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The Last Cuckoo
When Jamie receives an innocuous tweet from Anna, his mother who has been dead for weeks, he is filled with confusion and fear. What follows is a twisted journey as her family tries to piece together the truth behind Anna's sudden death. Jamie soon discovers that nothing is as it seems and finds himself tangled in a web of lies that seems impossible to unravel.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2021
201 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Maria Frankland
99 books544 followersMaria Frankland has a dubious internet search history and a very worried mother-in-law. However, neither of these things can stop her writing gripping psychological thrillers in which you’ll never find a happy-ever-after.
Her novels are mostly set in Yorkshire where you’ll hear the accent through all her characters. These are people you could live next door to, or closer still… don’t say you haven’t been warned.
Maria’s novels are fast-paced, down to earth and realistic. You never know what’s around the corner…
Find out more about Maria at https://www.mariafrankland.co.uk. Whilst you’re there, you can download your free novella – The Brother-in-Law.
Her novels are mostly set in Yorkshire where you’ll hear the accent through all her characters. These are people you could live next door to, or closer still… don’t say you haven’t been warned.
Maria’s novels are fast-paced, down to earth and realistic. You never know what’s around the corner…
Find out more about Maria at https://www.mariafrankland.co.uk. Whilst you’re there, you can download your free novella – The Brother-in-Law.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 15, 2020
It’s been three weeks since Jaime lost his mother, Anna, after she fell to her death while redecorating the house she shared with her son. Struggling to contain his anger, grief and loss, Jaime finds himself isolated from the rest of the family as each member with their own agenda await the outcome of Anna’s Will.
Several days following the funeral, Jaime is appalled when he receives a Twitter notification alerting him to a tweet from Anna’s account which suggests that her death was no accident. The question is, who is behind the tweets and is there really more to Anna’s death?
The Last Cuckoo is a dark story which focuses on family dynamics and the consequences of toxic relationships. Narrated in the first person by Jaime (as though he’s talking to his mother) we are given insight into Jamie’s innermost thoughts and feelings as he reminisces about his troubled past and struggles to move on with a life without his mother. While having Jaime’s point of view offers valuable insight into his psyche, it does make him a somewhat unreliable protagonist. I felt at times that his behaviour was immature for a 24-going-on-25 year old although some of his actions were understandable considering the behaviour and characteristics of his so called family and friends.
The secondary characters were well developed. We have Jamie’s narcissistic, opportunistic father Phil, who was barely around for his son following his divorce from Anna but who begins to sniff around now that Jamie has been left a substantial amount of money in Anna’s Will. Phil’s relationship with his current wife Katherine is equally volatile and she in turn has always resented Anna and Jaime. Then we have Anna’s fiancé Iain, his antagonistic ex wife Stacey, along with his toxic self centred daughter Claudia who resents Anna’s presence in her father’s life and despises Jaime.
In the background to all these deeply unpleasant characters, is a relentless Twitter campaign orchestrated to lead those that Anna loved - and didn’t love - to the truth behind her death. I confess I had my own ideas about the culprit from the get go so I was completely unprepared for the twist at the end.
This book was my first introduction to the author and she didn’t disappoint. This was a well executed, razor taut thriller/mystery. The author did a wonderful job of creating characters that seemingly come alive. The plot maintained my interest from the offset and kept me guessing. The author has skilfully highlighted the challenges that stepfamilies face when trying to meld two families with children into one. I couldn’t help sympathising with Anna throughout. Her life had been full of disappointments and it seems that just as she had found some semblance of happiness, her life was tragically cut short. I’ll definitely be looking out for future works of this author.
I received an advanced free audible copy of The Last Cuckoo and I am voluntarily reviewing it. Chris Nutall (with his Irish accent) did a wonderful job of bringing the story and characters to life with his clear and concise narration.
Several days following the funeral, Jaime is appalled when he receives a Twitter notification alerting him to a tweet from Anna’s account which suggests that her death was no accident. The question is, who is behind the tweets and is there really more to Anna’s death?
The Last Cuckoo is a dark story which focuses on family dynamics and the consequences of toxic relationships. Narrated in the first person by Jaime (as though he’s talking to his mother) we are given insight into Jamie’s innermost thoughts and feelings as he reminisces about his troubled past and struggles to move on with a life without his mother. While having Jaime’s point of view offers valuable insight into his psyche, it does make him a somewhat unreliable protagonist. I felt at times that his behaviour was immature for a 24-going-on-25 year old although some of his actions were understandable considering the behaviour and characteristics of his so called family and friends.
