4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! I LOVED this book. It was so fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The characters were (mostly) likeable and I LOVE a strong female protagonist. Some twists were a bit predictable but they were still SO good. There was even a little bit of surprise spice and it was so tastefully done! The writing was amazing, the pace was perfect, the suspense was built up so artfully. Absolutely recommend this book and I am SO grateful to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book!

Noelle Ihli actually suggested this book, and because I've loved all her books I decided to give it a shot and request it as a first read from this author. I'm so glad I did! While the characters frustrated me at times, I found them to be deeply relatable and without giving any spoilers, I LOVE how the story tied up all the lose ends.

This book was a lot of fun and absolutely twisted. With a complex group of characters and a plot that kicks you in the gut from the start I couldn’t put it down. Short chapters kept the pace moving and the different POVs really helped to experience this story from so many angles. Highly recommend this book if you want to stay up all night on the edge of your seat.

I read this in one sitting as the synopsis and first page had me hooked. This is a different take on your “standard” kidnapping trope. It was very creepy and tense! Unfortunately it started falling a little flat for me. I found it odd that the terms “alpha-hole” and “toxic man” were being used to describe Brooke trying to deny her attraction to Derek. And why were Brooke’s tits and curves described more than once? It’s just not the setting for this with the sex scene and the attempted romance. I get potential trauma bonding between characters, but it felt weird for this book…
There were a lot of coincidences in the story and between the characters that tied things together, but I’m a little surprised there wasn’t more about Jessi, Brooke’s daughter? Mitch kept throwing in Brooke’s face that her daughter was doing well, as he was keeping tabs on her, so if he wanted “poetic justice” so much, I’m surprised Jessi wasn’t involved in his twisted plans.
Overall this kept me hooked, and wanting to know what happened next, but I was hoping for a little MORE in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and XpressoReads for the advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

The Final Scene by Steph Nelson is a thrilling page-turner filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Nelson's vivid storytelling keeps you hooked from beginning to end, making it impossible to put down. A must-read for mystery lovers!

A huge thank you to Ticking Clock Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

Steph Nelson has easily become a constant presence on my reading lists following her debut novel last year, The Vein, and her novella, Sawtooth. While both works fall under the horror category, her latest, The Final Scene, ventures into thriller territory where every horrifying facet is grounded in bleak reality. Brooke was kidnapped ten years ago and brought to a secluded cabin in the Oregon wilderness where she is made to follow some rather odd instructions: she must play the part demanded by her demented captor alongside other “cast members.” Of course, the arrival of a new cast member marks a departure from the “normal” life Brooke has been living, one that marks the possible beginning of the end.

If you’ve read my reviews of Nelson’s work before, then you probably know just how enjoyable I find her writing, especially through her strong sense of characterization. Similar to The Vein, The Final Scene deals with a wider set of characters, something Nelson writes markedly well. Especially in the landscape of the thriller where tensions are high, and the stakes higher, nailing the human, believable side of fictional beings is key. Without caring for these people, the sense of suspense and danger is immediately lost, something Nelson’s writing does not suffer from. Nothing about any of the “cast members” in this cabin is simple with everyone having a complicated, rich backstory. Nothing about this story felt flat or static as key parts of each character’s jaded past reveal themselves.

Perhaps the best way to describe these characters is through their undeniable sense of personality. Brooke’s time in captivity has certainly jaded her in addition to the struggles she faced before this unthinkable crime occurred. Her voice is notably clear as a strong-willed, tough woman who questions her levels of sensitivity and the effects of what she’s experienced. As we see her interact with various cast members, her depth is exposed, and eventually, we observe a rather interesting character arc, one that had me pumping my fist and squealing with joy. Female empowerment is another specialty of Nelson’s writing, something I quite frankly will never get enough of.

