Title: The Last Thing He Told Me
Author: Laura Dave
Publication: March 21, 2023
Publisher: Marysue Rucci Books
Genre: Domestic Thriller, Suspense
Pages: 336
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.
REVIEW:
I had heard a lot about this book, but had not yet had a chance to read it. Lucky for me, one of my book clubs selected it and therefore I was able to squeeze it in and I am glad I did.
It had been a while since a book hooked me so much that I couldn’t put it down. Laura Dave may be one of my new favorite authors. The Last Thing He Told Me follows Hannah, stepmom to Bailey, wife to Owen as her world is turned upside down when her husband disappears. From the first page I was hooked. I HAD to know what was coming. I had to know what was going to happen next. I had to know how it was going to end. The characters were very likable and I loved the step-mom/step-daughter relationship that built and played out during this novel. I think Dave wrote true to that scenario and having to learn to trust someone you really never gave a chance to in the beginning.
Hannah’s character is a strong leading woman who I would really like to believe I am similar to in choices and how I carry myself in hard situations. I loved hearing her inner monologue and red flags flew in her direction from people surrounding her and how she made decisions. Bailey was your typical teen and I think her character grew a lot in the book, which is always great to watch.
Let’s talk about the real winner here, though. The suspense! The suspense in this book was so good! I was on the edge of my seat and staying up far past my bedtime in order to read just a little bit more. I actually finished this at work. Reading on the job is fine… right? A literal could-not-put-it-down book. I may or may not have gone straight to the bookstore and bought another book by her. Stay tuned for that review!
If you love suspense novels… read The Last Thing He Told Me. You will not regret it. The Last Thing He Told Me is the best book I have read in the last few years, hands down! Must read! Run, don’t walk, to the bookstore and get your copy now!
