish you success with this book in June because I think it deserves ALL THE STARS!!
Friends: PUT THIS ON YOUR TBR for June!!!! English Wow! Great first book in a new series from J.G. Hetherton!
This one kept me reading quickly to find out what would happen next. A serial killer has been targeting young girls. The killings began in 1988. Laura Chambers, an investigative journalist, becomes involved in looking for the criminal, who is believed to be still claiming victims now.
Many twists and turns and a big surprise close to the end which I never saw coming! Thriller lovers should devour this book. English
It started with the disappearance of a ten-year-old girl 20+ years ago. This little girl had tried 3 times to run away from an abusive home. Something had gone wrong each time, until evidently it worked. She wasn't the last girl to have gone missing over the years. No one knew there was a serial killer roaming their neighborhoods.
Present day -- Investigative Journalist Laura Chambers is back in her home town after swearing she'd never be back again. Unfortunately after being fired from her last job, she had no where else to go. Now working for the local newspaper, she has hopes of getting back into the 'real' world of reporting.
A missing girl turns up dead .. and then another. This is the story Laura’s been waiting for―her one last chance to get back onto the front page. She dives deeper into a case that runs colder by the second, only to discover the truth may be far closer to home than she could have ever imagined.
Very well written, this psychological thriller will have you hanging on to every twist and turn. Just when you think you know where it's going, the author yanks you in another direction altogether. Surprises hide behind every dark corner.
This is a debut novel, the beginning of what promises to be an exciting series.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books for the advanced digital copy of this Psychological Thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
English Listened to audiobook.
Generally, I don't mind unlikable characters, but Laura Chambers was way over the top. She has disrespect for everything and everyone, including herself, until all of a sudden, she considers herself above the law and journalistic ethics, and infinitely superior to her coworkers. There is no relationship she values. Considering that she is going to be the ongoing protagonist in this series, my dislike does not bode well for Laura and me.
The writing was lacking, in my opinion. Readers who read this genre, which the publisher specializes in, do not need to be schooled in the most elementary details of journalism, law enforcement procedure, forensics. Uncountable cliches. Lip service is given to appropriate boundaries between therapist and client, but a very unrealistic dynamic is portrayed. English
Starting off this review by saying it's right around 4.5 stars for this one... Everyone once in a while, a writer truly catches you off guard with either a story arc or a plot twist. It's especially powerful when it's a new writer you've not experienced before. And that's what happened when I picked up Last Girl Gone: A Laura Chambers Mystery by J.G. Hetherton after it was provided to me earlier this year by the publisher, Crooked Lane.
Laura Chambers, a reporter who's been fired from a big-time Boston paper for doing something bad, is the main character in this suspense thriller series. Eventually we find out what happened, and all I have to say is... yikes, we better revisit that story as it doesn't feel like it's quite over yet. She returns home to a North Carolina town where she has been working at a local paper for about a month. She's being treated poorly by a real jerk of a colleague, has a horrific mother, and now a serial killer is fascinated by her reporting. But it doesn't start there... we open with a young girl being kidnapped nearly 40 years earlier, then we figure out we're decades forward in Laura's story. It's connected somehow, but it takes 2/3 of the book to get there. And when it does, you'll definitely enjoy the connection. But trust me, that's only the beginning!
For some reason, this book really talked to me. I felt Laura's pain given how everyone treats her (tho she can give back with full force). Writing quality is strong. I'm not sure how much I particularly like Laura, or understand why she is still living at home / tolerates her mother (other than money), but I'm hoping it'll get fleshed out in the next book in the series. The book has a bit of everything and quickly pulls you into the action. It also ends with a bang and a very twisted story. It's the perfect genre with an out-there-over-the-cliff-edge plot, yet I totally see it happening in a weird sorta way one day.
I look forward to reading more from the author. He builds creepy characters and creates rousing suspense, especially when Laura goes after the killer basically on her own. And the title is such a play on words -- always like seeing that when the book is over and being analyzed. Kudos and thanks to Crooked Lanes for sending me this book. Definite spot-on read for me! English A fantastic debut novel and an exciting start to a new series!
I am drawn to books with a journalist as the lead because I think journalists are a great mix of detective and every-day person—and isn’t that all of our dream?? Laura Chambers is the lead character in what has been promised as a new series (they are calling this Laura Chambers #1 so I made the assumption) and she is a truly wonderful lead. She’s bold, uninhibited, vulnerable, driven, and empathetic. Just a truly wonderful mix of traits and Laura is a character I really connected with. I thought I’d enjoy this book, but it surpassed me expectations!
Laura Chambers is down on her luck...
Laura is back in her hometown in Hillsborough, North Carolina—a town she hoped she had left behind for good after high school. Working for the local paper is a big setback for Laura’s career—following an incident working for the Boston Globe, Laura had nowhere else to turn. At the local paper, Laura is bored and finds herself stuck with a toxic male journalist coworker, covering tax changes and weather events.
Things may be looking up...
Laura's career may be taking a turn again when she finds herself in the middle of an intriguing case that has national news written all over it. Two girls have gone missing from Hillsborough, and one has been found murdered. The fate of the two girls is terrifying in its own right, but the town is particularly on edge because it reminds them of a string of girls who went missing—some of whom were found murdered—back in the 1980s. A killer dubbed by the media as The Kid was never located. Is The Kid back?
Laura takes her shot...
Laura knows that this case is her chance of getting back out of Hillsborough. And she’s lucky to be “seeing” a local deputy—the attractive Frank Stuart. As Laura balances her relationship with Frank and her interest in learning what leads the police find on the case, she struggles to get to the bottom of the case before another girl is taken or murdered. Digging deep into the town archives, Laura finds herself wondering about the connection between the two sets of kidnappings and murders. But before she can get too far, Laura suddenly finds herself to be the target of the Killer’s interest… Can Laura find the killer before she finds herself the next victim??