Also, dare I say this book is wildly fun? Of course, saying so feels a tad wrong given all the suffering, death, and mistreatment that goes on, but Nelson takes us on a ride. Within pages, the pace is set at a rather fast speed, one that doesn’t particularly slow down. In fact, several scenes left me thinking, “Oh, we’re going there.” Especially in the genre of the thriller, there’s something to be said for this breakneck speed, and Nelson does not pull any punches here. This story thrives on a sense of originality in its plot structure only to be fortified by strong characters and their struggle to survive an impossible situation. While most thrillers fall into the common pitfalls of unoriginality and staleness, The Final Scene is a breath of fresh air.

The idea behind <i>The Final Scene</i> was pretty thrilling - prisoners forced to be ‘characters’ acting out scenes for a twisted psychopath. Too bad the execution didn’t really live up to my expectations.

The characters were unlikeable and weirdly volatile. The villains were entirely too simple and certainly not scary enough for what this story needed. The growing romance between Brooke and Derek felt forced into the plot line. There was no need for a romance to achieve a happy ending, and it went against Brooke’s whole narrative and her view of men.

The concept had a lot of potential, and for those wanting a thriller that packs a lighter punch this is right up their alley. I, however, was looking for something a little more brutal, more unhinged, more terrifying.

I received an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
TRIGGER WARNING: CHILD MURDER
The book states child loss as a warning but it’s much more than that.
I’m not sure how to word this review honestly. This is one of the most bizarre plots I’ve ever read but at the same time I also couldn’t put it down either.
The bonus epilogue was good but needs to be downloaded separately unfortunately.
Wouldn’t recommend but also wouldn’t discourage others from reading it if that’s their choice.

This book kept me turning the pages with its tense and tight pace. It's got flawed protagonists, believable relationships, and it's just a smooth and fast read. I loved her horror novel, THE VEIN, and Nelson does not disappoint with her first thriller. Love it.

I still can’t decide if I liked the idea of the story or if it was too far fetched. I think it could have worked if the characters were better. Why would someone being held captive for 10 years be worrying about a love interest with a fellow captive and reminiscing on body image issues they had prior to being kidnapped😅it just all felt so random, the characters sucked, the cops not helping?!, and the ending omg silly.

Brooke was kidnapped on her way home from work - ten years ago. Since then, she has been held captive in a cabin on the Oregon coast, imprisoned by a couple that makes her reenact a bizarre play over and over. Other “characters” are part of the play as well, but when their scenes are over, they die. Brooke has seen other people come and go but she has never been able to even fathom escaping herself. Until a new victim shows up, and this time, the rules change.

This was a unique thriller that started off so strong! The beginning of the story, entailing Brooke’s kidnapping, was so creepy you could feel the tension leaping off the pages. The whole situation with the kidnappers was also creepy, with how they forced their captives to reenact this play. But the part that didn’t really make sense to me was the WHY. We didn’t really get any background on the kidnappers or why they were doing what they were doing. The ending also felt a little abrupt. It was an interesting premise but ultimately fell a little flat for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley & Ticking Clock Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

WOW. The premise had me hooked, but I was 100 percent invested from the first chapter onwards. The fast chapters, different POVs, and the revelations were all excellent. The motive for the kidnappers was so sick and twisted, it felt like it would be right at home on an episode of “Criminal Minds” (which is one of my all-time favourite shows).

Brooke was a character who broke my heart. Seeing her attitude and understanding why she is the way that she is was so hard to read because it’s all due to her current situation. I just wanted to hug her and tell her that everything was going to be okay. I loved seeing her transformation throughout this book and how she eventually became stronger despite her circumstances.

Finally, the revelations that kept coming out truly surprised me. They also fit in excellently with the plot, so they didn’t feel shoehorned in. The finale of this book was well done too, and I thought it was a great ending. Again, it reminds me of an episode of “Criminal Minds”, so I thought it made perfect sense. All in all, this was a great read, BUT be warned- it won’t be for everyone. It’s definitely a heavy read that will make you hate people so much. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

If I could sum this book up in one word, it would be "wow".

