Last One Standing by Maria Frankland

Last Orders #2

by Maria Frankland

Possessions can be replaced. Memories and loved ones can’t.
The important thing is that my daughter and son are safe after the fire that ripped apart their world as they knew it. And we’re trying to move forward together.

Except there’s something I can’t let go of.

My frustration at being ripped off with most of what I owned and taken for a fool. Going after the person responsible risks exposing the dark secrets I’ve been forced to keep, yet I can’t seem to stop myself.

As I buckle my seatbelt and smile at my daughter, Hayley, I know I must tread carefully as she’s endured more than enough heartbreak already. She believes our trip is merely a holiday to start to heal our pain after all that’s happened.

Little does she know that I’m really here to find someone.

However, it’s not only me with this agenda. Before long, three of us are looking for the same person and depending on who gets there first, there could be one of three deadly outcomes.

The picture-perfect location offers no escape for the person we’re pursuing and ultimately no refuge for any of us when the tables are suddenly turned.

Genres: Thriller

Unknown Binding

About the author

Maria Frankland has a dubious internet search history and a very worried mother-in-law. However, neither of these things can stop her writing gripping psychological thrillers in which you’ll never find a happy-ever-after.

Her novels are mostly set in Yorkshire where you’ll hear the accent through all her characters. These are people you could live next door to, or closer still… don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Maria’s novels are fast-paced, down to earth and realistic. You never know what’s around the corner…

Find out more about Maria at https://www.mariafrankland.co.uk. Whilst you’re there, you can download your free novel - Ties That Bind.

Reviews

[Pheadra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is the sequel to Last Orders and plays out in Bodrum, Turkey, where Debra and Hayley set off for a week, each with different intentions. Debra wants to confront Jay, who stole her money. Hayley wants a break following her father's funeral and break-up with Carl.
Carl and his mother Tina have ideas of their own when they head to Bodrum, too. Tina wants money from Debra, who has avoided answering the numerous messages Tina has sent. Carl is fence sitting between wanting money and reconnecting with Hailey.
And then, Debra is the victim of a hit and run twice by a speedboat while taking an early morning dip in the Aegean. A well-paced page-turner. 4 and a half stars

[Donna Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Maria’s books and thought she did a great job with this sequel. It has been a while since I read the prequel, but she sprinkled in enough backstory to jog my memory. I love how she wraps books up in a satisfying ending rather than adding that last paragraph that ruins it for me. The storyline was great, and the pace was quick! I really love this author, and she loves to engage with her readers. Join her Facebook group!

[Suzan Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to last orders. The story in this one picks up where the first leaves off. This one might even be slight.y better than the first. It does a really good job of wrapping things up but in my mind does leave an opening if another book was coming! So good had me right off the hop!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last One Standing by Maria Frankland
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the sequel to Last Orders. It is a great continuation from where book 1 left off.
This story takes off with a bang and is intense the whole way through.
Debra and her daughter, Hailey decide to take a vacation to Turkey. Even though Hailey can’t wait to relax and unwind, her mom has other reasons for going on this trip. She wants to find Jay who double crossed her and stole her money. She’s determined to get her money back, but it won’t be given back easily. There’s lots of twists, turns, secrets and suspense! With a dose of kidnappings, murders and accidents!
I enjoyed the sequel even more than the first book!
I listened to the audio version and the narrator was great!

[travel_thru_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria, your latest book was absolutely fantastic! I was over the moon when I heard there would be a sequel to Last Order, because I couldn't wait to dive back into the story. The ending of The Last Order had me craving for more!

Last One Standing is a wild ride right from the start. That prologue had me hooked and my heart racing!

Debra, the MC, goes through so much in this book, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Just when you think you know what's going on, Maria throws in another twist that keeps you guessing.

Debra's quest for justice after the fire is both gripping and intense. The story unfolds against a seemingly peaceful setting but with an underlying sense of danger, making it a thrilling read all the way through.

Her inner struggles and determination to find the truth bring a whole new level of excitement to the storyline. Despite the risks, she's driven by a thirst for justice that could expose her own secrets.

Maria has truly outdone herself once again with this must-read, and I'm eagerly anticipating her next work!

[Bob Fendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Last One Standing by Maria Frankland
This book is an incredibly thrilling sequel to Last Orders.
Debra goes off on a chase come holiday with her daughter Hayley in an attempt to get back the money stolen from her by her unscrupulous conman lover. Which turns out to have dire consequences and life threatening dangers, and surprises for all involved.
There's threats, murder, attempted murder and kidnapping which all add to the suspense.
This is as I fully expected another exceptionally well written book by Maria, full of twists and now knowing which way this is going and how going to end.
The wonderfully descriptive settings made for great visualisations and the characters are superb.
I found this to be as with all books by Maria a very exciting read.
I was totally engrossed in this brilliant thriller.
Recommended reading.

[Cheyenne Joy Mijdam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Last One Standing by Maria Frankland

Alright, I’m just going to say it: this book made up for a lot of the emotional eye-twitching I experienced in Last Orders. Consider the score officially balanced again.

