found this on Netgalley and decided to try.
Nice short thriller if you're looking for something quick to read.
I listened to the audiobook and it was like 30 mins long so it was great to listen while commuting from work to home.

Perfectly chilling and relentlessly terrifying, written beautifully and leaving you breathlessly wanting more.
Fantastic storytelling make this a must.
Absorbing, atmospheric and highly recommended.

Audio book - as short stories go this one was macabre and disturbing in equal measures, however the narration was superbly equal to the task. Sinister and tragic

The 30 minute thriller initially intrigued me, but it failed to engage or hook me. The pacing felt so slow making it more of a sleep inducer than a gripping watch. While the revenge angle was well portrayed, the twist was predictable. Overall it lacked the thrill I expected. 2/5 stars due to slow paced and not engaging .

For a story that runs just about 30 minutes, this packed a surprising amount of impact.

The narration had an almost atmospheric bedtime story quality—if the goal was to induce nightmares. Normally, this style wouldn’t work for me in a story of this genre, but here, it added a distinct and unexpected charm.

Overall, this was a quick, engaging listen with a twist at the end. While I found the twist predictable and somewhat familiar, it was still an entertaining take on a well-worn concept. Kenneth Cruz’s writing stood out, and I’m eager to read more from them in the future. I’m also looking forward to exploring the rest of the stories in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-Op for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

What would you do if you found out your partner had betrayed you? Would you leave? Or maybe look to get even? Kenneth Cruz explores these questions in the thriller Till the Last Piece. This 30-minute audiobook novella walks readers through the dark world of secrets, cheating, and retaliation.

I give Till the Last Piece 3 out of 5 stars. This book moves fast and I actually went back and listened to it again to make sure I got all the plot points. Part Agatha Christie novel, part disturbed plot that feels beyond belief, this novella left me questioning what I’d just heard. Disturbed is really an understatement here. If you’ve followed me long, you’ll know that I’m not a fan of books with violence or harm towards children. I was following along ok until that point of this story.

Because of the inclusion of harm to a child, I am finding it difficult to recommend this book to you. If you like very dark psychological thrillers, this may be a book you enjoy, but it was not a book for me. I chose this book on NetGalley because I was looking for a quick audiobook listen. The publisher’s blurb sounded so interesting and mentioned nothing about the section that has troubled me so much – I would not have chosen it if I had known that.

I am totally behind the purpose of this audio series—a 20-30 minute narrated short story is a great way to bring literature into an otherwise jam-packed lifestyle! While this story wasn’t particularly original or mind bending, I did enjoy the narration. A couple pieces of practical feedback: there were several instances where certain descriptors or turns of phrase were repeated within a few lines of each other—for example, there’s something about how the weather was perfect for nestling into a heavy quilt, then the author proceeds to use the exact same verbiage to describe a character “nestling into her heavy quilt.” Definitely was a bit redundant! Secondly, due to the short form and relatively predictable nature of the story, the cover art and prologue combined made it too easy to anticipate what was to come, which certainly lessened the “thrill” of the story.

I fancied something different, the short story format appealed. I gave it 15 mins and just hated every minute.

I had the Audiobook and didn't like the narrator, but the narrator had little to play with. It was pedestrian and for a short story surely it needs some pace, excitement and action? It lacked all 3 and a lot more besides.

It was so bad that I couldn't even go beyond 15 minutes, I couldn't do it to myself.

Giving this 1/5 as I don't think you can give it 0??

‘Every slice hides a secret; every crumb conceals a sin.’

From the outside, Amber seems to be living the perfect life with her loving husband and their beautiful young daughter. The evening of her husband’s big promotion is supposed to be one of celebration, however all of this changes when Amber receives a mysterious package on her doorstep that tears her life apart. Amber’s shocking new discoveries cause her to make a decision that will ensure the night takes a far different turn…
and soon enough nobody will be celebrating.

For a story that clocks in at around 30 minutes, this packed quite the punch.
This was narrated by Dena Kouremetis, and the narration gave me a feeling not dissimilar to that of an atmospheric bedtime story- if the story’s intention was to cause nightmares. Usually this style of narration mixed with a book in this genre would not mix well for me, however in this case I felt like it added its own unique kind of charm.

