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Her Last Breath
Not yet published
Expected 17 Feb 26From the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and The Last Word comes a story of two friends who embark on an ill-fated caving expedition—and the dark truth of what happens deep underground.
After years of excuses, Tess has finally agreed to go caving with her best friend Allie. Their lives have diverged sharply since high school—Allie is a self-made travel influencer, while Tess is a shy (and claustrophobic) legal assistant struggling to pay for law school. Maybe she’s a little jealous of Allie's globe-trotting life. Who wouldn’t be?
As Tess and Allie descend into the depths, they realize they’re not alone. A stranger who claims to be a fellow caver harasses them. Confident, take-no-shit Allie insults the guy—and he retaliates. Soon, Tess is trapped inside a narrow crawl space hundreds of feet underground, fighting to stay alive.
Twenty-four hours later, as a hospitalized Tess recounts her harrowing story of survival, the detective interviewing her shares new and shocking secrets about Allie's true past. Together, they begin to suspect the brutal attack wasn’t so random after all.
Who was Allie, really? Why did this man target them? And did Tess really leave the danger behind when she escaped the cave?
After years of excuses, Tess has finally agreed to go caving with her best friend Allie. Their lives have diverged sharply since high school—Allie is a self-made travel influencer, while Tess is a shy (and claustrophobic) legal assistant struggling to pay for law school. Maybe she’s a little jealous of Allie's globe-trotting life. Who wouldn’t be?
As Tess and Allie descend into the depths, they realize they’re not alone. A stranger who claims to be a fellow caver harasses them. Confident, take-no-shit Allie insults the guy—and he retaliates. Soon, Tess is trapped inside a narrow crawl space hundreds of feet underground, fighting to stay alive.
Twenty-four hours later, as a hospitalized Tess recounts her harrowing story of survival, the detective interviewing her shares new and shocking secrets about Allie's true past. Together, they begin to suspect the brutal attack wasn’t so random after all.
Who was Allie, really? Why did this man target them? And did Tess really leave the danger behind when she escaped the cave?
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 17, 2026
39219 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Adams
6 books5,296 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 303 reviews
October 1, 2025
➳ 3.75/5 stars
okay so this book was definitely something because it had me hooked from page one, and honestly, i adored every single second of it. you know those books that just grip you so tight that you don’t even wanna put them down for a second? yeah, that was exactly the vibe here. i’ll admit, the pacing in the beginning felt a little slow, and that’s probably the only reason i didn’t end up giving it a full five stars. but then again, i’m someone who really lets the start of a book decide the whole vibe for me, so maybe that’s just a me thing.
but once i got past that, oh my god it felt so different from anything i’ve read recently. and not gonna lie, i went in with zero expectations because the last book i read by this author was ages ago, and i genuinely thought i wouldn’t connect with this one. turns out, i was so wrong, and i’ve never been happier to be wrong about a book.
also, let me be completely honest here I was in such a bad reading slump. my last two reads were straight-up disappointments, like nothing about them clicked for me, and i was this close to giving up for a while. so picking this one up and feeling that spark again… it legit felt like a breath of fresh air, like waking up early in the morning and stepping outside when the air feels crisp and alive. that’s why i think i loved this book even more it came to me at the perfect time.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
This book literally revolves around two besties, Allie and Tess, who’ve been ride-or-die since forever like genuinely inseparable, more like sisters than friends. they grew up glued at the hip, but as adulthood hit, their paths couldn’t have been more different. Allie built this whole glamorous life for herself as a travel influencer, collecting fame and money through her blog, while Tess, at 30, was still stuck in law school, struggling to figure things out. and as much as she loved allie, watching her best friend shine so bright started planting this little seed of envy in her heart.
now here’s where things get wild both of them decide to go on this hike inside one of the most terrifying caves ever (like seriously, why would you even??). and instead of a peaceful adventure, the moment they step in, they run into this man who immediately gives off the creepiest vibes. but instead of leaving like normal people, they choose to keep exploring. only later do they realize that creepy dude? yeah, he never actually left. he’d been following them the entire time.
What starts off as a hike between best friends quickly turns into their worst nightmare. when they finally decide to confront him, everything takes a horrifying turn, changing their lives forever. both of them come out scarred, not just physically but mentally.
This story is told from different povs and honestly, i feel like that made such a huge difference. it gave me such a close look into what was actually happening inside the cave, and it made the whole thing feel more real, almost like i was right there with them. now, i’ll admit the plot itself did feel a little predictable to me, probably because i’ve read a ton of thrillers (and i actually read a kinda similar one months ago like not similar in premise more like in characters and their behaviours so yeah that could also be a reason, just not by the same author). so yeah, the twist along the way didn’t totally shock me… but the ending? omg, that i did not see coming. like, i had a whole version in my head of how this would wrap up, and the book completely proved me wrong in the last stretch.
And here’s the thing even though i guessed parts of the plot, it honestly didn’t take away from the experience at all. because what really carried this book wasn’t just the storyline, it was the writing. the way it was executed was phenomenal. i found myself literally visualizing everything as if it was unfolding right in front of me not just words on a page, but an actual movie playing in my head. that’s how immersive it was. sure, the beginning was a bit slow for my taste, but once it found its rhythm, it completely gripped me and didn’t let go.
So yeah, maybe it wasn’t shocking at every turn, but the atmosphere, the tension, the writing all of it combined made this book such an amazing experience to read.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
I honestly feel like this book came to me at the perfect time because it pulled me right out of my slump, and maybe that’s why I ended up loving it even more. The plot twist itself didn't left me absolutely stunned, but what really made it stand out was the way everything was executed the tension, the atmosphere, the constant thrill. It was so immersive that I could actually feel every emotion the characters went through fear, rage, anger, sadness, empathy it all hit. The only tiny issue for me was the pacing at the start, but once it picked up, it became nothing short of a masterpiece in my eyes.
⚘ "Overall, if you’re on the hunt for a book that’ll grab you by the throat, make you forget about literally everything else, and just keep flipping pages this might be the perfect catch for you." 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
୨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 30 august, 2025
a good thriller is all I need to get me out of this shitty slump 🤌🏻
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away."
okay so this book was definitely something because it had me hooked from page one, and honestly, i adored every single second of it. you know those books that just grip you so tight that you don’t even wanna put them down for a second? yeah, that was exactly the vibe here. i’ll admit, the pacing in the beginning felt a little slow, and that’s probably the only reason i didn’t end up giving it a full five stars. but then again, i’m someone who really lets the start of a book decide the whole vibe for me, so maybe that’s just a me thing.
but once i got past that, oh my god it felt so different from anything i’ve read recently. and not gonna lie, i went in with zero expectations because the last book i read by this author was ages ago, and i genuinely thought i wouldn’t connect with this one. turns out, i was so wrong, and i’ve never been happier to be wrong about a book.
