Book Review: "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave
“The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave
Synopsis: Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers--Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah's increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen's boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn't who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen's true identity--and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen's past, they soon realize they're also building a new future--one neither of them could have anticipated.
Rating: 4.25
Review: Wow, was I surprised by how much I enjoyed this book — and I mean that as a massive compliment. I randomly chose this as my Book of the Month choice in May (I think? Time is a false construct), and I am so pleased that past Elizabeth made that decision for July Elizabeth. I love a good suspenseful thriller (i.e., John Grisham), and Laura Dave’s went in directions I didn’t expect from page 1.
So, what happened on page 1? Hannah’s husband, Owen, who works at a tech start up unexpectedly disappears — after sending a cryptic message to Hannah, dropping off a pile of cash with his daughter Bailey, and blowing off all other friends and family. Yes, his start up is being investigated for fraud, and he would have been implicated for sure, but Hannah (and most readers) thinks just up and vanishing is an outsized reaction. That is, until a U.S. Marshal shows up at her house…
Okay, I’m not telling you anything that you wouldn’t find out from the synopsis, but clearly, Owen isn’t quite who he says he is — and that is the central mystery of this book. Who is Owen Michaels, and why did he run?
Those questions take Hannah and Bailey to Austin, Texas - to UT and a very special dive bar and, quite honestly, a creepy AF mansion on the outskirts of the city. We get to go along on the adventure with them, while also re-living some of Hannah and Owen’s courtship via flashback. There’s intrigue! There’s maybe murder! There’s evil lawyers! There’s witness protection! There’s weird capital-F Family stuff! Everything one could want in a summer thriller, and more, but I can’t say more because spoilers, book friends.
The story itself is compelling, and I genuinely wanted to know what happened to Owen. However, I have a few quibbles. There is absolutely no way that Hannah would have reacted the way that she did in the book. Absolutely no way. (Please, if you’ve also read this one, slide into the DMs so we can discuss it). Other than that and some bizarre character actions, I thought this was a close-to-perfect suspenseful thriller. And I’m not just saying that because there was a throwaway mention of my tiny alma mater.
TL;DR: A quick and compelling thriller dealing with the importance of family and identity - perfect for a summer afternoon.
If You Liked This, Try These:
“The Firm” by John Grisham (I will always recommend this if I can find a way) (Bookshop | Amazon)
“The Last Flight” by Julie Clark (Bookshop | Amazon | Shannon’s Review)
“You are Not Alone” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (Bookshop | Amazon)
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