I was drawn right in to this tense thriller.A true page turner kept me guessing from beginning to end.Characters that come alive so well written will be recommending.#netgalley #hodder&stoughton

I thoroughly enjoyed the ending which was completely unexpected! Even with all the clues presented, it remained unpredictable which I just loved! this thriller was extremely fast paced and incredibly well written. I enjoy the plot immensely and I thought characters were extremely interesting to relate.

The summer of 1986 was a summer to remember. The local factory was going to permanently shut its doors putting a lot of people out of work. He wanted to give all his employees week of rest and relaxation for them and their families.

David and Samuel were good friends. Both their fathers worked at the factory. They had other things in common .. how their fathers viewed them, how they and their mothers were treated. They make a new friend, Julie, who was just a tad younger than them. But then Julie goes missing.

Its been 30 years since that summer. David has become a famous author ... Samuel is his publisher. Neither of them have ever discussed that summer .. but someone knows exactly what happened.

David and Samuel each receive a manuscript written by an anonymous source. The chapters each tell the story of what really happened that summer. It also states that it was sent to one other person... but who? and why?

The story takes us back and forth .. from one person to another. An explosive fire, a child's body, dark secrets. There are many suspects with varied motivations... and there is at least one person who knows the truth of what happened. Twists and turns keep the suspense high until the most unexpected conclusion.

Many thanks to the author / Hodder & Stoughton / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I was intrigued by the concept here and having finished reading it I do still like the idea of the identical books with different last chapters. It was a great way to include the events from 1986 and I preferred that part of the story to the 2017 sections, maybe it reminded me of past holidays in France. I didn’t really care much for grown up David so I wasn’t quite as engaged in the story as I could have been. A decent mystery story that I visualised as a black and white film.

Wow, I was really impressed with this novel. At first I wasn't so sure if I was going to like it based off of the first couple of chapters but then I got into it and was definitely a fan! The writing is incredible and the author did a great job at the ending.

This is a really great summer mystery read. Highly recommended for the perfect escape read. I was hooked and loved the ending. The way the book is written is fantastic enjoyed the characters xx

I’ve been so keen to read this book so when I got approved for it on NetGalley on Saturday I immediately started reading it and I read the whole thing in one sitting! The Final Chapter follows David, a famous writer, who one day receives a typed book in the post and it turns his world upside down. The pages he receives detail what happened in the summer of 1986 when a young girl he knew was murdered. It then turns out that his childhood best friend received the same book but with a different ending. David is determined to work out what the book is trying to tell him about that fateful summer. This novel is so fast-paced, with short chapters that make it impossible to put it down as you keep thinking that you’ll just read one more chapter! This novel grabbed me from the beginning and I was enthralled all the way to the end. It’s a book that doesn’t always add up but it’s such a fun ride and I loved every minute that I spent reading it. I recommend this one if you want an addictive, fast-paced and fun read.

I found this a difficult read in parts as it was not always clear who was writing each part as the person telling the story kept changing mid chapter and it took a while to realise that the person describing what happened in the past ad the future had changed.The story was written in two period 1986 and 2017 and the three main characters had all received the story of what had happened in the past when 2 yound girls were murdered. The three manuscripts all had different final chapters which needed to be anaylsed yogether to resolve the mystery and indeed to find out why they had been sent the manuscripts in the first place. The ending was expected by me but not the reasons why. It woould be an excellent story in my mind if there was not the confusion over the characters voices changing without warning and mid chapter.

I'm afraid this one was just not for me. Too slow and predictable. That said, many other reviewers liked it so what do I know? Give it a chance.

A different premise with varied characters told in two timelines. The initial part of the story is very captivating and realistic. The story of the children and their different background and friendship are all engaging. But the later part of the story became a tad predictable for me.

Even if it's well written and the characters interesting I found the story quite slow and it didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I found this a confusing and difficult to follow read at times. A story of brief friendship one summer seemingly ended by violence is resurrected years later by a manuscript sent to a writer, his publicist and an ex policeman with a different final chapter in each copy. All builds to a surprise ending but a story I couldn’t really engage with.