also, let me be completely honest here I was in such a bad reading slump. my last two reads were straight-up disappointments, like nothing about them clicked for me, and i was this close to giving up for a while. so picking this one up and feeling that spark again… it legit felt like a breath of fresh air, like waking up early in the morning and stepping outside when the air feels crisp and alive. that’s why i think i loved this book even more it came to me at the perfect time.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
This book literally revolves around two besties, Allie and Tess, who’ve been ride-or-die since forever like genuinely inseparable, more like sisters than friends. they grew up glued at the hip, but as adulthood hit, their paths couldn’t have been more different. Allie built this whole glamorous life for herself as a travel influencer, collecting fame and money through her blog, while Tess, at 30, was still stuck in law school, struggling to figure things out. and as much as she loved allie, watching her best friend shine so bright started planting this little seed of envy in her heart.
now here’s where things get wild both of them decide to go on this hike inside one of the most terrifying caves ever (like seriously, why would you even??). and instead of a peaceful adventure, the moment they step in, they run into this man who immediately gives off the creepiest vibes. but instead of leaving like normal people, they choose to keep exploring. only later do they realize that creepy dude? yeah, he never actually left. he’d been following them the entire time.
What starts off as a hike between best friends quickly turns into their worst nightmare. when they finally decide to confront him, everything takes a horrifying turn, changing their lives forever. both of them come out scarred, not just physically but mentally.
This story is told from different povs and honestly, i feel like that made such a huge difference. it gave me such a close look into what was actually happening inside the cave, and it made the whole thing feel more real, almost like i was right there with them. now, i’ll admit the plot itself did feel a little predictable to me, probably because i’ve read a ton of thrillers (and i actually read a kinda similar one months ago like not similar in premise more like in characters and their behaviours so yeah that could also be a reason, just not by the same author). so yeah, the twist along the way didn’t totally shock me… but the ending? omg, that i did not see coming. like, i had a whole version in my head of how this would wrap up, and the book completely proved me wrong in the last stretch.
And here’s the thing even though i guessed parts of the plot, it honestly didn’t take away from the experience at all. because what really carried this book wasn’t just the storyline, it was the writing. the way it was executed was phenomenal. i found myself literally visualizing everything as if it was unfolding right in front of me not just words on a page, but an actual movie playing in my head. that’s how immersive it was. sure, the beginning was a bit slow for my taste, but once it found its rhythm, it completely gripped me and didn’t let go.
So yeah, maybe it wasn’t shocking at every turn, but the atmosphere, the tension, the writing all of it combined made this book such an amazing experience to read.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
I honestly feel like this book came to me at the perfect time because it pulled me right out of my slump, and maybe that’s why I ended up loving it even more. The plot twist itself didn't left me absolutely stunned, but what really made it stand out was the way everything was executed the tension, the atmosphere, the constant thrill. It was so immersive that I could actually feel every emotion the characters went through fear, rage, anger, sadness, empathy it all hit. The only tiny issue for me was the pacing at the start, but once it picked up, it became nothing short of a masterpiece in my eyes.
⚘ "Overall, if you’re on the hunt for a book that’ll grab you by the throat, make you forget about literally everything else, and just keep flipping pages this might be the perfect catch for you." 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
୨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 30 august, 2025
a good thriller is all I need to get me out of this shitty slump 🤌🏻
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2026
The biggest ever thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for an ARC of this book!!
I'm not going to lie, I stared at a blank page for about 30 minutes before even tempting to right this review, and I honestly still have no idea where it's going.. I'm just speechless.
So, I guess I'm going to start with an extremely random yet just as accurate reference. Because would it be a true Hades review without one? It would not. Reading your first Taylor Adams book will have you singing from the rooftops, like the first guy who tried jellyfish jelly on his Krabby Patty. So if you haven't read anything by this author yet, (especially if you like thrillers) what are you doing with your life exactly?
The man is a master, that's all there is to it. He could publish a phone book and I'd clear my schedule for the day to read it. He just NEVERRRR disappoints. I had gotten my mom to read No Exit...she calls me about halfway through chapter 2 , going on about "I don't understand what's so great about this book"..Then, I get a call from her not even an hour later "forget everything I said before, holy sh$t" & I was just , I KNOW, HOLY SH$T is right! Lol
I have yet to find another author who can write a faster pace, edge of your seat ride, than this man right here!
So OBVIOUSLY when I saw he had a new book coming out, I had to smash that "request" button on Netgallery. Needless to say this is an Author I throw everything else out the window for. I just got approved for this yesterday and just sat & read until I was done, without a second thought. And what can I say?? .. ALEXA 🗣️, play Oops!.. I did it again by Britney Spears.. I meannnnn.. This just hits in every. Single. Way!
I love how as you're reading, you think you're picking up on things that don't make sense , & think you're going crazy, or misheard something. But you're not and it's just Sir Adams casually being a genius.
This was just amazing all around! The way he brings the settings to life is just INSANE, I don't get scared when I read (unfortunately) but I'm claustrophobic and have high anxiety, there were parts of this book that literally made me want to throw up, and had my heart rate at 130bpm. And it's not actually a "scary" book. It's the way he writes and the atmosphere he creates. Again, I personally have yet to read anything like it by anyone else.
Mark my words, Taylor Adams career is just getting started. He is definitely & without a doubt an Author who will be read and loved by generations. It's not even a question, only a matter of time.
If Stephen King was more of a straight shooter author (wrote about more every day things with less side quests) he'd be Taylor Adams. Because when it comes to talent and the power to grip the reader they are one in the same.
And yes, I did already tell my mom about this one, and I just got yelled at because it's not out yet lol..But you can best bet when it does, I'll be buying mine.
I will also be shoving this book down the throats of all who will listen AND all those who don't. Basically, the choice is yours, if you want to do things the easy way or the hard way. But if you're in close proximity to me for more than five minutes I WILL be telling you about this book!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
I'm not going to lie, I stared at a blank page for about 30 minutes before even tempting to right this review, and I honestly still have no idea where it's going.. I'm just speechless.
So, I guess I'm going to start with an extremely random yet just as accurate reference. Because would it be a true Hades review without one? It would not. Reading your first Taylor Adams book will have you singing from the rooftops, like the first guy who tried jellyfish jelly on his Krabby Patty. So if you haven't read anything by this author yet, (especially if you like thrillers) what are you doing with your life exactly?
The man is a master, that's all there is to it. He could publish a phone book and I'd clear my schedule for the day to read it. He just NEVERRRR disappoints. I had gotten my mom to read No Exit...she calls me about halfway through chapter 2 , going on about "I don't understand what's so great about this book"..Then, I get a call from her not even an hour later "forget everything I said before, holy sh$t" & I was just , I KNOW, HOLY SH$T is right! Lol
I have yet to find another author who can write a faster pace, edge of your seat ride, than this man right here!
So OBVIOUSLY when I saw he had a new book coming out, I had to smash that "request" button on Netgallery. Needless to say this is an Author I throw everything else out the window for. I just got approved for this yesterday and just sat & read until I was done, without a second thought. And what can I say?? .. ALEXA 🗣️, play Oops!.. I did it again by Britney Spears.. I meannnnn.. This just hits in every. Single. Way!
