This story fell flat for me and I could not connect with any of the characters. I wanted to like it but at 35% I got bored. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my review.

This is a very dark and intense novel about a young woman being held captive on an isolated farm. It's a harrowing and heart wrenching read but one that is utterly compelling.

Jane, not her real name and one that she refuses to own, left Vietnam with her younger sister with the promise of a better life ahead in Britain. Instead, what she found was forced slavery, held captive for many years by Lenn, a cruel and abusive man; expected to cook, clean, obey and be raped every night, unable to run away due to a serious injury and the threat that her younger sister will be harmed if she does. To protect her sister, she complies with his wishes, but her spirit is resilient and she won't allow him to break it even as he keeps her in degrading conditions. However, when she becomes pregnant and a second woman is imprisoned on the farm, she starts thinking about what they can do to survive.

Despite the horrific subject and my horror at the injustices being committed, this was riveting and suspenseful reading. Dean's writing is lean and powerful, conveying the claustrophobic atmosphere of the small house so well. Lenn is a truly monstrous and brutal, with an unhealthy fixation on his dead mother, while Jane's character is so strong and resilient despite everything she has been through. Unlike many novels featuring a captive woman, this one feels chillingly plausible, particularly given the circumstances that bring 'Jane' to the farm and its isolated location in the English fenland. The tension builds superbly through the novel to a very intense ending with a few surprises and a triumphant moment for Jane that resonated with the title of the novel. This was a book a won't forget in a hurry.

Wow wow wow!! I’m always a little nervous going into a story that is compared to Room but this blew Room out of the water. This is quite an intense story and at times I wanted to look away. The desperation from “Jane” just bleed through the pages and I could not give up on her. I won’t be forgetting this story any time soon.

The Last Thing To Burn Will Dean
This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I was hooked on this story from the first page. I loved Jane/Thanh.
Thanh was trafficked into the country and married off to a farmer who renamed her Jane, he controlled her every move. I felt every ounce of pain and suffering she felt.
This book was so well written, that you fell more in love with Thanh while you grew to despise her husband more with every page.

This books touches on so many raw and difficult topics, and at times I felt my heart in my mouth.
Very easy 5 stars for this one, really well written, and had me turning the pages fast. Highly recommend this.

WOW! What a powerful book. An amazing domestic thriller about human trafficking that had me feeling breathless and unable to stop reading! There are few characters in this story, but all of them are so well crafted and the scenes so well described that it feels like you're in the actual story watching from the sidelines. Some of them were really hard to read thru but I was still unable to turn away. And such powerful, strong female protagonist! What a gift, seeing them transform and find their inner strength. Bravo Will Dean!

I’m still stunned by this book! In a good way! It was a thrilling read but there were some very difficult scenes that were hard to read. This book was reminiscent of Misery if Misery had a human trafficking subplot. I’d say a cross between Misery and Room. Thanh/Jane the main protagonist endures so much and is so much stronger than I could ever be if I was in this situation. I couldn’t put this book down and at times I felt like I was trapped with Thanh/Jane! I was so invested in her survival and rooting for her to escape! My only slight criticism is I wished there was more of a backstory presented to give some insight on what would compel a person to do what Thanh and her sister did to escape Vietnam. I don’t want to spoil anything else but I highly recommend this read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book and provide my honest feedback.

Misery”. I still remember both!
Awww the statement I am your #1 Biggest fan"; took on a whole new meaning after “Misery”!!!
Both of these stories are about being held captive.

This story starts with Thanh Dao (who is called ‘Jane’ by her captor) trying to run away from Lenn who is holding her captive on his farm. He has cameras to watch her every move so it isn’t surprising that he finds her quickly.
Thanh Dao and her sister Kym-Le, left Vietnam for a better life in England. Thanh Dao has been living on the farm again her will for 7 years. Lenn told her that her sister was happy but went back to Vietnam.

Will Thanh Dao ever leave his place and find her sister?

