Last One Alive

This slow burn, locked room mystery is set in an eerie old lodge in a remote and atmospheric area in northern British Columbia. Readers will hear the wind in the trees, feel the chill in the air and envision the ragged cliffs where a diverse group of people meet to research a myth about a local witch.

The suspense is slow to start, but I liked the extra creepiness that was added with the inclusion of the Stone Witch folklore and her mysterious disappearance from that very lodge decades before. It's a great idea but I was surprised when this sinister folklore all too soon fell by the wayside.

Penelope is a novelist who needs to find inspiration for a new book, so she gathers this odd assortment of people together. She's not a likeable person and gives off a creepy vibe herself - as do a few of the other nine characters who have various (and sometimes contrived) reasons for going to this remote eco lodge. That's a lot of characters and I found it difficult to keep them distinct. I made a character list initially, but as the story progresses, we learn bits and pieces about each of them and it got easier to remember who was who once someone started killing them off and their numbers got fewer. 

This slow burn locked room mystery has a great sense of foreboding, some twists, and a wonderfully creepy setting, but the casting and coincidences negatively affected my enjoyment of this story. That said, I have heard wonderful things about Amber Cowie's books, so I'd like to read some of her backlist to get a better feel for her books.  

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Amber Cowie

Genre: Suspense, Canadian

Type and Source: eBook from public library

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada

First Published: May 10, 2022

Book Description from GoodReads: A team of researchers exploring the myth of a witch find their numbers mysteriously dwindling in this irresistible psychological thriller for fans of Ruth Ware, Shari Lapena, and Lucy Foley.

Bestselling debut novelist Penelope Berkowitz is desperate for inspiration for a second book. With the help of her new boyfriend, she embarks on a research trip with a Clue-like team of professionals, ex-lovers, and estranged family members to investigate the myth of a witch on Stone Point, a remote coastal outcropping in the Pacific Northwest.

For over a century, the cabin on the point stood vacant after the violent death of the original owner and the disappearance of his wife—until a young couple decided to turn it into an eco-lodge. Shortly after starting renovations, however, they suddenly ceased all contact with others and were never heard from again.

Given the area’s mysterious history, Penelope is certain there’s a story to be found in the isolated region. But soon after arriving on the point’s wind-whipped shores, things begin to go awry for the team. Storms blow in. Tempers flare. The satellite phones stop working and no boats are due for days. Then people begin to disappear. When bodies turn up, it’s up to Penelope and the remaining members of the team to solve the mystery of the Stone Witch before the killer is the only one left alive.