This one moves. Fast. The kind of fast where you tell yourself “just one more chapter” and suddenly you’re halfway through and wondering when you accidentally packed your bags and went on a very questionable holiday with Debra and Hayley.

And trust me—it’s still a holiday. Just not the relaxing beach-and-cocktails kind. More like the small town, dark secrets, questionable decisions, and someone’s life about to implode kind.

Which, honestly, is my favorite travel destination in fiction.

I’ll admit something slightly disturbing: this book actually made me smile a few times. Not because everything was sunshine and rainbows, but because I could see where things were heading… and it was beautifully messy. The kind of messy that makes you wonder what exactly goes through Maria Frankland’s mind while writing this stuff.

Seriously. Where do you even come up with half of this?

Anyway, before I drift off into philosophical questions about authors and their slightly terrifying imaginations—let’s talk about the real star of the show: money.

Money is the invisible puppet master in this story. Almost every decision, every risk, every bad idea wrapped in a “this might work” bow… somehow circles back to money.

And as history, crime novels, and common sense repeatedly prove—decisions made purely for money rarely end well.

Not for everyone, at least.

What I really enjoyed were the little secrets quietly scattered through the story. The twists, the turns, the moments where you realize something isn’t quite what it seemed five pages ago. Those are my favorite parts, the moments where you stop and think, oh… oh no.

And this book definitely delivered those.

Reading it felt like stepping back into the story and actually being part of it again. Watching things unfold, watching plans form and fall apart in the most satisfying ways.

If I had to describe it, I’d call it a feel-good revenge story that occasionally trips over its own chaos. And honestly? That’s a compliment.

Four debt-collecting stars from me. Not because it wasn’t good, but because Maria Frankland has written other books that punched me a little harder emotionally. That said, this one definitely hit me more than the previous part.

And together? They work.

So if you pick up Last Orders, do yourself a favor and go straight into Last One Standing. The two together feel like a short trip into a small, dark, slightly twisted little world where bad decisions, secrets, and money run the show.

Pack light.
And maybe don’t trust anyone on this holiday.

[Mary Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Frankland has done it again with another 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book! Last One Standing is a follow-up book to Last Orders and I found that I loved it even more than her 1st book! The story follows Debra and her daughter Hayley as they travel to Turkey for what Hayley thinks is a mother daughter vacation week but which Debra is actually in search of her missing money. The book brings back some interesting characters from the first book and we get a deeper dive into Debra’s character as well as some of the other characters and what motivates them. I loved this part of the book where some of the loose ends from book one were clarified. There were lots of twists and the writing really kept me guessing. The chapters flowed quickly and the writing was smooth. The chapters alternated between characters, mainly Debra, Hayley and one other character. The author utilized great descriptions when describing some of the scenery in Turkey (where the majority of the book takes place) such as the Turkish baths and some of the bars and restaurants with their “orange umbrellas”. It made me want to visit there! I have found myself a new author!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Frankland's ‘Last One Standing’ serves as a thrilling sequel to her previous novel, ‘Last Orders’. Having been captivated by the storytelling and rich character development in ‘Last Orders’, my excitement was palpable when I was offered an advanced reader's copy of ‘Last One Standing’. This novel does not disappoint; it delivered a well-paced narrative filled with suspense. From the outset, Maria Frankland skillfully reintroduces us to Debra and her family, diving deeper into their lives and the challenges they face since all that happened in the first book. As the story unfolds, we witness the emotional and psychological struggles that Debra encounters, navigating a world that seems to continually throw obstacles in her path.

Maria has once again crafted a tale that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
Thank you Maria for an ARC of your brilliant book.

[Bob Fendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Last One Standing by Maria Frankland
This book is an incredibly thrilling sequel to Last Orders.
Debra goes off on a chase come holiday with her daughter Hayley in an attempt to get back the money stolen from her by her unscrupulous conman lover. Which turns out to have dire consequences and life threatening dangers, and surprises for all involved.
There's threats, murder, attempted murder and kidnapping which all add to the suspense.
This is as I fully expected another exceptionally well written book by Maria, full of twists and now knowing which way this is going and how going to end.
The wonderfully descriptive settings made for great visualisations and the characters are superb.
I found this to be as with all books by Maria a very exciting read.
I was totally engrossed in this brilliant thriller.
Recommended reading.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure that I really have any spoilers here, but didn’t want to take any chances, so I marked it as such. I hate it when others ruin a book for me, sometimes without realizing they are giving something away.

Anyway, I read Last Orders as my first book in 2024, and then re-read it as my first book this year, prior to reading this, the sequel. This one was just as awesome! I read it in less than a day. As is almost normal with this author, there aren’t a lot a characters that I would ever want to know in real life, and I am not very fond of any of them. However, I found myself rooting for Debra, Hayley and Lance all the same. I actually have liked Hayley and Lance in both books, and reluctantly have to admit that even though I don’t like Debra very much as a person, I still wanted everything to work out for her.

