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    The Last Child: A Novel
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    The Last Child: A Novel
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    The Last Child: A Novel
    Audiobook14 hours

    The Last Child: A Novel

    Written by John Hart

    Narrated by Scott Sowers

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Fresh off the success of his Edgar® Award-winning, New York Times bestseller Down River, John Hart returns with his most powerful and intricately-plotted novel yet.

    Thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon had the perfect life: happy parents and a twin sister that meant the world to him. But Alyssa went missing a year ago, stolen off the side of a lonely street with only one witness to the crime. His family shattered, his sister presumed dead, Johnny risks everything to explore the dark side of his hometown in a last, desperate search. What he finds is a city with an underbelly far blacker than anyone could've imagined—and somewhere in the depths of it all, with the help of his only friend and a giant of a man with his own strange past, Johnny, at last, finds the terrible truth.

    Detective Clyde Hunt has devoted an entire year to Alyssa's case, and it shows: haunted and sleepless, he's lost his wife and put his shield at risk. But he can't put the case behind him—he won't—and when another girl goes missing, the failures of the past year harden into iron determination. Refusing to lose another child, Hunt knows he has to break the rules to make the case; and maybe, just maybe, the missing girl will lead him to Alyssa...

    The Last Child is a tale of boundaries: county borders and circles on a map, the hard edge between good and evil, life and death, hopelessness and faith. Perfectly blending character and plot, emotion and action, John Hart again transcends the barrier between thrillers and literature to craft a story as heartrending as it is redemptive.

    A Macmillan Audio production.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateMay 12, 2009
    ISBN9781427206671
    Author

    John Hart

    John Hart is the New York Times bestselling author of The King of Lies, Down River, The Last Child, Iron House, Redemption Road, and The Hush. The only author in history to win the Edgar Award for Best Novel consecutively, John has also won the Barry Award, the Southern Independent Bookseller’s Award for Fiction, the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award, and the North Carolina Award for Literature. His novels have been translated into thirty languages and can be found in more than seventy countries.

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    Reviews for The Last Child

    4/5

    904 ratings150 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I really liked this book. The setting and characters were so well described that I felt their fears, anguish, determination while reading.It is a mystery but also a coming of age tale about a 13-year-old hero who is both wild and good. It's also a police procedural where the line between job and personal work is blurred. It's a tale of loss and dependence on drugs, alcohol and an evil man.I highly recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      13-year-old Johnny is still recovering from his twin sister's disappearance a year earlier. His family has fallen apart -- his father has left and his mother lives in a haze of drug-induced semi-consciousness. His sister's disappearance is technically still an open case, but the police have no active leads. Thus, Johnny has taken it upon himself to scour the county, looking for clues in the hope that he might still find his sister alive. This is an above-average suspenseful thriller. The story has a cast of characters, the two main being Johnny and the lead detective on the case, Detective Hunt, with the action fluctuating between the two. It's a somewhat fresh perspective to see a crime case being driven by a 13-year-old, yet it wasn't wholly unrealistic and the several plot twists kept me engaged throughout the entire story. Overall, an engaging read.
    • 3/5
      This is a thriller. There's lots of danger and it all builds to a dramatic conclusion. The last child is Johnny Merriman, a twelve year old boy whose twin sister disappeared a year earlier and whose family disintegrated as a result, with his father leaving and his mother retreating into alcohol and pills. He's lost his house and he's an outcast at school, his only friend being a police officer's son whose mangled arm makes him a pariah both at school and at home, where his older brother has just received a football scholarship. He spends his time avoiding his mother's abusive boyfriend and hunting for his sister's kidnapper. His sister's disappearance has also weighed down the lead detective on the investigation, whose wife divorced him and a son he's in the process of losing as he ignores him in favor of chasing down one more tenuous lead or checking up on the girl's family. And then another girl disappears.This is a fast-paced thriller designed to entertain, and Hart does a good job keeping things moving. He also paints a vivid picture of a very specific part of North Carolina, both the landscape and history. This is also a book full of giant plot holes and convenient stereo-types, but not so much as to make the book hard to read. I was not enamored with a few aspects of the novel's treatment of women, who were either impediments and mockable, or delicate flowers incapable of strength or fortitude. But not a terrible book overall.
    • 1/5
      I have to start by saying that I could not even finish this one. I started the book on July 24 and today is August 6 and I was only able to get through 175 of 350 pages.

