I was invested in this story from the first chapter and found it one of the most intense thrillers I have ever read. Much of the intensity comes from the surprises, mostly unpleasant, that are revealed in the short, staccato chapters, punctuated by little cliffhangers at the end of each one. The tension ramps up inexorably to an astounding conclusion, and a final, gut-wrenching twist!
The characters are richly drawn, especially Caz, the protagonist who narrates the whole tale from her first-person POV. As a middle-aged café owner, caring daughter, protective sister of Gemma, and lover of Pete, Caz has plenty of past history and baggage to grapple with as she faces the challenges of this voyage. The vignettes about her past, especially regarding her father, make her character particularly sympathetic, and invite the reader to understand what informs her decisions in the present.
This is a complex tale, an ominously tense thriller. It tackles issues of trust, loyalty, family dynamics, betrayal, gas-lighting, and psychological abuse, in a very contemporary setting. I’m very much looking forward to the next book he writes

Thank you to NetGalley, Will Dean and Atria Books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I love locked in type thrillers so this was right up my alley. I loved all the twists and the shocking moment. Definitely a quick and binge worthy read.

This book was exactly what it promised to be...

Super fast, absorbing reading experience. When I wasn't reading it, I wanted to be. I haven't felt this driven to finish a book in forever.

It's really difficult to get into the plot without giving spoilers, but I'll say this went in a surprising, and unexpectedly deeper, direction than I expected. It presented some thought-provoking moral dilemmas that made me examine my own behavior.

Short chapters, and short, straightforward sentence structure made it a really low effort, high pay off read. The speed at which I'm able to read a book adds dimension to the experience. In this case, the speediness increased my sense of tension and urgency.

My only complaint is the length. It felt a little too long in places. Primarily, the sections detailing Caz's backstory felt bloated and repetitive and really slowed things down. I understand that we needed her to have a compelling history so that her choices made sense, but I think that could have been accomplished in fewer anecdotes.

That aside, this was really fun. Would recommend to anyone who likes fast paced books, is looking for a thriller with a little more social commentary than what you'd typically expect, and/or those who like to (or are okay with) suspending disbelief.

“𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴…” THE LAST ONE (pub 08.08)⁣
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I don’t read many thrillers, but when my trusted book friend @stephaniehowell raves about a book I tend to listen.⁣
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This novel takes off at an unrelenting and terrifying pace as soon as the ship leaves the dock. The thought of being stranded in large, wide open spaces of water is a very specific fear of mine that makes me anxious. So this book kept me firmly planted on the edge of my seat. ⁣
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There were elements that were almost too bananas but I was too enthralled to care. It kept me guessing and the twists were outrageous in the best way. ⁣
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READ: In print thanks to @atriabooks and audio thanks to @simon.audio I loved having both formats b/c I couldn’t put it down.

The last page made me gasp.

But I’m conflicted.

While the premise and twists were entertaining, I have so many qualms about this story. It certainly was fast-paced and a page-turner with Lost vibes. Yet, it felt rushed and like details were missing. I wasn’t a fan of the characterizations and didn’t really care about what was going (outside of figuring out the twists that everyone raves about).

It’s a fun poolside read for sure but not my favorite.

This was my first Will Dean novel. What drew me to this book was the cover. A lot of my friends added this to their TBR and I followed! I am SO happy I read this! I was. hooked from page 1. This book was fast paced and gave me so much anxiety lol- but in a good way! The author told a great story that was filled with twists and turns and the plot was just perfection. I kept asking myself "what would I do if I woke up to this situation?!"
I have a fear of the deep sea and this book totally freaked me out, yet I kept on reading. That shows how engaging this read was. Thank you netgalley for this ARC.

What would you do if you woke up on a cruise ship to discover you were the only one on board?!

Caz is excited for her vacation with her love, Pete, on the cruise ship, Atlantica. But after their first night aboard Caz wakes up with Pete no where insight. In fact, no one is insight and all the cabin doors are wide open. She is in the middle of the ocean, all alone.

What a plot! I was hooked from the start! Dean weaves a web of tension and suspense, expertly building the atmosphere of isolation and fear that Caz experiences. As she grapples with her newfound reality, you'll find yourself drawn into her world, feeling her confusion, fear, and determination to uncover the truth. I couldn’t help but feel the claustrophobia and unease as I read about the eerie corridors and abandoned spaces, sharing Caz's uneasiness and growing desperation.

This book is out this week, so check it out! If you’re planning on going on a cruise anytime soon though, maybe hold off on reading this until after you’re back on dry land.

Thank you Atria for the advanced copy of this book and to Will Dean for the heart pounding, mind reeling read!

If there's one thing Will Dean has, it's the audacity. What an ending!! I did not see that coming at all. (Had to get that off my chest first, now on to an incredibly vague review!)

The synopsis of THE LAST ONE intrigued me so much when I watched a the booktuber vlog her reading experience. Basically the first 10% of the book is the synopsis and a bunch of other stuff happens after that - I strongly recommend going into this book as blind as you can so I'm definitely not going to share anything else that happens lol. My main theories right off the bat were some of the classics (everyone is dead including the MC, it's all a dream, etc.) - needless to say I won't tell you if anything was right.

I couldn't put this down and finished it in one day. Once some ~things~ happen and are revealed, the book is a pretty slow-ish thriller. It's not fast-paced like many others but I still couldn't stop reading because I was dying to know what would happen next. There are some strong twists but not too many, which was really nice. It's a little slower at parts like I said and thus I think it's a LITTLE too long, but the ending was so good. I can't believe how the author chose to end this lol.

