Very well written book. Gave me "Room" vibes and I felt for the main character throughout.

Thanks Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley.

What do you get when you have an isolated setting, a kidnapping and imprisonment and a woman who will do anything to protect her child? A really tense and engrossing read about survival and the bonds of family.

Dean is great at setting the atmosphere and you can feel the chills of the night and the claustrophobia that “Jane” feels jump off the page.

This is a dark book, but it isn’t a fast-paced thriller. It’s more of a tense study of the evil & abuse that live in our real world and the real prevalence and horror of sex trafficking.

This will appeal to readers like me who gravitate to dark & human stories. It would make a great book club pick as there’s lots of discuss, which isn’t always the case with suspense books.

Thank you to @simonschusterca @netgalley for the eARC of this book for my honest review.

“The Last Thing To Burn” by Will Dean is a thriller following the struggle of a woman being subjected to the whims of a British farmer.

Thanh Dao was brought to England with her sister on promises of a better life and being able to better support their family back home. While at first they worked side by side for a little bit of pay, they were split up and Thanh started to live with and, frankly, serve Lenn. Over the course of seven years, Thanh was never allowed to leave the house and had to always be at the beck and call of Lenn, cooking every meal and cleaning always being held up to his mothers standards of both. Upon arrival to his home, Thanh had 17 personal possessions like her passport, family photos, letters and every time she misstepped, Lenn would burn one of them. As those possessions dwindled, she becomes pregnant which is a surprise to both. This provides her something else to hold on to but it doesn’t take long for her to see that Lenn will use their own daughter as a bargaining chip.

Soon after the birth, Thanh discovers that someone is being held in their basement. This discovery pushes her to try and escape this home and her new life for the sake of her baby and this stranger. We follow in great detail the build up to the attempt in a very fast paced and page turning style of writing.

Let me be clear on one thing: this book is beautifully written. Every major twist is put forth in a way that it brings you in and shows you around the scene. In particular, the birth of the baby is a standout that will stick with me for a long time, but also the detail shown in how Lenn treats her, even calling her by an English name, is stellar.

This book will bubble under in popularity, but it shouldn’t. It’s fantastic and deserves great praise and hungry eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing a copy for review.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I do enjoy a good psychological thriller once in a while, but I find sometimes, the writing isn’t the best. This book was very well-written, and compelling – and not terribly gruesome, which is good for me. I generally only have time to read at night before bed, and I found myself making sure I was in bed early enough to have lots of time to read!

I enjoyed the character development and at times, even found myself not minding the captor! I won’t go so far as to say that I liked him or had sympathy for him, but he was drawn in such a way that he did demonstrate some empathy and humane qualities. The main character was courageous, tenacious, and smart, and that really came out after she had her baby. The relationship between her and her captor was an interesting study in human psychology.

Finally, I found it admirable that much of the book was simply the thoughts in the main character’s head as she goes about her day-to-day life as her captor’s “wife,” other than some brief dialogue from time to time. It takes a great deal of talent to write a book in that fashion, and do it well!!

I would definitely recommend this book.

This was an ok book. I think I was thinking it went a different way in the end. It sounded like a different twist. This is a dark book, so dark that I was skipping paragraphs for some of the book. It’s graphic and horrific and I had to remind myself that it wasn’t based on a true story.

I did find a lot of repetition some lines and descriptors used enough times that I noticed it. This wasn’t a win for me but I think I set myself up for failure:

In THE LAST THING TO BURN, a woman accepts a job, hoping for a better life in a new country. When she arrives, she is sold into human trafficking, sold to a man who keeps her hostage in his home. She is given the necessities and limited freedoms to survive, more so than in most kidnapping stories that I’ve read.

On an isolated farm in the United Kingdom, a woman is trapped by the monster who kidnapped her seven years ago. When she discovers she is pregnant, she resolves to protect her child no matter the cost, and starts to meticulously plan her escape. But when another woman is brought into the fold on the farm, her plans go awry. Can she save herself, her child, and this innocent woman at the same time? Or is she doomed to spend the remainder of her life captive on this farm?

This story was incredibly disturbing and contained a load full of triggers, yet I was still intrigued by the why. Why did the man bring another woman into the mix? Why did the main character not seek help when given plenty of opportunities? Will she finally gain the courage to escape, or will she continue to be resigned to the fact that this will always be her life.

Holy bananas. That take you from page one and does not let go. It is a very "room" type of book. Very well written. Content could be triggering for some people. I read it in once day. Lets just say i liked the epilogue. :)

Thanks Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley.

Will defiantly look up this author..

