Scan barcode
thelibraryofimagination's review against another edition
4.0
The Last to Know is an interesting, engaging and mysterious read.
Rose moves with her husband and son to the family mansion in an English village. It doesn’t take Rose long to understand that there is more to the family history, the home and the village than she bargained for.
Will Rose cope with her past, sort through the troubling present and make the right decisions to ensure a hopeful future?
I was immediately drawn into the story. That’s because you have a glimpse of what is to come and you have to read on to find out how it came to be.
The writing is eloquent and enjoyable. The setting descriptions elicit a sensory experience and you imagine yourself visiting the countryside. The characters are likeable (mostly) and believable; a typical small village mix of characters. All in all it is an enjoyable story with some predictability and some surprises.
I recommend this story if you enjoy an intriguing English countryside mystery. However, be warned there are some uncomfortable topics: mental illness, sexual abuse, abduction.
Thanks to the NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rose moves with her husband and son to the family mansion in an English village. It doesn’t take Rose long to understand that there is more to the family history, the home and the village than she bargained for.
Will Rose cope with her past, sort through the troubling present and make the right decisions to ensure a hopeful future?
I was immediately drawn into the story. That’s because you have a glimpse of what is to come and you have to read on to find out how it came to be.
The writing is eloquent and enjoyable. The setting descriptions elicit a sensory experience and you imagine yourself visiting the countryside. The characters are likeable (mostly) and believable; a typical small village mix of characters. All in all it is an enjoyable story with some predictability and some surprises.
I recommend this story if you enjoy an intriguing English countryside mystery. However, be warned there are some uncomfortable topics: mental illness, sexual abuse, abduction.
Thanks to the NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
readingwithrylanne's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was very intrigued by this book for the first 30% or so, but my attention quickly waned, and I struggled to focus on the story. It was a little too slow for me and followed several different trails that were hard to keep track of at times, regarding both the past and present. I wanted to enjoy this one, but it just wasn't for me in the end!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Murder
Moderate: Dementia, Kidnapping, and Grief
hellesn's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this brilliant thriller by Jo Furniss down! The twists and turns had me guessing (and my heart pounding) until the end. The themes of displacement and finding a home resonated and anchored me firmly in Rose's POV.
puzzles_and_pages's review against another edition
4.0
I was captivated by this book from start to finish. I liked both of the POVs and felt this was an instance where dual POVs really balanced the story and pushed the plot along. There were lots of moving parts to the story. While some of it was predictable, a lot of it was surprising. There wasn’t just one plot twist, there were little things all throughout the book. I listened to this one and I did not particularly care for the narrator, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.
jkbailey's review against another edition
5.0
I was intrigued by the description of this one, and took a chance on a new author and requested this one on Netgalley. I had no idea I would be so blown away by it.
First of all, let me say I am a sucker for a decaying manor house and a rural British setting. I adore atmospheric, suspenseful reads with those elements.
I loved this one. It was well-written, with an intricately plotted premise and vividly written characters. I was engrossed in the story and couldn’t put it down. I particularly liked how the Somalia backstory was incorporated.
Fabulous debut. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary copy.
First of all, let me say I am a sucker for a decaying manor house and a rural British setting. I adore atmospheric, suspenseful reads with those elements.
I loved this one. It was well-written, with an intricately plotted premise and vividly written characters. I was engrossed in the story and couldn’t put it down. I particularly liked how the Somalia backstory was incorporated.
Fabulous debut. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary copy.
aabravanel32's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
YaY for finished books Alayna Abravanel!!!
suzmccurry's review against another edition
3.0
Rose Kynaston, her husband Dylan and son Aled move to Dylan's hometown in Shropshire from Nairobi, where they had been working as journalists. (Quick stop here to say that I read at least five other reviews stating that they were returning from Nigeria. Is this a change that was made during the editing process and these reviewers received ARCs before the change? Genuinely curious).
Dylan grew up in a mansion but his childhood home is now crumbling and his mother, who suffers from dementia, lives there alone and never goes into town. This is a good set up for a gothic mystery, but unfortunately, this book doesn't quite deliver. I didn't find any of the main characters particularly compelling (except for Ellie, a local police officer). I also dislike that the two older characters in the book both have dementia. I've seen dementia used in mysteries before, and it often seems like a device to have an "unreliable" character drop hints or red herrings into the plot. I'm not a fan.
I agree with other reviewers that the backstory about Dylan and Rose being kidnapped in Mogadishu didn't add much to the story. I suppose the point was to explain why Rose believes that her husband could never harm another person, but the plot point about Rose's ex sending ransom money was a bit odd. What purpose did it serve? To highlight that she also keeps secrets? I found this subplot to be unnecessary.
I did like the setting, both the mansion and the small town. I liked the legend of the wandering, vengeful ghost. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep my attention. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book but I did enjoy it well enough.
Dylan grew up in a mansion but his childhood home is now crumbling and his mother, who suffers from dementia, lives there alone and never goes into town. This is a good set up for a gothic mystery, but unfortunately, this book doesn't quite deliver. I didn't find any of the main characters particularly compelling (except for Ellie, a local police officer). I also dislike that the two older characters in the book both have dementia. I've seen dementia used in mysteries before, and it often seems like a device to have an "unreliable" character drop hints or red herrings into the plot. I'm not a fan.
