This is a quiet, slow moving story for most of the book and might be too slow for many people. But I enjoyed the time the story took and the threat of something bad lurking, of something going to happen, the pressure of things left unsaid. Everyone seems to have secrets and it's impossible to know who to trust. Phones lines keep going down, things keep going missing, people show up where they shouldn't be. See why I wouldn't want to go hiking there? The overall premise is totally my catnip story: The small mountain town of Cutter's Pass, gateway for hikers to the Appalachian Trail, has seen more than its share of disappearances. Over the past twenty-five years, seven tourists have disappeared without a trace after visiting the town. What happened to them? Ten years ago, after losing her mom and with nowhere else to go, Abby Lovett came to the Passage Inn in Cutter's Pass and has worked there ever since. The last person to vanish, Landon West, was staying at the Inn when he disappeared. Now Landon's brother Trey has arrived, wanting to know what happened to his brother and why. Can he figure out what no one else has been able to over the years? Abby’s character grated on the nerves a bit too. It’s no secret that her imagination runs away with her, but it did induce some eye-rolling from this reader. Her tendency to accuse people without evidence and beg for the truth was a bit irksome. When she wasn’t doing that, I did like her character. Yet, it's not as "unputdownable" as I had hoped. There are no major twists or surprises...which is fine...but I think my expectations were super high after declaring her last two novels 5-star stunners. As usual, you have to pay attention to all of the clues. And that added twist at the end: it just goes to show you: if you can beat 'em, you have to join 'em, right?!?

The Last to Vanish — Megan Miranda

Abigail still feels like an outsider within the community she now calls home, and when Landon's brother shows up to look for him, she senses the town closing ranks.

I loved this mystery! This is my kind of dark, creepy, claustrophobic, haunted small town story I seriously enjoyed! This story takes place in a small mountain town called Cutters Pass. Located near the Appalachian mountain's. This town holds many secrets that no one wants to talk about. What really happened to the seven people who have disappeared over the years? Now the brother of the latest missing person has shown up at the inn and is asking questions, snooping around, making accusations. With the brother lumping her in with the Cutter Pass old timers, Abby almost feels like she is one of them. But she still has questions, too, and she can't let them go. Afterwards Trey asks Abby for Landon’s journal but she says the police have it. She intends to burn it.

The Last to Vanish - Jen Ryland Reviews Spoiler Discussion for The Last to Vanish - Jen Ryland Reviews

Harris: who says Alice’s death was an accident but then killed Farrah and Landon to cover up Alice’s death.A painfully slow read (audio) that just felt too long with too little action. I needed so much more from the characters, the storyline, just more in general!

The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda - Publishers Weekly The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda - Publishers Weekly

If you have thoughts on this book, opinions on the best Megan Miranda book, or ideas for readalikes, talk to me in the comments! I’ve been an unabashed fan of the author since reading her first adult novel, All the Missing Girls and was looking forward to reading this, her latest release. The Passage Inn, located in a small town in NC, is a popular place for visitors who hike the Appalachian Trail. It’s also the place where a number of hikers have vanished without a trace. The last person to vanish was an investigative reporter looking into the disappearances. A few months later his brother arrives in town, begins to ask questions, and shakes things up. Abby, the manager of the Inn, who is still an outsider despite living there for 10 years, begins to do a bit of sleuthing on her own and discovers there are a lot of secrets in this small town.The story is told by protagonist Abby Lovett in a moody atmospheric tone. Abby has a connection to the hotel and the missing hikers, but the reader doesn’t know why for most of the novel. When Landon’s brother, Trey, shows up to investigate his brother’s disappearance, Abby wonders what he’s finding. Thank you to Scribner / Marysue Rucci Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The perfect summer thriller . . . with a pace that made my heart race.” —Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Time I Lied

The Last to Vanish: From the New York Times bestselling The Last to Vanish: From the New York Times bestselling

Overall it's not a bad book, but definitely not the book I was expecting from this author. I've enjoyed her other books much more. Abby sends a text to Rochelle asking for help. She’s alone with Harris and starts asking him about Alice Kelly. He says they arrived on the trail and she fell and hit her head. He “brought her home.”

The beautiful atmosphere of this picturesque town in the mountains of North Carolina. Ms. Miranda always gives us a great atmosphere!! MY THOUGHTS: I would recommend this novel to those who don’t mind a bit of a slower start and enjoy a great mystery. PUT ON YOUR DETECTIVE HATS!! It also seemed like a place where you could easily disappear, with its tunnel of trees, icy weather and dangerous hiking trails-the most treacherous being “The Shallow Falls Trail”-the trail which gave the town its notorious history-it’s entrance conveniently located just behind The Passage Inn.