The secondary characters were well developed. We have Jamie’s narcissistic, opportunistic father Phil, who was barely around for his son following his divorce from Anna but who begins to sniff around now that Jamie has been left a substantial amount of money in Anna’s Will. Phil’s relationship with his current wife Katherine is equally volatile and she in turn has always resented Anna and Jaime. Then we have Anna’s fiancé Iain, his antagonistic ex wife Stacey, along with his toxic self centred daughter Claudia who resents Anna’s presence in her father’s life and despises Jaime.
In the background to all these deeply unpleasant characters, is a relentless Twitter campaign orchestrated to lead those that Anna loved - and didn’t love - to the truth behind her death. I confess I had my own ideas about the culprit from the get go so I was completely unprepared for the twist at the end.
This book was my first introduction to the author and she didn’t disappoint. This was a well executed, razor taut thriller/mystery. The author did a wonderful job of creating characters that seemingly come alive. The plot maintained my interest from the offset and kept me guessing. The author has skilfully highlighted the challenges that stepfamilies face when trying to meld two families with children into one. I couldn’t help sympathising with Anna throughout. Her life had been full of disappointments and it seems that just as she had found some semblance of happiness, her life was tragically cut short. I’ll definitely be looking out for future works of this author.
I received an advanced free audible copy of The Last Cuckoo and I am voluntarily reviewing it. Chris Nutall (with his Irish accent) did a wonderful job of bringing the story and characters to life with his clear and concise narration.
August 22, 2020
When Jamie’s mother dies, he’s not entirely sure how he’ll go on. Wrapped in grief, he does what he can to try and move on with his life. Then he gets a notification from his mother’s Twitter. He brushes it off, thinking it to be an old notification. That is, until he starts to see his mother again.
I liked Jamie’s character. He was well-rounded and easy to sympathize with. His reactions were real and easy to understand. For anyone who’s ever lost someone they’re close to, they’ll find the portrayal of grief to be very real.
This story is full of emotions and suspenseful. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you listening.
I’ve never heard a narrator with an Irish accent before so it was an interesting listen. The narrator really brought the characters and story to life.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
I liked Jamie’s character. He was well-rounded and easy to sympathize with. His reactions were real and easy to understand. For anyone who’s ever lost someone they’re close to, they’ll find the portrayal of grief to be very real.
This story is full of emotions and suspenseful. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you listening.
I’ve never heard a narrator with an Irish accent before so it was an interesting listen. The narrator really brought the characters and story to life.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
July 17, 2021
A new author to me and a great start! 20-sonething Jamie is still struggling to cope with the death of his mother in a tragic accident as well as his family and step family being less than helpful when his mother starts posting Twitter messages!! It's a fascinating set up as Jamie has to deal with betrayal, jealousy, greed and bitchiness from various family members as the dark side of human nature shows its ugly head. The story is told almost exclusively from Jamie's viewpoint as he chats to his deceased parent and you really get a feel of what he is going through as he attempts to get to the bottom of the increased anger in the Tweets. The story did seem to end abruptly and there were a lot of characters to get used to very early on but these are very minor gripes in what was a very enjoyable domestic psychology thriller.
March 6, 2022
This was both a compelling and frustrating read. I wanted to read because I was intriguied by who was behind the ghost-like tweets, and frustrated because Jamie, the main character comes across more like an immature 15-year old than a 25-year old male, in modern times working for an insurance company.
Anna is a best-selling talented artist. She is divorced from her former husband Philip, an excuse for a husband, father and man. They share a son, Jamie(24 on the brink of 25) who still lives with her. She is engaged to Iain when she is discovered at the bottom of the stairs supposedly having fallen while balancing on the banister, painting the ceiling. Iain's daughter, Chloe, his ex wife Shirley and Philip's second wife Katherine are truly loathsome. When twitter lights up with messages from Anna one is left to guess who might be posing as her and why does she refer to someone as a cuckoo? The character of Jamie came across as hard to like because of his neediness, naivete and stupidity and the BIG reveal turned out to be less than spectacular because I had guessed 20% in who the main culprit was. The book is however a very good take on blended families, summarized in these lines:
Judge Lakin, presiding, said the case highlighted the problems of resentment and jealousy in second-time families, where fractured families are forced to bring their ‘baggage’ and merge their lives under one roof, often against the will of the children. He added that this is a sad example of a culture where one in three marriages will end in divorce. We have moved away from the ‘nuclear’ family, he said, to a situation where the stepfamily is the norm. Statistics also show that the step family dynamic fails eighty three per cent of the time.
