Unfortunately, the Last Word was a complete disappointment. As a fan of Taylor Adams, I was genuinely excited and could not wait to get my hands on this one. The characters lacked personality and the story lacked suspense. I found that it was a solid concept, however it was rushed and did not pull through at the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller! Receiving an advanced copy was much appreciated. I believe both existing fans and newcomers of Taylor Adams will find it equally enjoyable.

Watch out about leaving those one star reviews

Emma Carpenter has her reasons for isolating herself on the Washington coast, housesitting with her golden retriever, Laiko. She has the bare minimum of contact with the eccentric neighbor and otherwise spends her days reading and walking on the beach.

After reading a gruesome horror thriller that her neighbor mentions, she ends up leaving a one-star review, which is NOT handled well by the author.

Soon Emma is hearing noises at night and she is finding out that people DO read those reviews.

I enjoyed this thriller. It had a couple of good twists and was a fun read.

I received this Digital Reading Copy from William Morrow Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. This is that review.

I enjoyed a few things with this title but found it left me with more to be desired than it actually accomplished. It seemed very convoluted

I became a fan of Taylor Adams after reading No Exit and this latest did not disappoint. An author terrorizes a reader who had the audacity to give him a one star review. This had more twists than the road going up Pike’s Peak. I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety and never would’ve anticipated the ending. This is a gem for fans of psychological thrillers.

When Emma posts a one-star review of a horror novel, the author begins sending her harassing and frightening messages. When she starts to have disturbing experiences in the house she is sitting, she wonders if the author is also stalking her. I have read a couple of the author's other books, and they all hooked me from the beginning. This one wasn't as creepy as the others, but it was still pretty creepy.

The Last Word by Taylor Adams

Emma Carpenter is house-sitting an old house on the coast of Washington. To pass the time, she reads and reviews books. One day, she reads a terrible horror novel written by the author H.G. Kane and decides to post a negative review of the book online, unaware that Kane is an obsessive author who takes her criticism very personally. Kane begins to stalk Emma, sending her creepy messages and leaving disturbing gifts on her doorstep. Emma soon realizes that she is in danger, and she must find a way to escape before it's too late.

I really liked how Taylor Adams explores the power of words and the relationship not only between authors and readers but also between authors and book reviewers.

The story is suspenseful and fast-paced and the plot is full of twists and turns. The author did a great job of creating a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere and a sense of paranoia that kept me engaged from beginning to end.

I would highly recommend The Last Word to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers. It will keep you guessing until the very end!

Spoiler Alerts Below - Read with Caution
Reading is an escape, and no one knows that more than Emma Carpenter. After a particularly devastating life event, Emma has run away to housesit in the middle of nowhere, Washington. The beachfront property is a wonderful place for Emma and her dog, Laika, to heal. The best part? Her closest neighbor is miles away—the two can only communicate with whiteboards and telescopes.
Finding himself particularly humorous one day, Emma's neighbor recommends a horror novel. Emma takes the bait and reads the novel; however, she absolutely abhors the writing and plot. In an out of character moment, Emma writes a negative review on the novel's Amazon page. This one-star review leads to a battle of words between Emma and the author HG Kane, with Kane insisting Emma will regret her review.
A few days pass and Emma starts to notice strange happenings in the secluded property. At first, she brushes off her suspicions; however, it soon becomes apparent that HG Kane is a problem that cannot be ignored. Emma digs into his life and his other novels to try and save herself, but will it be enough?
I absolutely ate up this story! And before you go further-spoiler: Laika the dog is perfectly fine in the end. Knowing this early on would have helped me enjoy the book all the way through instead of putting it down when Laika scenes came up. Adams choice to alternate between the real events and what the newest horror novel's author was writing was absolutely tantalizing. It was hard to know who to trust! Similar to No Exit, the suspense in this story was insaenne! I was constantly devouring the pages, and any time I got interrupted, I couldn't stop thinking about the story. (Likewise, any time I took a break thinking Laika was going to pass, I couldn't stop thinking about the story as a whole!)
I honestly don't know how to write a review that doesn't just spoil every little thing. The plot twists were some of my favorite out of all the books I've read. Each time I thought I knew the direction the story would take, I was proven wrong. My only complaint was the ending. Honestly, it almost felt too neat. Again, though, I can't be more specific in my criticisms without spoiling the story. I'll just say that I think it could have ended earlier and left more to the imagination. It got a little too... cookie cutter for me. Overall, however, the ending is such a small portion to an otherwise nail-biting read!

