✨Book Review✨
I’d rate it 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( 3.5 rounded up to 4)

I read this book on my reading retreat which was perfect for a book that has an isolated setting! This one, in particular, was extremely suspenseful! You will not be able to put it down. It is scary ( especially for book reviewers like us😂 ) and the plot is very easy to follow. I absolutely loved the atmospheric vibes of this book and all the eerie feels of it. @taylor.adams.author does it best when it comes to setting that truly frightful ambience for his plots and the reader will always feel highly connected to the characters the way they’re written. It is very easy to get invested in his books and characters which I love. However, I did not like the direction this story went on the second half of the book. The writing and the execution was still really good, but I didn’t feel like the story wowed me as much as I thought it would when I read the first half of the book, which is why I couldn’t give it a higher rating. But that’s just my personal opinion but honestly, all the stars to it for being filled with such “on the edge” moments and having the reader’s full attention all throughout and till the very end!
I always love a great pageturner!!! And I will definitely continue reading whatever he write cause I love his writing style!

3.5 rounded up

Emma Carpenter reads ‘Murder Mountain’ and her heart sinks as it’s one of those one star books. She hesitates to submit her review to Amazon but does so anyway. Was she too harsh? She discovers she has a comment from the author H.G. Kane who asks her to remove it as it hurts him financially but she refuses. Comments go back and forth, excruciatingly so and Kane gets increasingly threatening. Little does Emma imagine just how bad it’s going to get. Who exactly is H.G. Kane???

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this before, sign me up to that well known confused website. It starts on an ominous note as Emma is so solitary at Strand Beach, Washington, her only neighbour at some distance and is a writer with whom she entertained engages in a game of telescope hangman! The house she’s in is one of those that’s never quiet and that adds to the building tension. It becomes a creepy, chilling, neck tingling hair raiser with some seriously scary, fearful moments. Then it takes a deep dive into the bizarre with a narrator within a narrator and sometimes I haven’t a scoob what’s going on yet it’s so darned intriguing you keep reading on. It’s a sort of life imitating art scenario. It becomes crazy, barking,OTT fun head spinner with twists, twists and more twists it’s a Russian doll type story and I’m still not entirely sure I get it! One thing is for sure, the pace is a fast, all hell breaking loose kind which doesn’t let up until curtain close.

I need to go and lie down now as my head is rotating at speed but one thing I can say for sure is that it’s a fun, revengeful entertaining completely different conundrum. Up for the challenge??

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I read No Exit by this author and I thought it was brilliant so I wanted to give this book a try also and I can now confidently say I have a new favourite author to add to the list!

This book was the definition of 'thriller', the whole way through. It had twists throughout and left no loose ends, by the end of the book all your questions have answers and most importantly it felt believable. Throughout the book it comments on how in good books there are no coincidences so this book ensures that it does not make that mistake.

I really enjoyed the revenge seeking author character, I have never read a book with a villain such as him before but I enjoyed it so much. The way he acts and the way he was described was so spot on.
"Maybe centuries of biblical imagery are wrong and Satan carries a sword and wears a stupid looking fedora"
As soon as he was described as having a fedora I knew exactly where this was going and almost choked laughing when his weapon of choice was revealled- a katana. Obviously.

I cant wait for more books by this author!

WOW!! Taylor Adams, you did not disappoint. I loved this as much as No Exit, which is one of my favourite books I’ve ever read! This was crazy, twisty and super fast paced and I finished it in under 12 hours which is unusual for me. I literally couldn’t put it down.

This is a really interesting concept for a story that I’ve never read about before. I’ll admit, it has made me slightly nervous to post negative reviews in the future… although luckily that’s not a problem this time because I loved this! This book follows Emma Carpenter who is house sitting in the middle of no where, isolated and very alone. She makes the mistake of writing a negative book review on Amazon, and unfortunately for her the author does not take it well and hunts her down, leaving Emma to fight for her survival.

There was literally twist after twist and even chapter ended with a twist and I literally could not predict what was going to happen next. I don’t have anything to negative to say about this book it’s literally everything I love in a thriller and I’d highly recommend everyone reads this!
Thank you so much to Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is fab. If you love a book that is gripping that is full of twist and turns then simply do not miss this book. I was completely hooked.

Wow, I don't think I have ever read a book with so many twists and turns and it was utterly gripping throughout.
Unique and hilariously meta plot focusing on an author being furious they were left a 1 star review seeking revenge. The dual POV is done so well.

NO EXIT by the same author is and remains out of hundreds of thriller - my top read. It’s an OMG shocker of a read that I recommend on bookstagram almost daily!

So as you can guess I am a massive fan of Taylor Adams. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book and when I finally did I devoured it in one sitting.

All Adams hall notes are present and correct , it’s Fast paced and tightly plotted and as I thought it would it kept me guessing at every clever thrilling twist and turn.

It had a fun 80’s slasher film vibe and some scenes reminded me of the infamous “ scream” films, I loved the fierce female hero of this story and was entertained and invested from the very first page.

I love thrillers that make my pulse race and have me chewing my lip in anticipation, action that hurtles you through the pages at breakneck speed and on all those point this author delivers every.single.time. Fellow thriller lovers if you enjoy fast paced ,high octane thrillers this author is the man for you, thrills by the bucketload laced with mild horror, the storylines are always thoroughly entertaining and well written and I promise you won’t be able to put them down.

No 1 star review from me that’s for sure.

I flew through this whole thing, the entertainment value was phenomenal even though I was scared shitless at some points I couldn’t stop reading. I liked it even more that No Exit mainly because the ending was a lot more satisfying.