4 Stars.
Anna is a best-selling talented artist. She is divorced from her former husband Philip, an excuse for a husband, father and man. They share a son, Jamie(24 on the brink of 25) who still lives with her. She is engaged to Iain when she is discovered at the bottom of the stairs supposedly having fallen while balancing on the banister, painting the ceiling. Iain's daughter, Chloe, his ex wife Shirley and Philip's second wife Katherine are truly loathsome. When twitter lights up with messages from Anna one is left to guess who might be posing as her and why does she refer to someone as a cuckoo? The character of Jamie came across as hard to like because of his neediness, naivete and stupidity and the BIG reveal turned out to be less than spectacular because I had guessed 20% in who the main culprit was. The book is however a very good take on blended families, summarized in these lines:
Judge Lakin, presiding, said the case highlighted the problems of resentment and jealousy in second-time families, where fractured families are forced to bring their ‘baggage’ and merge their lives under one roof, often against the will of the children. He added that this is a sad example of a culture where one in three marriages will end in divorce. We have moved away from the ‘nuclear’ family, he said, to a situation where the stepfamily is the norm. Statistics also show that the step family dynamic fails eighty three per cent of the time.
4 Stars.
January 5, 2021
Although I read this book in one day I can’t say it really gripped me. None if the characters were in the slightest bit likeable, particularly Jamie who I just wanted to grab and tell him to grow a pair! I can’t even say it was a killer twist at the end as I had guessed it about halfway through the book.
December 17, 2020
A fantastic read and I didn't see the twist coming at the end
June 3, 2023
I did not see that ending. Maria never disappoints
February 27, 2022
Utterly brilliant
What a rollacoster of a read,unfolds drawing you in more and more brilliant characters first-class plot believable people who are toxic,marvellous ending
What a rollacoster of a read,unfolds drawing you in more and more brilliant characters first-class plot believable people who are toxic,marvellous ending
February 19, 2022
Gripping
Read in a day, couldn't put it down. Brilliant ending which I didn't see coming. Definitely worth reading. Brilliantly written.
Read in a day, couldn't put it down. Brilliant ending which I didn't see coming. Definitely worth reading. Brilliantly written.
April 1, 2022
Blindsided by the ending
Wow!!!!! Really didn't see that ending coming. As always totally gripping from the first page of the story and tension kept up throughout the book. Another cracking read by Maria Frankland
Wow!!!!! Really didn't see that ending coming. As always totally gripping from the first page of the story and tension kept up throughout the book. Another cracking read by Maria Frankland
September 16, 2020
Fantastic read with a shocking twist, loved it!
August 18, 2020
( Format : Audiobook )
"Artist Anna 123, # cuckoo, # before my time."
Told in the first person by Jamie, an only child and somewhat emotionally retarded soon-to-be 25 years old old man, The Last Cuckoo follows the emotional events occurring after the funeral of his mother, Anna.
A painter artist of some renown, Anna has fallen to her death whilst redecorating the stairwell of the house in which she lived with her son. Divorced from Jamie's father, she had plans to remarry another divorcee, Ian, thus bringing his only daughter, Claudia, about 20, also into the fami!y. Trouble was, the two youngsters violently disliked each other. Without the unifying factor of Anna to maintain some sort of stability, emotions begin to spiral, extending to include Ian's still possessive former wife and Jamie's dad and new partner. Then the Twitter posts start appearing...include
This is a very interesting and well written telling of a mystery as well as a portrait of some problems which can form in the extended, divided families so prominent today. The characters are well developed, especially, or course, that of Jamie himself, and the narration of Chris Nutall further enhances each one, his individual voicing s excellent, as is his reading throughout, well paced and spoken with emotion in a gentle northern English accent. Sadly, not one of the characters is likable (apart from a very elderly neighbour who makes an occasional walk on appearance). On the contrary, every one of the main protagonists is singularly selfish and unpleasant, rather posing the other great mystery - why on earth did Anna and Ian even want to see each other any more let alone get married? However, the plot develops slowly, but never drags, cryptic clues dropped as the story progresses.