An absolutely wonderful , chilling and compelling read. It was very intriguing and would appeal to all of those readers who fancy trying their detection skills!!
There are two timelines in this story, 1986 and 2017. Events from 1986 are set in France, in the Vendee area, in the coastal resort of St. Hilaire de Riez, on the Atlantic coast.
Julie goes missing in 1986. Her holiday playmates David and Samuel, share the secret of her disappearance, but each has a guilty secret, that has relevance to the case, unbeknown to the other.
2017, David is now a famous writer, and Samuel is his publisher. One day, they both receive identical manuscripts that reveal the real truth of that summer day, chapter by chapter. It is apparently written by someone who was possibly present when the crime was committed, but the titular last chapter is not identical, but aimed specifically at the reader. The last chapter must be puzzled out so the killer can be revealed, but the killer doesn’t want to be found, and is willing to take the secret to the grave, and both men could be in danger.
A suspenseful book, the perfect book to play detective, with a real sense of menace throughout.
There is Arson, murder, suicide, mental problems, haunting, violence, ghosts, alcohol and violence, almost a full house!! All this takes place against the beautiful backdrop of the Vendee, a place mostly associated with happy holidays, sunshine, beignets and glacé desserts. My family have enjoyed many happy holidays in that area, Sainte Jean - de- Monts and Les Sables d’ Olonne, and it never seemed a place for Murder!!
Very addictive reading! I am going to search out the other books from this author. I will leave reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, and will recommend this to my local library and book groups when we are allowed to meet again. A definite 5 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Final Chapter that is a book within a book if that makes sense?
We start this book in the summer of 1986 and Julie has gone missing, lifelong friends David and Samuel share a secret. Fast forward thirty years and David has become a famous author and Samuel is his publisher. Out of the blue one day both men receive manuscripts of a story that turns out to be what happened that summer, both are identical until the last chapter where this is specific to the person reading it. It then becomes a race for David and Samuel to find out who the author is before they are exposed. Is one of them responsible for Julie and is so who and how?
This was a book with different timelines which could have been a lot sleeker in the jumping back and to. I didn’t really like any of the characters and that worked against this book for me. I got confused quite a bit over who was telling the story but the twist at the end is worth getting to.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder And Stoughton for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I love stories with bookish elements, and there was just something about the blurb of The Final Chapter that made me want to read it immediately. I hadn't realized initially this was actually a translation of a story that was originally written in French, which made me even more excited to read it as I always love discovering new international authors. And I'm so glad that this story caught my eye, as I ended up having excellent time reading it.

First of all I have to say that the translation seems flawless and really makes the story flow naturally. There were some abrupt POV changed that made me reread certain parts, but that was most likely just a layout issue in the ARC... As a whole, I definitely loved the concept of a book within a book and having the chapters of the text that is sent to the three characters fully incorporated into the story itself added an unique touch. These chapter work as flashbacks to 1986 and the mystery around the different final chapters and what they hide added a healthy level of suspense to the story.

I enjoyed learning more about the different characters and what happened during that summer in 1986. The small French holiday town made for a great backdrop and I liked how the different characters were woven into the plot. I did guess part of the final reveals, although the big twist did come as a surprise for me... I'm not sure how everything was wrapped up would be actually credible though. I mean, wouldn't there be more percusions for hiding the truth for that long?! That said, it was interesting to see everything come together at last.

I ended up having mixed feelings about the different characters in play, but I liked that they all had their flaws and it was intriguing to see them develop as well as to learn more about their past. I do always love a bookish main character, although David did come over as a bit of a cliche... But he works well in the plot I guess.

In short, The Final Chapter turned out to be an intriguing and quite unique take on a book within a book that has quite a surprise for you in store before you reach that final page.

A tale of childhood friendships broken apart by tragic and devastating events. The simple innocence of enjoying each other’s company while spending their summer holidays at the beach is suddenly and catastrophically ended and for some they will never recover. Thirty years on and David, now a successful thriller writer, receives a package containing a manuscript of that time. His friend, Samuel also receives one but with one difference, the final chapter. Who has sent it? And why now? What was the truth of what happened that summer all those years ago? A well written story that answers all the questions but unfortunately I did guess the majority of the plot about halfway through. Nevertheless, it did not detract me from enjoying this book, rather I was quite smug that I guessed certain things!

Julie, David, and Samuel are childhood friends enjoying their summer in 1986. When Julie goes missing and a body is found. David and Samuel keep a secret for the next thirty years when David now an author and Samuel a publicist receive a manuscript with the same story of what happened that day but, with different final chapters. They both go out on the hunt for the author before the secrets are revealed.
I thank NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of The Final Chapter by Jerome Loubry. I did like the premise of this story but unfortunately for me I found this to be really slow and tedious. I just couldn’t connect to this. I was waiting for something amazing to happen and nothing did. Sorry this book didn’t deliver for me.

🌅Well & truly hooked on a tragic summer beach story😍

I could not put it down! I loved the slow piecing together of a halcyon summer vacation for young David, Samuel and their new friend Julie that ends in horrific tragedy. Thirty-one years later the scapegoat for murder is about to be released from prison and someone wants to set the record straight. There are so many elements to the mystery of what happened, why and by whom that, while I guessed correctly about a few, I was eagerly glued to my e-reader until the twists come together and to light at the end.

While the frequent change of perspective and back and forth from the past to the present was occasionally confusing, The Final Chapter was an excellent, riveting read!

Thanks to publishers Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

I love books about books.
And, books within books.,
Usually!

But, this one didn’t quite work for me!

🙉🙈🙊

David, Samuel, and Julie were childhood friends in the Summer of 1986.
Until she disappeared.

Thirty years later, David is a famous author and Samuel is his Publisher.
Each receives a Manila envelope with the first chapter of what will be twelve, of a manuscript exposing the TRUTH about what happened that Summer.

There will also be a third recipient.

Each is receiving the document because of his or own failure in the Past.

One failed to listen.
One failed to report what he saw.
One should have spoken out.

And, the sender wants the truth to finally be exposed.,

But, who knows all of their secrets?

The premise was interesting but as we navigated between past and present, as each chapter is delivered, I felt like I remained an outsider looking in.

It just didn’t resonate with me.

Perhaps it will with you?

Thank you to the Publisher for my gifted copy.
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
Available May 13, 2021

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was the first time I've read anything by this author and I will say he will be added to my list of must reads going forward. This book starts out fast and grabs you from page one and keeps you engaged until the very last sentence. Loved it!