By Erica Wiggins
Content warning: violence, school violence, suicide, animal mistreatment, death of an infant
“If you give this book a one-star review, you might end up dead.”
In the Last Word, we meet Emma who is housesitting on the Washington coast with her golden retriever, taking advantage of the peace and quiet to relax and read. Unfortunately, her latest read—a horror novel—is disappointing, so she leaves a one-star review. But now the author, H.G. Kane, has replied and he is not happy. Emma brushes it off until strange things start to occur. Kane has written many novels featuring stalking and murder and knows he is good. Now he just needs to make Emma understand. The Last Word is the latest novel from critically acclaimed author Taylor Adams.
This story hooked me from page one. The author immediately set the scene in a remote house on the coast. A quarter of the way through the book, and I am not fooled. While nothing too crazy had happened, the author cranked up the anxiety level and created this creepy space where you are always wondering what will happen next. Anyone who has ever been alone in a house and heard a strange noise knows that split second of uncertainty wondering if the house is just “settling.” The author captured this feeling perfectly and keeps building that feeling of unease.
I sympathized so much with Emma; a woman just trying to get away from it all. As the story unfolds, we realize just how kick-ass this female character is, and she is also reminded of everything she has. The supporting characters are written in a way that endears you to them or makes you hate them. Chapter by chapter, the story unfolds then twists and twists again. I had trouble putting it down.
Upon finishing the story, I realized just how impressive the writing is and the intricate way the author weaved the story within a story, seamlessly moving back and forth. This was a quick read for me. It had everything I look for in a good thriller. It was jarring, atmospheric, and had me glancing over my shoulder as I sat in the dark reading the story by book light. It’s clear that this is a talented author, and I will be seeking out the backlist to read immediately.
I would highly recommend this to anyone that loves a story that gives you chills, keeps you guessing and keeps twisting to the end, then this one is for you. One last note to say: the irony of writing a review about a story where a woman’s life is put in danger for writing a bad review is not lost on me, so I am thankful that I loved it!
Thank you, HarperCollins Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.