This is an involving, page turning (yes, I know my copy is an audiobook, but you get the idea) novel, intriguing and unusual in it's presentation. And, remarkably adept for a first novel. It can be irritating but also thought provoking and, if the ending is not quite the unexpected bombshell obviously intended, it does at least keep the reader guessing for much of the book. I was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of The Last Cuckoo, at my request, by the rights holder via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. It was unexpectedly riveting reading and recommended to all who enjoy psychological mysteries and family dynamics.
"Artist Anna 123, # cuckoo, # before my time."
Told in the first person by Jamie, an only child and somewhat emotionally retarded soon-to-be 25 years old old man, The Last Cuckoo follows the emotional events occurring after the funeral of his mother, Anna.
A painter artist of some renown, Anna has fallen to her death whilst redecorating the stairwell of the house in which she lived with her son. Divorced from Jamie's father, she had plans to remarry another divorcee, Ian, thus bringing his only daughter, Claudia, about 20, also into the fami!y. Trouble was, the two youngsters violently disliked each other. Without the unifying factor of Anna to maintain some sort of stability, emotions begin to spiral, extending to include Ian's still possessive former wife and Jamie's dad and new partner. Then the Twitter posts start appearing...include
This is a very interesting and well written telling of a mystery as well as a portrait of some problems which can form in the extended, divided families so prominent today. The characters are well developed, especially, or course, that of Jamie himself, and the narration of Chris Nutall further enhances each one, his individual voicing s excellent, as is his reading throughout, well paced and spoken with emotion in a gentle northern English accent. Sadly, not one of the characters is likable (apart from a very elderly neighbour who makes an occasional walk on appearance). On the contrary, every one of the main protagonists is singularly selfish and unpleasant, rather posing the other great mystery - why on earth did Anna and Ian even want to see each other any more let alone get married? However, the plot develops slowly, but never drags, cryptic clues dropped as the story progresses.
This is an involving, page turning (yes, I know my copy is an audiobook, but you get the idea) novel, intriguing and unusual in it's presentation. And, remarkably adept for a first novel. It can be irritating but also thought provoking and, if the ending is not quite the unexpected bombshell obviously intended, it does at least keep the reader guessing for much of the book. I was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of The Last Cuckoo, at my request, by the rights holder via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. It was unexpectedly riveting reading and recommended to all who enjoy psychological mysteries and family dynamics.
March 11, 2020
This will not be an easy review, because I hated the “story” but not the book, is well written, plotted and original, but how I hated all the characters and the plot in it! If this is how society works, please, restart us now!
This is the story of a family who has two parents, each one with a child of a previous marriage and both partners with an ex-partner surrounding the “new�� relationship. As you can see, the story is not easy, being a family with just one marriage and a child is not always easy in the day-to-day life, I can’t imagine mixing two adult children in the equation who are against the relation parents have. Moreover, add to this the ex-partners and your head will explode! That’s why I didn’t like the story, it felt too real and spilling hate in every page…
But the story is about Jamie, the son of Anna, who passed away recently and everyone is trying to cope with the grieve… but it’s not so easy! A couple of days after the death there will start to appearing some tweets, written by the deceased and claiming that she was killed… Was it an accident her dead or someone killed her?
It was really easy to enter the story, the need to know more about the horrible characters and their toxic relations, because there’s no one that could be saved in the story apart from Anna, the deceased one, all the others could go to jail for a while, I don’t think anyone would miss them.
I come from a mono-parental family and I am lucky that no one near me has lived a divorce, but the hate I could read on the story sounded familiar on other stories I’ve read… so I suppose this is something “normal”. But at the same time it scares me how people could hate each other so much, a daughter who doesn’t want her father happy and hates the new girlfriend; a man that ignores his son for 10 years and only wants him for the money… Really we are all like this? It’s so horrible just thinking about it!
As you can see the author has done an amazing job creating a toxic situation where no one is safe, the reader tries to discover who could be the “killer” from the beginning but there are so many possible killers that you just have to let the story flow till the end.
I would really recommend you to read “Cuckoo”, it’s powerful and twisted, easy to read and addictive, and I can assure you I will follow Maria Frankland next books, they are a must read!
Ready?
