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The Last to Know
A family’s past pursues them like a shadow in this riveting and emotional novel of psychological suspense by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of All the Little Children.
American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There’s a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family’s crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan’s reclusive mother, and the treacherous hill it sits upon, a place of both sinister folklore and present dangers.
Then there are unwelcoming villagers, who only whisper the name Kynaston—like some dreadful secret, a curse. Everyone knows what happened at Hurtwood House twenty years ago. Everyone except Rose. And now that Dylan is back, so are rumors about his past.
When an archaeological dig unearths human remains on the hill, local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan vows to solve a cold case that has cast a chill over Hurtwood for decades.
As Ellie works to separate rumor from facts, Rose must fight to clear the name of the man she loves. But how can Rose keep her family safe if she is the last to know the truth?
American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There’s a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family’s crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan’s reclusive mother, and the treacherous hill it sits upon, a place of both sinister folklore and present dangers.
Then there are unwelcoming villagers, who only whisper the name Kynaston—like some dreadful secret, a curse. Everyone knows what happened at Hurtwood House twenty years ago. Everyone except Rose. And now that Dylan is back, so are rumors about his past.
When an archaeological dig unearths human remains on the hill, local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan vows to solve a cold case that has cast a chill over Hurtwood for decades.
As Ellie works to separate rumor from facts, Rose must fight to clear the name of the man she loves. But how can Rose keep her family safe if she is the last to know the truth?
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2020
600 people are currently reading
4512 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
September 26, 2020
EXCERPT: It is a well known fact that a squire built a great house on land as had been cursed.
A prosperous well sat upon this land, which gave water to the village - until the squire put a stop to it. Some say he let the peasants come but charged them a ha'penny for what the Lord gives freely. Either way, his avarice pleased the devil, who rewarded the squire with more water, enough to sate all his appetites.
And the prosperous well overflowed.
And the river burst her banks.
And the squire was washed down to serve his grim master.
It is said that e'er the Grim's Holm floods, the devil thirsts for a new servant.
Torn out page, pasted into Gwendoline Kynaston's journal.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There’s a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family’s crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan’s reclusive mother, and the treacherous hill it sits upon, a place of both sinister folklore and present dangers.
Then there are unwelcoming villagers, who only whisper the name Kynaston—like some dreadful secret, a curse. Everyone knows what happened at Hurtwood House twenty years ago. Everyone except Rose. And now that Dylan is back, so are rumors about his past.
When an archaeological dig unearths human remains on the hill, local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan vows to solve a cold case that has cast a chill over Hurtwood for decades.
As Ellie works to separate rumor from facts, Rose must fight to clear the name of the man she loves. But how can Rose keep her family safe if she is the last to know the truth?
MY THOUGHTS: Loved this atmospheric and slightly creepy story. Loved this so much that I read it overnight. And now I want to read everything else that this author has written.
What is not to like? There is a crumbling old house, an elderly woman who may or may not have dementia, unsolved mysteries, deaths and disappearances from the past, rumours, secrets and lies.
Coming home is meant to feel good, safe, comforting. But for Dylan Kynaston (Nasty Boy), it means returning to an ancient home with a dubious past, inhabited by his mother who may be senile and who has been living like a hermit since her husband, now deceased (it is said he died of shame), was implicated in the death of a boy in his care who had been abused. His arrival, with wife Rose and son Aled, coincides with the return of an old love interest Meredith ('strange how they both gravitated back to Hurtwood. Like nails drawn to a magnet.'), and the flooding of the Grim Holm for the first time in twenty years. The forces of evil are gathering. Or is it just that it is time for the truth to be exposed? Along with a few more bodies.
Furniss's characters are extraordinarily well defined. None of them are over the top, all are relatable and realistic. Her narrative flows easily, and the descriptions of the Shropshire countryside is superb. I have never been there, living on the other side of the world, but I could see it all.
There's an inherent creepiness that seeps through her writing, more implied than overt, which is just the way I like it. Furniss makes great use of local legend Mistress Payne, whose ghost must be welcomed into your house if you wish to avoid ill fortune. Even the names of places: the Long Drop, site of a presumed suicide, Grim Holm, and Hurtwood certainly don't inspire visions of blue skies and carefree days.
There was nothing I disliked about The Last to Know. It captivated me and held me in thrall from beginning to end.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheLasttoKnow #NetGalley
'People in small towns carry a grudge like a genetic condition. You kick one person in the shins, and half the town limps.'
THE AUTHOR: After spending a decade as a broadcast journalist for the BBC, Jo Furniss gave up the glamour of night shifts to become a freelance writer and serial expatriate. Originally from the United Kingdom, she spent seven years in Singapore and also lived in Switzerland and Cameroon.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last to Know by Jo Furniss for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
A prosperous well sat upon this land, which gave water to the village - until the squire put a stop to it. Some say he let the peasants come but charged them a ha'penny for what the Lord gives freely. Either way, his avarice pleased the devil, who rewarded the squire with more water, enough to sate all his appetites.
And the prosperous well overflowed.
And the river burst her banks.
And the squire was washed down to serve his grim master.
It is said that e'er the Grim's Holm floods, the devil thirsts for a new servant.
Torn out page, pasted into Gwendoline Kynaston's journal.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There’s a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family’s crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan’s reclusive mother, and the treacherous hill it sits upon, a place of both sinister folklore and present dangers.
Then there are unwelcoming villagers, who only whisper the name Kynaston—like some dreadful secret, a curse. Everyone knows what happened at Hurtwood House twenty years ago. Everyone except Rose. And now that Dylan is back, so are rumors about his past.
When an archaeological dig unearths human remains on the hill, local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan vows to solve a cold case that has cast a chill over Hurtwood for decades.
As Ellie works to separate rumor from facts, Rose must fight to clear the name of the man she loves. But how can Rose keep her family safe if she is the last to know the truth?
MY THOUGHTS: Loved this atmospheric and slightly creepy story. Loved this so much that I read it overnight. And now I want to read everything else that this author has written.
What is not to like? There is a crumbling old house, an elderly woman who may or may not have dementia, unsolved mysteries, deaths and disappearances from the past, rumours, secrets and lies.
Coming home is meant to feel good, safe, comforting. But for Dylan Kynaston (Nasty Boy), it means returning to an ancient home with a dubious past, inhabited by his mother who may be senile and who has been living like a hermit since her husband, now deceased (it is said he died of shame), was implicated in the death of a boy in his care who had been abused. His arrival, with wife Rose and son Aled, coincides with the return of an old love interest Meredith ('strange how they both gravitated back to Hurtwood. Like nails drawn to a magnet.'), and the flooding of the Grim Holm for the first time in twenty years. The forces of evil are gathering. Or is it just that it is time for the truth to be exposed? Along with a few more bodies.
Furniss's characters are extraordinarily well defined. None of them are over the top, all are relatable and realistic. Her narrative flows easily, and the descriptions of the Shropshire countryside is superb. I have never been there, living on the other side of the world, but I could see it all.