Story had me interested ~ I expected the story to be sad and disturbing; but wasn’t expecting it to be so slow. I guess slow really isn’t the correct word. I thought perhaps this story would be more like ‘Room’ where the little boy escapes and helps authorities find his mother. That story also had more focus on dealing with life outside of captivity. There was actually some humor.
No humor in this one
I was hoping ~ Thanh Doa would escape, find her sister and would heal both physically and emotionally. Nope ~instead this story stayed with the misery.
I actually had nightmares about this situation.
I did like that author Will Dean offered help in his “Afterword” section. A list of web sites of helpful organizations with resources that would offer support if one might suspect human trafficking, exploitation or migration stats.

I give very few perfect 5 star rating so all the high ratings had me positive this was going to be great. However, since we all have different tastes in novels ~ I have to admit my high expectations fell short!
It did keep me reading but earns 3 sad stars from me.

Want to thank NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this eGalley granted to me early for a honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 20, 2021

Wow!

Rounded up to 4.5-stars.

This book absolutely gripped me from the beginning and did not let go. Most of the book takes place within the walls of a small isolated farmhouse and contains just two characters, and the atmosphere and tension that is created in this setting kept me riveted and I read it in one sitting.

Jane (but that’s not my name) was imprisoned seven years ago as the victim of a human trafficking ring. Her life of slavery exists within the confines of the farmhouse and immediate surrounds and every move she makes is monitored by cameras, 24 hours a day. Any perceived mistake reaps severe punishment, and her daily life is one of emotional, psychological and physical abuse.

As the book progresses, so does the suspense. With the addition of a baby to protect, and the arrival of a new victim who is being subjected to torturous and life-threatening conditions, Jane knows that to survive she must try to escape but the consequences of failure are unthinkable. The last third of the book was a nail-biting page turner.

My only criticism is that the ending seemed rushed and a little abrupt. Everything was complete, but with the author having taken such meticulous care throughout the rest of the book the pacing at the end seemed off by comparison. This would otherwise have been a 5-star read for me.

As psychological suspense goes this is right up there with the best.

Thank you NetGalley, Will Dean and Atria Books for the ARC of The Last Thing to Burn. This is my personal review.
This book was one that was extremely hard for me to great through. It made me feel like I could not move. It was for me disturbing and will probably haunt me for a while after finishing it.
It is a book that would be unsettling for some people to read.

Happy Friday Eve friends! If your looking for a chilling, twisted, nail biting suspense novel then you must read ‘The Last Thing To Burn’ by @willrdean!

This novel is perfectly described as a claustrophobic thriller and that is exactly what it is. For seven years a woman has been held captive on a secluded farm under the rule of a disgusting man known as Lenn- or better word for this man would be monster. This monster has renamed his victim to Jane, and forces her to do terrible things. Jane has tried to escape her captor many times - and has failed. However when she becomes pregnant and a new victim is brought into the home Jane is more determined then ever to save herself, her baby and Lenns newest victim.

I seriously had the best reading anxiety while reading this one. Every time Jane tried to escape, hide supplies or beg Lenn for much needed items for her new baby I wanted to cover my eyes but peek at the same time!

100% recommend this thriller! Prepare yourself for scenes that are difficult and rough content. This thriller is released on April 20, 2021- set yourself a reminder!

Special thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks book for the gifted copy !

I know I am in the minority with this book but sorry it just wasn't for me, I didn't enjoy the storyline and the topic wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley an Atria Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This is a story about two young sisters who pay traffickers to take them from Vietnam to the UK in order for them to have a better life and to be able to send money home to their parents.
The story centers on Thanh Dao renamed 'Jane' by her captor Penn on an isolated farm. It is a sad and frightening story about human trafficking, modern day slavery and both mental & physical torture. This subject matter does make it a difficult read at times, but overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

Chilling story. I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach the entire way through this book. Grabs you and doesn’t release you until the last page. Unimaginable terror at every turn.

