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The Last to Drown
FIVE DAYS. TWENTY STRANGERS. NO PHONE SIGNAL.
The rafting trip was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime. But now that Kaia's on the river, she's having second thoughts. Especially once the whispers about Camas Creek begin.
Seven years ago, a guide murdered a group of rafters on this same isolated stretch of water. And while the killer’s body was recovered downstream, the true-crime community has never stopped asking questions. And for good reason.
The accidents start innocently enough—but the pattern is sickeningly familiar. A flipped raft. Missing supplies. Sheer canyon walls on all sides. And eighty-four miles of whitewater until any sign of civilization.
Kaia begins to suspect that one of the guides is lying. One of the guests knows more than they're saying. And somewhere on this river, someone is planning to finish what started at Camas Creek.
The rafting trip was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime. But now that Kaia's on the river, she's having second thoughts. Especially once the whispers about Camas Creek begin.
Seven years ago, a guide murdered a group of rafters on this same isolated stretch of water. And while the killer’s body was recovered downstream, the true-crime community has never stopped asking questions. And for good reason.
The accidents start innocently enough—but the pattern is sickeningly familiar. A flipped raft. Missing supplies. Sheer canyon walls on all sides. And eighty-four miles of whitewater until any sign of civilization.
Kaia begins to suspect that one of the guides is lying. One of the guests knows more than they're saying. And somewhere on this river, someone is planning to finish what started at Camas Creek.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2026
About the author
Noelle W. Ihli
13 books14.3k followersNoelle’s two great passions are murder and horses (separately, never together).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,219 reviews
June 1, 2026
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ Kaia went on the rafting trip for an adventure. But when talk about what happened at Camas Creek, where a guide murdered a group of rafters, keeps circulating among the guests, she begins to wonder if she made a mistake. But the dread she feels somewhat dissipates with the knowledge that the killer’s body was found and that she and the other guests have nothing to worry about. That is, until small things start to happen. Terrified screams in the night, a flipped-over raft, and supplies suddenly going missing. And with civilization so far away, it becomes clear that somewhere someone has different plans for the group, hoping to finish what started seven years ago.
︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ Holy cow! I knew this was going to be so good! Noelle W. Ihli has done it again, and I am not in the least bit surprised because her books are always bangers.
What I absolutely love the most in the books I’ve read from this author is how freaking inspiring and empowering the women are. Even though the world and/or men try to make them victims and silence them, the women rise and take charge, beating evil at its own game because they refuse to go down without a fight. And, oh my gosh, I am almost screaming and crying as I root for them, hoping and praying they will make it out alive. And it was no different with this one.
I honestly don’t know what to say without spoiling anything, but just know that it will make your jaw drop. If it won’t keep you guessing, it will keep you on the edge of your seat because Cara and I were TERRIFIED. 😱 I was about ready to go on my hands and knees and beg the book gods that nothing would happen to Kaia and the rest of the innocent lives embarking on the rafting trip. Just know that you will suspect one thing, but it will be shattered into a million pieces once the truth comes out and you're left feeling like you know absolutely nothing. (Which is a common occurrence for me, by the way. 😂)
Even though I loved the mystery and suspense of it all, what I really, really loved was the emotional aspect of the story concerning Kaia and her late husband, Parker. You could really feel her grief and loss through her words, actions, and thoughts, and I just wanted to give her a hug. 😭🫂❤🩹 But he was always there for her, like he promised!!! Okay, wow, I’m literally a sobbing mess right now. My heart is broken.
I love, no, I FREAKING love when stories have deceased loved ones being there for those they left behind, whether it be supernatural/spiritual or not. It elevates any story for me. 🥹
I honestly don’t have anything else to say. The writing was fantastic. The plot was insane and kept me wanting to know more. The characters felt human, and I didn’t dislike anyone…except the psychopath. Obviously, I didn’t like him. AT ALL. Stay away! Just stay away, or I will make you stay away, istg. 😤👊🏼
Anyways, as you can tell, I loved this book, and it is easily one of my favorite books of the year! I totally recommend this. 🙂↕️🫶🏼 I also had soooo much fun reading and reacting to it with my bestie and twin, Cara. Thank you so so much for reading this with me, my lovely girl!!! 😘💖💐
-‘๑’- Thank you to Dynamite Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. -‘๑’-
❗Content Warnings❗
Murder, death, violence, blood, gore, & loss of a spouse (off-page).
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No
︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ Holy cow! I knew this was going to be so good! Noelle W. Ihli has done it again, and I am not in the least bit surprised because her books are always bangers.
What I absolutely love the most in the books I’ve read from this author is how freaking inspiring and empowering the women are. Even though the world and/or men try to make them victims and silence them, the women rise and take charge, beating evil at its own game because they refuse to go down without a fight. And, oh my gosh, I am almost screaming and crying as I root for them, hoping and praying they will make it out alive. And it was no different with this one.
I honestly don’t know what to say without spoiling anything, but just know that it will make your jaw drop. If it won’t keep you guessing, it will keep you on the edge of your seat because Cara and I were TERRIFIED. 😱 I was about ready to go on my hands and knees and beg the book gods that nothing would happen to Kaia and the rest of the innocent lives embarking on the rafting trip. Just know that you will suspect one thing, but it will be shattered into a million pieces once the truth comes out and you're left feeling like you know absolutely nothing. (Which is a common occurrence for me, by the way. 😂)
Even though I loved the mystery and suspense of it all, what I really, really loved was the emotional aspect of the story concerning Kaia and her late husband, Parker. You could really feel her grief and loss through her words, actions, and thoughts, and I just wanted to give her a hug. 😭🫂❤🩹 But he was always there for her, like he promised!!! Okay, wow, I’m literally a sobbing mess right now. My heart is broken.