It was crazy good, insane things started happening pretty early on and I was wondering what the fuck we will be doing for the rest of the book but my god I couldn’t catch a break.
Everyone is somewhat unreliable and you can tell is holding things back. The whole setting of the eery/isolated scenery helped with driving the unsettling vibes harder.

Some twists were pretty obvious and predictable but so many things were happening that I couldn’t possibly foresee everything.
+ the commentary, the evil author’s perspective was both a comedic relief and a highway to insanity.
I loved it so much.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the digital ARC!

(Side note, if you know, you know:
The whole setting of this story and the way it was presented, the shitty day with the shitty decisions and the shitty luck it kind of reminded of NF’s song Story. It was definitely playing on a loop at the back of my head the entire time I was reading.)

This was a horrifyingly brilliant book that reminded me of a really crap horror film - if that makes sense? This isn’t negative feedback - most horror films are crap.

I got on well with the main protagonist. She really takes hold of the story and charges you through it. I liked the way the format of the book changes throughout - it gave a creepy type of structure, and there are many twists and turns throughout.

It would have been a five star read but some parts were just a tad longwinded - they could have been cut short slightly just to make it a bit more tense.

House sitting in a remote location Emma spends most of her day reading ebooks but when she gives a 1 star review disturbing incidents start happening a night…

I flew through this book and loved it!
It was so creepy and tense, absolutely chocked full of crazy plot twists.

Never heard of a book with this plot before and it was done spectacularly!

A fast paced, twist filled thriller. Many interesting elements to the novel, a secluded beach location, traumatised protagonist and her loving dog, erratic and unknown antagonist. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher.

Wow! What a read, this book was a very fast paced read from the start, I was concerned as to how it would unfold as so much happened within the first few chapters, but gosh, I didn't expect the story to go the way it did, so many twists and turns throughout. Very cleverly written and I throughly enjoyed it!

Thank you Netgalley and the incredible author Taylor Adams for allowing me early access to this wonderful book!

The Last Word, Taylor Adams.

This book was bananas. Emma secludes herself away at a beach house whilst recovering from a trauma. Spending her days drinking tea, reading ebooks and contemplating whether to end it all. When she leaves a review which sets off an explosive chain of events.

The action in this one kicks off almost immediately leaving you with a book completely on tenterhooks, can anybody be trusted? Is it ever truly over? Is Taylor Adams ok? This is a real page turner much like No Exit was.

This book starts off at a fast pace and doesn't slow down the whole way through! I absolutely loved it, and the twists keep you on your toes all the time. As the insights to Emma's past are slowly revealed, you feel every emotion. Well written, tense, and perfect for these times!

I've loved every one of Taylor Adams' books, and this one is another great read, on a par with No Exit. Highly recommend!

Absolute genius!
This was the most fun I've had reading in ages, and I'm not just saying that because I'm scared of leaving anything other than a 5-star review. Twists, turns, tensions, full-on meta on places, and - honestly, for want of a better phrase, batsh*t crazy in the best possible way.

More like this, please!

Holy s***b***s, I still have whiplash from this book! What I expected to be a fun, slightly uneasy read turned out to be a mad, speeding, sort-of meta thing that took a whole heap of turns. The story is about a house sitter with a shady past who gives a self-published author a one-star review to horrible consequences. Have all the stars, Taylor Adams, I’m so stressed! 😬

Grateful to @netgalley and @hodderbooks for letting me read and advance copy. Novel is released in April this year.

Tension Galore..
Twists, turns and tension galore in this menacing and disturbing psychological suspense. What repercussions could the one star review that Emma leaves on a book bring? Probably none. Right? When a series of terrifying and bizarre events begin to occur, Emma realises that this particular author may well want revenge. Page turning and tension mounting, this is one to read with the lights on and preferably in a well populated location.

The Last Word by Taylor Adams is part suspense mystery part horror. This is my third book by this bestselling author and my favorite so far. The story follows Emma, who is housesitting on the coast when following the posting of a one star review finds herself at the mercy of one very upset katana-weilding author. I could see this one being adapted into a pulse-pounding horror movie. I enjoyed this fast-paced story and gripping suspense. The book has all the elements you expect; likeable characters (especially the dog), thrilling twists and reveals, and a gripping mind blowing end. I can see why Taylor Adams is such a sought after and highly recommended author. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.

<s>I would not dare to give this book anything other than 5 stars.</s>

<blockquote>"As readers and viewers we're stingier with our empathy than we'd like to admit"</blockquote>

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC of <i>THe Last Word</i>.

This book takes your expectations for an "isolated beach house/holiday home/cabin" story and absolutely shreds them in front of you.

Fast paced, dark and delightfully meta.

<spoiler>I'm still slightly conflicted about the revelation to readers that our protagonist will die approximately 35% of the way through the story. I will admit that I was more invested in whether the dog lives, and I feel that Taylor Adams expertly took advantage of that.

<blockquote>"She expected Jason Voorheas. She got a life size Chucky doll"</blockquote>
Despite being absolutely mental, it also had an unexpected sense of humour</spoiler>

You might guess some of the plot twist/s, but you'll likely still get caught off guard somewhere in the mix.
I give <i>THe Last Word</i> five stars of my own independent choice.

It’s difficult to compare Taylor Adams’ work with their most successful book, No Exit, so I’m not going to do that and instead mark it on its own merit.
It was a totally unique book, written for both writers and readers, readers to thrill and excite them and writers to live out the fantasy of hunting down that one star reviewer who just won’t quit.

I found the twists a bit predictable but it didn’t take away my enjoyment and really I liked this book a lot!