The Last Thing to Burn was one of my favorite reads of 2021, so my anticipation for Mr. Dean's new novel was at an all-time high. Unfortunately, I felt that this title was riddled with cliches and required way too much suspension of disbelief. I'm sure there's an audience for this, I am just not it.

I just don't know about this one. This book is not what you think it is. In a lot of cases that's fine, great even. But not here.

I loved Will Dean's The Last Thing to Burn, so I was super excited to read The Last One - especially after reading the premise - a woman awakens to find she's all alone on an ocean liner in the middle of the Atlantic.

My mind ran wild with ideas of what it could be - it was a dream, a hallucination, an experiment, something supernatural - but I never once guessed what it was.

In the interest of spoilers, I'm not going to say anything about the plot, but I'll say this: given what it was, it could have been done better.

Idk if this book was more of a nightmare for me or the characters in the book. It's like you're watching a locked-room horror movie, where when each twist comes you sit there and say "this cannot be happening" while the characters continue to do dumb things even though they know they shouldn't. The whole thing was just too absurd for me.

Ultimately, The Last One started off good, but soon became strange, and just gets more unreal and ridiculous as the book goes on. It just felt like a big waste of time.

Thank you to Atria Books, Will Dean, and Netgalley for an advance digital copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and given voluntarily.

1 ½ stars

Recommended for fans of: the tv show Persons Unknown (2010)

This book was, well, a lot and if i’m being honest, it drained me of my energy every time I picked it up. My first and probably biggest complaint is that this book desperately needed to be told in a MULTI-POV format. Not only did it become boring to read everything from Caz’s POV after awhile, when a group of strangers are stranded in the middle of the ocean with no food, no water, and no way to escape, I want to know what is going through everyone’s head!

Back to being drained of my energy, this book made me feel like I was right there with these unfortunate characters on that miserable cruise ship. Don’t get me wrong though, I do think that’s good writing! I want to be absorbed in what I’m reading, I want to feel like one of the characters, but this book made me want off that cruise ship more than the actual characters did. It was dreadfully long and for no reason at that.

Overall, I did enjoy it. I know it sounds like I didn’t but in all honesty, it was a good book. The plot was intriguing and suspenseful at times, all though it wasn’t original, I think the author did a great job creating their own version.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Loved this book! The beginning was kinda slow. I think the whole book could’ve been shortened to make it a thriller. It was more of a mystery than A thriller to me, but I still enjoyed it. The ending was great; I need a sequel!!

Count me into the group who has enjoyed this wild ride. Although there are a few plot holes, it is a fast-paced, engaging thriller and I finished it in less than a day.

Caz and her boyfriend Peter are on a cruise from England to the US, enjoying the amenities of a high end cabin. On the first night they go to sleep after dinner, and Caz wakes up alone. Peter is gone, as is his luggage. When she goes out to see if he's somewhere else on the ship, she finds the ship empty. Every single person is gone. How and what happened?

I think readers should go into this book knowing only the bare minimum about the plot. Just know that everything gets explained decently well and that no paranormal/supernatural phenomena are involved. There are some really good twists and turns and it kept me thoroughly and completely glued to the pages to find out what exactly would happen.

If you like surprising, fast-paced thrillers, then this is certainly a unique one. Suspend your disbelief and grab hold of your life vest for a wild ride!

**4.5 Stars**

Caz has just boarded the RMS Atlantica with her boyfriend, Pete for a long overdue holiday. After their first night on the ship, she wakes up to discover that Pete is missing. On further inspection, she finds that everyone is missing. She is the only one on the boat. It’s still cruising, full steam ahead across the ocean. She could have never guessed the events that would unfold next.

Ok, I was sucked in by the description of this book but I can confidently say, anything that I thought might happen, did NOT happen. This book was WILD. I don’t want to spoil a single thing, but I’ll just say that every chapter had me literally staring at the book with my jaw unhinged. I couldn’t put this down! I found myself thinking about “what was happening on the boat” when I wasn’t reading it.

The ending was a SHOCKER. After everything that happens, I felt it was a little over the top which is why I knocked off a half star. I will be reading everything this author has written and will write because his mind is incredible. I would consider this a mystery/psychological thriller and it’s a GOOD ONE.

Thank you to Netgalley, Will Dean and Atria for my ARC. My thoughts and opinions provided in this review are honest and voluntary.

Wow! Immediately I was intrigued with this one! Thousands of people board a cruise ship heading to America. When Caz wakes up, she finds she is all alone. Everyone else has vanished with their luggage. Mini bars are empty in the rooms. What happened to them? Why didn’t Caz wake up to the commotion?

This is one where I don’t want to give too much info. It is better to go in knowing only what I mentioned above. Trust me, the short chapters and intense action happening on this boat will keep your attention!

The ending has been receiving mixed thoughts. When I read the last line my jaw dropped and I said “WTF?!” I talked to multiple booksta friends about it. Most were not fans of the ending, but I don’t mind a cliffhanger once in awhile, so I enjoyed it. I am hoping there may be a sequel in the books, because the end sets it up to happen!

I feel like this is a tough one to rate and review. This is going to be one of those books that you either love or hate. I don’t really think there is an in between. I like when authors take risks because it shows growth right? I think Dead took a big swing with this one.

That being said-it’s hard to really talk about without revealing anything. As Ive said in the past the ocean terrifies me and what lies beneath so the whole premise of this is claustrophic and filled me with dread. I liked Caz. I had no idea where this was going to go and one the “big reveal” happened I sort of realized you really have to suspend belief for this. It is totally unrealistic but, it was entertaining and it definitely kept me flipping pages.

