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Her Final Words
It seems like an open-and-shut case for FBI special agent Lucy Thorne when Eliza Cook walks into the field office. The teenage girl confesses to murdering a young boy. Disturbingly composed, she reveals chilling details only the killer could know. Beyond that Eliza doesn’t say another word, leaving a vital question met with dead silence: Why did she do it?
To find the answer, Lucy goes to the scene of the crime in the small Idaho town of Knox Hollow. But Lucy’s questions are only mounting. Especially when she’s drawn deeper into the life of the victim. Then a combing of the woods yields unsettling evidence that Eliza isn’t the only one in this close-knit rural community with secrets.
Getting to the truth is becoming Lucy’s obsession. And it’s a dangerous one. Because for the good folks of Knox Hollow, hiding that truth will take more than silence.
To find the answer, Lucy goes to the scene of the crime in the small Idaho town of Knox Hollow. But Lucy’s questions are only mounting. Especially when she’s drawn deeper into the life of the victim. Then a combing of the woods yields unsettling evidence that Eliza isn’t the only one in this close-knit rural community with secrets.
Getting to the truth is becoming Lucy’s obsession. And it’s a dangerous one. Because for the good folks of Knox Hollow, hiding that truth will take more than silence.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2020
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March 13, 2022
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 2/5
THE PLOT
Eliza shows up at the FBI field office asking for Lucy Thorne so she can confess to a brutal murder of a 12-year-old boy. It should be an open and shut case, but Lucy suspects there's more to it than Eliza's story. Her hunch takes her to the scene of the crime in Knox Hollow to figure out what's really up.
MY OPINION
This is my second Brianna Labuskes book and I definitely preferred What Can't Be Seen. There was too much rehashing of events, too much hand-holding, too much happening at the end. The writing was repetitive and over-baked in some parts. Now, if I hadn't read What Can't Be Seen first, would I be so critical (although when am I ever NOT hehe)? I don't think so. This is an earlier work of hers as well, so it's good to know she keeps improving. In my review of What Can't Be Seen, one of my minor gripes was Labuskes' overuse of "x lifted a shoulder" WELP it started popping up here at the end so I guess it's her go-to.
Similar to What Can't Be Seen, the ending was TOOOOO much. Keep in mind Eliza is 17-years-old, but she's put together some sort of undercover sting like she's the director of the CIA. It was TOO intricate. I think if some components had been left out, the ending would've been sorta decent. But once again, Labuskes crammed as much in as possible and there was a lot of gun waving involved. I think holding someone at gunpoint to wrap shit up is kinda lazy, but at least this book didn't have the surprise! sexual assault! reveal that most of these cult/ultra-religious themed books do. And tbh I just didn't buy the you-know-who as the serial killer. It just wasn't hittin...
I also felt the book could've been turned into an episode of Criminal Minds. It had all the markings the show. And I don't really know if that's a positive or not, so you decide. Tysm.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: didn't really put all the pieces together until the end, I like reading about ultra religious sects/cults
Cons: kinda slow, kinda repetitive, ending was way over the top, didn't really buy into the villain
THE PLOT
Eliza shows up at the FBI field office asking for Lucy Thorne so she can confess to a brutal murder of a 12-year-old boy. It should be an open and shut case, but Lucy suspects there's more to it than Eliza's story. Her hunch takes her to the scene of the crime in Knox Hollow to figure out what's really up.
MY OPINION
This is my second Brianna Labuskes book and I definitely preferred What Can't Be Seen. There was too much rehashing of events, too much hand-holding, too much happening at the end. The writing was repetitive and over-baked in some parts. Now, if I hadn't read What Can't Be Seen first, would I be so critical (although when am I ever NOT hehe)? I don't think so. This is an earlier work of hers as well, so it's good to know she keeps improving. In my review of What Can't Be Seen, one of my minor gripes was Labuskes' overuse of "x lifted a shoulder" WELP it started popping up here at the end so I guess it's her go-to.
Similar to What Can't Be Seen, the ending was TOOOOO much. Keep in mind Eliza is 17-years-old, but she's put together some sort of undercover sting like she's the director of the CIA. It was TOO intricate. I think if some components had been left out, the ending would've been sorta decent. But once again, Labuskes crammed as much in as possible and there was a lot of gun waving involved. I think holding someone at gunpoint to wrap shit up is kinda lazy, but at least this book didn't have the surprise! sexual assault! reveal that most of these cult/ultra-religious themed books do. And tbh I just didn't buy the you-know-who as the serial killer. It just wasn't hittin...
I also felt the book could've been turned into an episode of Criminal Minds. It had all the markings the show. And I don't really know if that's a positive or not, so you decide. Tysm.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: didn't really put all the pieces together until the end, I like reading about ultra religious sects/cults
Cons: kinda slow, kinda repetitive, ending was way over the top, didn't really buy into the villain
November 12, 2023
In the middle of the night, seventeen year-old Eliza Cook walks into the Seattle FBI Field Office and asks to speak to Special Agent Lucy Thorne, by name. When she arrives, Eliza, chillingly calm and without emotion, confesses to murdering twelve year-old Noah Dawson. But then refuses to say another word. This leaves Lucy with one overriding question: why did Eliza kill Noah? As ”a motive would be nice.”
In order to try and quiet her concerns on what should be an open-and-shut case, Lucy travels to the tiny, remote town of Knox Hollow, Idaho. But as she begins investigating, she finds only more questions instead of answers. When a search of the woods reveals disturbing evidence that the town is rife with dangerous secrets, it becomes clear that the good people of Knox Hollow are determined to protect them at all costs. Can Lucy uncover the truth? And will she find it before the danger finds her?
With secrets piled upon secrets, Her Final Words was a top-notch psychological thriller/police procedural that revealed a game of smoke and mirrors. Told in multiple points of view and timelines, what could have been overly complicated and confusing was instead laid out systematically…leading us down the path to a murderer that we’d never expect.
