Another crazy rollercoaster of a thriller from Kiersten Modlin that I devoured!

Sadie and her fiancé have booked a weekend getaway for their last weekend of freedom before their baby is born, but there are so many strange things going on, Sadie just wants to leave. The landlord and landlady seem to be stalking them and then someone else turns up, intruding on their peace and something just feels off.

When we find out what it is, the twists just keep barreling in! It's completely over the top drama, but in a gripping and very enjoyable way. I love the way Kiersten Modlin's writing keeps us on our toes and the narrators in the audiobook did a great job of bringing the characters to life.

Thoroughly entertaining.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Kiersten Modglin and Dreamscape for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Calvin and Sadie are newly engaged and expecting their first child. To celebrate, Calvin booked a babymoon trip to a remote cabin for some r&r before they become new parents. The seem to be totally in love, and Calvin is so attentive to his pregnant wife. Just before they are set to leave, Calvin breaks the news to Sadie that someone has contacted him claiming to be his daughter. Though Sadie is reasonably a little shaken up by this news, she still wants to go on their trip and decide what to do about this unforeseen news when they get back. Soon after arriving to the cabin, Sadie feels unsafe almost instantly. Is all of this in her head or is there something more sinister going on?

This was my first Kiersten Modglin read, and I have to say, I am impressed! This short little audiobook, of just 5 hours, was filled with twists, an unreliable narrator, remote cabin terror, multiple POVs, nonlinear timelines and more. Even though this story was filled with about everything you can think of as far as domestic thriller tropes go, I thought it was so successful and kept the reader totally enthralled with what was going on. I'll never complain about a short book; however, I do kind of wish we had more time with Sadie questioning her reality to build up more to the end. I think that would have made the plot a bit more thorough, but either way, it was a great little read with some fantastic narrators!

Thank you NetGalley, Kiersten Modglin, and Dreamscape Media for this advanced listener copy!

If there’s one thing you can count on with a Kiersten Modglin book, it’s that you’re in for a ride—twisty, fast, and always entertaining. The Last Trip is no exception. At just five hours, this one might be short, but it delivers.

From the jump, it’s got that deliciously scandalous, salacious energy that makes it impossible to stop listening. The dual narration? Absolutely spot-on. Both narrators did a fantastic job bringing the tension and suspense to life. I flew through it in less than 24 hours, completely hooked.

The story follows Calvin and Sadie, a couple looking for one last peaceful getaway before their baby arrives. But, of course, this is a KMod book, so peace is the last thing they’re going to get. Instead, they’re met with eerie hosts, unsettling revelations, and the creeping suspicion that someone is watching.

If you’re looking for a quick thriller that keeps you guessing, The Last Trip is a perfect pick. It’s exactly what I expect (and love) from Modglin—twists, tension, and an entertaining escape. Whenever I hit a reading slump, I know I can count on her books to pull me right out of it.

It’s a yes for me! 🖤

DeAnn
@deannsreadingriot

This was just okay. I love a gay twist but ultimately it just didn't live up to other Kiersten Modglin titles. I just didn't buy the motives of some of the characters, the things they'd put up with. It just wasn't plausible to me.

What a fast paced thriller I could not put down!!! Kiersten Modglin is known for her twists and turns and this will not leave you disappointed!

Grab your popcorn because this book has everything you need in a popcorn thriller.

Very fast paced and engaging- I read it in one sitting!

The narration is engaging and will have you hooked from the first page!

5/5 stars from this thriller reader!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC audiobook! The dual POV / dual timeline keeps your interest, keeps you guessing and the overall plot made me feel uncomfortable/creeped out for the main character. It was a quick listen and I enjoyed it!

This audiobook was a quick listen—short, snappy, and kept me hooked from start to finish. The narrators did a fantastic job of bringing the tension to life, making it all the more immersive. I had my detective hat on and kind of guessed one of the twists, but I wasn’t entirely sure (which, let’s be honest, made it even more fun).
It was my first book by Kiersten Modglin, but definitely not my last—I can already tell she knows how to craft a gripping story. The alternating POVs and timelines added to the intrigue, keeping me on my toes the whole way through. A solid thriller that I flew through in no time!

A couple's babymoon in a remote cabin turns sinister when they receive shocking news, encounter strange behavior from the homeowners, and realize they may be being watched. As secrets and betrayals come to light, they must figure out who to trust before it's too late.

I can't help but love Kiersten's books. They are suspenseful, twisted, and short, making them impossible to put down. I am always captivated by her work and have never been disappointed.

The story begins with a chilling factor, not only from the environment but also from the immediate happenings. I was immediately drawn in! Despite the few characters and points of view to keep up with, the author did a great job of helping you distinguish between them easily. The main characters seem to have a perfect life together, but strange things start happening, and you need to pay attention to catch all the hints before the main reveal hits. I didn't expect the ending or the main twist - I kept guessing, but I was nowhere close.