I love, no, I FREAKING love when stories have deceased loved ones being there for those they left behind, whether it be supernatural/spiritual or not. It elevates any story for me. 🥹
I honestly don’t have anything else to say. The writing was fantastic. The plot was insane and kept me wanting to know more. The characters felt human, and I didn’t dislike anyone…except the psychopath. Obviously, I didn’t like him. AT ALL. Stay away! Just stay away, or I will make you stay away, istg. 😤👊🏼
Anyways, as you can tell, I loved this book, and it is easily one of my favorite books of the year! I totally recommend this. 🙂↕️🫶🏼 I also had soooo much fun reading and reacting to it with my bestie and twin, Cara. Thank you so so much for reading this with me, my lovely girl!!! 😘💖💐
-‘๑’- Thank you to Dynamite Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. -‘๑’-
❗Content Warnings❗
Murder, death, violence, blood, gore, & loss of a spouse (off-page).
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No
July 28, 2026
EXCUSE ME WHILE I TRY AND CATCH MY BREATH
The Last to Drown is a survival thriller following twenty strangers on an isolated river rafting trip who realize someone is trying to recreate a horrific mass murder that happened on the same water seven years earlier. Will anyone make it out alive?
Ms. Noelle is back with another book to take my breath away and have me on the absolute edge.
We get into the nitty gritty straight away and I was buckled up for the wild ride ahead.
There are a lot of characters. Although I could appreciate the claustrophobic intensity of it all, it also took away feeling quite connected to all the characters. Especially as the book was written in third person and those are not always my favourite.
The perpetrator is revealed early on but it didn’t stop the book from still being nerve wrecking and giving me goosebumps!
This is one of those books that you will start and struggle to put down.
It is easy to read, fast paced and adrenaline driven!
Ms. Ihli I am already anticipating your next read!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OH MS IHLI!!
SPOILING US WITH ANOTHER ONE?!
OH YOU ARE JUST TOO GOOD TO US!!
LETSSSS GOOOO!
💙🤍💙🤍
The Last to Drown is a survival thriller following twenty strangers on an isolated river rafting trip who realize someone is trying to recreate a horrific mass murder that happened on the same water seven years earlier. Will anyone make it out alive?
Ms. Noelle is back with another book to take my breath away and have me on the absolute edge.
We get into the nitty gritty straight away and I was buckled up for the wild ride ahead.
There are a lot of characters. Although I could appreciate the claustrophobic intensity of it all, it also took away feeling quite connected to all the characters. Especially as the book was written in third person and those are not always my favourite.
The perpetrator is revealed early on but it didn’t stop the book from still being nerve wrecking and giving me goosebumps!
This is one of those books that you will start and struggle to put down.
It is easy to read, fast paced and adrenaline driven!
Ms. Ihli I am already anticipating your next read!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OH MS IHLI!!
SPOILING US WITH ANOTHER ONE?!
OH YOU ARE JUST TOO GOOD TO US!!
LETSSSS GOOOO!
💙🤍💙🤍
July 25, 2026
Judging by all the glowing reviews, I might be one of the few readers who didn't connect with this one.
It started off so well, and Noelle W. Ihli certainly has a knack for writing openings that grabs your attention and make you want to keep reading. There were definitely moments of genuine suspense throughout, but after such a strong start, the story quickly lost momentum for me. I kept hoping it would pull me back in, but instead I found myself becoming less invested as it went on and ultimately struggled to make it to the end.
My biggest issue was my connection to the protagonist, Kaia. At first, I really felt for her and the grief and trauma she was carrying, but as the story progressed those same emotions were revisited so often that they began to lose their impact. Rather than deepening my investment in her journey, they started to feel repetitive. I also found the overall direction of the story fairly predictable, so I spent much of the book waiting to see whether it would unfold the way I expected.
I don't want to dwell too much on the negatives because it's clear this book has really resonated with so many other readers, which makes me think it was probably more a case of wrong book, wrong reader than a bad book. I certainly wouldn't let my experience put anyone off picking it up if the premise appeals to you. Unfortunately, though, it just never came together for me, and as much as I hate giving out 2-star ratings, that's ultimately where this one landed.
It started off so well, and Noelle W. Ihli certainly has a knack for writing openings that grabs your attention and make you want to keep reading. There were definitely moments of genuine suspense throughout, but after such a strong start, the story quickly lost momentum for me. I kept hoping it would pull me back in, but instead I found myself becoming less invested as it went on and ultimately struggled to make it to the end.
My biggest issue was my connection to the protagonist, Kaia. At first, I really felt for her and the grief and trauma she was carrying, but as the story progressed those same emotions were revisited so often that they began to lose their impact. Rather than deepening my investment in her journey, they started to feel repetitive. I also found the overall direction of the story fairly predictable, so I spent much of the book waiting to see whether it would unfold the way I expected.
I don't want to dwell too much on the negatives because it's clear this book has really resonated with so many other readers, which makes me think it was probably more a case of wrong book, wrong reader than a bad book. I certainly wouldn't let my experience put anyone off picking it up if the premise appeals to you. Unfortunately, though, it just never came together for me, and as much as I hate giving out 2-star ratings, that's ultimately where this one landed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
REVIEW TO COME💕😱💕😱!!!!!!!!
🎀👯🧸♡Buddy reading with my bestie girl Sarah🎀👯🧸♡!!!!!!!!
🎀👯🧸♡Buddy reading with my bestie girl Sarah🎀👯🧸♡!!!!!!!!
August 1, 2026
── ᝰ .ᐟ 🍄: 5 stars.
