The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean @willrdean @HodderBooks

Book Description:

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 how she got to the UK: 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 . . .

My Thoughts:

I am loving this author’s standalone novels! They are so very dark and twisted.

‘Jane’ and her sister came to the UK on the promise that they would be able to have a better life whilst supporting their parents back home. For Jane though, things don’t turn out that way. She is being held prisoner in her own home by a man she hates who treats her no better than a slave. Lenn is a horrible character who I was constantly wanting something bad to happen to. He plays mind games with Jane and the way he controls her is heartbreaking to read of.

The thing that most stood out to me in this story is Jane’s mental strength. She would be forgiven for what she is going through to just give up but the thought of her sister and her family back home keeps her strong to keep going on. The way she constantly reminds herself that Jane is not her name and sometimes breaking rules that has dire consequences for her. Most people would have given up way before but her strength with what she has to endure is commendable.

The Last Thing to Burn is so much more than your typical thriller. It’s about never giving up and persevering no matter what the odds are. For a small cast of characters, this was a well written novel that had me totally absorbed. I would love to see this made into a film. Women in these type of stories tend to usually be mentally unstable or weak and it is refreshing to see a female character so strong willed. Chillingly gripping, this is one woman’s story that will stay with me for a long time to come.