I don't want to give away too much, but the plot of this story is twisted to the max! If you enjoy domestic thriller secluded stories that keep you guessing, shaking your head, and leaving your mouth agape, then this is the book for you. I guarantee you won't see the sick twist coming, but everything falls into place by the end. The author's recent books are impossible to put down and easy to binge read.

Thank you, Dreamscape Media for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My goodness what a ride! I didn't see the twist coming and then I didn't see the end coming either. Holy cow! I didn't even realize how short the book was because I was so engrossed in it.
Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this arc!

KMOD does it again! Very short and entertaining story, so I was able to listen in one sitting! I did like the back and forth between the “her” and “him” because I wasn’t sure who the “her” was until the end and the twist was good too! I’ll always read a book by KMOD! The narration was great too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What did I just listen to?! You can count on KMod to bring the crazy and that’s extra true with this one. I wasn’t sure where it was going to go and I thought it might actually be off the rails at a couple of points. But I should know by now that the crazier the plot, the higher the chance that KMod’s landing will stick. And what an ending it was!!
*Thanks to Dreamscape media and netgalley for the advance audiobook copy

Kiersten Modglin does it again! This fast, twisty thriller pulled me in from page one.

Calvin and Sadie are about to become parents, so they plan a relaxing babymoon. But just before they leave, Calvin gets shocking news, and when they arrive at their vacation rental, the owners are way too involved. What starts as a simple getaway quickly spirals into something super sketch.

I loved the weird rental owners—they were seriously creepy! As someone who often stays in Airbnbs, I’d hate for the owners to keep showing up, so I loved every minute of their awful behavior.

Meanwhile, the multiple POVs let us see that everyone is lying, and no one’s spilling!

I loved the fast pace and short length. Even in such a brief book, it was easy to connect with the characters and stay entertained by the events.

I did not see the twists coming and really loved them. The ending threw me a little, though. I don’t usually need a happy ending, but I really liked Sadie and wanted her forever after.

The audiobook was fantastic, with both narrators bringing Sadie and Calvin to life. Perfect for listening while doing housework or sitting in traffic—you’ll almost wish for an LA traffic jam!

Thanks to @Netgalley and
@Dreamscape_Media for access to this advanced readers copy

I was thrilled to receive an ARC from one of my favourite authors!

Secluded cabin, creepy locals, bad weather…a perfect setting for a terrifying vacation!
This book gave me the creeps all the way through, and I was excited to watch the mystery unfold.
The twists were over the top but I loved them.
This was a fabulous read and another hit!

Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.

I really enjoyed this thriller, including the writing, suspenseful plot, characters and the excellent narration.
Kiersten Modglin always writes great stories with shocking, twisty narratives and this was no exception! The way the dual timelines converged was totally unexpected 🤯 ‼️
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

WARNING: unpopular opinion ahead!!

I only discovered Kiersten Modglin's writing last year, and the first couple of thrillers were all hits for me. I admit that I did have a recent fail with one of her romantic suspense books, but I was still convinced that I would enjoy my time with The Last Trip. The premise sounded like it had SO much potential, and I decided to try this story on audio as I'm hoping to listen to more audiobooks this year. Sadly, this newest story turned out to be another miss for me personally. I'll try to explain why below.

Don't get me wrong, the premise of The Last Trip had a lot of potential and I get why it only reveals part of the plot to avoid spoilers. BUT. I loved the sound of the snowy mountains and remote cabin setting, and was a bit disappointed that this setting only played a small role in the plot. Instead, the story mainly takes place in Nashville, and switches between past and present as well as an unnamed male and female POV. This is done to help introduce a couple plot twists later on, although I have to be honest that those didn't quite have the impact I suspect the author hoped it would have... Mostly because it was pretty predictable what would happen by then.

If I had known the domestic drama direction this story would go in, I'm not sure if I would have decided to listen to it. It's not my favorite topic and I have to be in the mood for it; I was expecting a different story and this was probably part of the problem for me. That said, I wasn't exactly a fan of the characters. Calvin has so many red flags that it's a miracle Sadie didn't run away screaming long ago... It makes her character come over as either stupid or at least extremely naive, and as a result I struggled to connect to her. Calvin is just so extremely hard to like, and this only became worse as his POV started to reveal more about him.

It's true that this story is without doubt a quick read and I enjoyed the part set in the mountains. If the story had stayed there and more suspicious things would have happened at that location, the story would probably have been easier to like... But I can't say that I was a fan of the direction the story took, and some of the plot twists were so over the top that they were just plain silly. The ending itself was both underwhelming and lacked credibility... In fact, leave your disbelief at the door when you start reading this story in general, because you will need it to at least attempt to enjoy the plot.