My first book by Noelle W. Ilhi and definitely not my last one. This was a whole from the beginning and I was HOOKED. I couldn't stop reading because, yeah, things started agitated and got even better!
Kaia goes to this rafting trip along with other women who were looking to connect with nature. However, there was a massacre a few years ago at Camas Creek, which starts to raise interest and questions among the women. And when weird things start to happen, Kaia starts wondering if she made the right decision of attending to this trip.
When I tell you I was hooked from the start, I am not lying. This was an absolute roller coaster and Noelle was messing with my emotions the whole time.
I enjoyed the writing style, the pace, the characters and their relationships. I love how different they all are and how they all bond, even if it's trauma bonding at some point. They all are so strong in their own way and refuse to give up.
I loved the way Noelle portrayed grief, love and hope. I loved how Parker was always present with Kaia, how she kept fighting over and over and refused to give up, following Parker's voice.
Not gonna lie, at some point, I doubted of everything and everyone. And even though I quickly guessed who the killer was, I enjoyed every aspect of it.
I've never read a book like this one before, and I'm completely sure it won't be my last one. I'm really glad I applied to this book because I was crying towards the last few chapters and the epilogue, haha.
⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ read.
what a terrible idea reading the last few chapters of the book while listening Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens because I’m sobbing on the bus to work. 😭😭 RTC
⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
i've seen many great reviews of this book and the premise seems really interesting!
thanks to netgalley and noelle ihli for the arc
My first book by Noelle W. Ilhi and definitely not my last one. This was a whole from the beginning and I was HOOKED. I couldn't stop reading because, yeah, things started agitated and got even better!
Kaia goes to this rafting trip along with other women who were looking to connect with nature. However, there was a massacre a few years ago at Camas Creek, which starts to raise interest and questions among the women. And when weird things start to happen, Kaia starts wondering if she made the right decision of attending to this trip.
When I tell you I was hooked from the start, I am not lying. This was an absolute roller coaster and Noelle was messing with my emotions the whole time.
I enjoyed the writing style, the pace, the characters and their relationships. I love how different they all are and how they all bond, even if it's trauma bonding at some point. They all are so strong in their own way and refuse to give up.
I loved the way Noelle portrayed grief, love and hope. I loved how Parker was always present with Kaia, how she kept fighting over and over and refused to give up, following Parker's voice.
Not gonna lie, at some point, I doubted of everything and everyone. And even though I quickly guessed who the killer was, I enjoyed every aspect of it.
I've never read a book like this one before, and I'm completely sure it won't be my last one. I'm really glad I applied to this book because I was crying towards the last few chapters and the epilogue, haha.
⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ read.
what a terrible idea reading the last few chapters of the book while listening Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens because I’m sobbing on the bus to work. 😭😭 RTC
⌗ ──🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
i've seen many great reviews of this book and the premise seems really interesting!
thanks to netgalley and noelle ihli for the arc
August 2, 2026
I could not wait for this book to come out, and it absolutely did not disappoint. It even ventured into some uncharted territory. IYKYK.
Noelle Ihli is an auto-buy author for me because I know her books are going to keep me turning pages and deprive me of sleep, and I’m completely okay with that.
What starts as a white-water rafting trip quickly turns into a nightmare. I found myself rooting for these characters from the beginning. Kaia, in particular, felt incredibly real, and her emotional journey added another layer to an already gripping thriller.
This book was intense, unhinged chaos from start to finish, and I couldn’t put it down. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend adding The Last to Drown to your TBR.
Noelle Ihli is an auto-buy author for me because I know her books are going to keep me turning pages and deprive me of sleep, and I’m completely okay with that.
What starts as a white-water rafting trip quickly turns into a nightmare. I found myself rooting for these characters from the beginning. Kaia, in particular, felt incredibly real, and her emotional journey added another layer to an already gripping thriller.
This book was intense, unhinged chaos from start to finish, and I couldn’t put it down. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend adding The Last to Drown to your TBR.
July 30, 2026
OMG! This is wild and intense! If you want adrenaline-pumping, action-packed horror with strong characters, this book is the perfect choice! I was holding my breath during the intense chase! WOOHOO!
This is one of Noelle Ihli’s most graphic books, and I loved that she went all the way with it. Some of the attack scenes were a bit uncomfortable because of the violence and brutality, but they were all necessary to drive the plot to its fullest extent.
I have never read a book with this kind of chase. I’ve read about killers chasing victims in cars, on airplanes, and through the typical means of transportation, but in this book, the characters are being chased through a miles-long maze of rivers on a raft, battling strong currents and a minefield of small boulders. Imagine rafting and paddling with a killer close behind you. This is another level of fear and dread.
And Splinter Ridge? The way it was described? I felt like I was transported onto the raft with the women, paddling for my life. I was holding my breath the entire time.
I loved this. Noelle never disappoints. I’ve loved most of her books, and this new release will definitely be a fan favorite.
READ THIS NOW! NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
This is one of Noelle Ihli’s most graphic books, and I loved that she went all the way with it. Some of the attack scenes were a bit uncomfortable because of the violence and brutality, but they were all necessary to drive the plot to its fullest extent.
I have never read a book with this kind of chase. I’ve read about killers chasing victims in cars, on airplanes, and through the typical means of transportation, but in this book, the characters are being chased through a miles-long maze of rivers on a raft, battling strong currents and a minefield of small boulders. Imagine rafting and paddling with a killer close behind you. This is another level of fear and dread.
And Splinter Ridge? The way it was described? I felt like I was transported onto the raft with the women, paddling for my life. I was holding my breath the entire time.
I loved this. Noelle never disappoints. I’ve loved most of her books, and this new release will definitely be a fan favorite.
