I went into this book almost completely blindly. I had never read anything by this author but the cover and title intrigued me. We quickly learn our characters and the odd situation they’ve found themselves in…a situation that gripped me and kept me up all night reading! After we find out the truth, we get one final plot twist that was simply chef’s kiss. I will definitely be seeking out more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis of this book is short for a reason! The first twist hits about 1/3 of the way through the book and will ABSOLUTELY SHOCK you, and then the twists KEEP ON COMING!!! This book is 400+ pages but doesn’t at all feel that long because you will want to read it in one setting. I literally could not put it down and was hooked from the very first page. I won’t say too much else because you want to go in completely blind for maximum impact of the jaw dropping and heart pounding twists. This book is an absolute must have, and you want to add it to your August TBR and preorder now!

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. What a story! Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed how the story was going to go. It makes you wonder if there are companies and people out there that are sick enough to do these things. When Caz wakes up alone on the Atlantica, she has no idea what is in store for her. And neither do we as readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. This totally missed the mark for me! I was so sucked in until the admiral appeared, then it just became dumb! It drug on and on and the end was just not great!

This was a wild ride. You go into this book thinking it's one things and honestly it's not...it had me guessing and I couldn't put it down.

This was the scariest book I’ve ever read. I read a lot of thrillers and watch a lot of horror, but this is it. I already have an aversion to boats, especially CRUISE SHIPS, now I have more fears😆

Who wants to get on a ship full of people and sail across the ocean, unable to get off, small rooms, germs, a mile of black ocean and sea creatures beneath you? NO THANK YOU. Now I can add the chance of psychological torture to that list.

Perfect summer read for the beach, as long as you stay on the sand and don’t go for any boating adventures.

Thanks so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the chance to get a jump on this book!

Wow! This book was so hard to put down! I kept waiting for the plot to become boring or predictable but loved every twist and turn that kept coming. It really kept me guessing motives and intentions the whole way through. A bit of shock and horror along the way this was an awesome summer read! Thank you netgalley and will dean for the arc!

"The Last One" by Will Dean follows Caz and Pete as they embark on a luxe cruise aboard the RMS Atlantica. However, their dream vacation quickly turns into a nightmare when Caz wakes up to find Pete mysteriously missing and the ship eerily empty. This should have set the stage for a thrilling and suspenseful tale, but unfortunately, it falls flat.

One of the main weaknesses of "The Last One" is the lackluster character development. Caz, as the protagonist, feels underdeveloped and lacks depth, making it challenging for readers to connect with or invest in her journey. The supporting characters also suffer from a lack of meaningful development, reducing their impact on the story.

Furthermore, the pacing throughout the book is inconsistent, with prolonged periods of stagnation and moments that feel rushed. This imbalance hampers the flow of the narrative, undermining the potential for building tension and suspense. As a result, the story struggles to maintain readers' interest.

The central mystery of the empty ship fails to live up to its initial promise. The reveals and twists lack originality, and the resolution feels hurried and unsatisfying. The lack of payoff and the missed opportunities for deeper exploration of the mystery leave readers feeling unfulfilled.

While the setting of the deserted cruise ship offers potential for a menacing atmosphere, it ultimately falls short. The descriptions lack vividness and fail to create a strong sense of place or imbue the story with the desired eerie ambiance. This further diminishes the tension and fails to fully immerse readers in the setting.

In conclusion, "The Last One" by Will Dean disappoints with its underdeveloped characters, inconsistent pacing, lackluster mystery, and subpar execution of the setting. While the initial premise held promise, the eventual result falls flat, leaving readers unsatisfied. Regrettably, this 2-star novel fails to deliver on its potential and offers a reading experience that lacks the desired thrills.

ARC Review:
4.5 Stars
Oh my gosh! What a freaking ride! Whatever you're expecting, it's probably not this. You will be pulled in every direction imaginable, thinking through a million different theories in your mind, and just when you think you've got it, a new twist will catch you off guard. I can't describe my genuine love for this book and the creativity that went behind it enough, and although there's not much I can say without giving it away, I'll give you just a few of my MANY thoughts on what this book reminded me of, at at least one point or another along the journey. If you like any of the following, READ THIS BOOK!!
•Thriller mixed with dystopian vibes
•Escape room puzzles
•Survivor-style tv shows
I could give a million different movies and shows this reminds me of, but it would take all of the fun away. You'll be holding your breath, feeling disturbed and anxious, flipping pages late into the night all the way up until the very last sentence. And then you'll be thinking about it for days to come!