A dark and twisted plot centering around a cult-like religious extremist community exposed a town full of secrets where it was hard to tell the good guys from the bad. The bulk of the book was a slow burn of terrifying cult-like behavior slowly peeled like an onion until the pieces were finally put together at the very end of the book. Overtly realistic in the descriptions of the Church, the storyline took on a near true crime feel in the best possible way. I was certainly left with a chill down my spine realizing that these kinds of things really do happen.
The only aspect I didn’t love was how vague some of the clues were, which precluded me from drawing enough conclusions to solve the mystery before it was revealed. But even this grievance felt insignificant when compared to the near-flawless storytelling that Brianna Labuskes demonstrated. With writing that reminded me in style of Loreth Anne White or Gregg Olsen, I definitely recommend giving this book a try. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: cult-like religious extremist community, child abuse, cancer
In order to try and quiet her concerns on what should be an open-and-shut case, Lucy travels to the tiny, remote town of Knox Hollow, Idaho. But as she begins investigating, she finds only more questions instead of answers. When a search of the woods reveals disturbing evidence that the town is rife with dangerous secrets, it becomes clear that the good people of Knox Hollow are determined to protect them at all costs. Can Lucy uncover the truth? And will she find it before the danger finds her?
With secrets piled upon secrets, Her Final Words was a top-notch psychological thriller/police procedural that revealed a game of smoke and mirrors. Told in multiple points of view and timelines, what could have been overly complicated and confusing was instead laid out systematically…leading us down the path to a murderer that we’d never expect.
A dark and twisted plot centering around a cult-like religious extremist community exposed a town full of secrets where it was hard to tell the good guys from the bad. The bulk of the book was a slow burn of terrifying cult-like behavior slowly peeled like an onion until the pieces were finally put together at the very end of the book. Overtly realistic in the descriptions of the Church, the storyline took on a near true crime feel in the best possible way. I was certainly left with a chill down my spine realizing that these kinds of things really do happen.
The only aspect I didn’t love was how vague some of the clues were, which precluded me from drawing enough conclusions to solve the mystery before it was revealed. But even this grievance felt insignificant when compared to the near-flawless storytelling that Brianna Labuskes demonstrated. With writing that reminded me in style of Loreth Anne White or Gregg Olsen, I definitely recommend giving this book a try. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: cult-like religious extremist community, child abuse, cancer
August 6, 2020
I finally got to read my Amazon first reads selection for July. What a wonderful, heartbreaking story that was, sadly the execution was a little bit lacking for me - 3.5 stars rounded down.
When a teenage girl walks into the Seattle FBI office at 3:00 am and asks for Agent Lucy Thorne, nobody expected what happened. She tells Lucy that she has killed a 12 year old boy, Noah Dawson of Knox Landing in Idaho. She describes where to find the body and the murder weapon. She is also at pains to tell Lucy there is a bible verse carved into his chest. And then she clams up and doesn’t say another word. The Sheriff of Knox Hollow soon confirms that the body and weapon have been found as described. Lucy has a gut instinct that she is missing something, like a motive for one thing, and gets her boss to agree that she can spend a few days in Knox Hollow looking into the case.
After her arrival Lucy soon realises that nothing is simple in this town. For one thing a significant number of the community were members of a very devout religious sect. For another, getting information out of people was worse than pulling teeth. As the plot thickens the time line jumps around both backwards and forwards (a bit annoying) it becomes apparent that more teenage girls have gone missing. There have also been more deaths of children than you would expect in such a population. The church holds its secrets very tightly but clearly there is something fishy going on.
It was hard to like any of these characters. The sheriff was super laconic and it got annoying very quickly. The church people were evasive and we’re clearly hiding something and Lucy herself seemed a bit scatterbrained at times. I can’t put my finger on it but her thought processes just seemed a bit off kilter. Nevertheless it was a great story, very sad, that kept me engaged throughout.
When a teenage girl walks into the Seattle FBI office at 3:00 am and asks for Agent Lucy Thorne, nobody expected what happened. She tells Lucy that she has killed a 12 year old boy, Noah Dawson of Knox Landing in Idaho. She describes where to find the body and the murder weapon. She is also at pains to tell Lucy there is a bible verse carved into his chest. And then she clams up and doesn’t say another word. The Sheriff of Knox Hollow soon confirms that the body and weapon have been found as described. Lucy has a gut instinct that she is missing something, like a motive for one thing, and gets her boss to agree that she can spend a few days in Knox Hollow looking into the case.
After her arrival Lucy soon realises that nothing is simple in this town. For one thing a significant number of the community were members of a very devout religious sect. For another, getting information out of people was worse than pulling teeth. As the plot thickens the time line jumps around both backwards and forwards (a bit annoying) it becomes apparent that more teenage girls have gone missing. There have also been more deaths of children than you would expect in such a population. The church holds its secrets very tightly but clearly there is something fishy going on.
It was hard to like any of these characters. The sheriff was super laconic and it got annoying very quickly. The church people were evasive and we’re clearly hiding something and Lucy herself seemed a bit scatterbrained at times. I can’t put my finger on it but her thought processes just seemed a bit off kilter. Nevertheless it was a great story, very sad, that kept me engaged throughout.
July 2, 2020
While only my second book by this author, it's clear that the setting and mood are important characteristics to the stories she tells.
Her Final Words centers around a small town in Idaho called Knox Hollow. Within its borders is a church known for its strict doctrines and tight control over its members. While FBI Agent Lucy Thorne investigates the murder of Noah Dawson, this church and their beliefs are woven into the story. None moreso than their belief that there should be no medical intervention when someone is sick or hurt including children. The state's Shield Law protects parents in these instances, but it is no less controversial. Throughout the story we learn how difficult it is for the small Knox Hollow police department to coincide with this church.
One of the fascinating aspects of the book is how little we know of our main character, Agent Thorne. Often, this genre will provide a detailed character description along with a list of their flaws and demons. Instead, Agent Lucy Thorne enters the story with very little background given. As the story progresses we learn about who Lucy is not by her history, but by her actions and by how she interacts with Sheriff Hicks and Deputy Grant.
