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The Last Word
After posting a negative review of a horror novel, a woman staying at an isolated beach house begins to wonder if the author is a little touchy—or very, very dangerous—in this pulse-pounding novel of psychological suspense and terror from the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and Hairpin Bridge . Emma Carpenter lives in isolation with her golden retriever Laika, house-sitting an old beachfront home on the rainy Washington coast. Her only human contact is her enigmatic old neighbor, Deek, and (via text) the house’s owner, Jules. One day, she reads a poorly written—but gruesome—horror novel by the author H. G. Kane, and posts a one-star review that drags her into an online argument with none other than the author himself. Soon after, disturbing incidents start to occur at night. To Emma, this can’t just be a coincidence. It was strange enough for this author to bicker with her online about a lousy review; could he be stalking her, too? As Emma digs into Kane’s life and work, she learns he has published sixteen other novels, all similarly sadistic tales of stalking and murder. But who is he? How did he find her? And what else is he capable of? Displaying his trademark command of rapid-fire pacing, unnerving atmosphere, and razor-sharp characterization, Taylor Adams once again delivers a diabolically disturbing—and deadly—game of cat and mouse.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 25, 2023
2821 people are currently reading
118164 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Adams
6 books5,106 followersTaylor Adams is the author of several acclaimed thrillers including No Exit and Hairpin Bridge. No Exit has been published in 32 languages and was recently released by 20th Century Studios as a Hulu Original Film. Adams lives in Washington State.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,348 reviews
April 23, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up for fun
First off, let me assure everyone that the dog is FINE in the end. Many of the people, not so much, but the dog is unharmed.
I adore the premise of this book and anyone who reads and reviews will too. Emma is house sitting in a remote location on the coast. She is dealing with some personal things (that we find out about later) and doing a lot of reading. Her closest neighbor recommended she read a particular book and Emma finds the book to be inane and horribly written. She leaves a 1-star scathing review on Amazon, and the writer claps back and asks her to take it down (small quibble, you can't comment on Amazon reviews anymore, but I'll forgive that) and she refuses. After some more back-and-forth, he starts threatening her and Emma believes that he might have found where she is and is out to harm her.
This book does require a lot of suspension of disbelief. But it's wildly entertaining and keeps up a decent pace throughout, throwing in a few surprises and twists along the way. I didn't buy a lot of what happened, but the whole premise is so wild and tongue-in-cheek that I have to give the writer props for that. Also it is so much better than his last book (Hairpin Bridge) , which I gave 1-star to by the way, and since Adams lives in my state I guess I should be glad he didn't hunt me down but I digress...
Loved the fake Acknowledgements section, that was fun and I got a kick out of reading it, and I adored the insider reviewer tidbits, such as using sockpuppet accounts to give positive reviews. That said, there are a few too many twists, I thought the book was almost over and then I looked at my Kindle and I was only at 70%. It was a case of "You thought it was over...fooled you!" too many times for my liking. Yet, as a whole the story worked well and I enjoyed my time reading it.
I definitely recommend this one, especially if you've ever written a 1-star review (or really wanted to).
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
First off, let me assure everyone that the dog is FINE in the end. Many of the people, not so much, but the dog is unharmed.
I adore the premise of this book and anyone who reads and reviews will too. Emma is house sitting in a remote location on the coast. She is dealing with some personal things (that we find out about later) and doing a lot of reading. Her closest neighbor recommended she read a particular book and Emma finds the book to be inane and horribly written. She leaves a 1-star scathing review on Amazon, and the writer claps back and asks her to take it down (small quibble, you can't comment on Amazon reviews anymore, but I'll forgive that) and she refuses. After some more back-and-forth, he starts threatening her and Emma believes that he might have found where she is and is out to harm her.
This book does require a lot of suspension of disbelief. But it's wildly entertaining and keeps up a decent pace throughout, throwing in a few surprises and twists along the way. I didn't buy a lot of what happened, but the whole premise is so wild and tongue-in-cheek that I have to give the writer props for that. Also it is so much better than his last book (Hairpin Bridge) , which I gave 1-star to by the way, and since Adams lives in my state I guess I should be glad he didn't hunt me down but I digress...
Loved the fake Acknowledgements section, that was fun and I got a kick out of reading it, and I adored the insider reviewer tidbits, such as using sockpuppet accounts to give positive reviews. That said, there are a few too many twists, I thought the book was almost over and then I looked at my Kindle and I was only at 70%. It was a case of "You thought it was over...fooled you!" too many times for my liking. Yet, as a whole the story worked well and I enjoyed my time reading it.
I definitely recommend this one, especially if you've ever written a 1-star review (or really wanted to).
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 12, 2023
i’m giving this 5 stars bc i’m terrified if i give it anything less taylor adams will show up to my door with a sword
September 28, 2023
HAPPY PUB DAY!!!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thank you Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 4/5 | Ending: 3/5
SYNOPSIS
A one-star review leads to (arguably) the worst night of Emma's life.
MY OPINION
Okkkurrrtttt you know I HAD to read this. An author seeking revenge on reviewers??? As someone who may or may not be familiar with a salty review... or two.... I was curious to see what "side" Taylor Adams would take regarding one star reviews. And tbh, this book couldn't have dropped at a better time. 2023 is the year of authors making an ass of themselves by beefing with reviewers. I saw a comment yesterday saying an author called a reviewer's place of employment after a one star???? I mean, I've been blocked and shaded by authors before, but calling someone's work is literal jail behaviour.
First things first: take your disbelief, bundle it up, open the nearest door/window to you, and yeet it like an Olympic shotputter. You won't be needing that. As I'm sure you can glean from the synopsis, this is going to be a hella unrealistic, yet entertaining ride.
This is a THRILLER in every sense of the word. For the first quarter of the book, I was firmly clenching my cheeks. I even locked the door to my guest bedroom 😂 Adams did a great job building suspense before HG Kane and Emma come face-to-face for a night of horror. It was sorta like Grady Hendrix action-y, but less John Wick and more classic slasher film (or what I imagine to be... I always have my eyes close and just listen to the movie 😂).
Not only was this book high on action (the pace is Usain Bolt at the 2008 Summer Olympics), but Adams showed he can write. Great structure and stylistic choices. Loved the sense of humour and especially the "convos" between Emma and her dog, Laika. Sooo cute and heartwarming in an otherwise bleaktastic book.
Ok idk how to explain this, so hopefully it just makes sense to you, but the relationship stuff with Shawn reminded me of Anna Fox (The Woman in the Window) relationship with her husband and daughter. Idk there was just something similar (not accusing him of swagger jacking at all, he ain't Freida McFraudulent) about Emma "speaking" with her spouse... and some other things I shan't mention for the risk of spoilies. It was poignant though. I liked that he brought some extra layers to this action-packed thriller to make it more well-rounded. And then the whole book within a book was giving me The Nothing Man as well, right down to the fake epilogue.
Now, my rich homie qualm (because there always one... or two... or ten): the ending DRAAAAGGGGEDDD. There were so many reverse unos, my head was spinning. I just wanted it to wrap tf up. If he hadn't done all that and a bag of chips in the final stretch, I maybe, perhaps, shoulda coulda woulda tossed it a lil five stars. Just saying.
All in all, a unique and topical premise, elevated by better than average writing and an interesting storytelling structure. Well-done. I hope this book gets the attention that it deserves and it'll be sure to spark 1000 passionate book club debates.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, truly a thriller, fast-paced and action-packed, solid character development, had me clenching my butt cheeks at times
Cons: the last 25% was doing a lil too much for me... I wanted it to wrap it tf up
Thank you Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 4/5 | Ending: 3/5
SYNOPSIS
A one-star review leads to (arguably) the worst night of Emma's life.