There's an inherent creepiness that seeps through her writing, more implied than overt, which is just the way I like it. Furniss makes great use of local legend Mistress Payne, whose ghost must be welcomed into your house if you wish to avoid ill fortune. Even the names of places: the Long Drop, site of a presumed suicide, Grim Holm, and Hurtwood certainly don't inspire visions of blue skies and carefree days.
There was nothing I disliked about The Last to Know. It captivated me and held me in thrall from beginning to end.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheLasttoKnow #NetGalley
'People in small towns carry a grudge like a genetic condition. You kick one person in the shins, and half the town limps.'
THE AUTHOR: After spending a decade as a broadcast journalist for the BBC, Jo Furniss gave up the glamour of night shifts to become a freelance writer and serial expatriate. Originally from the United Kingdom, she spent seven years in Singapore and also lived in Switzerland and Cameroon.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last to Know by Jo Furniss for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 1, 2020
Rose and Dylan Kynaston both work in television production and they meet on location in Africa. They return to Dylan’s childhood home, Hurtwood House in Shropshire with their young son Aled. It soon becomes clear that Dylan’s mother Gwendoline is suffering from dementia as her behaviour is strange from their arrival. The Kynaston family are very unpopular in the town of Hurtwood and when Dylan returns the rumour mill starts again. Following an archeological dig close to their property which uncovers human remains the past and present collide for the Kynaston family. The story is told by Rose and Sgt Ellie Trevelyan who assists the investigation.
The first part of the book I find to be disjointed and confusing as several competing storylines makes it much more complicated than it needs to be. Rose hints at events that happen in Africa which I feel do not need inclusion as it doesn’t really lead anywhere especially as the interesting part of the novel is the events in and around Hurtwood.. Once the book gets into its stride and and the focus is on Hurtwood House and the town past and present it’s really good. The premise and plot surrounds the past catching up with you and the secrets, lies and cover ups surfacing. There’s a creepy, ghostly element at the house and the legend of Mistress Payne which gives the story a Gothic feel which is well depicted. There are enjoyable sections that are gripping and mysterious. The characters of Ellie and Jim Trevelyan and Gwendoline and Rose Trevelyan are particularly good. Both Jim and Gwendoline have dementia and I like how the author conveys this and makes them an integral part of the storytelling as they both try to convey their observations which adds another dimension of intrigue. Once the secrets unravel everything they say makes sense it’s just a matter of correctly interpreting. There are some very good descriptions which enables scenes and the area to come alive.
Although I can see the ending is exciting it never ceases to amaze me that fictional characters have time to talk as events such as fire rage around them - exciting maybe, plausible no. There are other aspects of the ending that I’m less keen on too as certain things are not well hidden and could have revealed the truth much earlier.
Overall, despite reservations it’s mostly enjoyable. I really like how the past weaves with the present and a lot of the book is gripping but not all sections entirely work for me.
3-4 rounded down.
With thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
The first part of the book I find to be disjointed and confusing as several competing storylines makes it much more complicated than it needs to be. Rose hints at events that happen in Africa which I feel do not need inclusion as it doesn’t really lead anywhere especially as the interesting part of the novel is the events in and around Hurtwood.. Once the book gets into its stride and and the focus is on Hurtwood House and the town past and present it’s really good. The premise and plot surrounds the past catching up with you and the secrets, lies and cover ups surfacing. There’s a creepy, ghostly element at the house and the legend of Mistress Payne which gives the story a Gothic feel which is well depicted. There are enjoyable sections that are gripping and mysterious. The characters of Ellie and Jim Trevelyan and Gwendoline and Rose Trevelyan are particularly good. Both Jim and Gwendoline have dementia and I like how the author conveys this and makes them an integral part of the storytelling as they both try to convey their observations which adds another dimension of intrigue. Once the secrets unravel everything they say makes sense it’s just a matter of correctly interpreting. There are some very good descriptions which enables scenes and the area to come alive.
Although I can see the ending is exciting it never ceases to amaze me that fictional characters have time to talk as events such as fire rage around them - exciting maybe, plausible no. There are other aspects of the ending that I’m less keen on too as certain things are not well hidden and could have revealed the truth much earlier.
Overall, despite reservations it’s mostly enjoyable. I really like how the past weaves with the present and a lot of the book is gripping but not all sections entirely work for me.
3-4 rounded down.
With thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
July 1, 2020
I actually really enjoyed the book overall but I did have a couple of gripes with it. Dylan and Rose Kynaston and their 5 year old son, Aled, travel from Nigeria, where they have been working for some years as journalists, to Hurtwood in Shropshire, England. They arrive at the family pile, Hurtwood House on Grim’s Holm on a dark and stormy night only to be brusquely turned away by Gwendoline Kynaston (Dylan’s mother) and sent to stay in the cottage on the extensive grounds. If the author was going for a gothic vibe, the opening and much of the rest of the book certainly gave a somewhat gothic air.
Rose finds out quickly that the Kynaston name is hated in the area, ever since young Kenny Bale died falling off a cliff there. Stanley Kynaston was a soccer coach and talent scout and was training Kenny for big things. The death was ruled accidental but information uncovered during the investigation indicated that Kenny was being sexually abused and everyone thought that Stanley was the culprit although Kenny never named the guilty party. Stanley died shortly after the boy so pretty much case closed. But the townspeople have long memories.
As the story progresses Rose, being a journalist and all, tries to find out what really happened to the boy. By then too, it becomes apparent that everyone in this story has secrets they are still trying to hide, including Rose. Things heat up when, during an archaeological dig on the property, the skeleton of another young boy is unearthed. Gwendoline, too, has secrets but is suffering from early stage dementia so it hard to know what to believe.
I did enjoy this but there was a whole side plot about what happened in Mogadishu, where Rose and Dylan first met, that added nothing to the story. In fact I think it diminished the whole story somewhat. There is also a former boyfriend of Rose’s who pops up but contributes nothing to the plot. I didn’t think it was very creepy but I never do and others may find it more so. I did, however, think there was a sense of unease throughout which worked well. The ending was quite tense. There were still a couple of things I would have preferred to be clarified but overall a very good story which would have rated higher without the distracting plot elements. Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Jo Furniss for providing this copy for review.
Rose finds out quickly that the Kynaston name is hated in the area, ever since young Kenny Bale died falling off a cliff there. Stanley Kynaston was a soccer coach and talent scout and was training Kenny for big things. The death was ruled accidental but information uncovered during the investigation indicated that Kenny was being sexually abused and everyone thought that Stanley was the culprit although Kenny never named the guilty party. Stanley died shortly after the boy so pretty much case closed. But the townspeople have long memories.
As the story progresses Rose, being a journalist and all, tries to find out what really happened to the boy. By then too, it becomes apparent that everyone in this story has secrets they are still trying to hide, including Rose. Things heat up when, during an archaeological dig on the property, the skeleton of another young boy is unearthed. Gwendoline, too, has secrets but is suffering from early stage dementia so it hard to know what to believe.
