The Last One: A Novel

Written by Will Dean

Narrated by Jenny Funnell

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Aug 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9781797163505

Will Dean

Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands and had lived in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. After studying Law at the LSE and working in London, he settled in rural Sweden where he built a house in a boggy clearing at the centre of a vast elk forest, and it's from this base that he compulsively reads and writes. His debut novel in the Tuva Moodyson series, Dark Pines, was selected for Zoe Ball's Book Club, shortlisted for the Guardian Not the Booker prize and named a Daily Telegraph Book of the Year. Red Snow was published in January 2019 and won Best Independent Voice at the Amazon Publishing Readers' Awards, 2019. Black River was shortlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Award in 2021. Will also writes standalone thrillers: The Last Thing to Burn, First Born, the top twenty hardback bestseller The Last Passenger and One at a Time.

[DebbieSwigerDonella · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow!!! Talk about the edge of your seat. If I hadn't had to sleep so I could go to work, I would have finished this in one sitting. At one point (no spoilers here), I did say, "Seriously?' But it all kind of came together for me. Till the end, the end left me disappointed or expecting a follow-up. All in all it is exciting and a fun read.

[Kathryn Arnold · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't know I'd be listening to a horror novel. I normally avoid them. I kept listening because of the characters' inner thoughts & the underlying theme of the book.

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

I really enjoyed this book! I didn’t love the ending but totally understand why it ended that way! I was once apart of a play in school and it ended somewhat like that! I love how it all comes together in the end! Bravo!

[NikiConnolly · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I expected a big plot twist, but I found the ending was predictable and anticlimactic.

[Paul Robinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Story keeps interest but then the twist, oh the twist “boom”

[lisa gibson · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Terrible ending. The narrator’s southern accent was abominable. A disappointment.

[slmbr08 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Listened to this whole book, what a waste. Worst ending ever.

[Sarah · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This one was 50/50 for me. It started out well and good. Then, way too far fetched. Then, realed itself back in to be kinda believable. The ending, however.... I don't know. Caz set off on a cruise line with her boyfriend to New York. After a diner, she goes to sleep, waking up alone. There (at first) is no one else on the ship. Eventually, she finds three other cruise goers. The group quickly find they are on a game show that none of them remember signing up for. Through thirst, starvation, and beyond dangerous tasks, who will come out the winner of this nightmarish game show?

[Aminata Miller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. Keeps you guessing. It reminds me of Hunger Games.

[phyllis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Couldn’t wait for my commute to see what happens next. This needs to be a movie

[Jennifer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WHAT a delight. Superb as an audiobook. Three thumbs up!

[Natalie Reed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

was this book good? yes. will it give me nightmares for the rest of my life? yes. will I be discussing this in depth with my therapist? yes. read with caution, it is a genuine mind fuck. I honestly wish I hadn’t found it.

[Reici Newsom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Captivating!! Absolutely maddening! Very Steven King in the out come!

[Tammy Heggerud · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! I haven’t read a book with so many unexpected twists and turns in a long time. Very unique and original premise. I really hope this is the beginning to a series because it definitely left me wanting more.

[Karen Holst · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Book was too long and I did not care for the narrator. I wasn’t connected to any of the characters and found the plot uninteresting; just a little ridiculous. I really wanted to like this one but wished I would have skipped it!

[Pamela · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the most fascinating, and unusual book I have ever read…that being said a hated the end!

[Rlynoyb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book, but the end, aaarrrggghhhh....... Will Dean please write a sequel. I adored Caz' character so much. I was really rooting for her. The people orchestrating this whole mess all deserve the worst fires of hell. The narration was really good too. One of the better books I have listened to this year, even the acknowledgements by the author were interesting. I will for sure be looking for more from Will Dean, truly a gifted writer.