I love how as you're reading, you think you're picking up on things that don't make sense , & think you're going crazy, or misheard something. But you're not and it's just Sir Adams casually being a genius.
This was just amazing all around! The way he brings the settings to life is just INSANE, I don't get scared when I read (unfortunately) but I'm claustrophobic and have high anxiety, there were parts of this book that literally made me want to throw up, and had my heart rate at 130bpm. And it's not actually a "scary" book. It's the way he writes and the atmosphere he creates. Again, I personally have yet to read anything like it by anyone else.
Mark my words, Taylor Adams career is just getting started. He is definitely & without a doubt an Author who will be read and loved by generations. It's not even a question, only a matter of time.
If Stephen King was more of a straight shooter author (wrote about more every day things with less side quests) he'd be Taylor Adams. Because when it comes to talent and the power to grip the reader they are one in the same.
And yes, I did already tell my mom about this one, and I just got yelled at because it's not out yet lol..But you can best bet when it does, I'll be buying mine.
I will also be shoving this book down the throats of all who will listen AND all those who don't. Basically, the choice is yours, if you want to do things the easy way or the hard way. But if you're in close proximity to me for more than five minutes I WILL be telling you about this book!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
January 2, 2026
Ever since No Exit, I’ve been one of Taylor Adams’ most loyal fans — and with Her Last Breath, he’s done it again, proving he’s the master of the smart, heart-pounding locked-room thriller. Just when I thought his stories couldn’t get more intense, this one swept me into a world of shocking twists, claustrophobic suspense, and relentless action that kept me breathless from beginning to end.
The book opens with an unforgettable sequence: a young woman trapped in a remote cave system on the Cascade Range, entombed in darkness as rock collapses around her. The descriptions of her eighteen-hour ordeal are so vivid, I felt my chest tightening and my pulse racing — a visceral reading experience that left me almost gasping alongside her.
Detective Layla Washington arrives on the scene and soon becomes the listener to a harrowing survival tale. Tess, the survivor, recounts not only her fight for life but also the complicated history that led her underground: a lifelong bond with Allie, a charismatic influencer who built a brand around high-stakes adventure, and the strained dynamic that recently tested their friendship. Tess, carrying the scars of her own traumatic childhood, had long been embraced as family by Allie’s parents, but now finds herself pulled into Allie’s risky orbit once again when she agrees to a caving trip.
What should have been a chance for the two women to reconnect turns into a nightmare when a mysterious caver begins shadowing them — a stranger who soon reveals far more sinister intentions. Stalked, hunted, and forced into a deadly cat-and-mouse game in the depths of the earth, Tess relies only on her instincts, scraps of survival knowledge, and the imagined encouragement of her friend’s voice in her head.
But as Tess emerges battered and shaken, Detective Washington senses that the story isn’t over. Why was Allie being targeted? What dangerous secrets was she involved in — secrets serious enough to draw federal investigators into the case? And even though Tess survived the cave, could she still be in danger?
Adams balances the relentless suspense with razor-sharp plotting and haunting questions, making this more than just a thriller — it’s a story about friendship, betrayal, and how far someone will go when pushed to the brink.
Overall: Her Last Breath is a pulse-pounding, claustrophobic, brilliantly engineered thriller that fans of Adams — and any lover of tightly wound mysteries — will devour. It’s fierce, smart, emotionally charged, and unforgettable.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this freaking fantastic thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The book opens with an unforgettable sequence: a young woman trapped in a remote cave system on the Cascade Range, entombed in darkness as rock collapses around her. The descriptions of her eighteen-hour ordeal are so vivid, I felt my chest tightening and my pulse racing — a visceral reading experience that left me almost gasping alongside her.
Detective Layla Washington arrives on the scene and soon becomes the listener to a harrowing survival tale. Tess, the survivor, recounts not only her fight for life but also the complicated history that led her underground: a lifelong bond with Allie, a charismatic influencer who built a brand around high-stakes adventure, and the strained dynamic that recently tested their friendship. Tess, carrying the scars of her own traumatic childhood, had long been embraced as family by Allie’s parents, but now finds herself pulled into Allie’s risky orbit once again when she agrees to a caving trip.
What should have been a chance for the two women to reconnect turns into a nightmare when a mysterious caver begins shadowing them — a stranger who soon reveals far more sinister intentions. Stalked, hunted, and forced into a deadly cat-and-mouse game in the depths of the earth, Tess relies only on her instincts, scraps of survival knowledge, and the imagined encouragement of her friend’s voice in her head.
But as Tess emerges battered and shaken, Detective Washington senses that the story isn’t over. Why was Allie being targeted? What dangerous secrets was she involved in — secrets serious enough to draw federal investigators into the case? And even though Tess survived the cave, could she still be in danger?
Adams balances the relentless suspense with razor-sharp plotting and haunting questions, making this more than just a thriller — it’s a story about friendship, betrayal, and how far someone will go when pushed to the brink.
Overall: Her Last Breath is a pulse-pounding, claustrophobic, brilliantly engineered thriller that fans of Adams — and any lover of tightly wound mysteries — will devour. It’s fierce, smart, emotionally charged, and unforgettable.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this freaking fantastic thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙
Her Last Breath, like Taylor Adams's last novel, The Last Word, has firmly secured Adams fate as one of my top Thriller authors. Wild and wickedly-entertaining, both of these books kept me glued to the seat and flipping pages.
Taylor Adams has knocked another one out of the park!
Caves, and caving more particularly, petrify me. I was interested in this book as soon as I read the synopsis. I figured it would be harrowing, and easily get my heart racing, and boy and boy, did it ever.
We're following best friends, Tess and Allie, who go on a caving trip, supposedly a day trip, but it turns into so much more than that. Though Allie is an experienced caver, and knows the cave they are going into like the back of her hand, Tess is a complete amateur.
She goes more because she wants to please Allie, than due to any desire of her own. From the start it doesn't go well. They have a bit of a confrontation with a mysterious stranger lurking just inside the cave entrance, and from that moment on, the vibes seem off.
As the two women descend into the depths, they soon realize they aren't alone. The stranger has followed them, and he's not planning to let them back out alive.
24-hours later, a hospitalized Tess walks a clever Detective Washington through the culminating events of their ill-fated adventure. Together, the two begin to determine that the events weren't as random as they initially appeared.
Y'all, my claustrophobia was fully initiated by 30% into this novel. It was stirring a bit ahead of that, as even thinking of entering this cave makes me feel queasy, but by 30%, I needed to get up, walk around and stretch.
The way that Adams drew me in, it felt effortless. It was so well written, to keep me fully engaged and keep me guessing. Tess and Allie are both complex characters and I wasn't sure if I could trust either one of them.
My mind was spinning, trying to keep up with what was going on in this hellscape of a cave. The stranger, the man they met at the cave mouth, was so unsettling. The way he interacted with the women was so inappropriate and creepy. I would have turned around immediately.