This literary offering is nothing short of a high-octane thrill ride, an exhilarating journey that refuses to pause for a moment. At its core, the story revolves around an author who receives a scathing reader review, setting off a chain of events that plunges the narrative into chaos and suspense.

"The Last Word" by Taylor Adams centers on Emma and her loyal canine companion, Laika, as they undertake a house-sitting assignment in a remote, desolate beachfront property. Emma's sole means of communication are whiteboard messages and a distant neighbor, Deek, whom she observes through a telescope. While fulfilling her duties, she attempts to escape her personal demons by immersing herself in inexpensive e-books on her e-reader. After leaving a scathing one-star review for one such book, Emma's life takes a harrowing turn as she becomes increasingly aware of eerie disturbances in and around the house. She is left to grapple with the unsettling question of whether the book's author is stalking her and just how much peril she might be in.

My admiration for this novel knows no bounds. The initial part of the narrative, in particular, was profoundly chilling, to the extent that I would not advise reading it alone at night, especially if you reside in solitary quarters. The subsequent sections of the book evolve into a relentless thriller that delves into themes of self-preservation, forgiveness, and the discovery of inner strength when it appears depleted. The narrative unfolds with numerous twists and turns, complemented by flashback sequences that unravel the enigma of Emma's past. Throughout my reading experience, I oscillated through a spectrum of emotions, from fear and anxiety to sympathy, empathy, and ultimately, happiness.

While it might be necessary to suspend one's disbelief at certain junctures in the story, I personally relished the wild and unpredictable trajectory it followed. Just as you believe you have deciphered the story's direction, Adams adeptly alters the course, ensuring an element of surprise remains constant. Although I unintentionally discerned one of the major plot twists early on, I found that it did not significantly detract from my overall enjoyment.

The book's portrayal of Laika, the loyal canine, was a particular highlight for me. I developed a deep connection with her character, similar to the bond I felt with Emma. This novel is truly a masterful creation that leaves an indelible mark, and I wholeheartedly endorse it to any reader seeking a thrilling and multifaceted experience.

I can be the first to admit that I read so many thrillers each year that sometimes I become jaded by the plotlines and find that the plots all become interchangeable and predictable. Taylor Adams absolutely smashed my end-of-the-year thriller ennui with "The Last Word." I often find the phrase "the author kept me guessing until the last page" to seem trite and overused, but in this case, the action played out until literally the final page, and I was completely prepared to be FURIOUS at how the novel ended before Adams pulled out one last surprise...

When tragedy pushes Emma Carpenter to the brink, she retreats to a house-sitting job on a secluded beach where she spends the days walking her dog, Laika, smoking the occasional illicit cigarette, and reading increasingly terrible murder mysteries. While she considers her bar for entertainment to be low, one afternoon spent with author HG Kane and his so-poorly-written-it-defies-the-imagination "Murder Mountain," Emma can't take anymore and posts a scathing, but honest, one-star review.

Emma finds herself ready to forget "Murder Mountain" and move on to the next in her long line of cheap e-books when she is unexpectedly drawn into a back-and-forth with the author who demands that she take down her review. When Emma refuses his comments begin to straddle the line between obnoxious and threatening. These threats coupled with unsettling nighttime activity around the house leave Emma wondering just how much of HG Kane's sadistic back catalog comes from real-life experience.

"The Last Word" was such a fun read and I genuinely enjoyed every minute spent reading. I thought Adams breathed fresh life into the final girl trope and also into the idea of a revenge killing fueled by a bad review. "The Last Word" is a novel that I will find myself recommending again and again to our patrons, both those who are new to the genre and those who need a completely original thriller to help them find their spark again. This novel is perfect for fans of Riley Sager, Shari Lapena, and Lisa Jewell, and has cemented Taylor Adam's place in the modern thriller author's hall of fame. I cannot wait to see what he will give us next, and I will be returning to "The Last Word" as a reread in the meantime! Special thanks to NetGalley and to William Morrow for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of "The Last Word" in exchange for an unbiased review.

very fast paced, the story line gets a little wild but I just had to stay up til 1am to find out what happened!

