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John Hart

The Last Child: A Novel Mass Market Paperback – March 1, 2016

by John Hart (Author)

2,495 ratings

Book 2 of 2: Johnny Merrimon Series

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Winner of the 2010 Edgar Award for Best Novel

John Hart's New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies, announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River, he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he achieves his most significant work to date, an intricate, powerful story of loss, hope, and courage in the face of evil.

Thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon had the perfect life: a warm home and loving parents; a twin sister, Alyssa, with whom he shared an irreplaceable bond. He knew nothing of loss, until the day Alyssa vanished from the side of a lonely street. Now, a year later, Johnny finds himself isolated and alone, failed by the people he'd been taught since birth to trust. No one else believes that Alyssa is still alive, but Johnny is certain that she is---confident in a way that he can never fully explain.

Determined to find his sister, Johnny risks everything to explore the dark side of his hometown. It is a desperate, terrifying search, but Johnny is not as alone as he might think. Detective Clyde Hunt has never stopped looking for Alyssa either, and he has a soft spot for Johnny. He watches over the boy and tries to keep him safe, but when Johnny uncovers a dangerous lead and vows to follow it, Hunt has no choice but to intervene.

Then a second child goes missing . . .

Undeterred by Hunt's threats or his mother's pleas, Johnny enlists the help of his last friend, and together they plunge into the wild, to a forgotten place with a history of violence that goes back more than a hundred years. There, they meet a giant of a man, an escaped convict on his own tragic quest. What they learn from him will shatter every notion Johnny had about the fate of his sister; it will lead them to another far place, to a truth that will test both boys to the limit.

Traveling the wilderness between innocence and hard wisdom, between hopelessness and faith, The Last Child leaves all categories behind and establishes John Hart as a writer of unique power.

This edition of the book is the deluxe, tall rack mass market paperback.

Print length

576 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Minotaur Books
Publication date

March 1, 2016
Dimensions

6.32 x 1.29 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

031238033X
ISBN-13

978-0312380335
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Hart is the New York Times bestselling author of The King of Lies, Down River, The Last Child, Iron House, Redemption Road, and The Hush. The only author in history to win the Edgar Award for Best Novel consecutively, John has also won the Barry Award, the Southern Independent Bookseller’s Award for Fiction, the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award, and the North Carolina Award for Literature. His novels have been translated into thirty languages and can be found in more than seventy countries.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books (March 1, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031238033X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312380335
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.32 x 1.29 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #439,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #31,064 in Suspense Thrillers
- #55,724 in American Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
2,495 ratings

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John Hart

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JOHN HART is the author of six New York Times bestsellers, THE KING OF LIES, DOWN RIVER, THE LAST CHILD,IRON HOUSE, REDEMPTION ROAD and THE HUSH. His seventh novel, THE UNWILLING, be will be released on February 2, 2021. The only author in history to win the best novel Edgar Award for consecutive novels, Hart has also won the Barry Award, the Southern Book Prize, the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award and the North Carolina Award for Literature. His novels have been translated into thirty language and can be found in over seventy countries. He works from home on a Virginia farm, where he lives with his wife, daughters and four dogs.

He can be found here:

Website: http://www.johnhartfiction.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnHartAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnhartauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnhartauthor/

Customer reviews

5 star		74%
4 star		19%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Truc.

A great book - a truly great book

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2017

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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.

26 people found this helpful

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Cheryl Stout

Some things just can't be explained...

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2018

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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.

18 people found this helpful

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Megan

A rare 5 star

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2020

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I read perhaps 2-3 novels a week, teach Freshman college literature, and I usually give 2-4 ratings, but this book captured me from page one and held me on pins and needles until the very last page. This was my first John Hart book but I'm already ordering another. How can anyone NOT fall in love with the character of Johnny. He is amazing, tough to the core and smart as a whip, but oh so damaged. I thought initially that perhaps the writer was giving him too much maturity for his young age, but perhaps not for a kid who's street wise, on his own. He handled tragedy that many adults could not and kept going. I have to admit I did get disgusted with his mom; I've no patience with drug abusers. But redemption came finally. I was fascinated with the history of the Lumbee indians in that area of N.C, though,. because I was already familiar with it having grown up near there, and was captured by the legend of Isaac's last son. What a sad story his was. This book didn't take the expected twists and turns that many writers would have given it. I thought the last little supernatural bit at the end added even more interest. God surely works in mysterious ways, as the book points out, and life IS circular. Just when you think you have it all figured out, there's another twist and you're spinning again. I simply could not put down the last 100 pages. Highly recommend this one.

4 people found this helpful

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Tarheels

How remarkable that a suspense/thriller would grab my heart like it did

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2017

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✨ 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.

10 people found this helpful

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MANY EVIL MEN & A FEW EXTRORDINARY ONES

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2019

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I found “The Last Child” to be an unforgetable novel. The characters were so human. Some were weak, tragic figures that unfolded throughout the story. Some were brave & strong, & fought their circumstances; against the odds they won. Others were downright evil & rotten to the core.
One of reasons I liked this novel so much is because strength & love won out in the end. The reader saw that there are things worth fighting for, truths worth pursuing.
Mr. Hart’s writing was supberb. The way he drew out the plot & subplots was outstanding. This novel was “real”. The novel read like a true-life series of events. The characters developed as they would if they were real people.
I’ll be reading “The Hush” next, where we meet again Johnny & Jack 10 to 12 years later. Their stories continue.
“The Last Child” is definitely worth reading.

One person found this helpful

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Steven Roberts

Just plain excellent

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2018

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This is an extremely well written story. Great characters and wonderful pace to it. Not the standard cop story but we'll written novel of a young boy searching for the killer of his twin. The evil people in the story hold your attention and you root for the good guys throughout. I think this would be an excellent movie.

The only criticisms I would offer as a former LEO US that no small town pd would handle a serial killer case without State and Federal help; and no boy could continue to function with the injuries he sustained.

This is the third Hart book I have read. I am hooked and will buy them all. It is clear that his novels are head and shoulders above the Kindle unlimited free reads.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

David Gee

Another girl gone in this vivid, visceral thriller

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2016

Verified Purchase

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]

4 people found this helpful

ELI (Italy)

Disturbing but very entertaining

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2010

Verified Purchase

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.

One person found this helpful

Steven P.

A wonderful book from a great author

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

The headline sums up this purchase! A wonderful read from an author that I have recently discovered. I shall be reading many more John Hart books!

Gerry 'M'

John Hart is one of the very best!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2015

Verified Purchase

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'!

S B. uk

Magic in the descriptions

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2018

Verified Purchase

I found i could not put this book down. As soon as i was hooked the twists and turns in the plot ramped up my curiosity.
Wonderful description ads depth and colour to the scenes and the vunerability of the boys engages your heart. A brilliant read.

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