I loved that we got Detective Washington's perspective as well. I loved following along with her during her interview process with Tess.
It felt like we were puzzling it out together. What exactly went on down there? Who was this man? And why does it seem he was targeting them? Was he, or did the odd circumstances of their encounter just make it feel that way?
This is such a wild ride. It's bound to keep you hooked. I flew this so quickly, half the time with my stomach in my throat. I needed answers. Taylor Adams, I'll be sending you my therapist's bill for the mind spin I had from reading this.
After reading The Last Word, I thought, how can Adams possibly top this? I was totally gripped by that story. Now I know. Her Last Breath is the answer to that, at least IMHO.
I can't recommend this enough to anyone looking for an intense, nail-biting thrill ride. Bonus points if you're as scared of caves, or any small spaces, as I am. This is sure to have you squirming in your seat!
Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I expected this to be good, but I had no idea it would be this good!
I cannot wait to see what Taylor Adams comes up with next!!
Her Last Breath, like Taylor Adams's last novel, The Last Word, has firmly secured Adams fate as one of my top Thriller authors. Wild and wickedly-entertaining, both of these books kept me glued to the seat and flipping pages.
Taylor Adams has knocked another one out of the park!
Caves, and caving more particularly, petrify me. I was interested in this book as soon as I read the synopsis. I figured it would be harrowing, and easily get my heart racing, and boy and boy, did it ever.
We're following best friends, Tess and Allie, who go on a caving trip, supposedly a day trip, but it turns into so much more than that. Though Allie is an experienced caver, and knows the cave they are going into like the back of her hand, Tess is a complete amateur.
She goes more because she wants to please Allie, than due to any desire of her own. From the start it doesn't go well. They have a bit of a confrontation with a mysterious stranger lurking just inside the cave entrance, and from that moment on, the vibes seem off.
As the two women descend into the depths, they soon realize they aren't alone. The stranger has followed them, and he's not planning to let them back out alive.
24-hours later, a hospitalized Tess walks a clever Detective Washington through the culminating events of their ill-fated adventure. Together, the two begin to determine that the events weren't as random as they initially appeared.
Y'all, my claustrophobia was fully initiated by 30% into this novel. It was stirring a bit ahead of that, as even thinking of entering this cave makes me feel queasy, but by 30%, I needed to get up, walk around and stretch.
The way that Adams drew me in, it felt effortless. It was so well written, to keep me fully engaged and keep me guessing. Tess and Allie are both complex characters and I wasn't sure if I could trust either one of them.
My mind was spinning, trying to keep up with what was going on in this hellscape of a cave. The stranger, the man they met at the cave mouth, was so unsettling. The way he interacted with the women was so inappropriate and creepy. I would have turned around immediately.
I loved that we got Detective Washington's perspective as well. I loved following along with her during her interview process with Tess.
It felt like we were puzzling it out together. What exactly went on down there? Who was this man? And why does it seem he was targeting them? Was he, or did the odd circumstances of their encounter just make it feel that way?
This is such a wild ride. It's bound to keep you hooked. I flew this so quickly, half the time with my stomach in my throat. I needed answers. Taylor Adams, I'll be sending you my therapist's bill for the mind spin I had from reading this.
After reading The Last Word, I thought, how can Adams possibly top this? I was totally gripped by that story. Now I know. Her Last Breath is the answer to that, at least IMHO.
I can't recommend this enough to anyone looking for an intense, nail-biting thrill ride. Bonus points if you're as scared of caves, or any small spaces, as I am. This is sure to have you squirming in your seat!
Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I expected this to be good, but I had no idea it would be this good!
I cannot wait to see what Taylor Adams comes up with next!!
September 25, 2025
OMG. OMG OMG OMG OMG THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD!! Thank you to Taylor Adams and William Morrow for my copy. It's about Tess, a woman who finally decides to join her best friend caving. Allie is a travel influencer who loves taking risks, and Tess is her shy travel assistant. As they head into the caves, they realize that they're not alone. A stranger who harasses them won't leave them alone, and Allie insults him. Soon he retaliates and Tess is trapped underground, fighting to stay alive. Twenty-four hours later, as a hospitalized Tess recounts her harrowing story of survival, the detective interviewing her shares new and shocking secrets about her friend's true past.
Thoughts: TAYLOR ADAMS IS THE GOAT! Even books about being trapped underground are FULL of twists, turns, and claustrophobic anxiety. This book had my heart racing and there was much more going on than meets the eye. At 25% I had no idea what more could possibly happen, but it did not disappoint. The fear of being trapped underground bled through the pages and made me take deeper breaths as I read.
The culmination of this book was AMAZING and I really didn't see it coming. All of the complex relationships were so well explained and had me gasping. While the main detective was a bit one dimensional, Tess and Allie were extremely interesting and fun to read about. I think this may be the best thriller I read in 2025- 5 stars!
Thoughts: TAYLOR ADAMS IS THE GOAT! Even books about being trapped underground are FULL of twists, turns, and claustrophobic anxiety. This book had my heart racing and there was much more going on than meets the eye. At 25% I had no idea what more could possibly happen, but it did not disappoint. The fear of being trapped underground bled through the pages and made me take deeper breaths as I read.
The culmination of this book was AMAZING and I really didn't see it coming. All of the complex relationships were so well explained and had me gasping. While the main detective was a bit one dimensional, Tess and Allie were extremely interesting and fun to read about. I think this may be the best thriller I read in 2025- 5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐️ This isn't a bad book by any means but unfortunately 1) I knew immediately what was happening and predicted the entire thing from chapter 1 which really took the fun out of it 2) am not at all claustrophobic which is really needed to make this book seem scary. I also don't love the shifting perspectives that happen often and out of nowhere. Full review to come.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Talk about a wild ride!!
If you have read Taylor Adams books before you know what you are in for, but somehow he always manages to shock me. Her Last Breath is so anxiety inducing, it actually gave me nightmares after starting it the first night. The thought of being stuck in a cave with a madman chasing after me was just too much to bear.
This book is so fast paced and addictive, I did read into the night to finish it, o matter how uncomfortable I felt I needed to know what happened. The characters are interesting, not all likeable I must say. A cat and mouse game through the caves, in the dark with god only knows what around you… eww!! The author knew his stuff, the descriptions are fantastic and made you feel as if you were there which was frightening. It is claustrophobic and very dark. I couldn’t put it down.
Thanks so much to William Morrow for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on February 17th.
If you have read Taylor Adams books before you know what you are in for, but somehow he always manages to shock me. Her Last Breath is so anxiety inducing, it actually gave me nightmares after starting it the first night. The thought of being stuck in a cave with a madman chasing after me was just too much to bear.
This book is so fast paced and addictive, I did read into the night to finish it, o matter how uncomfortable I felt I needed to know what happened. The characters are interesting, not all likeable I must say. A cat and mouse game through the caves, in the dark with god only knows what around you… eww!! The author knew his stuff, the descriptions are fantastic and made you feel as if you were there which was frightening. It is claustrophobic and very dark. I couldn’t put it down.
