This is probably going to be a very short review, because I am not sure I can talk about this book without spoiling it, but I am certainly going to give it a try. This is perhaps the best psychological thriller I have read in a long time. It has so many twists that it made my head spin!

Emma is the main character and she tells the bulk of the story. There are other points of view too, but she is the one that you are going to end up rooting for. Emma is an introvert with some issues, so she has decided to totally isolate herself at this beach house. But she is not without strengths. She is smart, and because she has read and seen quite a bit of horror, she knows how to deal with some of the situations that come up, nor does she make the same old tired and stupid mistakes. I really liked her and totally got where she was coming from and why she chose to just be by herself. Her tragic past is slowly revealed over the course of the book and you just end up hoping she will make it through. Plus you have to love someone who will risk everything for their dog.

Although there is some character development, mostly Emma’s, this is a heavily plot driven story. You really need to go into this knowing as little about the plot as possible, so I will try my best not to reveal too much. The main thing is not everyone’s narration is reliable, and at times it is hard to know who’s story to trust. There are lots of twists in this story and most I was only able to figure out right before they were revealed, and there were a couple that I totally did not see coming. The pacing is very fast, once you get past the first 50 or so pages, and it is really hard to put down.

I had one minor little issue with the formatting. There were a couple of times when the point of view switched, but it wasn’t quite clear who it switched to. Which actually made to story scarier, but I just kind of wished that the font was changed so that I knew the pov had changed. It was confusing at times.

If you are into psychological thrillers this is one you really need to add to your TBR. I have loved every book by this author, but I think this is one is by far my favorite. And let this be a cautionary tale to all you reviewers, be kind even when you don’t like the book!

Taylor Adams delivered with No Exit and I was excited to check out The Last Word. I’m glad to say that it didn’t disappoint. The novel is very fast-paced with a ton of action and chilling surprises. I recommend for anyone who is looking for something suspenseful and keeps the pages turning.

I assure you my review of this book was in no way influenced by a terrifying fear of what might happen were I to leave a one star review. :-)

"The Last Word" is another keep-you-guessing book from Taylor Adams. I absolutely loved "No Exit" so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read his next book. This book fully sucked me in from the get go and by half way through the book there was so much happening I couldn't begin to guess what more might lay ahead. The idea of an author going after negative reviewers felt strangely personal, giving the book an extra level of eeriness (which made me even more invested in the book). The twists in "The Last Word' kept me guessing and second guessing myself until the "acknowledgements" page; where I literally stopped and said aloud..."Wait, what!" before realizing the cleverness of Taylor Adams. He has become a go-to author for me, knowing I can count on for a great read.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

Hooray, Taylor Adams is back!

As someone who was a huge fan of No Exit but disappointed by Hairpin Bridge, I was thrilled to discover this one was a return to form, with Adams doing what he does best.

This is a legitimately scary book, but in a fun way. Adams excels (just like in No Exit) in creating creepy and menacing suspense and atmosphere that’s fun rather than upsetting.

I’ll admit I didn’t love the parts about the dog, as it stressed me out more than I’d like and l’ll admit I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this had I not been privy to how the particular piece of the story would turn put ahead of time.

I did guess the twists in this one very early
on, which isn’t ideal but didn’t damage my
enjoyment of reading the book. I see it as a testament to Adams’ ability to write great suspense that it’s still exciting and creepy even if you know a bit about the villain or their motives before you’re theoretically supposed to.

I’ll refrain from making the obvious joke about being afraid to write a negative review for this one, mostly because it simply wasn’t in play here since Adams wrote us a fun, edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Enjoyed this book thoroughly! The actual twist came as a nice surprise and kept the story engaging. Would highly recommend to a mystery reader.

This seems like a "ripped from the headlines" type of novel and gave me the chills! Mostly because I'm a reviewer myself and the concept is extremely scary! But I guess that's the point of the book right? And the amazing Taylor Adams didn't pull any punches! Great book!

“Opinions are like a**holes, the saying goes, and the internet has millions of both.”.

Reviewers beware!

