Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Last Thing to Burn

Objectively speaking, this is a well written dark, tense thriller that leaves the reader feeling just as suffocated and trapped as the main character. The narrative and setting reflect each other well; nothing wasted, tightly controlled, gets the job done, and yet highly effective. I can see why people who enjoy this genre would rave about this book.

However, I'm not one of those people. This is a genre that I don't generally pick up, not because I'm triggered by anything within, but more just because I use reading as an escape to fantasy land, which this definitely isn't. My star rating reflects my subjective feelings; while it was a good read and I could digest it quickly, I couldn't derive any enjoyment or pleasure from it.

I didn't think there was much depth to the book; while the main character's backstory is clear, the motivations of her "husband" remain shrouded in mystery. In no way would any tragic backstory redeem him and he is clearly a bad person, but the gap left me with more questions than answers; is he perpetuating the cycle? Is he emulating his father, or did he have a weird obsession with his mother? Was he 'normal' with his first wife? If so, what made him turn? There are tantalising glimpses, but not enough to garner the feeling of full on, villain levels of hatred and disgust in the reader, which is definitely what you should be feeling for this man!!

Likewise, there are some plot points and actions that occur with little to no explanation, that make very little sense to me. They're clearly necessary for the story to move forward, but again it feels like there are big gaps left while the story moves on. I'm not saying everything needs explanation down to the tiniest detail, but in this case it seems to me that just too many details are missing.

I found the climax to be both exactly what you would be hoping for, and yet very underwhelming. Again, the lack of detail just leaves it wanting. In my head, the last moment of the main story should have been a last look back over the farmland, illuminated by the glow of embers and with the sound of crackling wood... this would still leave it up to the reader's imagination so there's nothing graphic, but would have given it the finality the story deserved. As it is, it's all inferred. And then the epilogue just feels too 'easy' and, oddly, seems to me to be the least realistic part of the book...

This book was recommended to me by my Mum. I am really glad she found a book she could devour quickly, and I'm so grateful I get to share the experience with her, even if it's not to the same degree.

Content Warnings