READ THIS NOW! NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely loved The Last to Drown by Noelle W. Ihli. This was an easy five-star read for me and exactly the kind of thriller I can’t get enough of: fast, intense, creepy, and impossible to put down. Noelle has such a talent for dropping you straight into the chaos from page one and keeping the tension high the entire time. Even when I started to piece together some of the bigger reveals early on, it didn’t lessen the experience at all because the real thrill was in watching everything unfold.
The setting and atmosphere were perfect. A women’s whitewater rafting trip already feels intense, but adding the history of a brutal murder on that same stretch of river made everything feel even more unsettling. Once things start going wrong, the story turns into a full-on survival nightmare in the best way. There were several scenes that genuinely had my heart racing. The whole book played out like a movie in my head. I especially loved the little details from The River Guides Almanac woven throughout the story because they added so much to the reading experience.
The pacing is classic Noelle W. Ihli: relentless, anxiety-inducing, and so addictive. There’s no filler, no overdone descriptions, just sharp writing and nonstop momentum. I also really appreciated that underneath all the terror and suspense, there was still something deeper here about survival, healing, and finding the strength to keep going. The female characters were strong, believable, and so easy to root for.
This is my first read by Noelle W. Ihli and already she has earned her place on my auto-read author list, and The Last to Drown is another absolute hit. If you love survival thrillers, wilderness horror, strong character work, and books that make you feel like you’re holding on for dear life right alongside the characters, definitely pick this one up.
www.pinkstinx.blogspot.com
The setting and atmosphere were perfect. A women’s whitewater rafting trip already feels intense, but adding the history of a brutal murder on that same stretch of river made everything feel even more unsettling. Once things start going wrong, the story turns into a full-on survival nightmare in the best way. There were several scenes that genuinely had my heart racing. The whole book played out like a movie in my head. I especially loved the little details from The River Guides Almanac woven throughout the story because they added so much to the reading experience.
The pacing is classic Noelle W. Ihli: relentless, anxiety-inducing, and so addictive. There’s no filler, no overdone descriptions, just sharp writing and nonstop momentum. I also really appreciated that underneath all the terror and suspense, there was still something deeper here about survival, healing, and finding the strength to keep going. The female characters were strong, believable, and so easy to root for.
This is my first read by Noelle W. Ihli and already she has earned her place on my auto-read author list, and The Last to Drown is another absolute hit. If you love survival thrillers, wilderness horror, strong character work, and books that make you feel like you’re holding on for dear life right alongside the characters, definitely pick this one up.
www.pinkstinx.blogspot.com
June 19, 2026
The Last to Drown isn’t your typical “who is the killer”/detective type thriller. It’s more adventurous, heart-pounding expedition of “can they escape the killer”? This boisterous tale rows you through Camas Creek, navigating river of kills, by a revived, legendary serial killer.
We start out meeting a group of ladies on a white water rafting adventure vacation. They don’t all know each other, and our main focus is on Kaia, who is grieving the loss of her husband, who perished a Floyd Collin’s-like death. Stories of a serial killer from the exact white water rafting experience soon emerge, and then we are off into a turbulent chase.
I flew through this book. I was intrigued by the setting, and enjoyed the exploration of the waters. Their plan of escape was a little hard to understand, but for the most part, I could picture these ladies and their fear. My heart was pounding, and it felt like I was watching a horror movie and many times found myself thinking “no, no, no! The killer is going to jump out from behind”. That’s the first time I’ve felt like I’ve read a true “jump scare”.
I loved that many of the chapters ended with a quote, usually from the river almanac. It brought a certain ominous tone to the chapter and made me want to read on. If you’re looking for an adventurous, fast-paced thriller, I would highly recommend this one!
We start out meeting a group of ladies on a white water rafting adventure vacation. They don’t all know each other, and our main focus is on Kaia, who is grieving the loss of her husband, who perished a Floyd Collin’s-like death. Stories of a serial killer from the exact white water rafting experience soon emerge, and then we are off into a turbulent chase.
I flew through this book. I was intrigued by the setting, and enjoyed the exploration of the waters. Their plan of escape was a little hard to understand, but for the most part, I could picture these ladies and their fear. My heart was pounding, and it felt like I was watching a horror movie and many times found myself thinking “no, no, no! The killer is going to jump out from behind”. That’s the first time I’ve felt like I’ve read a true “jump scare”.
I loved that many of the chapters ended with a quote, usually from the river almanac. It brought a certain ominous tone to the chapter and made me want to read on. If you’re looking for an adventurous, fast-paced thriller, I would highly recommend this one!
August 5, 2026
╰┈➤ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
❝𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆’𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏.❞
📚: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑫𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝑵𝒐𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆 𝑾. 𝑰𝒉𝒍𝒊
📜: 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝟸𝟿𝟶
🏷️: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚕 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛
📖: 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎
📆: 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟽/𝟸𝟶/𝟸𝟼-𝟽/𝟸𝟸/𝟸𝟼
💬: 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 ”The rafting trip was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime. But Kaia's starting to think she made a mistake. Because ever since the whispers about Camas Creek began, all she feels is dread. Seven years earlier, a guide murdered a group of rafters on this same isolated stretch of water. The killer's body was recovered downstream, but the true crime community has never stopped asking questions. The incidents start small— a flipped raft, missing supplies, and screams in the night, but the pattern is sickeningly familiar. And with eighty-four miles of whitewater until any sign of civilization, safety has never felt so far away. Kaia suspects that one of the guides is lying. One of the guests knows more than she's saying. And somewhere on this river, someone is planning to finish what started at Camas Creek.”」
─•──── ᯓ★ ─•──── ᯓ★ ─•──── ᯓ★
July 23, 2026
“The Last to Drown”, by Noelle W. Ihli
A generous 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my sixth book by this author and my least favourite.