Cliff notes review: mix of Survivor, Saw, Black Mirror and Lord of the Flies with a cruise ship backdrop.

Positives: fascinating plot/ premise, picks up the place quickly, could easily visualize as a movie

Negatives: 448 pages is hella long for a suspense, limited first person POV only gave Caz’s backstory and what it did give was rather repetitive in regards to her dad’s gambling with little other character development, ending was WAY too ridiculous, like borderline “LOST” kind of ending

Wow! This was one wild and intense ride that I absolutely could not put down. In fact, about halfway through, the intensity was unimaginable. I was white knuckling my way through at 1am and gasping so loud, I woke my husband.

This is unlike any other book I’ve read – and very 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 -esque. In fact, two days after finishing this book, I watched an episode that was indeed 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 similar. I won’t name it to avoid spoilers, but IYKYK!

Read if you like:

✨survival thrillers
✨claustrophobic settings
✨unique plots

My thanks to @atriabooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime?

Beware - nothing is as it seems. Nothing.

I love books such as this one which spotlight what we humans will do when we are pushed to our limits!

With mixed vibes, including The Lord of the Flies, this book examines morality in the most extreme and bizarre conditions. It’s intense, bordering on fantasy, fed by the setting, and extremely atmospheric. Just when you think the ride is over, or paused for you to catch your breath, there’s another twist and your adrenaline is kicked into high gear AGAIN.

In short, Caz wakes up on the first morning of her cruise to discover that she’s completely alone. Her boyfriend, Pete, isn’t in their cabin and when she pops her head out into the hallway, she discovers that it’s eerily quiet and the cabins are empty. Upon exploration, she quickly discovers she’s alone. No captain. No crew. No passengers. How do thousands of passengers just disappear? You’ll have to read to find out.

This is my first introduction to Will Dean’s books. I was impressed with his heart-pounding tale examining family, trust and survival. However, I was, at times, shaking my head in disbelief, laughing at the absurdity, and pulling the brakes so that I could go back and re-read sections.

I had to wait much longer than my 13th date to get on a cruise ship, but I’ve been addicted to cruising since.

I was gifted this copy by Atria Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I love the cover for this book. It is very hard to review this book without mentioning spoilers. But here it goes . . .

The blurb for this book is an interesting concept. Caz (Caroline Ridley) goes on a cruise with her boyfriend Pete.. It should be a trip of a lifetime. After their first wonderful night, Caz wakes up with Pete missing and the ship seemingly empty.

It is described as a white-knuckled mystery.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book. However, it didn’t quite work for me based on what I enjoy reading. Some of the things that happen are so far fetched that it stretched the mystery genre (again for me). This would never happen. Does this make this book a fantasy? A alternative reality? I’m not sure. I think that is where this book doesn’t work for me. I can see how some will find this book very enjoyable and entertaining. It is fast paced. It pushes Caz to the limit and she is given impossible choices.

If you go into this book without limiting it to the mystery genre and you enjoy survival stories with a very improbably situations, you might like it.

Side note, there is a reference in this book to one of my favorite books. I enjoyed that Easter egg and reference. The part of this book around that was well done.

I am trying to decide if I loved this book or hated it. I think it was well written. It was completely different than what I had expected. I got pulled in right away. There were a couple parts where it dragged for me a little. I felt like there was both a lot going on and not much going on at the same time.

I liked that the chapters were short. There were a lot of twists and surprises in this book. A lot of it made me so mad (which I think the author intended). I feel like the story was well thought out.

I think this is an excellent book for readers who always figure out the twists. I feel like most people will not figure them out.

This book left me with a lot to think about. I feel like it is a book that will stay with me for a while. I will also say that I absolutely hated the very end of the book (the last paragraph).

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Will Dean for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What did I just read??? Holy cow that was a ride I blew through in less than 5 hours. Could not put it down. I need a support group just to talk about that ending.

“I wish you fair winds and calm seas.”