While Lucy's narrative is the central POV, mixed in are chapter's from the events leading up to when Eliza confesses to FBI. Initially, I feared I would get bored of seeing only one person's flashback. So I was pleasantly surprised when the past events were told from multiple points of view. By doing so we are given an incomplete picture of what transpired that helps to keep us guessing until the pieces finally start to fit together at the end.
In general, Her Final Words comes across as a straight mystery/suspense story with no alternating story lines told. For me, this approach worked as it allowed me to focus only on the story at hand.
Her Final Words centers around a small town in Idaho called Knox Hollow. Within its borders is a church known for its strict doctrines and tight control over its members. While FBI Agent Lucy Thorne investigates the murder of Noah Dawson, this church and their beliefs are woven into the story. None moreso than their belief that there should be no medical intervention when someone is sick or hurt including children. The state's Shield Law protects parents in these instances, but it is no less controversial. Throughout the story we learn how difficult it is for the small Knox Hollow police department to coincide with this church.
One of the fascinating aspects of the book is how little we know of our main character, Agent Thorne. Often, this genre will provide a detailed character description along with a list of their flaws and demons. Instead, Agent Lucy Thorne enters the story with very little background given. As the story progresses we learn about who Lucy is not by her history, but by her actions and by how she interacts with Sheriff Hicks and Deputy Grant.
While Lucy's narrative is the central POV, mixed in are chapter's from the events leading up to when Eliza confesses to FBI. Initially, I feared I would get bored of seeing only one person's flashback. So I was pleasantly surprised when the past events were told from multiple points of view. By doing so we are given an incomplete picture of what transpired that helps to keep us guessing until the pieces finally start to fit together at the end.
In general, Her Final Words comes across as a straight mystery/suspense story with no alternating story lines told. For me, this approach worked as it allowed me to focus only on the story at hand.
July 7, 2020
What a struggle to get through! Sorry, this just didn't work for me. It was WAY too much of unsaid words, reading expressions and knowing EVERYONE was lying. The author constructed a plot with everyone having the ability to easily lie, cover their tracks, and read meaning into every single facial expression. It was exhausting as the reader to deal with this on every single page. And why does every author insist on the hero or protagonist having a dead or almost dead cell phone?? Seriously? If I was in the FBI, and I'm BY MYSELF IN THE REMOTE IDAHO, wouldn't I make sure my cell phone is charged? It's just insulting to the reader that to accept that law enforcement would not have a charged phone and back-up. Figure out another way for the bad thing to happen!
June 22, 2024
In the early morning of Knox Hollow, Idaho, seventeen-year-old Eliza Cook walks into the police station and confesses to murdering a twelve-year-old boy named Noah Dawson. Eliza also demands to only speak with FBI Special Agent Lucy Thorne.
The confession should make the murder an open-and-shut case, but something doesn't sit right with Lucy. The more she looks into the case, the more Lucy is convinced that there is a bigger picture going on.
A large part of the Knox Hollow community is made up of a very private church group that lives by their own moral compass, believing that they are outside of government jurisdiction.
The Church was a cult in everything but name. It had its own moral structure, and those in the community who succumbed to the gaslighting, the brainwashing, the lifestyle had learned to convince themselves it was the right one.
Upon investigating the death of Noah, Detective Thorne stumbles upon a mass grave. Now, Lucy must uncover the secrets of this highly religious, closed-knit community in order to find a possible serial killer living in their midst.
______________________________________________
This book was not as strong as her other stories, but I do love the fact that Labuskes writes stand-alone crime novels. It's nice to have a story to solve without having to invest in a book series.
The confession should make the murder an open-and-shut case, but something doesn't sit right with Lucy. The more she looks into the case, the more Lucy is convinced that there is a bigger picture going on.
A large part of the Knox Hollow community is made up of a very private church group that lives by their own moral compass, believing that they are outside of government jurisdiction.
The Church was a cult in everything but name. It had its own moral structure, and those in the community who succumbed to the gaslighting, the brainwashing, the lifestyle had learned to convince themselves it was the right one.
Upon investigating the death of Noah, Detective Thorne stumbles upon a mass grave. Now, Lucy must uncover the secrets of this highly religious, closed-knit community in order to find a possible serial killer living in their midst.
______________________________________________
This book was not as strong as her other stories, but I do love the fact that Labuskes writes stand-alone crime novels. It's nice to have a story to solve without having to invest in a book series.
July 4, 2020
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I loved this story. I was desperate to finish it but at the same time, I wanted to delay the pleasure. It surprised me, it captivated me and it had me guessing all to the ending. A superb piece of writing from Labuskes!
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I loved this story. I was desperate to finish it but at the same time, I wanted to delay the pleasure. It surprised me, it captivated me and it had me guessing all to the ending. A superb piece of writing from Labuskes!
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
August 4, 2021
A seventeen years old girl has confessed to killing a twelve-year-old boy. Even though both the confession and the evidence point to the murder...’ FBI Agent Lucy Thorne decides she needs to dig deeper into the case. This takes her into small town in Idaho with close-knit community with a congregation that exerts a great deal of influence on the community as a whole. The tenets of their belief is that no modern medicine or medical care is allowed for the parishioners...including the children. Idaho’s” shield laws” allow this as it is their legal First Amendment rights...but the question is are the church members involved somehow in a boy murder... and what else are they possibly hiding? I had to check out the law and found that it is indeed a law that is held in more states than just Idaho. That in itself is scarier than the fictional story. Overall, it was a really enjoyable story. It felt believable and contained enough twists to make me want to try another book by this author.
November 23, 2021
Another free monthly Prime First Reads bust.
HER FINAL WORDS is a story with a terrific premise and plot, but dreadful, execution. The book grabbed my interest, which waned rapidly after the first chapter. With too many points of view and time shifts, I found myself losing investment in the story quickly before giving up and skimming to the end.
HER FINAL WORDS is a story that could have been so much more.