Thanks so much to William Morrow for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on February 17th.
August 18, 2025
A new favorite from Taylor Adams. I read this in one sitting because I literally could not stop reading. Two best friends go caving and bad things happen. It was anxiety inducing reading about this excursion. My adrenaline was high. The story was flawless and damn good. No complaints about this one.
November 14, 2025
Best thriller that I have read in a while. So well done.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The cave you enter isn't the cave you leave."
Absolutely fabulous ~ Don't miss this one! I don't know about you but caving is not for me. Dark, small, tight - it just screams it's not if you die but when. So when I saw this author, a master at building tension and suspense, was giving us a caving book, I just knew I had to read it.
Tess and Allie are finally back together and out for a day of fun. Allie is a travel blogger, making a pretty good living going on adventures and writing about it, taking photos and testing sponsored gear. Tess is her part time assistant, part time law student and is far less adventurous than Allie. So exciting that they are together, Allie freshly back from some travel, and is ready to teach Tess about caving.
The drive there is easy, their conversation easy to pick back up even though they don't get as much time together as they used to. No, the day doesn't start to take a turn until they notice a body near the entrance to where the cave starts changing and they need to start using skill and gear. And it's a man with his face covered, explaining he's from some wildlife and game organization checking something in the cave. He leaves both girls feel uneasy.
Man, this story is edge-of-your-seat compelling. I couldn't stop reading once I started. It's a fast read, easy to get through large chunks, except the eerie feeling of the claustrophobia, the fear of feeling hunted and the real threat of danger - it absolutely jumps off the page. I took breaks only to breath and reset, reading to dive back in. Even though I'd guessed a few things, it was easy to second guess myself and just get completely wrapped up in the story. I definitely see an re-read in my future, grabbing the audio when I can! I loved this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Absolutely fabulous ~ Don't miss this one! I don't know about you but caving is not for me. Dark, small, tight - it just screams it's not if you die but when. So when I saw this author, a master at building tension and suspense, was giving us a caving book, I just knew I had to read it.
Tess and Allie are finally back together and out for a day of fun. Allie is a travel blogger, making a pretty good living going on adventures and writing about it, taking photos and testing sponsored gear. Tess is her part time assistant, part time law student and is far less adventurous than Allie. So exciting that they are together, Allie freshly back from some travel, and is ready to teach Tess about caving.
The drive there is easy, their conversation easy to pick back up even though they don't get as much time together as they used to. No, the day doesn't start to take a turn until they notice a body near the entrance to where the cave starts changing and they need to start using skill and gear. And it's a man with his face covered, explaining he's from some wildlife and game organization checking something in the cave. He leaves both girls feel uneasy.
Man, this story is edge-of-your-seat compelling. I couldn't stop reading once I started. It's a fast read, easy to get through large chunks, except the eerie feeling of the claustrophobia, the fear of feeling hunted and the real threat of danger - it absolutely jumps off the page. I took breaks only to breath and reset, reading to dive back in. Even though I'd guessed a few things, it was easy to second guess myself and just get completely wrapped up in the story. I definitely see an re-read in my future, grabbing the audio when I can! I loved this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow!! I feel like I need to shout it from the rooftops about how great this book was!! It will definitely be in my top reads of the year. Perhaps even making it to number one. I’m not sure yet. I’ll have to check my reads but if this doesn’t make it to the number one spot, it’ll definitely be in my top three. It was THAT good.
This book set the tone of suspense and tension right from the start. And I swear I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book. The twists in this book were top notch. 👌🏻 Like I seriously had to pick my jaw up off the floor at least three different times. Like it was just so good and unhinged. I loved it so much. This is my third book by Taylor Adams that I’ve read and I think this just bumped NO EXIT out of the top spot. This was fantastic and I can already see how it would be such a great movie.
To just set the tone for you: you have two best friends, Allie and Tess and they decide to go Caving. They are adventurous and Allie knows the caves like the back of her hand. She wants her friend to experience the awesomeness of it for herself. Only while descending deeper underground, they come across a man who says he works for the park. But, he is not who he said he was. And soon after, the girls realize this man is following them and has been the whole time. But who is he ? And what does he want?
And that’s all I’m going to say. Just know this is an edge of your seat thriller. The detailed descriptions of these caves will have you feeling so claustrophobic and scared, it’s crazy. At times, my heart was beating so fast I thought it would come right out of my chest. Possibly my favorite read of the year. Right here. It was 💯 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me!!
Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for this early copy in exchange for an honest review. You MUST pick this one up when it comes out next year.
Pub Date: February 17, 2026
Have you read this one yet? Honestly you won’t want to miss this one.
This book set the tone of suspense and tension right from the start. And I swear I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book. The twists in this book were top notch. 👌🏻 Like I seriously had to pick my jaw up off the floor at least three different times. Like it was just so good and unhinged. I loved it so much. This is my third book by Taylor Adams that I’ve read and I think this just bumped NO EXIT out of the top spot. This was fantastic and I can already see how it would be such a great movie.
To just set the tone for you: you have two best friends, Allie and Tess and they decide to go Caving. They are adventurous and Allie knows the caves like the back of her hand. She wants her friend to experience the awesomeness of it for herself. Only while descending deeper underground, they come across a man who says he works for the park. But, he is not who he said he was. And soon after, the girls realize this man is following them and has been the whole time. But who is he ? And what does he want?
And that’s all I’m going to say. Just know this is an edge of your seat thriller. The detailed descriptions of these caves will have you feeling so claustrophobic and scared, it’s crazy. At times, my heart was beating so fast I thought it would come right out of my chest. Possibly my favorite read of the year. Right here. It was 💯 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me!!
Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for this early copy in exchange for an honest review. You MUST pick this one up when it comes out next year.
Pub Date: February 17, 2026
Have you read this one yet? Honestly you won’t want to miss this one.
November 20, 2025
Thank you William morrow for the free early copy! Claustrophobic vibes were great, but a bit too predictable for me
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
August 31, 2025
An absolutely CLAUSTROPHOBIC cave cat-and-mouse thriller.
New fear unlocked! CAVES. Leave it to Taylor Adams for creating a new primal fear, a highly descriptive thriller that alternates between police interview- as homocide detective Washington talks to Tess, who has just escaped evil killer Jacob from NINE stories underground in the pitch black. Tess was “caving” and exploring the earth beneath with her best friend, influencer Allie. They ran into a stranger who claimed to be working with the park to do signage.
Alternating timeline and viewpoint, we slowly learn more and more about Tess, Jacob, Allie, and Allie’s boyfriend Ethan. Although it may seem hard to determine motive and a deep storyline within a tight space cave, this book absolutely pulls it off. Taylor Adams is a master of creating suspense while revealing secrets and identity at exquisitely paste intervals.
