Title: Her Last Affair
Author: John Searles
First published March 22, 2022
325 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780060779658 (ISBN10: 0060779659)
Rating: 3.36
Overview
In John Searles’ latest novel, Her Last Affair, three individuals are searching for a second chance at love and a chance to reconcile with their past. Skyla, a widow who runs a defunct drive-in theater, is haunted by the regrets and secrets of her long marriage until a charming British man, Teddy Cornwell, rents a cottage on her property.
Meanwhile, a woman a thousand miles away is about to turn fifty and seeks solace in an online affair with Teddy, her first love from thirty years ago. In New York City, a failed writer returns to Providence, the site of his first love and heartbreak, hoping for closure.
Her Last Affair is a gripping psychological suspense that explores the complex nature of relationships and the human heart’s deepest desires.
About the Author
Meet John Searles, an accomplished author with a knack for storytelling. His books, including Her Last Affair, Help for the Haunted, Strange but True, and Boy Still Missing, have captured the attention of readers and critics alike.
The New York Times called his work “riveting,” while Entertainment Weekly described it as “hypnotic.” Boy Still Missing even earned John recognition as a “Person to Watch” by Time magazine and a “New Yorker to Watch” by the New York Daily News.
Janet Maslin of The New York Times hailed Strange but True as “sinister and complex,” while Publishers Weekly called it “extraordinary.” Salon even named it the best novel of the year. Help for the Haunted, John’s most recent novel, received similar acclaim, earning recognition as a Boston Globe Best Crime Novel of the Year, an Entertainment Weekly Top 10 Must List, and the American Library Association’s Alex Award.
In addition to his writing, John has made appearances on television and radio programs such as NBC’s Today Show, CBS This Morning, and NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross to discuss his books. He has also written personal and travel essays, as well as book and restaurant reviews, for publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post.
With a master’s degree in creative writing from New York University, John currently resides in New York and continues to captivate audiences with his compelling stories.
Editoral Review
Her Last Affair by John Searles is a haunting and suspenseful novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the dangerous consequences of secrets and lies. Searles is best known for his previous novels, Boy Still Missing and Strange But True, which established him as a master of psychological thrillers.
With Her Last Affair, he continues to captivate readers with his skillful use of suspense and atmosphere. Set in the picturesque town of Mill River, Connecticut, Her Last Affair tells the story of Alice Shipley, a middle-aged professor at a local college who has a reputation for being aloof and mysterious.
Alice’s life changes when she receives a mysterious package in the mail containing a note that reads: “I know what you did.” Spooked by the threat, Alice starts to unravel, and her past comes rushing back to her, bringing with it a host of dangerous secrets. The novel is tightly plotted, with carefully layered clues that keep the reader engaged and guessing until the shocking conclusion.
Searles masterfully builds tension throughout the story, immersing the reader in Alice’s world and making them feel every twist and turn of her emotional journey. The setting of Mill River is richly imagined, and the evocative descriptions of the town and its inhabitants add to the eerie atmosphere of the novel.
Searles’ characters are complex and nuanced, with hidden depths and motivations that keep the reader guessing. Alice, in particular, is a fascinating protagonist, with a troubled past and a complicated present that make her both sympathetic and intriguing.
The novel also features a diverse cast of supporting characters, each with their own secrets and desires, adding to the rich tapestry of the story. At its core, Her Last Affair is a novel about the power of secrets and the danger of keeping them hidden.
Searles explores themes of guilt, shame, and betrayal, and the devastating effects they can have on individuals and relationships. The novel is also a commentary on the role of social media in modern life, and the ways in which it can both expose and conceal the truth.
Overall, Her Last Affair is a masterfully crafted thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Searles is a gifted storyteller, with a talent for creating memorable characters and building suspenseful, atmospheric narratives.
This book is definitely worth a read for fans of thrillers and suspense novels. Rating: 4.5/5