MY OPINION
Okkkurrrtttt you know I HAD to read this. An author seeking revenge on reviewers??? As someone who may or may not be familiar with a salty review... or two.... I was curious to see what "side" Taylor Adams would take regarding one star reviews. And tbh, this book couldn't have dropped at a better time. 2023 is the year of authors making an ass of themselves by beefing with reviewers. I saw a comment yesterday saying an author called a reviewer's place of employment after a one star???? I mean, I've been blocked and shaded by authors before, but calling someone's work is literal jail behaviour.
First things first: take your disbelief, bundle it up, open the nearest door/window to you, and yeet it like an Olympic shotputter. You won't be needing that. As I'm sure you can glean from the synopsis, this is going to be a hella unrealistic, yet entertaining ride.
This is a THRILLER in every sense of the word. For the first quarter of the book, I was firmly clenching my cheeks. I even locked the door to my guest bedroom 😂 Adams did a great job building suspense before HG Kane and Emma come face-to-face for a night of horror. It was sorta like Grady Hendrix action-y, but less John Wick and more classic slasher film (or what I imagine to be... I always have my eyes close and just listen to the movie 😂).
Not only was this book high on action (the pace is Usain Bolt at the 2008 Summer Olympics), but Adams showed he can write. Great structure and stylistic choices. Loved the sense of humour and especially the "convos" between Emma and her dog, Laika. Sooo cute and heartwarming in an otherwise bleaktastic book.
Ok idk how to explain this, so hopefully it just makes sense to you, but the relationship stuff with Shawn reminded me of Anna Fox (The Woman in the Window) relationship with her husband and daughter. Idk there was just something similar (not accusing him of swagger jacking at all, he ain't Freida McFraudulent) about Emma "speaking" with her spouse... and some other things I shan't mention for the risk of spoilies. It was poignant though. I liked that he brought some extra layers to this action-packed thriller to make it more well-rounded. And then the whole book within a book was giving me The Nothing Man as well, right down to the fake epilogue.
Now, my rich homie qualm (because there always one... or two... or ten): the ending DRAAAAGGGGEDDD. There were so many reverse unos, my head was spinning. I just wanted it to wrap tf up. If he hadn't done all that and a bag of chips in the final stretch, I maybe, perhaps, shoulda coulda woulda tossed it a lil five stars. Just saying.
All in all, a unique and topical premise, elevated by better than average writing and an interesting storytelling structure. Well-done. I hope this book gets the attention that it deserves and it'll be sure to spark 1000 passionate book club debates.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, truly a thriller, fast-paced and action-packed, solid character development, had me clenching my butt cheeks at times
Cons: the last 25% was doing a lil too much for me... I wanted it to wrap it tf up
August 4, 2023
Now this was an interesting and original premise! The plot describes a writer out to get the main character who gave a one-star review.
First I found the book a bit dizzying. There was so much back and forth, that I really had to concentrate when what I thought turned out to be wrong. Especially in the last chapters! You have to go into the story with an open mind, the plot is special for a reason, since it’s so unbelievable. In this book it doesn’t matter though, because it was all so much fun! If you like a suspenseful read where the pace never lets up, this is a winner!
First I found the book a bit dizzying. There was so much back and forth, that I really had to concentrate when what I thought turned out to be wrong. Especially in the last chapters! You have to go into the story with an open mind, the plot is special for a reason, since it’s so unbelievable. In this book it doesn’t matter though, because it was all so much fun! If you like a suspenseful read where the pace never lets up, this is a winner!
July 1, 2025
I had the pleasure of Buddy Reading The Last Word with my beautiful niece, Lyss. I knew when she texted me the night we started saying she couldn't read it if she was home alone, it was going to be good.
And it was!!! We had such a fantastic time with it. Although I am sure having someone to chat to about it while I was reading it, enhanced my experience, I am still proclaiming this to be my favorite book of 2023, so far.
The Last Word is getting a lot of buzz right now and IMO, it's totally warranted. This is Adams returning to his No Exit-style and a lot of people, myself included, are eating it up.
If you aren't aware, this story follows, Emma Carpenter, a woman who after a personal loss has secluded herself in a beach house on the Washington Coast. She's technically house-sitting, but really she's licking her wounds and trying to heal her broken heart.
Her days are spent with her dog, Laika, reading a ton of cheap e-books, walking on the beach, doing some drinking and chatting with the only neighbor via a whiteboard and binoculars. You know, the usual winter activities on an abandoned coastline.
After reading a particularly horrendous Slasher Horror novel, Emma can't help herself. This book is trash. Absolute trash. She has to warn other unsuspecting e-book readers.
Therefore, she heads over to Amazon to leave a snarky 1-star review. She's surprised moments later to get a direct reply from the author. He's offended by her review and demands she take it down.
She refuses, or course. They go back and forth for a bit and he tells her that if she doesn't take it down, she'll regret it. Emma's not playing this game. Sorry, loser, but your book sucked. Emma refuses to engage further.
Then things start happening...
Y'all, I loved this from the first 5-pages. I was hooked immediately. I'm not even exaggerating.
Honestly, the self-absorbed part of my brain wondered, did Taylor Adams write this after reading my review of Hairpin Bridge? Feeling frightened, I went back and read my review. It wasn't that bad, so I figured I, at least, was in the clear.
As a reviewer and horror lover, this novel is disturbing, fun and disturbingly fun in so many different ways. It played on some of my biggest fears.
While I can see that there are some aspects of this that not everyone will love, for me, it was pretty much a perfect reading experience.
Even though I saw many of the twists coming a mile away, it didn't damper my enjoyment of them one bit. I was still completely engaged and loved sitting by as Adams revealed it all in his own time.
I also loved the characters. Emma was a classic-feeling 'good for her' horror-girlie and I'm always down for that. Some of her lines had me laughing out loud and I loved watching her sort of come back to life throughout the story.
Lyss and I had some great discussions regarding this plot, both while we were reading it and after. I would absolutely recommend reading this with a friend. There really is a lot to discuss, as far as themes, structure and character development.
This is a case where I would recommend reading the hard copy, if you have the opportunity to do so. The way the book is arranged, including things such as the font choices, makes this a unique reading experience. I love how it was layed out.
I am so happy that Adams knocked this out of the park for me. Wild, crazy, gripping, anxiety-inducing terror ride of seclusion and desperation. I loved, loved, loved it.
I'm really looking forward to his next release!
And it was!!! We had such a fantastic time with it. Although I am sure having someone to chat to about it while I was reading it, enhanced my experience, I am still proclaiming this to be my favorite book of 2023, so far.
The Last Word is getting a lot of buzz right now and IMO, it's totally warranted. This is Adams returning to his No Exit-style and a lot of people, myself included, are eating it up.
If you aren't aware, this story follows, Emma Carpenter, a woman who after a personal loss has secluded herself in a beach house on the Washington Coast. She's technically house-sitting, but really she's licking her wounds and trying to heal her broken heart.
Her days are spent with her dog, Laika, reading a ton of cheap e-books, walking on the beach, doing some drinking and chatting with the only neighbor via a whiteboard and binoculars. You know, the usual winter activities on an abandoned coastline.
After reading a particularly horrendous Slasher Horror novel, Emma can't help herself. This book is trash. Absolute trash. She has to warn other unsuspecting e-book readers.
Therefore, she heads over to Amazon to leave a snarky 1-star review. She's surprised moments later to get a direct reply from the author. He's offended by her review and demands she take it down.
She refuses, or course. They go back and forth for a bit and he tells her that if she doesn't take it down, she'll regret it. Emma's not playing this game. Sorry, loser, but your book sucked. Emma refuses to engage further.
Then things start happening...
Y'all, I loved this from the first 5-pages. I was hooked immediately. I'm not even exaggerating.
