The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine – 320 pages
Book Blurb:
Dr. Kate English has it all. Not only is she the heiress to a large fortune; she has a gorgeous husband and daughter, a high-flying career, and a beautiful home anyone would envy. But all that changes the night Kate’s mother, Lily, is found dead, brutally murdered in her own home. Heartbroken and distraught, Kate reaches out to her estranged best friend, Blaire Barrington, who rushes to her side for the funeral, where the years of distance between them are forgotten in a moment. That evening, Kate’s grief turns to horror when she receives an anonymous text: You think you’re sad now, just wait. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll wish you had been buried today. More than ever, Kate needs her old friend’s help. Once Blaire decides to take the investigation into her own hands, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems in Baltimore high society. As infidelity, lies, and betrayals come to light, and tensions rise to a boiling point, she begins to alienate Kate’s friends and relatives with her relentless, accusatory questions, as she tries to find Lily’s killer. The murderer could be anyone—friend, neighbor, loved one. But whoever it is, it’s clear that Kate is next on their list. . .
My Review: 3 stars – Guest Review
After enjoying The Last Mrs. Parrish, I couldn’t wait to read the The Last Time I Saw You from this dynamic duo of sisters. This phycological thriller follows Kate English, a doctor whose seemingly perfect life implodes upon the brutal murder of her loving mother, Lily. The murderer vanished into thin air but later resurfaced by sending threatening and taunting messages to Kate. Soon her estranged best friend, Blair, comes to stay with her, it seemed far-fetched, but I went with it.
The storyline was filled with tension as Kate becomes paranoid and starts wondering if she’s delusional; she begins to doubt the integrity of those closest to her. I felt as though Kate was in a never-ending nightmare with everyone becoming a suspect, but rather than feeling the suspense alongside the characters, I felt like I was watching a soap opera. Even though I was caught on the hook, I could always guess what was going to happen next.
I enjoyed the friendship between Kate & Blaire. Childhood friendships that have been in our lives for so long hold such a special place. What are we willing to forgive and forget in order to have them back in our lives? I liked exploring their relationship as children and young adults, and exploring how they mend their estranged friendship as adults, after so much has changed in their lives.
Overall, this was a solid middle-of-the-road mystery. It was intriguing enough, but didn’t stand out amongst the myriad of others in its genre. With lots of quick plot twists and mysteries to unlock, I still enjoyed the quick read. Reviewed by Guest Fairy Carly.