As for the audiobook itself: sadly I regret my decision to listen to the audiobook. This had nothing to do with the story itself and everything with the two narrators. You know that feeling when a voice starts to grate on you the moment you first hear it? Well, that is exactly what happened with the female narrator for me. It wasn't just the extremely slow way of speaking even when I turned up the speed, but she also spoke with a breathy voice that started to annoy me more and more over time. The male narrator wasn't that much of an improvement for me; that narration was also extremely slow and there were very unnatural pauses in the middle of sentences. This reaction to both narrators definitely made it a lot harder to enjoy the story, and I suspect that it would have been easier to overcome the other issues if I had just read it on my kindle instead.

All in all The Last Trip didn't exactly turn out to be the enjoyable listening experience I thought it would be... Too much domestic drama, lack of credibility, unlikeable characters and a narration that didn't work for me prevented me from doing so, although I do have to say that I seem to be in the minority so far.

Sadie and Calvin’s babymoon is supposed to be a peaceful getaway before their first child arrives, but things start feeling off before they even reach the rental. The homeowners act strangely, and Sadie can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched. Worse, Calvin is dismissive of her concerns, making her question whether pregnancy is playing tricks on her mind. Is she just being paranoid, or is she in danger? The story unfolds in two perspectives: “Her” (Sadie, in the present) and “Him” (a mystery man from the past whose identity isn’t revealed until later). As the timelines converge, secrets unravel, betrayals come to light, and the babymoon meant to bring them closer together turns into a nightmare.

The dual timeline narration of The Last Trip is a standout feature, executed seamlessly to keep the tension building. The audiobook, in particular, enhances this structure, with Jay Myers bringing an added layer of eeriness to the "Him" chapters. His voice deepens the sense of menace and keeps the reader on edge, effectively balancing the mystery's slow burn without ever veering into gimmick territory.

While I did find the psychological suspense gripping and the pace tight, this is more of a plot-driven thriller than a character study. Sadie is sympathetic but lacks depth, and the "Him" is more of a one-dimensional villain than a nuanced character. Also, the premise requires some suspension of disbelief. While the psychological aspects are grounded, certain plot twists, particularly the MMC's long game, might strain credulity for some readers.

The Last Trip is a gripping, quick thriller perfect for fans of dark domestic suspense with a high “WTF” factor. While the believability might not hold up under scrutiny, the tension, mystery, and shocking twists make it an addictive read. If you enjoy books where the dread builds steadily before exploding in the final act, this one is worth picking up. Sensitive readers should review content warnings for this book before picking it up.

Content warnings (possible spoilers): gaslighting, emotional manipulation, infidelity, and a disturbing element involving non-consensual impregnation.

eh, so so. Nothing shocking or jaw dropping. but decent enough to keep me entertained. dklfcjsldfidznvlzdncjld

“It’s not paranoia if it’s necessary. Being a woman means constantly being aware of your vulnerable spots and weaknesses in any situation. It’s looking for a way out when you enter any room and scanning for safe faces in a crowd…”

👆 I do know guys that do that, but not for the same reasons. I loved that quote.

Synopsis: Man & Woman are engaged and expecting 🤰. Woman starts feeling like she’s being watched and spied on… they have a baby moon where things really take a turn.

That’s all I want to say because there are so many things you won’t see coming in this one! I don’t want to possibly give anything away.

Review: I really enjoyed the ride for this one. I never was sure where Modglin was going with this story. At only 5 hours long, this audiobook was easy to speed through. There were lots of twists and turns. I do feel like there are a few things left unexplained, but for a quick thriller, that’s okay. The ending really irritated me, but I can’t say anything specific without providing a spoiler - medically it doesn’t make sense. Overall, I definitely recommend! 3.5⭐️

Audiobook length: 5 hours
Narrators: Abigail Reno and Jay Myers

Read if you like:
🏃‍♀️ Fast paced thrillers
🤨 Questioning where the story is going (in a good way)
🎬 You by Caroline Kepnes
😱 Shocking reveals

Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Calvin and Sadie decide to take one last trip before their baby is born. But not everything is as it seems.

This book messed with my head! In a good way. Here's what I loved:

The twistyness: This one was so twisted and twisty. I was truly shocked a few times. Mouth fully open and shocked. The story was good and left me on edge the entire time. This was a perfect short thriller.

The characters: I really liked how these characters were laid out. They aren't perfect in a lot of ways but they were still fun to follow.

The narration: Abigail Reno and Jay Meyers were great in this! Both held my attention and were perfect for their characters.

All in all, this was a great short thriller.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Overall this was a good book. One with twists and creepy bits I didn’t see coming. Sadie feels like typical character, in love and pregnant. She sets off on a weekend trip with her fiancé that turns ultra creepy. Then, it gets EVEN WEIRDER.

Overall, the book was great. Except, parts of the ending felt unbelievable? Just *too* weird. But, until then, super good!

Advanced listener copy provided by Dreamscape Media but all opinions are my own.