I did enjoy this but there was a whole side plot about what happened in Mogadishu, where Rose and Dylan first met, that added nothing to the story. In fact I think it diminished the whole story somewhat. There is also a former boyfriend of Rose’s who pops up but contributes nothing to the plot. I didn’t think it was very creepy but I never do and others may find it more so. I did, however, think there was a sense of unease throughout which worked well. The ending was quite tense. There were still a couple of things I would have preferred to be clarified but overall a very good story which would have rated higher without the distracting plot elements. Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Jo Furniss for providing this copy for review.
April 13, 2021
The Last to Know by Jo Furniss is a psychological suspense novel revolving around folklore and unsolved murders. The premise is interesting and the ending is satisfactory, but the execution not as much.
The protagonist is an American journalist relocating to her husband's hometown in rural England and his centuries-old mansion. They share a past while covering a story in Africa, which is referred to time-and-again throughout the story. To me, the part about Mogadishu seemed like diving into irrelevant details given that the plot revolves around the old house and its inhabitants.
The story begins at a slow pace, but picks up speed after the body is discovered during an excavation that is broadcasted on live television.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
The protagonist is an American journalist relocating to her husband's hometown in rural England and his centuries-old mansion. They share a past while covering a story in Africa, which is referred to time-and-again throughout the story. To me, the part about Mogadishu seemed like diving into irrelevant details given that the plot revolves around the old house and its inhabitants.
The story begins at a slow pace, but picks up speed after the body is discovered during an excavation that is broadcasted on live television.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
August 9, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There's a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family's crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan's reclusive mother and the treacherous hill it sits upon. Then there's the unwelcoming villagers who only whisper the name Kynaston - like some kind of dreadful secret, a curse.
The story is narrated by Rose and the senior Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan who wants to get to the bottom of the case that still haunts her. Years ago a young football player fell off a cliff and died. Now, bones have been unearthed belonging to someone else. There's lots of twists and I did not expect the ending. The first half of the book the pace is slow but it does pick up in the second half. We learn everything we needed to know about the characters as the book is descriptivley written. It could be a bit confusing at times. This is an enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Jo Furniss for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There's a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family's crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan's reclusive mother and the treacherous hill it sits upon. Then there's the unwelcoming villagers who only whisper the name Kynaston - like some kind of dreadful secret, a curse.
The story is narrated by Rose and the senior Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan who wants to get to the bottom of the case that still haunts her. Years ago a young football player fell off a cliff and died. Now, bones have been unearthed belonging to someone else. There's lots of twists and I did not expect the ending. The first half of the book the pace is slow but it does pick up in the second half. We learn everything we needed to know about the characters as the book is descriptivley written. It could be a bit confusing at times. This is an enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Jo Furniss for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2020
The Last to Know by Jo Furniss had everything I was looking for in a book right now; it was creepy, atmospheric, and super suspenseful which included a bit of the supernatural kind. I loved that it had alternating viewpoints between police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan and Rose, and that plus the short chapters helped the book speed by. It's definitely a slow burn and I read it a bit slower than other books, but I loved every minute of it. I absolutely adore the cover of the book and I think it goes so well with the plot that it's worth pointing out.
I could tell that Furniss has had a career in journalism because it really shines through in the novel. I really enjoyed the mix of police procedural and a journalist's POV (Rose), especially when the human remains are found, and the mystery really begins. I didn't remember the synopsis prior to diving in, and The Last to Know is a great book to go into knowing very little. There is such an eerie vibe to this book, and I loved that so much.
I thought the ending was shocking, although I did have a couple of suspicions that ended up panning out. These suspicions turned into what I expected plus more that I hadn't figured out, which was great since it's always kind of a bummer to guess twists. This was my first read from Furniss, but it will certainly not be my last. I loved the creepiness and how well thought out the plot was, plus the fact that it kept me glued to the pages despite the slow burn. I highly recommend checking out The Last to Know if you are in the mood for a super dark, atmospheric mystery!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advance review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I could tell that Furniss has had a career in journalism because it really shines through in the novel. I really enjoyed the mix of police procedural and a journalist's POV (Rose), especially when the human remains are found, and the mystery really begins. I didn't remember the synopsis prior to diving in, and The Last to Know is a great book to go into knowing very little. There is such an eerie vibe to this book, and I loved that so much.
I thought the ending was shocking, although I did have a couple of suspicions that ended up panning out. These suspicions turned into what I expected plus more that I hadn't figured out, which was great since it's always kind of a bummer to guess twists. This was my first read from Furniss, but it will certainly not be my last. I loved the creepiness and how well thought out the plot was, plus the fact that it kept me glued to the pages despite the slow burn. I highly recommend checking out The Last to Know if you are in the mood for a super dark, atmospheric mystery!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advance review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
June 12, 2020
Thank You to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC!!
American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. Rose does her best to get accustomed to this new home and lifestyle in Hurtwood.
To make life more difficult, she witnesses the hostility of the villagers toward her husband's family, even their name, Kynaston, draws whispers and glares. like some dreadful secret, a curse. Everyone knows what happened at Hurtwood House twenty years ago except Rose.
When an archaeological dig unearths human remains on the hill, local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan vows to solve a cold case that has cast a chill over Hurtwood for decades.
Rose decides to fight to clear the name of the man she loves, but she cant do that if she is the last to know the truth?
This book is written from the viewpoints of. Rose and Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan, which are two well developed characters. Initially it took me a while to get into the book.but as the book progressed it got more interesting.
It had all the settings of a mystery, the twists were good and the ending was something which I didn't guess. So overall a good book which was enjoyable but not an edge of the seat thriller! But I do think that the title of the book was spot on!!
American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. Rose does her best to get accustomed to this new home and lifestyle in Hurtwood.
To make life more difficult, she witnesses the hostility of the villagers toward her husband's family, even their name, Kynaston, draws whispers and glares. like some dreadful secret, a curse. Everyone knows what happened at Hurtwood House twenty years ago except Rose.
When an archaeological dig unearths human remains on the hill, local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan vows to solve a cold case that has cast a chill over Hurtwood for decades.
Rose decides to fight to clear the name of the man she loves, but she cant do that if she is the last to know the truth?
This book is written from the viewpoints of. Rose and Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan, which are two well developed characters. Initially it took me a while to get into the book.but as the book progressed it got more interesting.
It had all the settings of a mystery, the twists were good and the ending was something which I didn't guess. So overall a good book which was enjoyable but not an edge of the seat thriller! But I do think that the title of the book was spot on!!
Want to read
August 9, 20203.5 stars rounded up to 4
American journalist, Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There's a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family's crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan's reclusive mother, and the treacherous hill it sits upon. Then there's the unwelcoming villagers who only whisper the name Kynaston - like some kind of dreadful secret, a curse.
The story is narrated by Rose and the senior Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan who wants to get to the bottom of the case that still haunts her. Years ago a young football player fell off a cliff and died. Now, bones have been unearthed belonging to someone else. There's lots of twists and I did not expect the ending. The first half of the book the pace is slow but it picks up in the second half. We learn everything we needed to know about the characters as the book is descriptivley written. It could be a bit confusing at times. This is an enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Jo Furniss for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
American journalist, Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There's a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family's crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan's reclusive mother, and the treacherous hill it sits upon. Then there's the unwelcoming villagers who only whisper the name Kynaston - like some kind of dreadful secret, a curse.
