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2.17k reviews for:

The Last Town

Blake Crouch

3.95 AVERAGE


That doesn't happen often. A series that ends with the strongest of the novels?

Wow. I will spoil nothing for anyone bothering to read this short review, but just know this was an excellent series and I seriously inhaled every word of it. I don't think I've read a series faster.

Very much worth your time and I'm really interested to see what FOX does with it on TV.
adventurous tense
rob_c's profile picture

rob_c's review

4.0

Ok, this is a strange way to start, and end, a review, but here goes...
This is a great read that I was disappointed with. Let me explain.

Reading the book on its own merits was a great experience, it's an incredibly fast read with good pace, excitement, action and even a bit of emotion. I really enjoyed the fragmented style Crouch employed with his short snappy chapters, as we jump around into different snippets of goings-on with characters dotted all over town. You just lose yourself in the adrenalin of the free-flowing words and don't really care too much about anything other than what is happening at that very moment of the story.

But as the finale to the trilogy, it was disappointing. This story basically happens over in a single night, leaving room for no real character progression, there is finality for the town but it's far too rushed. I found myself caring more about the action than the outcome for the main characters. I will admit that I didn't see the decision for the town's survivors at the end coming. Everything suggested they were going to do one thing but then they did something very different, and actually totally obvious. But the epilogue's lone sentence! No, no ,no! I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but for those who have read it, the number in that sentence. Seriously!? Ridiculous! I was ok with the ending until I read that.

The problems above could all be attributed to my personal taste, or even the lack of it if you like, but I have one big hair-ripping gripe...like I always seem to have with Crouch books, and yet I keep on reading them. Very strange.
In the previous book there is a nomad who's been sent out to explore the savage world out there beyond the town, and there seems to be a suggestion that he's found something important and he's heading back to town to reveal it. His journey isn't complete by the end of the second book and continues through this book. It's this revelation and that character that held the majority of my interest and drove my reading in this book. I had to know what he'd seen, what he'd discovered, what the big reveal was going to be. But when we finally get to find out Hassler's discovery I swore out loud, spittle flew and everything, it was lucky I wasn't drinking coffee at the time. I felt so cheated. It was like the author had simply decided he couldn't be bothered to do the work to give the reader the payoff they deserved with that character. Unforgivable.

And one last thought, if you've actually made it this far in this rather negative review...is it just me or is Ethan Burk a borderline psychopath?

Now, to the rating for this book. Well, as book three of the trilogy I'm inclined to give it two stars. But, for the book on its own, which the rating is actually for after all, I would have to say for the enjoyment of such an absorbing read I have to give it a four.
dark emotional tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Wow, what a finale and I’m a fan of Crouch’s writing. The twists and turns,  it suspense that kept me on my toes had me finishing this book in one day. If you’re a fan of Paradise, you’ll love this series. 
dark tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot

lsmith0823's review

4.0
adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
dark tense