My Thoughts
The Last Girl Left is an electrifying novel of psychological suspense from the first page. Tessa Chamberlain is our brave young protagonist who survived a horrific mass murder that occurred five years before the story starts. But then she decides to go back and face her fears rather than letting them stomp all over the memories alone: it’s a lonely beach house on remote Cassadaga Island off the coast of Maine.
A deserted beach house, a foggy island: the atmosphere of dread and tension is utterly sensational. The author has done brilliant work in this respect. When Tessa develops alarming incidents, the reader is more deeply engrossed in the mystery. The pacing is excellent, as suspense rolls steadily through the work and Tessa’s past fears gradually become her present reality.
Tessa’s character is well rounded, her fragility and determination giving the reader someone to root for. Tessa’s memories of the original massacre are intertwined with her tale in the book. It provides an extra layer of tension and emotional depth to a straightforward story.
The storyline keeps you off balance with unexpected twists that come to an alarming denouement in which everything turns out not as imagined.
Without losing sight of its excellent storyline and fully formed characters, the novel receives a star less for some fairly predictable plot points that weaken the entire effect of suspense.
Overall, The Last Git is a page-turner for the lovers of suspense. The haunting exploration of trauma and resilience will stick in your craw well past the last page. Four stars out of five.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