HER FINAL WORDS is a story with a terrific premise and plot, but dreadful, execution. The book grabbed my interest, which waned rapidly after the first chapter. With too many points of view and time shifts, I found myself losing investment in the story quickly before giving up and skimming to the end.
HER FINAL WORDS is a story that could have been so much more.
March 1, 2021
"I got lost."
"It's okay." Molly laid her head back against the fence post and breathed in the night - the smoky campfire in the distance, the rich earth devouring dying leaves, the sugar-sweet perfume Eliza sometimes wore. "You can be lost with me."
I'm gonna start by saying that, since the one I was sent was an uncorrected draft of the book, I obviously didn't take into account the minor mistakes and poor syntax I found at times, and that my judgment of the novel was affected only by the weird phrasings I assumed were finals.
Now that that's been crossed out, here's my review:
Her Final Words had so much potential I allowed myself to develop a tiny little amount of expectations on it. I loved the premise and the first few chapters were also very interesting, but while I loved the idea, I just couldn't fully appreciate the execution.
There was something off in the dialogues and I really couldn't connect with any of the characters as I felt they were poorly developed.
I enjoyed the flashback/present format, but the slow pace clashed with what should be an adrenalinic run, making it all a bit underwhelming.
I'm not a thriller expert, but I know an incrising rhythm is some kind of requirement when you need to catch and most of all mantain a reader's attention and keep them on the edge of their seat.
That definitely didn't happen to me while reading this book.
I liked the ending, but I wish I didn't have to struggle through the build up so much to get to it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. I know I'm late to the party, but better late than never, I guess? XD
ACTUAL RATINGS, 2,5/5
August 9, 2020
Welcome to Knox Hollow, Idaho. FBI Special Agent Lucy Thorne is investigating the death of a teenage boy. He was thought of as 'missing' until Eliza Cook walks into the police station and confesses to murdering Noah Dawson. She tells them where he is, but gives no motive. She doesn't speak another word.
Lucy's gut feeling is that she made a false confession .... and getting to the truth is becoming an obsession.
What Lucy is learning is that this close knit town is full of secrets.. everyone from the church which seems to control the town to the Police Chief, which no one seems to like or want to work with. The town residents are certainly no help in determining why Noah was killed ...even his parents.
And then more buried bodies are found ......
Intricate plot is woven around deftly drawn characters. The main narrative comes from Lucy, with events leading up to the confession told by various points of view. It's nicely paced from start to finish. It's not a grab-your-throat suspense, but the mystery is a real page turner.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Lucy's gut feeling is that she made a false confession .... and getting to the truth is becoming an obsession.
What Lucy is learning is that this close knit town is full of secrets.. everyone from the church which seems to control the town to the Police Chief, which no one seems to like or want to work with. The town residents are certainly no help in determining why Noah was killed ...even his parents.
And then more buried bodies are found ......
Intricate plot is woven around deftly drawn characters. The main narrative comes from Lucy, with events leading up to the confession told by various points of view. It's nicely paced from start to finish. It's not a grab-your-throat suspense, but the mystery is a real page turner.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 7, 2020
Brianna Labuskes has done it again, giving us another fantastic mystery to crawl inside our skulls and dance around for a bit. She lays out tons of threads all over the small Idaho town of Knox Hollow, then expertly weaves them back together for a finale that will leave you unable to turn the pages fast enough.
July 1, 2020
A decent enough thriller, if light on the characterisation and dialogue.
August 9, 2020
Initially I had an extremely hard time getting into this book until about one -third of the way in. The first chapters were difficult for me to comprehend and invest in especially with all the back and forth from present day to “Three Weeks Earlier.” Between the back and forth timeline and new characters being added, I was very confused, but once I got to the one-third mark the story really picked up. FBI Agent, Lucy Thorne, arrives in Knox Hollow, Idaho to investigate the disappearance and possible murder of a 12-year-old boy. A teenage girl admits to killing him, but first his body must be found. The confessed killer is not talking, and strange things are happening in this town.
Working with Sheriff Wyatt Hicks, Lucy soon comes to realize that there are many secrets in this small community and people aren’t what they seem including the Sheriff himself and his deputy. Everything seems to circle back to the mysterious cult-like church with its strange beliefs, the Know Hollow Church, run by Pastor Josiah Cook and his wife Rachel. Soon Lucy does not know who she can trust.
I applaud the author for the premise, plot, and character development, but I felt there was a disconnect between the melding of the three. I began to lose interest again around two-thirds way through and then suddenly was drawn back in for a somewhat exciting finish. I say this because I had figured out who the killer was, but totally did not foresee the motive.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and gave it three and one-half stars rounded down to three. I would read a book by this author again given the chance. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Working with Sheriff Wyatt Hicks, Lucy soon comes to realize that there are many secrets in this small community and people aren’t what they seem including the Sheriff himself and his deputy. Everything seems to circle back to the mysterious cult-like church with its strange beliefs, the Know Hollow Church, run by Pastor Josiah Cook and his wife Rachel. Soon Lucy does not know who she can trust.
I applaud the author for the premise, plot, and character development, but I felt there was a disconnect between the melding of the three. I began to lose interest again around two-thirds way through and then suddenly was drawn back in for a somewhat exciting finish. I say this because I had figured out who the killer was, but totally did not foresee the motive.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and gave it three and one-half stars rounded down to three. I would read a book by this author again given the chance. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
July 29, 2020
When I'm reading an especially good book, I have one rule of thumb: If there's 10% or less left to go at bedtime, I stay up the extra few minutes to finish; anything more than that waits till the next day. For this one, I made an exception; with twice that much left, I waved goodnight to my husband without even looking up from my Kindle.
It's got murder, intriguing characters and plenty of action. One of the attractions to me is the setting, a remote Idaho community near Seattle that's home to a large community of religious fundamentalists and faith-healers. They've made peace, sort of, with local law enforcement; but ongoing efforts to strike down the state law that prevents religious leaders and parents from prosecution when they refuse medical attention for sick and injured members have put the truce on shaky ground. Amid this scenario comes teenage Eliza Cook, who seeks out FBI agent Lucy Thorne to confess that she'd murdered a young boy; but after providing a few details - like the location of the body - she refuses to say another word.
