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Mark Novak #1
Last Words by Michael Koryta
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First published August 18, 2015
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About the author
Michael Koryta
54 books2,526 followersMichael Koryta (pronounced Ko-ree-ta) is the New York Times-bestselling author of 14 suspense novels. His work has been praised by Stephen King, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Dennis Lehane, Daniel Woodrell, Ron Rash, and Scott Smith among many others, and has been translated into more than 20 languages. His books have won or been nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Edgar® Award, Shamus Award, Barry Award, Quill Award, International Thriller Writers Award, and the Golden Dagger. They've been selected as "best books of the year" by publications as diverse as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com, O the Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, People, Reader's Digest, iBooks, and Kirkus Reviews.
His recent thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead was named the summer's best thriller by both Amazon and Entertainment Weekly, and was selected as one of the year's best books by more than 10 publications. The audio version was named one of the best audio books of the year, as well, the second time that Robert Petkoff's narration of Michael's work has earned such an honor. The novel is currently being adapted as a major motion picture by 20th Century Fox.
Michael's previous work ranges from a trio of supernatural novels--So Cold the River, The Cypress House, and The Ridge, which were all named New York Times notable books of the year and earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly--to stand-alone crime novels such as The Prophet (A New York Times bestseller) and Envy the Night (selected as a Reader's Digest condensed book), to a series of award-winning novels featuring private investigator Lincoln Perry--Tonight I Said Goodbye, Sorrow's Anthem, A Welcome Grave, and The Silent Hour.
Various film and television adaptations of the books are underway, with The Prophet, So Cold the River, The Cypress House, and Those Who Wish Me Dead all optioned as feature films, and the Lincoln Perry series and The Ridge being developed for television. Michael has written for the screen in both feature film and television. Oscar and Emmy winners are attached to every project.
Before turning to writing full-time, Michael worked as a private investigator and as a newspaper reporter, and taught at the Indiana University School of Journalism. He began working for a private investigator as an intern while in high school, turned it into his day job in the early stages of his writing career, and still maintains an interest in the firm. As a journalist, he won numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Michael's first novel, the Edgar-nominated Tonight I Said Goodbye was accepted for publication when he was 20 years old. He wrote his first two published novels before graduating from college, and was published in nearly 10 languages before he fulfilled the "writing requirement" classes required for his diploma.
Michael was raised in Bloomington, Indiana, where he graduated from Bloomington North High School in 2001, and later graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. In 2008 he was honored as a "distinguished young alumni" by Indiana University, and in 2010 he was named "distinguished alumni' by the criminal justice department.
Michael's passions outside of writing and reading involve a variety of outdoor pursuits - hiking, camping, boating, and fishing are all likely to occupy his free time when he's not working on a new book. Some of his favorite spots in the world are the Beartooth Mountains, the setting of Those Who Wish Me Dead and a place to which he returns at least twice a year; the flowages of the Northwoods in Wisconsin, where he began fishing with his father as a child and still returns each fall; St. Petersburg, FL, and the Maine coast.
His recent thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead was named the summer's best thriller by both Amazon and Entertainment Weekly, and was selected as one of the year's best books by more than 10 publications. The audio version was named one of the best audio books of the year, as well, the second time that Robert Petkoff's narration of Michael's work has earned such an honor. The novel is currently being adapted as a major motion picture by 20th Century Fox.
Michael's previous work ranges from a trio of supernatural novels--So Cold the River, The Cypress House, and The Ridge, which were all named New York Times notable books of the year and earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly--to stand-alone crime novels such as The Prophet (A New York Times bestseller) and Envy the Night (selected as a Reader's Digest condensed book), to a series of award-winning novels featuring private investigator Lincoln Perry--Tonight I Said Goodbye, Sorrow's Anthem, A Welcome Grave, and The Silent Hour.
Various film and television adaptations of the books are underway, with The Prophet, So Cold the River, The Cypress House, and Those Who Wish Me Dead all optioned as feature films, and the Lincoln Perry series and The Ridge being developed for television. Michael has written for the screen in both feature film and television. Oscar and Emmy winners are attached to every project.
Before turning to writing full-time, Michael worked as a private investigator and as a newspaper reporter, and taught at the Indiana University School of Journalism. He began working for a private investigator as an intern while in high school, turned it into his day job in the early stages of his writing career, and still maintains an interest in the firm. As a journalist, he won numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Michael's first novel, the Edgar-nominated Tonight I Said Goodbye was accepted for publication when he was 20 years old. He wrote his first two published novels before graduating from college, and was published in nearly 10 languages before he fulfilled the "writing requirement" classes required for his diploma.
Michael was raised in Bloomington, Indiana, where he graduated from Bloomington North High School in 2001, and later graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. In 2008 he was honored as a "distinguished young alumni" by Indiana University, and in 2010 he was named "distinguished alumni' by the criminal justice department.