Will Dean’s nautical thriller The Last One delivers everything except fairness and calmness upon the ill-fated few aboard the RMS Atlantica as the anticipation and expectations of a luxury ocean crossing transform from exclusive club access and upscale multi-room suites into an unsettling voyage.

Peter and Caroline (“Caz”) are making a one-way crossing from Southhampton, England to New York, New York on the luxury RMS Atlantica. While Peter tries to encourage Caz to relax and enjoy the trip, she can’t help but feel uneasy about the open waters. The next morning, Caz wakes to find herself on a deserted ship sailing full steam ahead into the barren sea. No cell phone service, no crew, no access to emergency notification systems - she’s stranded. Searching the ship for supplies and any sign of life, Caz discovers few survivors on the otherwise eerily empty ship. This band of four remaining passengers (each with quirks and vices that grate on the desperate group members and the reader) forms. Banding together through unexpected twists and endless thwarts to their survival, they are fighting not just to return to land but for their lives.

If you’re looking for a thriller that breaks from the normal tropes and storylines as it speeds full steam ahead to its conclusion, The Last One is your next read.

As a frequent thriller reader, I noted that this book featured some bizarre elements that were unbelievable or fit for a type of reader willing to suspend reality. Some of the personality traits or flaws made it difficult to connect to key characters, making portions of the story more of a slow burn. However, the last third of the book really picked up and featured gripping ascents and descents until the conclusion.

** Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. **

Will Dean’s The Last One was an emotional roller coaster ride that I thoroughly loved. Every time I thought I had the plot pinned down he threw new curves at me. Bravo! What would you do if you woke up and you found yourself alone on an ocean liner? That’s only the beginning of the ride for Caz and things are never quite what they seem. While the book takes place in November it certainly makes for a wonderful summer read.

Let me tell you a little story about this book...

It was nearly impossible to get my hands on a copy and I was beginning to debate some illegal tactics..

Well, luckily it didn't have to go that far (but I would have!)

I was introduced to this sensational author through Bookstagram and I have been hooked on his every word ever since. First Born and The Last Thing to Burn are amongst my most favored books and two books I always suggest to fellow thriller lovers.

I had high expectations for The Last One, but I was confident Dean would deliver.

Well, all of my expectations were exceeded!!!

I loved every minute of this wild ride. There was never a time I was bored or wanted to close the book, instead it was just the opposite. I could not move, I was completely consumed and I white knuckled my kindle after I was thrown from one twist to the next.

This is a riveting suspenseful thriller that will get even the biggest critic going.

After reading all three of Dean’s' books and loving them, I have to say The Last One, is definitely my favorite.

Teaser :

An unputdownable locked-room thriller about family, trust, and survival from the acclaimed author of the “utterly thrilling” (Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author) First Born.

When Caz steps onboard the exclusive cruise liner RMS Atlantica, it’s the start of a vacation of a lifetime with her new love, Pete. On their first night they explore the ship, eat, dance, make friends, but when Caz wakes the next morning, Pete is missing.

And when she walks out into the corridor, all the cabin doors are open. To her horror, she soon realizes that the ship is completely empty. No passengers, no crew, nobody but her. The Atlantica is steaming into the mid-Atlantic and Caz is the only person on board. But that’s just the beginning of the terrifying journey she finds herself trapped on in this white-knuckled mystery.

Wow! That ending though 😳 what am I supposed to do with that ending lol. I really liked this. There were parts I wasn’t sure about and explanations that were a bit far fetched but all in all this was a fun ride! I feel like I can’t say anything because it would all be a spoiler. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, suspense, survival and just feelings of helplessness I think you will enjoy this. I really enjoyed the writing and will be checking out more title from Will. Add this to your TBR pile and enjoy the ride.

I honestly don’t know how to review this book without giving too much away. I think the synopsis is intentionally misleading to surprise the reader, but it backfired some in my case because I went into it expecting a spooky locked-room mystery and wound up with something far more outlandish. The premise is that Caz, a passenger on an ocean liner, wakes up to find herself alone on the ship with no crew and only a handful of other passengers (the synopsis doesn’t mention the others, but that’s the only spoiler I’m giving).

If you are interested in a book that will most likely be buzzy and polarizing, I’d recommend giving it a shot just to see where you fall. I personally had a love/hate experience reading it. I couldn’t stop reading, but also wanted to throw the book across the room several times.