Honestly, the self-absorbed part of my brain wondered, did Taylor Adams write this after reading my review of Hairpin Bridge? Feeling frightened, I went back and read my review. It wasn't that bad, so I figured I, at least, was in the clear.
As a reviewer and horror lover, this novel is disturbing, fun and disturbingly fun in so many different ways. It played on some of my biggest fears.
While I can see that there are some aspects of this that not everyone will love, for me, it was pretty much a perfect reading experience.
Even though I saw many of the twists coming a mile away, it didn't damper my enjoyment of them one bit. I was still completely engaged and loved sitting by as Adams revealed it all in his own time.
I also loved the characters. Emma was a classic-feeling 'good for her' horror-girlie and I'm always down for that. Some of her lines had me laughing out loud and I loved watching her sort of come back to life throughout the story.
Lyss and I had some great discussions regarding this plot, both while we were reading it and after. I would absolutely recommend reading this with a friend. There really is a lot to discuss, as far as themes, structure and character development.
This is a case where I would recommend reading the hard copy, if you have the opportunity to do so. The way the book is arranged, including things such as the font choices, makes this a unique reading experience. I love how it was layed out.
I am so happy that Adams knocked this out of the park for me. Wild, crazy, gripping, anxiety-inducing terror ride of seclusion and desperation. I loved, loved, loved it.
I'm really looking forward to his next release!
November 15, 2023
An evil author character, H.G. Kane goes after a reader (Emma) for leaving a one star review!
This is terrifying.
I left a one star review for Taylor Adam's No Exit! Haha and Yikes 😱
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I probably wouldn't have ever picked this one up if I hadn't seen many raving reviews from many friends (who thankfully let me know the dog survives)!
My heart raced with adrenaline as things veered off course. Book slump gone!
Poor Emma finds herself in the middle of her own Horror novel! She is all alone house-sitting with her Golden Retriever, Laika when evil comes a knocking. "Who is out there?" I could feel the nervous electricity. Someone has ice running through their veins.
The Wi-Fi signal is gone, dark shadows are lurking, and things get very grisly. Emma is sharp though and very opinionated, she knows his book "really sucked"! She won't give up without a fight.
Attack, Hide, Repeat
Rapid fire chases had me tensed up, I couldn't predict what would come next. No one seemed to be in control.
I recommend if you enjoy some ott,gory, slasher vibes. I went in blind without knowing, but ended up enjoying the craziness and unpredictable turns. Not for everyone (what book is?), so check out all the reviews.
Shout out to Laika, I heard she was a real life dog! 🐶💗
Listened via Audible / 9 hours, 57 min and narrated by Carlotta Brentan and Jim Meskimen who were both amazing and kept me on edge.
This is terrifying.
I left a one star review for Taylor Adam's No Exit! Haha and Yikes 😱
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I probably wouldn't have ever picked this one up if I hadn't seen many raving reviews from many friends (who thankfully let me know the dog survives)!
My heart raced with adrenaline as things veered off course. Book slump gone!
Poor Emma finds herself in the middle of her own Horror novel! She is all alone house-sitting with her Golden Retriever, Laika when evil comes a knocking. "Who is out there?" I could feel the nervous electricity. Someone has ice running through their veins.
The Wi-Fi signal is gone, dark shadows are lurking, and things get very grisly. Emma is sharp though and very opinionated, she knows his book "really sucked"! She won't give up without a fight.
Attack, Hide, Repeat
Rapid fire chases had me tensed up, I couldn't predict what would come next. No one seemed to be in control.
I recommend if you enjoy some ott,gory, slasher vibes. I went in blind without knowing, but ended up enjoying the craziness and unpredictable turns. Not for everyone (what book is?), so check out all the reviews.
Shout out to Laika, I heard she was a real life dog! 🐶💗
Listened via Audible / 9 hours, 57 min and narrated by Carlotta Brentan and Jim Meskimen who were both amazing and kept me on edge.
June 6, 2023
The most important PSA for this book is that the dog does not die! I don't care if that's a spoiler, but I wish someone had told me ahead of time before I got all stressed and could only think about that. The cover of this latest Taylor Adams book is unfortunately the best thing about it.
Emma is struggling with depression and house sitting a lonely beach house with her dog. At the suggestion of a neighbor, she reads a mad-slasher ebook and gives it the honest low rating it deserves. The mysterious author notices it, however, and starts sending Emma threatening messages, demanding her to take down her review or else. When she refuses, she gets the sensation that she's not alone at the house. Has the author really come to terrify her into removing her review?
I'm not stressing about leaving a critical review because if Taylor Adams showed up at my house, that would be kind of cool. My issues with the book were that it was simultaneously fast-paced and drawn out such as, the fight scene in the house lasting well over 100 pages. I also didn't like how the author's point of view was written as one of his crappy ebooks. It detracted from the narrative and was not well-written. And lastly, the characters weren't that developed. I guess that's hard to do when they're running and hiding from each other every page.
Unevenly paced, Lengthy, and Predictable, this is probably going to be my last Taylor Adams read.
I received this ARC from another reader but would like to thank the author and publisher for continuing to send physical ARCs to reviewers like us!
Emma is struggling with depression and house sitting a lonely beach house with her dog. At the suggestion of a neighbor, she reads a mad-slasher ebook and gives it the honest low rating it deserves. The mysterious author notices it, however, and starts sending Emma threatening messages, demanding her to take down her review or else. When she refuses, she gets the sensation that she's not alone at the house. Has the author really come to terrify her into removing her review?
I'm not stressing about leaving a critical review because if Taylor Adams showed up at my house, that would be kind of cool. My issues with the book were that it was simultaneously fast-paced and drawn out such as, the fight scene in the house lasting well over 100 pages. I also didn't like how the author's point of view was written as one of his crappy ebooks. It detracted from the narrative and was not well-written. And lastly, the characters weren't that developed. I guess that's hard to do when they're running and hiding from each other every page.
Unevenly paced, Lengthy, and Predictable, this is probably going to be my last Taylor Adams read.
I received this ARC from another reader but would like to thank the author and publisher for continuing to send physical ARCs to reviewers like us!
August 10, 2023
the best thriller I read in 2023
February 20, 2024
2.5⭐️
After a personal tragedy, Emma Carpenter chose to live in isolation in a house on the Washington Coast. Her sole companion is her golden retriever Laika, and her interaction with others is limited to the owner of the house, Jules and her elderly neighbor, Deek, with whom she communicates via handwritten messages from her window. Emma spends a lot of time reading. After her neighbor recommends a horror novel by an author by the name of H.G.Kane, which she doesn’t enjoy for several reasons (that are quite believable), she doesn’t hesitate to share in her one-star review – a review that prompts the author to initiate an online conversation with her. Needless to say, he wants her to change her rating, which she absolutely refuses to do. The online conversation gets heated with both of them trading insults. Just when she thinks that things have calmed down, Emma begins to feel like she is being watched and also suspects the presence of someone in the house. Are her fears unfounded, or is she really being stalked? If so, to what end?
The premise of The Last Word by Taylor Adams is original and enticing. For me, the premise was the best part of this story. I really enjoyed how the author builds on the premise up to a point ( the first 100-odd pages are suspenseful, well-structured and fast-paced). However, as the narrative progresses, the pace does begin to drag, the elements that were meant to build up the tension begin to feel a tad repetitive and the characters all too unbelievable (and maybe a tad stereotypical, bordering on ridiculous?). The narrative is long-winded with too much going on. I enjoy twisty reads, but with too many twists, I found myself losing interest in the plot around the midway mark. I did love Laika, the dog, and though the ending did redeem the book to an extent, overall, I can’t say this was a satisfying read.