Michael's passions outside of writing and reading involve a variety of outdoor pursuits - hiking, camping, boating, and fishing are all likely to occupy his free time when he's not working on a new book. Some of his favorite spots in the world are the Beartooth Mountains, the setting of Those Who Wish Me Dead and a place to which he returns at least twice a year; the flowages of the Northwoods in Wisconsin, where he began fishing with his father as a child and still returns each fall; St. Petersburg, FL, and the Maine coast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 634 reviews
August 17, 2016
Haunted by his wife's death and his last words to her, Mark Novak heads north from Florida to Indiana, to meet a eccentric recluse who either retrieved a girl's body or was the one who murdered her. Can Novak solve the mystery of Ridley Barnes with his sanity intact?
The Prophet was one of the best books I read in 2015 so I was eager to give Michael Koryta another shot. I found this one on the cheap.
First off, I have to say this is a hard one to pin down. Michael Koryta's writing chops are intact and his characters are well-drawn. However, the plot is a kind of a mess.
The setup seemed fishy. Ridley Barnes wants Mark Novak to help him figure out if he killed Sarah Martin or not. Barnes was never wound quite right to begin with and threw a sprocket or two in the darkness searching for Sarah. Furthermore, when you throw in a hypnotist and a bunch of unlikely events, eyes were rolling and I kept eyeing up the Big Nowhere in the on deck circle.
However, the book wasn't a complete shit sandwich. As I said, Koryta's writing is still pretty spectacular. He does a great job with the characters, like actors in a project they know is crap but still give it their all. Also, I've never had a problem with claustrophobia but this book made me feel claustrophobic as hell at times. Spelunking is a big part of the story and Koryta does a phenomenal job with it. I felt like I was in the dark and cold with the rest of the characters.
Last Words is a well-written thriller with wonky plot. Michael Koryta's writing overcomes some of the faults but ultimately isn't enough to make chicken salad out of chicken feathers. Like I said, it's a hard one to rate. I'm giving it a three because of Koryta's writing ability. It would probably be a two with anyone else at the helm.
The Prophet was one of the best books I read in 2015 so I was eager to give Michael Koryta another shot. I found this one on the cheap.
First off, I have to say this is a hard one to pin down. Michael Koryta's writing chops are intact and his characters are well-drawn. However, the plot is a kind of a mess.
The setup seemed fishy. Ridley Barnes wants Mark Novak to help him figure out if he killed Sarah Martin or not. Barnes was never wound quite right to begin with and threw a sprocket or two in the darkness searching for Sarah. Furthermore, when you throw in a hypnotist and a bunch of unlikely events, eyes were rolling and I kept eyeing up the Big Nowhere in the on deck circle.
However, the book wasn't a complete shit sandwich. As I said, Koryta's writing is still pretty spectacular. He does a great job with the characters, like actors in a project they know is crap but still give it their all. Also, I've never had a problem with claustrophobia but this book made me feel claustrophobic as hell at times. Spelunking is a big part of the story and Koryta does a phenomenal job with it. I felt like I was in the dark and cold with the rest of the characters.
Last Words is a well-written thriller with wonky plot. Michael Koryta's writing overcomes some of the faults but ultimately isn't enough to make chicken salad out of chicken feathers. Like I said, it's a hard one to rate. I'm giving it a three because of Koryta's writing ability. It would probably be a two with anyone else at the helm.
November 6, 2016
This is the first time I have read a book by Michael Koryta. GR friend, Peter, rated this 5 stars, so I thought I'd give Last Words a go. Wow, was this a terrific Thriller. I listened to the audiobook and couldn't get enough of it. Always nice when you get into a book that makes you not mind the commute to and from work.
The book centers around Mark Novak, a Florida investigator sent to Indiana on a cold case. What twists unfold when he gets into town. He meets quite a few interesting characters from the sheriff, the ex-boyfriend of the murdered Sarah Martin to a weird individual named Ridley Barnes. Everyone is quite hostile to him and cause Mark much grief and harm. Terrific storyline.
What makes this thriller so exciting is that the crime was committed in a huge area of underground caves called Trapdoor.
Always excited about finding a new author to read. The story behind Mark Novak is in another of his books whoch I look forward to exploring.
4 out of 5 stars.
The book centers around Mark Novak, a Florida investigator sent to Indiana on a cold case. What twists unfold when he gets into town. He meets quite a few interesting characters from the sheriff, the ex-boyfriend of the murdered Sarah Martin to a weird individual named Ridley Barnes. Everyone is quite hostile to him and cause Mark much grief and harm. Terrific storyline.
What makes this thriller so exciting is that the crime was committed in a huge area of underground caves called Trapdoor.
Always excited about finding a new author to read. The story behind Mark Novak is in another of his books whoch I look forward to exploring.
4 out of 5 stars.
