"Betsy Hartmann’s novel is a beautiful literary creation with a setting that feels like a character in its own right. The setting is so finely drawn that readers can feel the town, visualize its alleys, and quickly follow its rhythm. The characters are multidimensional, each of them with a haunting background . . . Intimacy, love, addiction, and redemption are cleverly developed themes in this thrilling novel."—Readers’ Favorite

"Brace yourself for a riveting, intricate thriller that lays bare the harrowing toll of the drug war. . . In a society plagued by the detrimental effects of drug abuse, Betsy Hartmann emerges as a beacon of knowledge and awareness. Through her exceptional writing, she has shed light on the grave issue of drug addiction and its pervasive impact on our communities."—Midwest Book Review

“This is a novel about the complexities of love and loyalty, and the heart-wrenching choices people are sometimes forced to make . . . While Last Place Called Home offers fresh insights into the tragedies of the drug crisis, it also celebrates the restorative power of nature and the surprising resilience people find within themselves.”
—Corinne Demas, author of The Road Towards Home and The Writing Circle

“. . . The emotional grip never lets go, and the plot is as believable as it is intricate and dramatic. . . . Last Place Called Home brings to life the truth of a community in all its human aspects, and delivers a visceral understanding important to our divided times.”
—Roger King, author of Love and Fatigue in America and The Girl from Zanzibar

“Hartmann masterfully brings home the national opioid crisis to a declining town where loyalty is a dangerous concept and no one—even the law—can be trusted. The heartbreaking desperation of its mothers, lovers, and friends will shake your conscience and keep you guessing until the very last page.”
—Marisa Labozzetta, author of A Day in June

“Betsy Hartmann takes us deep into the lives of three flawed but ultimately heroic women seeking to resist the opioid epidemic in their homes and community . . . Filled with characters whose fate you will long ponder, Last Place Called Home is both a compelling read and a plea for community engagement in countering the opioid crisis.
—Michael Klare, defense correspondent for The Nation and author of All Hell Breaking Loose: The Pentagon's Perspective on Climate Change

“Betsy Hartmann brings compassion and rage to her absorbing novel . . . Ms. Hartmann has crafted an intimate page turner that reveals the relation between drug policy and the economy of despair while confronting the fraying bonds between youthful friends, and between parents and their children. Last Place Called Home is a nail-biting drama of loss and redemption.”
—Bill Fried, activist and writer on drug policy and former staff member, Law Enforcement Action Partnership