I really enjoyed this book and was hooked from start to finish and had to know how it was going to turn out.

The storyline was well thought out and the characters were well written.

I’m looking forward to the TV series when it is released.

If you enjoy the suspense genre then I think you will love this too.

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback. #NetGalley #TheLastThingHeToldMe

The Last Thing He Told Me is quite simply a must read! This gripping story is a multi-layered, complex and exhilarating mystery, which also explores the intricacies of family relationships. It’s a real page-turner that grabs your attention from the opening paragraph and refuses to let go. This is the first novel by Laura Dave that I have read, but I will definitely be seeking out her other work. She builds suspense effortlessly and I was on tenterhooks the entire time I was reading this. The mystery of Owen’s disappearance is intricately constructed and gradually revealed in a taut but satisfying way. I really enjoyed the style adopted, where chapters set before Owen’s disappearance were interspersed between the current events. These helped build enough of a backstory and insight into Hannah and Owen’s relationship to feel really invested in the narrative.

The real triumph of this novel though, is the deep and fervent exploration of relationships. Hannah and Owen’s relationship is examined in great detail and makes for really interesting reading, particularly in relation to the unraveling of the central mystery. However, it is the relationship between Hannah and her step-daughter Bailey that is is the most compelling aspect of this story. The course of the extraordinary events pave a way for these two women to connect unlike ever before. The evolution of their relationship is as absorbing as the truth behind Owen and elevates this novel from being just another thriller about a husband who isn’t who his wife thought he was.

This is a story about sacrifice, loss, courage and ultimately, love. There’s a beauty to it that isn’t always present in commercial thriller fiction and this means it leaves a mark on readers. This novel is due to become a Netflix series and I can see it translating very well. Do yourself a favour though and read it before you watch it!

Hannah has been married to Owen Michaels for a short time, and his teenage daughter, Bailey, may dislike her at the moment, but she knows it will all work out. One day she hears a knock at the door and receives a note from a stranger who says the note is from Owen. The note only has two words "Protect Her" and as she desperately tries to contact him and her world starts to unravel, Hannah knows he means for her to protect Bailey. But protect her from what or whom?

I've read several variations of the 'disappearing husband who is not who he says' trope, but this one really is a cut above the others. Hannah is a character who is out of her depth but tries her best, and she really cares for both Owen and his daughter. Bailey is obnoxious at first, but as the story progresses, the reader finds out why she is slow to trust. I really enjoyed reading it and recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Serpent's Tail/Viper/Profile Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

A gripping page turner, I can definitely see why its going to be turned into a TV series. Hannah's husband Owen , goes missing following FBI involvement and leaves a note for hia 16 year old daughter who has already lost her mother. Hidden secrets and family mysteries abound- a great thriller to get stuck into!

4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

"That's how you fill in the blanks — with stories and memories from the people who love you. If they lie to you, like he did, who are you then? Who is he? The person you thought you knew, your favorite person, starts to disappear, a mirage, unless you convince yourself the parts that matter are still true."

WHAT I LOVED 💟 When I added this book to my TBR, I didn't have huge expectations: the plot was captivating, but I was already bracing myself for yet another 'domestic thriller'. I am so happy I was wrong! THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME is an excellent read . I love both the writing and the book structure, switching all the time from current to past events and vice-versa. I find the characters well-written and faceted — especially Hannah.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK 💔 The search for the truth behind the disappearance of Owen Michaels felt too easy — at times, even slightly unrealistic.

I would surely recommend this book: it's unexpected, entertaining and I think it would be a great read for fans of Donna Tartt or Brit Bennett.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this advance read.
I was expecting to be reading a thriller from the blurb but I found this book to be quite slow paced up to about 75% then it picked up. There was a small amount if suspense but ultimately this book just wasn't for me. However looking at the reviews I am definitely in the minority

What a book! This gripped me from the first page and I could not put it down. Absolutely amazing! Cannot recommend it highly enough. Can't wait for the TV series.

Thank you to Netgalley, Serpent's Tail/Viper and Laura Dave for this ARC in return for my honest review. I devoured this book, read it over the weekend. Absolutely thrilling from the opening pages. Can't wait to see the TV series!

BRILLIANT!!!