This is the story of a family who has two parents, each one with a child of a previous marriage and both partners with an ex-partner surrounding the “new�� relationship. As you can see, the story is not easy, being a family with just one marriage and a child is not always easy in the day-to-day life, I can’t imagine mixing two adult children in the equation who are against the relation parents have. Moreover, add to this the ex-partners and your head will explode! That’s why I didn’t like the story, it felt too real and spilling hate in every page…
But the story is about Jamie, the son of Anna, who passed away recently and everyone is trying to cope with the grieve… but it’s not so easy! A couple of days after the death there will start to appearing some tweets, written by the deceased and claiming that she was killed… Was it an accident her dead or someone killed her?
It was really easy to enter the story, the need to know more about the horrible characters and their toxic relations, because there’s no one that could be saved in the story apart from Anna, the deceased one, all the others could go to jail for a while, I don’t think anyone would miss them.
I come from a mono-parental family and I am lucky that no one near me has lived a divorce, but the hate I could read on the story sounded familiar on other stories I’ve read… so I suppose this is something “normal”. But at the same time it scares me how people could hate each other so much, a daughter who doesn’t want her father happy and hates the new girlfriend; a man that ignores his son for 10 years and only wants him for the money… Really we are all like this? It’s so horrible just thinking about it!
As you can see the author has done an amazing job creating a toxic situation where no one is safe, the reader tries to discover who could be the “killer” from the beginning but there are so many possible killers that you just have to let the story flow till the end.
I would really recommend you to read “Cuckoo”, it’s powerful and twisted, easy to read and addictive, and I can assure you I will follow Maria Frankland next books, they are a must read!
Ready?
April 5, 2021
Excellent book with a brilliant twist
This book kept me glued to the pages right to the end, when I nearly dropped my Kindle in surprise at the twist. Very well written. I highly recommend anything written by Maria Frankland.
This book kept me glued to the pages right to the end, when I nearly dropped my Kindle in surprise at the twist. Very well written. I highly recommend anything written by Maria Frankland.
January 7, 2021
This is a book that gets to the heart of the emotions caused by second marriages and step siblings. Anna is about to be married when she dies in a fall. Her son, Jamie, hates his soon to be step sister, the self centered, spoilt and narcissistic Claudia with a passion. He's not too keen on his soon to be stepfather Iain, who resents Jamie's presence in Anna's life or Stacey, Iain's vengeful and jealous ex wife. These feeling are reciprocated. Jamie's own father, Phil, is a waste of space who cares more about alcohol than he ever did about his son. Phil's wife Katherine is unreasonably jealous of Jamie and Anna. Jamie has spent most of his life trying to please his father and get his attention.
Jamie is a mixture of adolescent angst (and I agree with another reviewer that he seems much younger than his 24 years) resentment and anger. Maria Frankland describes brilliantly the emotions of this recently bereaved young man, who misses his mother terribly and is filled with remorse that he wasn't kinder to her or appreciated her more when she was alive. We can all relate to that.
It is after Anna's funeral that strange things start happening. Someone is sending tweets from Anna's Twitter account and the tweets get more and more bizarre, suggesting that Anna's death may not have been the accident it originally appeared to be.
The characters in this book, although all of them unpleasant, are beautifully drawn. Their inter reaction with one another, the resentments and in fighting cleverly described and the plot fast paced. There are so many twists it is impossible to predict how this will end but you will not be disappointed.
Jamie is a mixture of adolescent angst (and I agree with another reviewer that he seems much younger than his 24 years) resentment and anger. Maria Frankland describes brilliantly the emotions of this recently bereaved young man, who misses his mother terribly and is filled with remorse that he wasn't kinder to her or appreciated her more when she was alive. We can all relate to that.
It is after Anna's funeral that strange things start happening. Someone is sending tweets from Anna's Twitter account and the tweets get more and more bizarre, suggesting that Anna's death may not have been the accident it originally appeared to be.
The characters in this book, although all of them unpleasant, are beautifully drawn. Their inter reaction with one another, the resentments and in fighting cleverly described and the plot fast paced. There are so many twists it is impossible to predict how this will end but you will not be disappointed.
March 4, 2020
This is a unique thriller, told by Jamie, whose mother, Anna has died after an accident. It’s told as his innermost thoughts, how he misses his mother, he talks to her all the time.