After a personal tragedy, Emma Carpenter chose to live in isolation in a house on the Washington Coast. Her sole companion is her golden retriever Laika, and her interaction with others is limited to the owner of the house, Jules and her elderly neighbor, Deek, with whom she communicates via handwritten messages from her window. Emma spends a lot of time reading. After her neighbor recommends a horror novel by an author by the name of H.G.Kane, which she doesn’t enjoy for several reasons (that are quite believable), she doesn’t hesitate to share in her one-star review – a review that prompts the author to initiate an online conversation with her. Needless to say, he wants her to change her rating, which she absolutely refuses to do. The online conversation gets heated with both of them trading insults. Just when she thinks that things have calmed down, Emma begins to feel like she is being watched and also suspects the presence of someone in the house. Are her fears unfounded, or is she really being stalked? If so, to what end?
The premise of The Last Word by Taylor Adams is original and enticing. For me, the premise was the best part of this story. I really enjoyed how the author builds on the premise up to a point ( the first 100-odd pages are suspenseful, well-structured and fast-paced). However, as the narrative progresses, the pace does begin to drag, the elements that were meant to build up the tension begin to feel a tad repetitive and the characters all too unbelievable (and maybe a tad stereotypical, bordering on ridiculous?). The narrative is long-winded with too much going on. I enjoy twisty reads, but with too many twists, I found myself losing interest in the plot around the midway mark. I did love Laika, the dog, and though the ending did redeem the book to an extent, overall, I can’t say this was a satisfying read.
May 12, 2023
A “FOMO” read!
Emma Carpenter lives in isolation with her beloved golden retriever Laika, named after the Soviet space dog who orbited the Earth in Sputnik 2. She is house-sitting an old beachfront property on the rainy Washington coast, mending a broken heart.
Her only human contact is with her neighbor, Deek, who she communicates with through her telescope, and the house’s owner, Jules, who she communicates with via text.
One day, she reads a poorly written horror novel by author H. G. Kane, and posts a one-star review that drags her into an online argument with him. She claims his books are amateurish and unrealistic and he begs to differ.
And, then “disturbing things” start happening.
Has he tracked her down to prove her wrong?
OR WORSE?
This story IS fun IF you enjoy FINAL GIRL horror films. 🍿
I DO NOT.
I wish I had stuck with just reading “One Star Review” the short story with the same FUN premise, written by R.E. Sargent, which came out a couple of years ago. 😔
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING for dog lovers!!
🛑 Minor Spoiler warning about the 🐶 ⬇️
Yes, Emma’s Laika survives the poison and fish hooks planted in her food. (bad enough).
BUT, if you didn’t know the story of her namesake, you will learn all about the real Laika, a gorgeous stray mongrel whose survival was NEVER expected when Russia launched her into Space to her death in Sputnik 2.
I made the mistake of googling this, and HER photo and story broke my heart. 💔
Emma Carpenter lives in isolation with her beloved golden retriever Laika, named after the Soviet space dog who orbited the Earth in Sputnik 2. She is house-sitting an old beachfront property on the rainy Washington coast, mending a broken heart.
Her only human contact is with her neighbor, Deek, who she communicates with through her telescope, and the house’s owner, Jules, who she communicates with via text.
One day, she reads a poorly written horror novel by author H. G. Kane, and posts a one-star review that drags her into an online argument with him. She claims his books are amateurish and unrealistic and he begs to differ.
And, then “disturbing things” start happening.
Has he tracked her down to prove her wrong?
OR WORSE?
This story IS fun IF you enjoy FINAL GIRL horror films. 🍿
I DO NOT.
I wish I had stuck with just reading “One Star Review” the short story with the same FUN premise, written by R.E. Sargent, which came out a couple of years ago. 😔
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING for dog lovers!!
🛑 Minor Spoiler warning about the 🐶 ⬇️
Yes, Emma’s Laika survives the poison and fish hooks planted in her food. (bad enough).
BUT, if you didn’t know the story of her namesake, you will learn all about the real Laika, a gorgeous stray mongrel whose survival was NEVER expected when Russia launched her into Space to her death in Sputnik 2.
I made the mistake of googling this, and HER photo and story broke my heart. 💔
May 13, 2023
Yes, I do understand the irony of rating a book about a killer going after reviewers that gives bad grades one star.
But this book is not a thriller, it has to be satire, right?
The MC sets the entire thing in motion because she rates a book one star for being unrealistic and then all the overused stereotypes are just applied one after another.
It’s even directly written into the book:
”Emma was grasping it now. The convenient horror “tropes” for which she’d one-starred Murder Mountain were now her inarguable reality.”
We have the naive woman that conveniently isolated herself and stubbornly refuses to believe any warning or answer her phone even though she knows it’s important. She’s upset that no one has a gun in the book she read, but tries to defend herself with boiling water.
She also chooses to aggravate the author when she knows he can be dangerous and makes the situation even worse.
She can’t escape because the murderer has sabotaged her car, but we’re just supposed to ignore that there came a delivery driver and that car was still present for a large part of the story?
The most recurring note I made was simply “idiot”.
The dog is fine in the end, but no thanks to Emma. When the dog finds what the MC first suspects is human flesh, she just buries it in the sand. In a trench that she “digs” with her foot.
The plot-twist in the end was so predictable because it was already used countless times throughout the book. It’s like the reader is supposed to believe that this person was uninvolved because the MC dismissed the possibility. But I’m not an idiot like the MC.
We also switch POV without in the middle of the chapters without anything that makes that clear, which makes it hard to follow and we also gets the dog’s “thoughts”, which I thought were so cringe.
This is a spoiler
The reason that she isolated herself is because her baby died, they try to convince her it not her fault. BUT IT FUCKING IS???? She was driving 70 mph and using her phone that was in her lap. Even if she managed to avoid the crash, the fact that they were in that situation is her fault.
This entire book is just aggravating.
But this book is not a thriller, it has to be satire, right?
The MC sets the entire thing in motion because she rates a book one star for being unrealistic and then all the overused stereotypes are just applied one after another.
It’s even directly written into the book:
”Emma was grasping it now. The convenient horror “tropes” for which she’d one-starred Murder Mountain were now her inarguable reality.”
We have the naive woman that conveniently isolated herself and stubbornly refuses to believe any warning or answer her phone even though she knows it’s important. She’s upset that no one has a gun in the book she read, but tries to defend herself with boiling water.
She also chooses to aggravate the author when she knows he can be dangerous and makes the situation even worse.
She can’t escape because the murderer has sabotaged her car, but we’re just supposed to ignore that there came a delivery driver and that car was still present for a large part of the story?
The most recurring note I made was simply “idiot”.
The dog is fine in the end, but no thanks to Emma. When the dog finds what the MC first suspects is human flesh, she just buries it in the sand. In a trench that she “digs” with her foot.
The plot-twist in the end was so predictable because it was already used countless times throughout the book. It’s like the reader is supposed to believe that this person was uninvolved because the MC dismissed the possibility. But I’m not an idiot like the MC.
We also switch POV without in the middle of the chapters without anything that makes that clear, which makes it hard to follow and we also gets the dog’s “thoughts”, which I thought were so cringe.
This is a spoiler
The reason that she isolated herself is because her baby died, they try to convince her it not her fault. BUT IT FUCKING IS???? She was driving 70 mph and using her phone that was in her lap. Even if she managed to avoid the crash, the fact that they were in that situation is her fault.
This entire book is just aggravating.
May 8, 2023
I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU! WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU!!
Why couldn’t the whole book be as good as the first 50 pages? 😭😭😩😩
Why couldn’t the whole book be as good as the first 50 pages? 😭😭😩😩
May 7, 2023
3.5🌟
Honesty can get you killed!🔪
I’m all about writing honest reviews. And always cringe that I don’t offend the author or other readers with differing opinions.
But what happens if that author feels insulted by your words and takes it personally? What if they want revenge!
