Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Last Thing He Told Me

This book was super engaging and fast-paced until the last quarter or so, as the big plot twist was… cheesy? Yes, unexpected, but in a way that turned you off the adrenaline of the story?? It felt like I missed something, like it was a red herring for the “real” twist, but that “real” twist never came. So I was just disappointed really in the resolution. The ending became rather flat to me.

In general, none of the characters have much personality. Which isn’t uncommon for a mystery novel, but made the plot a little stale. It’s hard to believe a character doing unthinkable things for another character when neither are fleshed out so much to show true reasoning behind their actions. Although this is a story about protecting those you love, I found little detailed emotion in the pages aside from literally stating said emotions.

And what modern 16-year-old girl calls their dad by “father”?? I found Bailey’s use of it so off-putting. Her dialogue didn’t give off the teenager voice to me.

Also, chapters do not need to have titles unless it’s intended for someone under the age of 11. End of.

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micaelamariem's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I read this for a book club and it was okay. I liked the prosaic writing style. The plot was interesting but it didn’t really have enough twists to keep me at the edge of my seat or anything, so it was slightly disappointing.

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millenniumix's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Laura Dave serves up a crime thriller mixed in with a tight family drama. While a few parts are too didactic and probably even repetitive, it ties so well in the end that I don’t regret picking this up as opposed to a multitude of other choices. If you need some easy reading focused on relationships and sacrifices those entail and with a satisfying conclusion, this is the book.

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becca_w_'s review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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addyisnothere's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Title: The Last Thing He Told Me
Author: Laura Dave
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: May 4, 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Captivating • Mysterious • Original

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When the CEO of the company he works for comes under fire, Owen disappears but he has one final message for his wife, Hannah "protect her". Hannah knows the note refers to his daughter, Bailey, who is his pride and joy. With very few clues to work with, Hannah and Bailey are determined to find him by and know they must take matters into their own hands.

When a U.S. Marshall appears at their home, suggesting Owen isn't who he says he is, they find themselves attempting to piece together a puzzle. A story of unconditional parental love and found family, of ultimate trust and the sacrifices of marriage.

💭 T H O U G H T S

As soon as I read the first few pages of The Last Thing He Told Me, I knew I was going to enjoy it. Although not overly suspenseful, I was instantly engaged by the quiet mystery, and somehow still managed to take me for a roller coaster ride.

Laura Dave combines great characters and great writing in this perfectly paced novel that keeps you guessing. She did a fabulous job weaving together the two timelines and the characters had depth. I really grew to care about them, and the relationship that developed between Hannah and Bailey was heartwarming.

The Last Thing He Told Me is definitely more of a domestic mystery than a thriller, yet it was one of those books I just couldn't put down. It didn't have the ending I was expecting, which I appreciated as it felt truer to life. Just a solid, quick and refreshing read worth my time.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• family drama enthusiasts
• fans of Sally Hepworth
• readers looking for a beach or cottage read

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"This is the terrible thing about a tragedy. It isn't with you every minute. You forget it, and then you remember it again. And you see it with a stark quality: This is what is required of you now, just to get along."

"It was a little bit of all of that and something far bigger than all of that. How do you explain it when you find in someone what you've been waiting for your whole life? Do you call it fate? It feels lazy to call it fate. It's more like finding your way home - where home is a place you secretly hoped for, a place you imagined, but where you'd never before been."

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cakrolik's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a fast, easy, but intense read. This book reminds us, point-blank, that humans are complicated, multi-faceted, messy, and impossible to understand. Do we ever truly know anyone other than ourselves?

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