I do confess that I had high expectations for this work, and I was disappointed that it didn’t work for me.
I did appreciate the concept and the writing, (except the weak and juvenile dialogues) hence my ratings, but the development of the story wasn’t thrilling enough for me, never mind all the action and some gory details.
The story dragged on for too long, and some events and descriptions seemed very repetitive.
Although the story is told in first person, it was hard to feel any connection with the characters, as I thought that they were not fully developed. The main character mentioned “Parker” 131 times, which, in my opinion, made the story feel very superficial.
I had moments that I thought about quitting, especially during the first 20%, but I didn’t want to add another unfinished book to my dnf shelf. I do think this novel could have been reduced to a novella.
The conclusion was so chaotic that I thought the main character was going to wake up from a nightmare.
Anyways… there are plenty of 5 stars, so please don’t mind my experience. And I will keep reading this author.
E-book (Kindle Unlimited): 290 pages (default)
A generous 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my sixth book by this author and my least favourite.
I do confess that I had high expectations for this work, and I was disappointed that it didn’t work for me.
I did appreciate the concept and the writing, (except the weak and juvenile dialogues) hence my ratings, but the development of the story wasn’t thrilling enough for me, never mind all the action and some gory details.
The story dragged on for too long, and some events and descriptions seemed very repetitive.
Although the story is told in first person, it was hard to feel any connection with the characters, as I thought that they were not fully developed. The main character mentioned “Parker” 131 times, which, in my opinion, made the story feel very superficial.
I had moments that I thought about quitting, especially during the first 20%, but I didn’t want to add another unfinished book to my dnf shelf. I do think this novel could have been reduced to a novella.
The conclusion was so chaotic that I thought the main character was going to wake up from a nightmare.
Anyways… there are plenty of 5 stars, so please don’t mind my experience. And I will keep reading this author.
E-book (Kindle Unlimited): 290 pages (default)
July 26, 2026
I had to take breaks while reading The Last to Drown, not because I was bored, but because the author built tension so well, I was crawling out of my skin. This is such an intense, harrowing read.
I live in the mountain state region where Ihli sets her stories and have done my share of whitewater rafting, but not in such high rapids and never with a psychopathic serial killer chasing after me.
This book is part outdoor adventure, part suspense/thriller, and part women's fic.
The story is narrated by Kaia, a woman in her 20s who lost her husband in a terrible accident two years back. Kaia isn't living; she's just going through the motions. She and her husband signed up for a couple's rafting trip years before, which Kaia reluctantly changed to a women's only trip.
Kaia and a group of women, of all ages and skill levels, plus four guides, are going to spend multiple days rafting and camping. The first night the satellite phone, their only link to civilization, disappears. The next morning, the women wake up to screams of terror, and it only gets worse from there.
There is a spiritual element here, as there is in many of Ihli's novels, but it didn't feel overly hokey.
However, I think the book would have been stronger had it been told from multiple POVs. Some scenes (like Macy's self-rescue) were summarized because they didn't happen to/around Kaia, which was a little frustrating.
Even so, this book had me in its clutches from the first page to the last. I teared up at the end and was elated beyond reason that
I live in the mountain state region where Ihli sets her stories and have done my share of whitewater rafting, but not in such high rapids and never with a psychopathic serial killer chasing after me.
This book is part outdoor adventure, part suspense/thriller, and part women's fic.
The story is narrated by Kaia, a woman in her 20s who lost her husband in a terrible accident two years back. Kaia isn't living; she's just going through the motions. She and her husband signed up for a couple's rafting trip years before, which Kaia reluctantly changed to a women's only trip.
Kaia and a group of women, of all ages and skill levels, plus four guides, are going to spend multiple days rafting and camping. The first night the satellite phone, their only link to civilization, disappears. The next morning, the women wake up to screams of terror, and it only gets worse from there.
There is a spiritual element here, as there is in many of Ihli's novels, but it didn't feel overly hokey.
However, I think the book would have been stronger had it been told from multiple POVs. Some scenes (like Macy's self-rescue) were summarized because they didn't happen to/around Kaia, which was a little frustrating.
Even so, this book had me in its clutches from the first page to the last. I teared up at the end and was elated beyond reason that
[Maybe] we all just turn into dirt and stardust when we die. But I don't think we do ... there's too many beautiful and terrible things in this world for it not to be a little bit magic.
July 17, 2026
I was so excited when I saw this author was coming out with a new book! I loved Run On Red and Ask For Andrea. This book fell flat for me in so many ways. I kept waiting for a twist that never came. Instead of a “whodunnit” the entire book was a chasing scene down the river. It got very repetitive and dragged out. No background on Leo and his “why” other than his track record with another killing 7 years prior. I never got a sense of reason and/or closure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2026
The Last to Drown 5 ⭐️
Huge Noelle W Ihli fan here. I fly through every book she writes and The Last to Drown did not disappoint. This book had elements that had me thinking back to Run On Red (detailing every second in a short period of time of a deadly cat-and-mouse game) and None Left To Tell (slasher massacre). This is an action packed thriller about 20 people on a rafting trip, taking the same path that led to the demise of another rafting group 7 years earlier, only for history to start repeating itself.
This was extra spooky for me because, for some reason, I always worry about being part of a campground mass murder when I tent camp… There’s no reason for me to fear this, but it’s always what pops in my head once the campground goes quiet. So to watch my irrational fear play out on paper was…something.