Overall, I thought this was a fun, fast paced listen and I enjoyed the twist at the end, although I did find it very predictable and lacking in originality; it felt like a slightly different take on a story that’s been told many times before.
I enjoyed Kenneth Cruz’s writing and will gladly read more of their work in the future, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the stories in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an audio version of this story in exchange for my honest review !

Thank you Netgalley & Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the opportunity to listen to this Audio ARC.

Macabre Minutes Till The last Piece is a delectable listen for anyone looking for a short stories. This is absolutely perfect for anyone driving to and from work, on a lunch break, exercising, winding down before bed, or even while you're preparing a meal. The story is well written and well narrated. This is one of betrayal and revenge that does leave you wanting more & thinking well after it's the last word is spoken. I look forward to listening to more Macabre Minutes in the future as a thoroughly enjoyed this one.

This audiobook is a masterclass in suspense, weaving together a complex tale of love, betrayal, and destruction.

The story itself is a slow-burning fire that builds to a shocking climax. Just when you think you know what's going on, the rug is pulled out from under you, leaving you breathless and eager for more.

Dena Kouremetis's narration is pitch-perfect, bringing the characters to life with her expressive voice. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing the listener to absorb the twists and turns without feeling rushed.

If I have one quibble, it's that the audiobook could benefit from some background music or sound effects to enhance the atmosphere. However, this is a minor complaint, and overall, I highly recommend 'Till the Last Piece' to fans of mystery, thriller, and horror genres.

Be prepared for a wild ride, and don't say I didn't warn you!"

While Till The Last Piece was only 30 minutes, it packed quite a punch. From the beginning til the end, the author was able to grab your attention and keep it. While I found h=the end to be predictible the way the author goes about setting up the scene, showing the actions that took place and the emotions displayed, it made the end all the worthwhile to read about. Moving on to the narration, I found the narrator to have quite a lovley voice and her voice carried through the main character well adding depth to the all together. A quick and enjoyable read and would reccomend it to anyone who wants and fast-paced suspensful read during a lunch break or while walking!

I was not expecting this to be as short. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was able to finish this book—within about an hour, to be precise. Despite its length, the writing is exceptionally well-crafted, and it effectively builds an atmospheric tension that lingers long after reading.

One aspect that did stand out to me, however, was the method described for creating the poison. The book suggests that apples seeds and bitter almond were. Used to make cyanide but over 200 apple seeds would be needed, which translates to approximately 40 apples, along with around 50 bitter almonds. This raises a significant question: are we expected to believe that such a large quantity of these items could be readily available and left lying around?

Additionally, I had a strong intuition about the events that would unfold when the protagonist awoke. While I had a sinking feeling in my stomach regarding what was about to happen, the emotional impact of the moment was undeniable. Even with my anticipated outcome, it still hit home and resonated profoundly.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this swift yet haunting read. I want to extend my gratitude to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook version. All opinions I express here are entirely my own and reflect an honest assessment of the work.

While this story is short and pretty straightforward in its content, I really enjoyed the writing and the narrative was nicely done. This is only Vol.1 and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more.
Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned

The narration of Till the Last Piece was phenomenal. The story was a tight, 30-minute listen - perfect for a work commute. The storyline was a bit predictable; however, it was still fun. This piece is great for anyone looking for a delicious little morsel while driving. It's wicked and entertaining without requiring a huge emotional investment. I really enjoyed it!

I liked it but I didn’t love it. Shorter listen at least but I feel like the author could have done more with it.
It was ok but could have been better.

This was a great, quick psychological thriller. I wasn't expecting that ending! I'll be watching for more of the Macabre Minutes.

#NetGalley #TillTheLastPiece

🍰 I love the idea of a bite sized thriller, would love to hear more of the type, perhaps even a compilation of many thrillers in one book, the plot is short and sweet, great premise, amazing narration (I’ll be looking out for more from the Narrator), less stars because the ending was a tad bit predictable, but I will be checking out more from the author.

But the writing was good that I am craving a decadent chocolate cake right now 😁

What a page turner!… Absolutely breathtaking … I can’t believe I read this book in one sitting , it was so gripping

While Till The Last Piece has an intriguing premise, the execution falls flat due to its predictability. The setup promises suspense and dark twists, but the plot unfolds in a way that feels too familiar, making the revelations less impactful.