The story is narrated by Rose and the senior Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan who wants to get to the bottom of the case that still haunts her. Years ago a young football player fell off a cliff and died. Now, bones have been unearthed belonging to someone else. There's lots of twists and I did not expect the ending. The first half of the book the pace is slow but it picks up in the second half. We learn everything we needed to know about the characters as the book is descriptivley written. It could be a bit confusing at times. This is an enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Jo Furniss for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2022
What a shame... thought I would enjoy this.
The storyline, for me, was slow and dreary. Making this very put down able! Couldn't picture the scenes at all.
The writing and plot was easy enough to understand.
The storyline, for me, was slow and dreary. Making this very put down able! Couldn't picture the scenes at all.
The writing and plot was easy enough to understand.
August 21, 2020
“Behind closed doors –
even doors surrounded by roses –
all sorts of things could happen.”
Rose Kynaston – a journalist who has survived imprisonment in Somalia and worse, has now moved to the Shropshire village where her husband Dylan grew up. She feels that finally they have a safe place in which to bring up their young son, Aled.
Little does she know that Hurtwood (an aptly named village) hold decades old family secrets that will threaten her family’s reputation, safety, and even their very lives…
“When the mighty fall, everyone jumps on their back and feels a little taller.”
Ellie Trevelyan – in her fifties, Ellie is a twenty-five year veteran of her local police in a Shropshire village. With the police office under threat of closure, Ellie feels her enforced retirement looming. Single, Ellie cares for her father when not working. A retired police detective, he now suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
“The human capacity to keep secrets is limited only
by the size of the available hiding place.”
MY THOUGHTS
An engaging plot and likeable characters made “The Last to Know” an enjoyable and intriguing mystery novel.
The atmospheric setting, a manor house sitting atop Grim’s Holm (translates as Devil’s Island), an iron age hill fort and leper colony, engendered a creepy vibe that added panache to the already alluring mystery plot.
Three cold cases converge and all have links to Hurtwood House and the Kynaston family. The author skillfully tied the three cold cases together in an entertaining and believable way. The steady pace of the novel kept me avidly turning pages, though in my opinion the author relied rather heavily on the use of similes which pervaded the novel throughout.
All in all, an absorbing and atmospheric mystery novel which I can heartily recommend.
even doors surrounded by roses –
all sorts of things could happen.”
Rose Kynaston – a journalist who has survived imprisonment in Somalia and worse, has now moved to the Shropshire village where her husband Dylan grew up. She feels that finally they have a safe place in which to bring up their young son, Aled.
Little does she know that Hurtwood (an aptly named village) hold decades old family secrets that will threaten her family’s reputation, safety, and even their very lives…
“When the mighty fall, everyone jumps on their back and feels a little taller.”
Ellie Trevelyan – in her fifties, Ellie is a twenty-five year veteran of her local police in a Shropshire village. With the police office under threat of closure, Ellie feels her enforced retirement looming. Single, Ellie cares for her father when not working. A retired police detective, he now suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
“The human capacity to keep secrets is limited only
by the size of the available hiding place.”
MY THOUGHTS
An engaging plot and likeable characters made “The Last to Know” an enjoyable and intriguing mystery novel.
The atmospheric setting, a manor house sitting atop Grim’s Holm (translates as Devil’s Island), an iron age hill fort and leper colony, engendered a creepy vibe that added panache to the already alluring mystery plot.
Three cold cases converge and all have links to Hurtwood House and the Kynaston family. The author skillfully tied the three cold cases together in an entertaining and believable way. The steady pace of the novel kept me avidly turning pages, though in my opinion the author relied rather heavily on the use of similes which pervaded the novel throughout.
All in all, an absorbing and atmospheric mystery novel which I can heartily recommend.
October 12, 2020
Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Last To Know
By: Jo Furniss
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
Dylan and Rose Kynaston make a big life change, moving from Nigeria to Shropshire and Hurtwood House. Dylan grew up in this place, and it's immediately clear to Rose that he and his family have a jaded and controversial past and history with Hurtwood and its townspeople. The name Kynaston is spoken with fear and reverie. Whatever it is, Rose is "The Last To Know."
Before long, an archeological dig near the house unearths human remains. Sgt. Ellie Trevelyan gets involved working it as a cold case. Something tragic happened here twenty years ago, and Rose is determined to find out what happened. There are secrets and lies at every turn with some great unexpected twists. Rose is a sympathetic character because she uprooted her life just to end up in this weird frustrating situation.
The Last To Know is an intriguing mystery. Jo Furniss creates an eerie tableaux of creepiness and strangeness. All of this adds up to an atmospheric vibe that totally works. The story, narrated alternately by Rose and Ellie, is slow going at first, but it does pick up later. The second half outshone the first, and the ending was satisfying. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it for a good mystery read.
The Last To Know
By: Jo Furniss
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
Dylan and Rose Kynaston make a big life change, moving from Nigeria to Shropshire and Hurtwood House. Dylan grew up in this place, and it's immediately clear to Rose that he and his family have a jaded and controversial past and history with Hurtwood and its townspeople. The name Kynaston is spoken with fear and reverie. Whatever it is, Rose is "The Last To Know."
Before long, an archeological dig near the house unearths human remains. Sgt. Ellie Trevelyan gets involved working it as a cold case. Something tragic happened here twenty years ago, and Rose is determined to find out what happened. There are secrets and lies at every turn with some great unexpected twists. Rose is a sympathetic character because she uprooted her life just to end up in this weird frustrating situation.
The Last To Know is an intriguing mystery. Jo Furniss creates an eerie tableaux of creepiness and strangeness. All of this adds up to an atmospheric vibe that totally works. The story, narrated alternately by Rose and Ellie, is slow going at first, but it does pick up later. The second half outshone the first, and the ending was satisfying. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it for a good mystery read.
November 8, 2021
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing, Netgalley and the author, Jo Furniss. I loved this story. The Shropshires, the history and the downright oddness of some people was exactly what I wanted! I was hesitant to request this book from Netgalley. I have read one other book from this author and..? I'm happy to say that Ms. Furniss has hit her groove! Rock on, woman! This book was like butter! Smooth, and kinda slick. I was surprised by how quickly the end came. For me?There wasn't one.single bit of wasted time. Now I'm definitely interested in the next story from this woman.
June 16, 2024
Lies, deception, murder all in the midst of a Shropshire Winter.
A good mystery set in my home county, where the Country Houses are sacred, and the locals have long memories!
Parts of the book seemed a little pointless, and the reader ends up following the threads of quite a few stories, but they all tie up nicely together at the end.
A good mystery set in my home county, where the Country Houses are sacred, and the locals have long memories!
Parts of the book seemed a little pointless, and the reader ends up following the threads of quite a few stories, but they all tie up nicely together at the end.
August 18, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an ARC!
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I requested this ARC because of the mention of Hurtwood House in the synopsis: I'm always in for a good "haunted" house, be it haunted by ghosts or by hidden secrets!
And I was right! The house aspect of the book was really good! I loved the opposition between Hurtwood House, old and genuine, and Low Farm, renovated and called an horror because of a glass extension - I couldn't portray it in my mind, I don't know why!