This was one of the best thrillers that I have read in a while, I found it to be quite the page turner. It is equal parts mystery and thriller. The suspense builds tremendously and the setting is second to none. I was so engaged, I felt like I was in that cave with Tess and Allie.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. Book to be published February 16, 2026.
New fear unlocked! CAVES. Leave it to Taylor Adams for creating a new primal fear, a highly descriptive thriller that alternates between police interview- as homocide detective Washington talks to Tess, who has just escaped evil killer Jacob from NINE stories underground in the pitch black. Tess was “caving” and exploring the earth beneath with her best friend, influencer Allie. They ran into a stranger who claimed to be working with the park to do signage.
Alternating timeline and viewpoint, we slowly learn more and more about Tess, Jacob, Allie, and Allie’s boyfriend Ethan. Although it may seem hard to determine motive and a deep storyline within a tight space cave, this book absolutely pulls it off. Taylor Adams is a master of creating suspense while revealing secrets and identity at exquisitely paste intervals.
This was one of the best thrillers that I have read in a while, I found it to be quite the page turner. It is equal parts mystery and thriller. The suspense builds tremendously and the setting is second to none. I was so engaged, I felt like I was in that cave with Tess and Allie.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. Book to be published February 16, 2026.
Want to read
July 18, 2025EEEEEK Waiting on bated breath for this release!
Absolutely love this mans books!
Roll on Feb 2026!
🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤
Absolutely love this mans books!
Roll on Feb 2026!
🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤
February 1, 2026
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams scared the absolute shit out of me—and I loved every second of it. This is claustrophobic, skin crawling, heart pounding suspense that crawls straight under your skin and refuses to leave. From the moment Tess and Allie descend into the cave, the tension is relentless. Narrow tunnels, total darkness, limited air, and the constant awareness of being trapped underground made this almost physically uncomfortable to read. I will simply never go near a cave again (not that I was planning to, but now it’s a hard no 😂).
What makes this even more effective is how tightly Adams weaves character and plot together. Tess’s claustrophobia and insecurity clash perfectly with Allie’s bold, confident influencer persona, creating emotional friction that feels real and layered. The alternating timeline (between the cave ordeal and Tess recounting events afterward) adds another layer of unease, especially as unsettling truths about Allie’s past begin to surface. The twists are genuinely surprising, at times downright shocking, and they completely reframe what you think you know about what happened underground.
Short, fast paced chapters keep the momentum brutal and unrelenting, making this nearly impossible to put down. This is a smart, complex, and incredibly well plotted thriller that delivers on both psychological tension and survival horror. If you like books that make your pulse race and leave you staring at the wall afterward, Her Last Breath absolutely delivers.
December 7, 2025
This book gave my the CHILLS. Talk about a pulse pounding, bone chilling thriller. When I heard this thriller revolved around spelunking I knew it was going to be a good one, and it did not disappoint. The writing style takes you on a journey of both past & present at the same time while completely leading you astray. The twist is one of the most shocking I’ve read in a long time. The minute I finished Her Last Breath, was the minute wanted to read it again. Impeccable.
Thank you so so much to William Morrow Books & NetGalley for sending me an early copy of this one!
Thank you so so much to William Morrow Books & NetGalley for sending me an early copy of this one!
August 21, 2025
Holy crap, this book is exciting!
It's also twisty, suspenseful, surprising and completely claustrophobic. I will NOT be going in any caves EVER after reading this.
I was completely right about who was doing what...or so I thought. Yeah, I wasn't right AT ALL. The author pulled the rug out from under me again and again and again.
I enjoyed every page of this, barely came up for air, and was so sorry when it was over.
Also, Netflix or someone needs to pick this one up quickly because it would be a banger of a movie!
Excellent read!
* ARC via Publisher
It's also twisty, suspenseful, surprising and completely claustrophobic. I will NOT be going in any caves EVER after reading this.
I was completely right about who was doing what...or so I thought. Yeah, I wasn't right AT ALL. The author pulled the rug out from under me again and again and again.
I enjoyed every page of this, barely came up for air, and was so sorry when it was over.
Also, Netflix or someone needs to pick this one up quickly because it would be a banger of a movie!
Excellent read!
* ARC via Publisher
September 1, 2025
So Good!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for my gifted copy of Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams!
I’ve been a fan of Taylor Adams for a while, so I was thrilled to be granted access to this ARC—and it did not disappoint.
This book had everything I look for in a thriller: sharp pacing, well-developed characters, alternating POVs that added depth, and suspense that kept me on edge. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist pulled the rug out from under me.
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a physical book that I truly couldn’t put down, but this one reminded me why I love Adams’s writing. He has such a talent for building tension and creating stories that feel cinematic and immersive.
Overall, Her Last Breath was a fantastic read—fast, suspenseful, and completely absorbing. I highly recommend it, and I can’t wait to see what Taylor Adams writes next.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for my gifted copy of Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams!
I’ve been a fan of Taylor Adams for a while, so I was thrilled to be granted access to this ARC—and it did not disappoint.
This book had everything I look for in a thriller: sharp pacing, well-developed characters, alternating POVs that added depth, and suspense that kept me on edge. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist pulled the rug out from under me.
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a physical book that I truly couldn’t put down, but this one reminded me why I love Adams’s writing. He has such a talent for building tension and creating stories that feel cinematic and immersive.
Overall, Her Last Breath was a fantastic read—fast, suspenseful, and completely absorbing. I highly recommend it, and I can’t wait to see what Taylor Adams writes next.
October 3, 2025
* thanks to William Morrow for the NetGalley review copy (pub date: February 17, 2026)
Gah! I was sweating reading so many parts of this - between the terrifying situations (CAVES) and all of the plot twists - this was so good and exactly the stay-up-too-late/binge-read thriller I was looking for.
Existing fans of Adams are going to love this — and I thought it had some real T.J. Newman Drowning vibes in that it spoke to many of my pre-existing fears, which ratcheted the tension WAY up. So, my main takeaway is that I am never EVER going anywhere near a cave again* and that Taylor Adams is an auto-read.
* I went to the Crystal Caves in Bermuda a long time ago, and it was lovely, but that’s plenty of underground business for one lifetime, thanks.
Gah! I was sweating reading so many parts of this - between the terrifying situations (CAVES) and all of the plot twists - this was so good and exactly the stay-up-too-late/binge-read thriller I was looking for.
Existing fans of Adams are going to love this — and I thought it had some real T.J. Newman Drowning vibes in that it spoke to many of my pre-existing fears, which ratcheted the tension WAY up. So, my main takeaway is that I am never EVER going anywhere near a cave again* and that Taylor Adams is an auto-read.
* I went to the Crystal Caves in Bermuda a long time ago, and it was lovely, but that’s plenty of underground business for one lifetime, thanks.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’ll write a proper review when I catch my breath 🤯
February 4, 2026
Rough draft:
#ad much love for my advance copy @williammorrowbooks #partner
& @libro.fm #partner for the ALC
HER LAST BREATH
< @
Releases: February 26, 2026
Thriller | survival
‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧
The human mind is the ultimate unreliable narrator…
Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away…
Utterly claustrophobic and unputdownable with twists that will your head spinning faster than the exorcist girl. Needs to be a movie. Please make this into a movie.
