Review: The Last Word by Taylor Adams

 

 Book Blurb (from Goodreads):
After posting a negative book review, a woman living in a remote location begins to wonder if the author is a little touchy—or very, very dangerous—in this pulse-pounding novel of psychological suspense and terror from the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and Hairpin Bridge.

One day, she reads a poorly written—but gruesome—horror novel by the author H. G. Kane, and posts a one-star review that drags her into an online argument with none other than the author himself. Soon after, disturbing incidents start to occur at night. To Emma, this can’t just be a coincidence. It was strange enough for this author to bicker with her online about a lousy review; could he be stalking her, too?As Emma digs into Kane’s life and work, she learns he has published sixteen other novels, all similarly sadistic tales of stalking and murder. But who is he? How did he find her? And what else is he capable of?

My Thoughts:

Wow! I actually had so so so much fun with this one. I mean, as reviewer (sometimes) I've always wondered whether or not I should leave negative reviews. I do try to be nice, even if the book didn't jell with me all that well, but sometimes you just get a stinker and have to be completely honest. Do you go the gentle route or the brutal honest truth route? The dilemma! 

Emma decides to speak her mind. She's brutally honest, but that doesn't sit well with the author. Oh no, he is not having that! If she won't take down her review, well he's just going to have to take down Emma! What is he capable of? What brutal retribution does he have planned for our heroine? Will she survive? 

I loved the premise from the get-go. I thought it was a very solid and very well developed plot. I do love in later chapters you get a bit of a back and forth between Emma's perspective and the killer's. But is it? Is it the killer as he is, or how he envisions himself? 

This was by no means a super serious book, and I don't think it was intended to be. It definitely was a book that kept me flipping pages, I even finished a few chapters on the sly at work (GASP!) because I just couldn't put it down. I loved the twists, the turns, and the shocking reveals. It was cheesy at times, but that made me love it even more! It played on some tropes, it played on stereotypes, and it even had a few WTF?! moments. 

I really enjoyed it and I do suggest it. It's a perfect popcorn (in a good way) read!