The doorbell rings and when she opens the door she finds a 13-year-old girl standing there. A torn-off piece of paper is pushed in her hand. A note from her husband of nearly 2 years. On it,  2 words.... "protect her"
And with this, her whole world falls apart. What did she know about her husband? Did she know him at all and how will she cope with her 16-year-old stepdaughter who hates her? Will she find out the truth; not only about why her husband decided to disappear but also about the past?

What an amazing read! I was captivated from the beginning and couldn't put it down. Sometimes I read a book and find that I get distracted quickly but definitely not with this 1!

In the end, this is a story about right against wrong and about choices.  Sometimes making the right choice can be the most hurtful.

Thank you to NetGalley, Profiles books, Viper and Serpent's Tail for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I devoured this book.

Owen’s business is raided by the FBI and he managed to get a note to his partner Hannah, saying simply “protect her” knowing that it means protect his young daughter, Hannah works out how to do the best possible with little means or no idea what she is protecting her from.

This is simply sumptuous writing with no downside at all. Thriller yes! Thrilling Yes!

This is a 5 star read and it will certainly be re read by me!

Owen has disappeared and his wife has been left one message: "protect her". Knowing that the note must be referring to Owen's 16 year old daughter, Bailey, we begin to follow Hannah through the twists and turns of attempting to find her husband and answer the question of why he has left them both behind,

Told from Hannah's perspective, we piece together the stories along with her, the drama increasing as she and Bailey are confronted with people and problems that neither of them would have ever expected. I found the plot slow to get started but it soon picked up pace and I found myself flying through the latter half of the book. The right for this story have already been purchased and I can see how it will make a gripping limited series.

A solid 3.5/`5 - a great page turner that was entertaining with a interesting range of characters.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into this book, and I don't know if I ever fully connected with the characters, but it is well written and there are a lot of intricate details to the plot that the author has painstakingly woven together. From the opening pages, and a lot of the descriptions of the book, you get the feeling that the story is going to be about Hannah trying to piece together the mystery behind her husband Owen's disappearance - and of course, it is about that too - but the element of the book that I enjoyed most was the exploration of the relationship between Hannah and her reluctant stepdaughter Bailey, and how they learn to adapt and support one another as their lives rapidly change.

This review is based on an ARC of the book. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Really enjoyed this book. Not your average husband disappears novel. Fast pace and good plot.

Laura Dave writes a terrifically impressive and moreish suspense novel that shines in its depiction of a moving and growing relationship between Hannah and her 16 year old stepdaughter, Bailey, that develops from a problematic one to a more profound and trusting one. Its evolution begins with the disappearance of Owen Michaels, a man Hannah had been married to for just longer than a year, only for him to suddenly disappear, leaving behind a strange note saying 'protect her' with reference to Bailey. What could have happened to make Owen leave behind his daughter? Bailey, who had lost her mother in an accident when she was a young child, is left a mass of confusion and pain, feelings Hannah can understand and relate to. Matters become darker when the boss of the tech software company Owen worked for is arrested by the FBI for fraud, with the FBI and a US Air Marshall wanting to know more about Owen.

Hannah, a skilled craftswoman working in wood, proves to be a resilient, compassionate, courageous, smart, and ferociously determined mother who makes the decision to look into the man she had married as she joins forces with a Bailey that comes to rely on her and begins to trust her. It does not take long before it starts to become apparent that Owen is far from what he appeared to be in this tense narrative that goes back and forth in time, with a focus on Hannah's marriage. There are numerous twists and turns, that involve going from Sausalito, their Californian home, to Austin, Texas, with the truth coming as a shockingly unexpected surprise.

This is a riveting, thoughtful, engaging and entertaining read, succinct with short chapters, well plotted and with complex and realistic characters that feel all too authentic. It touches on the nature of family, secrets, deception, danger, and the ties that bind. I understand this is going to be turned into a TV series featuring Julia Roberts! Highly recommended. Many thanks to Serpent's Tail/Profile Books for an ARC.

A gripping dramatic tale about the disappearance of Owen, a father of his much loved daughter, Bailey and his second wife, Hannah.
The story is told from the perspective of Hannah as she tries to establish the truth behind her husband’s disappearance and come to terms with the secrets that are uncovered in doing so.

The hook at the beginning was reminiscent of early Linwood Barclay and so, it had me. Then, it becomes a family drama for a while as Hannah and Bailey struggle with their relationship as well as the mystery of the missing husband / father. However, there are sufficient thrills and drama to maintain interest.

