Last One Seen - by Rebecca Kanner (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

There are three people I suspect of killing her, and I'm one of them.

A woman fights her own mind and memory to understand how she got here: the passenger seat of a car speeding away from a murder scene. In this riveting, dual-timeline psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Riley Sager, nothing is as it seems.

Hannah arrived at Washington University in St. Louis brimming with hope. She was determined to take her mood stabilizer, stay out of trouble, and make a name for herself while completing her creative writing MFA. When she meets Justine, an enigmatic, wealthy, charismatic, and successful student in her program, she's enchanted. And as Justine takes a special interest in her, Hannah falls completely under her spell.

When Hannah's life starts spiraling out of control, she isn't sure who to blame-Justine, for her intense and controlling influence, their jealous classmate Amelia, or herself. As her prescription fails her, she strays further and further from the straight and narrow.

Hannah can't help but reflect on her time in grad school, especially when she knows Justine is lying dead somewhere back down the road Justine's ex Eli is driving them away on. She knows Justine is gone. She knows someone killed Justine. And she knows it might've been her.

Review Quotes

Praise for Last One Seen

Star Tribune's "5 Must-Reads" List

Pioneer Press' "10 Books for Your Fall Reading List."

"A fascinating, intense, and wholly original mystery about a murder that may or may not have been committed told by a woman who may or may not have committed it. Highly recommended."
--David Housewright, Edgar Award-winning author of Them Bones

"In Last One Seen, Kanner thrusts the reader into the erratic and risky thoughts and behavior of a woman in the throes of mental illness mixed with alcohol and drug abuse. Hang on for a wild ride that explores highs and lows, blackouts and murder in this unique and compelling thriller. Absolutely brilliant!"
--Margaret Mizushima, award-winning author of the Timber Creek K-9 mysteries

"Rebecca Kanner takes us on a dark and turbulent journey into the troubled mind of a young grad student who desperately needs to solve a campus murder but knows that she cannot rely on her own memory or perceptions to do so. With solidly drawn characters, brisk pacing, and clever plot twists, it's a trip worth taking."
--Richard Thompson, award-winning author of Big Wheat and Lowertown

"In The Last One Seen, Rebecca Kanner has written a compelling, genre-bending, novel that is a tour-de-force. She deftly takes the reader inside the mind of her terrifically flawed protagonist, Hannah Silver, a woman torn, not only by the crime she is trying to solve, but by her own mind. This book is authentic, and original, and a must read for mystery readers everywhere."
--Allen Eskens, bestselling author of The Life We Bury

"With its refreshingly raw and gritty take on the unreliable narrator, Last One Seen is a mind-bending, whirlwind thriller that will keep your head spinning until the very last page."
--Samantha Crewson, author of Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter

About the Author

Rebecca Kanner is a graduate of the St. Paul Civilian Police Academy and a member of Sisters in Crime. Her previous novels include Sinners and the Sea: The Untold Story of Noah's Wife and Esther. She holds a master of fine arts degree in fiction writing from Washington University in St. Louis and teaches writing at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. You can read her essay "Safety" and learn more about her at rebeccakanner.com.