As always, Noelle is a brilliant writer and fully engulfs me in the story. One of the few authors that literally makes me hold my breath in anticipation of the next page…next sentence…next word.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Jul 16 2026
Huge Noelle W Ihli fan here. I fly through every book she writes and The Last to Drown did not disappoint. This book had elements that had me thinking back to Run On Red (detailing every second in a short period of time of a deadly cat-and-mouse game) and None Left To Tell (slasher massacre). This is an action packed thriller about 20 people on a rafting trip, taking the same path that led to the demise of another rafting group 7 years earlier, only for history to start repeating itself.
This was extra spooky for me because, for some reason, I always worry about being part of a campground mass murder when I tent camp… There’s no reason for me to fear this, but it’s always what pops in my head once the campground goes quiet. So to watch my irrational fear play out on paper was…something.
As always, Noelle is a brilliant writer and fully engulfs me in the story. One of the few authors that literally makes me hold my breath in anticipation of the next page…next sentence…next word.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Jul 16 2026
July 14, 2026
Parker, help write this review because I really thought I was going to love this book... and I didn't!!
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book, but the execution, in my opinion, fell way short of what I expected from a thriller set in the wild. I honestly think I would've loved this as a short story.
My problem with this book was this: as someone who loves a good surviving-in-the-wild story, I found this book, for the most part, way too boring. It definitely had a few heart-stopping moments, but everything in between felt repetitive and dragged on to the point where I caught myself yawning every time I thought about picking it back up (I even considered DNFing it!!). The depth of this story, unlike Parker, stayed very much on the surface...
The twist shouldn't even be considered a twist because it felt way too easy to see coming if you spent even a little time thinking about the story. which, by the end, takes away a lot of the tension.
Ok and I know this one is probably a me problem, BUT... mentioning Parker four or five times would be a bit much, but I could've gone with it. was a BIG no for me!!
This is the second surviving-in-the-wild book I've read by this author, and I have to admit my opinion is exactly the same as it was after the first one. So I'll definitely keep reading this author, but I think I'll be skipping this particular type of story from her.
ps. sorry for being a little sassy while writing this review. 😭 There's just something about books I was so convinced I was going to love... and then didn't... that brings out this side of me.
My rating: ☆ ☆ ☆
Read in: 9 days & 🇬🇧 & 📱& Arc
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book, but the execution, in my opinion, fell way short of what I expected from a thriller set in the wild. I honestly think I would've loved this as a short story.
My problem with this book was this: as someone who loves a good surviving-in-the-wild story, I found this book, for the most part, way too boring. It definitely had a few heart-stopping moments, but everything in between felt repetitive and dragged on to the point where I caught myself yawning every time I thought about picking it back up (I even considered DNFing it!!). The depth of this story, unlike Parker, stayed very much on the surface...
The twist shouldn't even be considered a twist because it felt way too easy to see coming if you spent even a little time thinking about the story. which, by the end, takes away a lot of the tension.
Ok and I know this one is probably a me problem, BUT... mentioning Parker four or five times would be a bit much, but I could've gone with it. was a BIG no for me!!
This is the second surviving-in-the-wild book I've read by this author, and I have to admit my opinion is exactly the same as it was after the first one. So I'll definitely keep reading this author, but I think I'll be skipping this particular type of story from her.
ps. sorry for being a little sassy while writing this review. 😭 There's just something about books I was so convinced I was going to love... and then didn't... that brings out this side of me.
My rating: ☆ ☆ ☆
Read in: 9 days & 🇬🇧 & 📱& Arc
July 19, 2026
Got damn. Ihli dialed up the intensity in this sucker. The Last to Drown reads like an old school slasher/thriller, written with impressive authenticity & plausibility, which I find majorly lacking in this genre. I wholeheartedly appreciated that.
The behavior of the SK gave me the williest of willies. The heebiest jeebies. The fear was hale and hearty. I was in that river with the rest of them, fighting for my life.
Super solid read. 💯
The behavior of the SK gave me the williest of willies. The heebiest jeebies. The fear was hale and hearty. I was in that river with the rest of them, fighting for my life.
Super solid read. 💯
July 29, 2026
This is the summer slasher I've been waiting for. A group of women find themselves fighting for their lives against the wilderness and a serial killer. But what kill them first? The rapids or the man intent on repeating his crimes of 7 years earlier?
If you ignore the simplistic motive and plot, this was a good time. Very fast paced, action filled and full of tension this takes the reader on a absolute rollercoaster of a ride. I wasn't overall interested in Kaia, our protagonist, at first. I found her a bit simpering and reserved - for reasons that become obvious quite early on, and I didn't like the Parker angle of the plot. However I liked her growing relationships with her fellow victims, and their growing tenacity to survive the night. By the ending I was rooting for them. From a personal perspective I also wasn't that fond of the many action packed scenes as I struggled to visualise what was going on with everyone in my head - to the point where I felt like I 'lost' a couple of characters during the struggles downstream. Quite often I'd have to reread paragraphs to ground myself on the story.
If you're looking for a fun summer slasher, this is a great pick.
If you ignore the simplistic motive and plot, this was a good time. Very fast paced, action filled and full of tension this takes the reader on a absolute rollercoaster of a ride. I wasn't overall interested in Kaia, our protagonist, at first. I found her a bit simpering and reserved - for reasons that become obvious quite early on, and I didn't like the Parker angle of the plot. However I liked her growing relationships with her fellow victims, and their growing tenacity to survive the night. By the ending I was rooting for them. From a personal perspective I also wasn't that fond of the many action packed scenes as I struggled to visualise what was going on with everyone in my head - to the point where I felt like I 'lost' a couple of characters during the struggles downstream. Quite often I'd have to reread paragraphs to ground myself on the story.
If you're looking for a fun summer slasher, this is a great pick.
