The Last ChildThe Last Child
Score Modern
What it's about
A year after his twin sister disappeared, thirteen-year-old Johnny Merrimon's family has fallen apart: his father has left and his mother is sinking. Johnny refuses to give up, and he searches the darker corners of their North Carolina town for her himself. The detective who failed to find her can't let the case go either, and when another girl goes missing, their searches meet.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Edgar Award for best mystery novel. It's a gripping thriller with a heartbreaking boy at its center.
You'll love it if you liked
The Bottoms
All the Colors of the Dark
The Lovely BonesGood to know
It deals with child abduction, abuse and violence.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics49 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller47 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #49 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #312 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #624 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by John Hart
If you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Verity
Gone Girl
The Martian
2666
Gideon the NinthExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Last Child worth reading?
Yes. It won the Edgar Award for best mystery novel. It ranks #624 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Last Child about?
A year after his twin sister disappeared, thirteen-year-old Johnny Merrimon's family has fallen apart: his father has left and his mother is sinking. Johnny refuses to give up, and he searches the darker corners of their North Carolina town for her himself. The detective who failed to find her can't let the case go either, and when another girl goes missing, their searches meet.
How long does it take to read The Last Child?
About 9 hours (373 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Last Child won?
Edgar Award winner (2010).
What should I read after The Last Child?
If you liked it, try The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale, All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker or The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.