The Last Thing To Burn may be Will Dean’s American debut, but it certainly won’t be his last novel to enthrall thriller fans in the US. This book is dark, haunting, and unbelievably disturbing. But it’s also captivating, deeply intense, and impossible to put down with clear Misery by Steven King vibes. Naturally, I loved it!

The story is told from Jane’s point of view. Jane is a victim of human trafficking and has been held prisoner living on a secluded farm with her “husband” Lenn for seven years. She’s expected to cook, clean and satisfy Lenn, meeting his specific standards for every task every single time. And if she doesn’t, or if she even contemplates escaping for a millisecond, Lenn will take punitive spirit-breaking action.

All the while, you’re living this anguishing existence with Jane and imploring her to find a way to escape. Or for someone to notice what’s going on and call the police. Or for her to rise up and kill her captor. But as the book progresses, the situation gets more complicated and it’s clear no one will show up to save her. Jane is a prisoner of body and mind, but she quietly and relentlessly resists with her entire soul. Searching for a way to end this nightmare. Seeking the courage and opportunity to take matters into her own hands. Because if she can’t, she’ll be condemned to this living hell until her dying breath.

While rooting like mad for Jane’s salvation, the reader pleads for a big truckload of karma to plow into Lenn and send him to the bowels of Hades. Lenn is an unassuming but sick bastard with the biggest, most disturbing oedipal complex known to the literary world. He’s condescending, completely devoid of human decency, and delusional into thinking this is a good life for he and his “wife.” No fate is too horrible for this guy and you’ll wish you could reach through the pages and strangle Lenn yourself while screaming at Jane to run for her life. But will he get his comeuppance?

The Last Thing To Burn may not be a typical mass market big action thriller, but it carves out its own space as a strong, slow burning psychological thriller with several gut-wrenching twists. The story builds and builds, gripping you early and gradually tightening it’s hold like a boa constrictor until you’re about to explode from the pressure. But you can’t stop reading. As if Jane’s destiny is connected to your ability to continue turning the pages. And you cannot, will not let her down.

I highly recommend The Last Thing To Burn. It’s demented, suspenseful and will stick with you long after you finish the book. It has all the hallmarks of a good psychological thriller. I believe it’ll be a hit with fans of the genre and Will Dean will be an author to be reckoned with going forward.

I wanted to love this book because it's very well written and has been getting tremendous reviews from other reader's. Unfortunately, it's the type of thriller I dislike the most, claustrophobic, depressing and primarily takes place in one location. In this case personal taste does count, I have no doubt that other reader's will enjoy this book.

This book is terrifying from the very first sentence. It's a well paced book with a compelling narrative. It's very character driven. And its one of those books that some will enjoy and some will not! It touches hard topics which I personally loved. This book will stay with me for some time

Ooo I know y'all are thinking the same thing as me... with a title like this you know it is going to be a thrill to read! And it absolutely was. Loved the writing, storyline and characters in this one. Definitely a suspenseful read. Go for it!

Despite the horrific subject matter of this fast-paced novel, it was so well-written and with a compelling, driving force to the narrative that I gulped it down within a day. I’ve been a fan of Will Dean’s Swedish detective thrillers so was intrigued to see what this stand-alone book would be like. It throws into glaring focus the terrible fate of some of the individuals who suffered from human trafficking. I needed to know this.

This book was a quick read but by no means easy. Every single page was full of trauma, hardship, tension and despair but there were also undercurrents of hope and belief that things could get better. You will feel the claustrophobia in every paragraph... the unwavering determination to overcome it is clear but this is a real 'in the moment' book that will almost have you transported to the very moments that you're reading about.

Jane's fear, loathing and strength was written into almost every single page of this book. Every action highlighted her courage and her drive to survive and, to help others survive with her. Clear your schedules because you will be reading 'just a few more lines' well into the night to finish this in book in one sitting.

"Jane", along with her unborn baby is being held captive. By her so-called-husband. She is a victim of human trafficking. She is forced to cook, clean, and many other unmentionable duties. This book is so well written, emotional and a complete edge of your seat thrill a minute ride! I've already recommended it several times!