When Delilah meets Sawyer Saffitz (son of Anya Saffitz, aka Hollywood royalty), she becomes hooked on a decade-old scandal. In her quest for the truth, Delilah uncovers blogposts written by the mysterious “gottiewrites” and is soon caught up in a world of greed, fandom conspiracy theories … and murder. And the deeper Delilah digs, the more dangerous it becomes – because someone is willing to kill to hide the truth.
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Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
What a refreshing read. Never a dull moment from Gottie, Delilah and Sawyer. Could not put the novel down especially towards the end when the real criminals were revealed and Delilah and sawyer got their happy ending. This novel is definitely a keeper Lorraine, VIC, 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though I feel it is geared to the younger reader. Once I started I could not put it down. I thought the author captured Delilah Thorne perfectly the way she approached how Delilah was feeling and her moods etc when she was trying to navigate her teenage years which can be difficult at the best of times and the way she portrayed her parents was very thoughtful and also how Sawyer and Delilah try to solve the murder puzzle. I look forward to reading more of this authors books and I feel it is a must for young adults who love a mystery. Sue, NSW, 5 stars
I really enjoyed this dive into internet culture and fandom combined with exploring the concepts around right to privacy (or lack thereof), Hollywood’s dark side, coming of age and a twisty thriller crime mystery. Like getting caught up in a good online group, this book starts with the set up then quickly spirals into fast-paced obsession with that addictive feeling of blink and you might miss the next important piece of information. Great mix of characters and events, although of course you have to be willing to suspend your disbelief at the other-world type lives of Hollywood semi-elite becoming quickly entwined with those outside of their circle. I happy went with it. It was a sprint to the end and definitely a fast, easy, hard to put down, thriller of a read! Five out of five!! Lisa, QLD, 5 stars
This is an absorbing novel which combines a murder mystery with a vivid depiction of how young people interact online. Grace says: This was very realistic about how kids talk to each other and the sorts of things boys (eye roll) find funny. I really liked Delilah. I would be friends with her. I understood the way she acted throughout the novel. And the murder mystery was really intriguing and kept me reading, keen to find out what happened. Mum says: I was fascinated by the way Delilah translates basic research and investigative skills to the online world. Debut writer James does a great job of melding the online and IRL investigations and relationships. I was really caught up, and found myself asking many of the same questions Delilah did about the reliability of some of her online informants. It’s a really interesting mystery, well structured and well written. Characters are vivid and real. James has caught the voice of a teenage girl well. I really felt we were seeing and experiencing the world as Delilah does. This is a hugely readable novel which combines a well structured murder mystery with a vivid picture of how people interact online. Lorraine (for Grace), ACT, 5 stars
When Delilah dramatically meets Sawyer, she dives feet first into an old Hollywood scandal, involving Sawyer’s screen queen mother. It brings danger and intrigue that only the Silver Screen could create. Through the narration of Delilah and mixed media, readers will be entertained as we delve into mystery and murder until the last page. Amanda, VIC, 4 stars
Lauren James’ Last Seen Online is a gripping contemporary thriller that explores the modern complexities of online identity and real-world consequences. The story follows the lives of two teenage girls whose seemingly innocuous social media interactions spiral into a dangerous and mysterious situation. James interlaces themes of privacy, friendship, and the dark side of digital life, creating an engaging and thought-provoking narrative. Well-drawn characters and a plot full of twists and turns keeps the reader on edge. A compelling read, Last Seen Online explores the impact of technology on our modern lives. Highly recommend. J, VIC, 4 stars
4.5 star YA murder mystery. I really enjoyed that the reader sees all evidence and clues to solve the murder mystery along with the protagonist. This book was hard to put down. I can’t wait for the next. Clare, ACT, 4 stars
A really engaging story about Delilah , a nerdy social misfit and Sawyer, heartthrob son of famous actress. A murder occurred some time ago and the two start to investigate this. They access blogs and social media stories and these are interspersed throughout the story breaking up the text and jolting the story around. Soon they become embroiled in something much bigger than they anticipated and find themselves in extreme danger. What I found as an interesting side note was the effect that social media plays in passing justice on everyone. “And somehow when you became a public figure, people felt free to express their dislike and hatred and obsession without thinking about your feelings.” Katrina, VIC, 4 stars