I agree with other reviewers that the backstory about Dylan and Rose being kidnapped in Mogadishu didn't add much to the story. I suppose the point was to explain why Rose believes that her husband could never harm another person, but the plot point about Rose's ex sending ransom money was a bit odd. What purpose did it serve? To highlight that she also keeps secrets? I found this subplot to be unnecessary.
I did like the setting, both the mansion and the small town. I liked the legend of the wandering, vengeful ghost. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep my attention. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book but I did enjoy it well enough.
cindilm76's review against another edition
3.0
I'd like to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was just enough different from other books out in print that I was curious to see where the author was taking us. The opening with the family returning to the family mansion on a rainy night was a different twist. I was instantly curious to see why Dylan's mother would turn the family away and send them off to a cottage on the property, rather than welcoming them into the family home. I had to wonder what was hiding in the house, what could be wrong in the house, to make this mother who hadn't seen her son in so many years, had never met her daughter in law or grand son, send them back out into the cold wind and rain. Overall, it wasn't the homecoming Dylan had hoped for.
So, I was drawn in from the beginning. As the story continued on I still wanted those questions answered. It was a quick read, becasue I was curious to see what was next.
There were a few bits that felt a little unnecessary - like filler. The backstory of how Dylan and Rose first met - the story line didn't really feel like it fit in with the story and it distracted me from the main plot.
This was my first book by Jo Furniss and I enjoyed it. I'll be looking for more books by this author.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was just enough different from other books out in print that I was curious to see where the author was taking us. The opening with the family returning to the family mansion on a rainy night was a different twist. I was instantly curious to see why Dylan's mother would turn the family away and send them off to a cottage on the property, rather than welcoming them into the family home. I had to wonder what was hiding in the house, what could be wrong in the house, to make this mother who hadn't seen her son in so many years, had never met her daughter in law or grand son, send them back out into the cold wind and rain. Overall, it wasn't the homecoming Dylan had hoped for.
So, I was drawn in from the beginning. As the story continued on I still wanted those questions answered. It was a quick read, becasue I was curious to see what was next.
There were a few bits that felt a little unnecessary - like filler. The backstory of how Dylan and Rose first met - the story line didn't really feel like it fit in with the story and it distracted me from the main plot.
This was my first book by Jo Furniss and I enjoyed it. I'll be looking for more books by this author.
celiapowell's review against another edition
3.0
Rose and her husband Dylan move back to his childhood town, which isn't quite what Rose was expecting. Her mother-in-law seems to be suffering from dementia, her husband's surname causes unfriendly reactions in the town, and there are very few career options for her. In making the best of things, she gets drawn into a mystery from her husband's childhood - and then human remains are found near their home.
This is an enjoyable, small-town mystery/psychological thriller, and the combined investigative efforts of Rose and police officer Ellie (we get POV chapters from both) serve to move the narrative forward at a good pace. There are some plot points that are dwelt on and then never progress - an event in Rose's past comes up repeatedly, and then never goes anywhere, for example. A satisfying read nonetheless.
I received this book from NetGalley.
This is an enjoyable, small-town mystery/psychological thriller, and the combined investigative efforts of Rose and police officer Ellie (we get POV chapters from both) serve to move the narrative forward at a good pace. There are some plot points that are dwelt on and then never progress - an event in Rose's past comes up repeatedly, and then never goes anywhere, for example. A satisfying read nonetheless.
I received this book from NetGalley.
whimsicaljune's review against another edition
4.0
I received a digital arc of the this book for free through Netgalley. All opinions expressed here are that of my own.
Rose moves to Dylans hometown of Shropshire. The moment she arrives, she doesn’t feel at home. The people in the town seem to all have an aversion to Dylan’s family, and Rose, a reporter by day, is determined to find out why. Even more than that, there are other hands at play. Is Dylan’s family really the “bad guys” or have they just gotten dealt a bad hand.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. There are many small stories happening within the larger picture. Something I appreciate very much. There were a lot of characters, which I usually hate because I have an awful memory and have a hard time remembering who’s who. Jo gives a little clue every time she goes back to another character to jog your memory. Thank you Jo!!
I really enjoyed Roses character. A woman determined to find out more about her husbands background and if he’s really the man she thinks she married. Then there’s her husband Dylan, is he good or is he bad. Honestly, I didn’t know until the very end. And there’s Dylan’s reclusive mother, is she crazy, does she have Alzheimer’s or is it all just and act to cover up the secrets she keep? You’re gonna have to read it to find out.
Rose moves to Dylans hometown of Shropshire. The moment she arrives, she doesn’t feel at home. The people in the town seem to all have an aversion to Dylan’s family, and Rose, a reporter by day, is determined to find out why. Even more than that, there are other hands at play. Is Dylan’s family really the “bad guys” or have they just gotten dealt a bad hand.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. There are many small stories happening within the larger picture. Something I appreciate very much. There were a lot of characters, which I usually hate because I have an awful memory and have a hard time remembering who’s who. Jo gives a little clue every time she goes back to another character to jog your memory. Thank you Jo!!
I really enjoyed Roses character. A woman determined to find out more about her husbands background and if he’s really the man she thinks she married. Then there’s her husband Dylan, is he good or is he bad. Honestly, I didn’t know until the very end. And there’s Dylan’s reclusive mother, is she crazy, does she have Alzheimer’s or is it all just and act to cover up the secrets she keep? You’re gonna have to read it to find out.