They call it the Devil’s Staircase. It was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime. Allie and Tess are cave exploring when something terrible happens. But what happened in that cave, only the two of them know.
Mem
Sisu
Shitting in the cave
Did they disprove the 10 spiders in a lifetime stat?
Well to Hell - I’d never heard of that before
With this book, we get both the investigative side and the survival edge of your seat thrills. I loved this book.
Story is told in four parts: Tess, Jacob, Allie, and Ethan.
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and def recommend. It’s a solid audiobook.
Oof! I love a good cave thriller and this book delivered! And then delivered some more. The story alternates between the two girls in the cave and the one girl in the hospital with the detective. This was an interesting way to lay the story out and it worked well.
I loved the cliff hangers at the end of each chapter - you literally won’t be able to put this one down because it begs you to keep reading. Start reading this one early or plan to stay up all night to finish it.
Excellent plotting with a lasting message that reverberates through the current times in our nation. You might suspect a twist or two but I guarantee you won’t see most of it coming.
10/10 recommend.
#ad much love for my advance copy @williammorrowbooks #partner
& @libro.fm #partner for the ALC
HER LAST BREATH
< @
Releases: February 26, 2026
Thriller | survival
‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧
The human mind is the ultimate unreliable narrator…
Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away…
Utterly claustrophobic and unputdownable with twists that will your head spinning faster than the exorcist girl. Needs to be a movie. Please make this into a movie.
They call it the Devil’s Staircase. It was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime. Allie and Tess are cave exploring when something terrible happens. But what happened in that cave, only the two of them know.
Mem
Sisu
Shitting in the cave
Did they disprove the 10 spiders in a lifetime stat?
Well to Hell - I’d never heard of that before
With this book, we get both the investigative side and the survival edge of your seat thrills. I loved this book.
Story is told in four parts: Tess, Jacob, Allie, and Ethan.
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and def recommend. It’s a solid audiobook.
Oof! I love a good cave thriller and this book delivered! And then delivered some more. The story alternates between the two girls in the cave and the one girl in the hospital with the detective. This was an interesting way to lay the story out and it worked well.
I loved the cliff hangers at the end of each chapter - you literally won’t be able to put this one down because it begs you to keep reading. Start reading this one early or plan to stay up all night to finish it.
Excellent plotting with a lasting message that reverberates through the current times in our nation. You might suspect a twist or two but I guarantee you won’t see most of it coming.
10/10 recommend.
October 25, 2025
My friend was insisting I read this immediately as it’s her favorite book all year and it did not disappoint!! It started out intriguing enough but at about 20% we were off to the races and I could not put it down.
There were so many twists and turns and the atmosphere of the caves was so chilling and terrifying like it was its own character. Once things started clicking into place, my jaw hit the floor. I loved the psychological aspect to the characters and their motivations. Definitely a must read!
There were so many twists and turns and the atmosphere of the caves was so chilling and terrifying like it was its own character. Once things started clicking into place, my jaw hit the floor. I loved the psychological aspect to the characters and their motivations. Definitely a must read!
January 13, 2026
I have yet to read a Taylor Adams novel that I didn’t love and I’m happy to say his newest, Her Last Breath, is no exception.
Taut and claustrophobic, Her Last Breath recounts the harrowing caving trip of two best friends - Allie and Tess - where only one of them came out alive. I thoroughly enjoyed this shocking and propulsive thriller but, to be honest, I expected nothing less from Adams.
Highly recommend if you don’t mind reading about near suffocation and squeezing through crumbling tunnels the width of your chest.
Taut and claustrophobic, Her Last Breath recounts the harrowing caving trip of two best friends - Allie and Tess - where only one of them came out alive. I thoroughly enjoyed this shocking and propulsive thriller but, to be honest, I expected nothing less from Adams.
Highly recommend if you don’t mind reading about near suffocation and squeezing through crumbling tunnels the width of your chest.
November 24, 2025
If you have claustrophobia or arachnophobia or a whole host of other phobias, you may be uncomfortable reading this new thriller from Taylor Adams. I wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to top The Last Word, but this one is terrific. Lots of twists and turns but not so twisty that I couldn’t follow it. Highly recommend.
September 5, 2025
Her Last Breath was an intense thriller that blended the suffocating fear of survival with a gripping psychological mystery. Taylor Adams created a vivid, atmospheric setting with a layered plot and complex character dynamics. I also really enjoyed No Exit, and in many ways the two felt similar-both are fast-paced, full of claustrophobic tension, and packed with relentless twists. The difference was that No Exit delivered nonstop, breathless action over the course of one brutal night, while Her Last Breath took a more layered approach, weaving survival horror with shocking revelations and deeper psychological suspense.
Her Last Breath followed Tess, a timid, claustrophobic legal assistant, who reluctantly joined her fearless friend Allie on a caving trip. Deep underground, they crossed paths with a threatening stranger, leaving Tess trapped and fighting for her life. When she awoke in the hospital a day later, a detective’s questions uncovered disturbing truths about Allie’s past that suggested the attack was far more sinister than chance.
I was immediately attracted to the main character, Tess, of which this story was told from. Tess’s point of view made her fear and claustrophobia feel very real. The book shifted between two timelines-the terrifying caving trip as events unfolded underground, and the hospital scenes twenty-four hours later, where Tess was being questioned by a detective. More specifically, I liked how the cave scenes delivered raw survival tension and kept the pace fast and immersive. Whereas, the hospital timeline slowed things down just enough to add mystery and depth. Collectively these timelines created a push and pull effect which not only heightened the suspense but also gave the twists more impact as each revelation reframed the survival scenes with a darker, more unsettling meaning.
I loved how this back-and-forth structure kept the tension high. The cave scenes pulled me into the immediate danger and survival struggles, while the hospital chapters slowed things down just enough to reveal new details and secrets about Allie. The alternating timelines also made the twists hit harder, because each revelation in the hospital changed the way I saw what really happened in the cave. It created a nonstop sense of suspense that kept me hooked all the way through.
I strongly recommend Her Last Breath to readers who enjoy Taylor Adams’s other work, as well as those who love claustrophobic, high-stakes thrillers set in places like caves or cabins. With its dual timelines and character-driven suspense, this one is perfect for anyone who craves an intense, twist-filled read.
Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Her Last Breath followed Tess, a timid, claustrophobic legal assistant, who reluctantly joined her fearless friend Allie on a caving trip. Deep underground, they crossed paths with a threatening stranger, leaving Tess trapped and fighting for her life. When she awoke in the hospital a day later, a detective’s questions uncovered disturbing truths about Allie’s past that suggested the attack was far more sinister than chance.