I personally, found the novel “Last Seen Online” by Lauren James to be quite enthralling. At first the book is a slow start, however as you progress through the initial chapters the characters and plot develop into something truly captivating. The evolving story offers many plot twists that become more and more intriguing, culminating in a startling surprise ending. An absolute must read for contemporary murder mystery fans. Lucy, QLD, 4 stars
Last Seen Online by Lauren James is a YA book great for anyone that likes a good mystery novel. It features teenager Delilah who loves true crime stories and finds herself investigating the death of a TV star. Not only is this a great story but also includes blog posts, comment sections and scenes from the TV show Loch & Ness. This book was a quick read and kept me engaged the whole way through. Trudy, SA, 4 stars
Initially I had a lot of difficulty getting into the flow of this book, due to how it was laid out with blog posts, comments and text messages- however providing external information for the narrative in this way was very clever. It’s certainly a relatable read for the current YA audience, however some themes are too mature for younger / innocent YA readers. Definitely a suspenseful, engaging read with a good amount of mystery to keep you turning the pages! Kathryn, VIC, 4 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Last Seen Online, it was a quick and enjoyable read. Loved Delilah and sawyers relationship although I found Delilah to be somewhat controlling but as we find in the end it’s anxiety. Would recommend for all young adults Melissa, SA, 4 stars
A very adult and modern young adult fiction that combines a bit of romance with a lot of mystery and suspense, this is exactly the kind of book that I would have secretly been pleased to be ‘old enough’ (but not really) to read in around year 7 or 8, but it’s probably better suited to older young adult readers. There aren’t many true murder mysteries in this age bracket, and this one was great – had me on the edge of my seat, ripping through it to find out what happens, but it was also laugh-out-loud funny at times. Brava. It’s very modern (I had to look up lots of acronyms), with a variety of writing genres included: texts, blogs, comments, news articles, etc. My favourite line – a throwaway headline ‘link’ at the end of a news article: “Time to deflate the BBL? Skinny is back on trend.” My only gripe: some aspects of the story didn’t add up/weren’t very believable, but the story is so good you suspend your disbelief willingly. Highly recommended for young adults. Cathryn, TAS, 4 stars
Last Seen Online by Lauren James is a YA novel that explores a decade old scandal that was also documented online by a fan. It was an interesting read with the detective/investigative work of a young school girl, who has her own real time dramas that she is dealing with. The interwoven relationships and the outcome of the findings were quite surprising. A fun read for the young adult readers, and also for the not so young. I enjoyed the intrigue, the suspense and the drama. I did head online to read the full script from Gottiwrites.com who is the fan girl that documented a blog detailing the scandal of the Loch&Ness tv show. It was interesting too. I can imagine the YA becoming immersed in that. Sharon, QLD, 4 stars
Lauren James’ Last Seen Online is a compelling mystery aimed at teens and young adults, that will captivate fans of Hollywood intrigue, true crime, and suspenseful storytelling. The main character, Delilah, dreams of becoming an actress, but after a humiliating experience during a school audition, she finds solace in Sawyer Saffitz, the son of a once-famous Hollywood actress from the detective series Loch & Ness. The show abruptly ended when one of its stars was murdered, and his co-star was convicted. However, Sawyer is convinced the wrong person was blamed, and Delilah, with her passion for true crime, eagerly agrees to help him uncover the truth. The novel is unique in that it intertwines traditional narrative with unique elements like messages, scenes from the fictional Loch & Ness, blog posts, and even comment sections. Readers are drawn into the mystery alongside Delilah, uncovering clues from a now-restricted blog run by the enigmatic ‘gottiewrites,’ which the FBI has locked down. As the story progresses, the tension escalates, with Delilah’s investigation into the past becoming increasingly dangerous. The novel’s fast pace and dark twists make it a thrilling read, guaranteed to keep its readers hooked until the very end. Antony, VIC, 4 stars
Although this book is more for younger readers than myself, I enjoyed it. Good storyline and the author was able to keep you guessing and interested. An easy and enjoyable read that I think will appeal to many. Younger people will relate to the online references, the awkwardness of new relationships and the lure of fame and fortune. Tracey, VIC, 4 stars
Last Seen Online is an engaging and entertaining YA novel about Delilah, aspiring actress and fan of true crime podcasts, who becomes involved with Sawyer, whose actor godfather is in jail for murdering his co-star years before. The plot is interspersed with pages of fan fiction from the time of the murder, some amusing, some eyebrow-raising as the fans share their own fantasies and theories online. The character of Delilah, insecure in her friendships after the breakdown of her parents’ relationship, is very impulsive and well-drawn. And the twists and turns of the plot, and the fan fiction entries, make for an absorbing read. I recommend this YA book. 4 and a half stars Kim, VIC, 4 stars
