I enjoyed seeing the character development in this book, that was one of the stand outs for me. Overall I really enjoyed it.

This was not what I expected - in the best possible way! I’’m not sure what to call this - a mystery? Katie becomes the caretaker and gets much more than she bargained for. I found the premise unusual, and enjoyed the setting. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC..

The Last Caretaker by J. Strawser, published by Lake Union Publishing is a full length stand alone. A stunning read full of unexpected twists and turns. 5 Stars.
Katie’s divorce was, in a word, humiliating. So when her friend Bess offers a fresh start—a residential caretaking job at a nature preserve—Katie accepts. No matter that she’s not exactly a “nature person.” How hard can it be?

But from day one, something feels off. Katie’s new farmhouse looks as if the last caretaker barely moved out at all. When a frantic, terrified woman arrives late at night, expecting a safe place to hide, it’s clear caretaking involves way more than Katie bargained for.

Katie can’t tell who she can trust: the brooding groundskeeper, the daily regulars—hikers, dog walkers, bird-watchers, photographers—even Bess.

As Katie digs deeper for clues in what the last caretaker left behind, she must discover courage she never knew she had—and decide how much she’ll risk to do the right thing.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this eCopy to review

I enjoyed The Last Caretaker, despite its troubling subject matter. The setting was well described, it was a different take on life after divorce with the hint of mystery about the house's previous occupant. The sense of tension builds as Bess investigates what happened to Grace.

I enjoyed how Bess developed and grew as a person finding hidden depths of resilience to help the women who turned up at her door for safety

DNF this one was just so slow. TW domestic violence. This was not my kind of book at all. Awkward, clunky and hard to follow

A very different take on the rebuilding your life after divorce trope. Katie take a job as caretaker at a remote wildlife preserve but soon discovers she's taken on something bigger. Why did the caretaker's house look like someone just walked out one day and where did that last caretaker go? She mulls this, takes long walks,, and then a woman turns up seeking shelter. That's when Katie realizes the real purpose of the house. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The Last Caretaker by Jessica Strawser was a suspenseful and wonderfully written story.
This was a really good book and I honestly devoured it.

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Just a 3

Katie, post divorce, needs a fresh start. Her close friend Bess puts in a good word for her so that she can become the new caretaker at Grove Nature Centre in rural Ohio. However, wait, what? On her arrival, why does the caretakers residence look as if Grace, the last caretaker, has just stepped out for a minute? It’s all a bit odd, if not weird as she’s even left behind her journal. Nothing feels right to Katie and she’s understandably very suspicious and on full alert. Then late one night, there’s persistent ringing on the doorbell and from there things take a very unexpected turn, and Katie finds herself involved.

I so wanted to like this book as the blurb intrigues me, however, it’s very much a game of two halves for me. First of all, the aspects I find positive. I really like the setting, it feels isolated which serves to heighten some of the unfolding scenarios and there’s some claustrophobic need to look over the shoulder. The mystery of Grace is perplexing and interesting and does keep me reading on. The direction the storyline takes delivers a good message with a focus on those on the receiving end of domestic violence. It’s a necessary cause to highlight and the author does a good job with this aspect of the plot.

However, I find the authors style laborious. It goes on far too long as it takes us off the Grove hiking trails and on unnecessary rambles. These tangents make me confused and it also serves to lose my attention and I find myself skimming parts. The pace is so slow until the last third, there’s not much tension and to be honest, it doesn’t give thriller vibes at all.

Although it’s obvious Katie wants to do the right thing, she genuinely desires to go to do good, she drives me bananas with her overanalysing. As for the ending, it just seems too neatly tied up, and it’s way too easy to spot the one we should be worrying about.

Overall, this seems to have divided readers, some really enjoy it and others like me who find it an average read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Lake Union for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I didn't know what to expect. But I enjoyed this immensely. It's a book I will be thinking of for awhile.

How much will you risk to do the right thing?

What a perfect book to read on a foggy night when all around me is shrouded in mystery and shadows! The sense of mystery and anticipation is paramount in this fantastic story.

What you’ll get:
An immersive experience as recently divorced Katie is tested in unimaginable yet empowering ways when she becomes the lone resident of 927 remote acres, a caretaker of Grove Nature Reserve.

This is a great, unassuming book that bridges difficult situations and ignites conversations as well as gives a voice to those who are victims of domestic abuse.

Katie has taken this job after her friend Bess encouraged her to save her future. Katie is struggling to heal and face life after Clark. She’s recently rid herself of everything that’s holding her back; her marriage, her job, and the need to make excuses and is looking to press pause while she recalibrates. Discovering that the new job isn’t what she imagined is one of the first disappointments Katie faces. How she deals with this first challenge will determine her future.