Reflection
I was shocked to learn this is a debut book by this author, because this book is so polished and well-developed. The town of Hillsborough and its residents are very important to the story, and J. G. Hetherton described them so well. The residents love of the local police, their disdain for anyone (such as Laura) who tried to leave, their conviction that what happens in their town is safe, and it is only outsiders that cause problems—all of these tidbits made the book feel so authentic. Laura is in a tough position because the townspeople feel that she has rejected them. By leaving, Laura has shown them that she wants more than what they have settled for in life, and she struggles to reintegrate now that things have gone south in Boston.
This is also a book filled with strong females. Though not all of the female characters in this book are likeable or good people, they nevertheless have a theme of strength running through them—where they do not allow themselves to be defined by their relationship to the males in their lives. The male characters really ranged in their presentation. There were the good ol’ boys, the ones trying to make a difference, and the ones who were toxic males. I liked that Hetherton put so much thought into his characters for this book. All of the main and supporting characters had some depth to them. Laura’s mother, for instance, is horrible so much of the time, but then just when you want to write her off she has a moment of truth. She is able to tell Laura something about herself that while tough to hear, is important for Laura to know.
I would recommend this book to mystery and thriller lovers. I liked that it was not a police procedural, but still had elements of that genre. I think it will appeal to a variety of readers for that reason. The case itself is also interesting and heartbreaking. As a small trigger-warning, there are a few descriptions of the murders/victims/bodies that suggest at some dark aspects to this killer. Nothing is too graphic in my opinion, but I do want to put that warning out there.
Thank you so much to J. G. Hetheron, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Also see my review here! English 5 Suspenseful Stars!
Absolutely phenomenal! Without a doubt “Last Girl Gone” is one of the best mysteries I’ve read all year.
Laura Chambers is a small town reporter. She didn’t used to be. She used to work for the Globe. The Boston Globe. Then her career tanked and just like that she hightailed it back home to Hillsborough, North Carolina to work for her hometown paper. Her days were filled with endless monotony until a young girl goes missing and is found murdered and Laura is the first person to write about it.
Once Laura does her research she realizes that this isn’t the first time young girls’ bodies have been found in Hillsborough. Laura is sure there is a link. Is she right?
She knows this story could put her back on the map, what she doesn’t know is how dangerous it is, for her and everyone else.
“Last Girl Gone” by J. G. Hetherton is well written and suspenseful mystery with characters whose lives I was instantaneously drawn into, until I couldn’t get enough. The pacing of this novel is pure perfection and there is absolutely no filler. Every morsel of this story fits together perfectly, with the ending leaving you breathless.
I received this ARC from Crooked Lane Books and was so glad I accepted, as it is hands down my favorite of any book they have published so far. Thank you to Ashley at Crooked Lane Books and to J. G. Hetherton for the complimentary copy!
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 6.27.18. English A definite pulse pounder!
JG Hetheron has written a nail biter of a thriller set in a small North Carolina town. When journalist Laura Chambers returns back to her roots in NC after failing at a Boston newspaper, she stumbles upon a story that could set her career on fire - in a good way. But what price will she have to pay?
This one was a little different than my usual reads - I tend to stick to the psychological variety of thrillers but this was more along the lines of darker crime. And I have to say I’m really glad I stepped outside my comfort zone and read this one. It was fraught with tension and full of terrifying situations that made my palms sweat and my heart pound. Did it make me a bit uncomfortable? Yes. But like I’ve been saying for awhile now - I really think it’s the power of good writing if it can evoke a strong emotional response from you in any manner whether it be fear, anxiety or joy. And this one definitely made me anxious and fearful!
I most certainly did not solve this crime. I think my detective shoes are going to have to be retired. And I love it!
A big thank you to Crooked Lane for my advance copy. This book is available now.
English The dog that lost the fox is twice as eager to please.
Laura Chambers is going back to the familiar. Destination: Hillsborough, North Carolina. Like the above-mentioned dog, Laura seems to have tucked the tail after being fired from the Boston Globe for some unprofessional behavior.
With not many options in sight, this once successful investigative journalist takes a job working at the local paper. Smaller towns don't usually avail themselves to big headlines. That may all change when a missing girl's body shows up in a field. Laura finds herself on the perimeter of the crime scene. There's quite the bloodhound in our girl Laura as she picks up a clue that has been overlooked by the police farther up the field. Is there a connection to other missing girls over the years in this county? Laura aims to find out.
J.G. Hetherton creates his main character of Laura Chambers as more detective-in-the-making who hasn't had the opportunity quite yet to show off her journalistic skills. Laura is very demonstrative and shoots straight from the hip in many, many ways. Hetherton puts her in several situations in which she must override some extremely high levels of testosterone percolating in the newsroom and elsewhere. Laura is hardly one who perches in a nest of warm fuzzies. She's had a rough childhood and returns to live with an obnoxiously overbearing mother. Note to Laura: Hope you purchased a one-way ticket back to Boston, Honey. This is a hard as nails town starting with Mommy Dearest.
Hetherton brings in the psychology behind this killer and his possible motives. The crimes are explicit and their descriptions detailed. Some mystery/thrillers like Hetherton ratchet it up a few notches for realism. The ending twists left and then right with a bit of whiplash served. It may or may not satisfy all readers, but it does guarantee a wild bumpy road in the process. From the title, it appears that this is the first book in the Laura Chambers Mysteries. Let's just see what mischief that Hetherton cooks up for Laura in the next one. Perhaps send Mommy to Miami for the winter. Just know.....I'm in.
I received a copy of this book through Crooked Lane Publishers for an honest review. My thanks to them and to J.G. Hetherton for the opportunity.
English
