Her Last Goodbye

When Jennifer Griffin fails to return home after her book club meeting, her husband, Greg, is shattered. Trying to backtrack where she might have driven, he searches for her for hours before finally calling the police.

Jennifer’s inexplicable disappearance puzzles everyone; she is well-liked and, to all appearances, happy. But as the police investigate and Greg continues to search, they will learn that she has secrets.

And is Greg, with a shaky alibi and secrets of his own, involved in his wife’s disappearance?

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The unfolding narrative suggests spouses may keep secrets, that families may not know each other as well as they think they do. Are those secrets dangerous? Can families survive them? These questions form the basis for show more the telling of this intriguing narrative.

Strong characters populate this chilling tale of a woman who's vanished and the steps taken to locate her. Part police procedural, part domestic thriller, readers will find themselves pulled into the telling of the tale from the outset. Chilling and heartbreaking, readers will find the compelling narrative both harrowing and unpredictable.

The gripping plot twists and turns, surprising the reader and building the suspense. An undercurrent of tension, the grief of a young child, and the torment of a husband all work together to keep the pages turning in this impossible-to-set-aside thriller.

Highly recommended. show less

Her Last Goodbye by Rick Mofina is a very highly recommended mystery following the disappearance of a woman.

When Greg Griffin arrives home to a quiet house he knows his wife, Jennifer (Jenn), is at her book club and their son, Jake, is sleeping over at a friends. Book club nights sometimes went late, so Greg went to bed expecting Jenn to arrive later. When he woke up at 1:21 AM and Jenn still wasn't home, he searched the house, called a book club member, and then jumped in his truck to follow her route to the book club. There is not a sign of Jenn or her car. Greg calls the police to report his missing wife, and then calls his sister Kat and father, Vince, who both immediately come over to Greg's house.

For the investigators, Greg is an show more obvious suspect. He has no verifiable alibi, had all night to commit a crime, and he has scrapes on his knuckles. As the investigation begins, it is clear that Greg maybe keeping a secret, but Jenn may have secrets too.

This is an excellent mystery. Mofina provides information, suspects, and clues while following the investigation and the discovery of additional facts. Periodically chapters are included that introduce other characters/suspects and follow additional information that may pertain to the case in some manner. The procedural part of the narrative integrates the investigation with the experiences of Greg and his family. As the plot unfolds readers are given good reason to become anxious and concerned. It makes Her Last Goodbye a compelling novel that held my rapt attention from beginning to end.

There is good character development as the investigation uncovers some of the secrets and backstory of the main characters. While we know, as much as possible, that Greg is surely innocent, the police don't and have to look at all clues and information. It can be frustrating to see all the focus on Greg when Jenn is missing and in danger, but this also helps keep the tension and interest high while reading. This is a great choice for book clubs or for reading on a cold winters night.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of MIRA Books.
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