Oh my gosh.....okay, so how long does it take you to read 256 pages? And factor in how quickly you can turn pages. That's the length of time you need to block off in your calendar. Because once you start reading Will Dean's newly released novel - The Last Thing to Burn - you're not going to be able to put it down.
Jane (not her real name, but the one the monster gave her) has been a prisoner in a run down house on an isolated farm for seven years. And then the unthinkable - she's pregnant. And there's someone new in the cellar. Jayne has tried many times to escape, but...

There's more, but I'm not going to spoil it for you. Jayne's internal thoughts and dialogue let us get to know who she really is and how she ended up as a captive in Lenn's house - and what she has endured over the years. It's hard to read, but I kept turning pages frantically - I had to know if the 'right ending' happened. The tension, danger and suspense that lead up to the final pages are nerve wracking! And the scariest thing? Will Dean didn't make this up - what happened to Thanh has happened in real life to many.

If you enjoyed Room by Emma Donoghue, you'd enjoy Last Thing to Burn. But fair warning gentle readers - this may not be the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read The Last Thing To Burn

A young woman held prisoner on an isolated farm ... a man keeping her prisoner ... a bay born out of abuse ... time is running out

This is a very powerful story about human trafficking. I was so worried about Jane ( not her real name ) and her baby that I read this in one sitting ! The book lost me a little at the final developments towards the end though, but the ending was powerful and spoke of family and friendship .

WOW! Can we talk about how amazing of an author Will Dean is?! Yes, I've only read the one book, BUT, I'm certainly going to seek out the rest of his books now. Jane. It's not her real name but it's the name he calls her. It's the name he wants her to respond to. It's the name of his ex wife, and the name he has given her and now has given her daughter. Jane, may not be her real name but she will do whatever it takes to survive, and keep her family safe.
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This was such a quick, powerful read and one you're going to want a physical copy of (pre-ordering now). My heart was constantly breaking but at the same time I was sitting at the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen. Because remember, her name is not Jane. Her name is Thanh, and she's been held Captive for the past seven years and she will do everything in her power to make sure she isn't there another year. Being held captive, Thanh has been through so much abuse the last seven years but she is a mother now, and she will do whatever it takes to keep her child safe.
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So although this is an incredibly hard book to read, it's one that I couldn't put down. It's one that will stick with you for a very long time, and one I highly recommend. The title The Last thing to Burn is also such a powerful title, and one I didn't fully understand, until the very end

Thank you everyone!! What a great read! ( NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Will Dean). The Last Thing to Burn was a wild full ride. A read about a woman, pregnant and captive for years. the book Room was all I could think about. It was a frightening read at times because I just wanted to free her. I read this book very fast. The pacing was great. I will for sure read more from Will Dean. Awesome book.

Thanks again!

Sooo….let me start by saying it’s been a long time since I met a character I despised as much as Len. But I should probably provide a little background so you’ll understand why I spent most of the book wishing him a slow, painful death. Possibly involving fire ants.

The author wastes no time setting the scene. The book opens with a young woman trying to escape from a remote rural pig farm. It’s not her first attempt & like all the other times, she fails. She is returned to a small cabin by her captor, Leonard. Through her thoughts & memories, we quickly learn that although he calls her Jane, her real name is Thanh Dao & she is a victim of human trafficking.

The story is immediately intriguing (in a car-crash way) & pulled me right in. The prose is stripped back, almost matter of fact in places, which makes Jane’s reality all the more horrifying. However, I found the next half an arduous & depressing read. There’s a lot of repetition in terms of Jane’s thoughts & Len’s dialogue. It’s an effective device that mirrors the monotony of their dreary & isolated existence. But it also makes for a slow paced journey over ground already covered. It’s clear there will be few real winners here & as the story progressed it only became more disturbing. I don’t want to spoil the outcome for anyone so I’ll just say the pace picks up, albeit late in the game.

Due to the subject matter, it would be weird to say I “enjoyed” the writing. But this author definitely knows how to push you from your comfort zone & evoke an emotional response. The fact I kept a mental list of ways to torture Len is a testament to his skills ( note to self: delete search history)

So…how to rate this. I think it’s a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”. It’s a well written, affecting story with moments where you catch a glimpse of hope. But ultimately I found it a bleak read, possibly more so after a year in our current reality.

3.5 stars

3.75 stars

Fans of Room and Misery will devour this claustrophobic thriller.

A woman is trapped by a man named Lenn on an isolated farm in the United Kingdom. She has been there for seven years, and every time she tries to escape, something is taken away from her, and slowly, she is left with no memory of who she is. But when she gets a child, she knows she needs to escape, and then a new victim is trapped in the cellar. The stakes are high, but she knows she needs to leave. Pulse-pounding and tense, this novel is sure to have you turning the pages through the night.