Wow! When I skimmed over the blurb for this book it instantly became a MUST for me. I thought, how clever and original! It’s certainly something that’s crossed the mind of every reviewer who has left a negative review, myself included.)🙋🏻♀️. Though I always try to be as kind and gentle as possible. (I need a tip-toeing emoji here!)
Case in point below.😉
As much as I loved the premise I felt it went off in strange directions and just didn’t deliver on the level I had hoped for. I found some of it confusing in transitioning between characters, and the ending left me a bit befuddled.
Overall I think I just set my expectations too high.
So now that I’ve left a less than raving review. All I can ask is that Taylor Adams takes my thoughts in stride as so many other readers loved this book. Please forgive me Taylor!🙏 I’m sure I’ll be singing the praises your other books!🙌🤩
Honesty can get you killed!🔪
I’m all about writing honest reviews. And always cringe that I don’t offend the author or other readers with differing opinions.
But what happens if that author feels insulted by your words and takes it personally? What if they want revenge!
Wow! When I skimmed over the blurb for this book it instantly became a MUST for me. I thought, how clever and original! It’s certainly something that’s crossed the mind of every reviewer who has left a negative review, myself included.)🙋🏻♀️. Though I always try to be as kind and gentle as possible. (I need a tip-toeing emoji here!)
Case in point below.😉
As much as I loved the premise I felt it went off in strange directions and just didn’t deliver on the level I had hoped for. I found some of it confusing in transitioning between characters, and the ending left me a bit befuddled.
Overall I think I just set my expectations too high.
So now that I’ve left a less than raving review. All I can ask is that Taylor Adams takes my thoughts in stride as so many other readers loved this book. Please forgive me Taylor!🙏 I’m sure I’ll be singing the praises your other books!🙌🤩
June 10, 2023
Dark comedy horror?
I love this premise. Emma and her dog Laika are house-sitting at a remote foggy coastal house. She bought a 99-cent horror novel "Murder Mountain" on Amazon through a recommendation. She absolutely hated the book and decides on leaving an honest 1-star review. Before she knows it, the author H.G. Kane messaged her and asked her nicely to take down the review. Emma respectfully declined to delete it.
Bwahaha! I really enjoyed the back-and-forth POV between Emma and Kane. Sometimes they contradict one another which made me laugh out loud. Kane is very persistent and becomes more aggressive as the story progress into thriller/horror territory. You have to shelve your disbelief somewhere else and enjoy the crazzzziness!!
My only problem is I felt the second half drags a little bit but otherwise this is very entertaining and fresh. I love the author's humor and idea about 1-star reviews. 3.5⭐😂
I love this premise. Emma and her dog Laika are house-sitting at a remote foggy coastal house. She bought a 99-cent horror novel "Murder Mountain" on Amazon through a recommendation. She absolutely hated the book and decides on leaving an honest 1-star review. Before she knows it, the author H.G. Kane messaged her and asked her nicely to take down the review. Emma respectfully declined to delete it.
Bwahaha! I really enjoyed the back-and-forth POV between Emma and Kane. Sometimes they contradict one another which made me laugh out loud. Kane is very persistent and becomes more aggressive as the story progress into thriller/horror territory. You have to shelve your disbelief somewhere else and enjoy the crazzzziness!!
My only problem is I felt the second half drags a little bit but otherwise this is very entertaining and fresh. I love the author's humor and idea about 1-star reviews. 3.5⭐😂
May 13, 2023
Amateur
July 26, 2023
Well, that was different! And I liked it.
Have you ever posted a one-star review?! 🙋🏻♀️
Eek! (But whatever, I'm not a professional critic, I post reviews on GR as a reader for other readers....and honesty is important)
However, I think this is a timely subject as we’ve heard stories of authors coming after reviewers who pan their books.
And here we have the premise. An author seeking revenge for a poor review? Count me in!
Emma, with her dog Laika, is housesitting in a remote location on the Washington coast. She has a tragic past, and spends her days downloading and reading kindle books. One day she reads a horror book that is so bad she is compelled to leave a one-star review (come on, we’ve all been there, right?)
The author asks her to take the review down but Emma refuses. And then strange things begin to happen. Not just to Emma but to us as the reader of this book. The lines between reality and fiction begin to blur as the maligned author’s excerpts of his writing is inserted in the narrative (much of which exists only in his mind as he would like the events to play out)
This becomes not just a creepy stalker story but one that escalates into an action thriller category. I won’t say too much more for fear of spoilers but know that the story all comes together brilliantly and poignantly. I nearly threw the book across the room at several points when the story wasn’t going the way I wanted (haha) but if you feel the same, keep reading…there are twists upon twists that are fun and unexpected.
One caveat: propofol is not effective given orally, but hey this is fiction so I'll let it slide...
This is very well-written and unique and I loved the epilogue. Plus I can’t help but add this spoiler….the dog survives.
Have you ever posted a one-star review?! 🙋🏻♀️
Eek! (But whatever, I'm not a professional critic, I post reviews on GR as a reader for other readers....and honesty is important)
However, I think this is a timely subject as we’ve heard stories of authors coming after reviewers who pan their books.
And here we have the premise. An author seeking revenge for a poor review? Count me in!
Emma, with her dog Laika, is housesitting in a remote location on the Washington coast. She has a tragic past, and spends her days downloading and reading kindle books. One day she reads a horror book that is so bad she is compelled to leave a one-star review (come on, we’ve all been there, right?)
The author asks her to take the review down but Emma refuses. And then strange things begin to happen. Not just to Emma but to us as the reader of this book. The lines between reality and fiction begin to blur as the maligned author’s excerpts of his writing is inserted in the narrative (much of which exists only in his mind as he would like the events to play out)
This becomes not just a creepy stalker story but one that escalates into an action thriller category. I won’t say too much more for fear of spoilers but know that the story all comes together brilliantly and poignantly. I nearly threw the book across the room at several points when the story wasn’t going the way I wanted (haha) but if you feel the same, keep reading…there are twists upon twists that are fun and unexpected.
One caveat: propofol is not effective given orally, but hey this is fiction so I'll let it slide...
This is very well-written and unique and I loved the epilogue. Plus I can’t help but add this spoiler….the dog survives.
March 13, 2023
“Opinions are like a**holes, the saying goes, and the internet has millions of both.”
Reviewers beware!
Have you ever wondered how a writer might respond to an unsavory review of his book? What might his reaction be to a one-star review when he worked tirelessly to complete his masterpiece?
Don’t worry, Taylor Adams, I really enjoyed The Last Word!
Emma Carpenter and her dog, Laika, are housesitting at an isolated beach home in order to cope with her own grief. To distract herself from her depression, she orders cheap E-books from Amazon and mindlessly reads to pass the time. She also plays Hangman through a window on a whiteboard with her alcoholic neighbor, Deek. When he suggests that she reads Murder Mountain, she immediately downloads, reads, and reviews it. Unfortunately, it is quite possibly the worst book she has ever read, and consequently uploads a one-star scathing review to Amazon.
Immediately, Emma receives a threatening response from the author, imploring her to take it down. After she refuses, she begins to feel like someone is watching her. Is there an intruder in the house? Is it haunted? Could the author of Murder Mountain have actually found her and made good on his threat? Is Emma in danger?
This is my third Taylor Adams thriller, and in true fashion, it includes non-stop action that will have readers on the edge of their seats, reeling from the killer twists that just…keep…coming! With vibes of The Woman in the Window and Misery, this book is extremely clever and expertly plotted!
Like Adams’ previous thrillers, The Last Word is fairly gruesome. However, it has a light, humorous, and sympathetic tone, so it is not as terrifying. Regardless, if you are squeamish, this might not be the right read for you.