August 2, 2026
If you want a fire thriller, I got you. It’s not this one lol.
I feel like me and this author aren’t compatible because i respectively trashed another thriller from her.
This one was beyond mundane and even the nice sentimental gems at the end couldn’t save it from how much I hated reading this book from beginning to end.
This is the shortest and most appreciative way to put it.
You’re a on a beautiful rafting expedition. Then there is a horrific psychopath killer who is literally not a mystery. Apparently this fuck head was the idiot responsible for a tragedy decades okay. Alright you follow? Now the group of innocents on this trip, are all horrified and attempt to run away from this creep but half of the time you are met with the repetitive words
keep peddling
don’t look back.
It gets pathetic to a point where everyone schemes in making “ fake boats “ in order to trick this apparently intelligent criminal?
How is that thrilling. Fuck this.
🖤.
I feel like me and this author aren’t compatible because i respectively trashed another thriller from her.
This one was beyond mundane and even the nice sentimental gems at the end couldn’t save it from how much I hated reading this book from beginning to end.
This is the shortest and most appreciative way to put it.
You’re a on a beautiful rafting expedition. Then there is a horrific psychopath killer who is literally not a mystery. Apparently this fuck head was the idiot responsible for a tragedy decades okay. Alright you follow? Now the group of innocents on this trip, are all horrified and attempt to run away from this creep but half of the time you are met with the repetitive words
keep peddling
don’t look back.
It gets pathetic to a point where everyone schemes in making “ fake boats “ in order to trick this apparently intelligent criminal?
How is that thrilling. Fuck this.
🖤.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2026
An intense game of cat and mouse. Also another reason you will never catch me white water rafting…
July 17, 2026
A ten star thriller!! White water rafting with a group of ladies and a serial killer! I don't I took I took a breath during the 300+ pages. This is Noelle W Ihli's best novel yet and that is saying something. Hints of the supernatural but I like it when the author allows you to decide for yourself if the supernatural events are real or just imagined.
July 22, 2026
What a stupid book.
May 22, 2026
Wow. This was intense! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, the book starts with a bang and the tension doesn’t got back down! What a wild ride (pun intended), if you liked Gray After Dark, you will LOVE this!
May 22, 2026
Warning- if you have things to do and need sleep do not pick this book up because you’ll be up to finish it and your chores will not get done… who am I kidding?! It was worth it!?!
This book had me STRESSED!!!
Kaia joins a remote whitewater rafting trip after devastating loss of her husband, hoping the river might help her move forward. But this isn’t just any river. Years earlier, an entire rafting group was murdered along the same route. And as strange things start happening, missing supplies, accidents that don’t feel accidental, it becomes terrifyingly clear that history may be repeating itself.
The atmosphere in this was absolutely incredible. The isolation, unpredictability of the rapids, the feeling of being trapped….ahhhh my heart was racing. Sooo addictive, you won’t want to put this down.
This book had me STRESSED!!!
Kaia joins a remote whitewater rafting trip after devastating loss of her husband, hoping the river might help her move forward. But this isn’t just any river. Years earlier, an entire rafting group was murdered along the same route. And as strange things start happening, missing supplies, accidents that don’t feel accidental, it becomes terrifyingly clear that history may be repeating itself.
The atmosphere in this was absolutely incredible. The isolation, unpredictability of the rapids, the feeling of being trapped….ahhhh my heart was racing. Sooo addictive, you won’t want to put this down.
August 7, 2026
this was good and intense, but it was mostly hard for me to visualise what exactly was happening. the mystery itself felt a bit underwhelming. but still, it was a good enough read and it may speak more to other readers, for example those who have actually been river rafting 🤣
July 15, 2026
Are you ready to right for survival??
This one was action packed. Going on a five day rafting trip to Camas Creek was meant to be healing for Kia who is still trying to cope with the death of her husband. As she meets the woman she is spending the next 5 days with and settles into camp she starts to relax, even when she becomes aware of the Creeks dark past. But soon danger of the past becomes the danger of the present, and soon Kia and the other woman on the trip are battling for survival.
This is action packed, and so visual I felt like I was also trying to outrun the danger. From the very start there is tension simmering away and I was here for it. This author never fail and the book as a whole comes with many layers exploring grief, resilience and strength with characters that were three dimensional.
This one was action packed. Going on a five day rafting trip to Camas Creek was meant to be healing for Kia who is still trying to cope with the death of her husband. As she meets the woman she is spending the next 5 days with and settles into camp she starts to relax, even when she becomes aware of the Creeks dark past. But soon danger of the past becomes the danger of the present, and soon Kia and the other woman on the trip are battling for survival.
This is action packed, and so visual I felt like I was also trying to outrun the danger. From the very start there is tension simmering away and I was here for it. This author never fail and the book as a whole comes with many layers exploring grief, resilience and strength with characters that were three dimensional.
July 21, 2026
3.5 stars. This book had a great premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. It is definitely not my favorite Noelle Ihli novel. The momentum really stalled between chapters 33 and 39; even with all the cat-and-mouse action, those chapters failed to hold my attention through the ending.
The intense vibe channeled Netflix's Apex, putting me right back in that brutal Outback survival match between Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.
To top it off, the epilogue felt abysmal. I really wanted to love this one, but it just didn't deliver. I'm so sorry, NWI! You're still one of my faves.
The intense vibe channeled Netflix's Apex, putting me right back in that brutal Outback survival match between Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton.
To top it off, the epilogue felt abysmal. I really wanted to love this one, but it just didn't deliver. I'm so sorry, NWI! You're still one of my faves.