More than the house, Shropshire helped create an ambiance for this novel: when it poured, I felt it while reading!
The Last to Know was quite original in its narration: there are two points of view and two different ways to narrate. One point of view is Rose's, a reporter who followed her husband in Shiropshire to live in his childhood home; it's a first-person narrative. The other is Ellie's, a police officer who was in charge of a case nobody could solve twenty years ago; it's a third-person narrative, but it's still internal. The reader has more chapters with Rose than with Ellie, but the imbalance is understandable: Rose is part of the family involved in Ellie's investigation. She is discovering the secrets of her in-laws, investigating in secret and wanting to exonerate her husband from a crime she's sure he didn't commit. Meanwhile, Ellie - Eleanor - is thinking of this cold case: it's still haunting her and she grieves the fact that she'll never be able to solve it.
I loved the fact that the reader gets to be in the head of a reporter: how Rose thinks, how she sees things, her doubts, her questions, her anger sometimes. But it's not always easy being in Rose's head: she repeats things a lot, and it can be quite annoying sometimes. She even repeats the same sentences chapter to chapter, or uses the same words to describe her husband for instance. It's the only thing that bothered me: it made me feel like the story was stagnating - maybe it was the point, maybe it was a way to show the reader Rose feels stuck and can't go forward?
I was both surprised and not surprised by the ending:
Overall, it was a good atmospheric book! I had both Rebecca and The Haunting of Hill House vibes reading it!
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I requested this ARC because of the mention of Hurtwood House in the synopsis: I'm always in for a good "haunted" house, be it haunted by ghosts or by hidden secrets!
And I was right! The house aspect of the book was really good! I loved the opposition between Hurtwood House, old and genuine, and Low Farm, renovated and called an horror because of a glass extension - I couldn't portray it in my mind, I don't know why!
More than the house, Shropshire helped create an ambiance for this novel: when it poured, I felt it while reading!
The Last to Know was quite original in its narration: there are two points of view and two different ways to narrate. One point of view is Rose's, a reporter who followed her husband in Shiropshire to live in his childhood home; it's a first-person narrative. The other is Ellie's, a police officer who was in charge of a case nobody could solve twenty years ago; it's a third-person narrative, but it's still internal. The reader has more chapters with Rose than with Ellie, but the imbalance is understandable: Rose is part of the family involved in Ellie's investigation. She is discovering the secrets of her in-laws, investigating in secret and wanting to exonerate her husband from a crime she's sure he didn't commit. Meanwhile, Ellie - Eleanor - is thinking of this cold case: it's still haunting her and she grieves the fact that she'll never be able to solve it.
I loved the fact that the reader gets to be in the head of a reporter: how Rose thinks, how she sees things, her doubts, her questions, her anger sometimes. But it's not always easy being in Rose's head: she repeats things a lot, and it can be quite annoying sometimes. She even repeats the same sentences chapter to chapter, or uses the same words to describe her husband for instance. It's the only thing that bothered me: it made me feel like the story was stagnating - maybe it was the point, maybe it was a way to show the reader Rose feels stuck and can't go forward?
I was both surprised and not surprised by the ending:
Overall, it was a good atmospheric book! I had both Rebecca and The Haunting of Hill House vibes reading it!
August 28, 2020
Life takes a creepy turn for Rose, when she relocates to her husband Dylan's family home. An old deteriorating mansion. His reclusive mother and the talk of things that happened twenty years ago that Rose knows nothing about. This was a twisty thriller with gothic elements, legends and ghosts. I loved the eeriness and it kept me guessing.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
August 15, 2020
This was a slow burn, so if you like fast paced thrillers you should be aware. It was a very enjoyable slow burn for me as Rose Kynaston has just moved back to her husband Dylan’s childhood home in the English village of Hurtwood (that name tho) and Rose slowly starts to realize things are not quite as they seem. For one, this house on a hill appears to be haunted, Dylan’s mother probably has dementia and of course he is in denial, and something happened at the house 20 years ago that she knows nothing about but everyone in town cannot stop talking about as they, specifically Dylan, are back. Oh and I forgot to mention there is an archeological dig on the hill and human remains are found….
This goes back and forth between Rose and Ellie, the police sergeant trying to solve the case that has been cold for decades and gets new life once the remains are found, and both women are trying to piece together what happened all those years ago. As I said, I really enjoyed this one, and as Rose / Ellie began to each figure things out on their own I could not put this down. I loved the ending, the overall creepy atmosphere and also the haunted house element that was added in. I definitely recommend this one!
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours for the gifted book to review.
This goes back and forth between Rose and Ellie, the police sergeant trying to solve the case that has been cold for decades and gets new life once the remains are found, and both women are trying to piece together what happened all those years ago. As I said, I really enjoyed this one, and as Rose / Ellie began to each figure things out on their own I could not put this down. I loved the ending, the overall creepy atmosphere and also the haunted house element that was added in. I definitely recommend this one!
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours for the gifted book to review.
August 13, 2020
‘Shame is the seed of many a secret’. Beautifully eerie and filled with suspense, I loved this book. It throws you straight into the action and then pulls back, sprinkling clues throughout as it returns to 1 month earlier. The feeling of foreboding is amplified using the descriptions of the isolated house and sinister folklore surrounding the grounds. The numerous secrets in the town, past and present, feel like a poison in the family and I loved seeing Rose attempt to find the truth. As a character, Rose is brilliant – headstrong and kind. You find yourself rooting for her to find the home that she is searching for. The Shropshire scenery is beautifully described and I look forward to reading Jo Furniss’ other novels! (Especially All the Little Children - it looks amazing)
Thank you to @jofurnissauthor & @annecater14 at Random Things Tours for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to @jofurnissauthor & @annecater14 at Random Things Tours for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2020
"People in small towns," Dylan shifted the rug to the other shoulder, "carry a grudge like a genetic condition. You kick one person in the shin, and half the town limps."
This was an interesting story about family, love and home - about leaving as a young man and coming back home a man with a wife and family. It's about long held secrets and mistakes made in your youth. It's a good mystery, one that I didn't guess the elements or moving parts until I was almost at the end. The author did a good job of flushing out characters and a town and its gossip, assumptions and long held secrets. I enjoyed it.
This was an interesting story about family, love and home - about leaving as a young man and coming back home a man with a wife and family. It's about long held secrets and mistakes made in your youth. It's a good mystery, one that I didn't guess the elements or moving parts until I was almost at the end. The author did a good job of flushing out characters and a town and its gossip, assumptions and long held secrets. I enjoyed it.
September 17, 2020
It took me two tries to really get involved with this book. I think it had to do with my timing rather than the story. I mention it, though, in case someone else also has a hard time at first. I want to encourage them to put it aside and try it a second time because the book is worth it.
It works as a gothic book for me, (might be why fall was a better time to read it). I enjoyed the creepy, dark atmosphere of the setting. I felt for Gwendoline right away. I think it’s because my mom has Alzheimer’s so I could connect with her, (also with Ellie’s dad). It has a second story that I am on the fence about whether or not it was truly necessary. That is the whole Mogadishu plot. I guess it works as something to look at when analyzing Rose and Dylan. I kept wishing that it either went somewhere with more detail or it played less of a role. For creepy story, though, it works. So many secrets! Everyone had them and they kept me guessing. By the time I reached the ending I was loving it. I would put this on the list for gothic reading.
