A first-rate thriller that wrestles with controversial issues and comes off victorious.
Jaylen Williams is a good guy that got mixed up with some bad people. His mistakes may be in the past, but having left his wife to bring a baby into the world by herself and raise their son alone for 18 months while he was incarcerated is a grievance that’s hard to get past. Although times are tough for Jay and Tiana, he is taking advantage of his restored freedom by making up for lost time with their son, picking up the slack around the house, and diligently looking for a job—no small feat for a guy with a felony record. Tiana tries to see things from Jay’s perspective, but exhausting workweeks, a sweltering hot apartment in a neighborhood that leaves a lot to be desired, worries over encroaching California wildfires, and minor lapses in marital trust are taking their toll. Their relationship is at a breaking point and, without a change, their marriage may not survive the turmoil. A tragic news story of a local kidnapping grabs their attention. Maybe a coincidence or possibly not, Jay was in the wrong place at the wrong time, landing him at the scene of the crime. Quick to point out his sullied past, the cops take Jay in for questioning, dropping him in the crosshairs of the investigation. Old wounds are opened and their marriage will be tested like never before as their small family becomes intimately connected to the kidnapping of Zoe Miller.
With an intensity that reaches incendiary proportions, Last Place Seen takes the concept of drama to bold new places. Alessandra Harris offers readers a first-rate thriller that wrestles with controversial issues and comes off victorious by means of an exceptionally well-structured storyline with some stunning twists. As a Black American with a felony manslaughter charge staining his record and destroying his reputation, Jay has everything to lose. But don’t think for a second that the author relies on stereotypes to develop the characters. The cast is dynamic and engaging, each character possessing a unique voice that reaches readers on an emotional level. Jay’s unrelenting determination to confirm his innocence while protecting his family is stirring, getting audiences even more invested in the stunning outcome. With a tightly controlled build, the author masterfully raises suspense and heightens paranoia as she reveals Jay and Tiana’s entangled history. Sublime, compelling, nuanced, and wholly entertaining, Last Place Seen is an absolute must-read!