May 19, 2026
Noelle Ihli is such a talented writer and I don’t think anyone can prove me otherwise. Her books are not the typical “wait until the end for twists” kind of thrillers. No no no, Ihli throws you straight into the chaos from page one, slows things down just long enough for you to catch your breath and then gives you anxiety for the rest of the ride. All while somehow handing you answers before you even realize you should be asking the questions.
Imagine being on a 5 day women’s whitewater rafting trip only to find out that 7 years ago, a man murdered everyone except one lone teenager on this exact stretch of river… at the same place where you’ll be camping. Then the unthinkable happens as history starts repeating itself. Suddenly you’re stranded with strangers on a beach or trapped in a raft going down these rapids IN THE DARK trying to outrun a killer who always seems one step ahead of every survival plan.
Sure, I predicted the two bigger twists early on, but I didn’t have to sit around for 200+ pages waiting to find out if I was right. The twists are not revealed at the end but instead threaded into the plot and let know very early on. With this authors books there is always layers upon layers of shocks, the feeling of doom and emotional damage in the best way for a reader.
In true Ihli fashion, this book is nonstop anxiety, action and suspense. I’m talking 30% in and the gore is GORING, my heart is RACING and I’m gripping my metaphorical life jacket like I’m stuck in those rapids with them.
There’s one scene in particular that was so grotesque and nightmarish I genuinely couldn’t read fast enough yet somehow wanted to immediately go back and read it again. Without spoiling anything, it gave the exact same energy as the opening scene of a certain 2000s horror movie that has lived rent free in my brain ever since I first watched it. It’s still one of my favorite horror openings of all time, so seeing a book pull off that same level of horror perfection felt incredible.
This book was absolute perfection from the first page to the final page. As a reader, there is genuinely nothing I would change. It played out like a movie in my head the entire time especially the scene with Parker.
Imagine being on a 5 day women’s whitewater rafting trip only to find out that 7 years ago, a man murdered everyone except one lone teenager on this exact stretch of river… at the same place where you’ll be camping. Then the unthinkable happens as history starts repeating itself. Suddenly you’re stranded with strangers on a beach or trapped in a raft going down these rapids IN THE DARK trying to outrun a killer who always seems one step ahead of every survival plan.
Sure, I predicted the two bigger twists early on, but I didn’t have to sit around for 200+ pages waiting to find out if I was right. The twists are not revealed at the end but instead threaded into the plot and let know very early on. With this authors books there is always layers upon layers of shocks, the feeling of doom and emotional damage in the best way for a reader.
In true Ihli fashion, this book is nonstop anxiety, action and suspense. I’m talking 30% in and the gore is GORING, my heart is RACING and I’m gripping my metaphorical life jacket like I’m stuck in those rapids with them.
There’s one scene in particular that was so grotesque and nightmarish I genuinely couldn’t read fast enough yet somehow wanted to immediately go back and read it again. Without spoiling anything, it gave the exact same energy as the opening scene of a certain 2000s horror movie that has lived rent free in my brain ever since I first watched it. It’s still one of my favorite horror openings of all time, so seeing a book pull off that same level of horror perfection felt incredible.
This book was absolute perfection from the first page to the final page. As a reader, there is genuinely nothing I would change. It played out like a movie in my head the entire time especially the scene with Parker.
August 6, 2026
Unfortunately I was a little bit disappointed by this read. I thought it was ok/good, but a bit slow and very predictable.
I think that if you’re a new thriller reader, this might feel super new and refreshing for you. However, if you read a lot of thrillers, it feels pretty standard.
I still gave this book 3 stars bc it kept my attention for most of it and I read it quickly. There was also an emotional component of this book that got me a bit teary eyed.
I think that if you’re a new thriller reader, this might feel super new and refreshing for you. However, if you read a lot of thrillers, it feels pretty standard.
I still gave this book 3 stars bc it kept my attention for most of it and I read it quickly. There was also an emotional component of this book that got me a bit teary eyed.
June 24, 2026
Noelle W. Ihli is an auto-read author for me. If she writes it, I’m reading it.
This book is pure adrenaline. As someone who would absolutely never sign up for a whitewater rafting expedition because I’m a complete fraidy cat who prefers her feet firmly on the ground, this felt about as close as I’d ever want to get to one. My heart was racing for most of this book.
The rafting scenes were so vivid that I felt every rapid, every near miss and every moment of uncertainty right alongside Kaia. The further the group travelled downriver, the more the tension ramped up, and I genuinely had no idea who I could trust.
What surprised me most though was how much heart this story had. Beneath all the danger, suspense and chaos is a story about grief, loss and learning how to keep moving forward. Kaia’s relationship with her late husband Parker added an emotional depth that hit me completely in the feels and elevated this beyond being “just” a thriller.
Noelle has a knack for writing women I immediately want to root for, and The Last to Drown was no exception.
Another 5⭐️ read from an author who continues to cement herself as one of my favourites.
This book is pure adrenaline. As someone who would absolutely never sign up for a whitewater rafting expedition because I’m a complete fraidy cat who prefers her feet firmly on the ground, this felt about as close as I’d ever want to get to one. My heart was racing for most of this book.
The rafting scenes were so vivid that I felt every rapid, every near miss and every moment of uncertainty right alongside Kaia. The further the group travelled downriver, the more the tension ramped up, and I genuinely had no idea who I could trust.
What surprised me most though was how much heart this story had. Beneath all the danger, suspense and chaos is a story about grief, loss and learning how to keep moving forward. Kaia’s relationship with her late husband Parker added an emotional depth that hit me completely in the feels and elevated this beyond being “just” a thriller.
Noelle has a knack for writing women I immediately want to root for, and The Last to Drown was no exception.
Another 5⭐️ read from an author who continues to cement herself as one of my favourites.
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