Edited to add: I won a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. No review was required. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions are my honest feelings after reading it.
It works as a gothic book for me, (might be why fall was a better time to read it). I enjoyed the creepy, dark atmosphere of the setting. I felt for Gwendoline right away. I think it’s because my mom has Alzheimer’s so I could connect with her, (also with Ellie’s dad). It has a second story that I am on the fence about whether or not it was truly necessary. That is the whole Mogadishu plot. I guess it works as something to look at when analyzing Rose and Dylan. I kept wishing that it either went somewhere with more detail or it played less of a role. For creepy story, though, it works. So many secrets! Everyone had them and they kept me guessing. By the time I reached the ending I was loving it. I would put this on the list for gothic reading.
Edited to add: I won a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. No review was required. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions are my honest feelings after reading it.
September 17, 2020
This was my first read of this author, and I really enjoyed the book. It was told in first person point of view by Rose Kynaston, a MC and American journalist, as well as in third person. It took me a minute to get used to that but once I did, it was all good.
Rose and her husband Dylan go back to his home in England, to the Hurtwood House. Immediately the reader begins to question what is going on. The house presents some questionable occurrences, and Dylan's mother Gwendoline is shadowed by a lot of mystery and eerie behavior. Add to this a little six year old boy, Aled, and the reader is likely to become concerned for his well-being.
I was invested in all of the characters, including Aled who really added a lot to my hunger to discover the truth about all the secrets, because this book has secrets, cold cases, old flames, and a return to a home that may or may not have been a good idea. There is even an archaeological dig that digs us "Indian Bones" adding more mystery to the secrets of the past.
I want to thank NetGalley, Jo Furniss, and Lake Union Publishing for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are mine.
Rose and her husband Dylan go back to his home in England, to the Hurtwood House. Immediately the reader begins to question what is going on. The house presents some questionable occurrences, and Dylan's mother Gwendoline is shadowed by a lot of mystery and eerie behavior. Add to this a little six year old boy, Aled, and the reader is likely to become concerned for his well-being.
I was invested in all of the characters, including Aled who really added a lot to my hunger to discover the truth about all the secrets, because this book has secrets, cold cases, old flames, and a return to a home that may or may not have been a good idea. There is even an archaeological dig that digs us "Indian Bones" adding more mystery to the secrets of the past.
I want to thank NetGalley, Jo Furniss, and Lake Union Publishing for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are mine.
May 4, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.
Wonderful book! I loved Ms. Furniss' The Trailing Spouse' and with The Last To Know she has become one of my new favorite authors. It was fun to find out she thanked Imogen Clark, another one of my favorite authors, for reading the first draft.
Rose, Dylan and their little son have moved to England to Dylan's old home where his mother still lives, practically a recluse. They spent several years as journalists in Africa and Rose is finding it difficult to adjust. We also meet police sergeant
Ellie who not only is an excellent officer, but also looks after her father who suffers from dementia.
The unwelcome past comes up explaining why Dylan and his family are not at all liked by the locals.
This book had me spellbound, I absolutely loved everything about it. Well written with a stunning ending I highly recommend it...can't wait to see what Ms. Furnish comes up with next!
Wonderful book! I loved Ms. Furniss' The Trailing Spouse' and with The Last To Know she has become one of my new favorite authors. It was fun to find out she thanked Imogen Clark, another one of my favorite authors, for reading the first draft.
Rose, Dylan and their little son have moved to England to Dylan's old home where his mother still lives, practically a recluse. They spent several years as journalists in Africa and Rose is finding it difficult to adjust. We also meet police sergeant
Ellie who not only is an excellent officer, but also looks after her father who suffers from dementia.
The unwelcome past comes up explaining why Dylan and his family are not at all liked by the locals.
This book had me spellbound, I absolutely loved everything about it. Well written with a stunning ending I highly recommend it...can't wait to see what Ms. Furnish comes up with next!
July 25, 2020
Rose moves with her son and her husband to his childhood home in England. What Rose doesn’t know is that her husband’s family is associated with one of the biggest scandals the village has ever had. Then bodies are discovered on the property and Rose has to find out what happened all those years ago. I thought this was a very interesting and suspenseful mystery. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 13, 2020
American Rose Kynaston is a video journalist married to fellow journalist Dylan and agrees to move from war-torn Africa to the quiet peace of rural town England, where Dylan is originally from. He comes from a well to do family that has a crumbling country pile and a legacy to carry on the house. But his mother Gwendoline has become secretive and doesn’t want to share the same home as them when they move to England, so they are sent to live in a small cottage on the estate, trying to create a life for themselves that best serves the needs of their five-year-old son Aled. But there is a cloud that hangs over the Kynaston family that infects every part of their lives, although Dylan seems hell-bent on denying its truth. Something about Dylan deceased father Stanley and allegations of paedophilia made against him. Gwendoline seems to be in a fog of her own, sticking desperately to a time table of her own making, remembering people and conversations that may or may not have occurred, making her an unreliable baby sitter and causing no end of stress for Rose as she tries to start her own career in a new country with very little apparent support from her husband, who appears to have reverted to a country gentleman mindset and wants her to stay home and look after Aled, which is totally out of character with who he was when they both worked in Africa. There are townsfolk of Hurtwood who seem determined to hold the members of the Kynaston family accountable for the unexplained death of a young child, although there was never any proof as to the allegations. An archaeological dig uncovers the bones of another person and the whole mystery of Dylan’s past fires up again, with Rose desperate to clear her husband's good name and clear the curse that hangs over the Kynaston family. But how is she to do so when the unspoken activities of twenty years ago haunt the present and Rose is the last to know the truth? And will Roses own troubled past create more issues for the young couple to deal with? Committed to unravelling this mystery before her career as a policewoman are unexpectedly curbed, the other main character, Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan follows threads that have hung tenuously for years to explain the truth, as she deals with the grief that living death of her father with dementia creates. But the truth might be more than anyone could have imagined.
At its heart, this novel is a mystery being sold as a general or women’s faction label, although it is capable of crossing the gender barrier easily. It explores how unexplained rumours and accusations can carry on through time and effect the lives of those to come. It looks at the effects of Alzheimer’s or dementia on two characters and the ripples it causes in the lives around the victims of this brutal disease. It explores the unspoken expectations between men and women, and the sexual politics that still play a part in our society even today. The needs of and the rights of children are shown for then delicate gossamer fabric that it truly is.
The characters are well-drawn, and one cannot help but like both women central to the story. The manner in which the townsfolk are woven into the story feels true to life as if the issues and prejudices they carry with them are vital and current and the minor players of the Kynaston family – Gwendoline and Dylan are vibrant and beautifully portrayed. There is no time when the ultimate truth is exposed or foreshadowed in such a manner as to destroy the enjoyment of the book. There is a poetic quality to Furniss’ writing, with the descriptions of everyday items and behaviours written in a flowery manner that is just delightful.