I loved watching Katie’s growth and seeing her find the strength and courage to alter her course in life. It’s a universal truth realized when we face the gap between what we think is ideal or enviable and the true reality of ‘it’. Katie’s discovery of the secret that her new home harbours catapults her into a role she didn’t know she was designed specifically for - and it allows her to shine. I giggled at the unreturned library books, felt my heart break when I understood the connection between the Black-eyed Susans on the cover and the connection within the story and appreciated the examination of trust and the role of friendships.

My biggest ‘takeaway’ was the reminder to keep my “eye on the joy.”

I was thankful for this examination of an age-old adage: Nothing is as it seems.

I was gifted this copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Imagine you take a job without knowing what it actually entails to quickly run from your own troubles?
This is exactly what new caretaker Katie does. In fact she comes to a Nature Reserve to find peace and perhaps some quiet time.
Upon entering her "new" home, Katie can tell that the previous tenant has left many things and appears to have exited in quite a hurry. Why? Where did she go?
She has an eye opening, awakening, when she receives a knock on her door in the middle of the night.
This begins a journey for Katie and the women she will meet as they must keep safe in her garage apartment while waiting for their next instructions to move on with their new lives.
This story is intense, heartbreaking and hopeful as we attempt to solve this mystery.
If you like a good thriller and suspense, then this is a novel for you!

So good! The layers, the moving pieces, the questions that keep the reader guessing and hypothesizing--I ate this novel up. I love all of Jessica Stawser's books and The Last Caretaker is no exception! Highly recommend.

Jessica Strawser returns following The Next Thing You Know (5 stars) with her sixth novel, THE LAST CARETAKER —Richly atmospheric, a beautifully written, emotional, suspenseful, mysterious, compelling, powerful tale of domestic violence, courage, and survival with strong women and an essential takeaway message.

A woman wants to start over and accepts a resident caretaker position in the wilderness at a remote nature reserve. However, her new home is anything but quiet when she discovers it is a safe house for victims of domestic violence and a way to escape. The mystery is what happened to the last caretaker.

Katie, a web designer from Pittsburg, is divorced from Clark and is ready for a new start. She puts her faith in her long-time friend, Bess, who offers her a way to leave her past behind.

The position is a resident caretaking job at Grove Farm Nature Reserve on 927 acres. Bess is the programming director at the nature center's main campus. The position comes with a furnished cabin, and she is grateful to be the 'new Katie,' leaving the 'old Katie' behind.

Katie accepted without seeing the area since it was out of state. She is not a nature buff; however, she is sure to adapt. She wants to be grateful, and Bess pulled strings for her.

However, when she arrives, it is more remote than she expected. She also feels something is off. It looks like someone lives in the cabin/farmhouse. There are personal items left. Pictures and later discovers a journal. What happened to the last caretaker? Did she go in a hurry? No one seems to have answers.

When a frantic, terrified woman arrives late at night, expecting a safe place to hide, it becomes apparent her position of caretaking involves more than she imagined. What has she gotten herself into?

Katie soon realizes her home is a hidden safehouse for domestic violence victims on the run. She was not prepared for this. She did not sign up for this. She must reach Grace, the last caretaker.

What about her protection? She has no idea who might show up on her doorstep. She does not know whom to trust. What if she lets in the wrong person, who may be dangerous? These women's lives are at stake.

Oh, how I loved THE LAST CARETAKER! I have been an avid fan of the author for many years and enjoyed her books.

Inspired by accounts of real courageous women, Katie learns she has strength that she did not know she possessed. A rewarding and brave group of women who seek refuge and a safe haven. Pushed to the breaking point to risk and choose safety to help others.

Almost like an underground railroad, the story is mysterious and comes with emotion and heart-pounding suspense. A true page-turner! Thought-provoking and compelling, the novel explores how you can help before it is too late.

I adored the significance of the black-eyed Susan flowers on the front cover and how they fit into the novel with this group of women. Black-eyed Susan flowers are Sun worshipers that forgive neglect and are tough-as-nails. Much like these women. Stunning!

THE LAST CARETAKER is timely, relevant, absorbing, and empowering! The author's passion shines through on the pages with her lyrical prose and her experience with domestic violence.

I enjoyed Katie's character, the risk, the unknown, and the courage. New beginnings! Told with compassion and sensitivity, this is a must-read book! Ideal for gift-giving and a perfect book club pick (book club questions included)!

You can read it before Dec 1st. An Editor's Pick Amazon First Reads for November.

Check out my December #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A Interview with Jessica, where we go behind the scenes of the book and this multi-talented author!

Thanks to the author, Lake Union, and NetGalley for an early reading copy. Also grabbed it as my Amazon First Reads pick for Nov.

Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 1, 2023
Dec 2023 Must-Read Books
Dec Featured Author #AuthorElevatorSeries

The Last Caretaker is a truly gripping read! Strawser expertly weaves a tale of suspense with compassionate characters thrust into a perilous circumstances that will test their resolve and ability to withstand life’s twists and turns. By the end, I was ready to take a position as caretaker at Grove nature reserve! Don’t miss out on this timely, powerful and riveting story!