The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

As a reader of a few of Laura Dave’s previous books, I wasn’t sure about how she would fare in the mystery genre, as it felt like a big departure from Eight Hundred Grapes and Hello, Sunshine. I was pleasantly surprised by The Last Thing He Told Me.

Newly married Hannah Hall is surprised one afternoon by a knock on her door. A preteen girl is delivering a note from her husband, Owen. It contains only two words, but those words are powerful, and set the tone for the rest of the story.

Owen’s company is being investigated by the SEC and he has disappeared. Hannah is left in charge of her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter, Bailey, who has made it clear she is not Hannah’s biggest fan. In an attempt to understand her husband’s cryptic message, Hannah and Bailey must work together to solve the riddle of what, exactly, is going on and when it all began.

I enjoyed the pace of the story, as it moved back and forth in time between the past and present. The puzzle of who can be trusted, who Owen truly was, and why he disappeared from their lives is told with just the right amount of suspense and disbelief to keep readers engaged in the tale Dave is weaving.

Final rating: ★★★★☆

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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