The way that Steph describes the characters and environments is just wonderful, and I had no problem with imagining the story as I read.

I was hooked from the first page, which is a novelty for me, and I wanted to know what happened next... Which made me stay up until 3am this morning to finish the book!

The story follows Brooke, who was snatched from the street on the way home from work. She was taken to a cabin, which seems to be in the middle of nowhere, and she is made to act out scenarios from the antagonist's life, along with other people who have been snatched from the streets too. The only problem is, is that if they don't play along, or if they go "off script", they die.

My only criticism of the book is that I would have liked to know just a little bit more of why Grace became the way she did. She is making all of these people play people in her life, and she has no problems with killing any of them either. But why? It was briefly mentioned that she changed after she got married, but what changed her? This does not affect the book itself, as it is beautifully written, and is able to keep you on the edge of your seat without knowing it.

I would also like to point out that the story is wrapped up nicely. There's no cliffhanger and nothing left undone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis for this book was intriguing and the reviews I read saying what an original plot it had were what made me want to read it.

My heart sank a little when I realised the premise is similar to a thriller I read last year, which actually came out several years ago. The abductions, the characters being made to act out scenes from their captor’s life, the ticking clock until the final scene… It felt disappointingly similar, especially when I’ve already read reviews saying that The Final Scene is so original.

Of course there are differences, so I carried on reading to see what The Final Scene would bring.

The start of the book is interesting, setting the scene, but I quickly found Brooke unlikeable and got tired of her sullen, man hating attitude. Within a couple of pages she’s referred to Derek an ‘alphahole’, a ‘man-bro’, then a little later ‘another stupid brawny man’. This attitude towards men continues throughout the first two thirds of the book, tarring them all with the same brush as being bullies who think they own the world. It’s very tiresome.

From there a sudden 180 degree jump to her thinking how gorgeous Derek is, a strange plot to seduce their captors in order to escape, and a budding romance between Brooke and Derek.

The character of Mina and her storyline was more interesting to me, but she also made strange choices.

Overall, none of the characters felt fully fleshed out, none were relatable or likeable, and I struggled to understand their actions and thought processes.

The story moved along at a decent pace, with each chapter bringing something to keep me wanting to read on (in the hope that things might make sense in the end).

The ending is a bundle of huge coincidences bringing the two storylines together, which was just too unbelievable.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

I had no idea what I would read when I picked up this book. I went in blind, solely based upon recommendations by Noelle Ihli.
And I’m so glad I did!
This book is weird, and it is crazy, and it is horrible, and it is haunting, and it is creepy.
It’s a thrilling horror story, which, I’m sure many will label too far-fetched to be believable, but me? I’d say anything is possible and people out there are horrible, and they are horrible en masse. If you honestly think this is too unbelievable, I envy you. That means you have never met anyone truly crazy and truly horrible.
Ok, back to the book. The storyline is unlike anything I have read before. No old tropes are being mulled over and over again. There are no fresh takes on old stories. This. Is. All. Fresh. And. Never. Written. Before.
This is not something I’d label an easy read, because the author has captured all the fears women have to live with daily. Again, not everyone will acknowledge them and if you honestly think those aren’t real, then I’m glad your life has been so golden so far. But other than that, this book contains a scary dose of a reminder of how unsafe it is out there, how vulnerable we all actually are, and how unpredictable it is.
The book was fast-paced already, but when the last few % of the book came, the pace picked up even more. Although the ending was somewhat predictable, I still wasn’t sure how it was going to go. It could have gone several ways, and despite the ending being a happy one and me not being a happy endings fan, it was still a very satisfying ending.
Yeah, ok, let me just go out there now and tell you that this is one of the most unique horror/thriller stories out there now.

The premise of this book is promising: an isolated wood cabin, a mix of strangers who are forced to work together, and the ever apparent Saw-like threat of exploding collars.

The thought of Will they survive? Is gripping enough to encourage readers to finish. I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read this novel as an advanced copy through NetGalley.

