The Last Child: A Novel

This was a suspenseful read that kept me away from chores and sleep. Protagonist Johnny Merrimon is a 13 year-old on a mission. His twin sister has been missing for a year. During that time, his family has fallen apart. His father left home, his mother is addicted to painkillers, and an opportunistic bully is abusing his mother. When the case has gone cold with the local police, Johnny sets out to follow leads on his own.The book has many interesting characters, especially Clyde Hunt, the detective in charge of the case, and Johnny's best friend Jack. The chapters in the book alternate from action involving Johnny to Detective Hunt. This method enhances the suspense, because chapters frequently end with a mini cliffhanger.If you like mysteries in general, you would probably like "The Last Child." Readers who can't bear to read about serial killers or animal cruelty should stay away from this book. Another thing that might not appeal to some readers is that the 13 year-old boy does many things that seem implausible. To me, Johnny's exploits were the basis for the appeal of the plot, which I thought I had figured out, but I didn't. Even the reason behind the title of the book was not clear until the end.

When I first stumbled across John Hart and his novel Down River, I was blown away. It had a complex plot with carefully crafted and memorable characters and beautiful prose. Then I read The Last Child and discovered that Hart had outdone himself. The Lost Child is also built on beautiful prose, but the characters that Hart developed to tell his story are even more compelling and memorable than those in Down River. Johnnie's quest to find out what happened to his missing twin sister took me on a a marvelous literary journey - I literally could not put the book down, and the periodic right-turns in Hart's plot made my quest to learn what happened to Alyssa and Levi and Johnnie nearly as much of an obsession as that which drove Johnnie to do what he did. One of the best books I have read in a long, long time.

Whoa...John Hart is such an amazing author. I've read other books by him and all have stunned me with the perfection of his prose.This is a book I took my time savoring, re-reading passages and chapters.Johnny Merrimon is 13 years old. A year ago his twin sister Alyssa disappeared without a trace and two weeks later his dad took off. Now he finds himself in charge of the house, maintaining appearances, while his mother self-medicates to get through the pain of her days.Detective Hunt is obsessed over Alyssa's disappearance and, in between searching for traces of her, he keeps his eyes on Johnny and his mom, trying to help.Hunt and Johnny share this obsession. Ever since Alyssa disappeared, Johnny spends all his spare time looking all over the North Carolina county, trying to find her - because he believes she's alive.Powerful words and imagery, in-depth character development, haunting scenes of love and of violence - all come together to make this another awesome book by author John Hart.I'm now off to read THE HUSH, which continues Johnny's story ten years in the future.

✨ 5 "Why did I wait so long to read my first John Hart book?!" stars to The Last Child ✨I read this book in anticipation of Hart's latest, The Hush. The very first chapter had my heart twisted in knots. I know it's your stomach that is usually twisted in knots, but this book told a strong hold of my heart and did not let go until the end. How remarkable that a suspense/thriller would grab my heart like it did.Johnny Merrimon, the main character, was on a mission to find his lost sister, Alyssa, and while on the search he endured many hardships, forcing him to grow up earlier than his time, as well as coming into contact with several sinister and just plain evil characters along the way. I was on the edge of my seat, and the pacing was exceptional throughout. Just what happened to Alyssa? Who will find out the truth?This book is classified a mystery, but due to the characterization, it was so much more. Another author to love. Another North Carolina author to love. Storytelling at its finest.

I was enthralled with this novel. For someone so young to go through what Johnny did is unbelievable. He is searching for his sister, but the power this child has within him defies boundaries for someone so young. I love the author's writing style, it will not be the only novel I read by him, for sure. There are touches of 'mystical' that would change my breathing. I am a highlighter of passages that make me pause and think, to picture it - a few examples:"The scarf was silk, and very light to land with such force on two lives.""The tenement house that almost killed the man was a river's breadth away, and a lifetime apart."Johnny's best friend Jack may not be your favorite character in certain parts of the story, but you will learn to understand what he's all about, and the ending paragraph relating to Johnny and Jack will bring tears to your eyes.

It's six months since I discovered John Hart, reading IRON HOUSE, his most recent novel (there's a new one out next month). IRON HOUSE blew me away. THE LAST CHILD is his previous book, similarly set in North Carolina. 13-year-old Johnny Merrimon's twin sister was abducted a year ago and never found. His father has disappeared; his grief-wrecked mother has taken up with a bullying property magnate. Johnny spends many hours scouring the area looking for clues to his sister's disappearance. Another abduction and an encounter with a black vagrant who seems to know something spur the boy on. One local detective also refuses to let the case go cold and tries to watch over Johnny and his mom.This is not a new theme but John Hart gives the story a Southern Gothic twist that makes it feel fresh and exciting. His prose style is as rich as Stephen King's: one suspicious local man "was sixty-eight, with bristled hair, two loose teeth and eyes like raw oysters." There's a riverside cemetery scene with an atmosphere that calls Charles Dickens to mind. The suspense builds to a vivid, visceral climax that tears at your heart strings.Hart is a real find. Thrillers don't come any better than this. I can't wait to read the next one.[Reviewer is the auithor of THE BEXHILLMISSILE CRISIS]

As a fan of mysteries/thrillers (Coben, George, Cornwell to name but a few), this is my first book by John Hart and I shall certainly look into more of his books!An intricate, painful story about a 12 year old girl, Alyssa, disappearing into thin air. Her twin brother Johnny, now 13, never stops looking for her, tries to keep strong, although his world has been shattered to say the least: his father left soon after the abduction and his mother is so anguished and upset that she cannot but hide from the world in a sort of catatonic state. Most times, she does not even realize Johnny is around. Detective Hunt, who has been following the case since it started, is still obsessed and frustrated by the lack of news and he is the only person who looks out for Johnny and tries to keep him out of trouble. Then bad news happen again: another girl disappears from the area...This book has all the qualities a good thriller should have: edge-of-the-seat suspense, a good psychological insight about all the characters, conveying their feelings perfectly, heart wrenchingly at times, an unexpected epilogue and all loose ends become clear. My only criticism: a bit far-fetched in some of the situations involving Johnny and his personal search for his sister, not entirely believable for a 13 year-old in my opinion. However, a very good thriller nevertheless and quite a page-turner.

What a great book! I was browsing my local library and took a chance on for me an unknown author John Hart, the book was Down River, on the strength of that book I ordered this one for my kindle, wow, I was gripped. A great great read

I had doubts about this book when I started reading it, but remembering my enjoyment of 'Down River' I stuck with it - and was very glad I did! It is a truly remarkable read, which gradually gathered momentum until I found it impossible to switch my Kindle off. John Hart is an exceptional writer and kept me guessing until the final chapter. I am currently half way through 'Iron House' - which is another John Hart 'Tour de Force'!

I read this book a good while ago , and it has to be pretty special for me to read a book twice.I really didn't expect the ending and I was sorry when I finished it.I won't give away the plot . Read it for yourself !