Last One To Die by Cynthia Murphy

Morning BookWyrms, 

I am back with another review as part of the Kaleidoscopic Tours event for Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy. I'd like to thank Kaleidoscopic Tours, Scholastic UK and Cynthia for allowing me to read and review this debut novel. 

As always here is the cover and blurb:

*****

Niamh is in London for a summer of fun and freedom. 

But young women are being attacked across the city.... and she quickly discovers they all look scarily similar to her. 

Can her new friends all be trusted? Can she shake off the feeling that someone is watching her?

Will she stay one step ahead of the killer, or.... will she be next?

*****

I devoured this book is record time and it was one of the first books I finished in January. Once I'd started reading it I could not put it down. Cynthia has a real flow about the way she writes, building and ebbing the tension and suspense, throughout. You get caught up in the drama of it all and I love that. The Irish references and words were a great touch too, really grounding in who Niamh is and where she comes from. I found her a compelling protagonist and was really rooting for her in the end. 

Last One to Die has all the trimmings of a great YA thriller/horror novel. There are red herrings and creepy Victorian vibes (which as a lover of all things dark, grim and Gothic really appealed to me). There are plot twists that keep you guessing. A sprinkling of romance and a little lost love pinning. But mainly tons of creepiness, backed up with real historical facts and titbits, and an ending that I did figure out but was still executed really well. 

It also has heaps of foreshadowing too which I LOVE! I really enjoy thinking back on a book I've just finished and realising that there were clues peppered throughout the story that hint at the true villain of the piece but I missed them because I was so caught up in the story telling. And this happened here. Once I'd closed the final page, I looked back over my sticky tabs and highlighted sections and realised I'd missed loads of clues! Just a sign of good storytelling. 

I do disagree with one specific point though and that is a reference to our heroine being in a London cab and the driver not talking to her - and she remarks that the cabbies back home in Ireland are much chattier. Now, I've never been to Ireland but I've also never been in a cab in London and not had my ear chewed off by the driver, so we might have to agree to disagree on this point!

Kidding aside this is a great debut novel and would be enjoyed by fans of old school Point Horror and Christopher Pike. 

Last One to Die is a quick, enjoyable, thrilling, creepy tale and I would thoroughly recommend reading it. 

Thanks again to Cynthia, Kaleidoscopic Tours and Scholastic UK for the opportunity. 

Here are the links to purchase:

Last One to Die - Amazon

Last One to Die - BookShop UK

Here are Cynthia's socials:

Cynthia on Insta

Cynthia on Twitter

Until next time, keep on reading,

Lottie