I would like to preface that while my rating is somewhat low, my personal gripes may not be an issue for others. A reflection I would encourage in consideration with a grain of salt.

With a compelling beginning the pacing becomes an issue near the latter half of the book, in particular near the ending which felt rushed. The last few chapters could have been expanded upon and further flushed out.

There was enough of an interesting backstory behind each character but the interpersonal relationships left a lot to be desired, somewhat leading to a lack in depth. Characters leaned heavily on their tropes, like the male lead’s aggressive attitude of ‘alpha male’.

Since I have received this as an early copy there’s always a chance the novel could be reworked so this review may not pertain to its future release.

Thank you to NetGalley, Steph Nelson, and Ticking Clock Press, LLC for this advanced copy.

Brooke was kidnapped 10 years ago, and has been trapped in a cabin all that time -but it's not what you think. She's been stuck playing a demented game. When new players arrive, what happens next?

I had a GREAT time reading it, I put aside all the other books, I kept coming back to it. And that's exactly what you want in a thriller, for it to grab you and keep your attention. I was never bored, I got surprised several times, I was super invested in seeing how it would play out! I am not a huge thriller reader but this one worked for me!
The pacing of the action here is impeccable.

Downsides is the other parts of the writing, like .the characterization and dialogue. It moves the plot forward, but sometimes in ways that I found a little hard to believe. Kind of like a Goosebumps novel. I kept thinking "this isn't at all how humans would behave but ok". Also the romance felt super super weird. Yet, the writing kept me turning the pages.

One other goosebumps thing to note, there is no graphic sexual violence in this book which I appreciated.

Think of it as a ridiculous but enjoyable popcorn thriller and enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this.

Brooke is kidnapped on her way home from work, and along with couple of other kidnapped victims, is forced to "act out" life of another woman. And thus the story begins.

The final scene is the planned final act of the life saga that has been in progress for the past decade, with other kidnapped victims. Some victims have come and gone, and its Brooke who has lived for a decade playing a part. As the final scene approaches, things change when a seemingly innocent vacationer gets entangled in this saga as well.

The first half of book is quite intriguing; everything is known, the motivations are predictable. But its still charming and interesting to see what the victims would do, if they were to overpower their captors. It is when an unnecessary romance is introduced - in middle of this situation, the plot gets a little set back. These moments turn up at most interesting moments, watering down the intensity.

It is always not necessary for the heroine to have a love interest. Its okay if she is a little messed up after being a captive for a decade and has unbridled rage in her ribcage. It takes attention away from things that are getting out of hand and where her focus needs to be. I get that its a very human reaction but here, I found it almost forced. However an argument can be made that Brooke is simply reciprocating to what was lacking in her life for decade - meaningful relationships and the yearning she had for her own family.

Thanks to Ticking Clock Press, LLC and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely, unbelievably phenomenal. I requested an ARC of this book because I was so intrigued by the premise, and yes, the cover. (Don't we all judge books by their covers, despite the old saying?) I was right to be intrigued- The Final Scene is a 5 star thriller with no lapse in suspense or action whatsoever. Brooke (our main character who has been living in an isolated cabin in the woods for a full decade) is a total spitfirey goddess of a woman. Her anger and devastation is completely believable, and I felt like I was trapped in that house with her and rooting for our escape. There is violence (nothing gratuitous), marital trouble, grief and despair, and even some romance. I was completely invested in this story from the first chapter, and I would gladly recommend it to anyone- even if your typical taste isn't thriller/suspense, the story holds up well enough to be completely worth the read.

The Final Scene had me captivated from the very first paragraph, I read this in one sitting because it was just that good apart from the romance aspect it has everything you’d want in a thriller. It had me on the edge of my seat, stressed and even crying towards the end.
I will 100% be recommending this to all of my thriller loving friends!

4.5 STARS ROUNDED UP ⭐️💫
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Thank you NetGalley and Ticking Clock Press, LLC for the opportunity to review this book.