The Last to Vanish

Starred review from May 9, 2022
In this superb thriller from bestseller Miranda (Such a Quiet Place), Cutter’s Pass, known as “the most dangerous town in North Carolina” because of a string of missing persons cases over the years, has been a refuge for the past decade for Abby Lovett. Abby loves her position as manager of the upscale Passage Inn, though the mountain resort town’s permanent residents still treat her as an outsider. She has never been frightened by the urban legend surrounding the disappearances, the most recent being that of journalist Landon West, who came to Cutter’s Pass to write about those who were lost without a trace before vanishing himself. Four months later, Landon’s brother, Trey, arrives, determined to get some answers. Trey’s questions stir up the town sheriff, the local tavern’s owners, and a young man who leads ghost tours, making Abby feel even more like an outsider because she’s constantly left out of conversations and others don’t take her questions seriously. The tension rises after Abby discovers what may be a key piece of evidence. Evocative descriptions of such activities as hiking and rafting contain an underlying sense of dread, and realistic characters match the tight plotting. Miranda is writing at the top of her game. Agent: Jennifer Joel, ICM.

June 10, 2024

A pall hangs over the town of Cutter's Pass, NC. Four fraternity brothers disappeared from the trails near the mountainside town's lodge 25 years ago. No trace of them was ever found. Years later, a young woman hiking on her own disappeared, as did a journalist looking into the disappearances. This tense story is told by Abby, who works at the lodge and agrees to help the journalist's brother conduct an investigation. Even though Abby has lived and worked in Cutter's Pass for 10 years, she's still treated as an outsider by most of the secretive, suspicious townspeople. As the investigation deepens, Abby begins to find clues to the past, and listeners learn that everything is not as it seems. Narrator Alex Allwine's melodic style perfectly conveys Abby's curiosity, fear, and determination. She occasionally puts emphasis on the wrong word, but her keen sense of timing makes up for this by stoking the tension when the action ratchets up. VERDICT Listeners will be captivated by Miranda's (Such a Quiet Place) latest, made all the more compelling by Allwine's skillful and sympathetic characterization of Abby. Highly recommended for fans of cold-case mysteries and atmospheric psychological thrillers.--B. Allison Gray

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.