August 23, 2015
Oh my gosh thank goodness I am finally done with this book. This book was sooooo boring. Boring in the kind of way that its boringness made me cranky the entire time I was reading it. Such a disappointment since Koryta's Those Who Wish Me Dead was such a pleasant surprise. I did not care about any of the characters in this book - not a one. Infuriates me when a book is simply a set up for the next in a series and that is exactly what this one is. I will not be reading the next one and will not likely read anything by Koryta again.
ARC from publisher.
ARC from publisher.
September 8, 2015
Disappointing tale from Koryta about a man whose wife was murdered and whose job is on the line after his obsessive search for the killer leads to trouble. He is sent to a small town to follow up on a letter written by a strange cave-explorer in which the man wants to know if he killed a girl in a cave several years ago. The story starts out promising but gets sidetracked by an annoying, over-the-top focus on the cave and its supposed mysterious qualities. The plot never really gets going and the cardboard characters don't help. Too much time is spent on the letter writer, Ridley's, obsession with the cave and too little time developing a truly interesting mystery. The resolution is convoluted and uninvolving and left me wondering how this book went from such promise to such claptrap. This is the second book in a row from Koryta that has disappointed me, making me wonder if he has lost the edge he developed so nicely with The Ridge and The Prophet. Not his best work by any stretch. Don't quite understand the glowing praise from Stephen King, but considering his latest efforts, it shouldn't be surprising he finds this one to be worth the effort. I didn't.
November 25, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up!
This was a solid novel: twist and turns, action-packed adventure, and quite relatable characters. I found myself feeling empathy for pretty much damn near everyone by the end - Markus, Julianne, Ridley, Evan, the police chief..... due to the back story that Koryta created for them all, I could understand why they behaved the ways they did. I really like learning more about the characters as the book progressed - often times things were revealed that totally contradicted what I had thought based on first impressions of a character.
I do not like confined spaces so the scenes taking place in Trapdoor made me quite uncomfortable at times but thankfully there were only minimal scenes underground.
I personally think it could've used some romance or spice but alas, not that kind of book.
This was a solid novel: twist and turns, action-packed adventure, and quite relatable characters. I found myself feeling empathy for pretty much damn near everyone by the end - Markus, Julianne, Ridley, Evan, the police chief..... due to the back story that Koryta created for them all, I could understand why they behaved the ways they did. I really like learning more about the characters as the book progressed - often times things were revealed that totally contradicted what I had thought based on first impressions of a character.
I do not like confined spaces so the scenes taking place in Trapdoor made me quite uncomfortable at times but thankfully there were only minimal scenes underground.
I personally think it could've used some romance or spice but alas, not that kind of book.
August 27, 2016
I enjoyed reading this library book and recommend it to mystery fans. Markus Novak is an investigator for Innocence Incorporated, a law firm specializing in defending death row clients. He is still grieving over the murder of his wife, also an investigator for the same firm. He is sent to Garrison, Indiana, in response to a strange request from Ridley Barnes, number 1 suspect in the murder of Sarah Martin, ten years ago. Ridley wants them to find out the truth. He doesn't remember anything beyond coming out of a cave with Sarah's body. The whole town of Garrison thinks that he is the killer and crazy to boot. He talks to the cave and refers to it as "she."
Markus has been sent here to get him out the way while the board of directors decides whether or not to fire him or suspend him for a serious violation of their rules. He intends to interview a few people and go back to Florida after 1 day. It is January and he arrives at the start of a blizzard with no winter clothes. But then he meets a woman who claims to be Sarah's mother(he later finds out that she committed suicide several years ago). He gets a phone call from a reporter and he mentions that he interviewed Sarah's mother. The reporter publishes a story that makes Markus look like a fool.
Markus is then kidnapped, beaten, and left to die in the cave. What happens after that is like peeling an onion, as each person in Garrison has their own agenda. Markus does put all the pieces together. I liked the ending. It has a setup to continue the series, but is not a cliffhanger.
I am counting this for Indiana in my US state challenge.
Markus has been sent here to get him out the way while the board of directors decides whether or not to fire him or suspend him for a serious violation of their rules. He intends to interview a few people and go back to Florida after 1 day. It is January and he arrives at the start of a blizzard with no winter clothes. But then he meets a woman who claims to be Sarah's mother(he later finds out that she committed suicide several years ago). He gets a phone call from a reporter and he mentions that he interviewed Sarah's mother. The reporter publishes a story that makes Markus look like a fool.
Markus is then kidnapped, beaten, and left to die in the cave. What happens after that is like peeling an onion, as each person in Garrison has their own agenda. Markus does put all the pieces together. I liked the ending. It has a setup to continue the series, but is not a cliffhanger.
I am counting this for Indiana in my US state challenge.
February 8, 2017
I actually read this all the way to the end because I wanted to see how the plot turned out, but despite the Stephen King blurb ("a master") and the NYT recommendation, this book's illogic appalled me.
So, modified spoiler alert: I won't give away the ending, but need to discuss some key plot points.