An enjoyable read.
At its heart, this novel is a mystery being sold as a general or women’s faction label, although it is capable of crossing the gender barrier easily. It explores how unexplained rumours and accusations can carry on through time and effect the lives of those to come. It looks at the effects of Alzheimer’s or dementia on two characters and the ripples it causes in the lives around the victims of this brutal disease. It explores the unspoken expectations between men and women, and the sexual politics that still play a part in our society even today. The needs of and the rights of children are shown for then delicate gossamer fabric that it truly is.
The characters are well-drawn, and one cannot help but like both women central to the story. The manner in which the townsfolk are woven into the story feels true to life as if the issues and prejudices they carry with them are vital and current and the minor players of the Kynaston family – Gwendoline and Dylan are vibrant and beautifully portrayed. There is no time when the ultimate truth is exposed or foreshadowed in such a manner as to destroy the enjoyment of the book. There is a poetic quality to Furniss’ writing, with the descriptions of everyday items and behaviours written in a flowery manner that is just delightful.
An enjoyable read.
September 6, 2020
Rose Kynastan moves to England with her husband Dylan and their 5 year old son. I liked the idea of the English setting and the creepy old gothic mansion, even if the house is falling apart. There's a creep factor to the house as well as Dylan's mother - she doesn't allow them to stay in the main house, shifting them immediately to an old cottage on the estate. There are clearly secrets surrounding this family.
Rose learns soon enough that Dylan's family is hated by pretty much everyone in the small town. She is a journalist and assumes her maiden name to gain employment with a local newspaper, allowing her the freedom to research without the stigma of the Kynastan name. Rose joins forces with a local police officer, Ellie Trevelyn, to film a typical day in the town for an officer. In following Ellie about she finds out more about her new family and the troubles they had as well as getting involved in the current crimes being investigated.
Overall I didn't feel empathy for Rose or Dylan. I didn't dislike them but it was hard to get behind them as charming or engaging characters. I would read more by this author.
Rose learns soon enough that Dylan's family is hated by pretty much everyone in the small town. She is a journalist and assumes her maiden name to gain employment with a local newspaper, allowing her the freedom to research without the stigma of the Kynastan name. Rose joins forces with a local police officer, Ellie Trevelyn, to film a typical day in the town for an officer. In following Ellie about she finds out more about her new family and the troubles they had as well as getting involved in the current crimes being investigated.
Overall I didn't feel empathy for Rose or Dylan. I didn't dislike them but it was hard to get behind them as charming or engaging characters. I would read more by this author.
November 13, 2020
I'd like to thank my long-time Goodreads friend, Lisa, for making me aware of this book. If Lisa likes a story, I can be sure I'll like it, as well, and I liked this story very much. It was dark and had some great, well-developed characters and mysteries to be solved. My favorite character was Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan. With her career as a policewoman coming to an end, she helps solve a twenty-year-old, unexplained death of a child, while also caring for her father. I found Rose Kynaston to be a strong female character, too. Rose has just moved to a new country, where she wants to start a career with her husband, while dealing with a small child and growing concerns about her mother-in-law’s state of mind. I also liked Ms. Furniss’s writing style. She used no unnecessary words. Furniss employed two different aging parents with dementia in this story and I was glad to see that, because it makes the reader aware of how hard this condition can be, not just on the person suffering from the condition, but also on that person’s family. This book was definitely a page-turner for me. I couldn't put it down.
August 13, 2020
Rose, her husband Dylan and their young son, Aled are moving to Dylan’s childhood home in an English village.
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Rose and Dylan met while they were journalists in Africa and Rose is already finding it hard to be excited about the move.
Then there is Ellie, a local police sergeant, who is investigating the human remains found in an archaeological dig.
Village rumours run riot and the mystery of Dylan’s father’s whereabouts rears its head again too.
The Last To Know is part family drama and part mystery, it also deals with the emotive subject of dementia (a truly horrific and heartbreaking condition), as well as village life and how a rumour can cause terrible damage.
There are well developed characters, a thoughtful and deliberate pace with beautifully descriptive writing. Definitely a book to take your time over and enjoy.
Thank you to Random Things Tours for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of The Last To Know. This is my honest and unbiased review
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Rose and Dylan met while they were journalists in Africa and Rose is already finding it hard to be excited about the move.
Then there is Ellie, a local police sergeant, who is investigating the human remains found in an archaeological dig.
Village rumours run riot and the mystery of Dylan’s father’s whereabouts rears its head again too.
The Last To Know is part family drama and part mystery, it also deals with the emotive subject of dementia (a truly horrific and heartbreaking condition), as well as village life and how a rumour can cause terrible damage.
There are well developed characters, a thoughtful and deliberate pace with beautifully descriptive writing. Definitely a book to take your time over and enjoy.
Thank you to Random Things Tours for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of The Last To Know. This is my honest and unbiased review
June 2, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ecopy of this book via Netgalley.
What a mysterious, gripping tale!
The plot is somewhat slow to unfold but once it does, you won’t be able to put it down!
This is a duel point of view book following Rose and Ellie. Rose relocated from Africa with her husband Dylan to his hometown and the estate of his mother, which while vast, appears to be on its last legs. Mystery surrounds the family and strange happenings occur within the old house. All the while, Rose’s mother in law is seemingly distant and cold.
Ellie is a police sergeant determined to finally solve the mystery of what happened on this property.
This was a fun read I think many will enjoy.
What a mysterious, gripping tale!
The plot is somewhat slow to unfold but once it does, you won’t be able to put it down!
This is a duel point of view book following Rose and Ellie. Rose relocated from Africa with her husband Dylan to his hometown and the estate of his mother, which while vast, appears to be on its last legs. Mystery surrounds the family and strange happenings occur within the old house. All the while, Rose’s mother in law is seemingly distant and cold.
Ellie is a police sergeant determined to finally solve the mystery of what happened on this property.
This was a fun read I think many will enjoy.
September 3, 2022
3/5 ⭐️
It was kinda slow and I didn’t care about the characters or the plot line.
It was kinda slow and I didn’t care about the characters or the plot line.
May 16, 2020
3.5 out of 5 stars!
This is a suspense/mystery that will quickly get you to realize something isn't right. Rose and Dylan Kynaston move from across the globe with their four-year-old son Aled, to Dylan's small hometown of Hurtwood, in Shropshire, England. They want to establish roots for their family.
It's written from two points of view. Rose, an American, and well-traveled video journalist, and Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan, a policewoman and local of Hurtwood.
Why do the town's people dislike the Kynaston family so much? And why is the family estate, called Hurtwood House in such disrepair? And why does Dylan's mother, Gwendoline, still want to live there?
Hurtwood House is more than just a good backdrop for the story. Through town gossip, Rose's curiosity, and Sergeant's Trevelyan's nightmares over an unsolved case, we learn of a 20-year-old trauma that cast a shadow on the small town and tainted the Kynaston family name.