I was immediately attracted to the main character, Tess, of which this story was told from. Tess’s point of view made her fear and claustrophobia feel very real. The book shifted between two timelines-the terrifying caving trip as events unfolded underground, and the hospital scenes twenty-four hours later, where Tess was being questioned by a detective. More specifically, I liked how the cave scenes delivered raw survival tension and kept the pace fast and immersive. Whereas, the hospital timeline slowed things down just enough to add mystery and depth. Collectively these timelines created a push and pull effect which not only heightened the suspense but also gave the twists more impact as each revelation reframed the survival scenes with a darker, more unsettling meaning.
I loved how this back-and-forth structure kept the tension high. The cave scenes pulled me into the immediate danger and survival struggles, while the hospital chapters slowed things down just enough to reveal new details and secrets about Allie. The alternating timelines also made the twists hit harder, because each revelation in the hospital changed the way I saw what really happened in the cave. It created a nonstop sense of suspense that kept me hooked all the way through.
I strongly recommend Her Last Breath to readers who enjoy Taylor Adams’s other work, as well as those who love claustrophobic, high-stakes thrillers set in places like caves or cabins. With its dual timelines and character-driven suspense, this one is perfect for anyone who craves an intense, twist-filled read.
Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 3, 2026
This book grabs you by the hand and throws you into a pit of a claustrophobic, anxiety ridden cave. Literally. 🫣 Its giving a mix of thriller/survival horror with a side of heart palpitations.
The way this book made me feel anxious. The atmosphere was done so well! It was such a unique setting full of constant tension, unreliable narrators, and trauma. Cold wilderness. Relentless danger. Fast paced. What happens when you have to escape a killer while being trapped in an underground cave with your best friend? But only one of you survives... or so you think. Would I read another Taylor Adams book? Yes.
Would I survive this scenario? Heck no.
I will say I figured things out pretty quickly, but I still had a good time with the plot, the characters, and the twists. Certain things stretched my disbelief just a tad too much. But I needed to know how it ended and I was entertained.
The audio was also FANTASTIC! Clear narration, entertaining, and high stakes tension. Highly recommend to listen too it! 🎧
➡️➡️ Pick this up if you enjoy SURVIVAL THRILLERS, UNRELIABLE NARRATORS, and CHARACTERS MAKING WILD CHOICES.
Rating: 3.75⭐
Pubdate: 02/17/26
Genre: Thriller
Thank you @Libro.FM for the #ALC and NetGalley/William Marrow for the ARC! 💗
The way this book made me feel anxious. The atmosphere was done so well! It was such a unique setting full of constant tension, unreliable narrators, and trauma. Cold wilderness. Relentless danger. Fast paced. What happens when you have to escape a killer while being trapped in an underground cave with your best friend? But only one of you survives... or so you think. Would I read another Taylor Adams book? Yes.
Would I survive this scenario? Heck no.
I will say I figured things out pretty quickly, but I still had a good time with the plot, the characters, and the twists. Certain things stretched my disbelief just a tad too much. But I needed to know how it ended and I was entertained.
The audio was also FANTASTIC! Clear narration, entertaining, and high stakes tension. Highly recommend to listen too it! 🎧
➡️➡️ Pick this up if you enjoy SURVIVAL THRILLERS, UNRELIABLE NARRATORS, and CHARACTERS MAKING WILD CHOICES.
Rating: 3.75⭐
Pubdate: 02/17/26
Genre: Thriller
Thank you @Libro.FM for the #ALC and NetGalley/William Marrow for the ARC! 💗
November 9, 2025
Thank you, #Partner @williammorrowbooks @harpercollins for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 2/17/26.
This book was intense, so intense that I had to pause between chapters to get my heart rate under control! This was a claustrophobic cat-and-mouse thriller that has twists and turns (on the pages and in the caves 🤣) that you won't see coming! Pre-order and add this one to your TBR because it's so good!
You can last three weeks without food, three days without water, and three minutes without oxygen. Tess has finally agreed to go caving with her best friend Allie, but when they get to a cave, a strange man is there wearing a balaclava and rubber gloves. He claims to work for a wildlife company and is checking for infections in bats. He asks if he can cave with the girls, but they turn him down, and then he gets angry. Who are we in the dark when no one's looking and the lights are out? 4.5 stars!
This book was intense, so intense that I had to pause between chapters to get my heart rate under control! This was a claustrophobic cat-and-mouse thriller that has twists and turns (on the pages and in the caves 🤣) that you won't see coming! Pre-order and add this one to your TBR because it's so good!
You can last three weeks without food, three days without water, and three minutes without oxygen. Tess has finally agreed to go caving with her best friend Allie, but when they get to a cave, a strange man is there wearing a balaclava and rubber gloves. He claims to work for a wildlife company and is checking for infections in bats. He asks if he can cave with the girls, but they turn him down, and then he gets angry. Who are we in the dark when no one's looking and the lights are out? 4.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My Third book by Taylor Adams and it was really good. I absolutely LOVED No Exit so I was really excited to read this one. This was full of action and the cave setting was SO ATMOSPHERIC AND CLAUSTROPHOBIC. I hate going into caves, and now so even more. Adams just has this way to his writing that keeps you seriously on the edge of your seat.
Two friends, Tess and Allie, decide to go on a caving adventure together. But then things take a horrifying turn. A mysterious stranger begins following them. They are being hunted. Tess ends up being trapped in the underground cave system fighting for her survival. After making it out alive and in the hospital, Tess tells her story of what happened. But she also finds out some very unexpected news about her friend's past.
This was such a fast paced, anxiety inducing, twisty thriller. It will most definitely be one of my favorites of the year. Top notch!! I loved reading about Tess and Allies complex characters. Seriously, I can't recommend this enough.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Two friends, Tess and Allie, decide to go on a caving adventure together. But then things take a horrifying turn. A mysterious stranger begins following them. They are being hunted. Tess ends up being trapped in the underground cave system fighting for her survival. After making it out alive and in the hospital, Tess tells her story of what happened. But she also finds out some very unexpected news about her friend's past.
This was such a fast paced, anxiety inducing, twisty thriller. It will most definitely be one of my favorites of the year. Top notch!! I loved reading about Tess and Allies complex characters. Seriously, I can't recommend this enough.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
February 1, 2026
This was such a gripping, edge of your seat, claustrophobic thriller. It follows best friends Tess and Allie as they go on a caving adventure together. When they arrive at the cave, a random stranger approaches them and begins following them. Soon, they hit a dead end and realize there is no going back. Alternating between their time in the cave and Tess retelling the experience 24 hours later, this was one twisty ride and honestly one of the best thrillers I read in a while. Perfect if you love TJ Newman.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Taylor Adams does it again. Thrilling, heart wrenching, twisty - this one has it all. Before this book, I had thought "hmm maybe exploring caves could be cool," but now? No, thank you. Add in being chased by a murderer and it's a double no, thank you. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC, and thank you to Taylor Adams for writing another "chef's kiss" of a thriller.
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