Mark Novak is a private investigator working for a Florida firm that helps to free death row convicts. His wife has just been killed, and he has sort of gone off the reservation. Partly to save his hide, his boss sends him to southern Indiana on a case the firm normally would never take. Years before a teenage girl died in an underground cavern, and her body was brought out by a caver named Ridley Barnes. Now Ridley wants the firm to investigate whether he in fact killed the girl, because he can't remember.
After Mark arrives, he is greeted with suspicion by seemingly the whole town, because no one likes Ridley, and Ridley himself is clearly unbalanced, they believe, talking as though the vast cave, known as Trapdoor, is a living creature that instructs him what to do when he is in there.
Now, huge breakdown No. 1. Mark is approached at his hotel by a woman who says she is the dead girl's mother, and they talk over dinner. A local reporter then calls him up, having heard he is trying to reopen the case, and Mark tells him about talking to the mother. It turns out the mother has been dead for years -- not only does the reporter NEVER TELL HIM THAT, but writes a news story saying that Novak has lied about talking to a dead woman. And the local sheriff, who was in love with the mother years before, believes Mark has made up the story, even though there is NO PLAUSIBLE REASON for him to do that.
Not long after, Mark is abducted on a local roadway by masked men, is blindfolded, put into the Trapdoor cave, and barely survives until Ridley himself finds and rescues him. And then, again FOR NO PLAUSIBLE REASON, the sheriff and everyone else believe Mark crawled into the cave himself in his underwear and do not investigate the reports of him being abducted.
Reading back over this, I am amazed I bothered to go through the remaining 250 pages or so after encountering such fundamentally unbelievable plot drek, but I did.
And so, not "a master," Mr. King. Not at all.
So, modified spoiler alert: I won't give away the ending, but need to discuss some key plot points.
Mark Novak is a private investigator working for a Florida firm that helps to free death row convicts. His wife has just been killed, and he has sort of gone off the reservation. Partly to save his hide, his boss sends him to southern Indiana on a case the firm normally would never take. Years before a teenage girl died in an underground cavern, and her body was brought out by a caver named Ridley Barnes. Now Ridley wants the firm to investigate whether he in fact killed the girl, because he can't remember.
After Mark arrives, he is greeted with suspicion by seemingly the whole town, because no one likes Ridley, and Ridley himself is clearly unbalanced, they believe, talking as though the vast cave, known as Trapdoor, is a living creature that instructs him what to do when he is in there.
Now, huge breakdown No. 1. Mark is approached at his hotel by a woman who says she is the dead girl's mother, and they talk over dinner. A local reporter then calls him up, having heard he is trying to reopen the case, and Mark tells him about talking to the mother. It turns out the mother has been dead for years -- not only does the reporter NEVER TELL HIM THAT, but writes a news story saying that Novak has lied about talking to a dead woman. And the local sheriff, who was in love with the mother years before, believes Mark has made up the story, even though there is NO PLAUSIBLE REASON for him to do that.
Not long after, Mark is abducted on a local roadway by masked men, is blindfolded, put into the Trapdoor cave, and barely survives until Ridley himself finds and rescues him. And then, again FOR NO PLAUSIBLE REASON, the sheriff and everyone else believe Mark crawled into the cave himself in his underwear and do not investigate the reports of him being abducted.
Reading back over this, I am amazed I bothered to go through the remaining 250 pages or so after encountering such fundamentally unbelievable plot drek, but I did.
And so, not "a master," Mr. King. Not at all.
August 28, 2015
I felt like this book went around in circles. Now that I'm finished, I'm still not sure what happened.I would have preferred a less vague ending.
January 17, 2016
3.5 stars since it went on a bit too long, but Koryta certainly did a great job describing the horrors of being lost in a cave - the craziness that goes on in a person's mind when completely deprived of light in an indescribably dangerous maze. Excellent twisty tale full of believable motivations on everyone's part. It's pretty dark, real life horror that almost swings into horror. It skirts the line beautifully.
This is the first in a series, apparently. This audio version had an excerpt from the next book "Echo" at the end. I didn't listen to much of it, just enough to find out it was the same character continuing a thread left from this book. It made sense, but this book was quite complete in itself. Well read, too.
This is the first in a series, apparently. This audio version had an excerpt from the next book "Echo" at the end. I didn't listen to much of it, just enough to find out it was the same character continuing a thread left from this book. It made sense, but this book was quite complete in itself. Well read, too.
December 11, 2016
Last Words:
“Don’t embarrass me with this s**t!” were the last words Markus spoke to his beloved wife and they, along with her unresolved murder, still haunt him.
“She doesn’t want you yet” were the last words Ridley spoke to Markus as Ridley disappeared into the cave.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how the author could make you empathize with the characters. Whether it was the love, guilt and anguish Markus felt for his wife, the crazed need for answers experienced by Ridley, or even the claustrophobic, cold dark atmosphere of the cave, you could share the experience. Along with the vivid descriptions, this book also had good character development. You get a strong sense of the character’s personalities and eventually their motives. The plot pulled me in early, slowed down some with unexpected splits in the middle, but thankfully all came together nicely at the end.