My only downfall with it was the length and the very last page. It made me want to throw it across the room LOL

Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy!!!******

𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸.
-𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
All opinions expressed below are mine alone.

The Last One by Will Dean was one of my most anticipated thrillers this summer. I'm so happy that it delivered and quenched my undeniable thirst for that thrilling thrill.

Do yourself a favor and go into this book blind. For some reason, I find that most book synopses reveal far too much about the book. However, in referring to The Last One, the synopsis is written in a way to give you only a small taste of what this book is really about.

I enjoyed the single POV and short, rapid chapters. The addition of the unknown suspense factor and an exciting setting on a cruise ship made for a superior summer read. If you're planning an upcoming cruise, maybe just hold off reading this until you're home safe. Now, if you are cruising and decide to take this book with you I wish you fair winds and calm seas.

This was torturous and a real nightmare. It took on a whole new level of crazy and I kept thinking, just kill me now! Or maybe just throw me overboard and end it.
It was scary and it felt like it went on forever. I also tired of Cass revisiting her past.
Good premise and I love Will Deans writing but this one wasn’t for me.
Thanks Atria Books via NetGalley.

This definitely won’t be the Last One I read by Will Dean! Caz boards the RMS Atlantica for her first holiday in a long time with her boyfriend, Pete. This is the trip she’s only imagined until she wakes up the next morning. It’s here that she realizes that the ship is empty - no one is there except for her. What started as trip of a lifetime evolves into an attempt just to survive. Where did the passengers go? Where is the crew? What happened and how did she sleep through it all?

Mr. Dean writes a thriller that slowly gives pieces to the reader and leaves the reader with an ending that is not only mind boggling, but also a gem. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this slow burn! Put it on your TBR immediately!

I loved this! I really had no idea where it was going and the twists continued to surprise me and keep me needing to know what happened next. I did sometimes feel like the characters were naive thinking something good was about to happen and that got a little frustrating. Aside from that, this was great. And the ending was exactly what I needed.

It’s tough to come up with something new in the overdone locked room mystery thriller genre, but waking up on an Antarctica-bound ship to find that you’re all alone does it! Such a great premise and really well executed - the mystery was truly a mystery, the setting was very atmospheric, and it was a great read to the end.

When Caz steps onboard the RMS Atlantica, it's the start of a vacation of a lifetime with her new love. On their first night, they explore the ship and all it has to offer. When she wakes the next morning, Pete is missing. When she goes to look for him she realizes that the ship is completely empty. No passengers, no crew, no one but her.

It's a cross between Survivor and Big Brother. A brilliantly written twisted thriller. Total page turner, I never guessed what was coming next. It also begs the question, what would you be willing to compromise for money and fame?

Thank You Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for this free e-galley.

Disliked this very much but also couldn’t put it down. I'm giving it four stars for the writing and the suspense and keeping me reading, even though it was NOT my sort of book.

Plot twist. Plot twist. PLOT twist. PLOT TWIST.

What in the actual ever living alphabet did I just read? I feel like someone needs to check on this author, make sure he's okay?

4.25 stars! This book was so intriguing!!!!! I loved it. It had a unique premise and it was pretty fast paced. I couldn't stop reading because I was so excited to find out what was going to happen next and to get more answers! You don't know much while reading. Information is dropped in bits and pieces and even that information can't be 100% trusted! I have never read from this author before but I will be checking out his blacklist. Highly recommend this fun, dark, and twisted thriller!

When taking a trans-Atlantic trip, Caz wakes up to find the entire ship empty, still traveling on auto-pilot at full speed. This starts a terrifying, mysterious voyage.

I binged this book from first word to last (what?!?) and found myself thinking deeply about what I would do in these same situations. The wild experiences that these characters go through are shocking and say a lot about our entertainment- driven lives. I was not crazy about the ending, but I did not completely hate it. I think it would make for a great discussion.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by an absolute favorite, Will Dean - 5 stars!

When Caz steps onboard the exclusive cruise liner RMS Atlantica, it’s the start of a vacation of a lifetime with her new love, Pete. On their first night they explore the ship, eat, dance, make friends, but when Caz wakes the next morning, Pete is missing. Then she realizes the ship is completely empty. And that's just the beginning.

This is a book that you just have to read - a thorough review and even a synopsis is tough without spoilers. Spoilers are no fun, so none here! I love Will Dean's books and will read anything he writes. This one was unlike anything I have read before and I couldn't put it down. It's tense, atmospheric, scary, and just a very wild ride. The ending was just PERFECTION!

Every time I read a Will Dean novel, it's impossible to think that the next can be better, more original and twisty, but somehow he does it. I have loved not only Will's Tuva series, but his stand-alone, but I think The Last One might just be my favorite yet. The idea of a luxury cruise liner adrift on the Atlantic with only four passengers onboard is so delightfully fun and creepy (as long as I'm not one of the passengers). Add in the fact that the power goes out, the access to food and water is limited, and The Last One is so addictive that it's impossible not to binge once you start. For any of you animal lovers out there like me, the dogs are fine.

The Last One had me hooked from the very beginning! It kept me on my toes the entire time-I really had no idea what was going to happen. There was so much suspense and craziness! I thought the plot took an interesting and surprising twist. I am a big fan of game shows so I liked that part of it and the fact that there were paid actors involved. My only real complaint is that the book was a bit long and I was ready for it to get to the point. But other than that, like I said, I was engaged pretty much the entire time. I would definitely read more from this author!