[Sarah Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Maria for the advanced reader copy of this book.

Last One Standing is the much awaited sequel to Last Orders and what a sequel it is!!

This story picks up perfectly from where we left Debra and I couldn't get enough of the next installment. From the opening prologue I was reeled in good and proper.

The pace of the plot does not let up the entire way through and I found myself kept awake during the late hours as I desperately turned the pages to see what was going to happen next-there are a couple of scenes in particular that I enjoyed and will stay with me!

Congratulations on another fantastic book Maria, you've out done yourself this time-5 well deserved stars from me.

[Ellen Squire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last One Standing is the exciting follow up to Last Orders. It follows the story of Pub Landlady Debra who was planning to leave her husband Bryn to go travelling with her younger lover barman Jay. Bryn is now dead after being trapped inside the pub when it was set alight. In the meantime, Jay has disappeared abroad with Debra's money. Debra decides to hunt him down to claim back what is rightfully hers, whilst being blackmailed by her daughter's abusive ex and his mother. The story has lots of twists and turns to keep the reader captivated. Once again Maria has written a corker of a story which was hard to put down.

[Thereasa O'keeffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoy this authors books and as usual this one didn’t disappoint. The first book Last orders was really good and this one was also good do think it helps to read first one first otherwise you might get bit lost and confused . Debra and her children are still trying to come to terms with losing their loved one and their pub which burnt to the ground . Debra has to move in with her daughter and they decide to go on holiday to turkey . Debra’s daughter thinks it’s just a holiday for her to spend time with her mum however Debra has other reasons for going to turkey but can’t tell Hayley what they are . Little does she know that her secrets might just cost her life .

[Phyllis Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

The follow up to Last Orders was an unexpected treat. The intensity builds as the action takes place . It picks up shortly after the pub fire. Debra had no idea the woman from the train would turn out to blackmail her. But before she. can pay she must get the money that was stolen from her. All the action takes place in Turkey and with a language barrier things go wrong from the start. Lots of secrets and lies and of course a wonderful twist make this a book you don't want to miss. So good

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last One Standing is the sequel to Last Orders and is a psychological thriller novel. It is a gripping and twisty thriller that explores themes of trauma, friendship, and survival. With its isolated setting and complex characters, the novel builds to a shocking climax that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. I really enjoyed reading this one! I love all of Maria's books and actually recommend them all in general 🙂

[Jo Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading this book. The follow on from Last Orders as soon as you pick the book up all the characters are remembered and how they fitted into the original book. Another great book which could wrap this sequel up or you never know with Maria books if there will be another one to follow ... 😉 again totally recommend 👌 👏

[Rebecca Charlesworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel to last orders, I was desperate to find out what happened next for Debra that I read this in one sitting. Debra manages to locate the scumbag conman that is Jay in the hopes of getting her money back. What a rollercoaster of a story follows, a web of lies and deceit, kidnap, blackmail and attempted murder.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the series has to be read first otherwise it wouldnt make sense. This shows what happens after the fire and gives a nice ending.
For me it was a quick read as I could just escape into the story - on a cold winter day the setting was brilliant. It was interesting to see how everything unwound.

[marjorie birney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! Should be at least a 10!

I loved this book so much I couldn't put it down. ended up putting everything on hold so I could finish it. Truly A thriller and mystery as well. I recommend this great story for anyone who likes thrillers or
, mystery books. I'll be ordering more by this author, you won't be disappointed.

[Kimberley H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picks up where the former book left off with lots of new twists and answers to previously unanswered speculation. Surprising and suspenseful with a shocking conclusion. I enjoyed the first one more, but this author always spins a great thriller.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! This book was so intriguing, wanting to know who did this and who did that! I definitely would not want to be in Debra's shoes. Remember to read Last Orders first if you haven't already to learn all about Debra and her adventures. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!

[Mrs T J Giles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last one standing by Maria Frankland book 2 of 2 sequel to Last orders, picks up straight away, Debra follows the money and Jay, Hayley thinks its a holiday with her mum. A great story set in sunny Bodrum. Lots of unraveling and truths being told. A great ending just what I wanted. 4* Kindle.

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

intensity, suspense, and disturbing twists

“Last One Standing” by Maria Frankland is a strong sequel to “Last Orders”, matching the same level of intensity, suspense, and disturbing twists. Dark and gripping, with a powerful reminder of just how important family can be.

[Becky Whitney Manuzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5. I loved this book, it was short but I loved continuing seeing the characters in their mess. My feelings about the characters are complicated. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars was the constant use of “bro” and “sis”.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Maria for this ARC!
I was hooked from the start and couldn’t stop reading so I’d know how it ends!!!

[Jo Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding novel by Maria! Literally love all of her books.

[Kelsey Deeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced sequel, really enjoyed!

[Linda Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel to Last orders. Really enjoyed it, stick with the first part then you can’t put it down.

[Jeanette Bainbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five star read. Had me hooked as usual and didn't want to put it down.