This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Last Good Girl

Summary: In the bestselling tradition of Jodi Picoult and written “in a style that’s as real as it gets (USA TODAY), this ripped-from-the-headlines novel features prosecutor Anna Curtis as she finds herself again at the center of a national story involving a freshman girl at a prestigious university who disappears after filing rape charges against a young man in a powerful fraternity.

Emma, a freshman at a Michigan university, has gone missing. She was last seen leaving a bar near Sigma Pi, the prestigious and secretive fraternity known on campus as “the rape factory.” The main suspect is Dylan Brooks, the son of one of the most powerful politicians in the state. But so far the only clues are pieced-together surveillance footage of Emma leaving the bar that night…and Dylan running down the street after her.

Anna Curtis is on the case when she discovers the video diary Emma kept over her first few months at college, exposing the history she had with Dylan—and accusing him of rape before she disappeared.

Emma’s disappearance gets media attention and support from Title IX activists across the country, but Anna’s investigation hits a wall. Now Anna is looking for something, anything she can use to find Emma alive. But without a body or any physical evidence, she’s under threat from people who tell her to think hard before she ruins the name of an “innocent young man.” Inspired by real-life stories, The Last Good Girl shines a light on campus rape and the powerful emotional dynamics that affect the families of the men and women on both sides.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

First, let me say how much I really enjoy Allison Leotta’s writing style. After reading Speak of The Devil (my first book to read by Allison, but her 3rd book in series) and A Good Killing (the 4th book)- I knew I would keep up with Anna Curtis (Allison’s main character) where ever she goes!

While all of Allison’s books have a bit of true crime feel to them (actually- I like to compare them to a Law and Order episode- inspired by true events, but with Allison’s own twists!) The Last Good Girl really feels like real life because of the inspiration and timely discussion topic (rapes on campus). Being something of a Law and Order and Law and Order: SVU binge watcher, I knew a lot of the statistics, the differences between reporting the rape to the campus police vs the real police and the ways that reporting is handled. Allison has done quite a bit of research and in turn- you are not only enjoying reading about Anna Curtis trying to piece together what happened to Emma BUT you are also learning things about rape culture.

What I liked:

The cover. It just whispered to me “Tell me all your secrets.”

The storyline. I was so engrossed in the story.

 

Bottom line: Highly recommend. Allison Leotta takes stories about life on college campus and weaves them together to form a mystery that is a must read about a topic that needs more attention.

 

*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

*The Last Good Girl was a May 2016 Futuristic Friday selection from Traveling With T.*

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T