Both of these characters, Markus and Ridley, find their answers in this story. Markus has been struggling with his wife’s death and longing to find and kill her murder. This has put him in a precarious situation with his employers who are opposed to the death penalty and who actively help the wrongfully prosecuted off death row. Markus’s answer comes slowly over the course of the story as he gradually accepts his feelings and begins to distance himself from his once coveted job. Ridley has been tormented with not knowing what happened in the dark cave during his attempted rescue of a teenager. By the end of the story he also has his answers.
I’ve read several of Koryta’s books and this is one of my favorites.
“Don’t embarrass me with this s**t!” were the last words Markus spoke to his beloved wife and they, along with her unresolved murder, still haunt him.
“She doesn’t want you yet” were the last words Ridley spoke to Markus as Ridley disappeared into the cave.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how the author could make you empathize with the characters. Whether it was the love, guilt and anguish Markus felt for his wife, the crazed need for answers experienced by Ridley, or even the claustrophobic, cold dark atmosphere of the cave, you could share the experience. Along with the vivid descriptions, this book also had good character development. You get a strong sense of the character’s personalities and eventually their motives. The plot pulled me in early, slowed down some with unexpected splits in the middle, but thankfully all came together nicely at the end.
Both of these characters, Markus and Ridley, find their answers in this story. Markus has been struggling with his wife’s death and longing to find and kill her murder. This has put him in a precarious situation with his employers who are opposed to the death penalty and who actively help the wrongfully prosecuted off death row. Markus’s answer comes slowly over the course of the story as he gradually accepts his feelings and begins to distance himself from his once coveted job. Ridley has been tormented with not knowing what happened in the dark cave during his attempted rescue of a teenager. By the end of the story he also has his answers.
I’ve read several of Koryta’s books and this is one of my favorites.
July 30, 2016
I enjoy Koryta's writing style and the subtly with which he adds a hint of the supernatural to his works. This book felt like a bit of a new direction for him and, if so, I liked where he is heading. If you never have read one of his books before, this is a good place to start.
March 9, 2017
I like Michael Koryta because I like action-packed thrillers where everyone talks like they're Jason Bourne. Koryta brings to the table a great sense of setting. His depiction of place and adventure appeal to me. His characters reside in my Midwest backyard while traveling to my favorite Montana mountains or the beaches of Florida.
But this was a dud after the first third of the book. It started strong--I was excited and interested. Then, it just didn't work. I was bored and wanted it to end. I wasn't surprised by the ending, and I won't be reading any Mark Novak #2. Bummer. If you haven't read Those Who Wish Me Dead, though, you really, really should.
But this was a dud after the first third of the book. It started strong--I was excited and interested. Then, it just didn't work. I was bored and wanted it to end. I wasn't surprised by the ending, and I won't be reading any Mark Novak #2. Bummer. If you haven't read Those Who Wish Me Dead, though, you really, really should.
August 28, 2015
Another excellent book from the talented Michael Koryta. In this one he takes you deep into the caves of Southern Indiana you feel the darkness, cold and the dread. This is the first in a new series and I look forward to the next book. Highly recommend
September 23, 2017
Last Words, Michael Koryta’s latest (2015) thriller, is among the best crime thrillers I’ve ever read. It is written tightly with near nonstop surprises that get your head spinning. His earlier Those Who Wish Me Dead (2014) was also an attention getter, but this is even better.
Markus and Lauren Novak are a Florida private detective team who work for Innocence, Inc., a group that evaluates the innocence or guilt of incarcerated convicts. On their fifth anniversary they plan to meet at a Siesta Key hotel for a romantic weekend; Tom arrives early but Laura doesn’t arrive at all—-she’s been shot in the head while driving to meet him. Markus begins an obsessive but unsuccessful hunt for her killer. His obsession with Laura’s death has led him to make questionable contacts with convicts that raise doubts about his values and alienate him from his reputation-sensitive employer.
Sixteen months after Lauren’s murder Markus is sent on a strange mission—-to look into the case of Sarah Martin, a girl in the southern Indiana town of Garrison, a tiny backwater an hour north of Evansville. Sarah was murdered in an extensive system of caves called Trapdoor Caverns. Everyone believes that the murderer is an obsessive local spelunker named Ridley Barnes, who has mapped portions of Trapdoor and knows more about the caverns than anyone. Ridley found Sarah’s body and the cops like him for the murder because (a) he is a strange person, obsessed with the caverns, which he thinks of as “she,” and certain that “the dark man” lives in them; (b) he found the body; and (c) they think he brought the body to the surface to taint any forensic evidence against him. Case closed! Well, not quite—-Ridley had so tainted any evidence against him that he was never charged. He still lives as a pariah in Garrison, where he wonders about his guilt and sees a local hypnotist to revive his memory.