Having read Room and loving it, I knew I had to get my hands on Dean's novel. The novels both have many similar elements, but Dean's novel borders more on the darker side. I've heard nothing but good things about this novel, so the hype made me want to read it even more.

This is a story of strength and resilience. It's dark for sure, but not gruesome in the way you think it is. It's scary because of how real stories like this one actually are, and for this reason, I salute Dean fro crafting such a bold novel. It's hard to turn away from the pages because all you want is for her to escape with her child. All you want to know is her next move, and it's one of this novels that makes you ask: What would I do if I was in that situation? It's a story that is heartbreaking as much as it is heart pounding. The balance between the two is exceptional.

Dean is definitely a talented storyteller. The chapters read quick and you'll for sure be able to finish this one in a few sittings. There's a twist where I didn't expect one to be and I found that very entertaining to discover. My only concern with this novel was that it did read a lot like Donoghue's Room, but it was still very enjoyable to read Overall, Dean's story makes for a gripping story with a meaningful message that is sure to have you on the edge of your seat till the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

SO well written, I felt like I was trapped right in there along with Jane!! The ending made my heart pound! There were a few parts where I was thinking "Oh come on Jane, stop being stupid." but overall, textbook suspense/thriller!

THE LAST THING TO BURN by Will Dean is a really wild domestic thriller! This novel is about a woman held captive by a farmer for years. She becomes pregnant and then really begins to plan her escape to save herself and her child. Honestly in the beginning of the book it was very disturbing and I thought I don’t like this at all. I continued reading and I was hooked! I read this book in less than 24 hours! I loved the fast pace and all the twists and turns even though the whole time I was cringing. It was great propulsive writing that kept me on edge the whole time.
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Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my advance review copy!

I have just finished reading The Last Thing To Burn, by Author Will Dean.

This is a dark, intense, and disturbing story about human trafficking, and captivity.

The main character is held against her will for over 7 years, and although the topic is a hard one to read, it is a book so well written and captivating. I could not put it down, as I just wanted to know what was to become of her.

It is a book that with time permitting, could be read in one sitting.

I have not read anything by this Author before, although I have heard about him in the past. I will for sure read more of his work in the future.


Thank You to NetGalley, Author Will Dean, and Simon & Schuster Canada for my advanced copy to read and review
. #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Will Dean and Simon & Schuster Canada for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't even read the synopsis of this novel before I requested it because I'm such a huge Dean fan so I was very surprised upon reading what it was actually about. This one is quite dark, but necessarily so. This is a big issue still around that world that needs to be addressed. Human trafficking is such a scary thing, but I feel like this novel approached it in a way that you could read about without being depressed. It was a very quick read because I wanted to know what happened to our main character! Overall, quite an enjoyable read even with the dark subject matter.

This is an intense and heartbreaking story of a woman who was lured from her home in Vietnam with the promise of a good life only to be bought and sold by human traffickers. “Jane” the name given to her by her captor lives for seven years on a isolated rural farm in England where she must do everything she is told in an exact manner or he will burn one of her personal items. Such things a a family photo, her ID card me letters from her sister who was also kidnapped and trafficked. Her life is horrendous with sexual assault, intentionally broken bones, etc. This book was a melding of The Room and Misery.

The subject matter is heartbreaking and it is difficult to read what happens to her. Jane loves her sister and when she gives birth to her daughter she does everything to keep her safe. This is a book of trafficking, abuse, strength and perseverance. I read this book I in one sitting as I could not put it down. This is the first book I have read by this author but I would like to read more of his books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this book.

First, I wish to give a huge thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC in return for an honest review. This was the most powerful book I have read for a long time. I previously enjoyed all of the excellent, atmospheric series by Will Dean featuring Tuva Moodyson. Tuva is a deaf journalist and set in a small town on the edge of a Swedish forest.

This is a brilliant standalone book with a new setting and feel this is the author's most dynamic book yet. This was a claustrophobic, chilling, and compelling story. This heart wrenching story kept me emotionally invested throughout with its increasing tension and suspense. I was feeling the despair and dreading the emotional and physical abuse in each scene, but was unable to put the book down.

I won't summarize the plot as I don't want to spoil it for the next reader. It focuses on the devastating effect of white slavery, and the deceptive promises of a better life in Britain. The characters here are sold to/ or captured by a cruel, controlling and abusive man to the detriment of their physical and mental health. It is a story of resilience and survival against all odds. Outstanding!
Highly recommended to readers of thrillers who are not deterred by a grim, dark, and disturbing story.

This was a heartbreaking and powerful book. A story of unimaginable odds and challenges. I really couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to recommend this one to friends!