The Last Trace

May 21, 2024
The Last Trace by award-winning author Petronella McGovern (The Liars) is true to her usual form, simmering with mystery and psychological twists. We meet Lachy, who should be enjoying an Easter reunion with his son and extended family but has awoken injured from ‘another blackout’, reeling with memory loss and judging himself to be an all-round failure as an employee and father. McGovern immediately evokes tension, which is further heightened by an emergency that threatens to tear apart the extended family. Alongside this drama, we learn about past blackouts, a mysterious DNA request, a past unsolved serial-killer case and a hit and run. The plot is propelled by alternating points of view—the most compelling being the first-person accounts from Lachy’s great-aunt, Elizabeth, from 1968—with themes of connections and secrets between past and present. Woven through the narratives are discussions about child welfare, teen drug use, life coaching, aid work, mental health, eco-grief and dementia. McGovern’s strength is her warm and authentic celebration of family and all its imperfections, and The Last Trace has the winning combination of strong plot (things get so twisty that readers may find themselves second-guessing everything they read up to the last paragraphs) and heart that is sure to make it a favourite with fans of Sally Hepworth and Caroline Overington. One tip? Block out your diary. It’s unlikely you’ll want to move until you’ve devoured the last page of this story.