      I simply did not care about ANY of the charaacters. There is a missing 12 year old girl, her twin brother, her mother who hooked up with the town sleaze ball and is now hooked on pain killers, father who left town, the detective, the twin brother's friend...and so on and so on and son. None of them were likeable or believeable.

      I did like that the chapters were short and for a short time I felt like I was making some progress.

      I can't recommend this for anyone.
    • 5/5
      When 13 year old Alyssa Merrimon vanished one day, her disappearance shattered several people's lives, especially her parents who each sought different means to blunt the grief - the mother who turned to drugs to deaden the pain and the father, who left the family to run away from the pain. Johnny, Alyssa's twin brother, believing that Alyssa was still alive began to systematically investigate the small North Carolina town and its residents for clues to Alyssa's whereabouts. Johnny began his investigation after the failure of the local police to find his sister, a fact that haunts Detective Clyde Hunt, whose obsession over this case drove his wife away and threatens his relationship with his son.

      It is a shame that this book set unread for so long in my bookcase. This Edgar Award Winner would have become a new favorite read much earlier.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book - right down to the last few pages where the ending took a very unexpected turn. The Last Child is a mystery with a lot of twists and turns and once I started reading it, I could not put it down! I cannot wait to read other books by this author.
    • 4/5
      interesting ...
    • 4/5
      Excellent reading.
    • 4/5
      There are many things to like about this mystery. The dimensionality of the characters is strong, as are their motivations and inner worlds. There are multiple villains, covert and overt. The pain suffered by the survivors of a terrible, violent crime is vividly and fully rendered. Surprisingly, a boy--the twin of the crime victim--escapes his grief by obsessively seeking the perpetrators and takes risks and experiences danger that his youth is not even able to recognize. Yet, he is the central character around which the action moves. The story is almost told in real time, and one viscerally feels the corrosive effects of an unsolved crime on the police tasked to solve it. Like a losing sports team, an unsolved major case causes locker-room arguments and doubts. Eventually, however, all is resolved, and yet this is a major weakness. Given the level of detail that precedes the conclusion, the resolution is unsatisfying and forgettable. With its slow pace, the reader spends a good deal of time in a small town in the South; and then suddenly all is understood and the town fades into memory. The book deserved a deeper, more resonant ending, one as rich as the crime reporting and the responses of family and police to new revelations.
    • 5/5
      THE LAST CHILD by John HartA compelling read of loss, anger, fear, and murder. Johnny is just a child, but he is a child searching for his kidnapped twin sister and aided by a detective possessed of the same relentless need to find Alyssa. Then another young girl goes missing.The characters are clearly drawn, especially the giant of a child man. The setting is detailed and atmospheric. There are red herrings in plenty, but the plot is tightly controlled and moves along at a ever increasing pace. 5 of 5 stars
    • 4/5
      Excellent thriller!
    • 4/5
      A page turner
    • 5/5
      Really enjoyed the characters in this book. Not a subject matter I usually go for, but the main characters really came to life. I could picture Johnny and Jack almost like I was watching a movie. Added to that were some unexpected twists and turns that really kept me interested. A very enjoyable read.
    • 5/5
      A good story, richly southern gothic. The clumsy writing style is straight out of Dan Brown, though. I don't understand why these authors feel that they need to end every paragraph with three one-word sentences. "Midnight. Dawn. Six times, A dozen." What in blue blazes is that? The second half of the book really tightens up, though. It's as if the author found his voice and didn't feel the need to lean on clumsy old Dan Brown any more. Turns into a top notch detective story where the pieces all fit.
    • 4/5
      Excellent book. Well written with strong characters. The ability to portray a child character with depth and understanding. The book ties you up, keeps you reading and worries you along to the climax.
      I have not read the author's previous book but I will. I understand there is a new book coming soon.
    • 4/5
      This is a horrible book - in a good way. It's well written with superb characterization & a mystery that kept me wondering until the very end, but the basis of the story, child abuse & abduction, was heart-wrenching. I don't like books about kids being hurt & yet this one captivated me.

