The Last to See Me: A Novel

The narrator was not to my taste and the book made little sense, especially the ending.

It's an atmospheric and beautifully written story. I ask you...who doesn’t like a good ghost story with a twist? In this particular story there are several twists as well as some really nasty turns. If you add a tragic love story...a blood-thirsty rose bush... the ghost of a beautiful young girl who is struggling to remain "alive" in the only home she has ever known...you have the makings of a first rate series that should please any ghost story enthusiast. A great beginning. I'm looking forward to more.

This is a well-written ghost story. Without over dramatization, the author tells a tale from the perspective of Emma Rose finnis, who died 100 years ago. With dreams of having a good life, a grand life, employed by the wealthiest family, she continues to haunt the Lambry mansion. Her dreams did not rise to the level of the least satisfaction.

Stubbornly, she holds fast to her right to live specturally in the many rooms of the mansion. But, alas the town has proclaimed that it will be cleaned of all spirits and the "hunters" are paid well. Lambry mansion is in the process of being sold to a rather wealthy couple.

When Emma Rose follows them with the realtor throughout the house, she learns many things, including the fact that they will gut the inside totally. All the charm and beauty will be demolished. Emma will not let that occur. She mightily haunts the perspective buyers who are just as determined as she to win.

As she fights, a "hunter" is called. He slowly tries to work his magic in taunting her spirit to come forth so that he might send it to the grave where it belongs.

The fight is brutal. The story of Emma is a sad one. At times, I routed for huner Pratt to put dear Emma at peace, and yet, Emma, whose lonely life never rose to anything but a mere chambermaid, is bound and determined to stay. She's earned that right, and she will continue to claim it.

Gothic in tone, a ghost story told with a new twist, and given a modern interpretation. Emma Rose Finnis has been dead for a long while, but she still walks this Earth. The Lambry house and the Lambreys themselves is her favored haunt. She has reasons, big reasons, but now the last known Lambry has died, the house up for sale. A rich couple has come to see the house, want to buy and gut it, make it their own. Emma, angered reveals her presence causing a terrifying ordeal for the couple. A hunter is called in, people have realized for a while that ghosts walk this Earth, resulting in a new form of employment. Hunters are highly paid, and this couple can afford the best. So a cat and mouse game ensues, the hunter hunting the haunting. Emma needs to stop him from learning her name, he needs to know about her existence before he can find her. There is, however, another presence waiting in the background, with it's own plans.

Extremely atmosphere, literary, while reading this I could not help thinking of Collins, Lady in White. Who can outsmarted who? That is the goal, the end game. And Emma Rose has no desire to be interred in the ground. The story goes back and forth, Emma's backstory, to the present and to what the hunter is doing, thinking. Suspenseful, and the suspense ratchets up the more we learn. I felt so sorry for the young Emma, a product of her social dividing times. Wanting only to love and have a future. Provides just enough shivers without freaking the reader out completely.

I enjoyed this immensely, one of the better ghost stories I have read in a long time. Can we ever be sure that what we see and feel, is the only thing there? I can't help but wonder.

I did like this story,short at 270 pages.I liked the concept of the ghost telling her story as she is hunted down by a ghost hunter.The town of Benito is ridding itself of ghosts. It seemed disconnected in spots and confusing at times. After finishing the ending,I had to go back and re-read the last 2 chapters,thought I had missed something, I had not. It takes place in Northern California,and goes back and forth from current day to Victorian times.A good read.Imaginative!

I absolutely loved this ghost story. I felt as if Emma Rose (the ghost) was a true person and felt such sorrow for her past.

The story is told through Emma Rose's eyes. A ghost who has been haunting the Lambry mansion for years trying to get someone to recognize her and her life.

A sad, entertaining and just right interesting story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and Edelweiss for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.