Last Seen Alive

The first nine months of marriage haven’t been easy for teacher Libby Hall, the unreliable narrator of this disappointing psychological suspense novel from British author Douglas (Local Girl Missing). She and her husband, Jamie, have money issues. After a fire at Libby’s school, she miscarries, putting further strain on their relationship. When a leaflet offering a house swap in Cornwall comes through the front door of their London apartment, they seize the chance to take a vacation. At the isolated seaside estate, Libby and Jamie reconnect, and Libby finally relaxes—until she finds a stranger in the garden and hidden surveillance equipment in the house, leaving her wondering whether the couple who own the house are too good to be true. When Jamie gets mysteriously ill, and their dog uncovers a bloody corset in the yard, they flee back to their apartment. There, Libby learns the truth: someone from her secret past is back for revenge. With its forced twists and loosely drawn conclusions, this tale falls short of its potential. Agent: Juliet Mushens, Agency Group (U.K.). (July)