Overall, I really enjoyed the ride and it is my absolute pleasure to give this book an excellent review! (I promise I’m not just saying that to avoid retribution!)
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Trigger warning: School shooting, suicide, intent to hurt an animal (but no harm is actually done)
Expected publication date: 4/25/23
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow publishing for the ARC of The Last Word in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewers beware!
Have you ever wondered how a writer might respond to an unsavory review of his book? What might his reaction be to a one-star review when he worked tirelessly to complete his masterpiece?
Don’t worry, Taylor Adams, I really enjoyed The Last Word!
Emma Carpenter and her dog, Laika, are housesitting at an isolated beach home in order to cope with her own grief. To distract herself from her depression, she orders cheap E-books from Amazon and mindlessly reads to pass the time. She also plays Hangman through a window on a whiteboard with her alcoholic neighbor, Deek. When he suggests that she reads Murder Mountain, she immediately downloads, reads, and reviews it. Unfortunately, it is quite possibly the worst book she has ever read, and consequently uploads a one-star scathing review to Amazon.
Immediately, Emma receives a threatening response from the author, imploring her to take it down. After she refuses, she begins to feel like someone is watching her. Is there an intruder in the house? Is it haunted? Could the author of Murder Mountain have actually found her and made good on his threat? Is Emma in danger?
This is my third Taylor Adams thriller, and in true fashion, it includes non-stop action that will have readers on the edge of their seats, reeling from the killer twists that just…keep…coming! With vibes of The Woman in the Window and Misery, this book is extremely clever and expertly plotted!
Like Adams’ previous thrillers, The Last Word is fairly gruesome. However, it has a light, humorous, and sympathetic tone, so it is not as terrifying. Regardless, if you are squeamish, this might not be the right read for you.
Overall, I really enjoyed the ride and it is my absolute pleasure to give this book an excellent review! (I promise I’m not just saying that to avoid retribution!)
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Trigger warning: School shooting, suicide, intent to hurt an animal (but no harm is actually done)
Expected publication date: 4/25/23
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow publishing for the ARC of The Last Word in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2024
This was a January pick for our book club and unfortunately 2024 didn’t start well.
The Last Word was a mess, and the book we read after this one was even worse.
I would like to say that this novel started promising. The writing style was good, slow but interesting, and it was easy for me to connect with Emma.
She was a loner, clearly suffering with depression after a tragic event in her life.
I could understand why she chose solitude and comfort in this new, boring way of living (if you can call it that).
However, with part 2 being written in a different way, all the connection I had for the story and our MC slowly but surely fell down the drain.
It’s not even about the choices Emma made, it was mainly the writing style.
All of the sudden beautiful prose was replaced with harsh storytelling, with more action that in Terminator movies.
At one point so much was going on that it made puree in my brain, it was too much to handle.
Especially as I didn’t enjoy the story anyway, nor did I like the characters enough.
The closer to the end we were, my connection to the story was less and less there, until it faded completely.
The last few chapters were pure torture and I couldn’t wait to be done with it and move on.
The only reason I decided to finish The Last Word is because my FOMO activated, just like it does every time I take part in buddy reads.
If anyone asks me, this book got more hype then it deserved.
The Last Word was a mess, and the book we read after this one was even worse.
I would like to say that this novel started promising. The writing style was good, slow but interesting, and it was easy for me to connect with Emma.
She was a loner, clearly suffering with depression after a tragic event in her life.
I could understand why she chose solitude and comfort in this new, boring way of living (if you can call it that).
However, with part 2 being written in a different way, all the connection I had for the story and our MC slowly but surely fell down the drain.
It’s not even about the choices Emma made, it was mainly the writing style.
All of the sudden beautiful prose was replaced with harsh storytelling, with more action that in Terminator movies.
At one point so much was going on that it made puree in my brain, it was too much to handle.
Especially as I didn’t enjoy the story anyway, nor did I like the characters enough.
The closer to the end we were, my connection to the story was less and less there, until it faded completely.
The last few chapters were pure torture and I couldn’t wait to be done with it and move on.
The only reason I decided to finish The Last Word is because my FOMO activated, just like it does every time I take part in buddy reads.
If anyone asks me, this book got more hype then it deserved.
March 30, 2023
Ever read a book and think "why did I read that?" or "why didn't I dnf?" or "that was the worst book I have ever read!"? Have you? I know I have. Ever write a 1-star review? Ever leave a negative review? Have you ever had an author reach out to you after leaving said review?
Emma Carpenter is housesitting with her golden retriever when a nearby neighbor recommended a book to her. Emma has been reading a lot and ordered the book from Amazon. Let's just say, she did not care for the book at all. In fact, she felt so strongly about the book that she wrote a negative review. The author asked her to take the review down, she refused, and they bickered back and forth about said review.
Emma thinks it is over, but now strange things are happening where she is staying. She feels as if someone is watching her, could it be her imagination or has the author found her and is seeking revenge?
I had a lot of fun with this book and enjoyed reading her golden retriever, Laika's thoughts! This was an engaging whodunit/mystery of sorts which kept me on my toes. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Adams added more to the plot.
Entertaining, suspenseful, tense, and well written.
*Buddy read with Brenda
Thank you to Gretchen Koss, Taylor Adams, William Morrow publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Emma Carpenter is housesitting with her golden retriever when a nearby neighbor recommended a book to her. Emma has been reading a lot and ordered the book from Amazon. Let's just say, she did not care for the book at all. In fact, she felt so strongly about the book that she wrote a negative review. The author asked her to take the review down, she refused, and they bickered back and forth about said review.
Emma thinks it is over, but now strange things are happening where she is staying. She feels as if someone is watching her, could it be her imagination or has the author found her and is seeking revenge?
I had a lot of fun with this book and enjoyed reading her golden retriever, Laika's thoughts! This was an engaging whodunit/mystery of sorts which kept me on my toes. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Adams added more to the plot.
Entertaining, suspenseful, tense, and well written.
*Buddy read with Brenda
Thank you to Gretchen Koss, Taylor Adams, William Morrow publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 31, 2023
After having read this, I don’t think I’ll ever leave a one star review again. Lol! What a wild ride this book turned out to be!
This story centers around Emma Carpenter. Emma is house sitting at a beach house, known as The Strand, and she hasn’t told anyone where she is. Emma has just experienced a terrible trauma, and so she is self isolating herself at the beach house. She is not answering/using her new burner phone (after having gotten rid of her original phone), and she is reading books all day to pass time and take her mind off things (totally relatable).
However, after reading what Emma thought was one of the worst books ever written, she leaves that book a one star review on Amazon. From there, the author contacts her to change her rating. After Emma refuses, a chain of horrific events occur.
As intense and thrilling as this book became, I will say that I did predict most of the twists early on. With that being said, it still did not take away from the excitement of this book.
I previously watched No Exit by this author on Hulu (although I never read the book), and I thought that was amazing as well- in fact some scenes were very hard to watch. Taylor Adams definitely has a very vivid and clever imagination, and I will be looking forward to reading more from him. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for an adrenaline rush, and worried about the repercussions of leaving a bad review 😉
This story centers around Emma Carpenter. Emma is house sitting at a beach house, known as The Strand, and she hasn’t told anyone where she is. Emma has just experienced a terrible trauma, and so she is self isolating herself at the beach house. She is not answering/using her new burner phone (after having gotten rid of her original phone), and she is reading books all day to pass time and take her mind off things (totally relatable).
However, after reading what Emma thought was one of the worst books ever written, she leaves that book a one star review on Amazon. From there, the author contacts her to change her rating. After Emma refuses, a chain of horrific events occur.
As intense and thrilling as this book became, I will say that I did predict most of the twists early on. With that being said, it still did not take away from the excitement of this book.