Her fiancé, Iain tries to help Jamie, but it’s all fraught and not helped by Claudia, his daughter and was soon to be Jamie’s step-sister. These two young people really don’t get on at all.
Anna had been at the end of her tether with their constant bickering and other family members sticking their oar in really didn’t help matters.
After Anna’s funeral, Jamie receives a twitter notification, from his mother’s account. He initially ignores it, but as more tweets are added, he wonders who could have access to her account…he even wonders if it could be her ghost..but when they start to intimate that Anna’s death may not have been an accident he begins to wonder who would be so heartless.
Was there more to Anna’s death? And who could possibly know?
Not only is this a mystery, it’s also a tale of a modern family…..a step-family and it’s challenges…messy and realistic. It’s so well written, it’s hard to believe it’s the author’s debut novel, with plenty of twists and surprises making this a thriller that makes you think. Very clever and totally gripping throughout.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Her fiancé, Iain tries to help Jamie, but it’s all fraught and not helped by Claudia, his daughter and was soon to be Jamie’s step-sister. These two young people really don’t get on at all.
Anna had been at the end of her tether with their constant bickering and other family members sticking their oar in really didn’t help matters.
After Anna’s funeral, Jamie receives a twitter notification, from his mother’s account. He initially ignores it, but as more tweets are added, he wonders who could have access to her account…he even wonders if it could be her ghost..but when they start to intimate that Anna’s death may not have been an accident he begins to wonder who would be so heartless.
Was there more to Anna’s death? And who could possibly know?
Not only is this a mystery, it’s also a tale of a modern family…..a step-family and it’s challenges…messy and realistic. It’s so well written, it’s hard to believe it’s the author’s debut novel, with plenty of twists and surprises making this a thriller that makes you think. Very clever and totally gripping throughout.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
March 10, 2020
Claustrophobic and toxic, a dark story about a fractured family. The story focuses on events after Anna's accidental death. Sinister tweets cast doubt, on the circumstances surrounding Anna's accident. There are also historical flashbacks of incidents within the family, before Anna's demise.
The story is written from Jamie's point of view, in the first person. This narrows the story's perspective but gives it the depth of emotion and immediacy.
A fusion of family drama and psychological suspense, where Jamie is an unreliable protagonist. He feels isolated by his mother's death, full of anger and grief. The cast of realistically flawed characters, all have their agendas. Jamie's father is particularly objectionable.
The plot twists, the sinister twitter campaign escalates and Jamie's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. He talks to his mother, even thinks he sees her. A symptom of grief? Or something more disturbing?
Being inside Jamie's mind is exhausting. The final twists, I guessed, but they are believable. They give the story a dark and tragic end.
An immersive domestic thriller that has disturbing realism.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
The story is written from Jamie's point of view, in the first person. This narrows the story's perspective but gives it the depth of emotion and immediacy.
A fusion of family drama and psychological suspense, where Jamie is an unreliable protagonist. He feels isolated by his mother's death, full of anger and grief. The cast of realistically flawed characters, all have their agendas. Jamie's father is particularly objectionable.
The plot twists, the sinister twitter campaign escalates and Jamie's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. He talks to his mother, even thinks he sees her. A symptom of grief? Or something more disturbing?
Being inside Jamie's mind is exhausting. The final twists, I guessed, but they are believable. They give the story a dark and tragic end.
An immersive domestic thriller that has disturbing realism.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
May 26, 2021
How I read the Kindle version I would not recommend. A couple of pages at bedtime, until we turned off the lights. Maybe an hour or two between 2 and 4 AM, and at the end last night, a gale was screaming through our closed windows. Great way to read a horror story.
I was pleased to see that the author is the same age as my daughters. Both write.
I can relate to Twitter. I participated in a regional library program ten years ago, called All Things Twitter. After the program ended, I struggled to abandon my account. Hundreds of hackers daily flooded my account.
The author has a list of questions at the end of the story. Where can I respond?
Can I relate to Jamie Hardaker? I've never met anyone so abusive toward women and girls. His inner dialogue is raw hatred, while he smiles outwardly hoping for good sex. On the other hand, such murders and abuse of young toddlers, and elders in senior care facilities make headlines every day. Social action globally is and will continue to establish equality of men and women. Every generation can carry it forward from their earliest years.
I was pleased to see that the author is the same age as my daughters. Both write.