What is so strange about Marcus’s mission is that since Ridley was never brought to trial, the assignment violates Innocence Inc.’s mission statement that the guilt of convicted prisoners would be determined. Also, it was Ridley who asked for assistance in determining his guilt-—he simply doesn’t remember doing it! Markus encounters boatloads of hostility when he arrives at Garrison: Sheriff Dan Blankenship hates him at first sight, and the residents don’t want anyone who might dirty the waters of their certainty that Ridley is the perp. Sarah’s mother, Diane Martin, is particularly hostile when he meets her-—but it turns out that she’s also particularly dead, and has been for years. Someone is setting Markus up, and the setup continues beyond the impersonation of Sarah’s mother.
But why? Who or what is being protected? This is clearly a lose-lose case for Markus, but as the hole he’s in gets deeper his resolve to dig himself out increases. And there is an early hint that intrigues us—-Ridley casually notes that Sarah Martin and Lauren Novak both died on the same day of the year (in different years). Of course, we know that coincidences exist in real life, but they are rare in fiction. Is this one of those rare instances? A feeling of a global conspiracy against Marcus rises.
Markus’s route to discovery takes some strange paths. Three abductors drug him, strip him and put him deep into Trapdoor. He’s very near death from hypothermia when he's rescued by Ridley. (Readers of a claustrophobic bent might want to skip this section.) Ridley's hypnotist is the woman who impersonated the dead mother, and she hypnotizes Markus and manipulates his memories on Ridley's behalf.
Koryta offers an intriguing mystery wrapped in psychological confusions compounded by mesmerism. The book has some of the features and impact of Dennis LeHane’s Shelter Island.
Five stars for a great ride. And stay out of caves!
Markus and Lauren Novak are a Florida private detective team who work for Innocence, Inc., a group that evaluates the innocence or guilt of incarcerated convicts. On their fifth anniversary they plan to meet at a Siesta Key hotel for a romantic weekend; Tom arrives early but Laura doesn’t arrive at all—-she’s been shot in the head while driving to meet him. Markus begins an obsessive but unsuccessful hunt for her killer. His obsession with Laura’s death has led him to make questionable contacts with convicts that raise doubts about his values and alienate him from his reputation-sensitive employer.
Sixteen months after Lauren’s murder Markus is sent on a strange mission—-to look into the case of Sarah Martin, a girl in the southern Indiana town of Garrison, a tiny backwater an hour north of Evansville. Sarah was murdered in an extensive system of caves called Trapdoor Caverns. Everyone believes that the murderer is an obsessive local spelunker named Ridley Barnes, who has mapped portions of Trapdoor and knows more about the caverns than anyone. Ridley found Sarah’s body and the cops like him for the murder because (a) he is a strange person, obsessed with the caverns, which he thinks of as “she,” and certain that “the dark man” lives in them; (b) he found the body; and (c) they think he brought the body to the surface to taint any forensic evidence against him. Case closed! Well, not quite—-Ridley had so tainted any evidence against him that he was never charged. He still lives as a pariah in Garrison, where he wonders about his guilt and sees a local hypnotist to revive his memory.
What is so strange about Marcus’s mission is that since Ridley was never brought to trial, the assignment violates Innocence Inc.’s mission statement that the guilt of convicted prisoners would be determined. Also, it was Ridley who asked for assistance in determining his guilt-—he simply doesn’t remember doing it! Markus encounters boatloads of hostility when he arrives at Garrison: Sheriff Dan Blankenship hates him at first sight, and the residents don’t want anyone who might dirty the waters of their certainty that Ridley is the perp. Sarah’s mother, Diane Martin, is particularly hostile when he meets her-—but it turns out that she’s also particularly dead, and has been for years. Someone is setting Markus up, and the setup continues beyond the impersonation of Sarah’s mother.
But why? Who or what is being protected? This is clearly a lose-lose case for Markus, but as the hole he’s in gets deeper his resolve to dig himself out increases. And there is an early hint that intrigues us—-Ridley casually notes that Sarah Martin and Lauren Novak both died on the same day of the year (in different years). Of course, we know that coincidences exist in real life, but they are rare in fiction. Is this one of those rare instances? A feeling of a global conspiracy against Marcus rises.
Markus’s route to discovery takes some strange paths. Three abductors drug him, strip him and put him deep into Trapdoor. He’s very near death from hypothermia when he's rescued by Ridley. (Readers of a claustrophobic bent might want to skip this section.) Ridley's hypnotist is the woman who impersonated the dead mother, and she hypnotizes Markus and manipulates his memories on Ridley's behalf.
Koryta offers an intriguing mystery wrapped in psychological confusions compounded by mesmerism. The book has some of the features and impact of Dennis LeHane’s Shelter Island.
Five stars for a great ride. And stay out of caves!
August 23, 2015
Excellent story, good plot twists. Did not like the cave nor Ridleys's relationship to it.