      The drive of the main characters was incredible, yet believable. They were flawed & noble, driven & swept away by events & powers outside their control. A cop haunted by a case he can't solve. His passions & compassion tearing his life, both official & personal, apart. A boy who can't stop looking for his abducted twin & treads the fine edge of insanity. A mother who is demolished by her losses struggling to continue for what she has left & the media circling like sharks. Secrets, mysteries, & lies abound. Who is good or bad isn't always easy to figure out.

      I can't say much without spoilers. I guess I could hide more under spoiler tags, but then I'd write a book. Just read it. If you like murder mysteries, this is one of the finest. Why only 4 stars & not 5? I never want to read it again & it added nothing to my life save for entertainment, but it was a hell of a ride.
    • 5/5
      I LOVED this book. Fantastic. Johnny is a 13 year old boy whose sister went missing some time ago. Figuring the police don't care, Johnny takes it upon himself to look for his sister all over town. His mom, Katherine, is just broken. She is on pills, has a horrible boyfriend, and basically is emotionally shut down for Johnny. The lead detective, Clyde Hunt, has lost his wife over this case. What a great story written by John Hart. I can see why this book won awards. I think it might be one of my favorites I have read this year.
    • 5/5
      This is an example of the classic mystery cast in tones of The Lord of the Flies - replete with red herrings galore and ultra-shocking twists. There are times when you read a book and it just continually amazes you - not just on the level of the story itself, but as regards the author's ability to structure and express a story in such a way that it maintains tension, delivers surprises, and fills each page with insight.John Hart is one of the best novelists writing today, and each page he writes shows the skill and care with which he crafts his stories. He has written four books, I've read them all, and I can't wait for the next one.
    • 4/5
      John Hart is a master, hands down. I'd managed to read three of his first four books but realized when waiting for the release of his 5th, Redemption Road, that somehow I'd missed The Last Child. The Last Child tells the heart-wrenching tale of what happens to the people left behind when a child disappears. Johnny Merrimon, 13, can't stop searching for his twin sister, Alyssa, a year after her disappearance that has ripped his family apart. His father abandoned him and his mother, over guilt and blame for forgetting to pick Alyssa up the day she disappeared. His mother, the town beauty, distraught over the loss of both her daughter and husband, allows herself to be controlled and abused, and by the local multi-millionaire narcissist, leaving Johnny to fend for himself.Johnny continues to look for his sister, going house to house, interviewing the entire county and keeping an eye on the top bad guys in town. Detective Hunt, still feeling the sting of not being able to bring Alyssa home, tries to keep Johnny out of trouble. A major clue literally falls at Johnny's feet in the form of a dying man claiming he "found her" ramps up his efforts with renewed fervor. With the help of Johnny's best, and only, friend Jack the two town outcasts find themselves in one horrific situation after another with Detective Hunt constantly one-step behind them. This book you will not be able to put down. The many characters that Johnny and Detective Hunt come in contact with are are so well-crafted. No more so than Issac Freemantle (a role made for Michael Clarke Duncan if there ever was one). I would say the mother is the only character that I really had a hard time believing and was lacking. The plot twists and turns will keep you guessing as the bodies stack up and there is no want for suspects. The books' ending is so well done you will be sad that it's over.
    • 5/5
      It is a brilliant, yet horrible book. John Hart has managed to create a young hero who has not only suffered greatly since his twin sister went missing, but who continues to suffer whilst doing everything in his power to discover what happened to her. Johnny Merrimon believes that he can find his sister when the police, including Detective Clyde Hunt, have not been able to do so. Hunt begins to believe that Johnny is on to something when a man claiming to have found a girl dies in mysterious circumstances. Johnny's mother, Katharine, convinced that her husband, Johnny's father, ran away because he just could not cope with his daughter's disappearance, has received unpleasant and unwanted attention from local millionaire, Ken Holloway, who must be the most despicable and hateful character created in a long time.
      There is great development in the storyline of this book, and, despite many, many unpleasant and unhappy things taking place, the reason for my description of the book as horrible, there is some hope and some redemption at the end. Levi Freemantle is a very important participant in the story, with links to the slaving history of the area, but there is a high level of mystery about him, most of which is explained, though not quite all.
      I was engrossed.
    • 4/5
      Despite a 13 year old main character, this read is probably best left to the older teens. Interesting and engaging story.
    • 5/5
      Best audio book story I've listened to... Hope it becomes movie !
    • 4/5
      Good book with very interesting characters. It had a bit of everything would give it 4 and a half if possible
    • 5/5
      The Last Child is one of those powerful books that takes your breath. It’s must-tell-all-my-reader-friends quality and it’s going to stay with me for a long time.
    • 5/5
      The Last Child by John Hart I couldn't believe just how good this book was.