Not fully able to believe Eliza's story, Lucy travels to Knox Hollow in hopes of learning more. There, she meets local sheriff Wyatt Hicks, who seems friendly but guarded. While he's willing to offer help, introducing her to the boy's family - members of the religious group - Lucy suspects he may not be telling the whole truth and nothing but. Ditto for other families and leaders of the group (without question, I'd call it a cult). When the investigation reveals more of the community's secrets, Lucy begins to wonder who, if anyone, she can trust.
To be sure, there are things that complicated my feelings a bit - not the least of which is the constant back-and-forth chapters among characters and time frames that's almost guaranteed to give me gas. Here, though, it's done quite effectively - possibly because it's easy to keep the characters straight and the retrospective time periods are for the most part not far from the present. I'd also agree with other reviews I've read that some parts are implausible; I doubt, for instance, the ability of any teenager I've ever known to dream up, much less carry out, anything close to what happens in this story. But for gosh sake, the operative word in a work of fiction is fiction; and as far as I'm concerned, that means not everything has to fall within my real-life credibility.
So for me, this one is a clear winner. Many thanks to the Amazon First Reads program, through which the book was made available.
It's got murder, intriguing characters and plenty of action. One of the attractions to me is the setting, a remote Idaho community near Seattle that's home to a large community of religious fundamentalists and faith-healers. They've made peace, sort of, with local law enforcement; but ongoing efforts to strike down the state law that prevents religious leaders and parents from prosecution when they refuse medical attention for sick and injured members have put the truce on shaky ground. Amid this scenario comes teenage Eliza Cook, who seeks out FBI agent Lucy Thorne to confess that she'd murdered a young boy; but after providing a few details - like the location of the body - she refuses to say another word.
Not fully able to believe Eliza's story, Lucy travels to Knox Hollow in hopes of learning more. There, she meets local sheriff Wyatt Hicks, who seems friendly but guarded. While he's willing to offer help, introducing her to the boy's family - members of the religious group - Lucy suspects he may not be telling the whole truth and nothing but. Ditto for other families and leaders of the group (without question, I'd call it a cult). When the investigation reveals more of the community's secrets, Lucy begins to wonder who, if anyone, she can trust.
To be sure, there are things that complicated my feelings a bit - not the least of which is the constant back-and-forth chapters among characters and time frames that's almost guaranteed to give me gas. Here, though, it's done quite effectively - possibly because it's easy to keep the characters straight and the retrospective time periods are for the most part not far from the present. I'd also agree with other reviews I've read that some parts are implausible; I doubt, for instance, the ability of any teenager I've ever known to dream up, much less carry out, anything close to what happens in this story. But for gosh sake, the operative word in a work of fiction is fiction; and as far as I'm concerned, that means not everything has to fall within my real-life credibility.
So for me, this one is a clear winner. Many thanks to the Amazon First Reads program, through which the book was made available.
July 26, 2020
I found the book wordy and confusing. Often, the flowery descriptions didn’t add to the story. It would have been easier to read with succinct descriptions. Also, the chapters jumped around noting the time of the different events and plots. One chapter could be “now”, the next one “three weeks ago”, next “one month”, and then back to “now”, etc. making it very difficult to follow a storyline.
July 8, 2020
This was one of those stories that is so hard for me to review.
On one hand, it drew me in and kept me reading hours past the time I would have usually gone to bed. The story moves at a steady pace, introducing new twists and turns the more you read (there were a couple of surprising moments, although one of the "main ones" seemed rather obvious to me). I liked the complexity of the characters, and I enjoyed the not just the secrecy surrounding the church, but the way the author managed to realistically grasp small town life and the way (cult-like church aside) those who live there tend to view outsiders as a threat and close ranks to protect their own. Another point in this stories favor is how unlike other novels of this same ilk there was no attempt to weave a romance into the story-line the way I have seen other authors try to do.
On the other hand? As it wound down I felt like the author started throwing too much at the reader to "shock" them (or because it was a convenient to tie up a loose end). It became less of "OH MY GOD WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?" and more of a "Oh... okay... um... what?" People acting (in my opinion) out of character based on what we know about them, other characters made to look guilty that aren't, and entire plotlines built around something that wasn't. For me, it just put an abrupt halt to what had otherwise been a solid read.
Even with that, I would definitely give this author another chance because of their ability to create a realistic world that draws people in.
On one hand, it drew me in and kept me reading hours past the time I would have usually gone to bed. The story moves at a steady pace, introducing new twists and turns the more you read (there were a couple of surprising moments, although one of the "main ones" seemed rather obvious to me). I liked the complexity of the characters, and I enjoyed the not just the secrecy surrounding the church, but the way the author managed to realistically grasp small town life and the way (cult-like church aside) those who live there tend to view outsiders as a threat and close ranks to protect their own. Another point in this stories favor is how unlike other novels of this same ilk there was no attempt to weave a romance into the story-line the way I have seen other authors try to do.
On the other hand? As it wound down I felt like the author started throwing too much at the reader to "shock" them (or because it was a convenient to tie up a loose end). It became less of "OH MY GOD WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?" and more of a "Oh... okay... um... what?" People acting (in my opinion) out of character based on what we know about them, other characters made to look guilty that aren't, and entire plotlines built around something that wasn't. For me, it just put an abrupt halt to what had otherwise been a solid read.
Even with that, I would definitely give this author another chance because of their ability to create a realistic world that draws people in.
August 8, 2020
Welcome to Knox Hollow, Idaho. FBI Special Agent Lucy Thorne is investigating the death of a teenage boy. He was thought of as 'missing' until Eliza Cook walks into the police station and confesses to murdering Noah Dawson. She tells them where he is, but gives no motive. She doesn't speak another word.
Lucy's gut feeling is that she made a false confession .... and getting to the truth is becoming an obsession.