It's astonishing to think that writing a negative book review could put your life in danger. This is the gripping premise of THE LAST WORD. Emma Carpenter, a woman living in seclusion on the Washington coast, unintentionally captures the attention of the enigmatic and possibly dangerous horror author, H.G. Kane, after posting a scathing one-star review of his latest work. While this situation seems extreme, there's more to the story than meets the eye.

Taylor Adams, the author, skillfully crafts tension throughout the novel, utilizing Emma's isolated location and her sparse human interactions to heighten the reader's sense of unease. The plot unravels at a captivating pace, intertwining subtle clues and intensifying events that leave readers questioning the boundaries between reality and paranoia.

The novel's portrayal of the darker side of the internet and its potential real-life consequences is both timely and thought-provoking. Adams raises questions about the nature of online anonymity, the risks of online engagement, and the blurred lines between fiction and reality.

ow that's the way you write a book! Very few books have given me that on the edge of your seat feeling and this is one of those few. The tension building with each turn of the page was perfect. The main character was one smart, strong woman. I loved the take on cliched moments, when wondering what would you do if you were put into a certain situation, would you make smarter decisions or act the same as the characters in the book when the fear hits and paralyzes your mind and body. This was such a great read, I can't recommend it enough. Five Stars all the way.

I loved this book! I will definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Last Word by Taylor Adams

I am actually impressed. I read No Exit because I had heard such great things…how good it was, how thrilling. I did not agree. I gave that book ⭐️⭐️ and was quite leary about giving this author a second chance. But the synopsis of the book sounded so interesting and unique, I gave in and read it.

Emma Carpenter is on a downward spiral with grief. To deal, she leaves her life and agrees to house sit for a random stranger. The closest person to her is an old washed up author neighbor who lives a quarter mile away. He recommends she read a particular book (that he did not write.) She does. She hates it. She rates it ⭐️online. This author contacts her. He threatens her. He demands she change it. She refuses. He finds her. He stalks her. He attacks her. The rest you’ll have to read.

THIS. BOOK. WAS. AMAZING! I found it easy to read - before I knew it I was 50% in and felt like I had just begun. It kept my attention, I felt like I knew the characters, and the twists and turns were simply complex. They made sense but were still remarkable. My favorite part of the book (aside from the thoughts of the dog) was the contradictory storytelling bouncing from Emma’s point of view to the killer’s point of view. For example, Emma may end her description of what happened stating how she wasn’t scared. The killer would then begin his portion describing how scared Emma was. (The killer exaggerated and elaborated the situations to make his “new” book sound scarier and gorier than real life.)

I highly recommend this book. Well-done thriller. 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title for review.

Great horror-leaning thriller from Taylor Adams, best-selling author of "No Exit." A must addition for libraries.

This book started out strong but then it went off a cliff. I loved that it starts with a women giving a one star review for a book she just read. Even writing this I felt I shouldn't give it a one star because, who knows what might happen? About half way through I gave up on this. The story was all over the place.

I’m torn on this one. The author really knows how to set a mood. At the start of this one, I was feeling the vibe he set and got the creepy cottage and was really interested in Emma’s backstory. As it came out slowly. I was able to guess all sorts of things.

And the premise is terrific. A reader leaves a panned review for a mystery and then is stalked by the author. I think the issue I had with this one is it ramped up to full speed one-third of the way into the book and it just isn’t possible to keep up that intensity for that much of the book. And I found it pretty easy to guess what would happen. Well, except for the dog. I kept thinking if they kill the dog, I am out.

While I did find this enjoyable and I never thought to stop reading (except for the dog) I really thought this had the potential to be a home run and it was only a single for me, but I’ll give it credit for giving me all types of chances to make guesses on parts of the book. And that is what I love to do, be an arm chair detective.

Fully thrilling experience, much like the previous story. It reads like a tense movie which is fun. The ending felt a bit outlandish but it was a fun experience and I hope this one turns into a movie as well.

This book kept me on my toes. I was shocked by the ending and would recommend this book for any thriller readers! Definitely a good fall creepy read. Not quite sure if I likes NO Exit better, but love this author