The Last Ferry Out
A Novel
-
-
3.9 • 30 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
Paradise hides a deadly secret. From the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club pick We Were Never Here . . .
On a trip to the tropical island where her fiancée died, a young woman begins to suspect the death was no accident—and the killer’s closer than she could’ve imagined—in this “unputdownable” thriller from “a master of suspense” (Elle).
“This book is Bartz at her best: twisty, shocking, and riveting—with a narrator you won’t stop rooting for.”—Laura Dave, #1 bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me
AN ELLE AND CRIMEREADS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
When Abby steps onto the island where her fiancée, Eszter, died in a tragic accident, she encounters a rugged landscape forgotten by tourists and populated by only a small group of residents. Racked with grief, she struggles to understand why Eszter chose to visit this remote, run-down spot.
There, she befriends an alluring group of expats who remember Eszter well. One of them even texts to say he knows the truth about Eszter’s final days—but before he can tell Abby more, he vanishes from the island.
As her quest for the truth unearths chilling secrets, shady pasts, and a web of lies, Abby grows more determined than ever to find out what happened to the woman she loved. And the deeper she gets in the close-knit expat community, the more she becomes convinced that one of them killed Eszter—and will do anything to keep the truth buried. But can Abby discover who it is before she becomes the island’s next victim?
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
A grieving woman begins to suspect her fiancée may have been murdered in this inventive and atmospheric mystery. Traveling to the tropical Isla Colel off the coast of Mexico, Eszter intended to strengthen her Spanish and finish up the final details of her college project designing a boutique hotel while waiting for her fiancée to join her. What she didn’t expect was to die from foodborne anaphylactic shock. Months later, her grieving lover, Abby, returns to the island, hoping to learn more about her last days, only to discover that Eszter’s death may not have been an accident at all. Balancing between two timelines, author Andrea Bartz expertly builds the tension as Abby immerses herself in the culture of the island, befriending the small group of colorful expats who had welcomed Eszter—one of whom may be a killer. As we followed along with Abby’s quest for the truth, each new clue led us down a path we never suspected, until the final shocking reveal that left us stunned. Mystery fans, you’re in for a treat with this one.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Bartz (The Spare Room) chronicles a grieving woman's quest for answers in this stylish, serpentine thriller. Four months ago, Abby's fiancée, Eszter, died unexpectedly during a solo vacation on a small Caribbean island off of Cancún. Abby attempts to deal with the loss by heading to Isla Colel herself. Once she arrives, she becomes involved with a trio of expats Eszter had befriended during her trip, each of whom is dealing with their own trauma. As the behavior of the expat crew grows increasingly suspicious, flashbacks reveal escalating tensions in Abby and Eszter's relationship before Eszter left. When one of Abby's new friends disappears just before sharing the details of Eszter's death, Abby fears that her fiancée's killer is still on Colel. Though the setup signals a traditional locked-room mystery, Bartz delivers something sadder and stranger, pairing tender explorations of grief and homophobia with a series of horrifying twists. The results aren't for the squeamish, but those willing to follow Bartz's lead are in for a memorable ride.
Customer Reviews
So-so
It disappointed me early on when one of the characters proposes a part resort /hotel, part refugee camp as her capstone project. Seriously? And it did not get much better from there. Too much that was just not believable.