What Lucy is learning is that this close knit town is full of secrets.. everyone from the church which seems to control the town to the Police Chief, which no one seems to like or want to work with. The town residents are certainly no help in determining why Noah was killed ...even his parents.
And then more buried bodies are found ......
Intricate plot is woven around deftly drawn characters. The main narrative comes from Lucy, with events leading up to the confession told by various points of view. It's nicely paced from start to finish. It's not a grab-your-throat suspense, but the mystery is a real page turner.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Lucy's gut feeling is that she made a false confession .... and getting to the truth is becoming an obsession.
What Lucy is learning is that this close knit town is full of secrets.. everyone from the church which seems to control the town to the Police Chief, which no one seems to like or want to work with. The town residents are certainly no help in determining why Noah was killed ...even his parents.
And then more buried bodies are found ......
Intricate plot is woven around deftly drawn characters. The main narrative comes from Lucy, with events leading up to the confession told by various points of view. It's nicely paced from start to finish. It's not a grab-your-throat suspense, but the mystery is a real page turner.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 14, 2021
I kept reading it, so I guess I'll give it two stars. Totally disappointed in the story, the characters, the incorrect details, the attempts to create mystery when there was no need, and once again, a supposedly smart heroine who has no reason whatsoever to have a phone with a dead battery at a crucial point in the story. I was not compelled to keep reading the story, not driven by caring about any character, but I read it all anyway. The conceit of telling the story in flashbacks to various moments in time, through the eyes of different characters was fine, but tedious after a while. I just wanted the author to get on with it, already. (This could just be me....I don't have much patience for tedium in the time of corona). The character of Kate, thrown in late in the game to provide a reason for Zoey to be in Knox Hollow, was contrived. I figured out early on that Noah wasn't a victim of the serial killer, that he knew his death had a purpose, but that didn't become clear until later. And really, what was the point of not being straight out with the facts of the case when Eliza first met up with Agent Thorne? Why drag it out? Another Kindle First book that disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2020
An excellent choice for crime fiction enthusiasts. This one kept up my steady attention, but as the tale approached the climax of the book, I was hooked. I literally raced through the last 30 pages and had one of those moments that are just great in books like this – you know the ones where you find yourself saying to yourself, “Nuh uh! That didn’t just happen.” For me, a great ending just “makes” a book.
While I did have a couple of moments of feeling like the author didn’t trust me to understand the story line, or remember past plot points, overall, I do recommend Her Final Words – as long as you enjoy crime fiction, that is, and aren’t uncomfortable with the requisite crime descriptions that take place in this genre.
Balanced viewpoints were presented, the “puzzle” of the story was intriguing; recommended as a 4-star read.
Published August 1, 2020, Her Final Words is available in paperback, Audio CD, and for Audible Audiobook and Kindle. Please consider purchasing through https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB... – the online bookstore that donates 75% of the book’s profit margin to independent bookstores. Desiree does receive a small commission should you purchase through this link; however, she shares this out of her enduring love for corner, indie bookshops everywhere.
#HerFinalWords
#Brianna Labuskes
#ThomasAndMercer
#GoScribbler
#BookShop
While I did have a couple of moments of feeling like the author didn’t trust me to understand the story line, or remember past plot points, overall, I do recommend Her Final Words – as long as you enjoy crime fiction, that is, and aren’t uncomfortable with the requisite crime descriptions that take place in this genre.
Balanced viewpoints were presented, the “puzzle” of the story was intriguing; recommended as a 4-star read.
Published August 1, 2020, Her Final Words is available in paperback, Audio CD, and for Audible Audiobook and Kindle. Please consider purchasing through https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB... – the online bookstore that donates 75% of the book’s profit margin to independent bookstores. Desiree does receive a small commission should you purchase through this link; however, she shares this out of her enduring love for corner, indie bookshops everywhere.
#HerFinalWords
#Brianna Labuskes
#ThomasAndMercer
#GoScribbler
#BookShop
August 9, 2020
"Just because someone isn't lying...doesn't mean they're telling the truth."
At 3:00 AM, Eliza Cook walks into the Seattle FBI office and asks for Agent Lucy Thorne. The 17-year-old girl then confesses to a murder, tells Lucy where the body is, and also gives the location of the murder weapon. Despite further interrogation, Eliza refuses to give any other information or answer the main question of motive. Eliza does, however, repeat several times the fact that she carved a psalm into the victim's skin. Agent Thorne is not willing to put this case to rest as she can't wrap her head around the fact that Eliza has murdered this boy, 12-year-old Noah Dawson. Lucy wants answers and begs the chance to travel to Knox Hollow, a small Idaho town that happens to be populated by a group known as the True Believers of Christ Church. This community is close-knit and secretive and Lucy is obsessed with finding the truth. NO SPOILERS.
What a delicious slow-burning mystery that grabbed me and kept me hooked so that I had to read it in a single sitting. The setting adds another layer to this complex story as do the characters. We don't learn that much about Lucy Thorne, but her determination to figure out what happened and why is evident with everything she says and does. She finds it very hard to trust even the local law enforcement in Knox Hollow, and the church members are even more difficult to fathom. The writing was excellent and the alternating points of view and flashbacks added another dimension to the investigation as the details and revelations were exposed. It's not so much a thriller per se, but the questions I had while reading kept mounting as did the tension as I wanted the answers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
At 3:00 AM, Eliza Cook walks into the Seattle FBI office and asks for Agent Lucy Thorne. The 17-year-old girl then confesses to a murder, tells Lucy where the body is, and also gives the location of the murder weapon. Despite further interrogation, Eliza refuses to give any other information or answer the main question of motive. Eliza does, however, repeat several times the fact that she carved a psalm into the victim's skin. Agent Thorne is not willing to put this case to rest as she can't wrap her head around the fact that Eliza has murdered this boy, 12-year-old Noah Dawson. Lucy wants answers and begs the chance to travel to Knox Hollow, a small Idaho town that happens to be populated by a group known as the True Believers of Christ Church. This community is close-knit and secretive and Lucy is obsessed with finding the truth. NO SPOILERS.
