Thank you Atlantic Crime, #partner, for the advanced copy of Last Seen in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Atlantic Crime
Published: May 19, 2026
Summary:
The Survivors meets Disappearing Earth in this psychologically acute thriller about a seaside community grappling with its dark past as long-hidden secrets begin to inflict new wounds, from million-copy and internationally bestselling author Lucy Clarke
Seven years ago, two boys went missing at sea – and only one was brought to shore. The Sandbank, a remote stretch of coast dotted with beach huts, was scarred forever.
Sarah’s son survived all those years ago. But on the anniversary of the accident, he disappears without trace. As new secrets begin to surface, The Sandbank hums with tension and unanswered questions. Sarah’s search grows more desperate and she starts to mistrust everyone she knows – and she’s right to. Someone saw everything on that fateful day seven years ago. And they’ll do anything to keep the truth buried.
A taut, pulse-pounding tale of a community on the brink of mayhem, Last Seen is an explosive addition to Lucy Clarke’s masterful oeuvre.
My thoughts:
Lucy Clarke is quickly becoming my go-to for twisty, fast-paced thrillers. This is the third one I’ve read by her and all have been winners! She is now a must-read for me and I just saw she has a new book coming out in the states in October, You Let Me In, which I’ve already added to my tbr!
Another destination thriller that is steeped in atmosphere and had me anxiously flipping the pages. This could easily have been a 2-sitting book had I not been reading it while on vacation – it’s that good and engaging! But, nonetheless, I eagerly picked it up every chance I got, anxious to get back to a story that completely consumed me, desperate to know what had happened to the second missing boy.
This book is steeped in atmosphere, involves a friendship that definitely has its toxic moments and is fraught with secrets, more than we are first led to believe. The emotional grief we see in both mothers provides such depth to the story, and the complex relationships that we are privy to add another interesting dynamic. I kept thinking I knew where things were heading, only to be caught completely off-guard by the twists…time and time again. All the secrets come out in such a natural way, yet you just don’t see them coming.
Another binge-worthy thriller from my new must-read author!
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