It’s a well told story of secrets, family, betrayal and it’s especially poignant and meaningful if, like me, you’ve been in the life of a daughter, not yours biologically, but whom you love deeply. That’s what, for me, pushed it from a Good Read to one I loved.

ARC REVIEW
4 stars.

I love a domestic suspense!
Hannah and Owen meet later in life, fall in love and marry. Hannah becomes step-mum to Owen’s teenage daughter Bailey. Having lost her mum at such a young age Bailey struggles with the prospect of having to share her dad and despite Hannah’s efforts their relationship isn’t fantastic.

Owen doesn’t come home from work one evening and leaves both Hannah and Bailey mysterious notes. The women have to put their differences aside and come together to find Owen and discover the secrets he has hidden from them for a lifetime.

I was invested from the beginning and found the pace gripping. Watching Hannah and Bailey’s relationship develop was beautiful and I found the last chapter just perfect and a little emotional.

The only reason I have marked this down a little is because I went into it expecting it to be a thriller and therefore was expecting some more twists and turns. However, it is very much a suspense/mystery and the real take away is the relationship building.

Thank you so much for my advanced copy!

The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave.

Before Owen Michaels disappears he smuggles a note to his wife of a year; protect her. Hannah knows that this means Owens daughter Bailey but she doesn’t know what she is protecting her from. Calls to Owen go unanswered, the FBI is investigating his company for fraud and Hannah quickly realises Owen is not who he says he was. As she and Bailey try to uncover what Owen was hiding they find themselves facing a future they could never have predicted.

Already brought and in the works for a TV adaption by #HelloSunshine Reese Witherspoons production company this domestic thriller is a slow burning read. Narration from Hannah is intricately written and vivid to picture. The scene shifts part way through and from then this becomes impossible to tear from as you unravel the mysteries of Owen and race towards the end.

This one will work brilliantly on screen, a solid read.

I read this book in one sitting. That's it. That's the review :)

Owen disappears, leaving Hannah (his wife) a note that says "Protect her". Hannah knows he's referring to his daughter, Bailey. That's the premise, and from there, there's a quick succession of events that keep you want to know what will happen afterwards, as Hannah and her stepdaughter try to uncover why Owen left, and in the process uncovering the truth about his past. It's also about the development of the fragile relationship between Hannah and Bailey.

I could not put this book down. It hooked me from the beginning (which is not very common these days). The characters felt realistic. I don't want to add anything to avoid spoilers, but get yourself a copy and untangle the mystery!

This review is based on an ARC of the book. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah is aghast when she hears on the news that her husband Owen's workplace has been raided, and an arrest has been made. Hannah can't contact Owen, and it soon becomes apparent that he has gone missing. When a neighbourhood child hands Hannah a note from Owen saying "Protect Her", Hannah refuses to sit around and wait for Owen to make contact - she knows something must be desperately wrong for him to leave his sixteen-year-old daughter Bailey behind. Hannah and Bailey might not have the most solid relationship in the world but they now need to come together to try and find out what has happened to Owen. Did either of them really know him at all?!

This was an interesting premise, I liked the crime element to the story. I thought that the investigation added another layer to the story and while as usual, my brain tries to skip ahead and predict the twists, this didn't ruin my reading experience. I thought the relationship between Hannah and Bailey was very well done - they were both still wary of each other and both felt misunderstood. The whole Owen thing - it was fine. I didn't like him and I felt like he had an ulterior motive in even getting together with Hannah. The other thing that I didn't really feel made sense was Bailey remembering events and places from when she was a toddler. This has cropped up in a few different books recently and I'm wondering how these people have so many accurate, reliable memories from decades ago?!

Aside from that, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

Another book with a hubby seemingly going out one Morning and never returning, there is however a few different spins on this one, mainly the reason he has gone, which isen’t the one we are led to at first by the author and also the fact he leaves his new wife in charge of his daughter, these 2 then are thrust together and from a lets say difficult relationship have to learn to trust each other as they unravel the mystery, both play epic roles and their relationship is fascinating to watch evolve
It is a bit complicated when it gets to the bones of it but not so that it put me off and it’s a very very unexpected ending with a nice little added twist in the last few pages
Great writing and characterisation and a different enough take on the missing spouse theme to make it stand out

8/10
4 Stars