The Last Word (by Taylor Adams)
I was thoroughly impressed by Taylor Adams’ novel, No Exit, and immediately wanted to explore more of his books. I eagerly added The Last Word to my reading list, and I’m so glad I did. This psychological thriller takes a seemingly simple one-star book review and transforms it into a nightmare of isolation and paranoia.
Emma Carpenter is house-sitting a remote, windswept beach house on the rainy Washington coast, accompanied only by her golden retriever, Laika. Her limited human interaction comes through cryptic texts with the homeowner and distant exchanges with her enigmatic neighbor. When she reads a poorly written but gruesome horror novel by an obscure author named H.G. Kane and posts a brutally honest negative review, she inadvertently sparks an online argument with the author himself.
As the story unfolds, eerie disturbances begin to plague the house at night, blurring the line between coincidence and targeted terror. Emma starts to wonder if she’s being stalked by a writer with an easily bruised ego or if she’s provoked someone dangerously unhinged.
Adams’ writing style is strikingly similar to No Exit, and the suspense remains consistent throughout the entire novel. I found myself constantly glued to the narration, thinking the story was nearing its conclusion only to be surprised by yet another unexpected twist. Adams’ masterful storytelling made me genuinely feel the fear and anxiety that the protagonist experiences. I was also pleasantly surprised by the emotional depth of the ending.
This book is definitely earning more than a one-star rating on Goodreads. And, it’s definitely going to make me more cautious about my future book reviews. LOL
I borrowed the audiobook of The Last Word from my local library using Hoopla. The narrators, Carlotta Brentan and Jim Meskimen, did an excellent job of evoking feelings of terror and despair, making the experience even more immersive.
You can read my review for No Exit linked below.
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