I struggled at first to get into Last Seen Online, but I’m glad I persisted, because I actually did enjoy it. It can be hard to keep up with the changing formats used within the story, but I ended up finding that actually helped & it made the story a lot more relatable. I thought I knew what was coming next, but the twists throughout, continued to keep me guessing and thinking I didn’t actually know what was coming next! Amanda, NSW, 4 stars
A great twisty page turning story for young adults. Takes you on a journey with those teens trying to find the truth. It had me guessing until the last chapter. Very enjoyable! Tayla, VIC, 4 stars
Meet Delilah- insecure, anxious, at odds with her separated parents and obsessed with online social media and fandom sites. Enter Sawyer, son of a well-known TV fantasy sitcom legend. Sawyer himself is quite happily removed from the trappings of his mother’s fame and is very normal. He enjoys acting, where he meets Delilah, but he is just as happy staying at home and playing vintage online games instead. Too bad that their first encounter ends up on line after a mishap during an audition. And just like that- their lives turn into a TV drama. When Delilah and Sawyer start investigating a TV star’s death, supposedly at the hand of Sawyer’s god father, Delilah’s obsession with all things online goes into overdrive and leads to a cat and mouse encounter that takes her into the unsavoury underbelly of her idols. Kudos to Ms James for the skill in which the surprise twist at the end of the novel was delivered- I really did not see that coming. Fandom, fanfic sites- these were all alien concepts to me as I started reading Delilah’s story and as it turns out, not places I ever really want to visit in the future. Kathy, VIC, 3 stars
This was a modern detective story with the clues all being in the digital world of online forums and blogs. It would be perfect for teen readers who are familiar with that world where everything is shared online. The mystery was enjoyable with enough twists to keep you guessing. Overall a fun read. Lee, VIC, 3 stars
This was an interesting read of fandom, stalking and sleuthing told in two overlapping parts. While I found the stalking and sleuthing interesting, and frankly a little disturbing, what kept me turning the pages was the sweet, slow building relationship between the main characters. I found the inclusion of the fandom essays interesting, and while I get that the story was built around them, their inclusion in a book sized page, was a little distracting, even more so the responses included. The real time text messages also included were less distracting but at the same time didn’t as much to the story, and may have been better written about rather than copied in. I think the story is better aimed at an older YA audience who can enjoy the drama while also appreciating the technological aspects, that may be too much for younger readers. Jodie, WA, 3 stars
Lauren James’ YA book, Last Seen Online, is set in LA, America. The main characters are 16 -17 yo students who befriend each other after a catastrophic audition for the school play. While receiving a lot of online ridicule they team up for support. Soon they are caught up in the obsessions of the online fandom for the Loch and Ness TV show and the murder of one of its actors. Sawyer admits his godfather is in prison for the murder but is adamant that he is innocent. Delilah jumps at the chance to prove his innocence and sets off a chain of dangerous events resulting in an exciting climax. While I found some of the online posts tedious I was completely sucked into the adventures of these two characters. The level of suspense built gradually and the ultimate result of their investigation was well worth the read. Annette, ACT, 3 stars
Last Seen Online follows the actions of Delilah and Sawyer as they try to prove Sawyer’s godfather is innocent of murder. Delilah has ambitions to act and Sawyer is the son of a famous actress. They are thrown together during auditions for the school play and a friendship forms after their disastrous audition. Delilah is a great fan of true crime podcasts and can’t help herself when a mystery arises. Following various fans online they start to investigate the murder while trying to avoid the uncomfortable online posts of their auditions. The actual investigations soon start to be risky but who is trustworthy and who not is hard to determine. As things spiral out of their control the reader is invested in the outcome and makes the reading addictive. I feel this book is suited to the older range of YA readers who will identify with the characters and their obsessions with tech devices. Michael, ACT, 3 stars
This reminded me of my teen years reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books, but with a modern twist. Nancy and Trixie never had the internet to assist them but I’d bet they both would’ve been top notch internet sleuths! The book is fast paced and readable but there are some weak connections in the storyline and the ending was very unsatisfying. As this is a YA novel, the target audience will probably be fine with the plot, however older readers such as myself will find it full of holes. Wendi, VIC, 2 stars
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