I previously watched No Exit by this author on Hulu (although I never read the book), and I thought that was amazing as well- in fact some scenes were very hard to watch. Taylor Adams definitely has a very vivid and clever imagination, and I will be looking forward to reading more from him. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for an adrenaline rush, and worried about the repercussions of leaving a bad review 😉
June 29, 2024
hands down best thriller i’ve ever read omg
September 28, 2025
I want to comment that I dislike animal cruelty/abuse. In the books, I read. I'd also like to mention that Liaka is fine. In the brief scene with Liaka, Adam Taylor isn't gratuitous; in his writing. Nonetheless, it was uncomfortable reading it.
The Last Word is a cleverly written, creepy, dark and twisted psychological cat-and-mouse thriller with more plot twists than a switchback road. Add in some manipulation for a fast-paced page-turner that I couldn't put down. It's a book within a book told by unreliable narrators. Make sure your schedule is wide open before reading.
The setting is an isolated beach house on Strand Beach on rainy Washington Coast where all the homes and the summer rental cabins are closed during the winter except for the one Emma Carpenter is house-sitting with her faithful companion Laika by her side. And her older eccentric neighbour Deek. To pass the time, Emma reads copious amounts of discounted e-books while drinking her favourite ginger tea to escape a personal trauma she has suffered. That made her run away from her life back home. She picked that remote beach house for a reason— She communicates with her neighbour via a whiteboard facing each other's windows through telescopes. She also plays hangman with Deek, a master at the old-fashioned game, which makes Emma curious. She tries to guess what her retired neighbour did in the past and his identity.
After Emma reads a book titled Murder Mountain, which turns out to be the worst book she has ever, quite possibly, read and consequently, she uploads a scathing one-star review. As a result, she soon gets into an online argument with the book's author. He asks, then demands that she take the feedback down, but she refuses. Emma then starts hearing intruders suspecting that her mind may be playing tricks on her. Or has the author H.G. Kane made good his threats? The author becomes more sinister each time she refuses him. She doesn't take his threats seriously and goes about her day and soon realizes that was a bad idea-
After Emma has gone to bed, she sees a shadowy figure standing in her room when she's awoken from a nightmare. Not sure what to make of it; is it an apparition, or is there a person in her bedroom? Is her mind playing tricks with her? She thinks she's just seeing things. After all, she hasn't been sleeping or eating. The toilet starts flushing on its own and hears odd sounds. Emma thinks it's an old house with its quirks. The M/C Emma Carpenter grew on me throughout the book. The contrast between the antagonist, with his paranoid delusions and an incel mindset, and Emma, portrayed with depth, flawed, flailing through life, feels like a ghost of her former self from the traumatic event that has gutted her. She finds her inner courage and the inner strength within herself she didn't think she had, which makes for a fascinating showdown that kept me glued to the pages and furiously turning the pages late into the night.
I could',t help rooting for her to fight, persevere and take her life back.
Soon after, the tension builds, and it becomes palpable at times. The suspense ramps up and doesn't let up. The final shocking twist blew my mind. When you think you figured it out, Adams puts in another twist that had me on the edge of my seat.
w0w! Adams exceeded my expectations and gave me an ending that almost gave me whiplash. It was my first time reading a Taylor Adams novel, and it won't be my last. I can't wait for his next thriller and finally reading No Exit. It has been unread on my bookshelf for too long. It is a must-read for thriller lovers, and I think horror fans would also enjoy it. The Last Word is a page-turning psychological thriller and a story about family trauma, learning to forgive yourself, and letting go of the guilt you have been carrying around.
⚠️TW dog poisoning, violence, mental illness
The Last Word is a cleverly written, creepy, dark and twisted psychological cat-and-mouse thriller with more plot twists than a switchback road. Add in some manipulation for a fast-paced page-turner that I couldn't put down. It's a book within a book told by unreliable narrators. Make sure your schedule is wide open before reading.
The setting is an isolated beach house on Strand Beach on rainy Washington Coast where all the homes and the summer rental cabins are closed during the winter except for the one Emma Carpenter is house-sitting with her faithful companion Laika by her side. And her older eccentric neighbour Deek. To pass the time, Emma reads copious amounts of discounted e-books while drinking her favourite ginger tea to escape a personal trauma she has suffered. That made her run away from her life back home. She picked that remote beach house for a reason— She communicates with her neighbour via a whiteboard facing each other's windows through telescopes. She also plays hangman with Deek, a master at the old-fashioned game, which makes Emma curious. She tries to guess what her retired neighbour did in the past and his identity.
After Emma reads a book titled Murder Mountain, which turns out to be the worst book she has ever, quite possibly, read and consequently, she uploads a scathing one-star review. As a result, she soon gets into an online argument with the book's author. He asks, then demands that she take the feedback down, but she refuses. Emma then starts hearing intruders suspecting that her mind may be playing tricks on her. Or has the author H.G. Kane made good his threats? The author becomes more sinister each time she refuses him. She doesn't take his threats seriously and goes about her day and soon realizes that was a bad idea-
After Emma has gone to bed, she sees a shadowy figure standing in her room when she's awoken from a nightmare. Not sure what to make of it; is it an apparition, or is there a person in her bedroom? Is her mind playing tricks with her? She thinks she's just seeing things. After all, she hasn't been sleeping or eating. The toilet starts flushing on its own and hears odd sounds. Emma thinks it's an old house with its quirks. The M/C Emma Carpenter grew on me throughout the book. The contrast between the antagonist, with his paranoid delusions and an incel mindset, and Emma, portrayed with depth, flawed, flailing through life, feels like a ghost of her former self from the traumatic event that has gutted her. She finds her inner courage and the inner strength within herself she didn't think she had, which makes for a fascinating showdown that kept me glued to the pages and furiously turning the pages late into the night.
I could',t help rooting for her to fight, persevere and take her life back.
Soon after, the tension builds, and it becomes palpable at times. The suspense ramps up and doesn't let up. The final shocking twist blew my mind. When you think you figured it out, Adams puts in another twist that had me on the edge of my seat.
w0w! Adams exceeded my expectations and gave me an ending that almost gave me whiplash. It was my first time reading a Taylor Adams novel, and it won't be my last. I can't wait for his next thriller and finally reading No Exit. It has been unread on my bookshelf for too long. It is a must-read for thriller lovers, and I think horror fans would also enjoy it. The Last Word is a page-turning psychological thriller and a story about family trauma, learning to forgive yourself, and letting go of the guilt you have been carrying around.
⚠️TW dog poisoning, violence, mental illness
May 21, 2023
Buckle up, buttercup, this is one wild ride.
Allow me to set the scene:
Let the games begin!
The Last Word by Taylor Adams is one heck of a rollercoaster ride. The twists. The turns. The fast pace. It reminds me of some of the best thriller and horror films of my youth.
Over the top? Absolutely. Need to suspend all disbelief to buy in to the plot? Yep.
The idea of provoking a serial killer with something as innocent as an online book review is both darkly comic and terrifyingly plausible.
But because Emma is a voracious reader, it stands to reason that she be a step or two ahead of the psycho killer in the horror novel she finds herself within.
So pop the corn and settle in to your favorite reading nook.🍿Prepare to stay up way past your bedtime as you dive in to this rapid-pace page turner.
The Last Word is a terrific game of cat and mouse —except the cat underestimates this clever mouse.
P.S. Laika gets to bite the bad guy in the end, which is only fair. Such a good dog.
Allow me to set the scene:
Emma and her English cream golden retriever Laika are housesitting an isolated beach house. In winter. The nearest (and only) neighbor is a quarter mile away. They communicate through whiteboard messages viewed through a telescope.
Emma’s been binge reading a never-ending supply of 99 cent self-published books she downloads from the internet. After reading a real stinker, Emma posts a one-star review on Amazon.