What a delicious slow-burning mystery that grabbed me and kept me hooked so that I had to read it in a single sitting. The setting adds another layer to this complex story as do the characters. We don't learn that much about Lucy Thorne, but her determination to figure out what happened and why is evident with everything she says and does. She finds it very hard to trust even the local law enforcement in Knox Hollow, and the church members are even more difficult to fathom. The writing was excellent and the alternating points of view and flashbacks added another dimension to the investigation as the details and revelations were exposed. It's not so much a thriller per se, but the questions I had while reading kept mounting as did the tension as I wanted the answers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
Read
May 25, 2020A motive would be nice. In Seattle, FBI Special Agent Lucy Thorne looks at Eliza Cook, a teen with porcelain skin and golden-white hair who just confessed to the murder of twelve-year-old Noah Dawson in remote Knox Hollow, Idaho. Eliza had traveled far and asked for Lucy by name.
Agent Thorne has just one long weekend to determine what happened in this secretive tight-knit community strongly influenced by a church sect that shuns government interference. Josiah Cook is the face of the church and his wife Rachel is the backbone. It is said the church takes care of its own. Taciturn Sheriff Wyatt Hicks has secrets. His young stunning new deputy has secrets. The cemetery is home to many young bodies and now Eliza’s friend is missing. Who could she turn to? But a motive would be nice.
Labuskes offers an intense mystery with an excellent character in Agent Thorne who methodically uncovers layers of deceit while trusting no one. Some developments are too convenient and a few questions are left unanswered, but there is a great concluding twist.
Note: This review was prepared for Library Journal.
Agent Thorne has just one long weekend to determine what happened in this secretive tight-knit community strongly influenced by a church sect that shuns government interference. Josiah Cook is the face of the church and his wife Rachel is the backbone. It is said the church takes care of its own. Taciturn Sheriff Wyatt Hicks has secrets. His young stunning new deputy has secrets. The cemetery is home to many young bodies and now Eliza’s friend is missing. Who could she turn to? But a motive would be nice.
Labuskes offers an intense mystery with an excellent character in Agent Thorne who methodically uncovers layers of deceit while trusting no one. Some developments are too convenient and a few questions are left unanswered, but there is a great concluding twist.
Note: This review was prepared for Library Journal.
September 18, 2020
"There was a lot someone could miss because they couldn’t bear the truth."
What a compelling, well written story! As soon as I started, I couldn't stop reading! The author does such a great job of really building the tension in a room - all just through words. Conversations felt real, the suspense was well done and I was left guessing until the very end. I absolutely loved this one!
What a compelling, well written story! As soon as I started, I couldn't stop reading! The author does such a great job of really building the tension in a room - all just through words. Conversations felt real, the suspense was well done and I was left guessing until the very end. I absolutely loved this one!
July 12, 2020
Tightly plotted and tensely told mystery that kept me guessing and gave me a strong sense of a place and its people.
The only thing I didn't like about 'Her Final Words' was the opening. It's the hook the rest of the book wriggles on: a teenage girl from rural Idaho drives for five hours, crossing a State line, to the FBI field office in Seattle, asks for agent Lucy Thorne by name, confesses to having murdered a twelve-year-old boy, explains that the boy's body has a bible verse carved into it and then refuses to say more. It's a great hook that was never going to need much to sell it, yet I felt like everything in the opening was too bright and too loud and trying too hard to tell 'look how dramatic this is!'
I almost stopped there. Except it really was a great hook and I wanted to wriggle on it a little so I persisted. I'm very glad I did. The tone changed as soon as Lucy Thorne arrives in Idaho, with a long weekend to check out the details of an apparently open and shut case that feels off because there is no motive. The image of the Sheriff standing in the rain waiting to meet Thorne and take her to where the body was found was dramatic without being pushed hard.
It quickly becomes clear that the teenager who confessed to the killing and the boy who was killed were both members of a local Church/Cult and I wondered for a while if we were up for Federal Government rescuing the poor country folk from an abusive cult sort of story, because that never ends well but, thankfully, Brianna Labuskes was more ambitious and more original than that.
This is a story where good guys and bad guys are hard to tell apart. Where everyone is connected to everyone else but how and what it means are not clear and where the only thing the FBI agent is certain about is that she doesn't understand what's really going on.
The false simplicity of 'the bad cult must be to blame' is quickly replaced with something denser and more textured. I liked the way Brianna Labuskes brought out the geographical isolation of this rural community while showing how aware everyone is of what everyone else is doing and who they're doing it with.
Telling the story through multiple points of view and cross-cutting timelines that flip from 'Now' to 'Three Days Earlier' really tightened the tension and kept the surprises coming. The more Agent Thorne learns about the people and their history with one another, the more complicated the puzzle becomes and the fewer people she can trust. Discovering the story from the point of view of the teenagers involved and the Sheriff as well as Agent Thorne made everything more personal and more human as well as deepening the mystery.
The plot, the characters and the tightly controlled pace kept me engaged all the way through. The denouement was unexpected, memorable, believable and deeply sad.
I'll be back for more of Brianna Labuskes' stories.
The only thing I didn't like about 'Her Final Words' was the opening. It's the hook the rest of the book wriggles on: a teenage girl from rural Idaho drives for five hours, crossing a State line, to the FBI field office in Seattle, asks for agent Lucy Thorne by name, confesses to having murdered a twelve-year-old boy, explains that the boy's body has a bible verse carved into it and then refuses to say more. It's a great hook that was never going to need much to sell it, yet I felt like everything in the opening was too bright and too loud and trying too hard to tell 'look how dramatic this is!'
I almost stopped there. Except it really was a great hook and I wanted to wriggle on it a little so I persisted. I'm very glad I did. The tone changed as soon as Lucy Thorne arrives in Idaho, with a long weekend to check out the details of an apparently open and shut case that feels off because there is no motive. The image of the Sheriff standing in the rain waiting to meet Thorne and take her to where the body was found was dramatic without being pushed hard.