I don't want to say anything else but if you like locked door mysteries (and, like me, never know how they're going to make a whole book centered around one person and one space), you will probably enjoy this one. The ending is definitely going to be divisive but I generally liked it because it made my jaw drop. Highly recommend this!

New fear unlocked...

I have never been on a cruise, and I'm not entirely sure I want to embark on one after reading this. Waking up alone on a massive boat is something I'm not willing to risk 😅

The author did a tremendous job describing the vessel and all of the amenities included. He made it easy to visualize everything. I don't want to say too much due to fear of giving away spoilers... I will say, you won't have to wait until the end of the book to figure out what's happening and why all the passengers are missing. I will admit, the story took a direction that I was not anticipating. I'm not sure how much I love the twist, but it made for a unique read. I really enjoy books that include strategy and puzzles.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK. *cue maniacal laughter*

I honestly can't say too much because I don't want to spoil ANYTHING. But imagine waking up on a cruise ship to find that you're the only person aboard. Horrifying. (Uh yeah, I'm literally never going on a cruise ever now. Thanks Will Dean.) It was gripping and truly unputdownable. I switched from audio to ebook 69% of the way in because I just NEEDED to know how it ended. Then I woke up at 5 am and finished the last 5%. And those last 5%, dear god. I demand a sequel!!!

*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review, Simon Book Club Favorites for the gifted copy, and Simon Audio for the gifted ALC*

Caz and her boyfriend Peter embark on a cruise across the Atlantic, but when she wakes up after the first night everyone is gone. This book had all the makings to be really good, but the ending left me disappointed.

Wow, I got into this book because it was so good. In the same breathe it made me mad, so mad that I made my kids listen to me while I told them about the book. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. There were so many twists and turns that happened in this book.
Caz goes on a cruise with her boyfriend Peter. On the first night they go to bed and when Caz wakes up she finds that she is alone on the ship. Pete is gone, when she goes looking for him she find Daniel, Smith, and Frannie. They are on the ship with no food, water, or electricity. That’s all I will say you have to read the book to find out what happens.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC for my honest review.

What a crazy ride! This was one of the most original books I’ve ever read!! It’s a crazy train but in the best way. May have been a bit too long, but I was here for this abandoned cruise ship thriller. Don’t sleep on this one!

Atria, thank you for this book! I also note I received a physical copy from Atria and SS book club favorites.

The Last One is one heck of a run roller coaster type thriller... even in a summer of thrillers this one stands out from the others for the plot, the fast paced fun I had reading it, and for oh that ending! I have never read a book from Will Dean before but I will be looking for his earlier books now and I am handing this one off to my husband so he can read it... I have been talking about it for a few days to him!

Thank you again Atria for the book copy, I had a lot of fun reading this one.

The Last One by Will Dean is a modern twist on the classic locked-room mystery.The story follows Caz, a young woman who wakes up on a luxury cruise liner to find that she is the only one on board. With no sign of the crew or passengers, Caz must race against time to find out what happened and how to survive.

Dean does a masterful job of creating a sense of suspense and dread throughout the novel. The isolated setting of the cruise liner makes it the perfect place for a mystery, and the short chapters keep the pace moving quickly. Caz is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, and her journey is both harrowing and inspiring.

The Last One is more than just a thrilling mystery. It is also a meditation on the nature of trust, family, and survival. Dean explores the dark side of human nature, but he also shows us the power of hope and resilience. The Last One is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspense novels.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to review this advance copy.

I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. It was good, but not great. I guessed early on what was happening but it just didn't fit with the theme for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC!

This book was Amazing! I loved everything about it. I had no idea what was happening at first and was trying to figure it out, I would never have guessed the direction it went. Loved the short chapters and how every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. It reminded me of The One by John Marrs in that way. I loved the twists and turns along the way and it kept me guessing the whole time. Also I loved how it had an open ending, opening it up for a sequel., Definitely will be picking up more books by this author.

Where do I begin?? The Last One is an edge of your seat thriller that transports the reader to the RMS Atlantis - a luxury ocean liner traveling from Europe to New York. After a seemingly normal first evening, Caroline (Caz) Ripley wakes to discover that she is the only passenger on board. The story that follows is a mind boggling, fast paced, claustrophobic ride that truly makes me never want to go on a boat again. It is unlike any thriller that I have read and it had me guessing until the very last sentence.

The emotions surge through me as I read the pages of this incredible book, experiencing every twist and turn as if I were Caz herself. The suspense tightens its grip as the story unfolds, and then, at the end, an unexpected revelation leaves me breathless. This is unquestionably a 5-star read, but it's not without its consequences. The author's mastery at drawing me in, making me feel every emotion, has left me reeling. It's a journey that has etched itself into my mind, and I can't help but wonder if I, too, might need therapy after this unforgettable experience.

Lose yourself in "The Last One" by Will Dean, a tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding, and emotions racing until the very last page.

This was one heck of a trip, for both the protagonist, Caz, and me! Quite a wild ride! Clocking in at 448 pages and 133 chapters, I was riveted and could barely put this down! The tension just keeps building and the ending left me speechless!

I liked the protagonist, Caz, quite a bit and spent much of the book wondering what I would do in her position.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this is best read going in blind. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait long before the action begins! I spent most of the book second and third guessing (and fourth, fifth, sixth guessing) what was going on. I still have questions, but in a good way (if that makes sense)!

Definitely going to read more from Will Dean.

Thanks, NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in return for an honest review.