I can relate to Twitter. I participated in a regional library program ten years ago, called All Things Twitter. After the program ended, I struggled to abandon my account. Hundreds of hackers daily flooded my account.
The author has a list of questions at the end of the story. Where can I respond?
Can I relate to Jamie Hardaker? I've never met anyone so abusive toward women and girls. His inner dialogue is raw hatred, while he smiles outwardly hoping for good sex. On the other hand, such murders and abuse of young toddlers, and elders in senior care facilities make headlines every day. Social action globally is and will continue to establish equality of men and women. Every generation can carry it forward from their earliest years.
March 6, 2020
The Last Cuckoo by Maria Frankland is an interesting thriller in that it is written in first person, by Jamie, whose mum has just passed away after an accident. The narrative is what's going on in Jamie's head, the thought and feelings he has.Ian, his mums fiance does attempt to help him but there is friction due to Ian's daughter and Jamie just not getting on.
After his mum's funeral he receives a twitter notication...from her account. Jamie takes no notice until the tweets carry on. They get even worse when they start hinting her death may not have been an accident! Who is sending these and what do they know? A great story which also shows the way families are today and what problems they face in trying to meld two seperate families with step children into one. I was gripped from the beginning and enjoyed the twists and mystery!
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for allowing me to be a part of this fabulous book tour!
After his mum's funeral he receives a twitter notication...from her account. Jamie takes no notice until the tweets carry on. They get even worse when they start hinting her death may not have been an accident! Who is sending these and what do they know? A great story which also shows the way families are today and what problems they face in trying to meld two seperate families with step children into one. I was gripped from the beginning and enjoyed the twists and mystery!
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for allowing me to be a part of this fabulous book tour!
March 23, 2020
The Last Cuckoo is an intriguing mystery/thriller that also centers around family. I found this a really unique read that drew me in from beginning to end.
Written in the first person, I felt as though it was easy to connect with Jaime. I am one of the few I know who thoroughly enjoy first person POV if done well. I think it’s a beautiful thing to get inside the character’s head. It also allows the author to shine because it takes a lot of talent to not only get a reader to care about the characters but also be entertained by the plot.
I really loved the mystery of this novel. I was surprised and I loved being taken on the journey of twists and turns. I really loved being able to get attached to the characters and be drawn in by the mystery suspense.
Check this out!
Rating:
4/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
Written in the first person, I felt as though it was easy to connect with Jaime. I am one of the few I know who thoroughly enjoy first person POV if done well. I think it’s a beautiful thing to get inside the character’s head. It also allows the author to shine because it takes a lot of talent to not only get a reader to care about the characters but also be entertained by the plot.
I really loved the mystery of this novel. I was surprised and I loved being taken on the journey of twists and turns. I really loved being able to get attached to the characters and be drawn in by the mystery suspense.
Check this out!
Rating:
4/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
February 24, 2021
I went back and forth in my head about this audiobook pretty much the entire time I listened. I didn't really like it much at first. It took me a little while to get used to the narration. And the entire book was written as if Jamie was talking to his dead mother and that took some getting used to I think. But once I got about halfway through, I really started getting more into it. The characters drove me nuts. The way Jamie just handed over the money to his deadbeat father was frustrating. And the way Jamie just couldn't get over it just seemed a little off. But then, in the end, it all made sense. And I am definitely glad I kept going with this book. And I would love to read more of Maria Frankland.
This book was given to me at my request. I am providing a voluntary and honest review.
This book was given to me at my request. I am providing a voluntary and honest review.
October 12, 2020
It took a while to get into this book as it is narrated by Jamie, who just lost his mother. It turns out Jamie is 25, but he sounds more like a mentally challenged teenager and he is extremely whiney and unlikable. All the characters in this book are very unlikable, so much so that I could not even muster enough sympathy for the victim, assuming she must've been just as crap if these are the kinds of people in her life.
In the beginning this was quite a guessing game trying to figure out what was going on but then you sort of guess the ending.
This book was interesting if you like dysfunctional families though, so viewed from that perspective, it is worth a read.
In the beginning this was quite a guessing game trying to figure out what was going on but then you sort of guess the ending.
This book was interesting if you like dysfunctional families though, so viewed from that perspective, it is worth a read.
