The Last Thing to Burn: A Novel

Written by Will Dean

Narrated by Sarah Lam

“Immediate, intense, gripping, taut, terrifying, moving, and brilliant.” —Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Invisible Girl

“Brilliantly written...terrifying.”—Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One by One

A woman being held captive is willing to risk everything to save herself, her unborn child, and her captor’s latest victim in this “intense, dark, and utterly chilling” (Jennifer Hillier, author of ​Jar of Hearts) thriller in the tradition of Misery and Room.

He is her husband. She is his captive.

Her husband calls her Jane. That is not her name.

She lives in a small farm cottage, surrounded by vast, open fields. Everywhere she looks, there is space. But she is trapped. No one knows she is there. Visitors rarely come to the farm; if they do, she is never seen.

Her husband records her every movement during the day. If he doesn’t like what he sees, she is punished.

For a long time, escape seemed impossible. But now, something has changed. She has a reason to live and a reason to fight. Now, she is watching him, and waiting…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797121437

Will Dean

Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands of the United Kingdom. After studying law at the London School of Economics and working in London, he settled in rural Sweden where he built a wooden house in a vast forest, and it’s from this base that he compulsively reads and writes. His debut novel, Dark Pines, was selected for Zoe Ball’s book club on ITV, shortlisted for the National Book Award (UK), The Guardian’s Not the Booker prize, and was named a Telegraph book of the year. He is also the author of The Last One, First Born, The Last Thing to Burn, which was shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and The Chamber.

Reviews for The Last Thing to Burn

[molly · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It was ok. Reminds you of one of those low budget films where the entire movie takes place in one setting. The climax of the story is underwhelming.

[Madeline Spalding · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So well-written! I loved this book. The subject is dark but stories like this needs to be told. I felt like I was in that cottage with Len and Jane and my heart was pounding the whole time. I was on the edge of my seat with this cliff hanger/cat and mouse fiction that thrills and startles from beginning to end.

[Felice Bickmore · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A real "page turner" for me. I can understand mixed reactions as I did get frustrated with the main character at times since it is the sort of book you become invested in. There were times I was saying no! out loud at frustrating choices being made. It does give the reader second-hand anxiety, and you wish you could find a solution or have better things happen along the way. This book actually could have been much longer and developed more had we had the story told and other perspectives from the others kept. I do feel the writing is superb with fantastic visualizations and narration excellent.

[Rlynoyb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow a book that kept me white knuckled on the edge of my seat. The narrator of this audiobook was fantastic. She conveyed the sense of dread so well. I agree with one of the other reviewers, I wish something way more horrible had happened to Len. God he was the most awful, horrible character (I refuse to call him human). A lot of the parts about his mum made me wonder if perhaps he had suffered some abuse at her hands but still, this is a character you want to hit over the head with the frying pan. Great writing. Since it was Will Dean I didn't know what to expect for an ending. So glad it did not end like the "Last One".

[Denise Johnson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whoa!!! I couldn't stop Until I was done with this book. What an Amazing Author, I felt like I could feel,see, hear and smell everything in this story. My heart soared for "Jane" in the end, but up until then I was sucked in to a bundle of different emotions. What A Book. Hated to see it end.

[Tam Anderson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Intense. The poor women who are abused in this story brought me to tears several times. It made me wonder how many actually go through this kind of abuse in real life and if they will ever get out of it. It moved me so much I have told several people they should read it. A+++

[Lynne Ward · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. This descriptive novel captured my interest right from the start. It was great till the very end. It’s a good psychological thriller

[kennylef_495849271 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have never hated a character soooo much, the male character was on a whole other level of evil! With that being said, my gosh this book was so well written. It can easily evoke feelings throughout the entirety of the story and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm looking forward to listening to more books from this author and bravo to the narrator, she did an amazing job, read with so much feelings and passion.

[Tatum Torres · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Finished in one sitting! Excellent from beginning to the end

[Leanne · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is 8 hours of torcher and treachery. Perhaps that's good for some, but I found it an agonizing listen. It was well written and the narrators were good, it's just not the kind of book for me.

[KIMBERLY MOORE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent. The ending was just a tad bit disappointing, as I wanted to see more fur flying but hey, it was satisfying just the same! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Krista Yount · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best book I’ve listened to in a long time! Kept me on the edge of my seat!

[Um Kulthum Mmari · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Found myself constantly wanting to get back to this book. Its captivating and it always left me wanting to find out what happens next.

[maryAnn wilson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an awesome well written scary tale-my heart breaks for all of those trafficked and mistreated people in the world. Prayers this epidemic gets squashed

[Myra Harper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You find yourself hating the man that takes these women and cheering for the victories! It’s a story that needs to be told, but definitely a hard one to hear. It’s oppressive but I can’t imagine the life of these women left locked away. The writing is good and the reading is too! I don’t want to write too much to give the plot away. I’m glad I listened to this, several times I wanted to stop and pick another book. Now I’ll need to listen to something more upbeat and uplifting. It left me with a feeling of sadness. But again, the victories are worth the read!

