Last Night (by Luanne Rice)

While perusing my Kindle library for the next book I wanted to read, I looked for a story set in winter and landed on Last Night by Luanne Rice. Initially, I didn’t realize it was also set during the Christmas holidays, although I wouldn’t classify it as a holiday-themed novel. Considering I started reading it in February, I was pleased by the subtle presence of Christmas. I’m not one to read holiday-themed books after New Year’s.

Last Night is an intriguing mystery that follows renowned artist Maddie Morrison. Seeking refuge from her contentious divorce, she finds herself at the luxurious Ocean House on the icy Rhode Island shore during a fierce blizzard. Hours later, her body is discovered buried in the snow, and her young daughter, CeCe, has vanished without a trace.

As the storm traps everyone at the hotel, Detective Conor Reid, his coast guard commander brother Tom, and Maddie’s grieving sister Hadley join forces to investigate the cold-blooded crime. They delve into twisted romantic histories, old jealousies, secrets, and motives rooted in greed and vengeance, racing against time to find the missing child and expose the killer among those closest to Maddie.

This marks my first time reading a Luanne Rice novel, and I truly enjoyed the experience. Last Night is well-written, a solid mystery, and I particularly loved the artist characters. The setting of the Ocean House is described as an immensely beautiful hotel, which is indeed a real place. I couldn’t resist spending some time browsing the website and images of the gorgeous guest rooms and suites. You can witness this magnificent hotel for yourself here.

I acquired the Kindle ebook of Last Night through the Amazon First Reads program.

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