May 17, 2020
Compelling on every level
Something for everyone. A quick and easy page turner for those that enjoy a good story that gives nothing away till the end. A deep and nuanced delve into the step family dynamic and for those that want to think and are or want become more familiar with narcissistic personality disorder and the lifelong havoc it can reek on its victims.
Something for everyone. A quick and easy page turner for those that enjoy a good story that gives nothing away till the end. A deep and nuanced delve into the step family dynamic and for those that want to think and are or want become more familiar with narcissistic personality disorder and the lifelong havoc it can reek on its victims.
April 4, 2020
The Last Cuckoo
The Last Cuckoo, the debut novel by Maria Frankland, had me gripped from the first page and anxious to find out what happened next. I'm looking forward to reading more work by this author.
The Last Cuckoo, the debut novel by Maria Frankland, had me gripped from the first page and anxious to find out what happened next. I'm looking forward to reading more work by this author.
February 27, 2021
Stunningly Out Together
An interesting and entertaining story that keeps one guessing through the end. Grief, loss, jealousy, and greed prevail with strained relationships. I couldn't have predicted the conclusion. What turn around of events!
An interesting and entertaining story that keeps one guessing through the end. Grief, loss, jealousy, and greed prevail with strained relationships. I couldn't have predicted the conclusion. What turn around of events!
June 30, 2020
I really loved this book! I read it in two days I couldn't put it down
August 10, 2020
Really good book read it in one sitting.
November 2, 2024
Contains spoilers…
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I love this author and intend to read all of her books. I enjoyed this book, but I did have a little trouble with what I presume was slang or figures of speech from the British Isles (or Ireland?) … being from the USA, I usually don’t have problems reading British authors, but I kept getting distracted by some of the unfamiliar words & expressions (and the Kindle dictionary didn’t help much). Also, though the characters were well developed and an interesting cast of characters, I didn’t actually LIKE any of the main characters. I started out liking Jamie, but about halfway through, I realized I didn’t like him very much AND I figured out he probably killed his mother. The ending was a little abrupt too, and I really thought that along with Jamie, there were about 5 or 6 other characters that should have been punished in some way, so I was a little disappointed when they were not.
Again, I love the author & I still enjoyed this enough to give it 4 solid stars. Looking forward to more of her books!
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I love this author and intend to read all of her books. I enjoyed this book, but I did have a little trouble with what I presume was slang or figures of speech from the British Isles (or Ireland?) … being from the USA, I usually don’t have problems reading British authors, but I kept getting distracted by some of the unfamiliar words & expressions (and the Kindle dictionary didn’t help much). Also, though the characters were well developed and an interesting cast of characters, I didn’t actually LIKE any of the main characters. I started out liking Jamie, but about halfway through, I realized I didn’t like him very much AND I figured out he probably killed his mother. The ending was a little abrupt too, and I really thought that along with Jamie, there were about 5 or 6 other characters that should have been punished in some way, so I was a little disappointed when they were not.
Again, I love the author & I still enjoyed this enough to give it 4 solid stars. Looking forward to more of her books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2021
If you read "The man behind closed doors" ,by Frankland also ,you will soon realize it's the same dynamic in this book. All characters are despicable and the main one who is always an extreme push over ( same as in "Hit and Run") finally snaps, kills someone and goes to jail.
The portrait of this sad main character is depicted in so many scenes in which EVERY OTHER CHARACTER in the book humiliates, bullies and intimidates he/she that it becomes a painful reading to the point you just want to skip to the end. That's not good when you are reading a 200 pages book but at least it was short.
The portrait of this sad main character is depicted in so many scenes in which EVERY OTHER CHARACTER in the book humiliates, bullies and intimidates he/she that it becomes a painful reading to the point you just want to skip to the end. That's not good when you are reading a 200 pages book but at least it was short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2021
Unimpressed
Quite disappointed with this book. It went on for a lot longer than it should've & I found the ending disappointing. I despised Anna's son and it was painful to think he was 24/25! He sounded like a 16 year old. Very unlikable characters and I felt it would've been a lot more interesting if the murderer was someone else. Unfortunately this has to be my least favorite book written by this Author.
Quite disappointed with this book. It went on for a lot longer than it should've & I found the ending disappointing. I despised Anna's son and it was painful to think he was 24/25! He sounded like a 16 year old. Very unlikable characters and I felt it would've been a lot more interesting if the murderer was someone else. Unfortunately this has to be my least favorite book written by this Author.
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