I have been a long supporter of Chris Whitaker and was lucky enough to read advanced copies of his last two books. When I saw his blurb on this cover I was all in. While I thought the plot was interesting and well crafted, I didn’t feel like the novel ever found a good flow. Parts of the novel seemed to drag by even though it wasn’t a particularly long novel. I will still check out Anna Bailey novels in the future. Maybe I’m at fault here for letting the blurb get my hopes up, but it fell a little short of what I was looking for.

Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey is an incredibly atmospheric read, with a writing style that immediately draws you in. I was transported straight to the heart of the bayou, feeling the humidity and the sweat sticking to my skin as the author perfectly captured the setting. Bailey’s vivid descriptions brought the environment to life in such a visceral way, making the world feel palpable and real.

I was also captivated by the unique insight into the Labasque family’s life, learning about the hardships they’ve endured and how they’ve shaped their existence. The exploration of their complex relationships and struggles was both emotional and thought-provoking. Additionally, I was fascinated by the details of the swamp’s wildlife—particularly the alligators—and the way of life that revolves around it.

The multiple POVs throughout the novel were powerful, offering a well-rounded perspective of each character’s inner world. It helped me connect with everyone in a way I didn’t expect, making their journeys even more compelling.

While I loved the pacing throughout most of the book, the ending left me a bit adrift. I felt it could have been wrapped up more concisely and with a bit more clarity. Still, it didn’t take away from the overall experience.

In short, Our Last Wild Days is a beautifully written and immersive novel, with a captivating setting, fascinating characters, and a unique perspective on a life few are familiar with.

atmospheric, slow moving, but building up. The main character returns home to care for her mother with dementia, starts working at the local newspaper and investigates the death of a her childhood friend, who she had fallen out with as a teenager. Lots of unusual characters and lots of unpleasant characters populate this small Louisiana town where there is much poverty and oppression. Loved the main character and Sasha loved the first book she wrote, this one was a harder read for me

Anna Bailey did a great job on her new book. Our Last Wild Days, was a page turner. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

I really liked this book! It was so fast paced and suspenseful. It kept me truly on the edge of my seat reading and reading until I finished! So good!! It kept me glued and it was written well. I love how it truly made me feel so tense and anxious!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Give a swampy, southern Louisiana drama all seven days of the week and twice on Sunday! This atmospheric thriller was exactly what the doctor ordered and I ate it right up. The swamp is as much a character in this story as the actual people and this quenched my True Detective season 1 thirst like almost nothing else has since I finished the show. So incredibly descriptive and the characters were multi-layered which just made for a really complete story. Massively compulsive - I think this one is going to a sleeper that makes it onto several best books of 2025 lists and it will be completely unexpected. Five stars, EASY!

3.5 🌟
In the heart of alligator country, this gripping mystery follows Loyal as she returns home to care for her mother, despite a traumatic past caused by Cutter. Now a reporter for the local paper, Loyal teams up with Sasha, uncovering chilling truths after finding Marianne Cutter dead in the lake and the search for a missing girl named Marcie.
The secrets of this small town will come to light!

This book was pretty anticlimactic. The story felt very cliched, and I just could not connect with any of the characters.