Uh oh. Mistake.
She’s pissed off a very disgruntled author. Very.
Let the games begin!
The Last Word by Taylor Adams is one heck of a rollercoaster ride. The twists. The turns. The fast pace. It reminds me of some of the best thriller and horror films of my youth.
Over the top? Absolutely. Need to suspend all disbelief to buy in to the plot? Yep.
The idea of provoking a serial killer with something as innocent as an online book review is both darkly comic and terrifyingly plausible.
But because Emma is a voracious reader, it stands to reason that she be a step or two ahead of the psycho killer in the horror novel she finds herself within.
So pop the corn and settle in to your favorite reading nook.🍿Prepare to stay up way past your bedtime as you dive in to this rapid-pace page turner.
The Last Word is a terrific game of cat and mouse —except the cat underestimates this clever mouse.
P.S. Laika gets to bite the bad guy in the end, which is only fair. Such a good dog.
September 10, 2023
4.5⭐️
I have to give it to this book. Taylor Adams knows how to suck you in and keep you on the edge of your seat.
This is wild. So thrilling, fast-paced, and somehow comical at the same time. You're chuckling while biting your nails.
This felt like Taylor Adams saw the vitriol we were all spewing for Survive the Night last year and thought "What if Riley Sager was a psycho?" Ha. He pokes fun at how bad Survive the Night is a few times in this book and I was living for it.
Only qualm I had with it is that it does the classic Taylor Adams thing of dragging out the ending a bit too far.
This is also super meta because we're in the bookish space and this is a thriller set in that very realm. It feels a bit too close to home which adds to the scariness of it.
I have to give it to this book. Taylor Adams knows how to suck you in and keep you on the edge of your seat.
This is wild. So thrilling, fast-paced, and somehow comical at the same time. You're chuckling while biting your nails.
This felt like Taylor Adams saw the vitriol we were all spewing for Survive the Night last year and thought "What if Riley Sager was a psycho?" Ha. He pokes fun at how bad Survive the Night is a few times in this book and I was living for it.
Only qualm I had with it is that it does the classic Taylor Adams thing of dragging out the ending a bit too far.
This is also super meta because we're in the bookish space and this is a thriller set in that very realm. It feels a bit too close to home which adds to the scariness of it.
April 21, 2023
No one-star review for me for The Last Word. I am giving it all the stars!! If there is one trope I might like better than a cat-and-mouse game, it's the revenge trope. Taylor Adams has nailed it here by combining both tropes and creating a unique, intense, on-the-edge-of-your-seat, I can't-put-it-down page-turner.
What is going on between the cover
Emma Carpenter is house-sitting in isolation with her golden retriever Laika in an old beachfront home on the Washington coast. She spends her days reading, and after reading a poorly written—but gruesome—horror novel, she posts a one-star review. Strange things happen, and she begins to wonder if the author is out for revenge for that review.
My Two Cents
Taylor Adams creates another unique cat-and-mouse game with a strong, resourceful mouse that the cat has underestimated. I love the story's premise and applaud Adam for pulling it off and bringing something new to the table. I loved Emma, her golden retriever, and their taut, entertaining, enduring dialogue. That is enough to give it five stars but be aware that there is some danger for him as well.
Taylor Adams does a fantastic job of building the story's atmosphere, creating a sense of danger, isolation, unease, and foreboding that drives the story forward. The tension rises with every page to the story's climax with an exciting and rewarding payoff.
My Last Words, read it, be entertained, but it might have you rethinking a 1-star review.
I received a copy from the publisher on EW
What is going on between the cover
Emma Carpenter is house-sitting in isolation with her golden retriever Laika in an old beachfront home on the Washington coast. She spends her days reading, and after reading a poorly written—but gruesome—horror novel, she posts a one-star review. Strange things happen, and she begins to wonder if the author is out for revenge for that review.
My Two Cents
Taylor Adams creates another unique cat-and-mouse game with a strong, resourceful mouse that the cat has underestimated. I love the story's premise and applaud Adam for pulling it off and bringing something new to the table. I loved Emma, her golden retriever, and their taut, entertaining, enduring dialogue. That is enough to give it five stars but be aware that there is some danger for him as well.
Taylor Adams does a fantastic job of building the story's atmosphere, creating a sense of danger, isolation, unease, and foreboding that drives the story forward. The tension rises with every page to the story's climax with an exciting and rewarding payoff.
My Last Words, read it, be entertained, but it might have you rethinking a 1-star review.
I received a copy from the publisher on EW
June 17, 2024
reading vlog: https://youtu.be/WCQAeZWCvdM
taylor adams you've done it again bestie
taylor adams you've done it again bestie
March 5, 2023
3.5 rounded up
Emma Carpenter reads ‘Murder Mountain’ and her heart sinks as it’s one of those one star books. She hesitates to submit her review to Amazon but does so anyway. Was she too harsh? She discovers she has a comment from the author H.G. Kane who asks her to remove it as it hurts him financially but she refuses. Comments go back and forth, excruciatingly so and Kane gets increasingly threatening. Little does Emma imagine just how bad it’s going to get. Who exactly is H.G. Kane???
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this before, sign me up to that well known confused website. It starts on an ominous note as Emma is so solitary at Strand Beach, Washington, her only neighbour at some distance and is a writer with whom she entertained engages in a game of telescope hangman! The house she’s in is one of those that’s never quiet and that adds to the building tension. It becomes a creepy, chilling, neck tingling hair raiser with some seriously scary, fearful moments. Then it takes a deep dive into the bizarre with a narrator within a narrator and sometimes I haven’t a scoob what’s going on yet it’s so darned intriguing you keep reading on. It’s a sort of life imitating art scenario. It becomes crazy, barking,OTT fun head spinner with twists, twists and more twists it’s a Russian doll type story and I’m still not entirely sure I get it! One thing is for sure, the pace is a fast, all hell breaking loose kind which doesn’t let up until curtain close.
I need to go and lie down now as my head is rotating at speed but one thing I can say for sure is that it’s a fun, revengeful entertaining completely different conundrum. Up for the challenge??
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Emma Carpenter reads ‘Murder Mountain’ and her heart sinks as it’s one of those one star books. She hesitates to submit her review to Amazon but does so anyway. Was she too harsh? She discovers she has a comment from the author H.G. Kane who asks her to remove it as it hurts him financially but she refuses. Comments go back and forth, excruciatingly so and Kane gets increasingly threatening. Little does Emma imagine just how bad it’s going to get. Who exactly is H.G. Kane???
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this before, sign me up to that well known confused website. It starts on an ominous note as Emma is so solitary at Strand Beach, Washington, her only neighbour at some distance and is a writer with whom she entertained engages in a game of telescope hangman! The house she’s in is one of those that’s never quiet and that adds to the building tension. It becomes a creepy, chilling, neck tingling hair raiser with some seriously scary, fearful moments. Then it takes a deep dive into the bizarre with a narrator within a narrator and sometimes I haven’t a scoob what’s going on yet it’s so darned intriguing you keep reading on. It’s a sort of life imitating art scenario. It becomes crazy, barking,OTT fun head spinner with twists, twists and more twists it’s a Russian doll type story and I’m still not entirely sure I get it! One thing is for sure, the pace is a fast, all hell breaking loose kind which doesn’t let up until curtain close.
I need to go and lie down now as my head is rotating at speed but one thing I can say for sure is that it’s a fun, revengeful entertaining completely different conundrum. Up for the challenge??
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 16, 2023
....the...fuck did I just read? This started out ok. Seemed like a simple thriller. Then it quickly went absolutely batshit and just stayed there until the end. Literary plot twists and turns are one thing, but this was a full-on epileptic seizure of a plot. I.....don't even have words to describe this other than absolutely bonkers. Like...are we sure the author is ok?
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