October 27, 2015
I've read a number of books by Michael Koryta and, for the most part, have enjoyed them. This one: not so much. In fact, this became one of those reads that I COULDN'T WAIT TO FINISH! I didn't want to give up on it, had already read 200+ pages, but wow did it get tedious. My biggest complaint was the way too extensive, much too detailed writing that went on and on describing what it's like to be stuck in a cave (not the "fun" of spelunking). I'll admit: I'm a little claustrophobic and you couldn't pay me enough to get me into a cave smaller than your average living room or more than 12 feet from the exit. That said, Koryta was pretty masterful in describing in rather excruciating detail what it's like to be trapped in a cave in all its darkness and narrow passages. My other major issue with Last Words is that the plot wandered, meandered, drifted, and seemed to have a few too many digressions. I'll still read Koryta's next book, but this was a disappointment and at least 50 pages too long for the meat of the plot.
September 10, 2015
Have you ever listened to a song and waited, and waited, and waited for the chorus to finally arrive after struggling to get through the verse? That is what this book felt like. I loved Koryta's previous novels because they packed punch and were full of zest.
This tale was boring and far too slow developing. The climax was dull. Like being a little kid waiting for a favorite toy on Christmas Morning only to get a sweater grandma bought.
Well, there's always another book to wait for so hopefully the next one won't disappoint me like those old sweaters used to.
Peace out my dear brethren!
This tale was boring and far too slow developing. The climax was dull. Like being a little kid waiting for a favorite toy on Christmas Morning only to get a sweater grandma bought.
Well, there's always another book to wait for so hopefully the next one won't disappoint me like those old sweaters used to.
Peace out my dear brethren!
January 31, 2016
Another excellent page turner from Koryta. I've read all his books and think this might be my second favorite ("So cold the river" being the first I read and still my favorite). I think I liked this because of the similarities to "so cold". Now anxiously awaiting the follow up to know what happens next for mark Novak.
November 7, 2016
Stayed up reading until I finished this book. Another one of his books that I loved! He never ceases to amaze me.
September 17, 2015
After his wife is murdered an investigator for a law firm is shuffled off to check on a nothing case. When things get ugly during his brief introduction to the case this guy gets ticked off and starts looking for answers. My main disappointment was the negative reviews I saw on here for this book. I felt the book held up well for a mystery that gets a bit complex with some twists towards the end. Of course no book will satisfy all. I did enjoy this and look forward to seeing more. That is said because the book kind of ends with one of those lingering moments not quite wrapped up. There was a teaser for Koryta's next book at the end of this book but I do not usually read these. So perhaps his next book will have more, and I will be waiting to check that one out.
P.S. Today is me and my wifes 21st Anniversary! Since she has put up with me for so long I just wanted to send her an "I love You" note at the end of this review. Thank you Honey for so many wonderful years and I look forward to every new day on our journey through life together.
P.S. Today is me and my wifes 21st Anniversary! Since she has put up with me for so long I just wanted to send her an "I love You" note at the end of this review. Thank you Honey for so many wonderful years and I look forward to every new day on our journey through life together.
May 15, 2015
Let me just say that if your claustrophobic then this is going to be a tough read ! Koryta's under the ground cave scenes were so descriptive that I could barely breath while reading them. I felt like I was stuck in a dark cave right along with Marcus the main character of the story.
Mark Novak is mourning the death of his wife when his company sends him to investigate the death of a young girl who died on the same day as his wife. Her death happened in newly discovered caverns and the man responsible for finding her was also accused of killing her although it could never be proved. Shortly after Mark arrives in this Midwest town he encounters hostility from everyone he meets to the point that he is looking guilty. More and more questions arise as Mark fights to just stay alive in his quest for the truth.
A tense and suspenseful page turner.
Mark Novak is mourning the death of his wife when his company sends him to investigate the death of a young girl who died on the same day as his wife. Her death happened in newly discovered caverns and the man responsible for finding her was also accused of killing her although it could never be proved. Shortly after Mark arrives in this Midwest town he encounters hostility from everyone he meets to the point that he is looking guilty. More and more questions arise as Mark fights to just stay alive in his quest for the truth.
A tense and suspenseful page turner.
October 11, 2023
I would have loved to give this book 4 stars but the "cave" part of this book was a bit "over the top" . I was getting bored, and I mean really bored so I did a bit of skimming. I did finish the book and I even have the 2nd book in this series in my house, so I will read that one too. I liked the main character Mark Novak - I'm hoping book 2 is a bit better than book 1 . But, hey, I finished it and that is saying a lot these days!
August 30, 2015
Not what I had hoped
I love this author! His books are beautifully written and masterly told. Unfortunately this one didn't work for me. Not enough interest in the subject and I didn't sympathize with anyone. Bit boring in parts. Will of course read his next book! Still writing is worth three stars.
I love this author! His books are beautifully written and masterly told. Unfortunately this one didn't work for me. Not enough interest in the subject and I didn't sympathize with anyone. Bit boring in parts. Will of course read his next book! Still writing is worth three stars.
