The Last House

by Matthew Speak

A #1 Amazon Best Seller! A tale of ultimate terror by the author of Devils Glen. "The perfect book to curl up with for a good scare." Matthew Speak's The Last House is a thrilling supernatural mystery that will keep you guessing until the shocking final act.

You can't move away from your nightmares.

After decades of living in a haunted house, Steve and Mara Spain have had enough. Steve’s anxiety-fueled nightmares have increased with each passing year. To find peace, he takes a leave of absence from his law firm to build a home on ten acres of forest near the quaint town of Maquoketa, Iowa. A place to retire—their last house.

But these woods are not empty...

When the mother of a missing girl begs Steve to investigate her daughter’s cold case, he’s initially happy for the distraction. But as he peels back the layers of her story, he unexpectedly finds himself on a journey into the shadowy heart of small-town America, and the dark recesses of his own troubled mind.

To find the girl, Steve must confront the demons he’s avoided since childhood—or succumb to them forever.

Genres: Horror

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2022

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE LAST HOUSE is the first book I have read by author Matthew Speak. A couple move from a haunted house--that apparently didn't bother them to live in for years--to a newly built home in the middle of a forest that had an unsavory reputation. The husband, on leave from his job due to anxiety, seems to have a connection to this location--the connection, however, is what had me wondering WHY he'd be going back there. The wife seemed overly supportive, and not much else.

On a positive note, it was a page turner! Although I suspected some of the husband's earlier drama halfway through the novel, I kept reading to see what else this town had up its sleeve, so to speak.

There was one particular character (friend of the wife's) that just felt completely "off" and out of place with what we know of her personality. After that, I honestly feel that my interest was waning a bit. The ending--I will not ruin for anyone--but just didn't work for me, personally. Others have loved it, so please give it a try for yourself. Personally, I think I just needed more "build up" to have this "believable", even with a suspended sense of belief present.

[Shaleah Rowland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this whole book aside from the wifes' friend Nadine and the end. I was completely taken off guard about the end and only now realize the book is also labeled "occult" so that's my fault. Other than the end and agreeing with others about the end leaving off the way it did and not realizing what I had gotten into I loved the majority of the book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A supernatural thriller set in Iowa, The Last House understands the fearfulness of life in the land around Maquoketa. It's an even better read if you know how to pronounce "Maquoketa." The Spains have built a house in the haunted woods, among the gentle hills. Their last house was haunted, but wait till they see what they've gotten themselves into in this, the last house the older couple ever plans to buy. The Last House drags you into a paranoid conspiracy wrapped in a haunted past. The setting is authentically Iowan - perfect for readers who eat at Casey's gas station and drink pop instead of soda.

[Marisol Galvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a decent book. It did have some writing errors (word usage off & double words typed) , but I can only hope that it was the publication company who made those mistakes. Aside from minor issues that I just read past, I believe the ending left a bit more to be desired. It was a great start, but I'm going to say it was just a good read.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not impressed by the ending

I was enjoying the story but about halfway through it suddenly went leftfield. The ending was completely unexpected and not in a good way.

[Debbie Mcalister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprised

Well I didn’t see this one coming… I haven’t been stumped so much for a long time. Definitely was not the ending I expected.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Went way off the rails for me, but I enjoyed the characters and the extremely apt depictions of panic attacks. There was just a LOT stuffed in there.