I’ve read several of Jane Harper’s books, and Last One Out is my favorite of the ones I read. It’s heartbreaking, as her novels tend to be. It’s atmospheric, set in New South Wales, with vivid descriptions of a dying rural community. It’s bleak and stark, and moving, and filled with grief. It’s everything that Jane Harper is known for.
The small village of Carralon Ridge was changed forever when Lentzer coal mine expanded and tried to buy people’s homes and land. The sales putted neighbor against neighbor, when some wanted to sell and others clung to their lands. ‘Ro Crowley never thought she’d leave the community where she met and married her husband, Griff, and raised two children. But, the disappearance of their son, Sam, on his twenty-first birthday tore their marriage apart. Ro couldn’t stay there, and Griff couldn’t leave the place where Sam vanished.
After she left, Ro only returns once a year on the anniversary of Sam’s disappearance. Their memorial for him started out with just her and Griff and their daughter, Della. It grew, and the residents who remain in town show up annually. This year feels different, though. While Griff and Ro searched frantically five years earlier when Sam didn’t show up for his birthday dinner, now, she’s tired, and knows she may never return. It’s one last chance to ask questions of the townspeople. It’s one last chance to follow in Sam’s footsteps.
Five years earlier, Sam was enthusiastic about his thesis proposal. He wanted to interview the neighbors about the loss of community when the mine tried to buy people out. How did it change the community? How did it change people? That’s what Sam was working on when he disappeared. Ro questions people again, wondering how her son could have just vanished.
Last One Out is the perfect title for a book about a dying community. The grief-filled book exposes parents’ grief, and grief of a lost group of people watching everything they’ve known die. It’s difficult to read, but it’s worth the effort. It’s Jane Harper at her best
Jane Harper’s website is https://janeharper.com.au/
Last One Out by Jane Harper. Flatiron Books, 2026. 336p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley, supplied by the publisher through NetGalley, with no promise of a positive review.
I like this note in the acknowledgements – “This novel is dedicated to all the passionate and highly knowledgeable librarians and booksellers who have helped not only me, but so many of us, develop a love of reading over the years.”
I pre-ordered this book, and it has arrived. I’ve read all Harper’s other books, and after your wonderful review, I can’t wait to read this one. Thanks, Lesa.
I was sucked in with the first chapter, Kim. Excellent book! I can’t wait to hear your reaction.
Sounds great. I have it on hold.
It is, Jeff. As I told Kim, I’m waiting to hear what others think of the book.
I’ve got an advance copy of this book too that I haven’t been able to read yet. Really looking forward to it as I’ve been a big fan of Jane Harper’s for a long time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. Sounds very good.
With no spoilers, Kay! I want others to watch it unfolding as I did.
I am a big fan of Jane Harper. I have the audiobook on hold with about a 2 week wait. I usually read her in print form but the Australian accent of the reader is intriguing. Loved the positive review.
Thank you, Susan. Enjoy! I loved the book.
Thanks for this recommendation, Lesa! I’ve liked other books by Jane Harper, so if you thought this was her best, then I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.
Well, the best one that I read, Kate. I haven’t read all of them. Let me know what you think.
Will look for her books.
They’re quite popular, Carol, so you should be able to find some.
I read it from NetGalley and loved it. This is my review:
Imagine a small town where families live, children play, people work and shop at local stores. Now see that town nearly vacant, residents driven out by the mining company that bought their houses, polluted the air, and still hums underneath the land that was once home. This is Carallon Ridge. We know why people left. But why did they stay? What made them turn down payment for the houses they could not sell? The story revolves around the disappearance of Sam Crowley who came back to the Ridge to research his thesis on the history of the town. His parents are devastated and his mother Ro leaves with her daughter while his father Griff stays to work for the mines. When Ro returns for a memorial service on the fifth anniversary of Sam’s disappearance, only a handful of residents remain. Ro questions them all, trying to solve the tragedy that haunts her.
The Last One Out is beautifully written and atmospheric as are all of Jane Harper’s mysteries. It is, however, different as there are only a handful of characters and the setting becomes a locked room puzzle. Descriptions are vivid and tension builds slowly. The weight of this claustrophobic, insular location dominates the novel. This review is for the audiobook version and the narrator, Angeline Armstrong, deserves special mention. Her reading style is excellent and her Australian accent is strong enough to make the story even more believable and light enough for non-Australians to understand. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Jane Harper and Angeline Armstrong for this ARC.
Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing your review of Last One Out. Terrific book, wasn’t it?