November 12, 2015
A Private Investigator (Mark Novak) works for Project Innocence and is sent to Garrison, Indiana. Actually, Mark’s there at the invitation of the suspected killer. To Mark and his firm this is a dead-end case. Still, this suspected killer (a true weirdo guy) begs Novak to uncover what really happened. From then on, this book gets nuttier – but not a good nuttier.
Honestly, I tried to like this book, but I couldn’t. These long passages dedicated to that cave (where that young woman was found and presumably murdered) were uninteresting to me. Furthermore all those pages dedicated to this Ridley character who thinks the cave speaks to him were so boring. Crazy can be interesting but his psychosis was nothing genius. And the last thing was that the plot was rather convoluted. This is my first Michael Koryta book and dare I say I AM disappointed.
Not sure yet if I’ll ever read another by this author.
Honestly, I tried to like this book, but I couldn’t. These long passages dedicated to that cave (where that young woman was found and presumably murdered) were uninteresting to me. Furthermore all those pages dedicated to this Ridley character who thinks the cave speaks to him were so boring. Crazy can be interesting but his psychosis was nothing genius. And the last thing was that the plot was rather convoluted. This is my first Michael Koryta book and dare I say I AM disappointed.
Not sure yet if I’ll ever read another by this author.
July 6, 2016
Private investigator Mike Novak has been in a downward spiral since his wife was killed two years ago. He is sent to Indiana to look into the unsolved death of a 17-year-old girl a decade ago that still haunts the people of this struggling small town. Mike thinks it will be a quick visit; after all, this is not the kind of case the pro bono company he works for normally accepts. But as he is subjected to a variety of diversionary and scare tactics, he feels the need to pursue it further. Some of the most intense scenes in this book are set in abandoned caves where the girl's body was found. Not for the faint of heart.
November 26, 2015
Koryta never disappoints. He scares the heck out of me but I will always pick up his newest book. This one (like all of them) is very tightly plotted, lots of brilliant red herrings, and right to the last page suspense. I love a writer who can totally own the written descriptions and atmosphere but still keep the plot moving, and even throw in some poignant thoughts on death, regret, forgiveness. Koryta really is master of all. Far more than five stars.
October 3, 2015
2.5 stars - far from his best. Interesting protagonist, and started off very well, but just far too many plot holes and contrived unrealisticness (not a real word, thank you, I know). Reminded me of Before I Go To Sleep, by S.J. Watson, which I too found disappointing for similar reasons (although Koryta is a much superior wordsmith).
June 2, 2018
Two-haiku review:
He still mourns dead wife
Seeks to solve another death
Indiana caves
Very well written
But just didn't engage me
Like author's others
3-1/2 stars
He still mourns dead wife
Seeks to solve another death
Indiana caves
Very well written
But just didn't engage me
Like author's others
3-1/2 stars
Read
May 19, 2020Mark Novak is haunted by the unsolved murder of his wife, and that and his unquenchable rage are what get this Florida man stranded in Garrison, Indiana. He’s there to investigate another unsolved murder, that of Sarah Martin, who, eerily enough, died on the same day as his wife. Even stranger, he’s called there to investigate by the number one suspect himself.
This story is a string of bizarre events with almost paranormal undertones, and Mark Novak is a cynic at best. Everyone around him doubts him and almost outright hates him, but he must unravel every menacing thread to get to the truth. Sarah Martin’s body was found in a huge cave system, and everything hinges on this mysterious cave. Every scene inside of it was captivating and claustrophobic and really captured what it’s like to be trapped in the dark, even the internal darkness that comes from not knowing the truth.
So for anyone who likes brooding and compelling characters as well as creepy and gripping suspense, this is a great mystery. -AD
This is available as an audiobook on Overdrive.
Click here to place a hold on the physical copy: Last Words .
This story is a string of bizarre events with almost paranormal undertones, and Mark Novak is a cynic at best. Everyone around him doubts him and almost outright hates him, but he must unravel every menacing thread to get to the truth. Sarah Martin’s body was found in a huge cave system, and everything hinges on this mysterious cave. Every scene inside of it was captivating and claustrophobic and really captured what it’s like to be trapped in the dark, even the internal darkness that comes from not knowing the truth.
So for anyone who likes brooding and compelling characters as well as creepy and gripping suspense, this is a great mystery. -AD
This is available as an audiobook on Overdrive.
Click here to place a hold on the physical copy: Last Words .
December 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this mystery, it was a different storyline from anything I have read lately. Being from Indiana, the cave storyline took me back in time to when our Girl Scout troop went spelunking down in southern Indiana. I could relate to the descriptions of being down in the cave and the total darkness aspect. I liked how Ridley's story just sucked Mark in to find the truth about Sarah even though that was clearly not his initial focus. I am glad that this is going to be a series and I can't wait to read the next one. The intro of it on the playaway was very enticing and I had a feeling it would relate to the mystery of what happened to his wife from the beginning of this book.
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