Rose and Sergeant Trevelyan come to meet when Rose is hired by the local paper to do a video piece on the benefits of keeping the police station local rather than moving it to a nearby city. At the same time, Dylan, also in journalism, is offered a job on a new documentary called The Quest, being filmed in Hurtwood. There's an excavation during the show, and they find more than an iron-age coin! Bones, old human remains? But why is there a floppy disc from the 1990s in a zip lock bag beside it? Some serious stuff unfolds.
Thrown in the mix are a secret room from back in the ages, the legacy of Mistress Payne, and a side story about a local nail salon – trust me, it will all come together.
The author did well in planting seeds and taking the reader in different directions. Adding layers - like why do Dylan's conversations with his ex-girlfriend Meredith raise suspicion all of a sudden?
I liked Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan right away. Sardonic from years on the job, relayed through her tenured thoughts. Rose had all the right credentials for a heroine but had to grow on me, which might have more to do with the next paragraph I've written.
The writing was extremely poetic (similes, metaphors), more noticeably around Rose's character, where the story starts. At times, it was too much for me in a current-day suspense novel with cell phones and the internet. It was a distraction from the storytelling. For example, "Each morning, I tugged on a smile for Aled in the same way a depressed person might wear colorful clothes. I could do no more blow off the funk than I could blow away a fog." And, one more. "Rosetta!" Her voice was as reassuring as a Pyrex warming in the oven.
Having said that, the author planned her twists and turns in a way that pushed me to keep reading and not give up on the book. The layering of characters and clues will get your wheels spinning. I was able to get past the poetic writing about halfway through.
You will find the pieces of a good mystery – proper setting, a detective, a journalist in the role of sleuth, and a coming together of the past and present with the trappings of old wounds and hurt feelings. Lots of build-up and tension.
The twisted branches of this story all eventually came together. I read the last few chapters with anticipation.
Thank you to the Author, Jo Furniss, for writing this Book.
Thank you, NetGalley and the Publisher, for making it available.
This is a suspense/mystery that will quickly get you to realize something isn't right. Rose and Dylan Kynaston move from across the globe with their four-year-old son Aled, to Dylan's small hometown of Hurtwood, in Shropshire, England. They want to establish roots for their family.
It's written from two points of view. Rose, an American, and well-traveled video journalist, and Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan, a policewoman and local of Hurtwood.
Why do the town's people dislike the Kynaston family so much? And why is the family estate, called Hurtwood House in such disrepair? And why does Dylan's mother, Gwendoline, still want to live there?
Hurtwood House is more than just a good backdrop for the story. Through town gossip, Rose's curiosity, and Sergeant's Trevelyan's nightmares over an unsolved case, we learn of a 20-year-old trauma that cast a shadow on the small town and tainted the Kynaston family name.
Rose and Sergeant Trevelyan come to meet when Rose is hired by the local paper to do a video piece on the benefits of keeping the police station local rather than moving it to a nearby city. At the same time, Dylan, also in journalism, is offered a job on a new documentary called The Quest, being filmed in Hurtwood. There's an excavation during the show, and they find more than an iron-age coin! Bones, old human remains? But why is there a floppy disc from the 1990s in a zip lock bag beside it? Some serious stuff unfolds.
Thrown in the mix are a secret room from back in the ages, the legacy of Mistress Payne, and a side story about a local nail salon – trust me, it will all come together.
The author did well in planting seeds and taking the reader in different directions. Adding layers - like why do Dylan's conversations with his ex-girlfriend Meredith raise suspicion all of a sudden?
I liked Sergeant Ellie Trevelyan right away. Sardonic from years on the job, relayed through her tenured thoughts. Rose had all the right credentials for a heroine but had to grow on me, which might have more to do with the next paragraph I've written.
The writing was extremely poetic (similes, metaphors), more noticeably around Rose's character, where the story starts. At times, it was too much for me in a current-day suspense novel with cell phones and the internet. It was a distraction from the storytelling. For example, "Each morning, I tugged on a smile for Aled in the same way a depressed person might wear colorful clothes. I could do no more blow off the funk than I could blow away a fog." And, one more. "Rosetta!" Her voice was as reassuring as a Pyrex warming in the oven.
Having said that, the author planned her twists and turns in a way that pushed me to keep reading and not give up on the book. The layering of characters and clues will get your wheels spinning. I was able to get past the poetic writing about halfway through.
You will find the pieces of a good mystery – proper setting, a detective, a journalist in the role of sleuth, and a coming together of the past and present with the trappings of old wounds and hurt feelings. Lots of build-up and tension.
The twisted branches of this story all eventually came together. I read the last few chapters with anticipation.
Thank you to the Author, Jo Furniss, for writing this Book.
Thank you, NetGalley and the Publisher, for making it available.
August 24, 2020
What started out as a slow burning thriller ended up being one of the most captivating reads I’ve picked up all year.
Rose Kynaston a video journalist has just settled down at the childhood home of her husband in the English Village of Hurtwood. Arriving at the creepy run down manor, furnished with his hermit-like mother, things do not seem very welcoming. Not to mention the distasteful reception she receives from all of the villagers. Apparently there is some type of hidden secret at Hurtwood House from years ago that everyone is aware of except Rose. When human remains are discovered during a historical archaeological dig on the property, Rose and the local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan start their own dig into the past, attempting to find out the truth about Hurtwood House and the Kynaston family.
This was my first Jo Furniss book, and I have to tell you her writing is phenomenal. Her ability to pull you into a story is sleek and effortless, with characters that are so genuine that you become 100% vested in their struggles. This story became a page turner and kept me up all night reading as I tried to figure out what really happened at Hurtwood House. There is an eerie aura about the book that keeps it constantly mysterious with multiple unexpected surprises, building to the unexpected thrilling ending. This has all the markings of a great dark psychological thriller with perfect doses of suspense and mystery. Grab your hot cup of coffee (or drink of choice) and settle in with this one, you will be glad you listened to me when you are done. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
.Thank you to @jofurnissauthor @lakeunionauthors @amazonpublishing and @katerocklitchick for my gifted copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion for review.
Rose Kynaston a video journalist has just settled down at the childhood home of her husband in the English Village of Hurtwood. Arriving at the creepy run down manor, furnished with his hermit-like mother, things do not seem very welcoming. Not to mention the distasteful reception she receives from all of the villagers. Apparently there is some type of hidden secret at Hurtwood House from years ago that everyone is aware of except Rose. When human remains are discovered during a historical archaeological dig on the property, Rose and the local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan start their own dig into the past, attempting to find out the truth about Hurtwood House and the Kynaston family.
This was my first Jo Furniss book, and I have to tell you her writing is phenomenal. Her ability to pull you into a story is sleek and effortless, with characters that are so genuine that you become 100% vested in their struggles. This story became a page turner and kept me up all night reading as I tried to figure out what really happened at Hurtwood House. There is an eerie aura about the book that keeps it constantly mysterious with multiple unexpected surprises, building to the unexpected thrilling ending. This has all the markings of a great dark psychological thriller with perfect doses of suspense and mystery. Grab your hot cup of coffee (or drink of choice) and settle in with this one, you will be glad you listened to me when you are done. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
.Thank you to @jofurnissauthor @lakeunionauthors @amazonpublishing and @katerocklitchick for my gifted copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion for review.
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