The Last Thing He Told Me

3/5 stars

Owen Michaels has disappeared, but not before giving his daughter and wife cryptic goodbyes. His daughter, Bailey, is sixteen and still struggling with the loss of her mother as a child. Her step-mom, Hannah, has been given the responsibility of protecting Bailey at all costs. Neither know where Owen went but they realize they must trust each other work together to find him. 

This was more of a thriller than mystery but had me intrigued and not just because it takes place in my home, Austin, Texas. I really liked the main characters Hannah and Bailey. They are both flawed in their own ways but the development of their parent-child relationship was pretty strong. I enjoyed the chapters going back in the timeline to show where they started and where they are now. Similarly, these jumps back in time helped me learn more about Owen and Hannah’s relationship. I saw just how much he was hiding from her and that his intentions may not have been nefarious. 

We see the entire story from the perspective of Hannah. She does anything to protect Bailey, but I didn’t feel much suspense around Hannah because not much truly affected her. The plot was pretty good, but I did think it was a bit farfetched and the resolution was anti-climactic. Despite the lack of thrill, I was actually comforted by the end. I know many people consider it disappointing or a letdown, but I enjoyed a not so tidy ending that still gave some closure. It felt fitting for the rest of the story. 

The Last Thing He Told Me is a good mystery that I read in a single day. The plot moves quickly and kept me interested. I would definitely recommend and can see why it was hyped up. Just be prepared for a gentle ending with a little ambiguity.