I received this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Title: The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep
Series: Jane Anonymous #2
Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Edition/Pages: Ebook, 336pgs
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Summary
Four days…
Trapped in a well, surrounded by dirt, scratching at the walls trying to find a way out.
Four days of a thirst so strong, that when it finally rains, I drink as much as possible from the dripping walls, not even caring how much dirt comes with it.
Six months…
Since my escape. Since no one believed I was taken to begin with – from my own bed, after a party, when no one else was home…
Six months of trying to find answers and being told instead that I made the whole incident up.
One month…
Since I logged on to the Jane Anonymous site for the first time and found a community of survivors who listen without judgment, provide advice, and console each other when needed.
A month of chatting with a survivor whose story eerily mirrors my own: a girl who’s been receiving triggering clues, just like me, and who could help me find the answers I’m searching for.
Three days…
Since she mysteriously disappears, and since I’m forced to ask the questions: will my chance to find out what happened to me vanish with her? And will I be next?
Overview
‣ POV: 1st person, Terra
‣ Summary in Emojis: 💬☠️😨💻
‣ Trigger and Content Warnings: kidnapping, ptsd, grief of a loved one, parental deaths, possible belittling of mental illness
My Thoughts
The beginning of this book is utterly chilling. It starts with a young woman, Terra, who is trapped in a well and the language used brilliant portrays the horror and desperation she feels. Then the story goes on to reveal more of Terra’s devastating past, how it has shaped her into the person she is in the present, and how, because of this, no one believes her when she insists she was taken.
There is a certain sense of disbelief you feel at some of Terra’s narration, she is definitely an unreliable narrator and it makes you question everything. I found myself suspicious not just of everyone she meets, but also of Terra herself. Is she actually telling the truth?
It’s a very fast paced novel and I found myself eagerly flipping through the pages to get to the next clue as to what actually happened. There are different sections–THEN and NOW–and it’s all equally as engaging.
The only problem I had was I didn’t realise this was actually a sequel to another novel, Jane Anonymous. This being my first novel by the author I felt I was missing certain pieces, but I still greatly enjoyed it. I don’t usually read mystery/thriller novels so I’m not sure how much fans of the genre would guess but I generally had no clue how the novel was going to turn out at certain points.
All in all an easy read with plenty for fans of the genre to enjoy.
Happy Reading,
Lea x
Lea's Literary Life 