      From the very beginning to the very end he never lost the edge in his writing nor the sharpness of his story. Never predictable, often poignant always challenging in that I never found it predictable.I loved the heroes and hated the arseholes. The main characters breathed along with me. Everything about this was credible and sadly touching.I can't say enough good things about it. Read it
    • 3/5
      This is a well written mystery/suspense novel. It kept me guessing and has some clever twists. Though by the end I felt the conclusion of it all was a little convoluted. I liked the characters and found the little bit of magical/supernatural element intriguing. Recommended for mystery fans.
    • 5/5
      I don't even know what to say about John Hart anymore. Guy's just a phenomenal author.

      This particular novel is a tough one to review because...well, to be honest, I simply loved everything about it. The story. The characters. The twists. The writing. All of it.

      Just....go get yourself one of his books...any one, doesn't matter...and experience John Hart.
    • 4/5
      I was going to start Hush, but then realized that it was part of a series so I went back to this one. I found this book extremely enjoyable, unexpected and different from a lot of the books I’ve been reading lately. I enjoyed the writing and the characters and Although mom was a bit weak, I can completely justify her behavior because of what it happened to her and her family. There was a nice little shocker at the end. Looking forward to number two.
    • 5/5
      This is the 2nd novel that I have read by John Hart. His writing captivates the reader from page one and regardless of the immediate setting, the reader feels every emotion the characters convey and express through the circumstances that evolve for each of them.
      The Prologue is the perfect example…
      “Asphalt cut the country like a scar, a long, hot burn of razor-black. Heat had not yet twisted the air, but the driver knew it was coming, the scorching glare, the shimmer at the far place where blue hammered down.”
      Reading those words, the reader can not only feel that burn, that heat but visualize it and reach into their own life experiences to know what a searing day like that is – how demanding, how all-consuming, and the seeming never-ending qualities of that particular kind of day.

      The writing is riveting, absorbing, page-turning, and intriguing. John Hart takes you into the lives of a devastated family. There is a 13-year old twin boy, Johnny Merrimon, who is determined to take care of his Mother and even more determined to bring his twin sister, Alyssa home. Johnny's father is gone and that can't be the priority. Then there's the law enforcement side, a Detective named Clyde Hunt who is just as determined as Johnny to bring Alyssa home.

      This story could be ripped from headlines across the country. It's a story of good and evil, hope and despair, existence when life seems too much to bear, the endurance of friendships, the tests of the human spirit, the fine lines of right and wrong, legal and illegal, the true meanings of integrity and compassion, willfulness and strength.

      I will remember characters Johnny Merrimon and Clyde Hunt for a long time.

      This story is not for the faint of heart. John Hart takes you deep into the realities of the story and doesn't mince words or spare descriptions. There's an ordinary family ~ mother, father and twins ~ leading an ordinary life in a small rural town. Then one day, everything changes. A father forgets to pick up his daughter. The daughter decides to make her own way home but never arrives. The reader is in each moment. It's clear, concise, and real. The reader will know the sacrifices, the wins, the losses. Don't miss it.
    • 5/5
      Johnny Merrimon is a 13-year old boy whose father has abandoned the family after Johnny’s twin sister Alyssa disappeared the year before. His beautiful mother is now existing on alcohol and pills provided by an abusive “friend”. Johnny skips school regularly in order to search out clues to Alyssa’s disappearance. Detective Clyde Hunt, the detective in charge of the case, has a soft spot for both Johnny and his mother. His failure at finding any trace of the girl weighs heavily on him. This is great story filled with fleshed out characters whose motivations and weaknesses are entirely human and understandable. Your heart will break for the main character, a child whose world was turned entirely upside down and who had to grow up and get tough way too soon. The resolution to the story made sense and was well done. I'd give it 4.5 stars.