It quickly becomes clear that the teenager who confessed to the killing and the boy who was killed were both members of a local Church/Cult and I wondered for a while if we were up for Federal Government rescuing the poor country folk from an abusive cult sort of story, because that never ends well but, thankfully, Brianna Labuskes was more ambitious and more original than that.
This is a story where good guys and bad guys are hard to tell apart. Where everyone is connected to everyone else but how and what it means are not clear and where the only thing the FBI agent is certain about is that she doesn't understand what's really going on.
The false simplicity of 'the bad cult must be to blame' is quickly replaced with something denser and more textured. I liked the way Brianna Labuskes brought out the geographical isolation of this rural community while showing how aware everyone is of what everyone else is doing and who they're doing it with.
Telling the story through multiple points of view and cross-cutting timelines that flip from 'Now' to 'Three Days Earlier' really tightened the tension and kept the surprises coming. The more Agent Thorne learns about the people and their history with one another, the more complicated the puzzle becomes and the fewer people she can trust. Discovering the story from the point of view of the teenagers involved and the Sheriff as well as Agent Thorne made everything more personal and more human as well as deepening the mystery.
The plot, the characters and the tightly controlled pace kept me engaged all the way through. The denouement was unexpected, memorable, believable and deeply sad.
I'll be back for more of Brianna Labuskes' stories.
July 26, 2020
Disappointing...
I liked the storyline and the book was great at the start but slowly started a down hill slide. It seemed to have too many characters to keep track of that were not necessary to the actual story. The book also hit on a couple of my pet peeves. There were way too many over-the-top descriptive phrases used that slowed the story down. And an FBI agent in the middle of nowhere, with a serial killer on the loose, should not have a dead cell phone! I’m sorry but I can manage to keep my cell phone charged up just fine so why do author’s keep writing books with dead cell phones? This one was a disappointment.
I liked the storyline and the book was great at the start but slowly started a down hill slide. It seemed to have too many characters to keep track of that were not necessary to the actual story. The book also hit on a couple of my pet peeves. There were way too many over-the-top descriptive phrases used that slowed the story down. And an FBI agent in the middle of nowhere, with a serial killer on the loose, should not have a dead cell phone! I’m sorry but I can manage to keep my cell phone charged up just fine so why do author’s keep writing books with dead cell phones? This one was a disappointment.
September 20, 2020
Oh. My. Gosh. This book...the mystery...the suspense...the page turner that it is! I was not able to guess who did what in this book and neither could my buddy read partner. We both loved the book.
17 year old Eliza asks specifically for Agent Lucy Thorne and tells her that she wants to report a murder , the killing of a 12 year old boy. Question is why is Eliza talking to Agent Thorne since she's never heard of this girl before? Lucy follows up on her report and it becomes so complex as she investigates. It brings her to Know Hollow where she discovers so much: "the Church" whose pastor is seemingly on a power trip, a micro-community in which no one has birth certificates (proof of their existence), there is what appears to be a town silence and secrets to be unlocked, there is possibly a serial killer and other such things.
I thought the writing was done very well. I really liked the characters, some more than others. But what truly engaged me in this mystery was its mystery. I love it when I just cannot for the life of me figure who did a murder(s). The ending was shocking to me and I loved it.
17 year old Eliza asks specifically for Agent Lucy Thorne and tells her that she wants to report a murder , the killing of a 12 year old boy. Question is why is Eliza talking to Agent Thorne since she's never heard of this girl before? Lucy follows up on her report and it becomes so complex as she investigates. It brings her to Know Hollow where she discovers so much: "the Church" whose pastor is seemingly on a power trip, a micro-community in which no one has birth certificates (proof of their existence), there is what appears to be a town silence and secrets to be unlocked, there is possibly a serial killer and other such things.
I thought the writing was done very well. I really liked the characters, some more than others. But what truly engaged me in this mystery was its mystery. I love it when I just cannot for the life of me figure who did a murder(s). The ending was shocking to me and I loved it.
July 14, 2020
Spoiler alert... but I loved it.
I loved this book, because it kept me turning pages. Kept me up at night wondering Why?!?! It did leave me wondering how things turned out for Hicks, Lucy & Zoey. molly long term? I felt connected to the characters... it left me wondering who the man was until close to the end... and one hole... where was she (Eliza) that extra day?
I loved this book, because it kept me turning pages. Kept me up at night wondering Why?!?! It did leave me wondering how things turned out for Hicks, Lucy & Zoey. molly long term? I felt connected to the characters... it left me wondering who the man was until close to the end... and one hole... where was she (Eliza) that extra day?
July 13, 2020
Excellent, suspenseful read that will keep you guessing almost to the end. Interesting characters, creative and believable plot, and some philosophical questions to grapple with.
July 14, 2020
Snoozesfest...
This book started off so interesting&I was really looking forward to reading it! I liked how the church similar to the Amish, had their own !oral convictions. (Not that I personally agree with them.) Sadly this is where the storyline, in my humble opinion, fell apart. The different theories of why the murders happened&how they related to the church's (mixed) beliefs&so many secrets~SPOILER ALERT~, related illnesses! Then as if all of this wasn't enough, the author repeats the many viable scenarios to solve the mystery over &over&over! I think better editors could have helped this book by keeping the pace up!
This book started off so interesting&I was really looking forward to reading it! I liked how the church similar to the Amish, had their own !oral convictions. (Not that I personally agree with them.) Sadly this is where the storyline, in my humble opinion, fell apart. The different theories of why the murders happened&how they related to the church's (mixed) beliefs&so many secrets~SPOILER ALERT~, related illnesses! Then as if all of this wasn't enough, the author repeats the many viable scenarios to solve the mystery over &over&over! I think better editors could have helped this book by keeping the pace up!
July 27, 2020
Disappointing read. Found it difficult to get into. Halfway through it began to pick up. Was glad to finish it.
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