Have you ever wondered how a writer might respond to an unsavory review of his book? What might his reaction be to a one-star review when he worked tirelessly to complete his masterpiece?

Don’t worry, Taylor Adams, I really enjoyed The Last Word!

Emma Carpenter and her dog, Laika, are housesitting at an isolated beach home in order to cope with her own grief. To distract herself from her depression, she orders cheap E-books from Amazon and mindlessly reads to pass the time. She also plays Hangman through a window on a whiteboard with her alcoholic neighbor, Deek. When he suggests that she reads Murder Mountain, she immediately downloads, reads, and reviews it. Unfortunately, it is quite possibly the worst book she has ever read, and consequently uploads a one-star scathing review to Amazon.

Immediately, Emma receives a threatening response from the author, imploring her to take it down. After she refuses, she begins to feel like someone is watching her. Is there an intruder in the house? Is it haunted? Could the author of Murder Mountain have actually found her and made good on his threat? Is Emma in danger?

This is my third Taylor Adams thriller, and in true fashion, it includes non-stop action that will have readers on the edge of their seats, reeling from the killer twists that just…keep…coming! With vibes of The Woman in the Window and Misery, this book is extremely clever and expertly plotted!

Like Adams’ previous thrillers, The Last Word is fairly gruesome. However, it has a light, humorous, and sympathetic tone, so it is not as terrifying. Regardless, if you are squeamish, this might not be the right read for you.

Overall, I really enjoyed the ride and it is my absolute pleasure to give this book an excellent review! (I promise I’m not just saying that to avoid retribution!)

4.5/5 stars rounded down

Trigger warning: School shooting, suicide, intent to hurt an animal (but no harm is actually done)

Expected publication date: 4/25/23

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow publishing for the ARC of The Last Word in exchange for an honest review.

Taylor Adams is known for her edge-of-your seat thrillers, but this one may be her best ever. Buckle up for a heck of a ride as the tension builds, the storms attack, and your emotions are jerked around like a tilt-a-whirl. A protagonist that I came to admire, twists and turns that had me gasping for breath and an ending….well you will have to see for yourself.

This book will be released in April, 2023. I highly recommend it as I reconsider ever writing another book review. You will understand once you read this. Don’t pass it up!

4.5 stars - I cannot deny how entertained I was by this absolutely delightful, whackado ,suspense/horror story! Vibe-wise, think the Scream franchise, where there are genuine jump scares and bloody kills, but infused with a dark humor and plenty of metatextual commentary on the thriller & true crime genres, the reader/author relationship, grief, and the love of a dog. Prepare to suspend your disbelief, but if you can roll with it, this is a rollicking good time

CW: threats to pets, death of a child, self harm

Clever prologue, Taylor. Made me wonder if you'd come after me if I posted a negative review. But after reading this title, I couldn't do that because I loved the book.

Emma Carpenter is housesitting in a large home in a rural beach setting. She's a voracious reader on her Kindle White. After finishing a particularly bad book, she posts a one-star review on Amazon. Soon the author contacts her and asks her to please remove the review. Emma says she won't and that the one star is well deserved.

Then the terror begins. She thinks she hears someone in the house with her but can't find anyone. Her dog is poisoned, but maybe she ate something outside that she shouldn't have. Then the author leans into the horror genre and you, as the reader, need to keep the lights on all night. (I kind of wish he'd pull back from horror a little.)

You'll meet yourself coming and going with all the twists in this thriller. I've been a Taylor Adams fan since No Exit, which I recommend to everyone. And he hasn't disappointed me yet. He's good at shining the spotlight on all the characters as the possible assailant. Maybe it's all of them. You'll need to read The Last Word to find out and I highly recommend that you do. I can't wait to read Taylor's next creation.

This. Book. Had. Me. Sweating. I’m not even kidding. This was like edge of my seat, heart palpitations thriller level. And the TWISTS KEPT COMING!

After reading this book, I officially will never give a bad review again, because I’m terrified 😂 The Last Word has everything you can ask for in a thriller:

Heart racing tension ✅
Edge of your seat action ✅
Likeable characters ✅
A fantastic plot ✅

Make sure you buy this book immediately when it’s released in April 25..or else. (Lol jk) (sorta)(maybe)(just read it!)