[Nina Quartuccio · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Different, well written and narrated. Human abuse both physical and mental. Horrorfic in its own right...suspenseful and dramatic but a little to neat for me, other than that, I would have done 5 stars.

[jan bennett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fabulous read- and gives a picture of real
Life trafficking- sad

[Suzie Smith · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

**UPDATED**
Ok, Since I am just not capable of NOT finishing a book - I went ahead and finished and am updating my review to reflect this - (I have NEVER left a review for ANY book even remotely close to this - usually I just keep shut and move on - but this one got me)
After FF through about Chapters 12 - 18 - I decided to I couldn't just leave it - not knowing - so I carried on - still FF through half chapters to speed it up - Somewhere around chapter 23 or 24(ish) it finally started picking up a bit - but, again - it was the same stuff - "Jane" is just annoying - I had a very difficult time even liking her or feeling sorry for her due to he lack of urgency and sheer stupidity. Cynthia, on the other hand, turned out to be the only character in the book I liked and was rooting for.

***SPOILER ALERT WARNING - READING THIS WILL GIVE THE ENDING AWAY***
By far, the part that made literally swear out-loud at the sheer ignorance and over-the-top "trying to make a point" was when she, Jane, demanded Cynthia to take her back upstairs WHILE the house is burning... hello - to get her captors' mother's possessions and throw them in the "Rayburn" fire stove - Really? The house is burning - she has a broken foot - the guy is locked in the basement desperate to get out (and is trying)- a real life worry would be that he COULD get out - but no ... let me burn his stuff because the whole place on fire won't do the trick... Yea, ok.

The 2nd thing that made me vocalize my unamused thoughts - When they found her sister - Cynthia, once again, had the right idea and smart thinking for her to go help alone and come back for them - but "Jane" insisted on doing it her way and ended up screwing it all up - and in real life - she would have done just that.

There were many other parts that brought on vocalized distaste - but those were the worst.
I will never entertain another book by this author. The whole book gave me anxiety - not in a good way - partly due to the ignorance of it all and partly due to the despair and urgency (without urgency being warranted) in the narrator's voice. Just never again. I am glad it was sort of free -

****END OF SPOILER ALERT***


**ORIGINAL REVIEW**
Very disappointed Ive wasted so much time on this book, and what's worse is I probably wasted a good title due to Scribds algorithm of only allowing a handful of books a month - another annoying tick to add to the list of this slow book that wasted my time. - I should have listened to all those reviews across the platforms that said it was ridiculously slow and underwhelming - and nothing happened in the first 1/2 - 2/3 of the book - they were so right - I found myself fast forwarding through chapter after chapter of the same thing day after day after day after day - so repetitive. I usually cannot just leave a book no matter how bad it is - but I've left this one. Chapter 17, I think - still nothing - 1/2 way through the book - I am done.
Narration was mostly good - it got a bit annoying - maybe thats because the story itself was terrible. Not sure.

[Kari VanHeulen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Part of what
Made this book so great with the narrator. Makes a big difference and she was really good. The book itself was really good too

[Janvier Schutz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not you typical horror story, but much more scary than your typical ghosts stories. Narration was very good.

[M A · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well, that was an awful book. Awful in a good way. I had to take breaks from listening since the scenes were extremely intense. I wanted bad things to happen so badly to one of the fictional characters. I became so frustrated at the main character. I felt it took her so long to get free.

[Ebony Mason · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent read, I enjoyed every second of this book. I highly recommend it.

[Tyler George · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good book about disturbing material. The narrator was excellent.

[Tori Gifford · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story was great, enthralling but the narrator was exceptional and I’m not sure I would have been as invested as I was had it had a different narrator. Even though this book can fall under psychological thriller, it is better classified as literary fiction and should definitely have more hype than it has gotten.

[RICHELLE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very suspenseful & thrilling; amazing narration & storyline. You may consider stopping at some point b/c it’s a disturbing topic, but I’m gonna make you aware that it ends with somewhat of a “happily ever after” so it’s finishable!

[Mary Stuart Thomas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is not for the faint of heart, it talks about things not everyone can handle hearing but it’s honest and well written.

[James Perrotta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow !!! What a story. This book is one of those things that stay with you. Even for fiction left me sad. Love the characters, love everything in this book. You have to read it to understand how good of a story this is.

[vinod nair · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very well written and outstanding narration. It was pretty dark and some parts were extremely hard to listen to. Overall, highly recommended.

[Julia Sundstrom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an absolutely brutal read but a fantastic story about strength and perseverance. As much as I hated hearing parts of it was a great story.

[Meagan P Von Reuter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really great novel. Sad subject but good story woven around it. Listened to almost the entire thing in one sitting and didn’t want to turn it off!