Comparing The Last by Hanna Jameson with The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey is setting a very high standard for a book.I will admit that one it drew me in admittedly with the comparison, but it also left me very apprehensive/skeptical when I began reading it.
Thank you Atria/Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
Did it live up to The Girl with All the Gifts? I’m not sure ANYTHING can do such a thing. However, it did meet my expectations otherwise. It is book that meets my analogy of making reading a combat sport for multiple reasons.
The plot is completely plausible and that makes it absolutely terrifying. It is hard to not have a physical/anxiety riddled reaction to the situation at hand. When an American Historian becomes stranded at a Swiss conference during a nuclear attack his short-term reaction is to write down everything for the sake of record keeping. He is, of course, an historian. From the very beginning the initial confusion of the blast to the loss of electricity, the internet, contact to the outside world. To his inability to contact family, the outside world and then the scramble for food.
The structure of the book makes it all that more mysterious, thrilling and suspenseful as we are reading the book not just through Jon’s eyes but through his actual journal. The notes he takes, the journal he keeps is actually how we read the book and experience this harrowing journey. Even as the murders begin, and the murder mystery begins to unfold. A historians viewpoints through this journal really isolates not just all the big fears but the little joys that you find along the way… a song here or a unexpected treat of food there. An occasional authentic laugh that even for a moment, helps you forget.
I don’t want to give anything else away. Like The Girl With All the Gifts, the more you know going, the less impact the plot will have. The way the book is set-up is purposely meant to unfold in its own time for a specific purpose. I will not take that away from the author’s intent.
If you can handle asking yourself what if, in the times we currently live in (and living, literally next door to a national monument- the Gateway Arch- I found myself looking out my window and doing this often), I highly suggest you pick up this book.
This books sounds so good. it is on my tbr! Glad you enjoyed it!
Yay! It is a fantastic, albeit all to realistic read!
Oh – this sounds very good! I liked The Girl With All The Gifts as well, so I am putting this book on my list.
I have such a love /hate relationship with that book… seeing the cover gives me a panic attack lol!!! It is so incredible! It is why I asked for the arc… I couldn’t believe any one had the gall to compare The Girl with all the Gifts to anything!
This really sounds interesting… I’m not so much into thrillers but wouldn’t mind reading this one because it sounds so believable. Plus, the book is in the form of journal which would make it even more appealing. Great review!
I had never read a book that utilizes different formats and genres until Fire for a Muse and then became obsessed with it. Plus the fact that it is a historian’s journal who wants to document this event makes so much sense! It completely fits the plot! It just adds to the creepy feeling of holy crap this could so actually happen! Thank you for the compliment but the credit should go to the book!