Emma Carpenter is housesitting alone at a beach house on the Washington coast when she leaves a one-star review for an author named H.G. Kane who responds to her review demanding she retract it. Soon, disturbing incidents occur and Emma feels like she is being watched.

The plot of the story is unique, and something horror stories are made of. Especially for book reviewers! I loved every minute of this action-packed, pulsating thriller. To say my heart was in my throat the entire time I was reading this is an understatement! It was absolutely terrifying.

The ending really took me by surprise and I was not expecting to feel so emotional. I actually shed a few tears.

If you are a fan of No Exit like me, you will absolutely devour this.

I can summarize this book in one word. Brilliant.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy. Once again Taylor Adams blows me away with another book. I will be adding this to my bookshelf.

The Last Word starts off creepy and keeps your adrenaline pumping, especially if you read it late at night in the dark as I did.

OMG this had me at the edge of my seat biting my nails. This high paced thriller was one of the best from Taylor Adam's yet to date! I could not put it down, this must be on your TBR this year, or better yet read it as soon as you get it.
I just reviewed The Last Word by Taylor Adams. #TheLastWord #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

A negative book review has an author set on revenge...and this author has written A LOT of horror novels.

Taylor Adams' THE LAST WORD was unique and so much fun. The perspective shifts were well-executed for both tone and plot. This was a total page-turner; I had to know what happened next. Early on, I thought we were veering into "House Across the Lake" or "Woman in the Window" stale tropes, but we were not!

I thoroughly enjoyed both HAIRPIN BRIDGE and NO EXIT; this author is an automatic read for me.

How much impact do reader reviews have on the success of a book and its author? Emma Carpenter discovers the consequences of expressing her opinion in the latest novel by Taylor Adams. A grief-stricken house sitter, Emma passes the time in self-imposed exile by reading and posting reviews. Her only communication offline is via telescoped Whiteboard notes exchanged with her closest neighbor on an otherwise deserted strand. After posting a scathing commentary on a particularly abysmal horror novel, Emma provokes the author to respond with a battle of words that quickly escalates to the physical realm. The Last Word is clever and self-referential, playfully unleashing a dizzying amount of plot twists. The book pokes fun at its own genre and its tropes while offering itself as a unique variation. Some readers may be daunted by the number of revelations that unrelentingly buzz throughout, but those who can withstand ambiguity will ultimately be rewarded. Adams keeps you guessing while cranking up a plot that is as vividly cinematic and propulsive as any modern slasher flick. Those who enjoyed the movie Scream or the works of Stephen Graham-Jones, Grady Hendrix, and Paul Tremblay will find Adams’ work fits nicely into their horror collection.
Thanks to the author, William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I’m too afraid to rate this anything less than 5 stars….

Five stars from here on out for every book I read.

(But really this was epic.)

Y’all this crazy thing right here 🤣
•
It started out so good—Emma leaves a bad review on a horror book and all of a sudden the author is messaging her and threatening her. I thought it was kind of tongue in cheek and was totally digging it. Because wouldn’t authors love to say these things to some of their most critical reviewers? 😬
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Next thing I know it goes meta—we’ve got a book within the book..like the author is writing a new thriller where he murders our book reviewer 😱
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Unfortunately, I couldn’t make heads or tails of it you guys. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I had no idea if things were happening for real or if we were in the book or what. 🧐🤣🤣 I’m thinking maybe it will be easier to follow in the print version vs. the kindle version, but on kindle it was so confusing.
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It was totally action packed with lots of little twists and I read it so fast. It just wasn’t a total homerun for me. I literally can’t wait to hear what everyone else thinks of it though! Out 4/25!
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Thanks so much to NetGalley and William Morrow books for the advanced copy!

Once again, unfortunately, I’ll be withholding my full review in solidarity with the Harper Collins Workers’ Strike. I’d LOVE to talk more about this book, and hopefully I’ll be able to soon!